Grab some last minute snow once the half term crowds have dispersed. The Tyrolean village of Dobbiaco ticks both the cultural and quality skiing boxes thanks to its overlap of Italian and Austrian influences – from painted houses and onion-domed churches to Baroque castles and chic coffee bars – and the all-important presence of world-class ski trails, the most extensive network in the Dolomites.

Dobbiaco is a great place to enjoy guided cross-country skiing as well as independent skiing, with trails even starting at the hotel door. While ideal for beginners to the sport, the snow mecca has hosted the World Cup Cross Country Ski Championships four times making it equally suited those keen to finesse their skills.

The eight day “Cross Country Skiing in Dobbiaco” holiday starts from £899pp, departing 27 February 2010. The price includes four-star accommodation for seven nights with breakfasts and dinners, five two-hour cross country skiing lessons, weekly trail pass with free transport on the regular ski bus, ski equipment hire (skis, boots and poles) and airport transfers. With flights, prices start from £1,148 per person for travelling Gatwick to Innsbruck with Thomson Airways but can be arranged from most UK airports.
? Call Headwater on 01606 720199 or book online at www.headwater.com

Youngsters ‘Lap’ Up a Christmas Trip of Lifetime
First Choice and Thomson Airways Team Up with Family Holiday Association to Support Underprivileged Families

Christmas is getting off to a flying start for around 100 children, parents and teachers as family holiday company First Choice and its airline Thomson Airways jet them off to snowy Lapland for a fairytale trip of a lifetime.

On Thursday 10 December, the children from Delce Junior School in Kent will board the specially decorated, ‘Reindeer-powered’ Thomson Airways aircraft and will be treated to a magical day in the winter wonderland of Lapland. They will enjoy an action-packed day of festive fun including husky rides, snowmobiles, meeting Rudolph and his friends – and of course a visit to meet the Big Man himself!

This special Christmas flight will be taking place in association with the Family Holiday Association and the children have been selected from low-income families and most have never been overseas before. For the Family Holiday Association, this daytrip provides a unique launch to the beginning of a three year school-centred project providing simple UK breaks aimed at improving the lives of pupils from low-income families. The project hopes to encourage greater engagement and trust between school and families, enhance relationships and produce real and tangible benefits not just for the participants but the whole community. It will encompass the whole school community but with a focus on those children and families most likely to benefit.

A break away from the stresses and strains of everyday life brings considerable benefits particularly to those families least able to afford a holiday. A simple break away from home has also been shown to help build stronger, happier families.

Dermot Blastland, TUI Travel Managing Director, said: “As the UK’s leading family holiday company, we fully understand the value of spending quality time together away from home. We are absolutely delighted to be able to make this Christmas extra special for these families and to demonstrate our continued commitment to this worthwhile charity.”

John McDonald, Director of the Family Holiday Association, said: “Thanks to First Choice and Thomson Airways we are able to give these children a Christmas treat they will never forget! For many of these families, it’s a very rare opportunity to spend some quality time together away from the stresses of everyday life.”