Have A White Holiday

St Moritz, probably the world's best ski resort, located 200 km from Zurich in Switzerland, is also known as the 'Rooftop Of The World'. With majestic snow-laden mountain ranges, St Moritz has the sun shining on it for more than 322 days in a year! While some imagine it to be a quaint Alpine village, it isn't - it has got all the trappings of a glitzy, fast-paced winter resort, which offers exciting winter sporting activities from downhill skiing, snowboarding, ski jumping and horse racing to the most exciting, bobsledding. In January, you'll be privy to some of the richest and most famous celebs here to bobrun in a race that lasts barely a minute, but sends thrills down your spine! Last seen doing the runs were the Prince of Monaco, tennis star Anna Kournikova and our very own Sonali Bendre doing the bobsled circuit.

For the shopaholic , St Moritz is an attractive destination with premium designer brands housed in beautiful boutiques and stores trimming the edges of this slope-filled region. There's Cartier, Herve Leger, Bucherer, Prada, Dolce Gabbana, Gucci, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Jil Sander, Versace, DKNY, Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, and Escada to name a few. We noticed cashmere was hot here, and the crowds headed to the Hawick Cashmere, a store that sold ethereal woollen stoles, scarves and sweaters. Another must-try are the local Swiss brands of chocolates like Caliers, Branche and Minor. And of course, if you can afford 'em buy some traditional handmade, handcrafted Alpine lace wall hangings - very expensive, but very beautiful indeed!

Useful tip : Carry your shades (the sun's reflection on white snow can hurt your eyes!), trekking boots (if you don't want to slip on the snowy slopes) and an automatic camera (which works even in sub-zero temperatures)!

European Excitement

Exciting times for Indian travellers ahead! Now, it's Europe and you have two exciting options from SOTC:

Option 1: A 10-day European Experience Tour, at Rs 49,900 per person, which includes destinations like London, Brussels, Cologne, the Rhineland, Heidelberg, the Black Forest, Paris, and four full days in Switzerland.

Option 2: A 14-day Grand Tour of Europe at Rs 69,900 per person, and includes visits to Venice, Florence, Rome, Pisa, London, Brussels, Cologne, the Rhineland, Heidelberg, the Black Forest, Paris and five days in Switzerland.

The tour prices include economy class return airfare, accommodation, breakfast, dinner, sightseeing, coach tours, transfers, entrance fees and the assistance of a tour manager or a local representative.

For more details, call 022-56617500 or log onto www.sotctours.com

A Round Trip To Paradise

South African Tourism, together with 11 Indian trade partners, has put together an awesome package that makes South Africa an easy-to-reach destination! For Rs 75,000, here's what you will get:

➢ Six nights in SA

➢ All domestic airfares for your travel between cities in SA, airport and hotel transfers

➢ Six nights acco in four-star luxury hotels

➢ At least one African safari to see the big five - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino; and at least two one-day tours of historic and cultural sites

➢ A whole lot of leisure time to spend on shopping and indulge at the casinos. Hurry, 'cos the offer lasts till the end of October only!

For more details, you can call any of the following travel agents in your city: SOTC, Cox & Kings, Thomas Cook, Shree Raj Travels, Beacon Holidays, Griffon Travels, Quantum Holidays, Bulls & Bears Travel & Tours, GEM Travels, Pearl Holidays and Dejavu Holidays; or log onto www.southafrica.net