If you are a fan of winter sports and looking for a valuable alternative for your winter break on the mountains, check what Romania has to offer. With many places for you to ski or snowboard, Romania can be your next winter alternative destination. Beyond the famous Transylvania road, Dracula stories and number of beautiful castles cand fostresses, Romania has many slopes for locals and visitors to enjoy. Even though it may be known as a ski destination, the country still has many picturesque surroundings and a number of slopes to suit all abilities. Definitely a great alternative to the expensive Alps.



WHERE TO SKI

Just a few hours drive from Bucharest, the country's capital, you will get to the range of ski slopes stretching from Brasov, Sibiu to Sinaia. The famous location for skiing in Romania is Poiana Brasov.  It is the leading ski resort in the country and is set in the beautiful Carpathian Mountains. Apart from numerous slopes, you may also find a ski school or ski hire shop around in case you haven't brought your equipment for you.



The area has many other ski areas where you can enjoy different slopes. Definitely worth to go to Sinaia as well for skiing. The ski resort Sinaia is located in Prahova County (Romania). Offering 18 km of slopes and terrain, Sinaia is among the 3 largest Ski Resorts in Romania. Sinaia is known for its pretty Peles castle which is beautiful during the winter and summer times as well.

Smaller ski areas in between these counties are for example Predeal, which is the highest town in Romania, Busteni or Azuga. Azuga is a new resort in the Prahova Valley of the Baiului Mountains. These ski towns may be smaller compared to Sinaia or Poiana Brasov, in terms of a town size as well as number of slopes. However, a great place to change the atmosphere or for some practice run. They are also definitely less busy and cheaper compared to others. If you have a car, it is easy to travel in between cities as they are about 1-2 hours apart from each other.

A bit further from this area is Sibiu, where you can find more ski resorts. There are two options for skiers close to Sibiu, both in the small resort of Paltinis, 17km from the city center. The first is what is now known as the Old Slope, or Partia Oncesti. served by a chair-lift located at the entrance of the older part of Paltinis, while the second is the newer Arena Platos complex five kilometers back down the road to Sibiu.


WHERE TO STAY

There is number of larger or small towns where you can stay. Depending on your travel opportunities, time and purpose of travel, you can find a place suitable for your needs. If you are looking to do more then just going skiing or snowboarding, definitely check hotels in Brasov, Poiana Brasov, Sibiu or Sinaia. Larger cities will give you more options for sightseeing, dining or shopping. However, if you are looking to enjoy the mountains, seek for hotels and resorts close to the ski slopes. You will save time traveling to the ski slope and you'll enjoy some fresh air and views. Definitely book in advance, as it can get busy during the peak season. Check for hotels as well as Airbnb options. PS: Make sure to book via my links to get discounts!

Booking.com



HOW TO GET THERE

The closest airport to Poiana Brasov and it's surrounding ski resorts area is Bucharest, which is around 2 hours and 30 minutes away. The best way to get there is either by hiring a car, which will give you the flexibility to travel at your own time, carry your equipment and also to go to different ski places nearby. Alternatively, there is a train from Bucharest to Brasov, which is the nearest larger city, from where you will have to change to a local bus to get to your ski resorts.


WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

A couple of notes on what you should know before you travel:

1. Check skiing updates and weather on official websites before you decide where to go. It may be partially closed or totally closed due to not enough snow or too bad weather. So always check before in case you want to change a skiing town.

2. Carry cash with you, because you'll need it for ski hire, buying ski passes or food and drink at the ski resort.

3. Hire a car if possible. It will give you the flexibility to travel to different ski towns in between in case some of them may be closed or you want to simply try different slopes. In addition, you may be also able to go sight-seeing in between and visit some beautiful castles and fortresses around the area.

4. Prices of ski hire, ski schools or getting on slopes depend on locations. Some may be cheaper than others. In addition, you may be paying either by a full day pass, half a days pass or buying pay as you go pass.

5. If you are in the mountain areas, definitely try out "papanasi".  Traditional Romanian fried doughnuts made with cottage cheese and topped with smetana and jam. This desert may be available in any restaurant in Romania, but famous to eat in the mountains!

The sheer trend is something that is always around already, and at any season. In winter you can layer up and in the summertime to show your skin. However, wearing sheer may not be comfortable for everyone, and knowing how to wear it is also tricky, because you may end up not really fashionable at all. Below is a round-up of 5 ways how you can wear sheet looks outside.

1. Sheer statement sleeves

Wear some romantic and chic blouses with sheer sleeves for some edge. It's a splashier alternative to your everyday button-down and can instantly snazz up a pair of blue jeans.
I absolutely love sheer details and sleeves of tops and blouses. I think they add edge and sophistication to the look without too much effort. I am wearing Femme Luxe Finery top with dotted sheer sleeves.






2. Bright and bold

If you dare, wear the sheer top with a nice lace bra or a tank top underneath. Choose classic sheer tops, coloured ones or with some lace or embroidery details.



3. Swim cover-up

Use sheer dresses for your summer vacations to slip into it with your swimwear. You may also use the dress to layer up for a city. Slip into tank top and jeans and pair it up with the sheer dress. Try out embroidery, lace or black satin dresses to highlight the whole look.


4. Sheer pencil skirt

Update your party wardrobe with a sheer-paneled skirt. The detail looks especially fête-ready and styles nicely with a bejeweled bag and statement heels — all that's left to add is a cute top.



5. High neck sheer blouses

Cute sheer blouses and preferably with high neck are always a good choice when wanting to look semi-formal. You can pair it casually with a denim jeans too for an everyday city look.


Shop your next sheer look here:

Are you planning a trip to Cambodia? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’re going to take a look at all of the places you should stop off and visit on your next trip to this jewel of a country in Southeast Asia.

Banlung

People who travel to Cambodia want to experience the local culture and get a sense of how local people live their lives. While the capital is a great starting point, it is only when you get out into the countryside that you see how regular Cambodians really live.

Banlung is a popular stop-off on Cambodia tours and one of the most laid-back places in the whole of southeast Asia. Here, people aren’t so bothered about getting ahead or trying to make their next million. Instead, they continue to live in much the same way that they have always done. There’s a real sense of community and family here, and a welcoming atmosphere for tourists that you don’t usually find in the big cities.

Battambang

Battambang, like Banlung, is a little bit off the beaten track as far as Cambodian tourist destinations go, but it has a lot to offer.

Its most famous attraction is its bamboo train experience where visitors travel in bamboo carriages out of the town to the countryside beyond and then back again. The settlement is also the location of some of the darkest moments of the country's history, with local burial sites for victims of the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge.

Pub Street In Siam Reap

Siam Reap is one of the most beautiful areas in the whole of Cambodia, brimming with local people going about their business. If you’re in Siam Reap, don’t feel pressured into visiting Angkor Wat immediately. Instead, spend some time taking in the local ambiance and exploring the culture.

Meeting new people is always one of the most fun things to do on your travels. If you have the urge to get to know fellow tourists and locals, then head on over to Pub Street - a part of the town brimming with neon lights and signs. You can’t miss it. Pub Street is one of the most affordable drinking locations on Earth. Low wages and taxes mean that you can pick up a beer here for less than 50p, which is incredible when you think about how much the same drink would cost in London.

Kampot

Most people imagine that they will just travel through Kampot or stay for a couple of hours before moving on. The town, however, has a habit of making people fall in love with it, encouraging them to spends days, not hours, soaking up its atmosphere.

Kampot has considerable French overtones thanks to its colonial history. The food here, therefore, has significant Francophone influence. Top of the list of things to try is the local pepper crab covered in the town’s trademark pepper sauce.



So there you have it: four destinations that need to be a part of your Cambodia trip itinerary.

What a magical number combination, and the year of 2020 is just around the corner, so it is time to plan ahead and make the most of it. Not just because of the beautiful number, but also it is a start of a new decade. So make it remarkable and enjoyable. That goes for anything you do, from your studies, career, relationships or even things to enrich your life and you as a person.

Take a Banff Gondola ride and hike up to the top of Sulphur Mountain