Costa Del Sol Attractions (9)

Gibraltar
The British rock holds many attractions for the visitor. Gibraltar has a long history having a strategic location close to Africa. The rock has diverse wildlife, lovely scenery, and architecture. Gibraltar has become famous for its VAT free shopping in Main Street.

Perhaps it is most famous for the apes that reside at the top of the rock. Certainly they are a bit hit with the tourists. The Barbary Apes, (Macaca Sylvanus), are tail-less monkeys and they are the only free-roaming monkeys in Europe. Natives of North Africa. How did the apes get to Gibraltar ? It is believed likley that they were taken to the rock as pets by members of the British garrison, or even as game?

Another legend claims that should the apes ever disappear, the British will leave Gibraltar. During the last war, natural causes had diminished the ape numbers. Winston Churchill took an interest and additional animals were imported. There are 6 ape packs residing on the rock. The apes do wander into town and forage for food but all in all they are much loved by the full time inhabitants. Whilst on your trip ask your guide, (if you have one) to put an ape on your shoulder for a photograph session.
Whilst on your trip to Gibraltar watch out for the Dolphins leaping in the bay. As whole families of dolphins visit there is a goo chance of seeing some of them.

LOWER ST.MICHAEL’S CAVE TOUR
Lower St. Michael’s Cave was discovered in 1942, accidentally, whilst blasting a second entrance at St Michael’s Cave in order to prepare it for use as an emergency hospital during the Second World War. There are organised tours available to the general public priced at £5.00 per head. The tour normally lasts around three hours, however due to the fact that there is some scrambling and minor climbing with ropes involved, duration times may vary. The cave is totally in its original natural state (although it is fully lit). This cave could be referred to as a show cave as most known formations may be found here. One of the sites visited during this tour is a beautiful underground lake and fortunately for the visitor, who will no doubt not want to forget this wonderful espeleological experience, photography is permitted.
People are advised to wear stout shoes and casual clothing. Group sizes range from a maximum of ten and a minimum of five. Due to the unusual nature of this tour, children under the age of ten years are not allowed.

WALKING TOURS
This is an opportunity for you to go on a gentle and interesting walk. The tour starts at Casemates Square at the entrance to the Main Street in Gibraltar. Licensed tour guides will take you on a tour of the City Centre. You will travel back through time and find out all about Gibraltar and its history during the Moorish, Spanish and British periods. You will learn about the development of its people and its culture. The tour is based on themes elaborated at different stops. The Tour takes about one hour to an hour and a half and is mostly wheelchair friendly. Total tour distance approximately one kilometre. The Tour will leave you with lasting memories of Gibraltar, its people and places so ….Let’s go!

WORLD WAR II TUNNELS
These tunnels were excavated during 1939-1944 by the Royal Engineers and a contingent of Canadian Engineers, and are an extension to The Great Siege Tunnels excavated during The Great Siege of 1779-83. The Rock is in fact honeycombed with a 32 mile-long network of tunnels. There are fascinating tours of these tunnels, which are conducted by a guide from H.M. Forces.
Persons wishing to go on these fascinating tours are advised to bring a torch and to wear comfortable shoes. Recommended party sizes are a maximum of fifteen and a minimum of six or seven and the price for the tours is £2.00 per person. The average duration of a tour is three hours.

ROCK AND FORTRESS TUNNEL TOURS
Licensed tour guides will take you on a tour lasting approximately 52 minutes with a 15- minute comfort break where refreshments are available. Tour includes static exhibitions and photographic displays.

CABLE CAR TOUR
The Cable Car is the best way to the "Top of the Rock" and a must-see attraction for all visitors to Gibraltar. The journey takes passengers 412m above sea level in approximately 6 minutes offering spectacular views all the way. From the Top Station one has uninterrupted views southwards across the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa; westwards, of the City of Gibraltar and across the Bay to Algeciras; a birds eye view of Gibraltar airport and Spain to the north; and the blue expanse of the Mediterranean and the beaches and cities of the Costa Del Sol to the east. A self-service restaurant is located within the Top Station complex where passengers will be able to pick up a quick snack and a drink whilst taking in the spectacular views around them. Group bookings can be taken in advance.
Pocket Multimedia Tour: A personal state-of-the-art Interactive Multimedia Guide is available to all passengers on arrival at the Top Station, allowing passengers to gain an insight into Gibraltar's fascinating history whilst being guided around the Top Station terraces. The commentary is available in eight languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Swedish, Portuguese and Hebrew and was the first of it's kind to be offered in Europe.
A cable car runs a continuous shuttle to the top of the Rock, daily excluding Sundays

Enjoy your trip to Gibraltar.

To stay in the area look at our quality properties on offer. Casares which is only 25 mins away, or Calahonda which is approximately 60 mins away. To look through a larger selection of properties look at Costa Del Sol.

Once you have been to Gibraltar please add comments to our blog. We would love to hear your views and this will help other visitors.

Costa Del Sol Attractions (8)

Mijas Pueblo
Mijas or Mijas Pueblo has been described as a jewel of the Costa Del Sol. Having a population of 7.5K it is perched 428 meters above sea level. The village is easily reached form the N340 highway near fuengirola. The tourist is very welcome in Mijas and even the Town Hall has a helpful English speaking section to assist with any queries.

Whilst having quite a few non-Spanish residents living in the village it has managed to hang on to it's true Andalucian identity.

Around the village there are viewing points where once can see the fine views of the area. Make sure you visit Muralla Gardens, where the flowers bloom all year round due to clever selection of plants. Visit also The Plaza de la Virgen de la Pena, you might see a band playing in the bandstand!

Wander through the streets and visit the many shops displaying local goods such as paintings, leather work, ceramics, ideal for gifts to take home.

Many think that one of the nicest things found in Mijas is the taxi service. This quite simply consists of a 'donkey service'. For approximately 6€ you can take a donkey ride around the streets, or if you are feeling wealthy for 12€ you can take a small cart, again pulled by a donkey. Horse and carriages work the summer months and can be found in Plaza de Pina.

In the middle of the village you will find a lovely fountain where the birds drink. This fountain was carved by Galiano. The square is surrounded by cafes and shops.

A must is a visit to Santuario de la Virgen de la Pena, carved out of solid rock and a tribute to the patron saint of Mijas. Built in 1586 following an image of the Virgin appeared. It is recorded that later an image of the Virgin was found concealed in a recess in the tower, hidden for 500 years!

If you wish to look for rental accomodation in the area look at Mijas, Fuengirola, or to look further afield look at Costa Del Sol.

Costa Del Sol Attractions (7)

Gaucin

Gaucin is a lovely whitewashed mountain village, a short drive from the equally delightful village of Casares. The village has views to Gibraltar and North Afirica.

The village has a population of 2000 and is 626 metres above sea level. Gauchin's name is derived from 'guazan' meaning strong rock in Arabic. Due to its position the vilage was a Roman settlement and the roman signautre was perhaps the castle called Castillo del Aguila which means Eagles Castle. The castle was later devleoped into a fortress by the Arabs.

Look out for eagles circling overhead while kestrels regualry nest in the walls.of the medieval convent.

Gauncin was once a haven for smugglers of brandy and tobacco who travelled the district. Gaucin has a checkered history and in the first year of the Spanish Civil War, (1936-1939), nationalists captured the village and killed more than fifty people.

Today Gaucin is a quiet village, and is famous locally for the 'bull run' which takes place over Easter weekend where bulls are run through the streeets, (they are not harmed) and the local males and the odd intrepid tourist, take their chance by standing in front of the bulls.


When you walk through the streets you will see the handholds on the walls used to help get people out of the way of the bulls.

If you want to stay near to Casares follow this link. If you wish to look further afield look at CostaDel Sol.

Costa Del Sol Attractions (6)

Casares
Casares is one of the typical Spanish whitewashed mountain villages found in in this part of Spain. It has population of 3000 and is one of the most famous and most photographed villages.

Casares can easily approached from the A7 coastal road and my favourite route is from the N340. The journey is only 9 miles. On route stop off to look over the scenery you might spot some eagles on the way up!

As you enter the outskirts of the village you will find a car park on the right hand side of the road, (free). If you prefer drive just a few metres more and park outside a bar or restaurant.

Then you walk just a few steps to fantastic views below to the village. You can drive down into the village, (best for those less able), but if you can, walk down the steep winding steps to be treated to a close up of the lovely houses which look just like sugar cubes from a distance.

The main square is called 'Plaza de España' In the square notice the statue of Blas Infante the Andalucia Nationalist leader who was born here on July 5th 1885 and executed by Franco's own rebels at the start of the civil war. Off the square in Calle Carrera his birth house has been turned into a museum and tourist office.

Follow the narrow street next to the Virgin del Rosario chapel when you reach the top you will be 1,400 feet above sea level. Visit the old fortress. There is an old fortress. There is also a derelict church, Iglesia de la Encarnación, (currently being rejuvenated). The church remained in use the mid 1800's. and was damaged by anarchists during the Spanish Civil War. From here you are likely to spot peregrine falcons and kestrels flying around the gorge. If the weather is kind and clear you may spot the African coast and the Rock of Gibraltar.

Near the church is the Hermitage of Vera Cruz. All that is left is a domed alcove which may have been an altar room. Look out for bullet holes. During the civil war it was common to hurl the bodies of enemies into the deep gorge below. Look across the gorge to the right of Restaurant la Teraza a simple iron cross marks and remembers another civil war hurling site.

Behind the church next to the cemetery there are the interesting signs of an outdoor auditorium.

When you leave Casares, unless you want to return by the same route, go past the visitor centre and when you get to the T junction you can either turn left for Manilva and the coast, or turn right for another visit to the whitewashed village of Gauchin.

If you select the route to Manilva after 1.5K you will see a small track. This was once the main route to Jimena and San Martin. It is bumpy ride but still usable. Travel over a cattle grid and past a farm house you will eventually come to a ruins of a 30 foot high wall. This is the remains of the Iberian and Roman town of Lacipo.

If you want to stay near to Casares but in more luxury look at this link. If you wish to look further afield look at Costa Del Sol.

Costa Del Sol Attractions (5)

Crocodile Park
Situated in Torremolinos, the heart of the Costal del Sol. In Crocodile Park you will find yourself in front of prehistoric monsters which have miraculously survived 200 million years of evolution - carnivores which knew the dinosaurs and use the distance of less than 2 metres, you can wonder at the gigantic crocodiles by silently walking beside them, observing the secrets of one of the most fascinating creatures of our world.

Crocodile Park Torremolinos
C/ Cuba, 14 29620 Torremolinos (MÁLAGA)
Telf: 952051782
E-mail: arkosaurio@crocodile-park.com

15 minutes from Torremolinos center
Taxi service and parking

Prices
Adults: 10,00 €
Kids: 7,50 €
Senior citizens (+65): 8,00 €
Children under 4 years: Free

Opening time
March, april, may, june, october, november: 10.00 to 18.00
July, august, september: 10.00 to 19.00
December, january, february: 10.00 to 17.00

To obtian a rental property in the area look at our site Costa Del Sol

If you have been, or go to the Park please do let us know what you thought as this will help other visitors plan there trips.

Costa Del Sol Attractions (4)

Selwo Marina
Selwo Marina can be found on the seafront in just one street back from the sea front in Benalmadena Costa opposite the Parque de la Paloma.

Selwo Marina management team has developed an environment where you can experience some of the marine life of other paprts of the world.


Dolpinarium
There is a Dolphinarium (dolphins and sea lions) where you can easily view these lovely marine creatures. You can even see their antics underwater!

Ice Island
The Ice Island is home to an extensive range of species of penguins

Amazonia
Amazonia as you would rightly guess takes you to the tropical jungle to experience the marine life.

For childrenSelwo Marina is great for children and there is a playground, a touch and explore pool and many other areas to enjoy.

Opening hours
Selwo Marina is open every day from February 12th to October 31st, check the Selwo website for full details. You can and also purchase a discount card allowing repeat access to this and other attractions.

For suitable quality rental properties we suggest you look at the following link: Costa Del Sol or more specifically at the following,
Calahonda, Mijas, and Rivera Del Sol

Costa Del Sol Attractions (3)

Benalmadena Cable Car

Situated right next to Tivoli World, (see Costa Del Sol Attractions (1) the Benalmadena Cablecar runs to the summit of Monte Calamorro. The cable car is owned by Selwo Park. You can enjoy fantastic views over the Costa del Sol, Sierra Nevada from the summit. On clear days you will be treated to views to Gibraltar and the North African coast. Each of the cars can take four people and the journey lasts approximately 15 minutes.

At the summit is a cafeteria. Included in the price of the cable car is Donkey rides, exhibitions of birds of prey and Spanish horse riding exhibitions.

Thought for the day: Why not ride up to the summit in the cable car, and then get fit walking down? Even better perhaps take your cycle up in the car and cyle down!

The Cable Car is open every day from 10am to 9pm.

If you wish to visit other local attractions visit Selwo website where you will find a link to pre-purchase tickets. You can and also purchase a discount card allowing repeat access to this and other attractions.

For suitable quality rental properties we suggest you look at the following link: Costa Del Sol or more specifically at the following,

Calahonda, Mijas, and Rivera Del Sol.

Costa Del Sol Attractions (2)

SELWO ADVENTURE PARK
Selwo Adventure Park on the Costa Del Sol is one of my favourite attractions of the area. Close to Estepona and Marbella on the coastal road, the park is easily reached. Selwo's management team aim to really involve the visitor in the attractions. The park is amazing and the animals live as free as is possible. The animals roam around frequently and are easily seen either on foot, or by camouflaged trucks. The park holds in the region of 2000 animals and 200 species.

Selwo Adventure Park presents five basic ecosystems, adapted to the characteristics of the animals and to their daily lives. When I was there last Summer (2007) I got a fantastic photograph of a giraffe feeding and was almost levels with its head!

Two things you must not miss are the Bat cave, (fruit bats, you can see them flying and eating fruit at fast speeds), and the Aviary where you can walk down through a natural valley and see all kinds of birds nesting and flying. Soem of the birds are huge, but also look out for the tiny specimens!

You will see all the normal range of animals like monkeys, crocodiles elephants and tigers and there is also a lovely children's petting zoo/farm.

There are good walkways so ideal for pushchairs/wheelchairs. However bear in mind the park is set in natural surroundings so it includes making use of hills! Do not forget the suntan cream as you will be in the open for most of the time!

There is a great food facilities in the park, as an example the one at the top of the hills offers benches under an African style straw hut. Sit a while and you can look down over open ground to the sea!

I will be next visiting the park in May 2008 with my first grandchild Dylan. I am very much looking forward to seeing his face light up when he sees some the animals for the first time in his life. He will be 1 year old then I will certainly be adding more detail following our trip!

If you have been to the park we would love to have your feed back which we will publish. This will help other tourists to build a picture of the park for themselves.

Entrance FeeADULT 23,50€

CHILD 16,00€

SENIOR 16,00€

PARKING 2,50€

If you wish to visit other local attractions visit Selwo website where you will find a link to pre-purchase tickets. You can and also purchase a discount card allowing repeat access to this and other attractions.

If you want to stay fairly local to Selwo we suggest you look specifically at the following links:Calahonda, Mijas, and Rivera Del Sol.

Costa Del Sol Attactions (1)

Tivoli World
Tivoli World Amusement Park is located in approximaley 2 km inland from Benalmadena Costa, and easily be reached by:

• train which runs from and can be reached by the train which runs from Malaga to Fuengirola


• Buses which run along the coastal road


• Car ample parking provided

Tivili world is the largest amusement park on the Costa del Sol. The park offers and offers both rides and a varied program of shows including Wild West and Flameco shows. It even has a new section for children called 'Tivolandia'.

Opening hours.

From November to March it is open only on Sundays from 12 noon till 8pm, in October and April it is open on Saturdays and Sunadays from 12 noon until 8pm, in May it opens from 1pm to 9pm (11pm at weekends), in June it opens from 4 or 5pm to midnight and in July August and the first half of September it opens from 6pm to 2am. For more information you can visit there site Tivoli World

INDIVIDUAL Entrance: ............................... 4.00 €uros(From 1m. height)Supertivolino ........................ 12.00 €uros(Only in Ticket Office inside the park)Supertivolino ticket allow you enjoy the rides included in its offer as many times as you like, (more than 38 rides, due to height and security norms).

Enjoy a Bric-a-Brac Garden Market, prying between all kinds of miscellaneous objects. You'll surely find the original gift you were looking for.From 11am to 1pm, the price of the entrance is only 1 €uro.Enjoy a phenomenal day in Tivoli World's magic enviroment.

Villas Costa Blanca

Villas Costa Blanca is the latest of our sub sites, and completes Spain for the time being. As other areas start to become better represented on our database, we'll add more Spanish locations.

Villas Costa Blanca has a large number of villas and other properties in almost 30 different regions.

Javea Villas are well represented on this site - currently there are around 20 properties there alone. There are also around 12 Benidorm Apartments and other properties. There are also over 30 villas and apartments in Altea.

Again, the Costa Blanca Travel Guides are in place, thanks to the hard work of the advertisers. One describes the Javea coastline as having 'scenic rocky coves, wonderful beaches and dramatic cliffs' and for the active types 'Nearly every kind of watersport is catered for in Javea, and for those who dont want to get their feet wet there is golf, bowls, tennis, cycling, horse riding and hiking to name but a few.'

Well worth taking a look if you are travelling to that region.

Costa Del Sol

Nearly 2 million tourists pass through Malaga Airport each year heading for the sunshine, (300 days per year, annual average 18*c), offered by the internationally famous Costa Del Sol stretching from Nerja to Gibraltar. The Costa del Sol is serviced by both Malaga and Gibraltar Airports.

The most popular resorts are those well known resorts lie west of Malaga beginning with Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola and Mijas Costa. Further along the coast lies Marbella with its famous marina at Puerto Banus, Estepona, Sotogrande and finally Gibraltar.

So what is it that makes the area so special? Well for one thing it is the range of sporting activities on offer. Here are just a few examples:

• 70 Costa Del Sol golf courses


• Sailing


• Scugba diving


• Horce riding


• Dolphone safaris


• Zoo's


• Pleasure parks
  

If you want to get away from the beach and do something cultural one can visit the cities of Granda, Cordoba, Seville and Ronda. However if you wish to go further afield whip across to visit Morocco.

The Costa del Sol has numerous typical Andalucian whitewashed villages and my favourites are Casares, Gaucin and Mijas.

If you want to have a general look for a rental property go to our site Costa Del Sol Apartments where you will find plenty of properties at good prices.

Pop back to this blog as we will be adding more information about the Costa Del Sol in the coming weeks.

Mijas Costa

MIJAS COSTA

The lovely region of Mijas Costa is made up of three areas. Firstly the mountain village of Mijas Pueblo, a typical Andalucian white village, secondly Las Lagubas, a modern commercial area and thirdly Mijas Costa, which stretches along 12 km along the coast.

Mijas Costa covers the popular tourist resorts/areas such as El Chaparral, La Cala, El Combo and Calahonda and takes in the two major urbanizations, Rivera Del Sol and Sitio de Calahonda. You can be step back in time and soak up the flavour of Spain in Mijas Pueblo in the morning, and be back in the 21st century after lunch.

There is a vast range of rental properties available along this stretch of coastline and on offer is everything from small studios for 2 persons to major villas. This is the area for beach life and offers water sports ranging from jet skis, water skiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, and more.

The two large areas of Sitio de Calahonda and Riviera del Sol are catchment areas in their own right. This stretch of coastline is very popular with tourists since it is only a 20-30 minute drive from Malaga airport and approximately 50 -60 minutes from Gibtalar Airport depending which part you holiday in. The main A7 motorway does split most rental properties from the Mediterranean but I am of the opinion that it is well worth being slightly up an incline to get spectacular views of the sea!

La Cala de Mijas has become the central point is the central point of Mijas Costa and has grown form being a typical Spanish fishing village, to being an area known for ex pats with some 10K inhabitants. It is a lively area with everything you need, and as you would expect most of the shop keepers etc speak English which is very useful.

La Cala has a very popular street market which is held every Wednesday and Saturday morning. As one would expect the market sellers display local produce and have everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, crafts, ceramics and pottery, flowers and plants and lots more.

If you holiday in the area around this time visit the annual fair which begins on the 25th July. Expect to be entertained by dancing, eating and wine tasting!

One of the many delight sin the area is Puerto Cabopino, a beautiful small marina with nice restaurants and a secluded beach.

If you wish to book a holiday in the area go to our site where you will find a good selection of rental properties both in the region of Mijas and further afield.

Costa Del Sol Apartments

It's been a few days since we completed the Canary Islands sub sites with Gran Canaria Villas, but the technical offices have undergone a total redecoration, so we lost a bit of time putting everything back in place. But now we're back on track with Costa Del Sol Apartments as we head towards completing the main areas of Spain.

Costa Del Sol Villas has a lot of properties in 16 different resorts (so far...). From Calahonda with a choice of 2 villas or 5 apartments, to Mijas with 4 apartments, 3 villas and 2 houses to Rivera Del Sol with 8 apartments and a villa.

There is, of course, the well supported Costa Del Sol travel guides, thanks to the efforts of our advertisers and even a few events on the same pages.

Trinidad and Tobago Rental Recipes

If you are reading this article I would guess that you have either a. been on holiday to Trinidad or Tobago or b. are thinking of going or c. are just interested in food or cooking. Whatever the reason welcome! I and my partner have purchased a property and are now going to rent it out. As a nice idea we came up with the concept of leaving a selection of recipes in our rental property for customers to prepare and enjoy. Hopefully over time customers will leave their own copies of recipes so we will build a portfolio, so we both gain. Do you have a recipe for food from this region you would like to share? If so write and share it with us in our blog. So to set you thinking here is typical recipe for chicken wings.

Trinidad and Tobago chicken wings by Ed Baines
Serves 4-6
Preparation time over 2 hours
Cooking time 10 to 30 mins

Ingredients:
For the marinade
2 tbsp olive oil
1 red chilli, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 tbsp curry powder
small bunch fresh thyme, finely chopped
1 lemon, juiced and sliced
200ml/7fl oz sweet chilli sauce
For the chicken
1kg/2lb 2oz chicken wings
500g/1lb 1oz plain flour
1 tbsp olive oil, for greasing
½ lime, juice only
1 lime, cut into wedges

Method
1. To prepare the marinade, warm one tablespoon of the olive oil in a frying pan.
2. Add the chilli and garlic and fry gently over a low heat.
3. Add the curry powder, fresh thyme, lemon juice, lemon slices and the sweet chilli.
4. Stir over a low heat for 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat and allow to cool.
5. Place the chicken into a large dish or bowl and pour over the marinade. Mix well to coat the chicken thoroughly and place into the fridge to marinate for at least two hours, preferably overnight.
6. To cook the chicken wings, preheat the oven to 190C/385F/Gas 5.
6. Dredge the marinated chicken wings in a bowl of the flour and dust off the excess.
7. Dip the chicken wings into the marinade.
8. Cover a baking sheet with greaseproof paper and grease with olive oil to stop the wings sticking.
9. Place the chicken wings onto the greaseproof paper and transfer to the oven to roast for 25 minutes, or until cooked through.
10. Remove from the oven when cooked and place the wings into a serving bowl. Drizzle the lime juice over the wings and drizzle over the remaining sweet chilli. Serve with lime wedges.

So enjoy cooking and eating your dish and enjoy a nice drop of Cretan wine with it! We look forward to seeing your recipes.

If you want to visit the caribbean you will find some quality properties on our site.

Crete Rental Recipes

If you are reading this article I would guess that you have either a. been on holiday to Crete or b. are thinking of going or c. are just interested in food or cooking. Whatever the reason welcome! I and my partner have purchased a property and are now going to rent it out. As a nice idea we came up with the concept of leaving a selection of recipes in our rental property for customers to prepare and enjoy. Hopefully over time customers will leave their own copies of recipes so we will build a portfolio so we both gain. Do you have a recipe for Cretan food you would like to share? If so write and share it with us in our blog. So to set you thinking here is typical Cretan recipe for Moussaka.

Moussaka
INGREDIENTS

1 kg aubergines (large or/and elongated variety) 160 ml vegetable oil (about 1 teacup) 1 large onion, finely sliced 450 gr. minced beef 1 glass white wine (not retsina, but aretsinoto) 350 gr. fresh tomatoes, 1400 gr. tomatoes, drained of some of their juice and chopped teaspoon ground cinnamon teaspoon ground allspice salt and black pepper 1 teaspoon oregano 25 gr. grated parmesan, kefalotiri, or Gruyere cheese some chopped parsley

Bechamel Sauce 80 gr. butter 80 gr. flour 600 ml warm milk salt and white pepper 30 gr. grated Parmesan or Gruyere cheese 2 egg yolks

Toppingz 60 gr. grated Parmesan,Gruyere or kefalotiri cheese 4 tablespoons toasted breadcrumbs

METHOD
Moussaka should be baked in the oven. Use a roasting container, eitber square or oblong, approximately 25x25 cm or 39x28 cm. It is recommended that you spread the work involved over two days for your convenience; one can easily cook the meat the day before, witbout the Moussaka suffering at all. Do not do the same with the aubergines; they should be fried on the day.

Aubergines
Top and tail the aubergines, without peeling them. Rinse them, cut them lengthways in 75-mm thick slices and immerse them in salted water, for 30 minutes.Take them out, squeeze gently, rinse, then squeeze them again. Drain them in a colander and pat dry. Fry them in hot vegetable oil until they become pale golden on both sides; you can either deep-fry them, which is easier but they absorb a lot of oil, or shallow-fry them. In either case, drain them on absorbent paper on a flat platter before serving, so that most of their oil will dribble away.

Meat
Sautee the sliced onion in 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, until it looks glistening. Add the meat and sautee together, stirring, until all the lumps are broken down and the meat starts to change colour. Pour in the wine, add tomatoes, sliced finely, the spices, salt and pepper and the oregano. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring from time to time in case it sticks. Then mix in the grated cheese and parsley.

Bechamel Sauce
Melt the butter and, away from the heat, gradually add the flour and stir to amalgamate. Return to the heat and gradually add the milk and seasoning, stirring continuously. Simmer for 9-10 minutes, stirring, until it has thickened considerably. Withdraw the pan from the heat, let it stand briefly, then add the cheese and the egg yolks. Stir to amalgamate them. Do not let the sauce boil after this. It should by now be a thick bechamel, to enable it to sit on top of the meat mixture and form a kind of crust.

To assemble, cover the base of the roasting dish with half of the fried aubergines, then spread half of the meat mixture evenly on top of them and cover neatly with the remaining aubergines. Spread the remaining meat and sauce evenly over the top and cover neatly with the bechamel sauce. Sprinkle the grated cheese all over the top, and the breadcrumbs. Moussaka from Macedonia may contain a layer of thinly sliced roun potatoes which have been fried first. Bake in a pre-heated oven, gas no.4/ 350 grades F/ 180 grades C, for 1 hour, untit a golden crust is formed all over the top. Let it stand for 5 minutes before serving, in order to be able to cut it more easily. To serve, cut into square or oblong-shaped pieces, about 8 cm thick. It should be quite dry by then and the pieces should ideally stay intact.

So enjoy cooking and eating your dish and enjoy a nice drop of Cretan wine with it! We look forward to seeing your recipes.

If you want to visit Crete you will find some quality properties on our site.

Cypriot Rental Recipes

If you are reading this article I would guess that you have either a. been on holiday to Cyprus or b. are thinking of going or c. are just intrested and food or cooking. Whatever the reason welcome! I and my partner have purchased a property and are now going to rent it out. As a nice idea we came up with the concept of leaving a selection of recipes in our rental property for customers to prepare and enjoy. Hopefully over time customers will leave their own copies of recipes so we will build a portfolio over time, so we both gain.

Do you have a recipe for Cypriot food you would like to share? If so write and share it with us in our blog. So to set you thinking here is a recipe by Tonia Buxton.

Antigoni's Cypriot Chicken with Cumin Potatoes and Village Salad
by Tonia Buxtonfrom Good Food Live
For a hearty meal try Tonia Buxton's tasty recipe for spiced roast chicken, cumin-flavoured potatoes and green salad
Servings: 4
Level of difficulty: Easy
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients
1 chicken, around 1.4kg
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 large buffalo tomato, sliced into 8 pieces
1 large onion, sliced into rings
sea salt, and freshly ground pepper
1½ heaped tsp dried oregano
1½ heaped tsp ground cinnamon
village salad, (chopped fresh coriander, parsley, Greek rocket and tomatoes, dressed with lemon juice, olive oil and salt), to serve
For the cumin potatoes:
5-6 medium to large Cypriot potatoes, peeled and halved
1 large onion, thinly sliced into rings
1½ tsp ground cumin
1½ tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
sea salt, and freshly ground pepper
400g canned tomatoes, drained
100ml water
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4.

2. Place the chicken in a roasting tray and rub with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

3. Place tomato slices on the chicken breast and legs and surround the chicken with onion rings.

4. Season the chicken with sea salt, freshly ground pepper, oregano and cinnamon.

5. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the chicken.

6. Roast the chicken in then oven for 1½ hours or until the chicken's juices run clear and the chicken is cooked through.

7. Meanwhile, cook the cumin potatoes. Place the potatoes in a roasting tray and mix in the onion rings.

8. Sprinkle over the cumin and cinnamon and season with salt and freshly ground pepper.

9. Drizzle over the olive oil, mixing well.

10. Crush the tomatoes by hand and layer over the potatoes. Pour over the water.

11. Cover with kitchen foil and bake in the oven with the chicken for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for 30 minutes, until cooked through.
12. Serve the roast chicken with the cumin potatoes and village salad.

So enjoy cooking and eating your dish and enjoy a nice drop of Cypriot wine with it! We look forward to seeing your recipes.

If you want to visit Cyprus you will find some quality properties on our site.

Spanish Rental Recipes

So you have purchased a property in Spain and are now going to rent it out? Having done likewise my partner and I thought that as a nice idea we would leave a selection of recipes in our rental property for customers to prepare and enjoy.

Hopefully over time customers will leave their own copies of recipes so we will build a collection over time, so we both gain.

Do you have a recipe for Spanish food you would like to share? If so write and share it with us in our blog.

So to set you thinking here is a recipe for Spanish Paella

Spanish Paella Serves 4-6 people
Ingredients
600 grams rice (short grain)
Half a chicken in pieces
2 artichokes
2 medium-sized red peppers
2 mature tomatoes
Black pepper
Garlic
Parsley
A strand of saffron
Olive oil (one glass, about 1/4 litre)
1/2 lemon
A sprig each of rosemary and thyme
Salt

Steps:

1: Fry the chicken in some olive oil. Put the browned chicken pieces into a pan with 8 glasses of water, and bring to the boil. Leave simmering for half an hour.

2. Cut the artichokes and red pepper and fry them.

3: Fry the tomato and garlic in olive oil in the large paella (special paella pan), then add the rice, stir for a minute and then add the chicken, chicken stock (there should be 6 glasses), artichokes, red peppers, the juice of half a lemon, black pepper, parsley, thyme, rosemary, the saffrón strands (grind them first. If you haven't got a grinder, use Colorante which you'll find in the spice and herbs racks in supermarkets) and salt.

4: Once all the ingredients are in the paella pan, turn the heat up to maximum and boil for about 10 minutes. Then lower the heat and leave to simmer for another 10 minutes. After 20 minutes, the liquid should have evaporated. Turn off the heat, and leave to stand for five minutes. If possible cover while it is standing (many Spaniards use paper to cover the pan).


So enjoying cooking and eating your dish and enjoy a nice drop of Spanish wine with it!

We look forward to seeing your recipe's.

If you want to visit Spain you will find some 300 quality properties on our site.

Villas Gran Canaria

The last of of Canarian villa sites is now available - Villas Gran Canaria.

One of our advertisers has summed up the contrasts nicely in their Maspalomas Travel Guide - "Maspalomas is a very popular holiday resort adjacent to the island's largest and most hectic package-tour resort, Playa del Ingles.".

The area of Gran Canaria with the most villas on our site is Puerto Rico, a popular resort built along both sides of a narrow shallow valley. Although I think it has probably expanded somewhat since I was last there - almost 11 years ago.

There's plenty to see and do in Gran Canaria, and any of the villas listed would be an excellent base to start your holiday, whether you are exploring the volcanic landscape or just relaxing in the sun.

Villas Fuerteventura

After a bit of a false start - because of my faulty spelling of Fuerteventura - Villas Fuerteventura is now ready.

Not a huge number of villas, but Fuerteventura is a growing location as far as ClickRentStay is concerned. We currently have 7 Caleta de Fuste villas and double that number of Corralejo Villas. There are also a couple of other villas in other Fuerteventura locations.

Both of the main locations are well represented in our Fuerteventura Travel Guides, with one owner saying "Corralejo has expanded dramatically over the last few years to become a large, bustling resort on the north of the island" and another "Caleta de Fuste is a lovely family resort. Very safe horseshoe shaped sandy beach".

Sounds well worth a visit!

Villas Lanzarote

The latest in our series of subsites, Villas Lanzarote, is now ready for visitors.

As usual, it's got a fantastic set of Lanzarote Travel Guides, covering Costa Teguise to the east of Arrecife Airport, Puerto Del Carmen, just to the west of the airport and Playa Blanca further along the coast.

We are currently displaying details for around 60 villas in Lazarote - quite a good choice - with the majoruty situated within Puerto Del Carmen.

If you are looking to book a villa, or even to advertise your own, then Villas Lanzarote is a good place to start.

Calahonda

Calahonda on the Costa Del Sol has grown into a mecca for the tourist over recent years. It is so large one could easily mistake it for a town in its own right.

The council for Calahonda have put much thought into lifestyle for its inhabitants and tourists alike. For example there are at least 10 golf courses within a small radius, one can try it an array of water sports, and there are tennis courts and a fitness centre for those who want something a little more active.

Calahonda even has its very own port, Puerto Cabopino which is very small and very charming. Next to the port there is a glorious beach.

We recommend staying at Las Palmeras

Las Palmeras is a brand new development which is set in an elevated position at the rear of Calahonda giving magnificent views over rural areas to the sea. We are delighted to be able to offer 7 different types of rental apartments, ranging from 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, (sleeping 6 persons), to 3 bed roomed penthouses. Each block of apartments has its own swimming pool. The apartments are of a very generous proportion being approx 110sm internally and having balconies of 42.5sm.

To view all of out Calahonda rental portfolio go to Calahonda

Flora and Fauna of Cyprus

Cyprus is rich in flora and boasts at least 2000 plant species. Many however and were bought to the island from other far flung continents. The most important of the 'locally produced' are found on the two mountain ranges of Troodos and Pentadactylos, Paphos forest and the Akamas peninsula. At whatever time you visit Cyprus you will see lovely specimens so make sure you take your camera or sketchpad with you!

As for fauna the island has a good variety, but sadly has very few species of mammal, which number approximately 30. Zoologists say that the early arrivals to the island were in fact hippopotami and elephants, both excellent swimmers. Where did they come from? If you know please do get in touch, we would love to hear from you!

Today however Cyprus has lost some of its old species. For example the mesopotamian deer or wild boar have not been so lucky and are extinct from the island. However it is not all sad news and The moufflon, a wild European sheep hoever has managed to bounce back from a few dozen in the last century. Depending where you go in Cyprus you might well spot one or two. If you spot any on your travels though please do let us know!

However ecologists feel that the monk seal will soon disappear from Cyprus unless a huge effort is made. Cyprus has a very healthy colony of bats and are very important to the islands economy derived from agriculture as they keep inspects down.

Whilst Cyprus lacks in mammals it more than makes up for in birds, with over 400 reported species being spotted. Some use Cyprus as a migration stop-over, and who can blame them, whilst others make Cyprus their permanent home. Cyprus is a bird watchers paradise!

Cyprus lists about 25 reptile species amongst its inhabitants. One of the best loved species and one which all tourists enjoy watching is the sea turtle. Cyprus is doing all it can to protect two endangered species of turtle, namely the Loggerhead and the Green turtle.

To book one of our quality properties in Paphos visit Paphos Villas. If you want to look at the whole of our portflio of Cyprus properties visit Cyprus

Cyprus

Cyprus as a holiday destination is very attractive and boasts something for everyone. It was allegedly in Cyprus that the phrase was first penned "Skiing in the morning and swimming in the afternoon". Indeed certainly both are achievable at certain times of the year!

The island has lots of charm and has many small hilltop villages to explore. A 'must do' is to sample some of the locally produced wines.

Cyprus is steeped in history and it was due to that fact that I visited Paphos. For those interested in history or even if one is dimply curious Paphos has numerous Greek and Roman historical sites to visit. They include Roman villas, where you can see fantastic mosaic flooring a fort and burial tombs.

If you want a great trip go on a jeep safari into the countryside. You will see some of the local flora and fauna and your local guide will give you lots of interesting stories and folklore. Our guide even took us into his Auntie's house to see her lace making.

To book one of our quality properties in Paphos visit Paphos Villas. If you want to look at the whole of our portflio of Cyprus properties visit Cyprus

Villas Tenerife

The latest in our suite of area specific sub sites is now ready for our public - Tenerife Villas. This brings the total of the mini sites to 5 and continuing to grow.

All of the popular areas in Tenerife are covered, Playa De Las Americas, Los Gigantes, Golf Del Sur, Costa Adeje and Santiago Del Tiede.

And, of course, there are plenty of Tenerife Travel Guides information on offer from our owners.

Larnaca Villas

Larnaca Villas became the latest addition to our list of sub sites yesterday.

Only 2 areas within Larnaca at the moment - Kalavasos Villas with 4 flats and a house, all from the same owner and Oroklini Villas a little busier, with 5 properties from what looks like 3 owners.

Both areas feature in the Larnaca Travel Guides and the Larnaca Events Guide, so the owners have been busy putting up plenty of information. Over time this area should grow nicely.

Flora and Fauna of Corfu

Corfu has lots of flora for the tourist to see and the best time for wild flowers being springtime. However the visitor in May and June is equally likely to be impressed with a vibrant display. Like most Greek islands July and August in Corfu tends to be hot and dry. Indeed the tourist is not privy to the best of what the island has to offer again until September onwards, whereby the island seems to come alive again.

One of the plants not to miss is in Corfu are the Orchids, of which there are some
36 species or so on species. Please do not pick them or dig them up as some of them are endangered. Other wild plants you will come across are Oregano, Bay, Mint and celery.

Corfu is home to over 150 species of birds, many of them rare. Birds such as the The Glossy Ibis, the Spoonbill, the Gull-Billed Tern, and the Great White Egret are some of the rarest. Amongst the wild flowers look out for Corfu's array of butterflies. Inhabitants include the Swallowtail, the Common Blue and the splendid Two-Tailed Pasha.

Corfu is also home to a number of amphibians which include freshwater terrapins, bullfrogs,(you will hear them before you see them), weasels, foxes, hedgehogs and otters.

If you have spotted any of the local wildlife on your holidays please do let us know where and when and what you saw.

If you want to visit Corfu and see the Flora and Fauna find your accomodation at Click Rent Stay

Flora and Fauna of Crete

The lovely island of Crete has numerous types of flora. However not many know that it is also home to some 130 or so species of wild flowers and herbs which are unique to the island alone.

When is the best time to visit to see the flora? This is likely spring is the best when the fields are full of colour. I visited in May a couple of years ago and was delighted to see an abundance of wild flowers, and the air was full of the smell of lemon and orange blossom. However visit Crete at any time of year and you will be treated to colour in one form of another, for example in the summer oleander and osier bloom in the ravines. During winter, anemones are abundant.

The rarest Cretan plants grow in the ravines or on the steep mountain slopes, however you do not need to climb to see rare plants. Indeed The Cretan palm grows along the beach at Vai. Other rare plants found along the shore include the sea daffodil, knapsweed), and chamomile.

The fauna of Crete is as varied as the flora. The unique Cretan wild goat, the agrimi or "kri-kri" is most likley to be spotted found in the Lefka Ori, in the Samaria National Forest than elsewhere.


The Cretan "prickly rat" is also unique in the world. Other inhabitants include the marten, badger, and wildcat. These are shy creatures however. You might more easily spot one of the several kinds of lizard which inhabit Crete. Look out for The Balkan green lizard which can grow to be over one metre in length. Do not walk barefoot through undergrowth however as there is one poisonous snake. This is despite local folklore portraying St. Titus drove all poisonous snakes off the island.

For those interested in birds Crete has it's golden eagle and the lammergeyer, a subspecies unique to Crete. The mountains and ravines are home to griffon vultures. Warblers and swallows are common and goldfinches are occasionally seen.

You might spot some more familiar birds during your holiday as migratory birds make Crete a stopover each spring and autumn.

During a trip to Crete amongst other birds I was delighted to see a young owl just sitting on a post at the edge of am olive grove, in the evening darkness.

If you have spotted any of the local wildlife on your holidays please do let us know where and when and what you saw.

If you want to visit Crete and see the Flora and Fauna find your accomodation at Click Rent Stay

Spain and the travel industry

The diverse cultures and scenery of Spain make it unique. Spain is made up of many regions which include include Andalucía, Aragon, Asturias, Basque Country, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla León, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra and Valencia.

With the world becoming a much smaller place due to travelling getting easier you might well ask the question "Is tourism still big business for Spain"? Well you might well be surprised to discover that over 52 million tourists holidayed there last year, making Spain the world's second most popular tourist destination. (Source: World Tourism Organisation).

It is projected that Spain is so popular as a tourist destination that more than one million foreigners will set up home on the Spanish coast in the next six years, a figure expected to treble by the year 2025. Part of the atrraction for those making their 1st or 2nd homes in Spain is that Spanish properties have a quality of construction and finish as well as good proportions versus properties in other countries.

For the tourist this of course means that there is an abundance of quality properties for holiday rental. To view our quality rental properties in Spain visit
Click Rent Stay

Paphos Villas

I'm pleased to announce that following the server change we now have Paphos Villas live and well, along with plenty of travel guides.

Polis is the most commented on town in Paphos. It is described as having "a sandy beach, banks, interesting shops, and excellent tavernas" and by another owner as "a relatively new tourist destination in Cyprus".

Another comments on the food: "Even simple food like stuffed tomatoes tastes wonderful due to home grown local produce being used." - sounds very tempting!

Server Change

I noticed that the new sub site, Algarve Villas, Corfu Villas and Crete Villas weren't as stable as I would have liked them to be.

When they were first published, these sites had been published to a Linux server, which is supposed to be more reliable and better for running PHP sites. But the rest of ClickRentStay is on Windows servers, so these three sites have now been moved to ASP enabled Windows servers. Hopefully the reliability problems I had experienced are now over.

The only problem with this is that the local travel guides were using the str_ireplace function, which is new to PHP 5. Unfortunately, it's only a verion 4 PHP on the windows servers, so they have been rewritten.

Property Scores

Every search on the internet, whether it be through a large search engine such as Google or a site searching it's own database such as our advanced search will have some sort of ordering of search results. This might be newest first, random for fairness or a scoring to get best (most likely to be a close match) results to the top of the list.

Google has it's page rank that is part of the results and we at ClickRentStay use our property score.

Our score is designed to bring those apartments that are most likely to result in a booking to the top of the list. This is done by looking at availability, size (a sleeps 10 is less likely to be booked for a party of 2 than a small apartment...) and booking history.

So what can owners do to stay near the top of the list? Simple - keep the availability charts up to date. Our aim is always to get those properties with the most availability in the next 10 months to the top of the search list - they are most likely to be able to take a booking. If you are booked up, then you are moved out of the way (you can't take the bookings anyway!!!). If you don't show availability, then you are also moved out of the way as customers will find it harder to book with you.

Every time you change you availability calendar your score is recalculated. I also run adhoc updates of the score - one of which I've just ran now. But after running that I noticed that over half the properties listed have a score of zero - meaning no availability shown.

If you are listing low down in a popular area, load your availability now for the next 10 months and watch your property move up through the listing!

Crete

Crete is a fantastic island for a holiday. The people are so warm and friendly that when you come to leave it will be like leaving good friends behind.
Crete is split into four regions, Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and Lassithi

Flights go into either Chania Airport on the west of the island or Heraklion towards the east. Each end of the island is different, so well worth visiting both. Although you might need a few holidays to take in all the sites! If you want a relaxing holiday head for the west of the island, but if you want a busier holiday head for the east.

Chania as a city is adorable, old world charm around the harbour area with it's narrow streets, visit the many small family work shops which surround it. For example there are hand made carpet shops where you can see three generations working along side each other. You will be made very welcome even if you do not buy anything. Visit the war museum, Crete has a fascinating World War II history. Dine at one of the wonderful restaurants and cafes dotted along the harbour side.

The capital of Crete is Heraklion. If you ask someone who has been to Heraklion what to see they will very likely say you should see some of the interesting historical sites like for example at Hersonisos just 27 kilometres away.
Ruins from the Roman period can be seen in the surrounding area as well as some port remains which are visible under the sea. Make sure you visit the old village of the same name, as well asd the tourist area which is great for clubbers and families alike.

The beaches in Crete are great, some people however say that the very best are in the area of Lassithi. The best is allegedly Vai Beach with its incredible palm forest of 5000 palm trees. There are however so many excellent beaches to choose from and visit that it is of course a matter of opionion. Visit some of the beaches and then post your views in the blog.

Rethymnon is a vibrant city and some say unique. 16th century buildings, Roman remains, narrow streets all add to the flavour. Well worth visiting is the Venetian harbour, The Loggia dating form the 16th century, and The Rimondi Fountain.

Wherever you choose to stay for your holiday in Crete you will not be disappointed.

To look for accommodation in Crete visit our Crete site

Travel And Events Guides

Along with our new sub sites, we realised this morning that we have a wealth of local information dotted around our database.

Each advertiser is asked to enter some details about the local area and events that might appeal to visitors, but this information is shown only when a potential customer views a property's details.

So to make this information more readily to hand, within the subsites we now have travel & event guide pages. Have a look at the Crete Travel Guide, Corfu Travel Guide and the Algarve Travel Guide.

The information is still grouped by town - it would be a massive & unreadable page to group it by region! And with every description we use, we are linking back to the owner's property that the description came from. As much as possible duplicate content is being removed, but that's not an easy task... But there are now even more benefits to our advertisers who give us plenty of details as their property listings are now linked to from even more place. This means more chances of customers finding their property and making a booking.

Crete.ClickRentStay

Following on from yesterday's Algarve subsite, today we're pleased to be able to report the launch of the new ClickRentStay sites, serving Crete Villas and Corfu Villas.

Between them, these subsites cover a multitude of towns and show details for a good number of properties. Crete in particular has good coverage of plenty of locations, from 7 properties in Heraklion to Rethymnon, with over 40 properties.

If you are thinking of travelling to either Crete or Corfu, then these are good sites to start looking.

New Sub Site - Algarve.ClickRentStay.com

Here at ClickRentStay we're trying to make it easier for our users to find what they are looking for whilst giving our advertiser more, so we are starting the process of publishing micro sites for popular regions and we're starting off with ClickRentStay Algarve Villas.

Not only does this mean that there are less pages to drill down through to find the town you are looking for within the Algarve, but also it should mean that advertisers and search engines can find more easily all of the villas we have listed within each region.

Hopefully we're giving our site visitors more access to the database, which will ultimately help our advertisers by producing more bookings.

4 Days, Kenya Wildlife Camping Safaris - Lake Nakuru Maasai Mara

Maasai Mara is Kenya's best game park, with the possibility of seeing all the big five and many other species of game. This is where the great wildebeest migration is a world spectacle.

DAY 1 - NAKURU

Pick up from your hotel by 0900hrs, we drive down the Escarpment via the floor of the Great Rift Valley, to the Lake Nakuru. Lunch followed by an extensive afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight camping.

DAY 2 - MAASAI MARA

Depart Lake Nakuru after breakfast and drive to Maasai Mara arriving by lunchtime. After lunch proceed on an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight camping.

DAY 3 - MAASAI MARA

From the camp, we explore the Mara region, packed with the elephant, zebra, rhino and all kinds of game through out the year with the spectacular wildebeest migration from Serengeti occurring mainly in July and August. Being at Maasai Mara is "as if you found yourself in the New York of the natural world according to some authorities". Indeed you have the best opportunity of seeing all the big five. Dinner and overnight camping.

DAY 4 - NAIROBI

Depart Camp and drive through the reserve viewing game as you proceed to the main Narok road. On reaching Narok, we halt to give you a chance to buy souvenirs, or just to have a cup of tea. Back to Nairobi by 5.00 p.m. Drop off at your hotel.

PRICE INCLUSIVE OF:

Transport in 7 seater Tour Van with pop up roof

Tour bus fitted with Hi-Fi radio

Accommodation at Camp

All park entrance fees

All Government taxes and levies

3 Meals a Day Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian

Game drives

One Litre Mineral water a day while on safari

Drivers Allowances

Cook Allowances

Airport Transfer

Mary Muchiri

Skyview of Africa Ltd

P.O. Box 872 - 00200

Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254 20 3751672

Telfax +254 20 3751521

Email: safari@skyviewofafrica.com

Website: http://www.skyviewofafrica.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Muchiri
http://EzineArticles.com/?4-Days,-Kenya-Wildlife-Camping-Safaris---Lake-Nakuru-Maasai-Mara&id=996874

Cruise Ship Family Vacations - Safety Tips

Family cruise vacations are a wonderful way to engage the whole family in a trip that's relatively all-inclusive and offers a range of activities that appeal to family members young and old. However, before you depart on your big family cruise vacation, you need to consider a few crucial safety tips.

To learn how to really enjoy yourself and have a fun and safe time on your next family cruise, keep reading for the top family cruise safety tips from the experts.

1. Check your ship's report card

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a department called the Vessel Sanitation Program. That program inspects ships on a regular basis for cleanliness, food preparation, hygiene, water control, rodents and disease prevention. Upon inspection, each ship is given a report card that is then made available on the CDC web site.

Before you book your next cruise, look up your specific ship's report card to check their grade.

2. Put safety first

Before you book a cruise, even a "family" cruise or a "kid" cruise, always make sure you know the cruise line's policy on child safety. If they don't have one or if it isn't readily available to you, then they are not the cruise line for you.

Ask about their daycare employees, the activity counselors and the children's guides - are they qualified to work with children? Do they have first aid certification? Have they been thoroughly screened? What background checks has the cruise line done? How does the cruise line keep track of every child when parents aren't present?

3. Be diligent, especially on shore

Admittedly, a cruise can feel very safe. It's an enclosed environment, but that doesn't mean parents can fully let down their guard. Kids can still fall, slip, get hurt, wander into unsupervised or dangerous areas and generally do what kids do.

Despite the childcare, the amenities available to you and the enclosed space, never forget that you're a parent. If you're going on shore with your children, keep a close eye on them and try sticking to cruise-ship organized activities.

4. Have your papers in order

Before you leave, make sure that everyone has a passport. If any of the children have a different last name from yourself or your friend, or if they're traveling without one parent, be sure to get copies of their birth certificates or custody agreements or a letter that states you're allowed to bring them outside the country.

Also, make sure everyone is properly insured for travel, including cruise travel which has specific legal implications because of international waters and the various ports of call. Keep all this paperwork in a safe place.

For information on practical travel cruise recommendations, please visit http://www.travel-cruise-adventures.com, a popular site providing great insights concerning help with cruise line and location ideas, such as Holland America Cruise Lines, Crystal Cruise Lines, and many more!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Stewart
http://EzineArticles.com/?Cruise-Ship-Family-Vacations---Safety-Tips&id=997730

Charter Jets for Business Sense

Even in the face of rising fuel costs and the ease of meeting via video and web-conferencing, many companies are still flying their top executives around the country, or even the world to important meetings. Let's face it, no technology offers the bonding that still is very much a part of making a deal, nor the ability to size up a potential business partner, like a face-to-face meeting.

The aircraft charter business is on the rise.

If a company is not yet successful or large enough to own its own business jet, rather than flying their CEO's first-class, or even executive-class, on commercial flights in the public eye and within public hearing range, the increasing trend for small to mid sized companies is to charter a private jet.

It may sound more expensive at first, but this can be an excellent business decision. The jet will leave when you want it to leave, and depart from, or arrive at, an airport of your choice, while avoiding the stress caused by long security delays. Furthermore, depending upon the amount of passengers, the actual price tag of chartering a business jet can be comparable to that of a scheduled commercial flight.

Why Charter a Business Jet?

The following are four reasons why chartering a private executive jet makes good business sense:

Security - Chartering a private business jet provides an improved level of security not found on most commercial airlines. Remember when you fly on a chartered business jet, you are renting the entire jet, not just one seat. This is why you can be sure of much greater security in terms of the protection of sensitive business information. You won't have to worry about why the guy in the seat behind you frantically scribbling away in a notebook as your meeting is going on. With the rise of corporate espionage, this is a growing problem.

Efficiency - Chartered business jet passengers will save more time during departure by having direct access to the aircraft instead of waiting in long lines at the airport security screenings. Not only that, but because it is possible for the jet to wait for you at the arrival location and you can depart on your own timetable. It is possible to conduct a meeting in the early afternoon and still be home in time for dinner allowing you to be back to work the following morning.

Simplicity - It is now easier than ever before to charter a business jet. One of the easiest ways of finding an aircraft charter company is on the internet. However you can also search for aircraft charter brokers who act as your private charter jet liaison and can assist you in locating the best charter company that will suit your requirements.

A Private Jet Charter- The New Status Symbol

One of the biggest bonuses offered to many prized CEO's is the use of the company jet. Many companies are noticing this, and to remain competitive in recruiting talent they have to offer the best perks. Chartering a jet has become the trend with several mid-sized businesses who can't afford to purchase their own company jet. Yet another example why the aircraft charter business is on the increase.

Remember, a private business jet charter is not a luxury for a busy executive team; it is a tool in reducing costs and increasing security. Now, if you feel like chartering a private jet to Tahiti for the weekend on a beach...that is truly a luxury.

David Leonhardt and Corey Rozon are freelance marketing writers in Canada. They recommend that you can charter your own business jet aircraft; take a look at this executive jets rentals page.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Leonhardt
http://EzineArticles.com/?Charter-Jets-for-Business-Sense&id=991935

My Airfare Secrets Saves You Money on Airline Travel

If you've always wanted to know how to find inexpensive airline tickets there is a great ebook available called My Airfare Secrets. It is authored by Tony Morrison, an ex-airline ticketing agent who shows you all the secrets of the airline ticketing system. This gives you the inside track to obtaining cheap airfare to anywhere you wish to travel.

After 16 years of service in the airline industry he was unceremoniously fired leaving him unemployed and looking for a job. After spending some time thinking about his predicament he decided that all those years spent behind the scenes was worth something and the idea for his book was hatched. Fortunately for you his decision means the average traveler can now learn the inside secrets for cheap airfare.

This book is full of valuable tips, tricks, and secrets divided into four sections that start with Basic Tricks and ends with Top Secret Tricks. This is first rate information that most people are unaware of, although some of the tips given in the first part of the book are better known. Once you get into the last three sections the savings can be quite a surprise.

Once you know how to play the travel game finding inexpensive airline tickets becomes easier. The secret of this ebook is teaching you how and when the airlines offer discounts on their tickets. Understanding this gives you the inside track to getting more for your travel dollar.

Here's a quick overview of some of the things you will learn. Your timing when buying airfares can make a big difference when it comes to finding discounted tickets. There are deals to be had everyday if you know when they occur, what questions to ask, and where to find them. There are many tips and trick you can use to search out these deals and save money.

Sometimes it the simple things that can save you money, such as knowing the best day of the week and time of the day to travel. Off season travel can save you even more because many destinations offer discounts on accommodations as well as airfare during these times. Knowing all the secrets will save you hundreds of dollars every time you travel. And who doesn't want that extra cash in their pocket when they get to their destination.

Traveling by air is expensive, there is no denying it. But it is possible to save good chunks of money if you know how and My Travel Secrets shows you exactly how to do that. Even if you only fly a few times a year you will save more then enough to cover your investment in Tony's ebook if you follow his money saving advice.

To learn more about how My Airfare Secrets can save your travel dollar please visit the My Airfare Secrets Review Page by clicking here.

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Advantages of Renting a Florida Villa

Going on vacation to Florida is serious business. It takes getting the whole family to agree upon an itinerary. It requires setting aside money for airline tickets, attractions, shopping and lodging while you are away from home - as well as planning ahead and making reservations for the trip. On many levels, it also takes making decisions about which arrangements will be the most beneficial and economical for the whole family. Booking travel to Florida in the United States usually involves making plans to visit Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, the Kennedy Space Center and all the other exciting theme parks of Orlando. It also means struggling to find the perfect accommodations that your budget will allow. It's for this reason that many families are realising the benefits of renting Florida Villas.

The advantages of renting Florida holiday villas for your vacation are many. You'll find that you are able to relax in a home away from home - but so much more deluxe and complete with all the luxuries and amenities that the modern American home has to offer - a spacious sitting room, separate ensuite bedrooms, a dining area, a living room and large fully equipped kitchen complete with all the American gadgets!! Above all, by choosing one of the many Florida villas with pools, there is the extensive outdoors area housing the dazzling heated swimming pool, sun-deck, lanai area and sometimes even an outdoor spa. After a busy day at the theme parks, what better than to come and relax in a villa and have fun with all the family.

Florida holiday villas enable you to return to your villa at any time throughout the day and you'll have the added opportunity to purchase groceries from any of the local supermarkets and prepare meals for yourselves. This is a particular advantage for those families with fussy eaters, small babies and families on a tight budget. After a long day at the theme parks, many kids just want to fall into bed, leaving mom and dad free to enjoy a quiet evening by the pool, unwinding with a glass of wine or a beer.

Renting one of the many luxurious Florida holiday villas allows your entire family to stay and enjoy the holiday together. As it has become increasingly popular for families to travel together - parents, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins - the allure of villa rentals in Florida that can sleep ten or more becomes obvious - not only will you all be able to travel together, but you will be able to all stay in one place and save money, which can then be spent on theme park tickets and attractions.

For larger parties, or several families vacationing together, you can even rent two Florida villas next door to each other!

Tracy Huxley-Farnell

15 February 2008

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Markets in the Algarve

The Algarve has many varied and interesting markets thoughout the year. Here a few are listed for your information and selection. If you visit one please do get back to us and add a comment or two. Over time this will help build a picture for other visitors.

Monthly markets

Albufeira 1st & 3rd Tuesday
Alcantarilha 1st Friday
Algoz 2nd Monday
Aljezur 3rd Monday
Almancil 1st & 4th Sunday
Alvor 2nd Tuesday
Alte 3rd Thursday
Ameixal 1st Thursday
Azilheira 1st Thursday
Azinhal (Castro Marim) First Sunday
Azinhal (Loulé) Last Saturday
Benafim 1st Saturday
Boliqueme Last Thursday
B S Miguel 1st Monday
Budens 1st Tuesday
Castro Marim 2nd Saturday
Cortelha 2nd Saturday
Estoi 2nd Sunday
Fuzeta 1st Thursday
Guia 3rd Friday
Lagoa 2nd Sunday
Lagos 1st Saturday
Messines 4th Monday
Moncarapacho 1st Sunday
Monchique 2nd Friday
Odiaxere 4th Monday
Paderne 1st Saturday
Pereiro 4th Sunday
Portimão 1st Monday
Quelfes 4th Sunday
Raposeira 1st Wednesday
Rogil last Sunday
Sagres 1st Friday
Santa Catarina 4th Sunday
Silves 3rd Monday
São Marcos de Serra 1st Saturday
Tavira 3rd Saturday
Tunes 4th Saturday
Vaqueiros 2nd Thursday
Vila do Bispo 1st Thursday
V N de Cacela 3rd Sunday

Additionally there are markets every week at

Loulé Every Saturday
Quarteira Every Wednesday
São Brás Every Saturday
tions at the Algarve, where flying dealers offer a huge variety of goods,

Golfing in The Algarve

To play on an excellent course as a 'one off' whilst on holiday, or for a 'golfing break', you can do worse than play in The Algarve. The courses are world class. Coupled with the golf though The Algarve offers so very much more. A fantastic climate, varied accommodation at economic prices, as well as a night life to suit all ages whether it be clubbing into the small hours or a quiet romantic meal for two.

To look for, and book suitable rental accommodation go to our Algarve site

There are so many courses to choose from you could play every day for a month and not play the same course twice. The wide choice offered the golfer means that you can select your rounds on the basis of skill required or budget or both. As an example of what I mean here are details of just two courses at each end of the golfing spectrum:

Balaia ( 9 holes ) The true test of any golf course is measured by requiring a player's ability to control shot length and direction. This 9-hole par-3 course optimises these demands. With holes ranging from 58 metres up to 160 metres, the ability to hit crisp approach shots and to pitch and putt well, are the secrets of good scoring on this very attractive and manicured course.
Designer: Southern Golf Par: 27 Length: 1177 yards

Monte Rei Golf & Country Club Situated in the unspoiled Eastern Algarve region on the southern coast of Portugal, Monte Rei Golf & Country Club - a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course - will encompass over 1,000 acres of countryside and is sure to be one of the premiere golf resorts in Europe.
The course itself is unusual in that it will have five par-5 and five par-3 holes, built around five lakes and, because of this, it will play longer than its 7197 yards. Naturally, in addition to all of this, there will be a world class driving range with extensive practice facilities.

Par: 72 Length: 7197 yards

To look at a full range of golf courses on offer follow our
Golf link

Keep an eye open on our blog for other fresh updates on golfing information.

Algarve - Albufeira

A few years ago I went on holiday to the Algarve, Albufeira no less – What a lovely laid back tourist spot, fishing boats on the beaches, fishermen mending their nets talking about the catch of the day, idyllic. The scenes have most likely unchanged since the town was nearly all destroyed in an earthquake in 1755. It was merely a fishing village then.

We spent some of the long balmy days on the beaches, enjoying the water sports and getting a tan whilst the nights were spent dining on local cuisine. – fantastic! To get away from the beaten track we went inland to cooler areas and walked amongst the flora the region has to offer, such as almond trees, fig trees, pines and orange-trees. It was great to see the locals in the villages going about their traditonal living. We were made to feel very welcome.

However that was quite a few years ago, has the area changed much? Today Albufeira has a population approaching 40,000 residents with the number of tourists visiting the Algarve swelling considerably also. In fact during 2007 the tourist population increased between 5 to 6%. The largest increases being in golf holidays. The tourism portfolio also includes activities focused on eco-tourism, and culture,

If you wish to rent a really nice holiday property in the Algarve then visit our site where you will in access of 300 properties to choose from.

If golf is your thing book your tee times online

What about the locals today? Certainly the local have not changed in there friendly ways towards tourists in general and welcome the increased income it generates. However they do expect tourist to be polite. They will help you with any questions you have and most shopkeepers speak English.

Modern Albufeira changes in the late afternoons as the sun sets giving it a unique and vibrant character. There still remains a vast amount of restaurants, bars and clubs catering for all tastes and pockets.

The good beaches remain of course with a fine selection both east and west of the town. Praia de Balaia, Praia de Castelo, Praia de Falésia, Praia de Galé, de Olhos d’Agua, Praia de Maria Luisa, and Praia de São Rafael, being the best ones.

If you get too bored with the watersports and sun worshipping you can always visit the new Virtual Archaeological Museum. Or some of the old ruins!

Golf Breaks in Algarve

Golf breaks in Algarve give tourists a chance to enjoy a superb sunny holiday at the fabulous Algarve region of Portugal. The Algarve region of Portugal lies in the southernmost area of Portugal and is a famous tourist destination of Europe. Algarve has beautiful long sandy beaches coupled with picturesque rocky bays. The region enjoys pleasant sunny climate throughout the year, making it the most popular among the tourists. The warm sea is very inviting and affords many opportunities for various water sports. The Algarve is renowned for its high quality and varied golf course, providing avid golfers with exciting treat.

Golfing holidays in Portugal offer the tourists unlimited fun comprising the sea, sun, sand and golf. The tourists can look forward to the most relaxing vacation by way of golf breaks in Portugal. The Algarve has options for renting luxury villas for the vacation purposes. These luxury villas are located magnificently with sea facing or rustic rural settings. The rental luxury villas are excellently designed and fully furnished with abundant luxuries like pool, fully equipped kitchens, baths and bedroom, maid services and barbecues. One can have the pleasure of staying in a home away from home while on vacation.

The different golf courses at Algarve include San Lorenzo, Quinta do Lago, Penina, Vale do Lobo, Old Course Vilamoura and Pinheiros Altos. The golf break allows advance booking of the golf courses at cheap rates and the golf lovers can avail good facilities at fine golfing hotels in Algarve. The tourists get best deals at discounted rates by way of golf breaks and can enjoy all that Algarve has to offer in terms of nature, tourist attractions along with golf.

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For more golf tips visit golf tournament organizing and cheap golf holidays

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Things To Do In Florida

There is little doubt that Florida offers holidaymakers something special, but what exactly is it that America's Sunshine State offers in order to attract millions of visitors each year?

DIVERSITY! Florida has diversity in huge great chunks, some the size of small islands. Everyone knows about the theme parks and yes, they are fantastic, offering the older kids amongst us an opportunity to re-capture our youth as we whoop and holler, spinning round and turning upside down whilst traveling at quite ridiculous speeds in carriages which are, quite honestly, pieces of plastic, but Florida offers so much more. Where else in the world can you take a vacation which offers you the opportunity to take breakfast by your very own private pool before heading off to see six people getting blasted into outer space at Cape Canaveral? Just ask yourself "What do I want out of a holiday?" and you'll find it in Florida. Easy!

Consider the enormous number of beaches situated on either side of the state. Whether taking it easy sunbathing or participating in water sports, the beaches in Florida offer it all. Reaching the beaches could not be easier either - simply jump in to your rental car, drive along some of the most spacious and sedate roads you will ever experience and you're there. Traveling time to the beach depends on where you are based for your holiday. If you, like many people, choose to stay within the limits of Orlando amongst the myriad of theme parks, shopping malls and golf courses, then it will take you around an hour and a half. When you arrive the chances are you will be pleasantly surprised by the sheer amount of room you have to pitch your wind break and play swing ball and most importantly, unlike the majority of beaches in Europe, you can actually find a sun bed without a towel on it! Sun, sea and sand galore. For those of you who like to feel the wind through your hair a word of warning... nudity in Florida is illegal regardless of where you are, so bare if you dare!

If you would prefer to explore the more natural aspects of Florida then why not visit one of the 13 national parks situated the length and breadth of the state? These include the world famous and ever popular Florida Everglades National Park, complete with stunning scenery and man eating animals... but what's a tour without just a little anticipation?

If your preference is life under the water as opposed to above it then Florida offers the worlds largest artificial reef. Situated south of Pensecola in the Gulf of Mexico the USS Oriskany lies 67 feet below the surface and is home to hundreds of different species of fish and other aquatic creatures both good and bad!

So there we have it, well some of it. Sun, sea, sand, great weather, amazing thrills and breathtaking scenery - Florida is so much more than the home of the mouse. Book yourself a Florida Villa and visit soon, you certainly won't regret it.

Rob Gardner is one of the directors of Direct Villas Florida.com a Florida villa website where you can book direct from the owner Orlando and Gulf Coast villas.

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Linen changes and doing the laundry

So you have purchased a rental property, great! I wish you every success in renting it out. However it might have suddenly dawned upon you that apart from a host of other things you are responsible for, you now have to manage linen changes and make arrangements for the laundry to be done.

Easy you might say. I can assure you it is not. As a fairly new owner myself I learnt the hard way. As a consequence of what I discovered here are a few tips which should help you. If they do, please provide feed back. I would love to hear form you.

1. Make sure you provide detail on your advert/webpage regarding linen changes and laundry. Most adverts will offer a linen change on a 14 night holiday; however some owners charge additional monies as well. Whilst good for the owner some customers are put off by this. “We’ve paid x for the apartment and still they want more…!!” As an owner you have to decide whether you will offer this service or not. As far as my property is concerned we provide a washing machine and there is normally a supply of washing powder for the clients to use. The fact you have a washing machine is an excellent point towards getting the all important rental bookings.

2. Also mention regarding provision of towels. Do you provide them or not? Again if you provide towels for bathroom use it is a positive as far as the customer is concerned it saves carrying them on the flight.

3. It is not a good idea to provide beach towels since whoever is contracted to do the laundry for you will likely charge extra for the additional work This happened to a neighbour of ours. He is charged 10 Euros per person for laundry. However he had a tendency to loan beach towels to friends and relatives, end result was a total of 15 Euros per person. On a 4 person booking this increased the cost of laundry from a total of 40 Euros to 60 Euros. Not a great deal you might say, however it is an increase of 50%. Over a few bookings it can really eat consume profits. Do place the fact you are not providing beach towels on your advert, this makes it crystal clear.

4. Do mention in your information booklet (or whatever you provide to customers) not to use your bathroom towels as beach towels. This makes them wear out quicker and the laundry bills higher!

Finally do provide a tip every so often to your laundry person, this will ensure you are well looked after!