Ski holidays offer the chance to reconnect with nature, and the thrill of the great outdoors. For the eco-conscious traveler, there’s no better way than to stay in green (well, make that white) sustainable and CO2-neutral igloos.

Iglu-dorf offers igloo villages in seven locations in Andorra, Switzerland, and Austria. The igloos are rebuilt each and every season with 3,000 tons of snow from the Alps and Pyrenees.

The igloo villages offer a few different room options including a standard igloo which can sleep up to 6, a romantic two-bed igloo with thick furs, a suite with a private bathroom and private whirlpool, and a heated igloo equipped with a stove and double bed.

All igloos come with expedition sleeping bags designed for temperatures dipping as low as -30 degrees Celsius. The resort also includes a wellness area with a sauna and whirlpool, a bar, cheese fondue dinner, nighttime snowshoeing when possible, and breakfast in the mountain restaurant. In addition marriage ceremonies are available (a white wedding!) and seven-course barbeques for up to 120 guests.

They offer packages as well including romantic nights, midweek fun, and ski packages. Amenities include a bar and you can learn how to build igloos.

Prices start at £91 for a standard room. (www.iglu-dorf.com, +41 (0) 41 612 27 28)

Stuck on a Dubai layover in the United Arab Emirates? Dubai is the fastest-growing transit hub in the world, and has one of the nicest airports. The Dubai International Airport is located roughly 3 miles outside Dubai, which makes the city an accessible destination for those stuck on long layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your layover in Dubai, click here for useful tips.

The Dubai airport is lined with palm trees and offers upscale shopping and restaurants. For the tired traveler, inside the hotel is the five-star, Dubai International Airport Hotel. You can pay by the hour (starting at $40) or the entire night (from $200) and offers a health club, business center, 24 hour laundry and room service. For additional Dubai hotels of varying price points, click here.

The Dubai International Airport also has many services including a Women’s Lounge & Children’s Play Area located between gates 12 and 14, internet kiosks near Gate 9 and Gate 23, a medical center on the ground level of the Concourse, post office near Gate 18 (open 24 hours), four prayer rooms in Arrivals and the main Concourse, and banking and currency exchange located near Gates 8, 18 and 22.

There are also many lounges to keep you occupied during your Dubai layover. There’s an International First Class Lounge between Gates 114 and 112, a Business Class Lounge beside Gate 108, and lounges for the following airlines: Air France, Gulf Air, Emirates, British Airways, KLM and Star Alliance between Gates 21 and 26. In addition there are two Quiet Lounges in the Sheikh Rashid Terminal near Gates 9 and 23 free of charge.

If you’re planning on seeing some sights during your Dubai layover, keep in mind that Dubai has some strict laws. The slightest amount of any illegal substance can land you in jail for many years, even life. In addition, don’t walk in front of somebody when they are praying, don’t drink alcohol in the street or in any public place (alcohol is only allowed in hotels or private clubs), avoid passionate displays of affection in public, and women should not dress suggestively to avoid any hassle.

Also, immigration can be long, as well as taxi lines. Give yourself plenty of time for delays. Depending on what city you’re coming from, you may also need to get a visa, and pay permissions to enter the country. (You can check out Visa Requirements in the widget on the right hand column of this page.)

Tickets for Big Bus Tours are valid for 24 hours and you can hop on and off whenever you’d like. One ticket covers both routes, which includes the Red Route (Dubai Creek, Al Fahidi Fort & Dubai Museum, the Souks (bazaars) and a few shopping malls) and The Blue Route (5-star hotels & the fanciest shopping malls.) Both tours offer live commentary or a choice of eight digitally recorded languages. See website for more info.

Old Souqs
Although many people head straight to the modern mall, check out the Old Souqs along the creek in the older part of town that is what made Dubai the trading capital it is. On the Deira side of the Creek, don’t miss the Gold Souq which has over 300 outlets including all the gold jewelry you can imagine seeing as well as drain covers with diamonds on them. Also on this side is the Spice Souq which has spices from all over the Middle East. On the other side, check out the Bur Dubai Souq with textile and souvenir shops.

Shopping & Skiing
The Mall of the Emirates is a shoppers’ paradise, and for those who prefer to hit the slopes, the mall features the first indoor ski slope in the Middle East. For $40 per person you can get a lift ticket good for 2 hours, ski rentals, ski pants and jackets and even socks (gloves and hats are not provided). You can ski, snowboard and toboggan here, down the over 1300 foot slope. The mall is open 7 days a week from 10am to 10pm.

Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab looks like a giant sail and claims to be “The Best Hotel in the World” with a rating of 7 stars. It is the world’s tallest dedicated hotel, with all the rooms hosting incredible views. The inside of the hotel has a dancing fountain, two massive fish-tank walls, and a soaring atrium. To visit the Burj Al Arab, you need to be staying there, or have advance reservations to eat at one of the restaurants or to have a drink at one of the bars (tip – the most budget friendly option is to book afternoon tea). Photos are only allowed in the lobby area.

Desert Safari & Camel Racing
If you have a very lengthy layover in Dubai, you might want to check out the camel racing and desert safaris offered outside Abu Dhabi city. Camel races are usually held early on Fridays or on national holidays. Safaris are half a day, and offer overnight options to stay in a Bedouin tent. Wadi-Driving explores the wadis or dry beds of streams that flow from the Hajar mountains. Dune driving allows you to try your hand at sand driving, with four-wheel-drive vehicles provided, and an expert guide. Or, try Sand-Skiing down the dunes of the Dubai desert. You can also sign on for a Desert Feasts which follow the safari with evening with an Arab barbecue under the stars.

Have a suggestion for a Dubai Layover? Leave a comment below!

It is a long way to Tipperary… and once you get there, don’t you want to relax in a little luxury?

The Cashel Palace Hotel, located on Main Street, is just the luxurious boutique hotel that fits an Irish countryside experience. The 1730 Queen Anne style house has only 20 rooms, and is chock full of history and grandeur.

The hotel previously served as an Archbishop’s Residence, is the birthplace of Guinness and contains 28 acres of formal gardens and land surrounding the walls to the ancient Rock of Cashel itself.

The hotel has a number of activities for guests including nearby golf courses including Dundrum, Thurles and the Jack Nicholas designed course Mount Juliet, fishing along two stretches of Ireland’s finest Trout fishing rivers (which also have good Salmon fishing), horseback riding, garden walks at the hotel’s garden and the Celtic Planetarium in Dundrum, guided walks in the famous Glen of Aherlow, and a visit to the world famous Medieval buildings at the Rock of Cashel.

In addition, the hotel offers high speed internet, a library, games, and children’s play equipment.

Located in the center of the town of Cashel, the hotel is within walking distance to the Rock of Cashel and the local sites. Cashel Palace Hotel is approximately 170 kms from the Dublin Airport, and 105 kms from the Cork Airport.

Transportation is available via Aer Coach and Bus Eireann which operate bus service between Dublin and Cork several times daily. Thurles Train Station is 12km from Cashel, and taxis are available.

CLICK HERE for the full Layover Guide to Dublin, Ireland

Book your best and cheapest holidays ever by just making a few clicks. Opt for all inclusive holidays to egypt and visit all those ancient places you have only heard about. You will be surprised by how much you can see and do in Egypt.

Want to get away from it all – the job, the kids, and other people’s kids? The Cap Rocat Mallorca gives you just that, and more, perfect for couples retreats or peaceful Majorca holidays.

The Cap Rocat is a refurbished 19^th century fortress that caters to adults only. The location is not only historic, but impressively striking with a drawbridge, bunkers and suites that were once former shooting buttresses.

The boutique hotel overlooks the Bay of Palma and is located within 88 acres of grounds, with over two kilometers of waterfront property. All the hotel 21 suites have private patios with ocean views.

Rooms include the Double Room Fortaleza which are located along the fortress exterior where guests sleep in former military quarters, Suites “Cap Rocat” are situated along the cliff’s edge with incredible views, and the Suite “El Cabo” which is the most exclusive position of the fortress and comes with a living room, spacious gardens and a private pool.

The hotel offers a lot of amenities for guests including a private beach, salt water infinity pool, fitness center, tennis courts, yoga classes, water sports, bar, hiking trail and cycle hire.

Local activities including fishing, scuba diving, sailing, golfing, horseback riding along the coast, cathedrals, shopping and more.

CLICK HERE for the full Layover Guide to Palma de Mallorca, Spain

The Cap Rocat Mallorca is located 15 kilometers form the Palma de Mallorca Son Sant Joan Airport, and minutes from the city center.

Click here to book cheap car hire canada. All the amazing sights and scenery need to be enjoyed at your leisure. Use the company that has won numerous awards.

What can be a better getaway than being surrounded by the glory of the snowcapped Swiss Alps, tucked away inside eco-tourism domed pods high on the mountain?

Welcome to the Whitepod Resort in the village of Les Cerniers, Switzerland.

The resort is located high on the mountain at an altitude of 1700m. The lodge can accommodate 80 guests in dormitory type rooms, and also has a Swiss restaurant, the Restaurant de l’Alpage, wghich offers local cuisine throughout the day. The camp of the 15 domes surround the chalet and provide more luxurious, personal spaces for guests.

Perched on wooden platforms, all pod igloos come with wood-burning stoves, organic luxury bedding and full services bathrooms. In addition, they are green and eco-friendly, and has 7km of ski slopes with private ski lifts! And for those who are ski bunnies, Whitepod also has a spa.

For those looking for a personalized ski experience, two private lift installations can be opened both day and night for a safe skiing experience. The resort boasts “excellent snow conditions” from December through March. There’s also a special mini-lift available for beginner skiers.

In addition to skiing, Whitpod Resort also offers snowboarding, cross-country skiing, paragliding, snowshoeing, sledding, ski touring, and hiking with a mountain guide. Nearby (less that 30 minutes away) guests can find the additional activities of swimming, ice skating, golf, thermal baths and more.

Les Cerniers is located in the Dents du Midi, which is less than two hours from Geneva Airport. To reach Whitepod Resort, there are many options including car transfer, bus, train, and car hire Switzerland.

Pods run from CHF 400-550 depending on the day of the week, and will certainly be a getaway that will take you far from your worries.

CLICK HERE for the Layover Guide to Zurich, Switzerland

CLICK HERE for the Layover Guide to Geneva, Switzerland

Looking to get away from everything, or perhaps get hitched with a stunning blue Caribbean backdrop? The Ladera Resort has all the rest, relaxation, stunning views, and wedding bliss that will make all of your holidays in St Lucia memorable!

Located high on a cliff, with sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea and the Piton Mountains, the Ladera Resort in St. Lucia has only 9 villas and 23 suites, all set in the rainforest. Private plunge pools abound, and each villa has an “open wall” – left open to enjoy the views.

Ladera Resort was once part of the Rabot Estate cocoa plantation and each villa or suite enjoys a private plunge pool or villa pool with waterfall, a dream pillow service for the pillow-specific guests which allows you to choose your perfect pillow, complimentary breakfast, full service pool deck, and beach shuttle service.

In addition the resort has the Ti Kai Pose spa with restorative sulphur mineral baths, massages, facials, body wraps and scrubs, manicures and pedicures, and more. There is also the Garden Gym with a range of fitness machines, complimentary snorkel gear, in-room movie service, Wi-Fi in each room, guest computer room, and private telephones.

There are also a number of wedding options at the Ladera Resort including the new Paradise Pavilion which can hold up to 80 guests, and all aspects of the wedding experience from pre-wedding beauty services, a resort gift registry, fine dining, and party planning.

The Ladera resort offers a ton of activities that guests can partake in including sightseeing activities, cooking classes, hiking, golf, glass bottom boat tours, horseback riding, biking, fishing, whale and dolphin watching, ziplining, shopping, sailing, and lots more.

To find Ladera’s current promotions, packages and special offers, click here.

Next year Düsseldorf’s Breidenbacher Hof will be celebrating it’s 200-year-old birthday. Originally opened in 1812, this luxurious German hotel has old-school European charm mixed with modern first-class amenities. In honor of its big 2-0-0, Layover Guide takes a look at this five-star hotel.

CLICK HERE for the full Layover Guide to Düsseldorf, Germany

Located near Düsseldorf’s city center and the Altstadt, along the heart of the Königsallee, one of the city’s best shopping streets. The Düsseldorf International Airport is roughly 8 kilometers north of the hotel, and you can reach the hotel by taxi, chauffeur service, or Germany car hire.

The hotel has 79 rooms and 16 large suites. In addition the Breidenbacher Hof boasts a state-of-the-art fitness center, the Schnitzler Beauty Lounge, a Brasserie restaurant, the Capella Bar & Cigar Lounge, free Internet access, boutiques and shops, complimentary laptop, and even the use of a “personal assistant.”

The rooms themselves don’t disappoint – all come with state-of-the-art technology including a touch panel to control lighting, air conditioning, LCD television, iPod docking station, rainforest shower, a flat screen television built into the bathroom mirror, and complimentary soft drink refreshment center.

Suites include five Executive Suites with a fireplace, desk and dining table, and guest toilet, three Grand Suites with 120 square meters of space and a view of the Old Town, and two Presidential Suites with two bedrooms, up to 222 square meters, two large bathrooms, and more.

The Breidenbacher Hof Hotel’s Schnitzler Beauty Lounge offers an extensive menu of services including massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and spa packages.  The fitness area has personalized instruction in exercise and nutrition.

Open since September 2010, the Yeatman Hotel in Oporto, Portugal is a new luxury wine hotel that will have you wining for more (bad pun intended).

Yup, that’s right. With a spectacular hillside view of the south bank of the River Douro and historic centre of World Heritage city Oporto, The Yeatman has something for everyone. The hotel is made for wine enthusiasts with a 25,000-bottle wine cellar, and a large collection of port (which the city was named after). And for foodies, a Michelin starred restaurant is onsite that serves local produce with an imaginative pairing of Portuguese wine. Private dining is available, as well as poolside snacks. The pool, of course, is shaped like a decanter. Other facilities include conference rooms, a Business Center, and visits can be arranged to the area’s vineyards and estates.

Rooms in the Yeatman all have large private balconies, and views of Oporto. All the rooms use traditional Portuguese ceramic tiles, and each room is decorated with artifacts and pictures of a different Portuguese wine maker.

CLICK HERE for the full Layover Guide to Porto, Portugal

If you enjoy not only drinking wine, but also being treated with it, the Yeatman also has a Vinotherapie Spa at the hotel with ten therapy rooms. All treatments are based on natural ingredients from the vineyards due to their highly anti-oxidant properties. Facilities including a Roman bath, tepidarium, hammam, shower experience and sauna – all while enjoying panoramic views. The spa has direct access to The Yeatman’s indoor infinity pool.

Oporto has its own airport, and is located over 300kms by rail to Lisbon. You can also connect to the hotel by the city’s metro system and Portugal car hire.

CLICK here for the full Layover Guide to Lisbon, Portugal

Rooms at The Yeatman run from €185 low season to €290 during the high season – with breakfast and VAT included.

The Amanwella Resort, located in Sri Lanka has 30 contemporary beachfront villas, featuring their own plunge pool and terrace. It’s the ideal combination of luxury and nature, and the perfect place to stay during Sri Lanka holidays.

The hotel is located in a mature coconut grove above a tropical beach along the Indian Ocean on Sri Lanka’s southern tip. The Amanwella Resort is designed modern and chic, with terracotta roof tiles, stone walls, water features and terrazzo floors. Rates start at $550 per night starting December 16, 2011. Before then, rates start at $450 USD.

There is a restaurant open all day, with views towards the beach. The cuisine is Asian and Mediterranean and focuses largely on the local seafood. A lounge and bar are located next to the restaurant, both with stunning views, which offer drinks and snacks, as well as a cigar collection.

The Amanwella resort also has a library complete with newspapers, board games, and CDs. There is a desktop computer with Internet access, a swimming pool 47m in length with lounges and private outdoor showers, babysitting services, a boutique, and a spa that has services including massages, facials, body treatments, and more.

The resort is remote in Tangalle, for those looking to get away from city life. From Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), car transfer to the Amanwella Resort takes roughly 5 ½ hours, and there’s also a daily scheduled helicopter transfer available through Deccan Aviation (maximum 4 passengers, 20kg of baggage per person).

The resort also recommends for guests to combine their stay at Amanwella with a visit to the company’s second Sri Lankan resort, Amangalia (2-hour car transfer for $50 USD each way).

Tucked away among the vineyards of the Kamptal in Austria’s wine country is the modern Loisium Wine and Spa Resort.

The hotel has a total of 82 rooms, all infused with the reminder of the wine country – such as lights in the shape of corks, and the views of the vineyards. Rates include breakfast buffet from Sunday to Thursday, and you can choose from the Classic Room with views of the courtyard, the Prestige Room with views of the vineyard and the Prestige Deluxe Room with views and nearly double the size of the Classic. Rates start at 120 Euros.

The resort is located 70km from Vienna, 135km from Bratislava. In addition is is 7 km from  Krems an der Donau, 40 km from St. Pölten, 150 km from Linz and 130 km from Brno. You can reach the Loisium Wine and Spa Resort by train, or Austria car hire.

The Loisium Wine and Spa Resort has an onsite restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the HOLL Bar and wine library where you can enjoy a glass of wine in front of an open fire. There is also the VEDA destination spa that is in the tradition of ayurvedic healing, with many spa packages including wine-testing treatments, infrared booths, enjoyment of the heated outdoor pool, and more.

Activities include tours through Austria’s largest wine town, Langenlois, golf in one of three clubs near the resort, cycling and running along the Hordic walking and hiking paths of Kamptal.

CLICK HERE for the full Layover Guide to Vienna

In addition, guests can visit the Loisium Wienwelt 900-year-old labyrinth through the old wine cellars of Langenlois, and the Kittenberg Adventure Gardens with over 30 thematic gardens, walking paths, and views. The Noah’s Ark Exhibition Garden in Schiltern offers tips and information on planting your own garden, and the Kunsthalle Krems in Lower Austria is the country’s museum for satirical cartoons.