Bringing pets from country to country is a hassle and expensive to boot, so most pet owners try and avoid it. However, if you are a British national with pets who has decided to leave the miserable weather behind and start a new life in Cyprus then it may be unavoidable. Even if you have come to Cyprus with no pets and no intention of getting pets, chances are you might find yourself in this situation. This Mediterranean island has a big problem with stray animals and anyone with a good heart may find themselves wanting to help. Animal shelters in Cyprus are usually full up and even if they do take the animal they may just have it put down.


Having found a small kitten in the road last month we explored all the options before realising that we had to take him in if he was to survive. As it is winter and Scampi, as he is now known, had cat flu he probably would not have made it otherwise. Our biggest concern was pet travel between Cyprus and the UK as this can be tricky. Cyprus is part of The European Union and animals can travel freely between European Union member countries as long as they have a Pet Passport. These cost about 10 Euros to get and then are required to be filled in with certain things. This includes treatment for worms and ticks as well as vaccinations which cost 20 Euros each.

Recommended Pet Transport Companies

COMPANY:	Animal Couriers
LOGO:
WEBSITE:	http://www.animalcouriers.com
TELEPHONE:	00 44 (0)1483 200 123
DETAILS:	Pet Transport and animal shipping services throughout the UK Europe and overseas. With our domestic and overseas pet transportation service, we help a wide range of animal owners including pet owners moving house or emigrating, smallhoders, commercial breeders and enthusiasts to move their domestic pets, livestock and other animals, safely and reliably
SHIPS TO:	UK Based - Ships World Wide

COMPANY:	PetAir UK Ltd
LOGO:
WEBSITE:	http://www.petairuk.com
TELEPHONE:	00 44 (0)1725 551124
DETAILS:	International pet transport which is run by vets. Offers comprehensive options from flight bookings , vet treatments, documentation and pet passport.
SHIPS TO:	UK Based - Ships World Wide

COMPANY:	VIP Pet Transport
LOGO:
WEBSITE:	http://www.vippettransport.com
TELEPHONE:	00 (1) 503-709-8040
DETAILS:	VIP Pet Transport offer complete pet shipping services including but not limited to import/export documentation, flight reservations, pick up and delivery services to or from airports, boarding, veterinary services, and complete and individualized guidance tailored specifically to each client's needs from beginning to end
SHIPS TO:	USA Based - Ships World Wide

These must all be done well in advance of travelling (usually six months) and recorded by a vet in the pet passport. All countries require a rabies vaccination which costs about 30 Euros. However if you are travelling to another island in Europe such as Malta or the UK, then you may be required to get a blood test following the rabies vaccination to prove that the animal doesn't have the disease. Islands are obviously stricter about the conditions of letting animals in for fear of getting contaminated. The blood test is very pricey at 120 Euros so factor this into your calculations. Before the rabies vaccination the animal must be micro-chipped as well. This costs approximately 35 Euros.



The price of transporting an animal depends on which airline you use. Cyprus Airways, who are said to be very good at handling animals (they have to be good at something), charge 120 Euros for the animals' flight. You will also need an approved IATA animal transport box which costs about 40 Euros. This box needs to be a specified size with a tube sticking out which can be used to give the animal water. They are not allowed to eat for the whole duration of the flight, though this could be a blessing when it comes time to pick them up again! Visit www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/index.htm for more information.

It is not often you can say that a British-made television programme becomes a worldwide success. Sure, things like Monty Python had a cult following (Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson is one of the show's biggest fans and is able to quote sketches word for word) but Americans have never really understood British humour. They liked The Office enough to remake it, but their version is totally different from Ricky Gervais' original and has been detrimentally Americanised.

The Current Top Gear Team

But one show which doesn't need too much translation is the internationally acclaimed Top Gear. The simple formula of having three middle aged men in a room talking about cars, and then going out of the studio to perform stupid pranks in those same cars has been an instant hit. So much so that an estimated 500 million people watch Top Gear annually from locations as far fetched as Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. The Australians recently aired their first series of Aussie Top Gear while Russian and American versions are close to fruition. Top Gear has a best-selling magazine too and to cap the show's success all off the presenters are now doing their first world tour. The Top Gear tour starts at Earls Court, London, and will then move on to a four day show in Hong Kong. Eight other locations are on the route including Amsterdam and Sydney and the Top Gear show is to have the same quality of stunts and tricks which have made the television series so popular.

And what's not to love about Top Gear? Episodes have included finding out whether it is possible to drive a car to the North Pole and across the English Channel (It is possible in both cases). Almost every week there is some slapstick stunt where a car is propelled over a building or across a river.
One of the staple entertainments on Top Gear is letting celebrities drive a chosen car around a race track, all trying to better each other's times. This sort of fun-filled competition makes for good viewing no matter where in the world you are watching it.

The Top Gear Polar Challenge

So what are the drawbacks of Top Gear? Well, for a start, Jeremy Clarksonis often controversial. He has that sort of 'I'm cool because I don't care about the environment or anyone else' kind of air which is well-honed from years at public school. Protestors regularly follow him around complaining about Clarkson's tom-foolery, such as when he drove a high-powered car into a very old tree (the car won). That said he is funny, and his Times column is usually worth reading. Highlights have included the piece about wearing a t-shirt bearing the world's most offensive four letter word during a rehearsal. So far no harm done until the Japanese racing driver Kazunori Yamauchi dropped in. Being Japanese he didn't understand what the word meant, but of course posed for pictures with Clarkson and the offensive t-shirt! Where Top Gear becomes really questionable is in incidents such as the near fatal Richard Hammond car crash.


When you make a living pissing about in cars there is always an element of danger. But to drive at over 250 mph in a jet-powered dragster is just reckless and he nearly lost his life. All part of the thrill of the show, but maybe not the best example to be setting for young drivers around the world. Speaking of which, Rhino has good deals for young drivers who are looking for the first rental car, visit our homepage!

Jeremy Clarkson

More than a metre of snow has already fallen across the Alps according to reports. In preparation for what promises to be an excellent ski season the airline Baboo is now offering cheap flights to Geneva from London City airport. Air France is also running the route so there will be regular daily flights between London and Geneva. With Swiss Air offering a £96 return fare to Geneva from London City as well, skiing holidays to Switzerland are easier than ever before.

Geneva Airport

Once you arrive all you have to do is pick up cheap Car Hire Geneva and a ski rack will be provided for all your equipment. Costs start at only 110 Euros weekly. Having a car saves you £52 return on getting the bus transfers to and from the airport and taking the bus is a pain when you have lots of equipment. If you need help with your equipment on the plane then why not fly with Jet2.com as they can carry your skis for free on routes between Manchester, Leeds / Bradford, Newcastle, Belfast, Edinburgh with Geneva. The offer lasts all the way up to April 17, 2010. If you are looking for a package then try Travel Bite's seven night skiing holiday. Including flights from London City to Geneva and swanky accommodation (with a sauna and Jacuzzi to get rid of any aches and pains) this costs £799 per person. Flights depart from December 21. Do something different when you get to Geneva – make the short drive to the French resort of La Clusaz and go skiing in the dark.


The slopes open at 9pm for this extravaganza which takes place under the light of full moon once a month. Euro trance is blared out of loud speakers to make the experience even more surreal and is sure to contribute to the adrenaline rush. A six day pass at La Clusaz only costs £158. Wherever you choose to ski in Geneva you should be sure to book your car hire well in advance. Gareth Robinson, managing director of carrentals.co.uk said: "There will be a limited choice of vehicles and prices will be pushed up for late bookers in skiing holiday and car hire destinations like Geneva and Geneva airport."

Geneva at Night

Canada may have a reputation for being boring, but when it comes to outdoor activities such as skiing the country is anything but. Some of the world's premier ski spots can be found between the Rockies Mountains and Vancouver Island, none more so than Whistler. Here beginners, intermediates and those who excel on the slopes can find fresh powder and a variety of challenging runs. This is an excellent locale for both ski and snowboarders.


Car Hire Canada is cheaply and plentifully available and low cost packages come with snow tires, snow chains and ski racks. Not only are there two huge mountains with near vertical drops to choose from but plenty of gondola rides to take the strain and an après ski scene which is the envy of all other resorts worldwide. These factors combine to make Whistler the number one choice for skiers looking for quality.
Lesser known but equally rewarding is the small resort of Manning Park which has a charming old school quality with its open air chairlifts. As well as skiing you can take part in ice skating, Nordic skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing, making this a perfect family-orientated resort. A sat nav device, available from your car hire company, will set you in the right direction for Manning Park.


A short drive away from Whistler you can find Mount Washington. Located on Vancouver Island and more than one and a half thousand metres high you get spectacular views from Mount Washington out across the glaciers and mountains in the distance. The skiing is also breathtaking.

The other big resorts in the region are Big White, Sun Peaks and Silver Star. Silver Star has picturesque old Victorian houses and rustic and tasty dinners served in the various restaurants. The skiing here is adrenaline-filled and you will want to be the first up after a large snowfall.


At Sun Peaks the villages are planned between excellent ski runs so that lodges and trails intertwine. There are a range of unusual ski slope activities put on such as dog sledding tours so this large resort, known as Thompson Okanagan, can keep large families occupied for a long time. A good time to go is from January 16-24 when there is a winter wine festival. Made from frozen grapes, ice wine is something that everyone should try once.

In preparation for what looks set to be a bumper ski year in the United States of America here are a few of the country's best ski resorts. They are all easily accessible with low cost car hire America.

As is to be expected Colorado comes top with the legendary Aspen featuring highly among all the skiers that you ask where they would most like to visit. Aspen gets a few hundred inches of snowfall every year and has an après snow ski scene like no other with tonnes of highly recommended restaurants. Another good Colorado resort is Crested Butte which caters to all different budgets of skier and the runs are steep enough to test the hardest hearts.


In the state of Wyoming Jackson Hole is the stand out ski resort, getting nearly 200 inches more snow on average than Aspen per year. The quality of the snow at Jackson Hole is unparalleled – it's really light and fluffy but the weather is also really cold you make sure you choose good clothing and a car with decent heating. For a guarantee of frequent light snow head to Snowbird in Utah, the annual 500 inches of powder lasts longer than you might expect it to. There are trams and lift lines to take you back to the top after an exhilarating run down. The quality of the snow is bound to be good in Utah's aptly named Powder Mountain ski resort. Wake up early and you have every chance of getting a few hours of skiing all to yourself.

There is nowhere better to find a 'big' skiing experience than on Mammoth Mountain, California. Mammoth has huge ski jumps, rapid ski chairs which give you more time on the slopes and mostly sunny and warm weather. Equally excellent for skiing, but with much worse weather, is the Vermont resort known as Jay Peak. Storms at Jay Peak may stick around for days but so does the snow fall. Local knowledge always comes in handy here and March is considered to best time of year to go.


The snow has already started to fall so get your skis on!

If you think we've missed out any of the best skiing resorts please send us your comments.