Austria

Snow fans can pack their skis, boards and sledges early because resorts across Europe have opened early this year on the back of heavy snowfall. While Geilo in Norway has welcomed skiers three weeks early, the Telegraph reported, the more meteorologically-sensitive piste on the Scottish Cairngorm Mountain has seen people skiing a month in advance of 2007’s opening date. Meanwhile, Hintertux in Austria, which had 120cm of snow in early November expected 55cm more over the middle of the month while forecasts for Obergurgl in the country also stood at 50cm, which has also scheduled an early opening. Zermatt and neighbouring Sass-Fee resorts in Switzerland were expecting half a metre of snow by mid-November. This news comes in addition to two metres of snow that fell at the beginning of the month. One pass for the Tux Valley Snow is up on the imposing Hintertux glacier that overshadows the single-pass ski pass slopes of the Tux Valley. This resort was created from family run houses and smaller resorts on the valley, which have turned into the best hotels in Hintertux. Luxury is on the menu at several of the hotels in the Hintertux while keeping with the traditional aspects of life on these mountains. The range has been commended for its raw beauty, which yields slopes for advanced skiers and beginners. A single pass sees skiers enjoy slopes to the Ziller Valley, Mayrhofen and more. Other activities include tennis, mountain sports and a growing apres ski scene. Pick your peak in Zermatt and Sass-fee Sass-fee may not have the train access that hotels in Zermatt do, but it has the peaks – 13 of them towering at 4000 metres plus, including the Matternhorn. The more snow, the higher they become, with melting snow from the Fairy Glacier sending water into the Sass-Fee village. There is plenty of affordable accommodation in Zermatt while Sass-Fee hotels are cheaper at the start of the season as well. Buses run to the village of Sass-Fee, which boasts brightly lit boutiques full of character and charm. Alpin Express runs one of the highest underground funicular systems in the world to the top of 3,5 ... Read More

Favoured by the opera lovers of Vienna, Steirereck is one of the Austrian capital's premier restaurants.With luxurious decor and a lavish selection of food and drink, the eatery also benefits from a fantastic location in the heart of the city.Located in the central city park, Stadtpark, it overlooks the Wienfluss promenade.Diners can pick liquer, bonbons, cigars and cheese from the old-fashioned dinner carts that roll through the restaurant, while they sample some food from the extensive menu of traditional Viennese dishes alongside more modern Austrian recipes, with offerings such as smoked catfish, turbot in an avocado crust, or char on a bed of white garlic sauce.Or if the heavy food is too much, head to the more casual eatery downstairs - the dairy bar Meierei is famous for offering 19 different types of milk, from full-cream to strawberry, coconut to geranium.The Stadtpark covers 65,000 sq m and is home to a number of attractions including a 19th-century spa pavilion and a 1920s guilded bronze monument of Austrian composer Johann Strauss II.

An absolute must for anyone who likes snowboarding and music, the fantastic Snowbombing event in Austria's Mayrhofen resort in Tirol returns with a vengeance this year.The festival hosts an awesome line-up of music every year and this year is no exception, with the likes of the Pigeon Detectives, Calvin Harris, Madness and Dirty Pretty Things entertaining the hoardes of bright young things who flock to the week long party.Top DJs from all over Europe are also flown in to delight the energetic crowds, while 50 of the world's best snowboarders compete on the slopesTaking over the entire resort, sounds systems play all day and night.Revellers can dance the night away at a host of great parties and can even try a spot of fancy dress, with themes arranged in advance this year including 'superheroes in the snow' and 'Tayo's tracksuit party'. You won't find any school discos in this neck of the woods.Mayrhofen is a large ski resort with 159 kms of slopes and 49 lifts, catering for all standards of skiers and snowboarders.

Modern, stylish and fantastically situated, the Hotel Stein is the perfect place to stay while visiting Salzburg.Boasting a fantastic array of facilities including a rooftop cafe and bar, as well as 55 stunning boutique bedrooms, the newly renovated hotel is the height of luxury.Exulting the suites, the rooms are either decorated in a more ornate Mozart style, or the modern yet stylish Stein design.Breakfast is served in a beautiful dining salon, while guests head to the outdoor eatery during the warmer months to marvel at the outlook.Stunning views from the roof terrace overlook the most beautiful parts of the Austrian city, including the historic old town centre.Ideal for tourists and business travellers alike, the building caters for seminars and events.Although it has been radically modernised, the venue retains much of the charm and elegance of its original 18th-century structure.Salzburg's old town is a Unesco World Heritage Site and houses stunning baroque architecture.The city is also famous as the birthplace of Mozart.