Galesnjak, Croatia – This little islet may not immediately spring to mind as an ideal spot for romance, but a bird’s eye view of it will clue you in on why it’s one of the most romantic spots on Earth. This drop of land is perfectly heart-shaped, and no one lives on it, so it may just be the perfect desert island getaway you and your lover are looking for.

New York, USA – The harried pace of life in The Big Apple may not seem conducive to romance, but look closely enough, and you’ll find it in every corner. Whether you’re splashing out for a ride in a horse-drawn carriage or sharing a hotdog in the rain, you’ll be sure to have many moments to remember.

Prague, Czech Republic – The City of a Hundred Spires is an unashamedly romantic city, its endless cobbled streets and many bridges providing lovers with a beautiful backdrop to an unforgettable affair. Steal a kiss under an ancient spire, or wander through its centuries-old streets hand in hand just like countless other couples have done throughout the ages.

Venice, Italy – Venice and romance go together like, well, like a couple just meant for each other. A gondola ride while the sun sets may be too cheesy for words, but you can always hire a boat and explore the canals yourself. This way, you won’t have a noisy gondolier intruding on your romantic moments. Have dinner at a cosy little family-run restaurant by the water to cap off a wonderful day.

Overview

Skiing
Skiing is divided into two main sectors, with the Markoudjik sector offering the best skiing above the tree line, the highest ski point reaching 8,333ft (2,540m). Borovets has a total of 22 miles (35km) of ski pistes, and has recently installed new lift facilities with lighting and sound systems, which allows for night skiing and snowboarding. The resort also boasts modern snowmaking machines ensuring that conditions stay excellent. Snowboarders enjoy the Rotata half-pipe with a vertical drop of 1,050ft (320m), suitable for advanced riders at its upper end and beginners at the lower end.

Shopping
A burst in popularity as a winter sports wonderland in recent years has meant a boom in the retail industry in pretty Borovets town, as well as an influx of visitors doing holiday shopping. The busy shopping street in front of the Rila hotel is a beehive of open-fronted small shops, with a colourful market atmosphere, selling all sorts of goods from ski gear and souvenirs to cigarettes and cheap CDs. Most visitors find prices here much lower than elsewhere in Europe.

Restaurants
The number of taverns, eat-in pubs, take away joints and outdoor restaurants is growing in Borovets every season and holidaymakers can take full advantage of the dining scene. The choice has become very eclectic, from Kentucky Fried Chicken and pizza to Chinese. Establishments like ‘The Hungry Horse’ cater deliciously for British tastes. Other recommendations are Mamacita’s on the main shopping street where the steaks are legendary, and White Magic, opposite the Samokov Hotel, with good food and a great atmosphere. Visitors should not forget to indulge in some of the Bulgarian fine wines along with their dinner. Eating out in Borovets is also very good value.

Nightlife
Every night is party time in Borovets, which has a reputation for being one of the ‘hotspots’ for nightlife on the European ski circuit and highly popular with holidaymakers. The fun is fuelled by the fact that drinks are cheap, there are long happy hours and sometimes drinks are even offered for free. All the bars, clubs and discos serve the well-known international brands as well as local beers like Astika, Zagorka and Kamenitza. Beware the national drink, Rakia: it is rather strong! Recommended party palaces are Club Slide in the Hotel Mura, the renowned Buzz Bar, favoured by Brits, and the Black Tiger karaoke bar.

Activities
Off the ski slopes Borovets has all the usual amenities of a winter holiday resort, and many hotels offering indoor swimming pools, saunas and gyms. Night skiing is also available from 5pm to 10pm. Visitors can also take excursions to nearby resorts or places of interest, like the Rila Monastery. Ice-skating and skidoos are also an option for chilly fun in the sun.

With 40,462 takeoffs and landings, FRA recorded a 5.3 percent fall in aircraft movements. Maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) dropped by 4.3 percent year-on-year to 2.4 million metric tons.

Fraport’s majority-owned foreign airports had only a slight impact on the Group’s total traffic results. Welcoming a total of 7.7 million passengers, the Group registered a 3.5 percent dip in traffic in July 2009 – a noticeable improvement over the 5.3 percent average decline experienced so far during the current year.

Peru’s Lima Airport (LIM) saw traffic grow by 1.2 percent in the reporting month to 759,806 passengers. Turkey’s Antalya Airport (AYT) recorded 1,315,604 passengers, slipping 0.7 percent year-on-year. On Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, Burgas Airport (BOJ) served 499,148 passengers (down 11.4 percent) and Varna Airport (VAR) received 269,665 passengers (down 15.6 percent).