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Costa Del Sol Attractions (9)

2008-03-21T10:33:00.017Z

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)

2008-03-17T18:44:00.017Z

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)

2008-03-16T16:21:00.014Z

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)

2008-03-16T12:13:00.012Z

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)

2008-03-15T18:21:00.003Z

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)

2008-03-14T20:38:00.012Z

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)

2008-03-14T20:02:00.012Z

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)

2008-03-14T17:39:00.022Z

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)

2008-03-13T17:31:00.008Z

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

2008-03-13T09:48:00.002Z

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

2008-03-12T20:03:00.024Z

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

2008-03-12T16:53:00.023Z

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

2008-03-12T15:44:00.008Z

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

2008-03-10T20:47:00.006Z

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

2008-03-09T19:41:00.010Z

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

2008-03-07T18:15:00.012Z

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

2008-03-07T17:30:00.015Z

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

2008-03-07T12:21:00.002Z

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

2008-03-06T22:44:00.000Z

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

2008-03-05T22:37:00.001Z

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

2008-03-05T20:12:00.015Z

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

2008-03-05T17:20:00.007Z

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

2008-03-04T20:45:00.005Z

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

2008-03-04T18:05:00.002Z

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

2008-03-04T09:57:00.004Z

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

2008-03-01T18:04:00.007Z

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

2008-03-01T17:11:00.006Z

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

2008-03-01T09:42:00.014Z

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

2008-02-29T14:41:00.003Z

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

2008-02-29T14:34:00.002Z

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

2008-02-29T09:53:00.002Z

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

2008-02-28T16:44:00.016Z

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

2008-02-28T14:50:00.002Z

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

2008-02-28T09:52:00.003Z

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

2008-02-27T20:46:00.002Z

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

2008-02-22T22:00:00.000Z

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

2008-02-21T19:42:00.000Z

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

2008-02-20T21:30:00.000Z

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.

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My Airfare Secrets Saves You Money on Airline Travel

2008-02-19T22:09:00.000Z

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

2008-02-18T21:55:00.000Z

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

2008-02-11T16:58:00.000Z

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

2008-02-08T17:09:00.000Z

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

2008-02-06T18:08:00.000Z

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

2008-02-06T10:39:00.000Z

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

2008-02-05T21:41:00.000Z

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

2008-02-04T17:22:00.000Z

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!

Save Money On Your Airline Tickets- Book Flights Online

2008-02-03T20:42:00.000Z

The easiest option of travel today is via flights, its comfortable, affordable and hassle free. The option of online flight bookings makes this means of travel all the more popular. Various online sites offers discount deals on flight bookings, both domestic and international.

The online sites offer cheap flights for travelers. You have to fill in the necessary information like the points of departure and arrival, the date of journey and the number of passengers as well as any particular preference in the form provided at the websites. The site would immediately provide you with the relevant cheap flight schedules and you can choose one of them and book your airline ticket.

The choice of online flight bookings give travelers the option of selecting from a gamut of flights operated by various airlines according to their requirements. Book flights online and you can avail the discount rates on air tickets as part of the promotional offers. It reduces the hassle of waiting in a queue to book airline tickets. You can book flights sitting at your home and there is no need to stand in never-ending queues at airline counters. Online ticket booking is hassle free and time saving as well.

Flights to Madrid can also be booked online. The sites guarantee to provide you with options suitable for your travel itinerary.

The Barajas Airport in Madrid is the chief point of arrival and departure of flights to and from Madrid. The airline tickets available online are cheap. The important airlines operating flights to Madrid include British Airways, Easyjet, AerLingus and Ryanair.

Ravinder Singh is an associated editor for Maps of World . This website provides maps of world and complete information on Mexico Map culture, economy, religion and Book Flights. You can send your feedback at mexicomap[at]gmail.com

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A Disneyland Tour Completes Your Vacation to the Magic Kingdom

2008-02-01T14:56:00.000Z

A Disneyland vacation can be a truly magical experience for all members of your family but many people seem to forget one part of a visit to the Magic Kingdom that will make their visit all the more special: A Disneyland Tour.

There are four different tours you can choose from but you do have to have a valid Disneyland ticket if you wish to go on one. It is also important to make a reservation for the tour you want to attend because they are popular and fill up fast.

The most popular of the tours is Disneyland's Discover the Magic Tour. This tour is the most interactive for all family members as it gives all of you a chance to participate in a treasure hunt by finding clues with Disney characters. Not only do you get to spend time with your favorite characters but you have to outwit some of Disney's bad guys and find the treasure before they do. It can be a truly memorable experience that includes lunch and a gift that is exclusive to those who take this tour.

There is a two ticket minimum for the Discover the Magic Tour which lasts around three hours. The first two tickets will cost $49 with additional tickets costing $39. This tour is suitable for kids 5 years old and up along with their parents.

Disney also offers a VIP tour which is designed with adults in mind. This is more of a tour for those who are interested in the history of the Disneyland theme parks, which many children would probably find rather boring. This tour must be reserved well in advance of your visit to the park and costs $75 per hour for groups of ten people or less.

If you are making your first trip to the Magic Kingdom then you should consider The Welcome to Disneyland Tour. This tour will teach you everything you need to know to get the most out of your Disney experience. You will get priority seating at one of the many stage shows, a condensed history of the park, and reserved seats at one of the parks many restaurants, two bonus FastPass tickets along with instructions on how to use them, and a lot of other goodies that will make your first Disney vacation one to remember. This is the least expensive tour at $25 per person and will last around two and a half hours.

The last tour to consider is called A Walk in Walt's Footsteps which brings to life the vision that Walt Disney had for his theme parks. This tour is more suited to older children and adults who are interested in not only Walt's legacy but also the history and trivia surrounding the park. It is also a chance to get a look at the exclusive Club 33. With a cost of $49 per participant and lasting more then 3 hours it is a truly unique look at Disneyland.

A Disneyland tour can add so much to your vacation memories. It is well worth the effort to ask about taking one of these tours when making your vacation plans because you never know what you may see or learn behind the scenes in the Magic Kingdom.

For more detailed information about planning a Disney Theme Park Vacation Please Click Here.

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Disney's All Star Movies Resort - Lights, Cameras, Action!

2008-01-31T11:10:00.000Z

Toy Story. 101 Dalmatians. The Love Bug.

What do they have in common? They are all made by Disney, and featured at Disney's All Star Movies resort!

Lights! Cameras!

The Disney All Star Movies resort is the perfect getaway for anyone who loves Disney movies. (And let's be honest, who doesn't love Disney movies?)

This Disney Value resort includes all the amenities you could ask for to make your stay both fun and relaxing. On site you will find a food court, pools, a playground, an arcade, laundry service, and a concierge desk. The resort also offers babysitting and child care services for couples looking to spend a little time discovering the romance Disney has to offer.

Dining at the All Star Movies Resort

The "World Premier" food court in Cinema Hall features something for everyone with traditional food court options like burgers and fries as well as deli-style food and vegetarian options.

You may also choose to have pizza delivered right to your room - how's that for interesting?.

Location, Location, Location

The All Star Movie resort is located in the Animal Kingdom area and provides free transportation to all of the popular Disney attractions including Downtown Disney, the Disney theme parks and Disney waterparks.

There are two themed pools, Fantasia and Mighty Ducks, as well as a kiddie pool, a playground and the Reel Fun Arcade. Between the Disney theme parks and the All Star Movies resort amenities, your stay will be jam-packed with fun activities for the whole family.

Is There Room?

The All Star Movies resort a large complex and is spread over several buildings. "Preferred location" rooms are available for approximately $12 extra per night and will get you even closer to the action.

All the rooms at the resort are approximately 260 square feet and sleep up to 4 people. An extra bed-tax of approximately 1.5% applies to rooms in The All Star Movies resort, so please consider that when you make your arrangements. Optional Internet access is also available ($10 per day).

Don't forget to book your reservation in advance because all of the Disney resorts are extremely popular. After all, what kid (no matter the age) doesn't want to spend their vacation walking among larger-than-life Disney characters?

Want more information on Disney's All Star Movies resort? You can check at:

http://www.great-disney-vacations.com/all-star-movies.html
Have yourself a great Disney World vacation!

Gail Nettles is a Florida native who enjoys showing the Sunshine State to visitors. She also publishes http://www.great-disney-vacations.com and http://www.great-florida-vacations.com

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Scenic Wonders of Bohol Island Paradise

2008-01-30T16:51:00.000Z

A paradise in the heart of the archipelago, the island of Bohol is rich with history, hospitable people, and a culture worth knowing, beaches caves and scenic view for the nature lovers.

The island of Bohol lies in the middle of the Visayas region and is reachable by an hour's boat ride from Cebu or Mactan island.

Bohol is surrounded by islands shielding it from annual typhoon season. It is separated from the Mindanao region by Bohol Sea in the south and the Canigao channel in the east. The Camotes seas separate the island from the Camotes Island and the Bohol strait from the island of Cebu.

Bohol has a land area of 4117.3 square kilometers, making it as the tenth largest island of the Philippines.

On Bohol, most people speak Boholano which comprises one third of the population. You'll be mistaken if you think that language will be a problem since Tagalog and English is well understood by the people.

Aside from the famous chocolate hills of Bohol the island has a lot more to offer. Tourist destination includes not only the well known pristine white sand beaches that stretched the island, Bohol's tourist assets includes, caves, majestic falls, scuba diving sites whale and dolphin watching and historical landmarks.

The Chocolate hills of Bohol is probably one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. These consist of approximately 1268 hills and is uniform in shape mostly 30 to 50 meters in height. The hills are covered in grass but during the dry season it turns into brown giving the chocolate like appearance.

Chocolate hills complex is accessible by bus going to Carmen and dropping off before the town of Carmen. From there it's a 10 minute walk going to the complex and enjoys the wonder of nature.

Panglao island's beaches and resorts are a site to visit for tourist. It is located southwest of Bohol and has two municipalities. Along with the famous beaches are Alona, Dumaluan, Bikini, Momo, and Doljo.

Panglao offers cave tours like the Hinagdanan cave, dolphin watching, scuba diving sites, visita eglesia- Dauis church, Bohol's tallest hanging bridge, and an encounter with the Tarsier monkey that are only endemic in the island.

The Island resort also offers numerous restaurants, recharging body massage and unforgettable nightlife for party goers.

Bohol is also dotted with numerous majestic and refreshing waterfalls around the island. It is hidden away from the urbanization and are waiting for tourist to be discovered. A few minutes of walk from the Antequera will be the Mag Aso falls that only fro a few pesos one can enjoy the scenic view.

Also located near the town is the Inambacan falls which is the source of irrigation and drinking supply for the people of Tagbilaran. In the municipality of Dimiao, the twin falls are located that offers a good place for picnic and trekking.

Bohol is also known as the cave country of the Philippines which offers 1400 known caves and some to be discovered. It can offer adventures a place for spelunking and trekking.

Indeed the island of Bohol is a paradise that awaits every visitor to be enchanted by the God given beauty of Mother Nature.

Bohol is located in the middle of the archipelago and can be reached conveniently by Boat of by air. For tourist coming from abroad there are two options first a flight to Cebu then another going to Tagbilaran or Manila connecting to Tagbilaran. Coming from manila, air travel can take an hour and a half to Tagbilaran.

And for those travelers with small budget to spend ferry can be an option from manila that can take 25 hours of travel. Come and visit Bohol and enjoy God's gift to man.

Elmer Anthony is the webmaster of Bohol-Philippines the premier guide to Bohol Island; editor of A1 Philippine Travel Guide; and OPM Filipino Music promoter.

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

Tips On How To Take Free Dream Trips!

2008-01-29T10:02:00.000Z

We travel for pleasure, for adventure, to seek out new experiences and to make new memories. But our lives have become complicated and busy. The demands on you are more than ever; you're stressed out, over worked, underpaid and YOU NEED A VACATION. If you're like most people, you need World Ventures!

Last year I traveled to Nairobi on a 10 day African Safari. In my wildest dreams I never thought I'd travel to Africa. I met members of the Maasai Tribe, visited one of their primary schools in the bush and learned that the people of the tribe exist on beef and cows milk mixed with blood! Doesn't sound very tasty does it? I didn't think so either.

I've visited Jamaica, Grand Lido in Negril for 5 days All-Inclusive for FREE! Jamaica is simply beautiful. I love Jamaica and the food and beverages that we had while there were prepared by chefs from around the world and they gave us cooking lessons to show us how to fix ethnic dishes. That was a treat that was not only fun but also Delicious!

Europe is another of my favorites. In Prague, I visited in Karlovy Vary. I stayed at one of "The Best" hotels for Spa Treatments and Luxury. This vacation was less than $700 for 7 days and breakfast and lunch meals were included. All because of the World Ventures membership and credentials.

Traveling the world is something that I always wanted to do but when my daughters were younger I was a single parent and traveling for pleasure was the last thing I was able to do or even afford.

If you find yourself in a similar dilemma, unable to travel the US or the world for pleasure, because either your boss won't give you the time off needed from all of the hard work and hours you've put in, or your vacation time is limited by the number of days you have available because you've had to be off when the kids were ill, or you just can't see your way out of debt to take a vacation, then you're at the Right Place at the Right Time!

Think about how it would be to be your own boss, set your own hours and then travel and share what you do with others. What better way to Make A Living, then by Living!

Now that I've found World Ventures, all of my dreams are coming come true. There are Endless Vacation Rentals that are week long packages and the prices are extremely affordable! You too can take advantage of World Ventures Endless Vacation Rentals and Dream Trips along with many other perks afforded to you, and the best part is, based on your ability to talk to people, these vacations can all be FREE!

I Hope To See You On The Beaches Of The World!

Become a member of World Ventures and help your friends and family live the life they've always dreamed of - more time with family, vacation often, more fun and financial freedom! Logon to http://www.travelpresentation.com and contact me at jetabouttheworld@yahoo.com

Gail Adams-Arnold

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Adams-Arnold

To clean or not to clean? - Money saving tips!

2008-01-26T16:56:00.000Z

For a holiday rental property owner cleaning bills can soon mount up, unless you are careful! Hopefully you will find this article of value. I would really appreciate your comments.

You will be expected to keep your holiday rental property reasonably clean and tidy. The renter will check the fine detail you have placed about this on your advert/web page, and some will challenge you if it is not as advertised. Beware!

Being a fairly new owner myself I made some several blunders in this area which ended up costing me money. For what it is worth I share some money saving tips. Please pass them onto anyone else who would benefit.

1. It is not vital to clean straight after a booking. Indeed as I found out if you have a few weeks between bookings your property will only get dusty again and will need freshening up. If your floors are marble you will get lots of fluff balls. Leave the cleaning until just before your next booking. That way you save money. As a new proud owner we religiously cleaned straight away, cost 30 Euros per basic clean and 40 Euros including patio doors and balcony. So pre and post clean cost 60-80 Euros. If the rental is a short term one, 3-5 days this can really eat into your profits. Flag your dairy to remind you to inform your cleaner just before commencement of the booking.

2. If you use the property yourself make sure you leave it spotless. In other words wherever possible do the final clean yourself! Should you then get a booking following shortly thereafter you might not need to have it cleaned. If the next renter is either family, friends or a repeat customer they will not mind as long as you explain when it was last cleaned. Do however leave them a bottle of wine, cost 3-4 Euros. It works wonders!

3. Ensure you leave the basic for renters to clean the property themselves. If the rental is for a week or more they will want to tidy up themselves for example sweeping the floors and cleaning the toilets and bath or shower. We even leave leather wipes for our leather furniture. That way the renter looks after the place.

4. Do not have too many fussy items around your property such as ornaments. The more you have the more to clean and the higher the cleaning bill will be. Secondly you will use the property for your holidays, you do not want to do too much cleaning do you?

5. Unless you are a. a frequent user of your property and b. someone will water them in you absence, do not have real plants inside your property. The plants will perish and make your property look tatty. We purchased some synthetic plants which look fine.

6. Look after your cleaners and they will look after you, a small tip now and again, a bottle of wine, or sweets for the children will ensure they look after your property as if it were their own

Kevin Gale

Kevin is a director of Click Rent Stay Ltd a UK company specialising in privately owned villa and apartment rentals and ancillary products.

All the products mentioned in the article, namely privately owned villas, apartments, travel insurance and car hire can be found on the Click Rent Stay Ltd web portals namely, http://www.clickrentstay.com and http://www.clickrentstay-golf.com.
Labels: Buying a property abroad

Tips On Selecting A Lake Tahoe Ski Or Summer Condo Rental

2008-01-21T09:48:00.000Z

Renting a Lake Tahoe condo is a smart and cost saving choice any time of year. Most condos have 3 to four bedrooms and will accomodate 8 to ten or more with all the same amenities as your home. Condo rentals are not always the most economical solution for one or two people. Make your reservations early as the right units go fast.

Renting a condo during ski season is an especially good idea, both for convenience as well as to save money. Ski condos are usually found near the slopes or directly in the major ski resorts. Getting to the lifts can be just a short walk or shuttle ride away. Check if your condo provides changing facilities and lockers for your equipment so you don't have to drag wet, dirty gear into your condo.

Fully Equiped Condo Rentals

Most condos have very complete kitchens, including microwave, stove, oven, refrigerator and all the plates, utensils, and pots and pans you could need. Check before you go as some less expensive units often have only minimal equipment and supplies.

Small, local shops usually only supply very basic food stuffs, and for a much higher cost, so pack most of what you will need before you go. A footlocker sized cooler can keep your food fresh on the drive up. Be sure to check concerning washers and dryers to freshen your wet, dirty ski clothes each evening.

Find out the time required to get to the ski slopes or other recreation areas before you rent. A long drive wastes time and energy you want to have when you get to the final destination. Additionally inquire concerning parking. If you have several families getting together to share one condo make sure there are parking places for all the cars.

Condos With Lift Tickets

Many condos come with discounted lift tickets when you book a ski rental. Inquire about all the possibilities, including multi-day and mid-week passes, to be sure you get the best deal. In the summer some rentals will include discount entrances to local attractions. Again, ask what is to be found. As with any vacation rental it is a good idea to ask about senior discounts or discounts for membership in organizations such as AAA.

A picture is worth a thousand words so see if there are pictures of the condo you are thinking that you would like to have on the web in advance of making the reservation. Make sure the pictures match the written description. Pictures are more often deceiving so if the photos look like a mansion and the price sounds more like a shack then be forewarned. You commonly get what you pay for.

The ski resorts often handle the bookings for ski condos so that is usually the best place to try first. Private listings, usually through online rental sites, may be a bit lower in price for a comparable unit often is not as close to the slopes. Try to get a unit that is only a walk away from or a short shuttle ride from the ski lift, to save a lot of time and frustration with driving and parking.

Condo Rental Checklist

Additional items to learn about are the number and size of beds. Sofas that fold out into beds are less comfortable and convenient but are often a great way to get more bodies into a less expensive condo.

Ask if the condo allows pets in the event you were planning on bringing your dog. Most don't appreciate animals in the units and enforce tight rules about not leaving them unattended in rooms to prevent barking and damage. Your best bet is to keep the dog at home.

Some final things to ask about included linens, check-in/out times, what housekeeping is included and what cleanup you are expected to do and what facilities such as storage, gym or a pool can be found.

Getting organized before will insure that your stay is a fun adventure you will remember with pleasure for always.

Vacation Rentals 4 Lake Tahoe (http://www.vacationrentals4laketahoe.com) offers a guide to condo rentals.

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

How to Make Vacation Reservations for a Stress Free Trip

2008-01-18T09:55:00.000Z

Vacations can be stressful, so to relieve some of this stress, make sure you have all your reservations in one handy location before you leave. By checking and double checking your reservations, you will almost surely travel with fewer mishaps. When making your reservations, it is wise to keep all your confirmation numbers accessible so that if your hotel or car rental agency can't find your reservation, you have the confirmation number needed to verify your transaction. Let's fact it, ugly things happen, and hotels, airlines, and car rental agency representatives can make mistakes, so it is best to take a minimal amount of time to be prepared.

When you first decide to head out for a vacation trip, you need to develop a travel plan. This includes figuring out where you are going, how you are going to get there, and your lodging information. Attention to detail will certainly pay off while traveling, and you will be more prepared if your plans go off base - especially if you vacation is located in another country. A frustrating and confusing experience can be at least partially averted with someone who doesn't know your language if you bring a printed copy of all relevant information, including your confirmation numbers.

Starting with your airline reservations, hang onto the confirmation email that you should have received shortly after paying for the flight. Many airlines have an e-ticketing system allowing you to print your ticket from home. Very nice! However if you receive one, print it out right away and keep it in a safe place. Make sure the confirmation email also has the total price you paid and all other pertinent information such as take off and landing dates and times. Double check all ticket details to ensure they are what you thought.

When making your hotel reservations, be sure to reserve a room with the specific number of beds required. Verify the bed sizes and total price (including taxes). Most hotels do not include tax in the room rate, so calculate that into your total price. Inquire of any further costs for additional room guests. If you are expecting breakfast to be included in the price, ask whether it is complimentary.

Finally, check all cancellation policies, and get them in writing. You must reserve most hotels and car rentals with a credit card, so you'll want to determine how much time before the trip you have to cancel if a change in your plans require this.

For information on practical travel lodging recommendations, please visit http://www.travel-lodgings.com, a popular site providing great insights concerning issues that help you with travel stay ideas, such as Yosemite lodging, Las Vegas vacation homes, and many more!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ross_P._Anderson

Vacation Planning - Making Your List and Checking it Twice

2008-01-16T09:39:00.000Z

Vacations are very exciting. You finally have the time off from work to relax and take a much needed trip to somewhere you have wanted to go for a long time. The preparation for the trip is equally important as the vacation itself, though. You certainly don't want to be stranded somewhere without everything you need. You may be fortunate enough to forget an easily replaceable item such as your toothbrush or socks, but what if you forget your camcorder or digital camera? Worse yet, what if you forget your prescription medication? These things are not so easily replaced and can cause an exciting vacation to go down the tubes quickly.

About a week before your big trip, start making a list of everything you should bring. These can be the more obvious items, such as your luggage and clothes to wear. But more importantly, list the little things like your hair dryer, rain coat, and even the pairs of shoes you plan to bring. Basic accessories include items like toiletries and travel appliances, but don't forget others that are equally important to you like razors, and alarm clock, and books to read.

The longer your trip, the more items you need to take. So determine the number of days and make sure you have enough clothes for each, along with toothpaste, hairspray, deodorant and things like that. You should also consider what you want to have while on the plane (if you fly). If you have small children, bring activities for them for the flight and hotel room. You may also have a neck pillow you want to bring along.

Here are a few additional items you may need that would be easy to neglect:

• Binoculars

• iPod

• First aid kit

• Travel iron if the hotel doesn't supply it

• Mini-umbrella

• Prescription medication

Your personal list can be fairly lengthy, so pick and choose what is most important to you and that you will actually use. It is better to slightly over pack than to travel without enough and find yourself at a destination where there is no store nearby. However, keep your load light enough to make it manageable.

While developing your travel list, keep it nearby so that as you go through your daily routine you can jot items down as you think of them. Finally, try to actually pack two days before your departure to help ensure you have everything you need for a great vacation.

For information on practical travel lodging recommendations, please visit http://www.travel-lodgings.com, a popular site providing great insights concerning issues that help you with travel stay ideas, such as Yosemite lodging, Las Vegas vacation homes, and many more!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ross_P._Anderson

Try a Panama Vacation and Find a Dream

2008-01-15T09:56:00.001Z

If you try a Panama vacation you very rapidly find that there is more to Panama than just the canal. In fact many people return time and time again after first tasting what it has to offer. It's not just Panama City.

If you want a bit of activity there are loads of mountains to climb, and for the less active, beautiful beaches to lie on with crystal clear water and snow white sand. Except Panama City itself, where the beaches are too polluted for swimming, but there are plenty more available on both the Pacific and Caribbean sides of the country. There are rainforests full of life, islands galore and cities with wonderful restaurants and bustling night life. That's Panama - not at all as most people visualize it.

Let's have a look at Panama City itself. You would not believe what it has to offer. It's a gem, full of wonderful sights to see and places go. It's a modern bustling city and contains the second largest duty free shopping area in the world. You can but just about anything there at fantastic prices. There are some musts for the new visitor and if this is your first time in Panama City you have to visit some of these, if not them all.

The Casco Viejo, which is the old Spanish colonial sector of Panama City. It presents a marvelous history of old Central America, with its churches, old plazas and paths. The palaces are amazing, and give just a slight view of what the old city used to be like. The Cathedral on Plaza de la Cathedral and the Presidential palace are well worth a visit. If you prefer something closer to nature, there is the Metropolitan National Park, just outside Panama City, with lots of walks, wildlife and species of plants that will be new to you.

The nightlife in Panama City really makes a Panama vacation, and is world famous. The best parts are the old Casca Viejo, the Amador Causeway and the business area of the city. There are loads of bars and casinos, and the discos are great. Like any big city, Panama can be a bit dangerous away from the main drag, so travel by taxi and stay where the bright lights and people are and you can't go wrong.

If you stay at the Marriot, there is a British pub just round the corner called the El Pavo Real, that is very popular with Americans and Brits, but the most popular is the Hard Rock Café on Balboa Avenue. Due to its position in Central America, Panama has been composed of many races since the sixteenth century, and they have generally lived in peace and harmony. Most of them seem to congregate at the Hard Rock Café on a weekend evening. If you make the right decision and opt for a Panama vacation, don't miss a visit. All age groups are welcome.

However, if you've opted for a Panama vacation, it's probably the canal itself that you want to see. It was opened in 1914, is fifty-five miles long and raises or drops ships over eighty-five feet by a series of locks. The Miraflores Locks Visitor's Center offers fantastic views of the ships making their way through the locks with a running commentary on the system provided by multilingual narrators. You can see the other set of locks at the Gatun end of the Gaillard Cut across the continental divide between them. Fantastic! You mustn't visit Panama without having at look at either of these sets of locks started in 1903.

San Blas de Kuna is an archipelago that has as many islands as days in the year, and is worth a Panama vacation for them alone. It is the traditional home of the Kuna, who are a Native American society. Although part of Panama, the islands are administered by the Kuna, and the area is very beautiful with wonderful fauna and flora. If you are into scuba diving, the coral reefs here are a must. Crystal clear water with a myriad of underwater life.

Finally, I have left the best for the ladies till last. The shopping! Fantastic! You can get anything from inexpensive electronic goods to traditional crafts at the Balboa Artisans market, where the artisans themselves sell their own goods. This not far from downtown Panama and the artisans expect to be haggled so don't accept the going price. It will be well inflated over the ultimate price expected. There's also all the world class hopping you expect from a modern worlds class city.

So if you are thinking of going somewhere this year you've never been before, try a Panama vacation. There is something for everybody and you even have the option of a cruise vacation, taking in the Panama Canal. The best of both worlds!

Try a Panama Vacation and Find a Dream was originally published at http://www.globallifenow.com

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

5 Simple, Quick Ways to Increase Your Vacation Rental Revenue

2008-01-14T09:55:00.000Z

You have found the perfect vacation home in the perfect setting. Follow these simple steps to help increase your rental revenue, so your vacation home is not only a place for you to relax but also an instrument in helping create financial wealth.

#1: Understand Your Competition and Target Market - Browse various vacation rental websites and talk to property managers who offer rentals in the area. This will give you an idea of the current market to help set competitive prices as well as help you determine what amenities you should consider in order to make your property stand out. This can also help answer common questions/concerns: How do owners handle deposits? Outside of deposits, what are other fees I should consider charging? Should I allow pets?

Evaluate your vacation home to determine for which groups your property is best suited - couples, families, large groups, adventure, relaxation, etc. This will help you create advertisements that will appeal to target audiences. Find advertisements that you find appealing and use those to guide you in the creation of your own advertisement.

#2: Advertise, Advertise, Advertise - The vacation home that's the best-kept secret isn't generating much revenue. Get your property out where people will see it! There are many websites that offer free advertising with minimal work for you. Seek these sites out first, as it is a way to generate some exposure without the cost. To get even more exposure, look for sites with high visibility by spending a little time doing some research. Try various search engines to find which vacation rental sites get the most exposure for your area. This will help you pick a vacation rental website that generates high traffic for your locale. These sites will most likely have attached fees, but these fees will usually pay for themselves with just one successful lead. The more sites you advertise on, the more traffic you will generate for your vacation home.

#3: A Picture Says a Thousand Words - Potential renters want to see what they are getting before they get it! Simply advertising your site with basic descriptions is not enough. In the vacation rental business, pictures are key since the majority of people will rent sight unseen. Be sure to take many pictures of your vacation home to highlight its features. If possible, try to stage the pictures - set an appealing dinner table with dinnerware that suits the location/decor, make sure bed and bath areas are clean and appeal to the senses, take pictures with good lighting - you don't want dark, dreary pictures. The more pictures you take, the better. You want to charm potential renters while erasing doubts.

Finally, add the words to match the pictures. Make your listing stand out from the typical "2BD/2BTH Beachfront Condo" description. Be creative! If you find it hard to express yourself, imagine having to describe your vacation rental to a friend who is visiting for the first time. How would you describe the front of the property? What aspects of the property do you love? What do you think they will like the most? What types of great activities can you offer during their stay? Be specific in your descriptions. Let potential renters know exactly what amenities you offer and highlight nearby attractions.

#4: Offer an Availability Calendar - The Internet has given us instant access to all sorts of information and many potential renters expect that same access from you. By providing an availability calendar, renters can find out immediately if you have openings for their schedule or determine the best dates for their travel based on your availability. This will also prove to be a time saver. You will no longer need to waste your precious time returning phone calls or sending emails saying, "Sorry, we're booked that week." Spend your time dealing only with truly potential inquiries.

#5: Offer Promotions - Sure a ski chalet does great in the winter and the beach house is booked all summer, but what about the off-season? To generate yearlong income, you may want to consider reduced prices for quiet months. This will make your property stand out when compared to its competition. In addition, find attractions for your property that are still available during the off-season (i.e. their may be no snow for skiing, however, the ski runs make great mountain bike trails in the summer and nearby trails offer nice hiking opportunities). Remember, even if it is not the peak season, you can still capture an audience that is looking for a quieter time to travel with alternative activities and bargains to boot!

Watermark Vacation Rentals offers online advertising for your vacation home as well as a great resource to find vacation homes around the world for your travels!

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

Rent out your holiday home - a customers view!

2008-01-10T20:57:00.001Z

Renting your holiday home!

The DIY holiday property rental market has increased dramatically over the last few years. This is due to various factors including the explosion of the internet, a desire to cut out the commission charged by the high street travel agent, and the satisfaction of bringing one’s own research to fruition.

So what makes a good holiday home?

Requirements from a holiday home will differ from group to group and as will indeed the reason for the holiday. It is best to make a list for both, so that when you do your research you cover all the bases.

Expanding this point. You know your family or friends who will be holidaying with you. Would they be content to be in a remote spot, or do they prefer to be within walking distance of bars and restaurants and of course the beach? Do they wish to be near leisure activities such as horse riding or golf? If you have grandparents with you don’t forget that they may well want to be able to do there own thing. They will not want to be with you 24 x 7, they might wish to be able to walk into the village/town/resort to get treats for the kids, or just to have an hour on there own. Make sure you ask them what they want to get from the holiday. If you have teenagers/young adults with you, they may not thank you if there is nowhere to go ‘clubbing’. The aim is to keep everyone happy.

Villas

Renting villas for holidays is very popular, they provide a general feeling of luxury. A villa sleeping traditionally 2-20 can often be cheaper than renting a room or rooms in an apartment or hotel. Most villas come complete with an outdoor pool. However wonderful it sounds you must consider Health and Safety issues. Not many pools will be fenced off so you will have to watch small children closely. If teenagers remember they might be able to swim, however consider the effects of alcohol. Even a glass of wine over the family lunch can take effect in the heat! The good thing about villas are that one is not tied to meal times and you can do just as you please, eat outdoors or in, on site or go out.

Apartments

Apartments are one of the favourites with teenagers and families. The good thing about apartments is that they are normally grouped together around gardens/pools with a bar or and restaurant. If you have children or teenagers they can make new friends and to some extent amuse themselves. The owners may put on some entertainment. Check the advert for full details. The quality of apartments can vary so make sure you know what you are booking. There are varying types of rooms available ranging form studio’s, to 1, 2 or even 3 bedrooms. Fully consider your needs before make a booking. I always like to have more room than I need on holiday. So for example depending on price, for 2 persons, I tend to book a one bed roomed apartment rather than a studio. This provides that extra bit of space for your baggage.

Important points to consider when making your decision.

Cleaning: You will be expected to keep the villa/apartment reasonably clean and tidy. Check the detail on the website. One can sometimes arrange for someone to come and do the basics for you. This might be included in the price or incur an additional charge.

Linen change: Again check the detail regarding linen changes. Most adverts will offer a change on a 14 night holiday, however some will charge additional monies as well! If it is not clear on the advert ask! Also check regarding the provision of towels. Some properties provide even the beach towels which will save you quite a bit of weight for a large family. More room for duty free goods!

Directions: When booking check how you will receive the address and directions from the airport. Often the website permits these to be down loaded once full payment is obtained. Ask where the keys are collected from. It is not unusual to collect them form under the geranium pot outside, but you do need to know.

Terms and conditions: Make sure you fully read and understand these fully! These will inform you as the following: The time you can enter and must leave the premises, (You can sometimes re-arrange this to fit in with flight times); Security Deposits (This is a refundable deposit. A claim can be made against by the owner/agent for loss or breakages); and cancellation charges.

Welcome packs: Welcome packs are often either provided for free or at a modest cost, (on a per person basis). A pack will see you through your drink and possibly light meal. That said I know some owners/agents who supply a feast fit for a king or queen. Again check the advert. If a pack is not free do consider your arrival time at your holiday home. Will the shops be open? If likely to be closed you will be grateful for the basics to be delivered for you.

Vehicle hire: Some companies will provide vehicle hire as part of the package. Check the details. Your own car is very useful for getting around and seeing the best the area has to offer. Remember to take your driving licence with you. If a vehicle is not provided shop around as prices do vary. But please be wary. Some companies abroad are as not as health and safety conscious as others. Expect to pay for extras such as extended insurance cover, child seats or harnesses. When you collect the vehicle you will very likely be asked to hand over your credit card for details to be obtained. Make sure you fully check for dents and scratches when you collect it and when you drop if off. I know of several people who have been charged against there credit card for fresh scratches. They denied all knowledge but to no avail!

Travel Insurance: By law you are legally bound to have travel insurance. You will not however be prosecuted if you do not have it. It is simply your responsibility. Policies differ. Make sure you have full and financially adequate cover. Beware of cheap policies. They are not cheap if you end up not being covered. Do not put you or your family at risk. If you are holidaying in Europe make sure you also have a European Health Insurance Card. The card entitles you to free or reduced cost treatment in European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland.

Finally enjoy your holiday it is what we all work for!

Kevin Gale

Kevin is a director of Click Rent Stay Ltd a UK company specialising in privately owned villa and apartment rentals and ancillary products.

All the products mentioned in the article, namely privately owned villas, apartments, travel insurance and car hire can be found on the Click Rent Stay Ltd web portals namely, http://www.clickrentstay.com and http://www.clickrentstay-golf.com.

Furnishing your property abroad

2007-12-11T18:21:00.000Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your property!

Selecting a Notary

2007-12-10T20:33:00.000Z

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

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

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

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

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

Advantages of buying a property abroad

2007-12-07T19:08:00.000Z

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

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

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

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

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

'What to expect on a viewing trip'

2007-12-07T17:01:00.000Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'Off plan v On plan'

2007-12-05T16:50:00.000Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Preparing for Lapland

2007-12-04T10:07:00.000Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lapland Last Minute

2007-12-03T13:49:00.000Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Running Holiday Cottages In France

2007-11-04T18:04:00.000Z

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

Orlando Vacation Villa Homes Versus Hotel Rooms

2007-11-01T09:19:00.000Z

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

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

So what's the solution?

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

What about the cost?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vacationing in Orlando Florida

2007-10-18T08:26:00.000+01:00

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

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

Walt Disney World includes:

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

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

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

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

Finding a Fabulous Florida Vacation Rental Home

2007-10-17T09:19:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vacation Rental Advertising Top 10 Must Do's

2007-10-16T09:33:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cyprus And The Egypt Connection

2007-10-15T08:31:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 Reasons To Visit The Algarve In Portugal

2007-10-14T10:20:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sporting Holidays in Portugal

2007-10-13T10:29:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Article Source: Ezine Articles

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

2007-10-12T09:45:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Article Source: Ezine Articles

The Benefits Of Cyprus Villa Holidays

2007-10-11T09:29:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

Article Source: Ezine Articles

Guide to Holidaying in France

2007-10-10T09:50:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rental Tips for the Vacation Homeowner

2007-10-09T10:06:00.000+01:00

Here are some monthly tips for vacation rental homeowners.

October's Tip:

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

September's Tip:

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

August' Tip:

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

July's Tip:

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

June's Tip:

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

May's Tip:

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

April Showers brings May Flowers?

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

April's Tip:

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

March MADNESS - Month for Discounts

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

March's Tip:

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

February - Bring on the Romance!

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

February's Tip:

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

January 2007- New Year - New Start

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

January's Tip:

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

Bonus Tip:

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

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

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

Water Sports in Thailand

2007-10-08T10:08:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hawaii Vacation Rental Helps You Enjoy Hawaii

2007-10-07T16:54:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Article Source: EzineArticles

Taking Your Car Abroad

2007-09-28T12:29:00.001+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Holiday Car Hire

2007-09-27T23:01:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

Protecting Your Holiday

2007-09-26T22:01:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

Diving in Mallorca

2007-09-21T16:56:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

Corfu -

2007-09-16T17:08:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See you in Corfu!!

Diving In Tenerife

2007-09-16T09:57:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Orlando

2007-09-11T10:34:00.001+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

Tenerife - A golfers paradise

2007-09-10T18:23:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Casares, Costa Del Sol - A golfers paradise!

2007-09-08T15:17:00.000+01:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Diving Lanzarote

2007-09-06T09:09:00.001+01:00

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

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

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

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

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