Chic ski chalet in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Eurostar has opened ticket sales for its new services from London to the French Alps.  

Ski apartments and chalets in prime locations can book up quickly, says HomeAway Holiday-Rentals, and advises travelers to start looking for their perfect ski holiday home.

The company features 37,000+ ski properties worldwide.

HomeAway Holiday-Rentals has selected its favorite ski chalets to rent in popular ski destinations around the world.

Here is the company’s Top 10 Ski Chalets on its website:

1 Chamonix, France: Luxury ski chalet at the foot of Mont Blanc;

2. Serre-Chevalier, France: Architect-designed chalet with spa, home cinema and wine cellar;

3. Meribel, France: Traditional ski chalet a few minutes from Meribel centre;

4. Saas Fee, Switzerland: Luxury holiday chalet with sauna and whirlpool spa;

5. Zermatt, Switzerland: Modern and airy chalet with lovely mountain views;

6. Carinthia, Austria: Exclusive holiday chalet in dream location, Nockberge/Bad Kleinkirchheim;

7. Dolomites/South Tyrol, Italy:  Charming and cosy chalet in the Dolomites;

8. Whistler, Canada: Luxury townhome with private hot tub;

9. Farellones, Chile: Stunning rental chalet comprised of lower and middle level apartments and

10. South Island, New Zealand: Chic chalet in Queenstown with beautiful views.

For more info, visit the HomeAway Holiday-Rentals site.

Here are more scenes of the Top 10 Ski Chalets:

Living room in luxury townhome in Whistler, Canada.

Wellness and massage area in ski chalet in Zermatt, Switzerland.

Outdoor dining, Chalet La Moraine, Chamonix, France.

Images courtesy of HomeAway Holiday-Rentals

Breakfast at Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, South Africa.

Planning a luxury adventure retreat?  Then think about Virgin Limited Edition which are Sir Richard Branson’s privately-owned collection of luxury retreats.

These worldwide retreats are known for their “stunning locations, magnificent surroundings and offering a sense of fun, style, luxury and exceptional personal service.”  The collection includes:

• Necker Island in the Caribbean’s British Virgin Islands;
• Ulusaba Private Game Reserve in South Africa;
• Sa Terra Rotja in Mallorca;
• The Roof Gardens and Babylon Restaurant in London;
• Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco;
• The Lodge in Verbier;
• Necker Belle, a 105 foot luxury catamaran and
• Necker Nymph, a three man aero submarine.

If you’re traveling to South Africa, host of the World Cup 2010, Ulusaba offers daily game viewing drives in its 13, 500 hectares.  The retreat also features daily walking safaris when you can learn more about plants, wildlife and local culture.

For more info, visit VirginLimitedEdition.com.

Image courtesy of Virgin Limited Edition

Holiday home rentals can be greener and less expensive accommodations for your next mountain trip. 

Homeaway.co.uk features 10,000+ budget rentals worldwide including modern apartments with mountain views, spacious houses and villas in Europe, Africa, South America and Asia.

Here are the latest Top 10 Budget Holiday Homes on HomeAway.co.uk:

1. BULGARIA: Modern, high standard apartment in the Magic Dreams resort, Sveti Vlas.

2. ITALY: Beautiful apartment in Umbria with private pool and breathtaking views.

3. COSTA DEL SOL: Brand new apartment overlooking Miraflores Golf Course in Mijas Costa.

4. SLOVENIA: Quiet apartment in beautiful village with mountain views, Mojstrana.

5. THAILAND: Large villa with private pool and Jacuzzi minutes from beach.

6. MEXICO: Colorful house with spectacular views in San Miguel de Allende.

7. PARIS: Charming one bedroom apartment near Bastille and Marais.

8. ISTANBUL: Deluxe flat in the city centre.

9. MARRAKESH: Recently restored fully staffed riad in Marrakech Medina.

10. LONDON: Spacious house close to Wimbledon and within easy reach of main central attractions.

For more info, check out HomeAway.co.uk.

Image courtesy of HomeAway.co.uk.

If you’re planning a road trip in the Dolomites, take a look at the UK company Wicked Campers.

The bargain campervan company is known for its “funky accommodation and wheels all rolled in to one wicked campervan.”  For mountain travelers in Europe, it’s a brilliant way to travel and  camp in style, comfort and on a budget.

Wicked Campers offers a choice of two and five-seater Toyota vans equipped with a bed for two, table, basic built-in kitchen, camping chairs, CD player and storage space and additional tents for larger groups.  What makes the campers “funky” is each van is individually graffitied like no other.

All Wicked Campers’ vans come with insurance and 24-hour roadside assistance which is valid in the UK and the rest of Europe.  They are available for one-way or round-trip hire.  Depots are located in London, Dundee, Loch Ness, Belfast, Amsterdam, Munich, Barcelona, Malaga, San Benedetto and Verditz.

For more info, check out Wicked Campers online.

Image courtesy of the Italian State Tourist Board.