Cheap Holidays - Package holidays, Flights, Thomson & Thomas Cook holidays

USA...

Description

Panoramic views, the fresh smell of evergreen trees, blue sunny skies, mounds of snow, endless slopes andapres’ ski – picture the Colorado Rockies. The Colorado Rockies have been attracting skiers ever since the first ski hill opened in 1914. The alpine villages with their snow covered mountains offer some of the best skiing and boarding in the world.Mogul mashers, cruisers, snowboarders “grabbing air” on the hill or the half pipe - winter athletes of all abilities will find riveting places to ski and board in the Colorado Rockies.

Wintersports

Wintersports: The USA offers some of the world's best skiing runs, particularly in the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada. The Rocky Mountain States (and Colorado in particular) are particularly good for downhill skiing, the best-known resorts including Aspen, Big Sky, Jackson Hole and Vail. In the Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe is the major ski destination. Cross-country skiing is also well catered for, with backcountry ski lodges scattered around mountainous areas along both coasts (New England and California) and in the Rockies. Minnesota, Wisconsin and Wyoming are also good destinations for cross-country skiing. Information on cross-country skiing can be obtained from the Cross Country Ski Areas Association (website: www.xcski.org). In the past few years, snowboarding has become increasingly popular, and plenty of ski resorts now offer half pipes and board rental.

Climate

The average snowfall at the ski resorts in Colorado ranges from 250 – 330 inches (700 cm) per year.This large amount of snowfall combined with lots of sunny weather makes for some wonderful ski conditions.Chinooks winds, a warm wind that can blow in across the mountains, can make for some unseasonably warm days even in the middle of January. Colorado’s ski season usually begins in November and continues until April. However the true enthusiasts can ski into the summer. Arapaho Basin, with the highest ski terrain in North America, has a ski season that frequently extends into June and occasionally July.

Local Time

Colorado Daylight Saving Time DST from April 3, 2005 until October 30, 2005
Pacific Standard Time (PST) = GMT-7
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) = GMT-6

Health

Health care: Medical insurance providing cover up to at least US$500,000 is strongly advised. Only emergency cases are treated without prior payment and treatment will often be refused without evidence of insurance or a deposit. All receipts must be kept in order to make a claim. Medical facilities are generally of an extremely high standard. Many medications available over the counter in other countries require a prescription in the US. Those visiting the USA for long periods with school-age children should be aware that school entry requirements include proof of immunisation against diphtheria, measles, poliomyelitis and rubella throughout the USA, and schools in many States also require immunisation against tetanus, pertussis and mumps. HIV-positive visitors must apply at the Embassy for a waiver of inadmissibility before entry.

Customs & Duty Free

Duty Free: The following goods may be imported by visitors over 21 years of age into the USA without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 2kg of smoking tobacco or proportionate amounts of each; 0.95l (1qt) of alcoholic beverage; gifts or articles up to a value of US$100.

Passport & Visa

PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all; validity varies - for most countries it is required for the duration of the stay; check with the Embassy.

VISAS: Required by all except the following:
(a) citizens of countries under the Visa Waiver Program (see 2. below);
(b) 1. nationals of Bermuda and Canada, provided holding valid passports;
(c) nationals of Mexico, provided holding a valid passport and a US Border Crossing Card.