Jody Brown's family travel blog

Have you experienced snow and that chills through your veins making you feel excited? Well, if you would like to feel it like you never feel it before, travelling to Czech Republic would be the best idea for you. The only thing is that, you have to think first about the place where you would stay. You could choose for different apartments like Prague apartments, Budapest apartments and even with Krakow apartments. After then, you could pursue your sole purpose of visiting Czech Republic.

Ski areas even provide different services including pubs and restaurants over the mountain. The Newcomers for the winter sports scene are also looking out for the Czech mountains, as the rental shops are providing both ski materials as well as experienced and skilled instructors for helping those novice skiers. Here are some of the ski areas where you could get on:

Krkonose Mountains

These are actually the highest and popular mountains in Bohemia. The place is best known for ski areas, due to its mountain range and it includes Pec Pod, Snezkou,Spindleruv, Rokytnice nad Jizerou and Harrachov. The excellent conditions actually ensure that even the most demanding skier or snowboarder will surely have great places to choose from.

Pec pod Snezkou

This area actually makes up one of the largest areas for skiing in Czech Republic, letting visitors to ski on all of the mountains using only a one pass for ski. There is about 4 cable cars available and 28 ski lift and about 26.6 km of ski runs. There is also a regular scheduled ski bus shuttles skiers in between every area. Apart from skiing, Janske Lazne also offers skiers as well as snowboarders with wide array of choices for their relaxation and it even includes fitness and wellness center.

Spindleruv Mlyn

This ski area is offering about 26km run and 100km for the cross-country trails. Recently, it offers faster and longer cable car having new and modernized terminal. If you would like to ski for more and get some edgy and cute place, this one will surely give you the best of what you need.

Harrachov

It also offers different cross-country trails and downhill. Apart from those, it is well known for those ski-jumping fans. Its 8-ski jumps already have been witnessed by a number of people and also broken down the world record. Thus, it only makes the area to be one of the best places for World Cup Circuit for Ski Jumping. Its history is also related with the glass production and the former glassworks from it is now made a museum. Thus, one could surely see some of the oldest cut glass in the whole wide world.

Rokytnice nad Jizerou

It simply completes the ski areas in Czech Republic. A number of downhill slopes simply entice skiers of different levels. The mountain even provides different services that one would surely enjoy. Visitors of all regions could even take the advantage of this free ski bus for the season.

If you would like to enjoy the snow, while feeding up your hobby, considering a visit for the skiing spots in Czech Republic would be the best thing.

Amsterdam is one European capital that receives millions of tourists every year. It has much to offer to the visitors in terms of historic sites and breathtaking natural scenery. Amsterdam is considered a romantic city and thousands of honeymooners can be seen strolling on the streets of this historic yet cosmopolitan city. Amsterdam is also called a biking city because of the planned infrastructure for bikers with special biking lanes. This makes it easy for the tourists to move around the city on rented bikes that are easily available through a number of shops in the city. However, it is tougher than it seems for the foreign tourists, the reason being rough riding by local bikers as well as non adherence to safety tips. The network of streets can be very confusing for the visitors in addition to overwhelming traffic on roads of the city.

Before renting a bike of course, there is the problem of accommodation. As is the case with other European capitals, apartments in Amsterdam have become very popular with low rentals and bigger living space. Keeping your rented bikes in the parking space at the ground floor of apartments is also a factor in favor of the apartments. If you are coming from England, you must have seen a similar craze for apartments in London. If Hungary is your next stop, book apartments Budapest from Amsterdam itself.

• Do not go for a geared bike as it is unnecessary for a flat city like Amsterdam. Also, such high-tech bike might be problematic for you as it requires more care while driving than simple bikes.  When in a shop to rent a bike, do not go for bright colored cycles as these are mostly reserved for tourists and ring alarm bells for others on the roads as they know straightaway that you are a foreigner.

• Despite there being biking lanes meant only for cyclists, do not rent a bike until you feel you can do it confidently. Try to control the bike and if you feel it is beyond your capabilities, drop the idea of loving around the city on a bike altogether. There is no point taking a risk if you have never before rode a bike.

• You are not required to wear a helmet in Amsterdam while riding a bike. But always wear one for your own safety even if you are laughed at or ridiculed by locals in the city. You feel more confident and this is reflected in your driving also.

• Check the height of the cycle by sitting and trying to peddle without moving the bike. Your comfort while riding the bike is very important. Apply the brakes and see if the wheels come to rest quickly. Check the air pressure by pressing the tire by thumbs. Riding a bike with less air pressure will make you get tired earlier and also increases the chances of tire puncture.

• With so many dedicated bike lanes, it does not make sense to get to car lanes when you can remain safe using biking lanes. Stay in your lane and remain safe.

Krakow may be a small city in Poland with not a huge population like London or Paris but it is very popular, perhaps more than the capital city Warsaw. Not for nothing is Krakow called the cultural capital of Poland. It is a treasure house of historic sites, ruins of WW II, beautiful natural scenery and warm and friendly people. And yes, how could I miss out o one activity that is responsible for drawing millions of tourists from all parts of Europe, in fact entire world, the wild nightlife of Krakow. But what if you are in Krakow for a limited time, say just a day or two? Scheduling according to your liking is the only way out as there is so much to see and do that you may miss out on the best of the best.

Let me make it clear that irrespective of the duration of your stay, make sure you get for yourself a Krakow apartment just like you booked a Warsaw apartment where you landed when coming to Poland. If you plan to proceed to Austria, it is better to have an apartment in Vienna too. But this is really jumping the gun as you got to learn about 1 day tours in Krakow, isn’t it?

You can either take two short tours from Krakow that take around 3 hours each or you can take a single tour that consists of many destinations and takes more than 5 hours. There are lots of companies organizing day tours and you can choose from these tours depending upon your taste and inclination.

Auschwitz-Berkenau

This is not a place to make merry but a rather sober pace to remember and pay condolences to nearly 1.5 million Jews that got exterminated during WW II in a concentration camp located here. Though starting as a camp to detain Polish political prisoners, the camp soon turned into a place for genocide. Your guide will tell you some startling facts about prisons and gas chambers as well as crematorium. This is a tour that takes around 5-6 hours leaving enough time to take a short tour of the city in the evening. The price of the tour is $42.90 per person.

Zakopane town and Tatra Mountains

This hilly town is situated in the lap of Tatra Mountains that are like Alps and accessible from Krakow in a 2 hour drive. For those interested in nature and adventurous activities, the place provides excellent opportunities of skiing, paragliding, rock climbing, trekking and even cycling. The mountains provide mesmerizing and panoramic views and give an opportunity to be in th e lap of nature for some time.

Ojcow National Park

Those who have been to big national Parks may not think much of this small, just 21 square kilometer National park, but the fact that it is located just 15 minute drive from Krakow makes it special for all nature lovers. Just 24 km away from Krakow, the park is one of the best recreational activities that tourists can engage in, when in Krakow.