When it comes to planning snowboard holidays there are quite a few important factors to consider. There is without doubt a lot more involved than simply throwing some warm clothes into a bag, grabbing your board and hopping on a coach...

• Get Your Body Ready

One of the initial things to consider is your level of physical fitness. Snowboarding is a wearing activity and it's essential that your body is able to tolerate it. Even if you are already in good shape then it is highly advisable to undergo some applicable exercise. Mountain biking and running will both help to strengthen your legs. Other important areas to concentrate on are the stomach, shoulders and the whole of your back. If you spend your working life sitting in an office all day long then it would not be a good idea to consider snowboarding until you have spent at least two or three months on a strict fitness program. If you are at all perplexed about which exercises are most suitable then either speak to the staff at your local gym or have a look online.

• When to Book.

The time of year will have a dramatic effect on the price of your snowboard accommodation. If you don't want to pay an outrageous amount, then the golden rule is to avoid peak times such as school holidays. By choosing a quieter period you can still have a superb holiday with plenty of snow and for a great deal less. Look into when the area usually gets its snow and work your trip around that. Just before Christmas can be a grand time to book in many locations.

• The Best Place to be.

Where do you want to go? And just how far are you planning to travel?

There are all kinds of different locations to choose from and it is really up to you and your budget. You can look at some areas in Europe for your trip or you could consider jetting off to somewhere in America. Certainly, it is going to be more expensive to go snowboarding in Utah or Montana than it would be to visit Italy or Norway. But it possibly will not cost that much more...

• Find Good Accommodation.

Another key factor of your holiday is choosing the best resort. This may sound like common sense stuff, but there are quite a lot of elements that can easily be overlooked. What lessons are on offer at each resort? And how far away are the slopes? You don't want to spend half of your holiday traveling backwards and forwards, do you? Ski hotels are like everything else in life; there are the good ones and the not so good ones. You want somewhere that is spacious, competitively priced and close to the slopes. Do plenty of research into several different resorts before committing yourself to anything. And bear in mind; it may well be worth you paying a little bit extra if it is going to improve your holiday.

• Get Kitted Out.

Having the right equipment for your holiday is totally essential. Again, do your research and look at several different outlets. It doesn't always mean that apparatus is superior because it has a famous name splashed across it. And when it comes to prices, the internet will in general beat off-line companies hands down.