There's nothing to beat the thrill of flying down a mountain slope at speed, testing yourself to the absolute limit. Whether your personal preference is for skiing and hitting the slopes on a snowboard, you undoubtedly know what I'm talking about!

But I should perhaps stop talking about such thrills, without first stopping to enquire about whether you have made your booking for your next ski vacation? If not, then now could be a good time of thinking about what is required. It always seems to me that there's quite a variety of considerations, when placed in such a situation.

Indeed, it can be rather difficult to know where to begin. You may wish to start by making a list, or simply by thinking carefully about your plans. As a starting point, you'll certainly need to work out who is coming along and when you are intending to travel.

These appear to be rather critical elements of planning, as does your choice of destination. It's also clear that these three key factors are rather hard to separate. The people, the place and the dates all need to come together properly in order to create the perfect trip.

Thinking about who to travel with is more important than you may even begin to imagine. In fact, some people would rightly suggest that this is the most important decision of all. If you get it right, then you are almost guaranteed to have a wonderful time. If you get it wrong, however, then there's a strong chance that you'll be heading for a disaster.

Why should this be the case? I think it really comes down to the fact that relationships can make or break vacations. If you've ever had the misfortune to spend a vacation with countless arguments involved, then you'll know exactly what I mean. This should be a relaxing, stress-free time of year and it's a shame to ruin it.

Let's not, however, spend too much time thinking about negative issues of this sort. It's also worth remembering that a vacation with great friends can create something truly special. These are the sort of occasions that will be remembered for years to come, for all the right reasons.

When it comes to resorts, I'm a great fan of locations in Europe. I believe that Switzerland, as an example, offers the vibrancy of modern results, combined with the history of that country as a beautiful skiing destination. You may have your own personal preferences and it's important to select a location that meets the needs of your group.