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Finding the perfect skiing destination with Ciao

Skiing is one of Europe’s favourite winter sports and with the season fast approaching, many people across the Continent, from novices to pros, will be thinking about booking a getaway and hitting the slopes. But with so many resorts to choose from, deciding where to go and how to find the perfect snow can be tricky.

If you’re looking to nab a bargain there’s always plenty of skiing holiday offers and deals to be found on ciao.co.uk.  To help you decide where to go this year we’ve included our favourite resorts and recommended travel dates for Europe’s top destinations below.

Spain
As the second most mountainous country in Europe (after Switzerland), Spain has several excellent ski centres with many offering snow boarding lessons as an option too. Resorts abound along the Northern boarder in the Pyrenees and there are also several highly recommended locations near several of the major cities including Madrid and Barcelona.

If you’re eager to book a last minute trip over the next couple of weeks, Spain is the best European destination to head to because the ski season is just about to get underway. To mark the start of the season, Madrid is holding the country’s annual National Skiing Fair from Friday 13th to Sunday 15th November. Taking place at the impressive Feria Internacional de Madrid the event plays host to a number of exhibitors and professionals, giving visitors the chance to seek advice before booking a holiday and pick up all the essential skiing gear to help plan for a trip.

Germany
Germany becomes a skier’s haven during the winter months with the season lasting from early December to mid-March.  If you fancy going to Germany this year there are several hot spots we recommend. Located at the Austrian border, Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany and with many testing black slopes it’s popular with the more experienced skiers looking to test their skills. Berchtesgaden in the German Bavarian Alps often has lots of last minute skiing bargains too.

France
The prime time for skiing in France is from February to March, so there’s still a little time to save for your trip if you’re not planning on getting away until 2010. France boasts a great variety of ski resorts for all kinds of tastes and abilities and among our favourites are Les Arcs, La Plagne and Chamonix.

On Ciao you can compare the prices of all the kit and equipment you could possibly need, to help you make the most of your money and keep you wrapped up warm when the chill sets in. And to make sure you look your best whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out we’ve included our list of must have essentials below:

Skis
Boots
Jacket
Trousers
Gloves
Goggles

First time skiers
If you haven’t been skiing before and are not sure what to buy there are plenty of suggestions and advice to help you get started on Ciao too. If you’re a beginner make sure you check out our tips for first timers here.

Are you a skiing fan? What do you consider essential kit for the slopes and where’s your favourite spot to go skiing? We’d love to hear your advice or if you have any tips for finding a great European resort please leave us a comment and share your thoughts!

Adding some sparkle to your Fireworks Night this year with Ciao

Fireworks Night is typically celebrated in the UK as it marks the downfall of the plot by Guy Fawkes to blow up the British Houses of Parliament on 5 November 1605. Thankfully, the scheme failed and every year the British celebrate with parties and huge organised events up and down the country. At Ciao, we really enjoy the fun and festivities of everything associated with Fireworks Night and it can be a great evening out for all the family.

Of course no night would be complete without the fireworks display itself and most events have big bonfires to help keep their guests warm on a cold November evening. Whether you’re having your own private gathering this year or attending a spectacular display, below are our ideas to help you sure make the most of your night.

Guy Fawkes effigy
One of the customs of Fireworks Night is making a Guy Fawkes effigy to burn on a bonfire.  If you’ve not made a puppet before, there are plenty of tips and tricks on ciao.co.uk to help you get started.

Sparklers and lights
Part of the excitement of Fireworks Night is the little extras that brighten up the evening such as sparklers and glowsticks and these are likely to be popular with guests too. Why not also check out Ciao’s range of colourful torches and fluorescent lanterns to add that extra special effect in the dark.

Food
Foods traditionally eaten on Guy Fawkes night include jacket potatoes, toffee apples, treacle sweets and parkin. If you want to whip up the perfect fireworks feast for your guests or fancy making a few treats for a party, there are lots of recipe suggestions on Ciao to help you get started.

Music
If you’re holding your own display, having the perfect soundtrack is really important to add to the ‘wow factor’ when the fireworks go off. Why not check out the range of suggested tracks on Ciao?

Clothing
Fireworks celebrations often go on late into the night, so it’s important to wrap up warm! On Ciao you can find some great deals on all those winter essentials including, fleeces, hats, scarves, gloves and earmuffs to make sure you are protected from the chill when the evening draws in.

If you are new to Fireworks night or would just like to brush up on your knowledge, why not have a look at the range of history, fact and fiction books on Ciao where you can also find tales about fireworks celebrations and other events that take place around the world. If you fancy watching a film, there’s a great fireworks DVD selection available too.

If you’ve not planned where to spend fireworks Night this year there are several big events happening across the country. In London, Alexandra Palace notoriously holds a fantastic display each year and there are also fireworks shows along the River Thames and on Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park. Elsewhere in the UK, West Park in Wolverhampton is holding a big event which includes a fun fair and a special show for children. At Bitts Park in Carlisle there will be a fire show as well as a huge bonfire and the town is expected to be busy with visitors from around the region who come to see the show. 

Most towns and cities will be holding their own displays and we’d love to hear about what you’re up to. Please let us know the different fireworks displays you have been to in the past and what you thought of them, or if you have any advice for planning the perfect fireworks party why not share your ideas with us and the Ciao community by commenting on this post!

ciao.co.uk partners with Insight Direct UK to extend its computer and electronic offering

London, 3rd November – Insight Direct UK is one of the world’s leading single source providers of IT products and services. Insight Direct continues to strengthen its presence in the UK market by announcing its partnership with Ciao, Europe’s leading shopping and consumer website.

The agreement will integrate Insight into the UK’s shopping portal www.ciao.co.uk offering a competitive range of computers, hardware and software as well as services ranging from basic configuration to advanced design implementation and financing.

Ciao customers will enjoy Insight’s enhanced technical and product support, preferential pricing, stock availability, leading brand names and the latest technology.

“We bring together expert knowledge, vendor accreditations and a full global presence, all with the aim of acting as a Trusted IT Advisor. We believe that through this partnership and Ciao’s strong distribution network, we will increase our revenue by reaching new IT buyers in the market, said Bee Patel, PR and Marketing Executive, Insight UK.

Further information can be found at: http://uk.insight.com/ and http://socialmedia.ciao.co.uk/

Ciao announces winners of MyVoucherCodes and the End of Summer competition

The day has finally arrived! After eight weeks and hundreds of reviews on ciao.co.uk, we can now announce the last winners the End of Summer Competition and MVC campaigns.

Thanks to everyone who participated and congratulations to those who won!

The winners of the End of Summer Competition are:

• Sony VAIO: Yackers1
• Amazon Voucher: Jadiep890
• Amazon Voucher: Clayeree
• Amazon Voucher: SusanLesley  
• Amazon Voucher: Carl.mcqueen
• Amazon Voucher: CareBear
• Experience Voucher: BawBaw
• Experience Voucher: Morgenhund
• Nintendo DSi: Andyk910
• Spa Voucher: Fizzytom

The winners of MyVoucherCode competition also are:  

• Sony VAIO: TheHairyGodmother  
• Nintendo DSi: shmokeh   
• £100 House of Fraser Voucher: MissDanaBanana   
• £100 House of Fraser Voucher: rosebud2001   
• £100 House of Fraser Voucher: languagetimothy    
• £100 House of Fraser Voucher: MizzMolko    

We look forward to reading more of your reviews soon!

Create the perfect Halloween with Ciao

Halloween is one of the most exciting and fun-filled days of the year. Whether you’re arranging a spooky party with your favourite horror movies, going on a ghost walk or knocking on doors trick-or-treating, a scary outfit is a must! And with the 31st just around the corner, if you haven’t already planned your costume it’s time to get cracking!

There are lots of different characters you can dress-up as on Halloween and with a few tips and tricks and a little creative flair you can be sure to ward off any evil spirits that come out to play when the night draws in. To help you get started we’ve included our favourite ideas for scary Halloween outfits below, just click on the links for some inspiration!

Witches
• Every witch needs a classic big black hat and the assistance of a broomstick to help them make a speedy getaway and fly into the darkness. And for that extra ounce of scariness why not add a mask or some green face paint to really add to the effect?
Wizards
• Magic is at the heart of Halloween and every party needs a magician! The top priority for all wizards is a wonderful wizardry cape, so to make sure you stand proud on the 31st don’t forget to have a look at the selection on ciao.co.uk. To complete your outfit and to help you conjure up spells on the night a magic wand may come in handy too.
Vampires
• Vampires are the most frightening of all Halloween characters and if you’re planning to play the part this year you’ll need a long black cape, big white fangs and of course lots of fake blood for added dramatic effect!
Super heroes
• If you fancy saving the day and protecting your friends this Halloween you might want to go dressed as your favourite superhero! There are all sorts of costumes available on Ciao, from Superman to Spiderman and from Wonder Woman to Cat Woman. But if you’re short of ideas Ciao’s fancy dress section is a great place to start.

And finally, to get you in the mood for Halloween, there’s nothing quite like a scary film! Don’t forget to check out Ciao’s range for the perfect spine chilling watch before heading out for the evening!  From Scream to Blade and from Saw to The Shining we have a great selection on Ciao for you to enjoy. You may also want to check out reviews of the films to see what people thought before deciding on the ideal horror movie. If you’re staying a home and want to plan the ideal Halloween party have a look on Ciao for ideas and inspiration – from how to carve the perfect pumpkin to decorating your house with a spooky theme.

So, what’s your favourite scary movie and how are you spending your Halloween this year? We’d love to know what you’re up to and if you have any tips or tricks for creating the perfect outfit please get in touch and post a comment below.

Don’t forget there are just a few days left to enter Ciao’s End of Summer competition and there are still some great prizes to be won including a Nintendo DSi, a Mircorsoft Xbox and Amazon vouchers. What’s more, until the end of the month every new member to Ciao will receive £1 as a reward for writing their first review. Don’t miss out, check out the competition page and enter for chance to win now!

Fun ideas to help you enjoy your weekends this Winter with Ciao

With the football season well underway, scores of women as well men across the county might be preparing for lonely weekends ahead as their other halves desert them in favour of following the trials and tribulations of their favourite team. So if you happen to be stepping out with a football fanatic, now’s your opportunity to make the most of your free time. With a little help from ciao.co.uk you can find the perfect way to relax and pamper yourself when your Mr. Or Mrs. Right’s not around.

Books
When it’s cold and wet outside, there’s nothing better than curling up on the sofa in the warm with a great read. Whether you’re into crime or romance, poetry or comedy, there’s something to suit everyone’s tastes on Ciao. If you’d like to find out what other members think of the books featured before deciding what to buy, why not check out the range of reviews available to help you make up your mind.

Film
If you’re into film, there is a whole host of DVDs to choose from to suit everyone’s interests. Whether you like watching timeless classics such as Sex and the City and 24 or you prefer comedies such as Little Britain, by taking a few minutes to explore the DVD section you’ll be sure to find a movie which takes your fancy.

Kitchen care
Many enthusiastic cooks pride themselves on having the perfect kitchen and spending time catching up with their closest friends. If you’re one of them why not make the most of it by inviting a couple of friends over to whip up a storm or just to chat over coffee? If you like getting creative in the kitchen there are plenty of recipe books and cooking DVDs on Ciao to give you ideas for what to prepare too.

Music
Whether you’re looking for songs to get you in the mood for a big night out or just want some great music to sing along or relax to, Ciao has a perfect catalogue to choose from.  It doesn’t matter if you like pop or rock or prefer classical or county, there’s something to suit everyone’s musical tastes.

And last but not least….fashion!
There’s no denying that many of us (ladies especially) love clothes shopping! And with more and more shops making their ranges available online, Ciao is the number one destination to find the best deals and to make sure you’re kitted out in the season’s must  have items! To keep looking chic as winter sets in, we suggest checking out Ciao's fashion pages for the hottest trench coats, jumpers, winter boots and scarves that money can buy!

How do you usually spend your weekends as “football widow or widower”? We’d love to know your favourite hobbies and suggestions for having fun and relaxing – please share your ideas with us by commenting on this post.

It’s almost the end of the End of Summer Competition…another week left!

Congratulations to all the winners of the “End of Summer” competition!

It’s the seventh week in and the Special “End of Summer Bonus” is still receiving more and more reviews every day, helping millions of other people who are looking for the best product. Some inspiration and great advice when leading up to Christmas isn’t a bad idea!

This week’s winners are:

• Xbox: Tumblewheel   
• Amazon Voucher: Oldchem   
• Amazon Voucher: Deru 
• Amazon Voucher: Gingergirly
• Amazon Voucher: Prosser13   
• Amazon Voucher: Mogdred1  
• Experience Voucher: Wendz86    
• Amazon Voucher: Atlantis140
• Spa Voucher: Diamond08    
• Spa Voucher:  Ring_of_roses  
  
Don’t forget we are still running a competition with www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, where all reviews posted on MyVoucherCodes will be entered into a draw to win a series of great prizes such as 4 x £100 House of Fraser vouchers, a Sony Notebook and a Nintendo DSi.

We look forward to receiving more reviews, welcoming new members and give away more prizes. Every new member gets £1 for the first review. Check out the competition page and start winning now!

New Windows 7 launch

The day has finally arrived: The all new Windows 7 is now available in 14 languages. The long awaited Microsoft operating system is ready to set new standards regarding usability, capability, speed and security. Additionally Windows 7 comes with a rage of multimedia tools, which is sure to delight all gadget fans. And in stores now, you can choose between three different versions to suit your individual needs:

• Windows 7 Home Premium offers a broad range of home entertainment tools - like the Windows Media Center or home network it has capabilities to jointly use and share photos, videos and music with one another
• Windows 7 Professional includes all essential features for professional users
• Windows 7 Ultimate comes with additional security features and gives you the flexibility to work in various languages

Windows 7 Enterprise is also available for use in larger companies through volume licensing channels. 

 

For those of you who have you just bought yourselves new computers, don’t worry!, updates are available for existing editions of Windows XP and Vista. Furthermore, Microsoft offers special bargains for families and students. Have a look at the company’s webpage to find out more. Or if you’re happy to wait a few days the first user reviews will be available at ciao.co.uk before long.
 

First reviews of the Ultimate edition are already uploaded onto Ciao and we are looking forward to hearing more from you soon.
 

Ps: If 14 languages aren’t enough to suit you, this shouldn’t be a problem because 20 additional languages will be available by October 31.
 

Wrapping up E-Commerce Expo 2009

Tom Hyde welcomes visitors to Ciao's Stand 336 at E-Commerce expo