One valuable tip for planning a ski vacation--get all of your necessary items in a single package or as some travel agents refer to it--"bundling." In simple terms it means to get your airline tickets, hotel accommodations, car rental, lift tickets all from a single source at same time. Some agencies will even make arrangements for off-slope activities that you are interested in. These inclusive packages make vacationing easy, affordable, convenient and fun. Use online searches to find best resorts, most affordable prices and best travel companies.

A ski vacation can provide you and your family perfect break during long, dark winter months, and allow you to experience some quality bonding time. Picture your family conquering slopes, making snow angels, riding snowmobiles or soaking in heavenly heated pool as brilliant stars twinkle brightly overhead. You can choose from a wide array of destinations, accommodations and flight plans. No matter where you want to ski or snowboard, you will find best deals on Internet.

Whether you are an experienced downhill racer, a beginning snowboarder, or someone in between, you can get a mountain of free skiing information by doing some research on Internet. Comparison shop and gain knowledge you need to become a smart ski shopper!

Munich —

As wonderful of a city as Copenhagen is, tourist route begins to lose its luster and rails are calling me East. I've been to Germany before so I wasn’t interested in staying for too long, but food and beer would be a shame to miss — yet another perk of train travel. Local trains can always be caught if you simply feel like ending up in a small town outside Munich, ordering a heaping lunch and a few giant steins of local brew and making your way out same day. Needless to say, between Frankfurt and Hungarian border I was full, comfortably brewed-up, and happy as beautiful sites of central Europe flew by.

As can be expected, this type of life can take it’s toll on a person’s ability to remain conscious. By chance, when my body and mind were screaming for sleep, I happened upon a rather quiet train car. In fact, at one point a person was asked to keep noise down behind me. I thought there was going to be some sort of movie starting that necessitated such silent attention until I realized that some of train cars are specifically designated for lazy kind of traveler that I felt like being. They are quiet cars and I will snore my praises of them for years to come.

Budapest —

A city full of history, incredible architecture, and beautiful women. As you walk around city you get a definite stench of former socialist society coupled with an obvious existence of capitalist growth. The city sits on banks of Danube. The Pest side is where you would find a much more built-up city center with malls and shopping areas, not to mention late night venues. You can imagine my desire to visit other side of river.

The other side of river is Buda part of city (are you picking up on basis of name yet?). A little quieter and lush, Buda contains some beautiful homes and sites. The Gelhert Hill, marked by a statue that can be reached by hiking paths, offers an incredible view of city. I was lucky enough to meet a lovely local named Janka and I was invited to a dinner party. Hungarians are often seen as slightly less personable than some western European counterparts. This can be chalked up to a very dry sense of humour. I can attest, however, that this is not case at all. After a great, home-cooked meal and a few cocktails in a quaint apartment in hills filled with great people, including Zigga (who I knew for a few days and offered me a lift to train station), and of course beautiful Janka; I would say that kindness and generosity are staples in social diet of Hungarians. They also have an uncanny ability to have a good time.

Again, some relaxation is in order after seeing so many sites.

Read this entire feature FREE with photos at: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/sports02/adventure/trains/raileurope/student/eurail.html

By David Lazzarion, Canada, Correspondent, Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com