Ciao UK Blog

Celebrating the New Year in style with Ciao!

New Year’s Eve is one of the most hotly anticipated nights of the year. Whether you’re planning to stay in or go out and celebrate, the 31st is a great excuse to let your hair down and see the New Year in with style. But if you haven’t decided what to do or where to go this time round, don’t panic!, because there are so many different activities going on across the UK to choose from. To give you some inspiration and ideas we have included some of our favourites below.

For many people New Year’s Eve is all about having fun and traditionally London is the most popular place to visit in the UK on the last day of the year. On the 31st December thousands of people visit Big Ben to count down the last few minutes before midnight. There is also a hugely impressive fireworks display on the River Thames which begins just as the clock strikes 12 and with the London Eye also lit up to showcase a range of bright and flashing colours, London really is a magical place to go out and enjoy yourself.

But even if fireworks aren’t your thing and you fancy staying inside away from the crowds, London is still one of the best places to be. There are such a vast number of pubs, restaurants, bars and clubs across the capital that there is bound to be one that’s right for you. And as an added bonus, most venues also stay open later than usual; often well into the early hours of the morning, helping you to make the most of the biggest party of the year!

However it’s not just London that has lots to offer on New Year’s Eve as most of the UK’s biggest cities up and down the country will also be holding their own outside concerts and fireworks displays. Some of the best attended venues include Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Leeds and Newcastle.

Alternatively, why not visit one of Europe’s capitals to see what they’ve got in store?  Paris, Berlin, Rome and Madrid are all party hot spots on New Year’s Eve.

What are you up to this New Year’s Eve? Are there any special events going on in your town or city? If you have any handy hints or tips for how to make the most of New Year’s Eve we’d love to hear from you! Why not head over to Ciao and let us know what you think?

The best movies to watch this Christmas season

After Christmas Day is over and Santa has already made his visit, there is certainly not much to do. It’s too cold outside and you and your family are just too lazy to do anything-after all, it’s you time off and you well deserve it right?

Carefree and movie lovers: Ciao has the perfect solution to escape from the boredom of this festive season.  There are over 75 thousand DVDs to choose from and thousands of reviews on that film you didn’t watch but whose reviews were fantastic?

From the classic Christmas movies to the must watch Home Alone and Love Actually, you can find almost any genre on Ciao, from drama, horror, action, fiction, you name it, Ciao has it all!

Intrepid movie fans: why not try science fiction and fantasy, westerns or even a little of thriller and mystery; and for the more intellectual types, we have a section of documentaries and biographies and war, full of real life stories.

So why not check out our musical and drama categories, we have just what you are looking for!

Enjoy and let us know what movies you loved or hated this season!

Beauty tips for Christmas

Whether you are getting ready for your office Christmas party, or simply want to look gorgeous on Christmas Eve, Ciao brings you the best selection of beauty products and reviews on how to look your best!

For those girls in love with outstanding eyelashes, look for the best mascaras on our make-up section, where you can also find the latest tanning products, under our sun category, with a great range of self tan lotions, instant bronze gels and after sun products for those lucky ones able to escape to the ocean this season.

Christmas is also a perfect excuse to get pampered! Look for the most suitable beauty sets or the prettiest nail polish. And if you are just looking for something different, visit our fragrance section where you could find hundreds of perfumes for him or for her.

We also have a great selection of eye, face and lip makeup for that perfect occasion, as well as a range of hair care products. Read reviews about the latest beauty products, or even make your own video review demonstrating the pros and cons of your new mascara!

Enjoy and look gorgeous this Christmas with Ciao!

Find the perfect mini break this Christmas with Ciao

For many people Christmas is all about returning home and spending time with family and friends. Still once in a while Christmas can also be a great time of year to book a last minute break or mini getaway! If you’re looking to escape the festive madness this year and enjoy some quiet time away why not check out the travel section on ciao.co.uk for the best new ideas and inspiration? On Ciao you can also find the best deals around for trips in Europe and Africa, but if you’re not sure where to go or are just looking for some hints and tips we’ve included our favourite destinations below to help you get started.

For city breaks, Paris, New York and Barcelona are always popular locations but taking a short trip to less well known destinations such as the Moroccan capital, Marrakech or eastern European cities such as Ljubljana in Slovenia, Tallinn in Estonia and Krakow in Poland are increasingly making a name for themselves on the map and are all great options if you’re looking to treat a loved one with a surprise or romantic trip away.

If you’d prefer to stay local and remain in the UK for Christmas, there are also lots of deals to be found on trips to the countryside. Some of the most beautiful and scenic places in the UK worth a visit include: the Peak and Lake Districts, the New Forest, East Scotland and Snowdonia.

Or if you’d rather postpone your getaway until the New Year and spend a little longer choosing where to go, Ciao has a great range of travel books where you can find the best spots to stay as well as plenty of information on local history and traditions.

Whether you’ve opted for a last minute break or a trip in 2010, there are several must have items that every holiday goer needs. And on Ciao you can find all those travel essentials at the best possible prices, from overnight bags and suitcases to sunglasses and beach towels there’s a wide selection to suit everyone’s requirements wherever you’re planning on visiting. Why not also take a look at the camera section where you can find many great deals to help make sure you have a break away you can really remember, or also check out the in car sat nav systems so you don’t get lost abroad.

Where are you planning on spending Christmas this year? Do you have any ideas for finding the perfect short term break, or have you been somewhere that you highly recommend? Please let us know your thoughts by sharing them with the Ciao community.

Celebrating the approach of Christmas with music from around the world

Music is a big part of the festive tradition across Europe. Whether it’s a piece of pop perfection in the number one slot or a CD of hundred year old carols, music brings Christmas to life for us all.

So what better way could there be to get in the Christmas spirit than with the amazing range of classical, pop and traditional festive music reviewed and recommended on the Ciao community? The more traditional among us might want to try well-loved carols sung in the famous St Paul’s Cathedral, or a selection of

Renaissance Spanish Christmas music to offer a flavour of years gone by. Alternatively, why not try something a bit more up to date with pop festivity from the likes of Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera? And of course we can’t forget the ‘golden oldies’ pop music from legends like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby or Julie Andrews.

For the more daring Christmas carollers the festive season also offers the chance to indulge in a little festive karaoke. We’ll certainly be singing around the hearthfire as the December nights close in. But what’s your favourite music? Share your own Christmas number ones with us here or head over to the Ciao community to see what other people think!

Let's talk ski season

If you love to ski, here is what you need to know before you head off to any of the Alps in Europe. Whether you are looking to spend some time on the French Alps or somewhere in Switzerland, Ciao has the best advice for this winter season!

From the best budget ski resorts in Europe, to the must have ski accessories and ski jackets, you could find almost anything on Ciao.

Why not checking the winter charm of Austria for the most adventurous ski experts? Or still not completely sure you are ready to hit the slopes? Check our DVD section where you could learn how to ski and snowboard before your holidays, or even better, practice at home with Shaun White Snowboarding perfect for your Xbox 360.

We’d love to hear about your own ski experiences in Europe or anywhere in the world.  Please leave us a comment or post a review on ciao.co.uk and help us all find the best ski resort this winter! 

Finding the perfect present for anyone this Christmas with Ciao

While Christmas shopping is usually great fun when you’re buying for your nearest and dearest, if you’re buying for someone who’s a little more tricky, finding the perfect gift can become a stressful affair. Whether it’s someone you don’t know very well, someone you don’t speak to often or someone who is just plain hard to please it’s easy to become disheartened if you’ve trailed the high street and are still not sure what to choose.

But with online shopping communities such as ciao.co.uk, finding the ideal present to match anyone’s tastes is simple. There are so many different sections to search and browse around, from books to fashion and from motoring to movies you can be sure that there’s something for everyone. What’s more, with Ciao, not only can you find the best deals on your chosen gifts, but there is the added benefit of being able to check out what the Ciao community thinks of products before making a purchase too. So you can be sure that you’re getting the best advice as well as great value for money.

If you’re lost for ideas when it comes to present buying, to help you get started, we’ve included a few of our top present ideas for men and woman below:

For him

Although men can be notoriously difficult to find the perfect gift for, once you find a hobby he enjoys it becomes a lot easier. For instance if you know he’s a sporting fanatic why not check out the fitness equipment and accessories section. Or if he’s into music, there’s a whole host of CD’s available to suit all types of music fan. If you’re planning on spending a little more you might also want to have a look at the concert and gigs tickets section. For DIY and gardening devotees, there are plenty of accessories and tools which will be helpful for those odd jobs inside and outside the house. Or if the man you’re buying for is a technology enthusiast don’t forget to have a look at the technology section for all the latest gizmos and gadgets too.

For her

Women are often easier to please with a host of girly gifts around. But if you fancy going all out and buying something more adventurous this Christmas there is a huge selection of elaborate and unique gifts to choose from on Ciao. Most ladies love to be pampered so why not take a look at the beauty section for some gift inspiration and if you have cash to splash make sure you check out the travel section where you can find a whole host of spa trips and mini break ideas too. Alternatively, jewellery usually goes down a treat and there is a great selection of fashionable and fancy items to have a look through.

For kids

With so many new toys on the market each year and with a range of retailers offering special deals, it can be hard to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money. One of the great things about Ciao is that you can search for all the newest and trendiest toys for children and compare the different prices and reviews available.  And if you haven’t decided what to buy your kids this year, you’ll be spoilt for choice on Ciao’s toy section, which has an extensive selection to suit girls and boys of all ages. Some of the most popular kids toys that you may also want to take a look at for this Christmas include:

• Star Wars Clone Trooper Voice Changer Helmet
• Baby Annabell doll
• Elmo-Live!
• Spykee SPY Robot
• Dance With Me Teletubbies
• Fur Real Biscuit My Lovin Pup

And if you’re still unsure what to buy for your friends and family, why not try out MSN’s gift selector tool? With the tool you can find the right gifts for men, women and children of all ages by answering a simple set of questions on hobbies, interests, likes and dislikes. Based on your responses the gift tool will suggest a selection of suitable presents at a range of prices. So what are you waiting for? Christmas present buying really can be simple this year!

What are you buying for the tricky person on your list this year? We’d love to hear your tips for finding the right present for someone who is more difficult to buy for. Or do you have any ideas for selecting quirky or unusual gifts? Please leave us a comment or post a review on ciao.co.uk and help us all reduce our Christmas shopping stress this year!