Actually, it’s questionable whether we’re even still in winter anymore - technically, March is spring, and the current climate (sunny, chilly days, and the sensation of a face rub from the Ice Queen when the wind blusters) seems to back up that assumption. 

What is certainly true, however, is that England has been consistently cold since early December.  That’s 100 days of tight-scarfed, eye-runningly polar dashes for the tube, impromptu ice skating on the way to Tesco and shuddering, foul-mouthed mutterings after every shower. 

Recent news suggests we’re not the only ones suffering inclemency, though.  First Monaco suffered a snowstorm (above and below), as reported by our client the Monaco Tourist Authority and on Monte Carlo Daily Photo. 

Then, earlier this week, Ian uncovered pictures of an unexpectedly blanched Canal du Midi and Languedoc region. 

And the news this morning suggests that the white stuff has now spread as far south as Catalonia in Spain (below), and east to Switzerland.  A 25-year-worst snowfall in Barcelona in mid-March?  It hardly seems feasible.  In past years, it’s around this time I’ve been discussing with Real Holidays which warm parts of southern Italy might be suitable for a March visit.  This year, only the inside of a cosy villa with a decent fireplace and hot coffee sounds appropriate. 

All of these Arctic overtures in Western Europe’s traditionally hot spots encourages one singular question: what on Earth is life like in Scandinavia?  (Our clients include the West Sweden Tourist Board and Sunvil Holidays, which has a detailed Scandinavia programme.) 

Similarly bizarre is the answer.  Such has been the proliferation of powder snow this year that West Sweden briefly introduced skiing options onto its website for the first time earlier this month.   The Baltic Sea has frozen, trapping ships.  From Sunvil’s account holder Sarah come stories of the seas being frozen between some islands outside Stockholm.  Where normally you sail from one isle to another, at the moment one can ski or ice-skate…

Part of me relishes hearing these stories – there’s a certain open-mouthed enjoyment that comes with seeing pictures of a whitened Barcelona, or through learning of unique ‘walking on water’ possibilities.  But the other, sunnier side of my personality recoils: it really can’t wait for summer to start.  Happily, it seems the wait might not be a long one… check out next Monday’s forecast (c/o BBC weather):

Richard

 
The Thames is known often to flood at high tide near Richmond Bridge, but visitors – and their cars – are often caught out. Local businesses are prepared for high water levels via reference to tide timetable books. The tide rises and falls due to the rotation of the earth and gravitational pull of the moon. Exceptionally high and low tides - Spring Tides - occur at the time of the new moon (or the full moon) when the sun, moon, and earth are approximately aligned.

Camilla Colley

 Stockholm: Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson
Millions of copies of Stieg Larsson’s nail-biting books about journalist Mikael Blomkvist and computer hacker Lisbeth Salander have sold worldwide. Stockholm features predominantly in the trilogy and it’s now possible to take a guided literary tour: see Lisbeth’s luxury apartment first-hand and take a stroll past the Millennium editorial offices, among other highlights.

Cuba: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway lived in Cuba for over 20 years and was enormously inspired by the island. Author of The Old Man and the Sea, he cultivated a reputation as a man larger than life: someone who could out-drink anyone and catch bigger marlin than a professional fisherman.

 Venezuela: The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World was inspired by Mt. Roraima, the highest of the tepuis (flat-topped mountains) in Venezuela’s Gran Sabana. Set in London and South America, the book’s explorers find themselves in The Lost World, a vast plateau with sheer cliffs all around. See the 2,810m tall rock island for yourself and the mysterious shapes and shadows of Venezuela’s surreal Gran Sabana.

 Egypt: Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
First published in 1937, Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile challenges detective Hercule Poirot to solve a murder mystery onboard the paddle steamer SS Karnak.

 Venice: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie’s much-loved sleuth, Hercule Poirot, is on the Orient Express when one of the passengers is discovered murdered. The train is stuck in snow and he has just a few hours to figure out the murderer’s identity. Perhaps not an ideal scenario for a holiday, but a nostalgic journey on the magnificent Orient Express is a once in a lifetime opportunity not to be missed.

Morocco: Hideous Kinky by Esther Freud
Hideous Kinky is an autobiographical novel by Esther Freud (daughter of Lucian, great-granddaughter of Sigmund) illustrating her hippy childhood in Marrakech in the 1960s. You’ll read this and won’t be able to resist the city’s mesmeric, magnetic charms.

 Vienna: The Third Man by Graham Greene
Set in post-war Vienna, Graham Greene’s novel The Third Man is perhaps even better-known in its film format, starring Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles. A visit to the Third Man Museum will set the scene for a fascinating short break to the Austrian capital, where world-famous coffee houses, imperial architecture and impressive museums and galleries also await discovery.

 Monaco: Monaco by Eric Morse
Enjoy the sportsmanship, glory and glamour of 1930s Monaco with this nostalgic historic novel by Eric Morse. Set against the background of pre-WW II Europe and Nazi Germany’s hold on motor racing, Monaco evokes the explosive world of the golden-age Grand Prix.

Cornwall: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier novels set in Cornwall have always been her most popular, perhaps because she made her home in and around Fowey – a pretty harbour town that tumbles from high on the hill right down to the water on the beautiful south coast.

Vietnam
Banh Xeo – meaning “sizzling cake”, these savoury pancakes are stuffed with slivers of fatty pork, shrimp,and bean sprouts, and then pan fried. They’re then stuffed with mint leaves, basil and other herbs,wrapped in mustard and lettuce leaves, and finally dipped in a fish sauce. 

Sweden
Raggmunk - this is a savoury potato pancake fried in butter and served with thick slices of fried pork or bacon and lingonberries, no less.  The more crispy and buttery the pancake is around the edges, the better it apparently tastes.


Japan
Dorayaki - a sweet pancake filled with red bean paste.  In Japanese, dora means “gong” and legend has it that the first Dorayaki were made when a samurai named Benkei forgot his gong  upon leaving a farmer’s home where he was hiding.  The farmer subsequently used the gong to fry the pancakes.

Thailand
Roti Gaeng Karee - this is a crispy pancake done Muslim-style, served with coconut-milk based curry and spices.  If you like ‘em savoury, this one’s for you!

Korea
Pajeon and Bindaetteok - we don’t know much about these, other than they’re made with seafood, chilli paste, and lots of vegetables.  Possibly the healthiest pancake ever?

India
Dosa - made from rice and black lentils and traditionally from southern India, these thin crispy pancakes can be served with anything from chutney, Indian pickle, chicken, mutton or fish curry, depending on the region and taste. 

Better than all of these, though, is Russia - where, thanks to Maslenitsa, I can enjoy pancakes for a whole week, guilt-free… 

Pancake Poll
We’ve also conducted our own pancake survey here at Travel PR Towers.  It seems we’re a boring bunch. While the classic (and still fairly brilliant I would say) lemon and sugar combo won whisks-down, only a handful were brave enough to choose another topping…

Camilla Colley

Where’s the most romantic place you’ve ever been?

• “Watching the sunset over the Tuscan hills and the red tile roofs of Florence from the top of the Duomo. Breathtaking, just like the stairs”

• “The 16th floor Gaja Sky Bar at the Swissotel, Istanbul, sipping cocktails while overlooking the Bosphorus. Bliss.”

• “As new (ish) parents…sheltering together in the pouring rain under a kagool, eating chocolate biscuits on the deck of the Isle of Wight car ferry to Cowes for our first weekend without the kids. As we huddled under the plastic, the storm passed over, a beautiful bright light cast over the water and seagulls swooped down to eat the biscuit crumbs.”

• “Enjoying the soft air, sweet spicy smells and exotic sounds of the busy Jamaa El Fna Square as we gazed down from the haven of our Marrakech riad rooftop cafe.”

• “Wintertime in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. It’s at its most romantic at night, the stars twinkle overhead, the temperature is a few below zero, snow is falling and the steam envelopes everyone and everything. Its milky blue waters gently lap in the breeze and soothes tired limbs - it feels like your own private oasis. Hard to beat for an unforgettable experience.”

• “On a trek in Nepal, just outside Kathmandu, emerging from thick cloud to see the smoke rising from a beautiful Tibetan monastery - set against a snowy high mountain backdrop, with birds of prey circling languidly overhead and the distant sound of Buddhist drums. As we staggered breathless up to the monastery, there were hundreds of coloured prayer flags fluttering in the wind, a line of prayer wheels and then the wonderful bright orange robes and happy smiling faces of the monks.”

• “In London, you can dine at all the rooftop restaurants, cross all the bridges and stroll all the parks you want – but I’d dispute that any of those experiences comes close to matching the magic of a day on Hampstead Heath with your partner.  The ideal scenario is this: choose a hot day and arrive during the peak of the heat.  Dip in the mixed pool, then amble, arm-in-arm, up to higher ground for a lavish picnic overlooking London’s cranes, spokes and spires.  After the pickled onions and prosciutto are all gone, bring out a blanket, and cuddle down as the sun slips away.   A nice bottle of wine doesn’t go amiss, either.” (Nor breath mints, presumably, after this particular love picnic?!)

• “It’s cheesy I know, but my best Valentine’s day was spent in picture perfect Paris. A morning spent at the magnificent Musée D’Orsay, an afternoon spent strolling hand-in-hand along the Seine with no agenda, and an evening at a gorgeous little bistro in bustling St Germain de Prés. For me, Paris remains one of the most romantic cities in the world – its charming pavement cafés, picturesque cityscape, fantastic museums and indulgent food are still a winning combination when it comes to wooing your loved one.”

• “Catching the last little boat back from Bryher to St Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly after a magical day of autumn sunshine, spent meandering around the island and enjoying a delicious lunch of freshly-caught shellfish, washed down will a chilled glass of sauvignon blanc. I can honestly say I’ve never felt so relaxed and at peace. The seals we saw from our dinky vessel seemed to be enjoying the occasion too!”.

• “For me, it has to be Amed, a collection of small villages on the north east coast of Bali that’s so off-the-beaten track, I doubt we would have ever found it without the freedom and flexibility of a scooter. Dependent on salt-making and fishing rather than tourism, we woke every morning at sunrise to find the calm, big blue bay (no Kuta waves here) filled with hundreds of colourful sails as the double-outrigger fishing boats gliding back to shore with their catch. Silent and sublime.”

• “Lit each night by hundreds of hand-dipped candles, for breathtaking romance, it has to be the Hotel Casa Santo Domingo in Antigua, the old colonial capital of Guatemala. Dramatically overlooked by the brooding cones of three volcanoes, the former Dominican convent and church is an absolute delight. I burst into tears when we were shown our room – it was so lovely and individually designed, filled with lots of local touches. The perfect place to propose would be over dinner amidst the ruins of the old stone walls – very private and romantic, lit by candlelight but in the open air. You can also get married in the main church of the hotel – a good reason to return!”

• “Being rudely awoken at four in the morning by the honking and shouting of an impatient tuk tuk driver may not seem like it would signal the start of a romantic sojourn but Cambodia is full of surprises! Bouncing up and down along winding roads in complete darkness I wondered if I was mad, but all doubt dispersed when we arrived at Angkor Wat, the best-preserved temple at this awe-inspiring 12th century complex. We made our way to the ponds in front of the temple and took position for the sun rise, the sky turned from inky black to purple, pink then orange - particularly beautiful was the reflection of the temple in the water by my feet.”

GRAND CANYON SKYWALK - £1,895pp + £695 flights for 15 day Rockies/Grand Canyon tour
Small group hiking around the Grand Canyon and camping in the depths of this awe-inspiring gorge. This tour covers hikes in Yellowstone national parks, to wilderness lakes and world-famous geysers and in the Rocky Mountains, as well as camping out with the Navajo in Monument Valley. Price includes accommodation. Call AITO member KE Adventure Travel on 017687 73966 (www.keadventure.com)

DACHSTEIN SKY WALK- £745 for 12 day self-guided Dachstein Hiking tour excluding flights
This hiking tour takes in dozens of Alpine peaks over 2,500 metres and alternates lakeside town hotels with nights spent high in the mountains in comfortable Alpine lodges. Visit this spectacular viewing platform, made partly from glass, with amazing views from its 2,700 metre breathtaking outlook. Tours run daily from July-September with AITO member Walks Worldwide on 0845 3014737. Price includes B&B accommodation, boat and cable car costs, maps and route notes. Minimum 2 people. www.walksworldwide.com.

AUCKLAND’S 328-METRE SKY TOWER - 21 day New Zealand trip excluding flights for £982pp
Buy a 21-day ‘off-season’ self-drive ‘Pure and Simple’ holiday to New Zealand for £982 pp (excluding flights). Take in the view from the glass-floored viewing platform, on a comprehensive visit around the stunning North and South Islands. The trip includes the beaches of the north, the thermal area of Rotorua, the rugged west coast, the Southern Lakes and Alps. Price includes accommodation and car hire. Valid from April to October with AITO member Discover the World on 01737 218800. (www.discover-the-world.co.uk)

MOUNT RORAIMA, VENEZUELA - 16 nights from £3,840 including flights
See this 2,810-metre mountain with a 31-km summit area on the Gran Sabana leg of the 16 night ‘Highlights of Venezuela’ tour. Exploring one of Venezuela’s most unusual and surreal regions, you can look down over the 55-metre high free-falling falls at Salto Kama Meru, travel by canoe to the 110-km high Chinak Meru falls and visit viewpoints for Mount Roraima, Venezuela’s most famous ‘tepuy’ which inspired Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, ‘The Lost World’. Call AITO member Sunvil Traveller – Real Latin America on 0208 758 4774 (www.sunvil.co.uk)

AURLAND LOOKOUT, NORWAY - £2,175pp including flights for 12 night self-drive tour
The 14-night ‘Best of the Fjords’ self-drive holiday gives a wonderful taste of Norway’s’ spectacular fjords, glaciers and mountain scenery. It also features some of Norway’s finest hotels. Don’t miss a drive on your journey between Lofthus and Balestrand up to the stunning Aurland lookout perched 2,000 ft above the fjords. Departures from 15 May – 15 Sept with AITO member Specialised Tours on 01342 712785. Price includes flights, accommodation and car hire. (www.specialisedtours.com)

ANCIENT MACHU PICCHU, PERU - £3,264 including flights for 14 nights
The 14-night Chasqui Tour combines the colonial city of Arequipa, crossing dizzyingly high passes to enter Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca and a train ride to Cusco. A highlight of the tour is the trek along the Inca Trail to ancient Machu Picchu. Price includes tour guide, flights and accommodation. 0208 762 0616. www.veloso.com.

IGUAZU FALLS - £1788 pp for 7 nights including flights on Golondrina Getaway Journey
New for 2010 is the 7-night trip to Brazil and Argentina offering the chance to wander the walkways among the thundering Iguazú Falls, gaze down on Rio from the statue of Christ the Redeemer atop the Corcovado mountain, take the cable car up Sugarloaf mountain and explore Buenos Aires. Price from £1,728 pp includes ex-UK and local flights and seven night’s B&B accommodation. Call AITO member Journey Latin America on 0208 747 8315. (www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk)

TABLE MOUNTAIN, CAPE TOWN - from £600 excluding flights for a week
If you’re after one of the most stunning views in Africa, look no further than the city of Cape Town. Take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, taking in a 360 degree view of the city or climb up by foot. Wake up surrounded by stunning views from a choice of boutique hotels, villas and apartments situated on its slopes. Prices from £600 for a week, excluding flights. Call AITO member Fleewinter on 0207 112 0019 (www.fleewinter.co.uk)

TREKS AND TREASURES, IRAN - £1,640 pp + £400 flight for 14 day tour
This tour combines a 7-8 day trek reaching a highpoint of 3300m in the Zagros mountains, with visits to Shiraz, Isfahan, Persepolis and other sights of old Persia. The trek includes meeting the nomadic people of the Qashqai tribes, visiting picturesque settlements and passing close to the Dena peak, one of the highest in the Zagros range. Call AITO member High Places on 0845 257 7500. (www.highplaces.co.uk)

THE ICONIC MOUNT FUJI - £1,970 for 14 nights excluding flights
The 14 night ‘Mt. Fuji, Kyoto and the Japanese Alps’ tour moves from buzzing Tokyo to Kawaguchiko, one of the scenic Fuji Five Lakes and from where, in summer, you can arrange a day climb up the 3776m high dormant volcano. Continuing to Kyoto via Matsumoto, there is a breathtaking drive along dramatic gorges to Kamikochi and a visit to the historic town of Takayama. Call AITO member Inside Japan on 0117 314 4620. (www.insidejapantours.com)

Now we learn, courtesy of The Daily Telegraph, that New Zealand has appointed the kakapo, a rare parrot just back from the brink of extinction, as its ‘spokesbird for conservation’. What a hoot! (Or should it be what a squawk?)

St Moritz, Switzerland 1928 & 1948
Sleek St Moritz - 7 nights’ B&B from £899 pp
St Moritz, the birthplace of Alpine winter tourism, has hosted the Winter Olympics twice and has something for everyone with its 350 km of pistes. With an in-house confectioners, 3* Hotel Hauser in St Moritz is the perfect place for a ski holiday. 7 nights’ B&B in March at the centrally located hotel, with Swiss flights and rail transfers costs from £899pp. Call AITO member Ski Safari on 01273 224 060

Squaw Valley, USA 1960
4,000 acres of skiing in Squaw Valley - from £1,099 pp for 7 nights in January
Celebrating 50 years since holding the Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley offers fabulous skiing and snowboarding overlooking the beautiful high alpine Lake Tahoe. Non-skiers will enjoy a variety of other activities, from snow-tubing to spa treatments or a visit to the Olympic Museum. 7 nights from 10 February at ski in/out 3* Squaw Valley Lodge, including flights and 4X4 car hire from £1,050pp. Call AITO member Ski Safari on 01273 224 060

Grenoble, France 1968
Vaujany in the Alpe d’Huez, Grenoble - £649 pp
Perched on a beautifully scenic slope in the corner of the Alpe d’Huez piste map near Grenoble lies the pretty village of Vaujany. Relax in true Alpine style by the roaring wood fire whilst the finishing touches to the evening’s culinary treats are made at Chalet Lucette. A week costs £649 pp fully catered including flights and transfers. Call AITO member Ski Peak on 01428 608070

Calgary, Canada 1988
Banff in Canada’s Rocky Mountains - £893 pp
An hour and a half from Calgary lies the beautiful town of Banff amidst the towering Rocky Mountains. A stay at the comfortable Banff Inn this February costs £885pp based on two sharing, including scheduled flights and resort transfers. You can ski in Banff at Norquay or Sunshine and take in a visit to Lake Louise too or perhaps visit the Olympic Park in Calgary, where, amongst others Eddie Edwards and the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team, found fame. Call AITO member Frontier Ski on 020 8776 8709

Albertville, France 1992
Adrenalin in La Plagne - £599 pp for 7 nights
With a bobsleigh run built for the 1992 Winter Olympics which is within easy access to the slopes, La Plagne offers an exciting holiday for adrenalin seekers. Its extensive ski area offers opportunities for all ages and abilities. 7 nights at the traditional Chalet Marguerite, La Plagne 1800 (sleeping 10/11) costs £679 per adult, £629 per child, including flights, transfers and chalet board for 20th March. Call AITO member Ski Beat on 01243 780 405

Lillehammer, Norway 1994
Norwegian Olympic Lillehammer – from £698 pp for 3 night break
The dramatic mountains above Lillehammer, home of the 1994 Winter Olympics, make a fantastic destination for a Norwegian ski trip. Make the most of the local ski school, with a resident British ski instructor, and fill your days on the slopes or cross-country skiing. Later relax in front of a log fire in the inviting lounges of the Rustad Hotel in Sjusjoen, trying the Norwegian specialities in the excellent restaurant. From £698pp including flights (Heathrow), transfers and 3 nights’ half board with lunch packs. Call AITO member Inntravel on 01653 617000

Nagano, Japan 1998
A week in Japan combining the white slopes of Hakuba and neon lights of Tokyo from £622 pp
Stay for five nights in the Hakuba Valley, deep in the Japanese Alps of Honshu and home to eight resorts which hosted the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. With the ski season running to the end of April, the seven-night holiday costs £622 pp including two nights’ hotel accommodation in Tokyo and five nights lodge accommodation in Hakuba with breakfast, airport transfers, transport between destinations and information pack. Flights with Swiss, with departures from Heathrow and Manchester, start from £475 pp. Call AITO member InsideJapan Tours on 0117 314 4621

Salt Lake City, USA, 2002
Park City, Utah - 7 nights’ B&B from £1,025 pp
Park City, within easy reach of other Utah top skiing areas Deer Valley and The Canyons, offers ideal skiing for all the family. With numerous ski schools, over 100 restaurants and bars and only 40 minutes from Salt Lake City, 7 nights’ B&B from 22 February at the popular family-run 3* Park City Peaks Hotel with flights and transfers costs from £1,135pp. Call AITO member Ski Safari on 01273 224 060

Vancouver, Canada 2010
Olympic spectator sports in Whistler - £2,680 pp for a week
Visit Whistler this March and enjoy the resort, its slopes and all the excitement of the biggest winter sports event on the planet! With the Peak 2 Peak gondola to Blackcomb, fantastic snow and a multitude of Olympic events, Whistler is bound to appeal to all. A week at the luxurious 5* Chateau Whistler costs £1,709pp, based on 2 sharing, including flights and transfers. Call AITO member Frontier Ski on 020 8776 8709

Ian Bradley

The Brits embraced the idea of a staycation last year, keen to do our bit to keep the economy afloat by spending money at home and saving on flights, but 2010 has started with murmurs of discontent amongst UK holiday providers. They believe that this year could be an “annus horribilis” as travellers are once again swayed by the lure of foreign travel. The increasing strength of the pound also makes visitors from overseas less likely to plug the gap in the market and the tourist deficit of £17 billion is certain to grow even wider.

We had a chat with Simon Tregoning, MD of Classic Cottages who represents over 600 cottages across the West Country. He takes the view that 2011 is the year when the UK will make a recovery for domestic tourism and has genuine concerns about 2010. Classic Cottages is a well-known accommodation provider with clever marketing, an award winning brochure and a loyal clientele, but there must be concerns for some of the more niche providers out there and Visit Britain must be worried too.

Nobody wants to see a repeat of 2009, the bankers threw our savings away, the government tightened the noose a bit more and the Met Office couldn’t tell a snowflake from a Cadbury’s (Kraft?) Flake. The year ahead should be a welcome return to form for tour operators offering overseas travel but let’s also give domestic tourism a chance, there is so much to see in the UK.

We dropped in on friends in Cornwall last week for the day (a nano-break!?) to take in some sights and have lunch at just one of the incredible restaurants near Newquay, another reminder of the reassures in our own backyard.

Ian Bradley