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
Thursday, 18 October 2007
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
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
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
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
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
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
Monday, 15 October 2007
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
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
Sunday, 14 October 2007
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
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
Saturday, 13 October 2007
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
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
Friday, 12 October 2007
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
• 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
Thursday, 11 October 2007
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
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
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
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
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
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
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.
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.
Monday, 8 October 2007
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.
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.
Sunday, 7 October 2007
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
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
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