What are some of the best vacation destinations over Christmas?

“Home is the most ideal place for a family to gather during the holidays”, says JoAnn Toole, travel agent with Quartus Global Travel. When planning to visit with family and friends for the holidays, you will want to start thinking about flight reservations in early fall. Wait much longer than that, and you may end up frustrated and broke. You can look for airfare prices on the internet, and follow that up by calling the airlines to compare prices. However, a travel can eliminate a lot of the pain by doing it for you. When arranging your holiday travel schedule, let the travel agent know exactly what your needs are. Suggest alternate airports you may be willing to use. Try to fly out a few days early and return late, if possible. Avoid traveling on weekends as well. If you are buying gifts for your family, you should mail them before you leave. You will not want to bring wrapped gifts to the airport. Also, do not miss your flight; it could cost you a hundred dollars a person or more. If you know there is going to be a large crowd gathering at the family home and not enough beds, you may want to buy some space and peace for yourself and get a hotel room. You can arrange a hotel discount if you have the agent reserve your hotel room along with your plane tickets. When spending time with the family, you will want a change of scenery. “You and your family can jump in the car and take day trips to your closest ski lodge where you can enjoy the snow, the slopes and each other,: ads Mrs. Toole. You can go Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, snow mobile riding, or downhill skiing, depending on your location. If no one in your immediate circle lives near a ski resort, then perhaps you all want to meet there instead. Some of the most popular ski locations in the United States are Vail, Colorado, Breckenridge, Colorado; Mammoth Mountain, Central California, Heavenly Mountain, Northern California, Copper Mountain, Colorado. Please visit the National Ski Areas. If one of these is not in your area, use the internet to find a ski or snow recreation venue near you. Remember to be safe when it comes to venture forth in the snow. Before you go, visit the National Avalanche Center online. Winter sports are often the causes of many injuries. Do not attempt a new sport if your fitness level is questionable. Head indoors when you are tired because most injuries happen when you are tired. Also, drink plenty of water, even when you are out in the cold, wear sun block, and be sure your equipment fits properly. Many states require use of helmets designed for skiing or snowboarding, so be sure to grab some for every member of your party. If you are new to the sport, take classes instead of going solo and always follow the rules of the slopes. You should ski or snowboard solo, in case you are injured. Also, wear layers of warm, close-fitting clothing.