Furnishing your property abroad

This article is one of a series outlining the experience gained by my partner and I whilst purchasing a property in Spain. They are published to inform others embarking on a similar life changing path. Who knows if the articles are enjoyed and deemed beneficial they might even grow into a book, so please do provide feed back...If we sell enough we might even be able to pay off the mortgage!

Congratulations if you are buying a property abroad! One of the next large expenditures is the interior design of the property. Certainly when we purchased our property we were contacted by interior designers at least 12 months before the completion date. Such companies will supply anything from a knife and fork to a bed.

The first thing you need to do is decide what you are going to use the property for? Is it purely for your own use? Will you allow family and friends to use it? Will you rent it out? How often will the property be used? When you have decided upon the answers you are ready to move on to the next questions. What is your budget to kit out the property? Are you going to design the interior yourself or get someone to do it for you?

An interior design company will offer to install all you need, via a 'furnishing pack'. For a 2 bedroom apartment a pack will range from 6,000 Euros to whatever sum you want to spend. In our opinion avoid the lower priced packages, the goods are too cheap and will probably not last long.

Whilst a company will take the pressure off you, are you happy for someone to design the interior for you? From our perspective we were only too glad to take up such an offer. The pack was installed in one day. However we found a few things which we were not expecting:

1. The bedding was cheaper than we would like, whilst it looks good it will not last long.
2. We could have bought the kitchen items ourselves at the nearest large supermarket, they stock the same, and we probably paid 60% extra for them.
3. The TV installed was a normal style not a flat screen, you would obviously pay extra for one, but we did not ask!

However one the plus side buying via such a company we did not:
1. Have to visit shops,
2. Be there to accept deliveries
3. Put curtain poles and other such items up

Overall it was great just opening the front door post installation and seeing it all clean and new and nicely laid out. The company even emailed us pictures once the job was completed. Would we do the same again? With the experience gained now we would like to design our own interior and do the whole process ourselves. The big question is do you have the time to do so? You can only answer that question yourself

Enjoy your property!

Selecting a Notary

Buying a property is one of the most expensive things any of us will do you in our lives. Selecting a legal representative to assist you is a vital part of purchasing a property, and even moreso if it is abroad. Expenditure on a legal representative should not be skimped upon; it could end up costing you a lot more in the course of time

You will find that if you purchase a property via a property development company or estate agent they will more than likely direct you to a specific legal company. This is usually welcomed since it will save you time and trouble in locating your own. However do check that the company is boni fide. Ask yourself specific questions. For example does it have a proper office? Does it have a web site listing its services and fee structure? Does the company appear to be professionally run?

If you wish to be at all legal meetings it is advantageous to have your lawyer present with you. However what if you do not wish, or cannot be present? For specific parts of the process you can appoint what is termed as a 'Notary'. The Notary will deal with the majority of matters on your behalf. In theory your lawyer and the Notary can be one and the same person. In essence you authorise the Notary to sign papers on your behalf to save you being present.
Although appointed by you, a Notary in the eyes of the law is an independent public official who neither works for the vendor nor the buyer. The principal role of the Notary is to guarantee the legality of the sale and to deal with certain administration tasks. Furthermore the Notary starts to function as a witness of the signatures in the contract and registers the new deeds

The Spanish government sets the notary fees according to the number of clauses in the deeds and the declared value of the property. They range approximately from 0.1% of the declared price of a property (for properties of 400,000€ or more) to 0.4% (for properties of under 100,000€). In case of a mortgage you must pay notary fees on the mortgage deeds as well.

This is one of a series of articles about purchasing a property in Spain. They are published to inform others embarking on a similar life changing path. Who knows if the articles are enjoyed and deemed beneficial they might even grow into a book, so please do provide feed back...If we sell enough we can might even be able to pay off the mortgage!

Advantages of buying a property abroad

Once a upon a time, (all good stories start like that), my partner and I were on holiday sitting on a sun drenched beach. As usual our minds wandered to statements like 'Why can't we do this all the time?' 'Why do we cram in pleasure into a 2 or 3 or weeks holiday a year?' 'How could we make money to make our dreams a reality?' After kicking it around the answer was simple. Why not buy a holiday home abroad? It appeared to have lots of advantages. We could use it when we wanted too for weekends or holidays. We could offer it to family and friends and or even go with them and spend some quality time together. We could winter in Spain. We could rent it out to help pay the mortgage. The list advantages seemed endless.

Where to buy? After much debate we finally decided on Spain since it has lots of sunshine, with temperatures ranging from a minimum/maximum of 7C/21c in the spring to 16C/34C in the summer, 10C/23C in the autumn and 2C/17C in the winter. It enjoys an average of 320 days of sunshine a year. It has miles of beaches, lovely food, lot's of green golf courses, friendly people and the flights from the UK are reasonably cheap. Another huge benefit was perceived to be the fact that a great many of the Spanish people speak English. A major factor was the long list of activities and facilities the area offered.

We settled finally on the Costa del Sol to purchase our property. We simply felt it was right for us. Spain is a vast country and if you purchase a property you have to ensure the area is right for you, after all we are all different. This Costa is Spain’s best known coastline and is 99 miles long stretching form Nerja in the east to Gibraltar in the south west. It has a population of 1.2 million and very important for rentals some 8 million plus tourists visit each year. The scenery is dramatic, the coastline being backed by high mountain ranges. The coast is green and lush and the area virtually had everything on our wish list

Eventually we travelled to Spain, the end result being that we purchased a property at Casares Del Sol and we have had several enjoyable trips there this year.

The journey from concept to reality took some 2 years and we decided to share the experience with others considering embarking on a similar life changing path. Who knows if the articles are enjoyed and deemed beneficial they might even grow into a book, so please do provide feed back...If we sell enough we can might even be able to pay off the mortgage!

'What to expect on a viewing trip'

This is one of a series of articles, 'warts and all' experienced by my partner and I purchasing a property in Spain which took us on a two year roller coaster journey. They are published to inform others embarking on a similar life changing path. Who knows if the articles are enjoyed and deemed beneficial they might even grow into a book, so please do provide feed back...If we sell enough we can might even be able to pay off the mortgage!

This article specifically covers the viewing trip. A bit of background. My partner and I had decided to purchase a property in Spain. Speaking to some friends they were also thinking of buying a property and suggested we join them at a property exhibition in Birmingham.

To cover more ground we split from them promising to meet at lunchtime and recommend suitable stands to visit. They were late back however and a phone call revealed that they had brought an 'off-plan' property on the Costa Del Sol, west of Malaga, and were just finishing the necessary paperwork.

Frankly we thought them to be deranged to make such a quick decision, however they knew that area of Spain well. We were more cautious. However upon their recommendation we visited the same stall and hey presto we had booked a viewing flight to Spain before you could say 'tapas!'. I must say though that the thought of a cheap weekend in Spain was quite appealing though. A weekend trip cost £95 each.

A few weeks later we landed at Malaga airport and were very impressed with a warm greeting from the sales person, Virgina. We were even more impressed that she knew our names. Our personal escort was very friendly and we were whisked away from the airport in a nice BMW company car.

No time to book into our hotel and freshen up, we were driven straight to various developments to view properties for sale. We did stop for a brief lunch, on the company. I did the wrong thing by drinking a large glass of wine. The day was warm and I must admit I soon nodded off in the back of the car, much to the annoyance of my better half!

After looking at lots of properties and developments at both ends of our financial spectrum we viewed a development we liked at Casares Del Sol approximately 25 minutes from Gibraltar. It seemed to have everything we were looking for. It promised luxury apartments with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a high tech kitchen, set amidst tropical gardens with 7 swimming pools. Being British we maintained the 'stiff upper lip' deciding to mull over the prospect during the course of the evening.

We were then booked into a smart hotel on the seafront in Marbella, all part of the package. By the next morning following a romantic dinner washed down by lovely wine, (wine in Spain is very cheap), we were convinced that the development was for us.

We did however visit some other developments with Virginia so as to be completely sure. There was no pressure placed upon us, the developments almost selling themselves. Virgina gave us lot's of help in seeing the various benefit's of exactly where to buy on a development. Consider for example things as views, noise levels, access as we get older (lift, stairs etc), proximity to pool, rental opportunity

What drew us to this development was that is was a mere 1 minute from the sea by car, 5 minutes to restaurants and shops, and 10 minutes to mountain villages. It promised to have stunning golf, mountain and sea views, and was, it had everything we were looking for.

We signed the purchase form and parted with 4,000 Euros, (good old Barclaycard). The lovely Virginia treated us to a slap up meal at Casares. Casares is a lovely traditional white washed mountain village whereby our development gets it's name. At this point she felt more like a new friend than a sales representative. As you can imagine we had many questions regarding what was to happen next and she was very patient answering them all.

We returned to the UK excited with dreamy thoughts of spending many holidays in our home in the sun. Virgina kept in touch occasionally informing us to progress on the development and even sent occasional photographs of our plot.

My advice is to carefully select which company you book your viewing trip with. Ask where you will stay during the visit, and of course what is the cost. Finally ask lot's of questions, compile a list before you go and get each question answered.

Our apartment at Casares Del Sol is now complete and we have enjoyed several trips there this year.

'Off plan v On plan'

This article is one of series written following our own recent experiences when purchasing a property in Casares Del Sol Spain. The path to property purchase abroad has many routes and along our path we have picked up some knowledge.

Hopefully you will find this and the other articles interesting, please do give feedback If enough find it of benefit a book may follow. If we sell enough it might even pay for the mortgage!

Specifically this article briefly explains the two types of property purchase. My sound advice is to engage an English speaking lawyer to lead you through the purchase maze. In Spain a property lawyer is called a Notary. The law in Spain is different to elsewhere and at first will seem daunting and complex but you will soon pick up the process. It does make life much easier if you can speak to your Notary.

Very basically there are two types of property purchases abroad. 'On plan' where you buy a resale or newly completed property and full payment is quickly due as in a normal house purchase, and 'Off plan' where you buy a property still to be built or which is partially built. Payments are in stages.

In Spain ‘On plan’ deposits are normally known as arras, deposito, fianza, and reserve. Whilst the deposit amount is negotiable expect to pay around 10 per cent of the purchase price, the balance is paid upon completion. Check as to whether your purchase contract, contracto states plainly whether the initial deposit is to be returned in the event of non-completion. Expect there to be conditional clauses attached to a purchase contract, and are called clausulas abrogatorias.

‘Off plan' is often the preferred option both for the vendor and vendee. From the point of view of both parties the deposit can very low, in some cases 3-4,000 Euros. There is usually a 30 day cooling off period after which time normally 20-30% of the purchase price has to be paid, minus the initial deposit. The vendor loves 'off plan' since it is easy to sell the dream.

Friends of ours have been privy to this poetic licence occurring when buying their own specific properties ‘off plan’. Example 1: The internal floor space looked less when they obtained the keys than on the original specification, no less than 7 sq metres less in fact. Example 2: The apartment block was further down a hill than on the original plan, and consequently nearer to noise and the associated dust from road traffic.

Lastly before you decide which type of purchase is for you do lot’s of research!

Preparing for Lapland

Lapland is within the Artic Circle, so you can expect a winter trip there to involve cold and dark. But just how extreme and how much do you need to take?

On a day trip, you will be provided with boots and a ski suit. When we visited the changing area was full of 1 or 2 plane loads of people, each with different ideas of what was needed. Unfortunately, after the first set of activities there were children crying about the cold – and that was at the warmest time of the day.

Cheap thermal long johns and thermal long sleeved t-shirt are an essential base layer. Not only do they keep you warm, but they also help to remove sweat away from the skin (yes, you will at times sweat – just wait for the tobogganing!), which would otherwise make you cold.

We saw a lot of people dressed just like that under their snowsuits, but my preference was to be fully dressed. Jeans or trousers on the bottom half, then another long sleeved t-shirt and a fleece for the top. We "only" had temperatures down to –16c, it can go a lot colder, and I was just a nice temperature. But I would also recommend taking a jumper or cardigan to wear under the fleece.

My recommendation from personal experience would be to make some of the layers on your top half zipped layers. When you are moving around a lot or going into buildings you can then have the fleece and other base layers unzipped. Otherwise you would need to remove the snow suit to remove a layer – not the best idea when it's snowing!

The only problem I did suffer was cold feet. We had taken ski socks, but when we saw the cosy snow boots decided that normal socks would be enough. The others were fine in just normal socks, but mine must have been particularly cold as my toes began to freeze! In hindsight, thermal socks of ski socks, or at the very least good walking socks, are essential.

A good warm hat and skiing gloves are absolutely essential. Your hat should cover your ears and mine was a wonderfully warm woollen hat with fleece lining. Gloves have to be waterproof – one fall or thrown snowball and as others discovered you have very wet and cold hands for the rest of the day. Some lip cream to prevent the cold drying them out would also be a great benefit. Not so much whilst you are there, but it will prevent you suffering dry lips when you get back.

As for other bits, a torch is useful depending on what order you do the various activities. A camera must have a good flash and plenty of batteries. Keeping the camera protected from the elements will help to prevent the batteries going flat too quickly, but think how many you might need and take at least double that number. Also be aware that the camera will fog over at times, so take care when going from cold to hot and vice versa.

Keith travelled to Lapland with Cosmos. He writes and works for ClickRentStay holiday villa rentals.

Lapland Last Minute

A Christmas visit to Lapland can be a really exciting adventure, but is it the sort of trip that needs booking well in advance or is a last minute trip on impulse just as good, if not better?

With your main summer holiday it is really good to get it booked well in advance, secure in the knowledge that you know when and where you are going and where you are staying. But for a day trip to Lapland a lot of this security isn't required. You don't need to worry about the best accommodation being full - you aren't staying in any accommodation!

It is also very appealing in the winter to book a summer holiday. When it's cold and wet outside, the thought of booking somewhere warm and sunny is exciting. But if it's hot at home, is booking a trip to the artic circle where temperatures can reach -40c so appealing?

It is also part of the run up to Christmas. As we approach Christmas the adverts appear in the papers. Many of the people on our trip to Lapland had not booked long in advance. For many, including ourselves, it was almost an impulse booking. In one case, the family had booked only days before the flight, yet everything was ready for them.

Some families also don't tell their children about the trip. In an extreme case, we were told at check-in that a family had arrived shortly before us and even when checking in the tired children had not worked out why they were standing in the airport. There were no shrieks of joy on the plane as someone discovered they were off to see Santa, so I can only assume they realised between check-in and boarding.

We did find that it was very exciting booking our trip with Christmas so near. With only a couple of weeks to wait for the trip it was on our minds all of the time. The only downside is that you really should take a few warm layers and ski gloves – if you haven't already got them then with a late booking you might need to rush out and buy them. But then, with most holidays isn't there some sort of last minute buying?

Booking a last minute break to Lapland is a great idea. It really makes Christmas seem just around the corner!

Keith travelled to Lapland with Cosmos. He writes and works for ClickRentStay holiday villa rentals.

Running Holiday Cottages In France

The long term trends look poor. There are 500,000 English owned properties in France - that's half a million families that will no longer be renting holiday cottages in France.
We have to say that it doesn't quite feel like that for us. Every year we seem to manage sufficient "fullness" to be happy with the outcome. Even this year when summer was rained off and we had to pay French taxes for the first time. As inveterate holiday cottage renters in earlier times we decided upon several things when we started on the venture:-
A holiday cottage does not have to be big enough to live in - just big enough to be enjoyable for a fortnight. Small really is beautiful.
The things that go wrong or are missing are the things you would notice yourself, so at the start we made a list of all things we'd ever wanted in a holiday cottage and provided them all. Next we decided to live in our gites from time to time so that we knew their failings. Sometimes we have been aghast that people have not complained about something or another that we've realized is wrong.
The holiday cottages had to be sufficiently comfortable and welcoming to be a place to live in - even for a fortnight - rather than just a dormitory. We had stayed in dormitories (too uncomfortable to stay in, other than when we were asleep) and didn't want to inflict one on our locataires (=renters).
As a holiday is a time to relax we try to make it so. It helps if everything is included in the price, so no worries about electricity, gas or wood fuel bills. French gite owners (god bless 'em) read the meter before and after your holiday.
If possible we thought each gite or holiday cottage should have its own garden. Quite unimportant if you're off sightseeing every day, but as gardeners we knew we would enjoy providing them.
Finally we decided fairly early on to accept any bookings over three days in length. Changeover days are a pain in the neck for the gite owner (you write off every single Saturday in your life) and inconvenient for holidaymakers who want to have cheap ferry crossings. The odd wasted days are when our gites have their own mini-holiday.
On the whole we may be dinosaurs - throws back to the past when low property prices made financing all this quite straightforward. Now its not that easy even in France.
The supply of cottages to rent for holiday in the UK is tending to decline because "buy to let" schemes, and because realising the capital value of the cottages is more attractive than the rather labour intensive activity of providing people with holidays. So it is in France.
Meanwhile we enjoy ourselves !
Writes on a variety of travel industry and related topics, including airports, French maps, and gites holidays, at www.ruelmain.co.uk for french holidays wine and airport maps and also at www.airportParkingEverywhere.com for world airport parking, hotels and other airport links
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Marriage

Orlando Vacation Villa Homes Versus Hotel Rooms

Imagine the scenario, you want to have a large family get together in Orlando or one of the other beautiful Florida destinations. You have tried several hotels some can accommodate you some can't, those that can accommodate you can't guarantee you will be in the same part of the hotel complex let alone the same floor.

Even if you are traveling as a family, many offer 2 Queen sized bedrooms or a King. So if you are taking kids with you it's going to be Mom & Pop in one Queen and the kids in the other. Not much privacy there. Once the kids are asleep and you want to watch a bit of TV you have to keep the volume down low so as not to disturb the kids.

So what's the solution?

Simple, take a look at the many vacation properties available in Florida and particularly the Orlando Area. These luxurious vacation homes are equipped with everything you need to make it your home from home. Almost all of them have private heated pools, some with hot tubs and Jacuzzis. Many have large screen TV's, games consoles such as xbox and PS2 along with games. Others also have games rooms with pool and foosball tables. So after a tiring fun filled day at the theme parks if the kids have any energy left there is something for them to do. Mom & Dad can have some quality time too once the kids are all tucked up in bed. If you wanted to cook some meals instead of eating out all the time, even if it is Breakfast the choice is yours. All the facilities are there at your disposal. Some villa communities have communal areas with a pool, kids play areas, hiking trails and clubhouses too.

What about the cost?

Many times the cost is comparable or cheaper than hotel rooms, depending on the number of travelers. If you take in value for money then Vacation Villas are cheaper than hotels every time. The average cost of of a vacation home that has 4 bedrooms and can sleep up to 10 people (many have sleeper sofas), is around $900 per week. If, lets say, there were 8 people traveling in your group and you stayed in hotel rooms, it could easily cost more than the $900 especially if you had 4 rooms! Bedroom sizes can be as many as 7, often with more than one master suite. These huge villas can sleep up to 16, if you would want that many! For the privacy alone it's got to be worth the money.

When choosing a vacation villa online from a website, you can rest assured that you will be dealt with in an honest and professional manner. All villas have been verified by the site owners as being registered with the state and hold a Hotels license and do indeed exist and are owned by who they say they are. All villas have a competent Management Company that provide any assistance that may be required by you throughout your stay.

When visiting http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com you are able to view the property you like see many pictures of it and ask the owner for answers to any questions or requests you may have.

So it's time to break the hotel habit and give vacation villas in Orlando and Florida a try. You wont regret it!

Steve Sewell is a Orlando Villa owner and is part owner of http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com and also owns the informational guide website http://www.perfectfloridaguide.com he has been traveling to Florida for the past 16 years and has built up a wealth of knowledge.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Sewell

Vacationing in Orlando Florida

It's hard to believe that the holidays are approaching. Not only is this a time for decorating and shopping, but this is also a busy time of the year for traveling. When asked the question; if you had more time and more money what would you do? Ninety nine % of the time the answer is travel. Let's face it , have you ever had someone tell you that they tried the vacation thing and they will never do it again? Even if they had a bad experience there are many other ways to vacation.

During the holidays many families take advantage of the time off and go visit family. With any luck grandparents live in Florida and if children are in this mix you know they want to see Mickey. A popular destination is Orlando, Florida and for a good reason. The sun is shining and Mickey is waiting. Walt Disney World is the most visited theme park in the country, with people coming from all over the world.

Walt Disney World includes:

Magic Kingdom; where you will see the most beloved animated characters come to life in a fantasy world princesses, princes, kings, queens, heroes and villains. No visit is complete without a walk through Cinderella's Castle and a ride on Space Mountain. Epcot; where you will experience the age of technology Animal Kingdom; here you will encounter wildlife along with rides and shows. MGM-Studios; your favorite movies and shows are filmed here. Movies, television shows, radio and Broadway plays come to life in an educational and fun way.

But we have only scratched the surface. Universal Studios includes; Islands of Adventure and City walk. Fear Factor is the newest attraction here which involves audience participation. Islands of Adventure is the most high - tech theme park in the world. We still have Sea World and the Holy Land experience along with many other area attractions. You can spend your entire vacation in Orlando, Florida and never run out of things to do. And the best part is no matter your age you can't help but have fun.

Linda Doyle is a Florida resident and an entrepreneur. She can be reached at
http://www.mydiamondfortune.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Doyle

Finding a Fabulous Florida Vacation Rental Home

Choosing the right Florida vacation home for you and your family is a very important decision. Once you start looking you realize that the search can sometimes be overwhelming. Just follow these tips to make your search for a Florida vacation home so much quicker and easier.

1. What do you and your family want from your Florida vacation home? What is important to you? View, location, privacy, large pool deck with sun all day, televisions in every bedroom, wireless internet access? Do you want a vacation home on a resort? Only you can decide which are the important features which your family needs, and which you can do without.

2. Once you have decided the essential things you need start your Florida vacation rental home search. You may be overwhelmed by the choice. So how do you choose?

3. Look at the website. How does it look? Has a lot of work gone into it - if so this may show that the vacation home owner takes this seriously and will have put a lot into the design and upkeep of the house as well.

4. How does the owner sound to you? Are they willing to help you? It is very important to have a link of trust on both sides. You are trusting a big part of your vacation to them, and they are trusting you with an expensive Florida vacation rental home which they take a pride in!

5. Ask as many questions as you need to. When you have finished with your first list of questions then ask as many more questions as you need to so that you can be comfortable with your choice of home.This is an important choice. Not all Florida vacation rental homes are the same and neither is the standard of customer service which you receive from the owner.

There are many fabulous Florida vacation rental homes - just make sure you find the right one for you!

Alison Meacham is the author of the Disney Vacation Money Savings Guide. She owns luxury Florida vacation rental homes within 5 minutes of Disney. She enjoys helping her guests find the right home for them and offering lots of advice about planning their Orlando vacation. You can view her resort villas at www.windsorpalmsusa.com

Sign up for her free newsletter which gives tips, ideas and suggestions on how to save on your Disney World Vacation.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Meacham

Vacation Rental Advertising Top 10 Must Do's

The vacation rental for owner business is getting highly competitive. The top ten ways to separate yourself from all the competition and get the most out of your property are crucial must dos. The best things you can do to improve your vacation rental listings are purchase or open a free website, optimize it with enriched key vacation terms, and then pay per click on the search engines. Make sure not to pay for expensive terms like Hawaii vacation rentals, but instead find terms high in search volume but very low in competition. Make sure that you are on the top portion of the page, so that you can get the seventy percent of searchers that click on the first few links.

Next best thing you can do is add links to your vacation rental website. The best-researched links are local attractions, weather, and beach cams. Pictures are the most important things you can have on your site. Independent research shows that pictures including people and families in action poses convey strong emotions. People begin to feel what it would be like at your property.

So far we have covered the top five must dos for vacation rental owners. By creating your own website, optimizing that website, putting yourself on the top of the search engines, linking, and adding emotion evoking pictures, you are well on your way to separating yourself from the competition. Hold on, you are not there yet. The next thing we need to consider is how to effectively advertise your new found marketing techniques. Vacation rental for owner websites are a must do. Vacation Rental Owner is by far the biggest and most widely used. You should join one of these vacation rental owner-listing sites but beware that competition is extremely high. Research shows that on average, searchers look at least 25 different properties before choosing.

Putting yourself next to vacation rental owner websites on the search engines is the way to go if you are looking to separate yourself from the pack. So far we have covered how to get people to click on your vacation rental listing by putting you on the top of the search engines. How to get them to stay at your listing by evoking emotions via pictures and do not forget we have created even more emotion by showing them local attraction links. Next we will close the deal by making sure that our vacation rental website listing is at the optimal price point. The cheapest properties at key locations are the first to be booked so crunch the numbers and see if it is worth it to offer lower prices if it can keep you booked. Be sure that you can be available to contact within twenty-four hours or you may want to consider using an agency.

Lastly, we need to consider payment options. Many vacation rental owners overlook this last step to booking the property. Consider all the options like using Pay pal, snail mail checks, or credit card processing. Credit card processing has recently become very expensive. People want instant gratification that snail mail can not deliver. Also, research has shown that Pay pal turns away about 14 percent of customers in conjunction with vacation rental listings. If you are processing credit card payments make sure to display credit card icons high on the page because that is a high selling point to potential vacation rental customers. Recently, the biggest name in search engines has embarked on processing credit cards via checkout carts. The company in mention is offering free transactions until 2008 and is very easy to add to any web page.

The top ten things you can do to unlock your booking potential has shown you the path. If you want to separate yourself from the rest of the competition you must create a website, add links and pictures, optimize, pay for search engine advertisements, join a vacation rental for owner website, create emotion, be available, find your price point, and accept payment. If you are able to do the preceding steps you might just find yourself a step above all the competition that is found in the vacation rental industry. Remember that it does take time and money to run a successful business and that you are the only thing that can hold you back from your potential.

Elliot W. Parker Chief Financial Officer of Marketing Rentals can be found at http://www.marketingrentals.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elliot_Parker

Cyprus And The Egypt Connection

The Egyptians must have really liked the beautiful Island of Cyprus because they just kept on coming back. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that in those days (1500 BC) they didn't have those luxury holiday resorts like Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh. Whatever the reason whether it was the sandy beaches or the great climate they just kept on coming back to her shores. They first took a trip there under the instruction of Thothes the third round about 500 BC but they only hung around Cyprus until the Mycenaen Greeks turned up. They (the Greeks) have been the main cultural influence on Cyprus since that time and Greek is the native language too.

Anyway, the Egyptians decided to pop back over to Cyprus again for another visit in the 16th century BC. It was all the idea of the top dude of the time who was some guy called Amasis. They however legged it rather promptly when the Persians arrived to embrace Cyprus into their ever expanding empire. This was not all bad news for the Greeks though because at least it introduced them to the decadent luxuries of those fabulous Persian rugs. Unfortunately for the Persians however there was trouble brewing on the far horizon in the form of a dude called Alex. Alexander The Great as he preffered to be known had been pretty busy conquering most of the known world and had a particular bone to pick with the Persians.

Then guess what? Yep that's right the Egyptians decided to pop back over to Cyprus for another visit some time after 323 BC. The Island was then ruled by Eygptian rulers including Queen Cleopatra who maintained control right up until 58 BC when the Romans turned up. We all know at least a little of what went off after that involving Anthony, Caesar and Queen Cleopatra as she attempted to hold onto her empire. Well, like my old granddad used to say "all good things come to an end" and they did for the Romans too. Their Global empire eventually came tumbling down around their heads and they passed along with the Egyptians into Cyprus history. Then the Byzantine empire moved in followed by the Venetians who made great blinds but weren`t to nice to ruled by. So Cyprus let the Ottoman empire in who didn't give them any blanket boxes (ottormans) but they have hung around ever since but that's another Cyprus history lesson.

The great news is that now Cyprus is invading Egypt and you can take part if you want. Every week a cruise liner leaves Limassol and sails to port Said packed full of invading tourist. They have a great time on board dinning at the captains table, gambling in the casino and generally enjoying the delights of Ocean cruising. When the ship berths in Eygypt the invading Cyprus tourist board a fleet of luxury air conditioned coaches and head out across the trans desert highway towards Cairo. If they stay alert they will even catch a glimpse of the legendary Suez canal too. Once they arrive near Cairo it's off to see the pyramids and maybe even take a camel ride into the desert. Then it's a short hop down the road to take a look at the Sphinx (not the trendy bar in Protaras) that giant stone cat in the middle of the desert.
The highlight of the day for most people is a visit to the Cairo museum to see the famous burial mask of the boy king Tutankhamen. Finally there should be time for a bit of retail therapy in the bazaars before setting off again for Port Said. Back on the ship in time for dinner, more decadent gambling at the roulette table and a steady cruise back to Cyprus. Then after breakfast it's all ashore for onwards travel back to hotels and apartments in time for some more sun bathing or whatever. It doesn't look like the Egyptians are too bothered about coming back to the Island anytime soon but you never know. If cruising isn't your cup of tea but you are interested in Egypt's impact on the Island you could always pay a visit to the Nicosia museum. There you can see what is arguably the best collection of Egyptian artifacts in Cyprus.

Kevin Moore lives half the year in Cyprus writing regular articles about all things Cyprus including holidays and Cyprus real estate. To learn more take a look at his web site here Cyprus And Egypt

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevinor_Moore

10 Reasons To Visit The Algarve In Portugal

Your mind instantly conjures up the beautiful images of crystal clear waters, gorgeous golden beaches, clear blue skies, terraces, chimneys, and whitewashed houses, whenever someone talks about Algarve. Surely, the southernmost region of Portugal, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, is all about glorious year round sunshine and excellent sandy beaches.

Algarve certainly is a perfect vacation destination, with temperatures ideal for playing golf, tennis, and other sports. The southern stretch of fantastic sandy beaches, broken up by extraordinary rugged cliffs and fantastic grottoes, is the resort area for beach activities and water sports, and the brightly emerald colored northern part, with its fig trees, orange groves and blossoming almond trees, is the playground for various other sports. There certainly are numerous reasons, but here are top 10 reasons for visiting Algarve.

Onetime peaceful fishing village, Albufeira (Reason No. 1) is now a leading tourist resort of Algarve. It is famous for its beaches, golf courses, restaurants, bars, discos, and vibrant nightlife. Notable beaches are – Gale, Coelha, São Rafael and Vigia, Baleeira, Albufeira, Oura, Balaia, Maria Luísa and Olhos de Agua, and Falesia. Notable golf courses are – Salgados, Pine Cliffs, and Balaia Golf Village.

Castro Marim (Reason No. 2) is a charming town and municipality in the southern region of Algarve. Featuring dusty gold of soft sand, the turquoise blue of warm waters, the town has three main beaches – Alagoa, Verde/Cabeço, and Retur. It also offers vast ranges of hills full of wild flowers, and serene countryside along the banks of the Guardania, lush with orchards and vegetable gardens.

Faro (Reason No. 3) is your sunny destination all year round. It is a popular place for sun-seekers. The white-washed town is known for its colonial and Moorish-influenced architectures and museums, such as Cathedral, Nossa Senhora da Assuncão Convent, São Francisco Church, Infante Dom Henrique, and Regional Ethnographic museum.

Tavira (Reason No. 4) is one of the most architecturally attractive towns in the Algarve. Located some 30 km east of Faro, the picturesque town is known for its inviting long beaches, typical roofs and chimneys, beautiful views over the Gilão river and its Roman bridge, and magnificent churches, such as Santa Maria do Castelo, Misericórdia, Nossa Senhora das Ondas, and São José.

Parque Natural de Ria Formosa (Reason No. 5) is an area of unspoilt marshlands, freshwater lakes and lagoons filled with wildlife. It is one of the major tourist attractions of Algarve, located between Manta Rota and Vale do Lobo in south of Portugal. It is the place where you can check out flora & fauna, and environment & nature conservation of the Ria Formosa lagoon region.

Carvoeiro (Reason No. 6) is a lovely coastal village that is a great tourist center, located in the area of Lagoa, in the Central Algarve. The lively and friendly fishing village has a nice sheltered beach that is good for snorkelling. The coastal village is famous for its wide range of restaurants and bars. It is a popular venue for free live entertainment shows.

Monchique (Reason No. 7) is an attractive mountain-top village in southern Portugal, in the district of Faro. It is a fantastic health-resort, finely situated among the wooded heights of the Serra de Monchique. The lovely village is famous for hot sulfur springs, with baths; it has a delightful natural thermal spa famed since Roman times.

Praia de Odeceixe (Reason No. 8) is a lovely sheltered, crescent-shaped beach in South Portugal. The place is a virtual paradise for surfing. It is a reliable surfing destination where you can enjoy surfing at any time of the year. The beach rarely gets packed, even in the height of the summer.

Algarve Golf (Reason No. 9) facilities are one of the finest in the world. Algarve really is a perfect destination for golf vacation. You can really find a large number of top class golf courses in the city. Some of the notable golf courses include Parque da Floresta, Boavista, Palmares, Álamos, Alto Golf, Gramacho, Morgado, Penina Academy, Silves Golf, and many more.

Algarve Cuisine (Reason No. 10), offering an immense range of delicious regional dishes, is also one of major reasons for visiting the city. You can check out the regional specialties, such as seafood soups oregano snails, pork meat and "cataplana" clams, roasted dried octopus on the grill (Lagos style), and grilled squid and cuttlefish. And, don’t forget to taste the fig pastries, marzipan pastries, "D. Rodrigo" and "morgado" from Lagos, puff pastries from Olhão, and almond paste and caramel pastries from Tavira.

James Burrows writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for apartments, bed and breakfasts, Apartment rental in Rome, hotels and Rome holiday rentals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Burrows

Sporting Holidays in Portugal

You find plenty of sports in Portugal. Often dubbed as the “jardim à beira-mar plantado” (garden planted by the sea), Portugal certainly is a wonderful playground in the southwestern Europe. So, if you are looking to have wonderful sporting holidays in Portugal, go ahead!

Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west & south and by Spain to the north & east, Portugal is known for a wide variety of sports activities, such as football, Golf, tennis, bullfighting, basketball, swimming, futsal, rink hockey, handball, volleyball, rugby, and water sports. You can find numerous sporting sites and venues in Portugal.

FOOTBALL is the most popular sport in Portugal. If you are footballer or football fan, you can plan your holidays in Lisbon or Porto. Lisbon is home to football clubs as S.L. Benfica (Sport Lisboa e Benfica) and Sporting (Sporting Clube de Portugal). Porto is known for F.C. Porto (Futebol Clube do Porto or FCP). FUTSAL, an indoor version of football (soccer), is also very popular in Portugal. You can find many futsal venues in Lisbon, and other cities of Portugal.

GOLF is also very popular among Portuguese. Portugal certainly is a great place for golfing. If you want of enjoy golf, Algarve and the Estoril coast are places with fine golf courses. You can also a find nice golf course near Espinho, south of Porto.

Madeira Island has two terrific golf courses located within 29 Kms from Funchal. Some of top golf courses in Portugal are – San Lorenzo Golf Club (Algrave), Praia d'El Rey Golf & Country Club (Obidos, Lisbon), Troia Golf Club -Portugal (Lisbon), Penha Longa Golf & Resort (near the Estoril coast), Oitavos Golfe (Lisbon), and Vilamoura Golf Club (Old course).

MOTOR SPORTS are also popular in Portugal. The Autódromo Fernanda Pires da Silva in the Estoril, near Lisbon, is the main Portuguese race track where many motorsport competitions, such as the World Motorcycling Championship, A1 Grand Prix and formerly F1, are held. Portugal is also famous for rallying, and Rally of Portugal and, Rally Madeira are one of the most famous rally races in the world.

PORTUGUESE BULLFIGHT is different from the Spanish Bullfighting. It is not as popular as the latter. In the Portuguese bullfight, the bullfighters are on horseback, and bull is not killed inside the ring. The bullfight centre is Santarém in the Ribatejo province. The most famous bullfights are held in Vila Franca da Xira, a suburb of Lisbon.

RINK HOCKEY is also pretty popular in Portugal. You can enjoy playing rink hockey in Lisbon, Porto, and Barcelos. Lisbon is home to the S.L. Benfica, and Sporting CP, the two of most successful Portuguese rink hockey clubs. Porto is home to F.C. Porto, a successful rink hockey club, and Barcelos is home to Óquei de Barcelos, a famous rink hockey club.

WATER SPORTS are everyone’s favorite. You can enjoy playing a wide variety of water sports in Portugal. Algarve beaches, and popular northern and Lisbon coast resorts are best known for a number of water sports activities including surfing and windsurfing, kite surfing, kayaking and sailing. Windsurf boards are available for rent on most of the places. Guincho, north of Lisbon, is the most famous spot for windsurfing and surfing. Additionally, you can also enjoy fishing at various places. In the north, you need a fishing license that is available from local town halls in Portugal.

Besides, you can enjoy playing rugby at various venues in Portugal. You can enjoy playing tennis at tennis courts at your resort hotels. You can also learn traditional sports and games – "jogos populares" or "jogos tradicionais" in Portugal. These include "jogo da malha", "jogo do pau" and the "petanca" (pétanque), which are played for fun.

James writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for Hotels, Villas, Sporting holiday apartments in Portugal, and for Travel stays – Barcelona, Rome & Europe.

Article Source: Ezine Articles

It's better to Rent a Florida Villa Than Stay in a Hotel

What are the advantages of staying in a Florida Villa rather than a hotel?

• It’s far cheaper – when renting a 5/6 bed villa the cost of this can be split between 3 or 4 couples.

• The Villa will have lots more space and usually a private pool. The Villa we stayed at last year on Solana resort had a private pool and Jacuzzi for the guests.

• The villa we stayed at also has a games room in the garage with a pool table and table football.

• Additional bathrooms, waiting for the bathroom can be a real drag when you are eager to get out and about, most villa will have at least 3 bathrooms and plenty of linen as well.

• The rental home will allow you to relax and unwind in your own personnel space.

• Kitchen Amenities - When choosing a place to stay for a Florida vacation, individuals like to have good kitchen amenities available to them, including a Barbecue.

• There are no fixed times for breakfast and evening meal allowing you more flexibility during the day.

• Washing Machines and Dryers - One of the more accommodating aspects of renting an Orlando villa as opposed to staying at a hotel is the availability of washers and dryers on the premises. No need to search for a launderette when washers and dryers are included amenities

• All the extras that you find missing from a hotel are here - no embarrassing trip down the hall for ice.

• Eating in is so easy, flexible and inexpensive. The place becomes yours for the whole holiday - a real home from home.

• Most new villas now are build on resort complexes, that are secure and have communal pools and many other facilities.

• More secure, the secure gated residence at Solana Resort provides great security and provides peace of mind.

The villa we stayed at was on Solana resort and can be viewed online at: www.statusfloridavilla.co.uk

At Solana Resort where status Florida villa is located the resort facilities are excellent. Feel free to check these out at www.statusfloridavilla.co.uk/villa_for_rent_florida_solanaresort.html

Article Source: Ezine Articles

The Benefits Of Cyprus Villa Holidays

Most people work hard all year round to make ends meet and treat themselves to a couple of weeks holiday in the sun. Cyprus villa holidays could turn those two weeks into the holiday you will want to take over and over again year after year. If you want the luxury of your own place without the huge cost of property ownership then Cyprus villa holidays could be just what you are been looking for. When you consider the cost of booking a package tour for a family and all the associated hassles that go with it, villa holidays begin to make great sense. The cost of a luxury Cyprus villa holiday may surprise you too if you think that they are out of your budget. So just maybe you should take another look before you book and check out Cyprus villa holidays for yourself.

There is little doubt that people's holiday booking habits have evolved over the last few years due in part to the internet. Now anyone can instantly compare like for like holiday prices with the click of a mouse. Many families and couples are shunning the traditional package tour where everything is taken care of for them. They are instead booking separate flights, accommodation and car hire over the internet to assure themselves of the best deal. This is where Cyprus villa holidays come into their own and begin to make perfect sense for those demanding more for their cash. After all if you only get one shot at it every year you want to get it right and you deserve the best for your money.

There are some real advantages to Cyprus villa holidays particularly if you value freedom and privacy. If you loath queuing up for your meals and having to be back at the hotel in time for dinner a villa holiday could be for you. If you want the freedom to please yourself when you come and go then again a Cyprus villa holiday could be for you. Imagine being able to swim in your own pool whenever you like and not having to fight for the sunbeds. You could relax on your balcony enjoying the warm Cyprus sunshine with a long cool drink or just lounge around your pool all day. Eat when you want, go out when you want and come home whenever it pleases you. That's part of the beauty of Cyprus villa holidays and there is so much more to this relaxed style of holiday making too.

Cyprus villa holidays make a great base from which to explore the rest of the Island especially if you are prepared to hire a car. Some villa owners can even offer the use of a car with the accommodation at a vastly differing price to the Cyprus car hire companies. That way you can explore Cyprus at your convenience without having to rush back in the evenings or follow the tour guide route either. You will have the total freedom of choice to please yourself and your family so everyone should be happy. You can choose to eat in or dine out and if you want to eat at home there is usually a barbecue area for that typical Cypriot alfresco cooking experience.

These luxury Cyprus villas are fitted out to the highest standards with all the comforts of home included and some more besides. Air conditioning will be standard at least in all the bedrooms and the kitchens will be fully fitted too. No one wants to be cooking or washing when on villa holidays, but if you have the kids along it can sometimes be a necessity. Even if it is, at least you get the convenience of having everything you need right there in your own villa. In fact there won't be anyone disturbing you to service the room so you don't have to worry about getting up in the morning either until you are good and ready. All in all when it comes down to quality and freedom you just can't beat a Cyprus villa holiday.

Kevin Moore lives half the year in Cyprus where he writes regular articles about all things Cyprus including holidays and Cyprus property purchase. Learn more by visiting his web site here Cyprus Villa Holidays.

Article Source: Ezine Articles

Guide to Holidaying in France

Whether you are an avid lover of luxury mountain ski resorts, infinite beaches, cozy countryside villages, or lively cities, each of your desires can be fulfilled here in France. The largest country in Europe welcomes you to mesmerize with its scenic beauty and charm. The old civilization has conquered many invasions and wars. It has also witnessed Napoleon’s path-breaking revolution. No doubt, France is considered as one of the most popular tourist destinations among all European countries. The country takes pride to have a rich heritage that includes castles, caves, paintings, and scarred war images. More interestingly, France is well known for rural life, which blooms with all its tradition and dazzles with untouched splendor.

There are many reasons why people choose France as their holiday destination. Whatever the reason, correct planning beforehand can help you enjoy your holidays while avoiding a lot of hassle. Be it your honeymoon, cycling holiday, activity holidays for your children, or a winter sports holiday, you can narrow down your search for the perfect accommodations, rental cars, etc. according to your need and interest. Many of you must have heard that France is too expensive. But that’s not always true. Simple tricks and tactics can definitely make your french holiday quite affordable. If you are planning to visit a specific destination like Disneyland Paris, you can keep ample snacks and food with you to avoid snacking at cafes and restaurants.

If an idea of luxury activity holidays for your children is yawning in your mind, then a stay at locations like Domaine Le Mas Pandit, situated in Southern France in the magnificent wine fields as this can be an enchanting and most memorable experience for your children. A range of family packages are available with facilities for babysitting, cleaning and meals. You can discover a great countryside life where people take great pleasure in welcoming you. They would love to assist you in learning their outdoor activities while introducing you to their local products. Interesting activities like carting, golfing, kite surfing will definitely charm you and keep you occupied.

You can secure one of the many French Holiday Homes to rent direct from the owners. You can frequently visit the updated entries about self-catering holiday homes and get one secured for you well in advance. If you are a beach-bird, you can opt for a varied range of sailing and boating holidays. Something like Port Camargue may satisfy your adrenalin urge along with the best yachting experience. It is just near the old fishing port of Grau du roi and you will enjoy the old buildings, cafeterias and history..

You can reach the Ski Resorts of France via air, by train or by car. You can definitely quench your desire to drive through the quaint, beautiful roads in France but don’t let your craze ride over your wheel. The speed limits and certain norms must be followed!

Visiting France can never be complete without going to Paris. It depicts the crux of French lifestyle. Just wandering around the city can be the most rewarding experience apart from visiting museums and monuments. Hit Cannes if the film festival is around the corner and if you are a great movie buff. Elite boutiques, hotels, and excellent beaches will not disappoint you. If you want to go on pure camping expeditions, France will provide ample food for your adventurous outing. Camping is the most cost-effective and entertaining holiday option especially for kids. Furthermore, caravanning with your children can be the most cherishing experience ever. France can also be a Mecca for avid food lovers. The tastes of frog’s legs and foie gras are amazingly unforgettable.

Thus, France will bless you with the most outstanding and fantastic journey of your life. Discovering the meaning of joie de vivre is fun no doubt!

Rob Griggs is the founder of the Direct Holiday Lets holiday rentals website that has a wide range of holiday villa rentals worldwide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Griggs

Rental Tips for the Vacation Homeowner

Here are some monthly tips for vacation rental homeowners.

October's Tip:

Looking for a perfect and inexpensive way to advertise your vacation rental? A Gift for Your Guests - A Great Way To Advertise! The Gift that Keeps on Giving. Add a picture of your vacation rental to the front cover of photo album. Record the location, year and your contact information on inside cover and leave it for your renters to fill with their memories. As they share their photos with their family and friends, your vacation rental will be exclusively advertised. Very professional with a personal touch! Add a Thank You note and place on your coffee table for your guests. Another way to stand out frm others.

September's Tip:

For those of you that own property in a four season area, this tip is for you. To attract renters in the "off" season, give discounts or "package deals". Include a dinner for two certificate to a nearby restaurant or passes to a local theater.

August' Tip:

As the summer season winds down, get ready for the next season. As I suggested in July, continue to send out letters to your growing list of potential renters the upcoming season. Give out your vacation rental business cards to everyone you know. Leave them wherever you can i.e. restaurants, shopping mall message boards, etc.

July's Tip:

Take the time to update your renter's list. Include anyone who has expressed an interest in renting your property (including all inquirers you may have received from your property listing). If you live in a seasonal climate, take this time to prepare a letter to send to everyone on your list. As an incentive, you can offer them a discount for early reservations.

June's Tip:

It's Summer time! Are you ready for your renters arrival? Have flowers on the table for that extra touch. And, a favorite cool summer soft drink waiting for their arrival. Hook them up with your favorite marina. Or, leave information for an outdoor local event. Mark your calendar for special dates.

May's Tip:

Check your blankets, pillows, towels and linens. Is it time to replace the sheets, bath towels and dish towels? If so, throw out the "tired" ones and replace them with soft and "fluffy" towels. As for sheets, better quality usually means longer use. Check the pillows for yellowing and stains. Yellowed or stained pillows could indicate bacteria and should be replaced. Be sure to clean the blankets often and leave extra blankets and pillows, linens and towels for your guests to use if needed.

April Showers brings May Flowers?

Get those early seedlings planted so you and your guests can enjoy the surroundings.

April's Tip:

This is a great time to walk around your property to see if it needs any painting. Try new colors to give it a special uplift! You and your guests will enjoy the newness of freshly painted rooms. And, don't forget the outside. Check for peeling paint and rotted wood. It is always good to take care of our property, not just for today's enjoyment but for future value as well. Last month we talked about handing out business cards to everyone you come in contact with. How is that working? Write to me and let me know. I am interested in hearing from you.

March MADNESS - Month for Discounts

Try offering a discount for early bookings to attract new renter's.

March's Tip:

Create new business cards for your rental property. Hand them out to everyone you come in contact with. For friends and relatives, ask them if they would be kind enough to give them out to their friends and business contacts. And, to go with the "March MADNESS" - month for discounts, give out referral fees for this month only.

February - Bring on the Romance!

Mention "Romantic Vacation" in your advertisement for the month of February to attract renter's to your site.

February's Tip:

When screening your renters, find out if they will be celebrating a special occasion during their stay at your vacation home. If so, write it down on your calendar as a reminder for when they arrive. Upon arrival, have a bottle of champagne waiting for anniversaries, a candy or fruit basket for a birthday or free tickets to a local fair for any celebration. These are just suggestions, but my point is, be thoughtful and kind to your renters and they will become repeaters year after year. If you have repeat renters each year, you will save your time and money trying to get a different party to rent your vacation home. My advice is to keep your renters happy! Good luck!

January 2007- New Year - New Start

This is a great time to create a new property listing. If you have one already, try to give it a face-lift. Read Chapter six of my book to get creative suggestions and detailed instructions to having the best property listing.

January's Tip:

Before your guests arrive, check your notes to see if they are bringing along any children. Find out their ages and look for pamphlets in your area for that age group. Leave the appropriate ones out on your counter with a friendly note saying: "Here are some fun things to do in the area. Enjoy Your Stay!" and sign your name as owner. Your guests will not only appreciate having the pamphlets but will also remember how you took a personal interest in them to do such a nice thing. And, they will go home and talk about you and your vacation rental to their family and friends. This is a great way to get repeat guests and referrals.

Bonus Tip:

Take time to go through your rental properties to make sure everything is working correctly. Check batteries: smoke detectors, clock. radio, flashlights, hand held remotes (tv, dvd player, play station etc.) Check kitchen appliances to make sure they are all in good working order. Please feel free to stop in next month to get your new tip of the month!

Marie R. Ferguson, author of "Breaking all the Rules: How to Rent Your Vacation Home". An expert landlord of vacation rentals with over twenty years of experience in the financial and real estate industry. For more information www.howtorentvacationhomes.com.

Article source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marie_R._Ferguson.

Water Sports in Thailand

You get treasures of ethnic, scenic, gastronomic, and oceanic pleasures in Siam. Thailand certainly is the fascinating and exotic land of lovely people known for their fantastic culture, cuisine, and overall lifestyle. The land, of course, is well known for its beautiful beaches and pelagic pleasures. It is a wonderful destination for water sports in Southeast Asia.

Thailand definitely is the best pick, if you are looking to have fun & adventure packed water sports holidays. You can really have great holiday, beaching, playing beach volleyball & other beach sports, and enjoying numerous water sports activities, such as swimming, rafting, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, and scuba diving in Thailand. Some famous destinations for water sports destinations in Thailand are – Mae Hong Son, Hua Hin, Phuket, Chumpon, Ko Chang, and Koh Tao.

Mae Hong Son, located near the border of Myanmar along the banks of the river Pai, is a wonderful town in the North West Thailand. The town offers you a nice opportunity to enjoy rafting the Pai River. You can join one of the rafting expeditions that are commonly organized in the heart of Mae Hong Son. Mae Hong Son can be accessed by car or bus from Chiang Mai via the Mae Hong Son loop. The town is also served by the Mae Hong Son Airport.

Hua Hin, in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some 200 km south of Bangkok, is a celebrated beach resort town in Thailand. It is best known for kitesurfing. You can hire your kitesurfing equipment, have kitesurfing instructions from experts, and enjoy kitesurfing. You can also joint kitesurfing lessons & courses for beginners. You can also enjoy numerous other beach and water sport on the beach resort, with an area around 86.36 km². You can also enjoy swimming, windsurfing, wave surfing, and rowing.

Phuket, the largest island and the southern province of Thailand, is best known for its beaches. It is popular destinations for beach & water sports. You can enjoy numerous beach & water sports activities, such as swimming, kitesurfing, yachting, windsurfing, wave surfing, rowing, snorkeling, diving, scuba diving, etc. in Phuket. Famous Phuket beaches include Bang Tao, Surin Beach, Laem Singh Beach, Kamala Beach, Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kata Yai Beach, Kata Noi Beach, Ao Chalong, and Rawai Beach.

Chumphon or Chumpon, the capital of the Chumphon Province at the shore of the Gulf of Thailand, is a fantastic town in southern Thailand. Located about 463 kilometers away from Bangkok, Chumpon is famous for kitesurfing or kiteboarding, and other water sports activities. You can enjoy numerous beach & water sports activities, such as swimming, windsurfing, wave surfing, snorkeling, diving, fishing, and rowing. The town can be accessed by bus or by ferries.

Ko Chang, located on the Thai east coast 310 km away from Bangkok near the border to Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand, is the second largest island of Thailand. It is famous for sailing and scuba diving. However, you can also enjoy several other beach & water sports activities, such as swimming, windsurfing, wave surfing, snorkeling, diving, and rowing in Ko Chang. The island can be accessed by ferries operating from Laem Ngop.

Ko Tao, an island located near the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand, is widely famous for scuba diving. Diving in Ko Tao is easy and full of fun. Often, you have encounters with turtles, stingrays, barracudas, lots of small fish, and reef sharks. The island is a great place for divers. It is a great place to learn diving, as there are hardly any currents. You can also enjoy several other water related activities, such as wake boarding, water skiing, sumo tube, wind surfing, and sailing. Ko Tao can be accessed catching ferries from Surat Thani, or Ko Samui, or Ko Pha Ngan.

Author writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for Hotels, Villas, Holiday apartments in Phuket, and Thailand holiday villas.

Hawaii Vacation Rental Helps You Enjoy Hawaii

Hawaii is a very popular vacation spot. The scenery and its people will make sure that your vacation is unforgettable. To make it a truly memorable experience however, you need to stay in one of the many Hawaii resorts. It's often difficult to decide where to stay, but whatever your budget, a Hawaii vacation rental will meet your needs and make your vacation perfect for you and your family.

One tends to get thrilled or excited by seeing the beautiful and stunning island of Hawaii. In case you are planning to stay at a Hawaii vacation rental, you will see and experience the island as a privileged guest. You have options such as fishing, swimming, snorkeling, parasailing, hiking, biking and you can choose anything of your liking.

Your Hawaii vacation rental will be no more than a few minutes, and often just a few seconds, away from the beautiful white sand beaches and the Pacific Ocean. If your group enjoys relaxing in the sun or playing in the ocean, book your Hawaii vacation rental now. Unique vacation packages may not only include a place to stay at, but some activities to participate in over your visit. Evens, lessons and even Island tours are available all year around. Some of the favorite events which several tourists choose to be a part of are luaus, diving, and even surfing.

The perfect Hawaiian vacation is not complete until you experience the traditional luau. The luau is a traditional buffet dinner complete with savory food and time-honored Hawaiian entertainment. A luau buffet is made up of a roasted pig, poi, pineapple, coconut juice and other foods from the island. It allows you to eat as the natives do and experience a variety of Hawaiian traditions.

Your days will be filled with outdoor entertainment such as hiking, swimming, and snorkeling; your nights can be filled with shopping, fine dining, and walking the streets. You can do almost anything you can imagine. Make sure that you thoroughly research Hawaii vacation rental packages to make sure that you have the chance to do what you want, when you want, at a reasonable price.


A Hawaii vacation rental is awaiting you. In Hawaii there is lots to see and do. Swimming and Parasailing are excellent activities to enjoy on Hawaii's excellent beaches. Hawaii resorts have reasonable prices.

Hawaii is a very relaxing vacation destination. Special vacation packages available may include accommodations and activities such as diving, surfing, and luaus. Luaus are a traditional meal of roast pig, poi, pineapple and coconut juice. A beautiful Kauai resort is ready for you. Search the internet and you will find the best prices discounts for your vacation.

Article Source: EzineArticles

Taking Your Car Abroad

Yesterday I talked about hiring a car abroad, but what if you are taking your own car abroad?

First, check with your car insurance that you are covered for driving in all of the countries that you are likely to visit. They might even be able to help you with a few specifics for the countries you are visiting.

For example, if you have any form of speed trap detector in your vehicle, remove it before leaving the country. You can be fined for just posessing one in countries, including France, even models that are allowed in the UK.

Some countries require that you carry your vehicle log book, driving license and insurance details with you at all times.

It is also a good idea to carry spare light bulbs. It might not get you off a fine if a light has blown, but the fine may be reduced.

Certain countries also have requirements about hazard triangles and their use (sometimes you might need to carry 2 warning triangles) and first aid kits. Headlight convertors are generally a must if you are driving on the right as well.

Also, take note of the various warnings in yesterday's post about hiring a car about the various other laws, e.g. drink driving.

Holiday Car Hire

When you are travelling abroad, getting a hire car can be an excellent idea. It allows you freedom to explore your destination and find those hidden gems, maybe whilst they are quieter before or after the coach loads drop off.

But if you are hiring a car be very wary of local laws, which can be very different and more sticktly applied than own own. Just because you see locals doing something, don't think you can also do the same.

For example, in certain countries it is mandatory that you carry your driving license whenever you are driving a car. It can also be required that you carry the log book or car hire agreement.

Certain countries require certain equipment to be carried - make sure that your hire company provide these.

Don't forget that some countries have a zero or near zero tollerence on drink driving and a small amount of alcohol could put you over the limit. To get the best out of your experience, check with the company you are hiring from what local laws might affect you and drive carefully.

Protecting Your Holiday

Whenever you holiday abroad it is important that all aspects are covered by relevant travel cover. A good idea is Travel Insurance, but there are alternatives. But make sure that whatever you choose does provide cover.

Some credit cards provide cover for your holiday if you pay in full with them, but you should check exactly what this cover offers. If your baggage is lost, you are struck down with an illness or involved in an accident, are these covered? You might find that the credit card only covers you for the elements you paid for - for example if the holiday company colapses or you need to cancel, then this might be paid.

If you look through your house insurance policy you might find that also covers your possessions away from home. Then again, some cheaper policies don't.

It's always good to go knowing that if you are the victim of a theft or hospitalised or there's a freak weather storm. Travel Insurance might seem an extra unnecessary expense, but could save you long term. And don't forget that if you travel frequently, an annual insurance policy might be a lot cheaper then a single trip policy.

Diving in Mallorca

My checkout dive in Mallorca was delayed due to vast numbers of small red, stinging jelly fish. These had been brought in by unusal weather conditions, forcing the local beach to be closed on some days. It was over a week before they cleared and we were able to enter the water for our first dive.

This took place in a sheltered cover near Cala D'Or. From some steps we swam around the rocks, over swaying forests of seaweed and eventually through a rock arch. To be honest, the visibility was poor and the sealife was mainly the seaweed, but at least the water was warm.

A couple of days later and the weather had settled enough and we went out to sea in the boat. Only a brief ride out, but again evidence of plenty of jellyfish, but this time much larger than the red ones that had been blown in shore. This could have been a deeper dive, but we limited to 30m, and were joined by Baracuda and Eels. Once more, plenty of rock formations and an interesting dive, which would have benefited from the torch that I'd left in my hotel room.

Not as inspiring as other holiday resorts, maybe it was just unfortunate summer weather that caused the problems.

Corfu -

Corfu island has so much to offer you should not spend your holiday lying on sun drenched beaches or lying by the pool! Whatever your age Corfu has something for everyone.

Corfu town: A maze of narrow streets dominated by the 16th century fortress. Look out for those shops and stalls selling local items like lace, wild honey, and fig cakes and handmade lace. there are also plenty of handmade jewelry shops to temp you. The town has a busy nightlife for all ages!

Acharavi: The main town in the north of the island, boasts something for everyone. Stay at a property like Salvanos Apartments for a good deal and a great time.

Agios Gordios: is on the west coast of Corfu. Surrounded by Olive groves it is a joy to behold. Follow the link for suggestions where to stay in Agios Gordios

Kavos: The island’s hottest party destination. Kavos rocks at night folks! However it is also a well known family holiday resort. A great place to stay for 'clubbing friends' and couples are the Hebe Apartments which has great staff, and a friendly atmosphere,

Sidari: Developed from smaller fishing villages, known for its lively tavernas, bars and nightlife, famous for the Canal D'Amour allegedly if you bathe in its waters you will find romance! Stay at one of the lovely properties in Sidari to get the most
from your holiday to the area.

The climate: Corfu island enjoys hot, dry summers and mild winters. Temperatures in July and August range from 90ºF (32ºC) during the day to 64ºF (18ºC) at night. Rainfall is unlikely during the peak summer season.

See you in Corfu!!

Diving In Tenerife

Diving in Tenerife was a lot more different to other Canary Island diving that I had experienced.

I was staying in Los Gigantes and dived with a local English run dive outfit there, who were very friendly and helpful and above all very safety conscious. I felt a lot safer diving with them than anyone else before (or since) abroad!

The water was slightly warmer than previous Canary dives, which was pleasant. The undersea landscape is very similar to Lanzarote - with black sea urchins covering rocks, ready to spike the unweary hand. There was also a good selection of other sea life - trumpet fish, octopus, baby baracuda, parrot fish and the likes.

The way Los Gigantes is situated, all the diving took place from a boat in sheltered coves. The runs out in the boat were also quite interesting, although usually only a few minutes long. One day we spotted a logger head turtle and another a flying fish.

Towards the end of my stay on the return journey we saw a fin from a well known local - Eddie, the hammerhead shark. A shy little creature, he is attracted to the area at certain times of the year to hunt under the fish farm nets for scraps that are dropped. The area is also home to dolphins and whales, but neither were about on my trips.

On later dives, going to about 25 metres, we also saw free swimming octopus, cuttlefish and pipefish. We also visited an area used by some dives operators as a feeding station (but not the people I dived with) and this was obvious by the amount of debris on the floor. But this meant that area and all around it was home to loads of rays - electric, eagle and sting. At one point I was lucky enough to see a 2 metre sting ray swim over to me and fully burry itself in the sand.

Not all dives were with the intention of seeing the sealife. Punta Teno is a lighthouse that can just be seen from Los Gigantes and a good boat ride out there. Here the diving was again about 25 metres, but this time its purpose was to see the lava formations, although that didn't mean that we had been deserted by the large fish, with an Eagle Ray and others about. I was also informed that if you are going to see a shark, then this was the most likely local dive for that experience. Pity, nothing arrived.

Diving in Tenerife was interesting and I'd be keen to go back just for that alone. Do remember on family holidays, if you are planning a trip up Mount Teide that is does count as altitude - follow your training organisation's guidelines about going to altitude / flying.

Tenerife is well worth a trip - especially if, like me, you dive on family holidays rather than going on diving holidays.

Orlando

Orlando, what a place! It frankly has the lot for any age group ranging from a tiny tot to a hip grandad or grandma! Orlando a fun place for all the family whether you want to laze on the beach or do the whole Disney thing. One of the most important questions when planning your trip is where to stay to get best value for money.

Some holidaymakers prefer to book a villa with a pool. There is a huge selection of villas available. A commonly used villa is known in the trade as 'generic' which are very good value where simply you book a quality and style of villa rather than a specifically named one. This provides a good saving over a named villa. Here is an example of a typical villa. This villa is known 'Platinum' quality. Others are known as 'Bronze,' 'Silver' & 'Gold' standard.

Other holiday makers prefer to stay in an executive style property like this stunning example in Vista Cay.

After a hard day at Disney some holidaymakers prefer to escape the crowds by staying at a condominium on the Gulf Coast such as Holiday Villas III. Amongst other luxuries boasts a heated beachside swimming pool, sundeck and private boat dock and fishing pier. You could always consider booking say a villa for a week and then a condo on the coast!

Whatever you holiday plans are accommodation should be a prime consideration. Our advice is to book this aspect early!

Tenerife - A golfers paradise

Tenerife a land of varied landscapes, is virtually a paradise island for golfers.

The average temperature lies between 20-22ºC. During the cooler days the thermometer doesn't fall under 15ºC and rarely gets higher than 30ºC on the hotter days.

The island is set against the backdrop of Mount Teide. Most tradional holiday makers elect to stay in the main tourist resorts of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas, located side-by-side in the south west of the island.

Golf is a much played sport in Tenerife and there is plenty of holiday accommodation within easy travelling distance of golf courses.

A highly recommended complex in Los Cristianos is Royal Palm and holidaymakers/golfers return year after year. In Playa de las Americas you could do worse than stay at Parque Santiago II

Instead of spending valuable time on holiday booking tee times , lots of golfers now like to pre-book all intended games on line. That way you will have a greater chance to book the time and day you want to play, and very importantly, it helps in planning 'golf down time' for the rest of the non-golfing holiday group! A round of golf in Tenerife costs between 34 - 80 Euros.

The courses in Tenerife are fantastic. Take for example Amarilla Golf. Apart form the obvious the club has the club has a pitch and putt course, a swimming pool and a horse riding club. Whereas Golf Costa Adeje (venue for the 2003 Spanish Open), makes excellent use of the natural terrain with spectacular views over the island of La Gomera.

When you visit Tenerife make sure you plan well to see the best of the island and grab a game of golf or two or three or... You will not be disappointed!

Casares, Costa Del Sol - A golfers paradise!

Casares area on the Costa Del Sol is a golfers paradise.

You can reach there by flying into either Gibraltar or Malaga.

A new luxury complex, 1km from the sea, Casares Del Sol opened in August 2007 offering ideal accommodation for golfers and holidaymakers alike.

The complex offers luxury rental apartments at affordable prices. The complex hosts plenty of swimming pools complete with lifeguards. Most of the apartments have mountian, sea, or golf views.

The area is fantastic for holidaymakers since you can visit the apes and do duty free shopping in Gibraltar or views luxury boats at Puerto Banus or Marbella. For a more laid back time relax over a meal or drinks at Puerto Duquesa 5 minutes from the apartments, or visit the tradional whitewashed villages of Casares and Gauchin. The latter hosts a bull run over easter weekend where the local heart throbs try to impress the ladies by standing in front of the bulls! For the kids visit Selwo Zoo at Estepona.

For golfers the area is a virtual paradise having many very good courses within close proximity of the apartments. Finca Cortesin Golf Club, and Casares Golf and Country Club are right next door, with Dona Julia Golf Club, Estepona Golf Club, Duquesa Golf and Country Club, all being within 10 minutes away.

There are so many things to do in the area one can easily spend 2-3 weeks in the area.

A must is to try the local fish served at 'Chiringutto Beach Bar' 1 minute drive from the apartments, Fab!

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Diving Lanzarote

Diving in Lanzarote is a real treat. The water temperature remains farily constant throughout the year (5mm wetsuit recommended) and the visibility is generally good.

Most diving takes place from the beaches of Playa Blanca, but there are also dive centres in Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise and elsewhere.

Lanzarote is in the Atlantic and because of this, the sea rapidly becomes very deep. Swim not too far out and you can see the sea bed plummet away to incredible depths. There are stories of divers who have tried to explore some of this deeper water, only to see nothing until their decompression stops in the shallower water!

Depending on the season and location, Angel Sharks and a variety rays might be visiting the island. There are also large Grouper Fish, Barracuda and many more large, and small, fish to see.

There's also the Los Erizos wrecks - purpose sunk fishing boats in around 20m of water, just outside of the harbour. And for a bit of a different dive, Mala offers volcanic lava caves when the tides are right. A bit of an unusual entry / exit to the dive - you will know what I mean if you have been there!