World Tourism

Florence Italy Is The Place To Be In

2007-02-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

When you imagine Italy, it is really Florence Italy that you are seeing. That is because Florence is at the heart of Italy. It is a place filled with passions and indulgences that awaken all the senses. Visual masterpieces are there to behold and one almost begins to salivate at the thought of the Florentine cuisine. To make the most of your visit to Florence, you can learn a little here about where to stay, what to do, and what you can expect from the locals.

A Warm Welcome

The first thing you expect from your visit to Florence is a warm and hearty welcome. The local people are lovers of people and are not afraid to show it. It is not uncommon to be greeted at your villa by a someone's "Nona" (grandmother) with a big hug and a hot plate of food - no matter what the time is when you arrive.

Next your accommodation at any price level will be clean and pristine. The linens and furnishing may not be the most luxurious in the lower costing rentals, but they will be freshly washed and painstakingly starched. It's just the Italian way to keep their homes extremely clean and they offer no less to their guests.

Some Choices on Where to Stay

There are some popular favourites within the city limits of Florence. The Savoy hotel, Florence, Italy is one of those. Here you will find five star accommodations within walking distance of two of Florence's most popular attractions - the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio.

Another Florence hotel popular among tourists is the Westin Excelsior. It is also located close to the most visited and historic attractions and offers rooms and services American's are most comfortable with. In addition to these highest rated hotels, visitors will be comfortable at such centrally located lodgings as the Hotel Rivoli or Palazzo Galletti.

For extended stays in Florence you may want to look into apartment or villa rentals. Apartments can be found within the city limits, while most villas are about 20-30 km outside the city. For travel to wine country and then back to the city, Florence car rental offices can accommodate your needs.

Apartments in Florence Italy are generally small, but efficient. You will find a small kitchen is the norm, but they provide enough space to cook simple meals. For a short term rental, they are more than adequate and provide a good home base for exploring the entire Tuscany region.

Downtown Florence Italy is one of the most historically significant cities in Italy. Here tourists come to take in the Uffizi Gallery, the Ponte Vecchio Bridge crossing the River Arno, and the St. Croce Chuch. In addition, there is the Duomo, the city's Exhibition and Congress Centre. No visit to Florence Italy would be complete without feeding the pigeons at Boboli gardens or walking down the garden's avenue lined with cypress trees dating back to the 1600s.

Florence is a city that needs more than a weekend to see it all. Plan on visiting during the most pleasant season between April and June and make sure you give yourself at least a week to enjoy the city and surrounding countryside.

Malaga Spain Overview - Sights And Attractions

2006-12-03T10:42:00.000-08:00

If you are planning a vacation in the wonderful Spanish city of Malaga, you will find that there is plenty to entertain you throughout your time in this area. This Malaga city overview will provide you with an array of information relating to the history, culture, sights, attractions, and entertainment on offer in this destination, as well as some more general information about Malaga. Popular with tourists from Europe, this city is located in a popular part of Spain, and is the ideal place for a holiday if you enjoy great weather, natural beauty, a vibrant atmosphere, and plenty to see and do. You will find it easy to travel around this city, which means that you can make the most of your time here, and you can look forward to enjoying all that beautiful Malaga has to offer. The capital city of the Costa Del Sol, Malaga has plenty to offer to its visitors, and when you come to this destination you can look forward to an enriching and exciting vacation experience in a destination that is rich in history and culture as well as adorned with natural beauty and fabulous scenery.

Malaga city guide - what to see and do When you visit Malaga you will find so much to see and do that you will never be bored or short on entertainment. You will find everything you need within easy reach, from recreational facilities and wonderful places to relax to historical sites, cultural events and festivities, natural beauty, vibrant nightlife, excellent shopping facilities, and more. The birthplace of the famous artist, Pablo Picasso, visitors can enjoy exploring his old house, which has become a very popular attraction amongst tourists. You can also enjoy delving into the past and learning more about the area's roots and origins with a visit to the historic quarter. The city is host to a range of events and festivities over the course of the year, and this includes Holy Week and the Summer Fair. Pay a visit to the famous but incomplete cathedral, the Moorish castle, and the fortress, and take in the beautiful gardens in the area.

Malaga city guide - a city for old and young alike In addition to the historical sites and attractions, the natural wonders and recreational areas, and the cultural events and festivities that take place in Malaga, you will find some fabulous nightlife on offer, from bars and clubs to restaurants, live entertainment, and more. Whether you want to relax and enjoy a drink and a tasty meal or whether you want to dance into the early hours you can continue to enjoy this city even when the sun goes down. If you are something of a die-hard shopper you will be thrilled with the great range of shopping opportunities available here, from world class shopping facilities to unique shops and boutiques selling an array of unusual and unique gifts and souvenirs. No matter what your age, Malaga is a city that has something to suit everyone when it comes to fun, adventure, entertainment, and sights, so you can look forward to a really wonderful and memorable vacation experience.

Author:
Jack Blacksmith writes mainly for http://www.alicante-spain.com , a web publication about Spain , Costa del Sol and other interests. You might discover his abstracts on Malaga and Spain at http://www.alicante-spain.com .

5 Places to Get Great Snacks In Singapore

2006-11-26T05:48:00.000-08:00

Hungry while you're in Singapore? Perhaps you've checked into a hotel and don't wish to eat the boring hotel food or room service? Well, this article introduces you to some of the best snack places in Singapore. Check them out the next time you're in need of a quick snack.

1. Bengawan Solo
Bengawan Solo sells many 'nonya' (Peranakan Chinese) snacks and pastries that will surely delight adults and kids alike. I've been eating snacks from Bengawan Solo since God knows when. It's one of my favorite snack places and I always go there is I'm starving and have no food in the fridge.

2. BreadTalk
A relatively new place, BreadTalk sells all manner of breads to Singaporeans. Recently, the brand name has expanded to other countries in Asia. The flagship product here is called the 'Pork Floss Bun' which is filled bread with butter sprinkled with bits of pork floss. Certainly something that you want to try - it tastes pretty interesting. The 'Pork Floss Bun' is not one of my favorites, but some folks really, really love it.

3. Jollibean
Jollibean is found mostly in air-conditioned shopping malls and sells small cakes that are filled with cheese, chocolate or kaya (a traditional spread made from coconut milk). It's another one of my favorites - kids will love the cakes for their cute, easy-to-eat shape.

4. Old Chang Kee
Old Chang Kee is a household name in Singapore. This place sells small, deep fried stuff Siew Mai (pork balls), curry puffs, spring rolls and fishballs. You can find one prominent Old Chang Kee stall right outside the Heeren shopping centre along Orchard Road. Check it out if you want to know what traditional Singaporean food is - in every sense of the word.

5. Ya Kun Kaya Toast
Ya Kun is the name of a coffeeshop owner who made toasted bread filled with kaya (a traditional spread made from coconut milk). I used to eat it when I was young with my Dad and I can tell you - you've never tasted bread this good. The combination of toast, butter and kaya - and a hot cup of coffee - is simply heaven on earth. The traditional coffeeshop has been torn down and replaced by a franchise called Ya Kun Kaya Toast. I find the franchised version of the bread less tasty, but still good enough for newcomers to this interesting snack.

Conclusion
Well! Now you know which places Singaporeans go to get quick snacks. I love the places listed above and you should certainly check them out if you're in Singapore and get a chance to do so.

Author:
Gary Hendricks runs a travel website about sunny Singapore. Visit his website at Best-Singapore-Vacation.com to learn about the garden city of Singapore and the fun things you can do there.

History, Nature and Wonder Await you in Arizona

2006-11-26T05:47:00.000-08:00

Out west there is a place that words and pictures can only begin to describe. The awesome landscape, the breathtaking view of the open space that spreads out before you is something that we should all strive to see at least once in our lifetime. I'm talking about the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

The first time someone visits in the Grand Canyon they can truly appreciate the vastness and wonder of it all. You can enjoy the view from above or go on a guided excursion down in the canyon. The best way to experience it is to do both.

Once you are in Arizona, there are plenty of other things that you need to do as well. If you are a golfer, you need to head to Scottsdale, Arizona and play a few rounds. There are over 300 golf courses all over the state, but Scottsdale is well known for its golf.

Rich in Native American culture, while in Arizona you can visit with different tribes to learn about their history and customs. Local artist make everything from pottery to rugs to woven baskets. At different times of the year you can also experience festivals and special events put on by different tribes.

If you like nature and being outside, then Arizona will not disappoint you. There is hiking, biking, canoeing and horseback riding among other things. Even though Arizona is known for hot weather, it is not humid, so many people find it very tolerable all year round for outdoor activities. It has become a favorite vacation place for those wishing to escape the cold of winter.

One of the favorite activities for many people to do is to just get in the car and drive to explore every nook and cranny of the state. There is the beauty of the dessert as well as lush, green places alive with vibrant colorful flowers. When on the road, you can feel the vastness of the state as a country drive can mean not seeing a car for a good period of time. Don't forget your map!

Arizona is a great place to go for a family friendly vacation as well as a romantic getaway. From the beauty of the Grand Canyon to the abundance of nature to the rich history of the state, there is something for everyone waiting in Arizona.

Author:
More city information is available at our website. Look for more about WashingtonCities, SouthDakotaCities and OklahomaCities there.

Orlando - A City Guide

2006-11-26T05:46:00.000-08:00

The City of Orlando was incorporated in 1875; it is situated in heart of central Florida, USA. Presently Orlando the 'City Beautiful' and 'Tourist Haven' is the most important and fourth most popular US tourist destination among international visitors. "Jernigan" was the original name of the city and it was changed to Orlando. City's most exciting events that include Arts, Business, Music, Shopping, sports Night life, Restaurants and more. In the early years Orlando and Central Florida have been called as 'The Wild South'. Orlando draws visitors by its attractions,, hosts over 90 attractions including the Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios theme park and SeaWorld are the top most.
History:
The Orlando Municipal Airport opened (1928) Most of cotton crops destroyed by hurricane through the town (1871) Orlando actually became a city (1875) South Florida Railroad was built between Sanford and Orlando (1880) Orlando Freezes: destroyed agriculture (1894) Martin Marietta missile factory (Presently) Lockheed Martin (1922) First Radio Station - WDBO (1924) Navy's three Naval training Center is established (1968) Disney World is opened (1971) Universal Studios is opened (1987) The Orlando Magic reached the NBA finals (1995) Orlando's XFL football team The Orlando Rage plays their first game (2001)
Place of interest :
The Orlando tourist haven is famous for many attractions all over the city to the visitors and local residents to make the leisure time or vocations to be the happiest moments. The city is also called as Theme Park capital of the world. The major theme parks Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Epcot; Universal's Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Disney-MGM Studios, and Seaworld's aquatic adventure park are located here. The city is dotted with more like Kennedy Space Center, Everglades National Park, and International Drive which offers a host of shopping and eating experiences.
Museums & Art Galleries :
Museums and Art Galleries in Orlando are also included in Orlando's entertainments; it inspires the cultural life of Florida. Museums provide all the latest news about what is going on in Orlando's Arts and Entertainment Society, and also on visual arts, American art, African art and art of the ancient Americas. Some of the museums located at Orlando are * The Orlando Museum of Art * Ripley's Believe It Or Not Orlando Museum * Central Florida Railroad Museum * Orlando Fire Museum * DeLand Museum of Art * Maitland Art Center All museum's and galleries in Orlando are filled with unique and different collections. The city is gathered with numerous art centers which can be visited including * Osceola Center for the Arts * Pine Castle Folk Arts Center * Maitland Historical & Telephone Museum * Art Lovers Gallery.
Shopping:
Orlando is home of major shopping venues, shopping malls. Orlando also can be called as shoppers Mecca or shoppers paradise. Shopping in Orlando is not only a purchase; it's a part of your vacation, pure pleasure, an enthusiastic activity. The array of shopping options awaits you. Here is a list of some hottest shop till you drop places. * Altamonte Mall * Lake Buena Vista * Florida Mall * Osceola Square Mall * The Mercado * Seminole Towne Center Mall * Belz Factory Outlet Mall * Orlando Airport - Florida Mall
Food & Drink:
The various varieties of Food and Drinks available in Orlando offer a delightful, enjoyable break for your vacation in streets of the busy tourist corridor of Orlando. Choosing a dish to eat in Orlando can be a tremendous experience. You'll find all the familiar comfort food favorites at this sparkling and tranquil city. There are too many choices Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Indian, Thai, Mediterranean and Italian. You'll be puzzled to select.
Universities:
Orlando is renowned for educational organizations; there are numerous universities in city. A petite list of distinguished universities in Orlando include * University of Central Florida, * University of Phoenix * ITT Technical Institute, * DeVry University, * Capella University Online, * Argosy University, * National School of Technology, * Florida Metropolitan University Online and more
Sports:
Orlando is a home to a surfeit of sports and cultural activities, the city boasts the NBA's Orlando Magic. The Orlando Tour stop is TD Waterhouse Centre, it is the popular sports center for PlayStation gaming pavilion, the interactive BMX dirt course, skateboard street course and much more. As the city is grouped with plentiful foremost sports stadiums, the Dew Action Sports Tour is the major action sports of annual events that take place in Orlando. Hockey, Football, Baseball, Basket ball, golf, water sports are the local sports.
Hotels & Accommodation:
Other Specialty of Orlando is Hotels; there are lots of hotels to choose, to ones need And comfort which is located in and around the city.
Luxury hotels: * Omni Orlando Resort, * Universal's Hard Rock Hotel, * The Westin Grand Bohemian, * Wyndham Orlando Resort and many more.
Budget Hotels: In vacational seasons, luxurious hotels booking are closed, here are some reasonably priced options * Budget Suites of Orlando, * TownePlace Suites by Marriott, * The Doubletree Castle Hotel.
Tours and Sightseeing:
Quit naturally some of the best tours and excursions are available in Orlando. Perfect sightseeing trips, adventure tours are arranged by every hotel in city, you can also find reservations and booking centers. Double Decker Bus tour, Kennedy Space Center & Airboat Safari, Clear water beach and Boat tour, Universal Islands of Adventure, Disney's Boardwalk, International Drive, Thornton Park, Gatorland, Busch Gardens, One Day Miami, The Sea Screamer, Deep Sea Fishing, Monster Truck Safari and Airboat Ride, Thriller Powerboat Tour, Airboat Ride.
Transport:
The Transport is accessible and options are plentiful when you're in tourist paradise Orlando. The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority runs the LYNX bus system, which reaches all through the attraction places and city centers. Lynx bus systems I Ride Trolleys are also available with 78 convenient stops. In addition to bus service, the free Lymmo bus service presents convenient transportation in and around Orlando. Naturally the fastest and easiest transport, Orlando International Airport provides a live schedule of flight Information, arrivals and departures of flight. Amtrak rail system includes both passenger trains and auto trains. It is also one of the easily accessible transports to reach all over Orlando. Other facilities in transportations rental vehicles, cars, taxis are also obtainable.
Orlando is the ultimate family vacation spot.

Author:
Leveto Orville is a traveler who reviews various cities she has visited and writes exclusively for yorlando and ybocaraton online city guides

Shopping in Maine

2006-11-26T05:43:00.000-08:00

Some might think that because of Maine's vast green forests and undeveloped terrain that there aren't places to shop. They would be wrong. So if while visiting Maine you are dreaming of malls and smoking credit cards instead of the rugged beauty of ocean crashed shorelines there is hope for you. Maine is overwhelmed with places to spend your money from traditional malls to flea markets to shopping towns.

The traditional malls can be found in South Portland and Bangor. The mall in South Portland is actually called the Maine Mall. With 140 stores, 18 restaurants and anchor stores such as Sears, Macy's and J.C. Penneys you can have hours of shopping enjoyment. Because of its size, everyone in your family will find places to lose some green. Don't worry guys, there is a Best Buy, Electronics Boutique, and Fye to feed your electronic urges. Kids will find the Disney Store, Build-A-Bear and, if they're like my chocolate munching children, Godiva of special interest. The traditional mall in Bangor is appropriately called the Bangor Mall. Shocking, huh? It's about half the size of the Maine Mall with 79 stores but it has the same anchor stores. You can find hiking, fishing and outdoor gear at the Dick's Sporting Goods store. For those seeking to support Maine businesses I'd suggest stepping into Berg Sportswear and picking up your University of Maine Black Bear's t-shirt.

If a traditional mall is too sterile, new or ordinary maybe a flea market is for you. It's difficult to tell what strange forgotten treasures you can find at a flea market. In Maine there are too many flea markets to review so I'll give you a list to explore.
Flea Market - City
Augusta Flea Market - Augusta
Bargain House - Lebanon
Cascade Flea Market - Saco
Evergreen Flea Market - Poland
Gloria's Flea Market - Topsham
Gorham Flea Market - Gorham
Granite Ridge Flea Market - Waterboro
Montsweag Flea Market - Woolwich
North Vassalboro Flea Market - North Vassalboro
Undercover Antique Mall - Oxford
Waterfront Flea Market - Brunswick
West Gardiner Flea Market - Gardiner

Another shopping experience can be found in towns that specialize in shopping. Yes, you heard me correctly, entire towns dedicated to fine art of shopping. Freeport Maine is such a town. A motivated shopper could spend days wandering through the streets of Freeport, it's an incredible place. From the whimsical fun of the Cool as a Moose store to the striking beauty of the pottery at Edgecomb Potters there is a store for you. Because of an unwritten law, I have to mention the massive L.L. Bean store or they will bar me from Freeport forever. After a tiring day of shopping go to Gritty McDuff's to unwind. They have a fenced yard with a swing set for the kids to play while you enjoy adult conversation on the deck. Those of you who have rug rats know how rare it is to eat and chat without interruption. Bar Harbor is another quaint town with plenty of shopping and other fun tourist activities. If you've ever been to Ben and Bill's Chocolate Emporium and savored some delectable treats you understand that being a tourist isn't a bad thing. Overall, Bar Harbor has a flare for local crafts and arts. It seems as though the entire town is comprised of artists and craftsmen. Long ago Bar Harbor was known as a place for the ultra wealthy but today everyone can feel comfortable here. Please realize that these aren't even a fraction of the shops in Maine. There are tiny towns throughout Maine with wonderful shops and breathtaking views that offer additional shopping. Take a day or two to meander through harbor towns with small mom and pop shops to really understand Maine and its friendly people.

Author:
Ron Cloer is the father to some of the best kids on the planet. His website http://www.MaineTrip.net includes articles and suggestions for families traveling to Maine.

Ten Tips For An Enjoyable Florida Vacation

2006-11-14T09:03:00.000-08:00

Many people living in Northern areas escape the cold and non clement weather by heading South when autumn and winter arrives. It is a proven fact that natural light has a positive effect on the overall mood of people and that living in the open outdoors greatly lowers the probability of a person catching colds or other transmissible diseases. Furthermore, one can hardly feel down when being seeing the beach, the sun and Disneyworld.

It then makes perfect sense for people living in cold and Northern areas to migrate South when cold temperatures arrive. Planning a short or long term trip South can be very exciting and following the simple advices included in this article will make their trip even more enjoyable. Here are the top ten advices that one can follow to make their trip to Florida or any other southern destination a fun and worry-free one:

1) Insurances are a must if a person is planning to travel outside their country. Many companies offer full coverage for any medical or transportation fee a person might encounter if a medical problem arises. 2) If a person lives in an area where snowfall precipitations are to be expected, hiring a person to remove the snow from their entrance might be a very good idea. If an entrance is all cleaned and nice, people going by will naturally think that the owner is home. 3) It is recommended to ask a friend or a neighbour to pick-up your mail. An overloaded mail box is a signal for burglars that the owner of the house has gone on vacation and is an open invitation to just drop in. 4) Investing a couple of dollars in timers will guarantee that a house's lights will turn on at sunset and will make the house look like it is inhabited. 5) It is recommended that a person does not cut-off the water arrival in her house to save a couple of dollars. Hence, if a person lives in a cold area, the risk of their water arrival to freeze is high if the water does not circulate. 6) Upon driving South, one has to make sure that their car is in good order. The last thing a person wants to do is to spend their precious travelling time in a foreign garage. 7) Notifying family and friends that a person will be away so they do not worry and fill your answering machines with their concerned messages is a very wise precaution. 8) Keeping a good record and photocopy of one's passport, credit cards and important addresses and phone numbers can prove very valuable. If a person looses credit cards during her trip, it will be easier to contact her bank and have them stopped before anyone can charge expenses on them. 9) Storing valuables and jewels in a safe place is also a great precaution. Tourists are easy targets for burglars and there is no reason to tempt them by openly wearing expensive watches or necklaces. 10) If a person is using any medication, it is easier to bring enough supply for the whole trip and a little more (in case of delays to get back). It can be very complicated to have an appointment with a doctor or have a pharmacist renew prescriptions if one is in a foreign country.

All these tips and many more (infection prevention, learning keywords if you are going in a foreign country, learning the customs in the country where a person is going to, etc) will make their trip more enjoyable.

All this said, little problems when travelling are inevitable and if one faces them with a smile, life goes on more smoothly. After all, being in a warm, sunny place if enough to smile about.

Author:
Dr Nathalie Fiset is a family doctor and a certified hypnotherapist. For more information go to: http://www.bigfloridavacation.com www.aperfectharmony.com or www.a-1hypnosis.com

Top 5 Myths About China

2006-11-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

What do you think you know about China? Are your ideas about China and Chinese people outdated or even ignorant?!

Over 20 percent of the world's population are Chinese, and by economic standards, China's ascent is only just beginning. The Chinese nation, culture, economy, and language are going to get more and more important in the world during your lifetime. But how much do you currently know about modern China?

What you learned at school about China, and what you read in the newspapers or see on the TV news may not be true any more.

Have a look at the following generalisations about China and see if you ever heard or believed something similar. Can you open your mind and change your preconceptions about China?

Misconception 1. *China is an ancient culture*

What? Of course Chinese culture is ancient! One of the world's oldest actually. Yes, but what's modern China all about? China nowadays is a vibrant modern society, with unique pop culture, fashions, arts, tastes, and habits. Chinese people are proud of their heritage, and there is always an awareness of "old China" inside people's habits and tastes. But the real China of today is a fast-moving modern place: the old continues to give way to the new, and and Chinese people are all looking to their future, not resting on the laurels of the past.

Misconception 2. *China is backward and poor*

By 2050 it's estimated that 50% of China's population will live in the cities, and this is where the focus of national policy is at the moment. Chinese cities are being built up at an astounding rate: every city in China is currently a dazzling scene of infrastructure change - new roads and flyovers, new skyscrapers, new stadiums, new hotels and resorts, and of course new massive ostentatious government buildings. The word "developing" has come to have connotations of 'third world', but in the developing cities of China you can only marvel at the pace of improvement all around.

If you travel to the countryside in China, you certainly might have the impression of a 'developing nation': people are still farming the land using pre-industrial-revolution tools and techniques, and people's lifestyles certainly couldn't be described as cosmopolitan. However, what you may not see is that these people's children may well be smart professionals in the city, sending home ever increasing paychecks to their family. Chinese people are ultimately loyal to their parents, and will routinely save and send home large proportions of their salaries. Even if the youth who move to the Chinese cities aren't managers or entrepreneurs, city salaries for even basic jobs are enough in comparative terms to make everyone happy. Everywhere you go in the Chinese countryside, you can see previously lowly families buying cars and building new houses. So the wealth of the cities will filter to rural areas through private channels, regardless of the urban-focused investment policies of the government.

Misconception 3. *Chinese people eat Chinese food.*

Yes, of course Chinese people eat Chinese food! But do you even know what Chinese food is?

Forget what you think you know from your local "Chinese" takeaway. Unless you've spent several years living in mainland China, it's unlikely you have even a clue about Chinese cuisine. The variety is mind-boggling and almost certainly unrivalled in any other country. Expatriates in China will all tell you that every day they are still trying new dishes, even after living there for years. (And since we're on the topic of mythbusting, sorry to be politically incorrect, but actually you can find dog meat restaurants everywhere in southern China and people really enjoy eating it in the winter. On the other hand, in case you are getting a bit worried now, dog is a pricey speciality so it's impossible that you will ever receive a meat dish which is dog meat unless you explicitly ordered it!!)

Modern Chinese people in the cities also eat pizza, burgers, spaghetti, sandwiches, chocolate, and all sorts of real international cuisines, not only junk food. Visitors to China who can't use chopsticks, or have a phobia of rice, will have absolutely no problem feeding themselves! (But if you visit China, please be a little more imaginative than to go straight to one of the hundreds of Starbucks springing up in every city.)

Misconception 4. *China is a communist country.*

Politically, China is still a one-party state and the Chinese people do not elect their leaders. How much does this matter? For a start, China was never the same style of 'communist' government that we associate with Soviet Russia. And the days of Mao are loooong gone!

Government in China nowadays is actually much less centralised than in most other countries, with an amazing amount of power in the hands of provincial or city-level governing bodies. These local governments are increasingly competing with each other to improve and enrich their domains, and the effect is a lot more positive than controversy-hunting western journalists' usual portrayals.

Are the Chinese people oppressed? Hardly! Chinese society is, any observer would be forced to admit, remarkably free and progressive. In point of fact, most Chinese people couldn't be described as particularly agitated about "freedom" or political change, being more concerned about getting a piece of the GDP pie and improving their lives and their children's lives. The political sentiment which most Chinese people share is a desire for stability, safety, and prosperity - and basically anyone would have to admit the government in Beijing is currently doing a really good job at that regardless of any abstract criticisms of their "communist" political identity.

Economically, what is China? People always laugh at the phrase "capitalism with Chinese characteristics" but it's true it's hard to find any description or comparative model for the Chinese system these days. In many ways the Chinese are more capitalist at the moment than anyone else, perhaps because the system has lagged behind in regulating and taxing the explosion of private commerce in the last twenty years. The name "The Wild East" has a certain truth about it at the moment, but things are getting more standardised, the RMB (Chinese Yuan - the currency) is now open to trading, and of course China is in the WTO now. Expect the China pages of your newspaper to get ever more prominent as businesses and governments wake up more to the economic power of the Chinese market.

Misconception 5. *China is closed and difficult to visit.*

Anyone from almost any country in the world can easily obtain a Chinese travel visa from a travel agent and book a flight to any of China's growing list of international airports. Once in China you can go and stay where you want. It's just as easy as visiting any other country. The only reason your travel agency isn't packed with brochures about visiting China is because those travel companies just don't get it yet... Don't worry - the travel agency will soon wake up!

"Yes, but Chinese people don't speak English!" Pssst - can you think of any other popular world travel destinations where the local people, maybe, possibly don't speak English as their first language? Seriously, in the cities a lot of people can help out clueless travellers, and even if you're trying to be independent or adventurous, you'll find Chinese people friendly, tolerant, and generally not scary at all.

In terms of other traveller fears about safety, security, and cleanliness, China is already in the top tier of countries in the world to live in or travel to. Frequent travellers to China will back this up: even in the inner cities of China, you can walk around as a highly visible foreigner, and although you may be stared at, you will never feel in any danger or discomfort. (Unless you expected a 'normal' western style toilet - oh dear! - but that's an experience you'll have to find out by visiting China yourself!)

*CONCLUSION*

Wake up and smell the tea! You need to visit China and experience it yourself: there is no way you will break through the misconceptions and prejudices about China from your armchair.

Author:
Just a little bit interested in visiting China? To learn about Chinese visas and invitation letters to visit China on business, visit China Invitation Letter - http://www.china-invitation-letter.com/

Read more informative articles about modern China: Articles About China - http://www.chinamaze.com

5 Hawaii Whale Watching Tips For An Unforgettable Vacation

2006-11-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

Each year, the great Humpback Whales migrate some 4,500 miles, from summer feeding grounds in Alaska, to mate in warm Hawaiian waters.

Hawaii is a popular destination for whale watching because, during mating season, Humpback Whales are more active resulting in elevated surface activity. This exciting surface behavior, such as breaching and tail slaps, make for exciting whale watching in Hawaii.

As a Hawaii local and avid waterman, I have 5 simple tips that will help you get the most out of your Hawaii whale watching adventure. So before planning your next Hawaii vacation, follow these tips and you might just have an unforgettable whale encounter!

1. Plan Your Trip During Peak Months
Humpback Whales begin arriving in Hawaii in November and head back to Alaska in late May. If you have planned a Hawaii vacation during this time, you should have no problem spotting whales. However, peak Hawaii whale watching season occurs during February and March. So if you have not made your travel arrangements yet, shoot for these months.

2. Visit Islands Known For Whale Watching
Maui, Kauai and the Big Island are the most popular islands for Hawaii whale watching, so plan to visit one of these islands on your vacation. If you are visiting Oahu, you can see whales there too, they just won't be as abundant.

3. Plan A Boat Tour
Hawaii whale watching tours are ideal for seeing these spectacular animals in their natural habitat. Not only will you be in the whale's environment, but because humpback whales are curious about their surrounding, they will sometimes approach your boat. Plan a Hawaii boat tour to truly get the most out of your whale watching adventure.

Boat tours are available departing from Lahaina Harbor many times throughout the day during whale season. On the Big Island and the island of Kauai, whale-watching opportunities abound with a full schedule of tours provided by seasoned, knowledgeable guides.

Humpback whales may also be observed from land if you prefer solid ground to the deck of a boat. On Kauai the Kilauea Lighthouse, Kealia Lookout and various high-points of land in coastal areas are good places to start. Once you're in the right place, spotting the whales is easy: just look for the majestic plumes of water ("blows") rising in the air and the playful splashes made by these gigantic creatures.

4. Respect their space
In Hawaii, whale watching is an avid activity, and like with most outdoors activities, there are rules. Observers may not approach by vessel or by swimming within 100 yards of a whale (known as the 100-yard minimum rule). However, there is no rule that keeps whales from approaching people. Experienced leaders of Hawaii whale watching tours know how to gently approach these animals and encourage them to come closer.

5. Preserve the Humpback Whale
The humpback whale almost came to extinction in 1966 after mass commercial whaling during the early 20th century. Today there are approximately 30,000 to 40,000 humpbacks worldwide. Federal laws protect them, but there are things we can all do to help preserve this amazing animal for future whale watching generation.

Keep beaches and waters clean and debris-free
Participate only in responsible whale watching activities
Support efforts to stop illegal whaling
Support legislation, research and preservation programs
Patronize eco-friendly companies and organizations

You can read books about whales, but with so many opportunities to see them up-close and personal, there's no reason why you shouldn't start thinking now about your next Hawaii whale watching tour. It's fun, it's easy and it's a great experience for the whole family.

Author:
Local Hawaii adventure traveler, Justin Britt, invites you to learn more about Humpback Whales in this Hawaii whale watching guide. And if you are plannig a Kauai vacation, learn more about the Na Pali Coast.

African Safari - Back To Basics And Reflections On The Creation

2006-11-14T08:59:00.000-08:00

The Swahili word "safari" originally meant "journey" which is further correlated to "hunting for survival" and "exploration of lands".

The safari is typically traveled by foot amidst the vast lands. This is of course deemed to be the best way of experiencing the circle of life in the safari since you can reach to the core of the natives and their unique cultures.

Walking trails are continuously maintained so that the explorers are guided along their courses better. However, visitors can always widen their safari options with many forms of travel available with each safari tour package. Other modes of transportation include hot air ballooning, fly-in safaris, driving safaris, canoeing safaris, horseback riding safaris, and elephant back riding safaris.

These do not only add ease on travel but may also allow access to the deeper domains (and often uncharted places) which contribute more thrills while on tour.

As for the categories, African safaris are normally offered in three basic types: permanent tented safaris, lodge safaris, and mobile safaris. There are also a couple of other safari choices customized depending on the traveler's needs. One good example is the honeymoon safari for newly-wed couples.

One complete safari tour that will take you from the Eastern region to the Southern parts lasts around 10 to 21 days. If you are planning to journey this long, it would be best if you avail from a local tour operator or a specialist so you are sure that you what you get is a complete safari adventure.

It is helpful if you have the knowledge of some of the practices, culture and etiquette to adopt well with the localities. As for your choice of safari package, consider the factors such as meals, accommodation, transportation, driver and guide service, excursions, itineraries and supplemental packages.

There are hundreds of conservation parks and wildlife sanctuaries that display the continuous interplay of the wild in its natural setting, marvelous places untouched by technology, and vast array of flora and fauna.

Life in the safari is more serene and offers more grounds for realizing how beautiful creation is. And all these are topped with the unique (and sometimes peculiar) cultures of different African tribes that mark the richness of their history.

African safari seems to remind us how the sixth day of creation looks like. They are the living remembrances of how the Creator intended things to be- the perfection, the diversity, the coexistence between man and his nature, and the life that surrounds everything.

3 Steps to Choosing a Family Vacation You Will Not Regret

2006-11-14T08:57:00.000-08:00

When planning a family vacation getaway, the choices can be overwhelming. What should you do? Where should you go? To make life easier, these questions should be answered before you start planning.

The bottom-line is, vacations are meant to be enjoyable and relaxing for the whole family. Identify what you and your family, especially your children, enjoy doing. What kind of weather do you prefer? Is shopping important or a sunny beach?

There are 3 simple steps to planning an unforgettable vacation for both you and your family.

1) Choose your destination

Simply identify the cities, towns, places that you would like to visit. Make sure while planning that the trip will be family-oriented and not just catered to your preferences.

2) Research

Once you have chosen your destination, it is vital that you do your homework before going on vacation. There is a host of ways to obtain information on your travel destination. With the abundance of information on the internet, read-up on your destination. This will give you a rough idea of what to expect from the place, its culture and people. Many travel guides are also available. Lonely Planet and DK Eyewitness Travel are good reads.

It would also be a good idea to make your accommodation booking online. If you are just a leisure-seeking tourist, try seeking accommodation that offers breakfast as part of your package. This will save you loads of time searching for dining places open in the morning, especially so if you are new to the place.

You don't want to start finding out about the local attractions only when you arrive at your destination. Hence, do your homework once more. Where is the main shopping district? Places of interests? Wonderful museums or restaurants worth a specific visit? If your children are young, visiting theme parks for a day or two will be an excellent idea. Put simply, planning your itinerary. Therefore once you get there, more time can be spent finding out more about the places you already know about, instead of finding about these places from scratch.

3) Get Maps

If you intend to drive, make sure you have maps of the country you are visiting. Even if you are not driving, street maps of certain areas of the city will be extremely helpful with navigation. If the city you are visiting has a railway or train system, it would also be helpful if you obtain a transport map which makes traveling by public transport more hassle-free.

Plan your route beforehand, be it as a driver or as a commuter taking public transport. This saves time as well as gives you peace of mind when traveling.

Now that you know these 3 steps, it is time to enjoy the vacation you deserve.

Author:

Darren Yong contributes to VisaTravels.com, a site dedicated to Vacation Planning and Travels Tips.

Visit http://www.visatravels.com

Good To Know Things About Hawaii

2006-11-07T23:49:00.001-08:00

More and more tourists each year decide to go on a vacation in Hawaii. As first-time visitors, there are numerous questions they have to get answers to, before actually leave home for Hawaii. At the top of their questions' list is the one referring to which of the six different islands in Hawaii to choose as their destination. Another thing they must definitely know before heading off is how to get there.

Should you want to visit Hawaii, the first thing you will need to know is that the Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha Airlines or Island Air is the one to handle all inter-island flights. So be sure to check with your mainland flight company or their website to find out what their prices are.

With Oahu being the heart of Hawaii transportation, the Honolulu International Airport (HNL) is the place where almost all of the mainland and International flights will fly into. The airport is on the outskirts of Honolulu, about a 20 minute drive to Waikiki and about a 45 minute drive to the North Shore. Even if you are heading on to another island you may have to deplane and get on an inter-island flight to reach your final destination.

The three airports in Maui are: Kahalui Airport (OGG), Kapalua Airport (JHM) and Hana (HNM). The Kahalui Airport is the most important one, which offers direct flights from the West coast of the U.S. mainland. You can also get on one of the day ferries to get from Maui to Lanai and back.

The Big Island is actually called Hawaii, but in order to avoid confusion, it is referred to as the Big Island. It also has two airports, the Hilo International Airport (ITO) and Keahole Airport (KOA), situated at about two hours drive from each other. There are direct flights from the mainland only to Keahole. Ferries are not an option here.

The airport in Kauai is called Lihue Airport (LIH) and it allows direct flights from the mainland on some carriers. There are no ferries available to get to other islands.

Molokai has one airport, Molokai Airport (MKK) in central Molokai. Small commercial boats can ferry you from Maui to Molokai. The Lanai Airport (LNY) in Lanai and the Molokai Airport in Molokai only accept small airplanes.

The news for the following year is the introduction of the Hawaii Superferries, which will make inter-island traveling easier and cheaper.

About The Author:
Visit now to grab your own Hawaii Surfing Posters . Also, Endless Summer Posters available on the world's largest poster, poster frames store.

Switzerland - A Paradise on Earth

2006-11-07T23:49:00.000-08:00

Switzerland is a divine destination in the center of Europe. The fantasy land is blessed with scenic beauty, stone churches, lovely lakes, dense forest, ancient cities, attractive countryside with picturesque meadows and farms, adventure sports and alpine landscape. Adventure, thrill, enthusiasm and joy seem to be prevailing around every corner of the country.

Switzerland is a prosperous and peaceful country and has a stable modern economy. It is one of the richest countries in Europe. Its standards of living, worker productivity, quality of education, and health care are higher than any other European country.

There are various places of tourist interest in Switzerland that one can explore during the tour of Switzerland. Zurich is the most populous city of Switzerland and is famous for its financial institutions and shops as well as for its superb art galleries.

Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and is one of the best places to visit in Europe. Abuzz with a large number of museums, cultural events and restaurants, Geneva is a great place to visit on your tour to Switzerland. There are many other popular cities in Switzerland such as Interlaken, Lucerne and Lausanne.

Switzerland is rich in architecture and culture and is influenced by the heritage of Germany, France and Italy. Some of the world famous attractions in Switzerland include Museum of Art, Cathedrale de St-Pierre, Chateau de Chillon, Montreux, Vaud Great Church, Church of Our Lady, Jungfrau, The Jungfraujoch Experience, Bahnhofstrasse and Swiss National Museum.

Switzerland has become one of the most booming financial and tourist centers in the world. It is renowned for its high quality of export manufactures, such as motors, generators, turbines and watch making industry. Switzerland's milk chocolate is also world famous.

So, we can say that whole of the world's beauty could be experienced in Switzerland and this beautiful country has something for everyone.

Locations That Offer More But Cost Less

2006-11-03T21:53:00.000-08:00

So you want to travel the world but you have a tight budget?
Are you tired of reading about everyone else’s exotic adventures and
ready to have some of your own? Have
you always wanted to take an international vacation but thought you couldn’t
afford it? There are numerous
travel destinations across the world that are both exciting and affordable.
Five of them are described here to give you ideas and get you started
planning your own getaway.

There are two ways to approach affordable vacations to distant destinations.
Either you will save money getting there or the savings will occur once
you arrive at your selected spot. If
you want the trip there to be affordable, many travel consolidators recommend
choosing well-known destinations that are served by numerous airlines and
receive millions of travelers each year. The
competition for customers usually drives costs down for everything from lodging
to tour packages. Airfares between
major hubs tend to be more affordable and there are often plenty of discounts
and last minute travel deals.

London

In Europe, London is a top pick for affordable vacation destinations, for these
exact reasons. Not only do you have
more flights to choose from, they are cheaper than if you flew to a more remote
location. On average, staying in
London may be a bit more expensive than other European destinations, but the
seemingly endless choices in hotels, restaurants, transportation, tours, and
other travel essentials gives travels opportunities to mold their vacation to
fit their budgets. And you can use
London as your home base to set out on day trips to other more exotic locations
or buy a Eurorail pass and see those more remote countries without the expense
of flying there.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

This theory also works well for traveling in the Caribbean.
Belize is an appealing destination, with wonderful Caribbean beaches and
a lush tropic setting, but since it has only recently emerged as a popular
travel destination, it is more expensive than Cancun, Jamaica or other
well-traveled locations along the Mayan Riviera.
With fewer flights, getting there is more expensive, and there are few
moderate lodging options. Development
of larger luxury resorts have begun to boom, but the only real alternative for
those on a budget is staying in local facilities that may be hard to locate from
home and may be more rustic than most travelers are willing to try.

Although there are many options for affordable vacations in the Caribbean, an excellent
pick is Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Accessible
via flights to Cancun, which are often some of the cheapest in the region, Playa
is just a half hour away. It is
filled with a multitude of lodging choices, from expansive luxury resorts on the
ocean to quaint but clean hotels downtown.
From Playa, travelers can branch out and visit Tulum and other locations
on the Mayan Riviera or take the ferry across to the island of Cozumel where
snorkeling is prime and the attractions are many.

For Asian destinations, travelers often do better to focus on saving money once they
get to their destination. Depending
on your country of origin, getting to just about any spot in Asia is going to be
a sizable chunk of your travel budget. The
difference will come from the cost of lodging, food, entertainment and other
travel expenditures once you arrive. By
choosing destinations where you get the most for your money, you can save a
great deal on your international vacation.
A drink or dinner in Tokyo will cost you many times more than what it
would in Saigon. The key here is to
go where your dollars buy you more and where the local cost of living is low.

Tioman Island

An affordable yet exotic choice for Asia is Malaysia and specifically Tioman
Island, knows as the mythical 'Bali Hai' from the film 'South Pacific.’
Tioman Island is located at the southern end of the east coast of
Malaysia on the South China Sea. Its sandy beaches, bordered by lush jungles and
stunning mountains make it a relaxing yet intriguing destination, ideal for sun
lovers, snorkelers and divers. The
island also has many villages for exploring and shopping.
English is widely spoken and the
rates are amazingly affordable, with a two night lodging package for a suite at
a lovely oceanside resort averaging around 100 U.S. dollars.
Typically visitors reach the island via the speed ferry from the
mainland. Although the trip can
take over two hours, it is enjoyable and provides opportunities for dolphin
watching along the way.

Buenos Aires

South America also has many destinations that are affordable because of the savings
once you arrive. Locales like Rio
de Janeiro in Brazil, the areas top destination, are coming down in price but
are still more expensive than cities such as Buenos Aires in Argentina, where
the rates are lower and the U.S. dollar goes further.

A huge metropolis that is more European than South American, the city has much to
offer including cultural events, thriving nightlife, shopping, local sports, and
a host of tours and excursions. La
Boca, with its street performers, shops, and unique architecture is a big
tourist draw. The large number of
choices for lodging, restaurants, and activities provides opportunities for
budget travel and savings. Airfare to the city is relatively reasonable for an
international destination, with discount fares from the U.S. averaging around
$500 round trip. Buenos Aires might
not be one of the most exotic or inspiring destinations in South America, but it
is a city that everyone should see at least once, and with some of the most
affordable rates and fares around, it makes the list as a top South American
destination.

Las Vegas

The list would not be complete without a North American destination, and the champ
of all affordable locales is Las Vegas. It
too is a city that should be seen at least once, and many world travelers return
again and again for the gaming, art, shows and people watching that just can’t
be found anywhere else. Close
enough to other top U.S. attractions like the Grand Canyon, Vegas provides other
options for those who have had their fill of casinos.

The city has long been known for its cheap vacation packages with hotels and resorts
that offer discount rates for rooms, meals and entertainment in hopes of
attracting people to their gaming tables. Airfare
rates into Vegas are some of the most reasonable in the United States, no matter
the origination destination. And
with more than 100,000 hotel rooms to choose from, there is sure to be a lodging
choice that fits your budget.

Travel Accessories

2006-11-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

No matter what anyone says you can’t travel without some kind of accessory. Whether it be suitcases, suit bags, brief cases or money pouches you will always carry some kind of travel accessory with you.

The travel accessories say a lot about the life and personality of the person carrying them. Depending on the style and color of their travel accessories, and indeed what particular accessories they are carrying, you can gain insight into what country they are from, whether they are happy, outgoing and energetic or rather old fashioned, whether they are well off financially or have little money to spare and a myriad of other details.
The buying team at Mori Luggage and Gifts recently returned from the Travel Goods Show in Washington, D.C. - the largest exhibition of travel accessories and leather goods in the world. For three days, buyers walked the aisles seeking the hot new trends in luggage, briefcases and travel accessories.

President of Mori Luggage and Gifts, John Mori, said the Travel Goods Show was an excellent opportunity to network with other businesses who also manufacture travel accessories.
“The Travel Goods Show allows us to meet with all of the leading manufacturers in our industry,” he said.
“With the improving economy and travel increasing, we were pleased to discover lots of new, innovative travel products for 2004. Our customers expect us to always have the newest items that make travelling easier.”

Mr Mori said manufacturers of travel accessories such as luggage, briefcases and leather goods were responding to consumer demand for bright colors - especially when it comes to women’s business cases. While black will always be popular, fashion-conscious businesswomen can now pick a different color briefcase for each season. The Lodis Audrey Capri Brief has been tipped as a hot seller for spring and summer. Available in salmon and periwinkle, this beautiful brief is constructed of fine-grade Italian leather and features a streamlined exterior, organizer pockets for cell phone and business cards, and a removable shoulder strap.

The Zuca MobileLockerTM is a super-durable, lightweight rolling case. It was designed by a mom who couldn’t stand to see her 4th grade daughter lugging 50 pounds of books each day and developing back pain so early in life. The main compartment holds books and important gear and can be used for school, picnics, or airline travel. The top is so strong you can use it as a seat and the magneto LED wheels actually light up as it rolls. It’s an excellent travel accessory that is suitable for a wide range of uses.

One of the most interesting developments in luggage and travel accessories is the 22” Transformable Upright from Briggs & Riley. Either use it as a one-piece rolling carry-on or transform it into two separate bags: a deluxe duffle with optional backpack straps and a wheeled carry-on upright. Once the duffle is zipped off, a face panel zips onto the wheeled upright creating a new carry-on. Each bag can hold 2-3 days worth of clothes.

So just what’s new in the travel accessories industry? Ever wondered if the airline pillow covers and blankets are as clean as you’d expect? After all, its one of the most commonly provided travel accessories you’ll come across! According to a new company called pb travel, recent studies have suggested that many are not changed or cleaned often enough. That’s why they have introduced the pb blanket and pb disposable pillow covers. The pb blanket is a warm polar fleece blanket that is machine washable and dries in just 10 minutes.

If you’ve ever flown overseas, you’ve probably heard of deep vein thrombosis and other circulatory problems that can occur during long flights. Compression Socks by Elastic Therapy use a graduated compression system to improve blood flow and relieve leg swelling and discomfort. They are definitely a must-have on your travel accessories list. They are also great for walking or anytime you plan to spend a lot of time on your feet.

Brushing your teeth while travelling or at work just got easier with the Travelon Toothbrush. Actually, it’s a toothbrush and toothpaste all in one making it another one of those fantastic and ingenious travel accessories. Simply twist the handle and refreshing mint toothpaste comes up through the high quality

Ever seen a sophisticated man who carries his stack of dollar bills in a rubber band? We found a way for him to do this in style with the Grand Band from Budd Leather. Each Grand Band features a durable, colorful band with two replacement bands and a stainless steel plate that can be engraved. This is a useful and essential travel accessory for the stylish and professional traveller.

Online Travel Bargain

2006-11-03T21:51:00.000-08:00

Are holiday bargains for true or have catches hidden?

REMEMBER YOUR LAST CONVERSATION WITH THAT family relative who couldn’t talk enough of how much they saved on their last holiday package deal? Or that colleague bragging about his $59 round- trip flight to Las Vegas and his stay in a 5-star hotel at $89 a night? Have you found yourself staring wistfully (and suspiciously) at a $399 package deal for two for Hawaii?

Just because your email seems flooded at times with seemingly impossibly priced travel offers, and you find Internet search engines are flooded with 1000’s of sites selling internet travel besides big hotel brands and branded distribution sites don’t discount them all.

Who can you count on?
Just four or five years ago, when you looked for travel discounts you could choose between a travel agent, the airline offices and the hotels themselves, and maybe, if you were lucky, some travel guru down the street. Today, there’s a massive range of things you can do online, and a lot of them can save significant amounts of money.

The reality is:

• Nine out of 10 online travelers now have some history of shopping for travel online, and nearly 15% of all Americans purchased travel online last year - that’s five times the penetration rate of 1998. (PhoCusWright Consumer Travel Trends Survey)• Nearly one-third of online travel buyers say the Internet was responsible for their travel purchases last year.

• In 1998, six million consumers bought travel online in the U.S. Jump ahead to 2002 when 30 million Americans purchased travel online in the last year. Half of them only buy their travel online. (PhoCusWright Consumer Travel Trends Survey)

• Online travel bookings exceeded $23 billion in 2001, and are expected to reach $63 billion by 2005.

• Internet bookings in the first three quarters of 2002 accounted for over 23% of rooms sold in New York, and over 15% in Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. Anecdotally, for some properties, hotel managers are reporting Internet bookings ranging from 30% to 50% of all room nights in 2002. (Smith Travel Research and TravelClick)

What does this mean?

This means that online distribution channel is extremely successful in reaching buyers and buyers are finding it more confirmable to shop online. They are seeing a broader range of travel options and variety of products and packages. And its more likely that consumer wants to control that transaction through access to more competitive pricing. Pricing is becoming key factor to determine the sale.

Key factors: Why travelers prefer to book online

• Competitive Price
• Ability to compare product and Prices
• Ability to plan last minute
• Availability of Range of options

Online travel shoppers are not very loyal on where they shop—65 percent of online travelers do not view themselves as brand-loyal. As much as they love to shop online and spend their time researching what suits their needs, they are not loyal to the companies from which they buy.

The above scenario indicated that the travel suppliers have no choice but to participate in this online distribution channel. The suppliers are realizing that the traditional channels like GDS (Global Distribution System)/travel agent and call center/reservation office is somewhat inefficient and expensive, especially when the economy is weak. Ignoring online distribution channel and concentrating only on traditional distribution channels will result in lower occupancy, and higher distribution and operational costs for travel suppliers. As online channels become more popular among suppliers their participation is increasing.

How Pricing and Distribution Become Key

9/11 caused a dramatic shift in how consumers booked their travel. The instability caused a large drop in demand for airlines, hotels and car rentals leading to ever-lower prices. This low demand factor forced travel suppliers to introduce unprecedented discounts. Travel suppliers struggled to sell seats, rooms, car rentals to a significantly shrunk leisure and business travel market. Every air seat, room and auto not booked cost their companies money. Better to sell dirt cheap than not to sell at all. But how to get the word out?

Smart, proactive suppliers adopted the Wal-Mart business model—sell low and distribute inexpensively and efficiently. But how?

The Internet allowed them to reach consumers, sell inventory outstrip their less progressive competition. Those suppliers who had no clear Internet strategy or understanding of how the Web and online distribution works suffered.

Discount hotel sites attract millions of buyers with their special rates leading to stratospheric sales through these channels. They thrive on hoteliers selling their distressed inventory at a fraction of their normal rates. Occupancy is the lowest its been in years, hoteliers continue to work with leading online retailers to move inventory at lower price.

The $6.3 billion in online hotel sales (2002) with are split roughly evenly between discount agency sites and hotel Web sites. PhoCusWright projects that around 75% of discount agency hotel site sales are via the merchant model, where the agency typically takes a 20-30% “margin” on the hotel net rate (instead of the usual 10% commission). This approach has helped profits at Expedia and Hotels.com, who have roughly 60% of online discount agency hotel sales. Travelocity and Orbitz are instituting the same successful approach. Other notable players thriving in this arena are Hotwire.com, http://www.hotels-and-discounts.com , Lodging.com and Travelweb.com.

What is the Future?
Online travel growth will continue to grow in 2003-2005, but it will slow down year by year compared to the record gains see so far. However millions of travelers haven’t yet made their first purchase so the market is not near saturation. Technological improvements will soon make it possible to more easily dynamically package vacation deals including air, hotel and car leading to even lower prices but higher average sales. So growth is projected to come from customers buying more, higher-ticketed products online.

The growth of the online distribution channel will prove beneficial to the end user when the suppler finds it easier and more cost-effective to distribute their inventory there than over the traditional distribution channels. As technology becomes mature in the online distribution sector, it will become more effective and user friendly for the Buyers and thus will attract more Suppliers. Due to its low cost of distribution and emerging ability to package and cross sell inventory, prices will be attractive for years to come, until this channel eventually becomes a commodity.

Top Ten Travel Nursing “Hot Spots”

2006-11-03T21:50:00.000-08:00

The great thing about being a traveling nurse boils down to one key component – it’s about the travel! For those of us who love moving around and seeing the world, travel nursing is the profession of our dreams. There are many travel destinations available, based on weather, activities, cost of living, and salary. Therefore, I have gathered a list of my “Top Ten” destinations that nurses choose, based on the number of travelers who inquire about each location every month. Are you a travel RN scouting a new assignment? Then I’d like to suggest the following ten “Hot Spots”:

HAWAII – It’s no shock that Hawaii generates over 500 travel nursing inquiries per month. The wide range of outdoor activities from snow-capped mountains to snow-white sandy beaches elevates Hawaii to one of those meccas where you can build a snowman or a sand castle all in one day. Nurses tell me that you’ll discover virtually every type of outdoor activity imaginable—hiking trails that wind through erupting volcanoes, secret beaches, and lush green ranchlands. Many travelers also hunt, mountain bike, go rafting, and golf on some of the world’s most extravagant courses.

ALASKA – Travel nurses are intrigued by the possibilities of Alaska’s rugged mystery. Alaska is a huge wilderness with beautiful scenery, and travel nursing assignments offer plenty of time to see and do everything you want, whether in winter’s darkness under northern lights, or the glorious spring and summer where it’s light most of the time. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy Alaska for its’ wildlife, spectacular natural landscape, and fishing expeditions where the fish really are as big as the stories about which they’re told. Countless day cruises and sightseeing expeditions abound, as well as opportunities to hike, kayak, canoe, ski… Need we say more?

MONTANA – Whether photographer, adventurer, or both, Montana is truly a state that beckons with open arms. River trips, fishing and camping, history, snowy mountain ranges, and waterfalls are what you’ll encounter, along with plenty of open space to explore. Assignments in Montana appeal to those travel nurses who just need some time to break away from their city grind to enjoy marching to the beat of an entirely different drummer. The Big Sky Country boasts some of America’s most famous mountains, canyons, river valleys, forests, grassy plains, badlands, and caverns, and many travelers find it just irresistible enough to keep coming back.

MAINE – Maine’s splendor has inspired artists like Georgia O’Keefe and three generations of the Wyeth family, since the mid-nineteenth century. Travel nurses can’t resist at least one adventure in this charming getaway. Whether you embark on outdoor adventures like skiing and snowmobiling, or if you prefer the cozy ambience of antiquing through charming villages or just strolling or riding horseback on miles of sandy beaches in the smell of salt air, Maine is legendary and offers some wonderful travel nursing experiences. Its’ unique culture is outdoorsy and quaint, and of course you get to enjoy lobster as the locals do—fresh from the ocean!

CALIFORNIA – Warm weather and world-famous beaches make California a favorite choice for traveling nurses. Nine-hundred miles of coastline gives nurses in all locations the chance to spend many hours near the waves; and for nature lovers, California is home to many wildlife parks, remote wilderness areas, and safe-havens for endangered animals. If you’re an excitement junkie, you can scout out a wide selection of theme parks; and no matter what your taste in music, concerts abound in every type of venue. Historic sites and museums invite, as do five-star restaurants and clubs in which to see and be seen. The shopping is unparalleled, whether it’s trendy Melrose Place, La Jolla, or the strand in Venice Beach; and of course it’s home to Hollywood, and, yes, movie stars. Whether northern, southern, or coastal locations, traveling nurses return to California time and again.

WASHINGTON – The Evergreen State boasts the gorgeous Pacific Ocean, the Cascade Mountains, desert experiences, rain forests, towering volcanoes, glaciers, and lush wine country. Washington State rates high on the list of many nurse travelers. Must-sees are the Space Needle and Coulee Dam. The culture here is incredibly diverse; sophisticated, outdoorsy, and loaded with resorts, history, parks, museums, and botanical gardens. Whether touring downtown Seattle for cozy antique and book stores, exploring ancient Indian grounds, or hiking and biking mountains or trails, Washington holds a strong allure for many nurse travelers.

SOUTH CAROLINA – Endless adventure, excitement, fun and exploration represent why South Carolina is always a favorite destination for travel nurses. America’s oldest landscaped gardens frame mansions rife with historical heritage, in addition to pristine beaches and legendary marshy wetlands. For all you golfers, with over 330 golf courses, there’s always a new place to swing your clubs. But what fascinates many traveling nurses is the rich heritage in which South Carolina has paved the roads of culture, art, and folklore in our past. You can visit several historical areas and discovery centers of American history, including the American Revolution and the Civil War.

COLORADO – World-class winter skiing and summer music festivals in the mountains are just two reasons that nurses love traveling to Colorado. Boasting four spectacular seasons, Colorado is where travel nurses get to explore the state’s 18 million acres of state and national parks, forests, and monuments for biking, hiking, fishing, mountain climbing, and kayaking, to name a few. Colorado has many cultural treasures, including ancient Native American sites and dinosaur fossil exhibits, historic ghost towns, and even award-winning vineyards in Grand Junction. And for those who enjoy city life, amid all this natural beauty lie wonderful metropolitan areas like Denver and Boulder, full of shopping, performing arts, and professional sports.

TENNESSEE – From energetic nights of blues on Beale Street, to gorgeous rolling acres of Tennessee Walker horse country, to peaceful Smoky Mountain sunsets, Tennessee is a vacation that offers many world-renowned attractions. Nurse travelers who visit Tennessee will find that they’re within a day’s drive of 75-percent of the U.S. population via quality interstates and highways. Attractions in Tennessee include the Jack Daniels’ distillery, Elvis’s Graceland, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and lots of southern hospitality. And don’t forget the crown jewel of the southern Appalachians, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

ARIZONA – If you adore the outdoors, then the Grand Canyon State might just be for you. The nurses who go there just rave about Arizona’s landscape which takes in tall mountain ranges, swift rivers, grasslands, sand dunes, and cactus forests all set against a beautiful sky that glows pink in the sunset. The traveler nurses who enjoy history will find plenty of it here, including Old West reformations, Native American nations, and Spanish-influenced areas all in one state. Arizona is also home to the nation’s greatest golf courses, resorts, spas, cabins, and ranches.

As you can see, limitless possibilities exist for those nurses who want travel, fun, and adventure to be part of their daily lives. If you’re a nurse who travels and it's time for you to move on to a new location, try one of these top travel nursing destinations and see what new experiences lie ahead.

Yes, You Too Can Take A Vacation

2006-11-03T21:49:00.000-08:00

Surveys are interesting. I took note of this one done recently by American Express because it backed up some data I learned at the (National Association of Female Executives) NAFE National Conference in May. According to the survey, 40% of the smallest business owners - those with less than $200,000 in annual revenues - are planning no vacation whatsoever this summer. But even business owners with higher revenues aren't doing much better - only 75% of them expect to get away from the business this summer.

As we were told at the NAFE Conference, even those business owners who do get away from the office, won't truly get away. Rather, one in three will link their vacation time to a business trip and 50% will still check in with the office at least once a day.

Why can't business owners let go? What are the concerns that keep them tied to the business? According to the survey:

* An important client or customer will not receive appropriate service
* The business will miss out on a new opportunity
* There is no other competent person to leave in charge
* The individuals left in charge will make the wrong decisions
* An operational or equipment breakdown will occur without anyone to solve the problem

Such concerns are not surprising. It is hard for a business owner to take any type of vacation worry-free. But with planning, preparation and good leadership you can boost the enjoyment level of your time off to come back refreshed and ready to tackle new challenges and opportunities. Here are 8 steps to prevent vacation angst.

1. Make a plan - To avoid surprises, create a list of scenarios on your current projects and brief your staff on the possibilities and your major concerns about each client. Assign specific staff to each client/account so there is someone that clients can speak to who understands their concerns when you aren't there.

2. Brief your key clients or customers - Offer them advance notice of any extended absence you are planning. There's no reason to keep your vacation schedule a secret. Introduce them to your deputy and convey your confidence in their ability to handle any issues that may arise. If appropriate, consider letting them know how to reach you should a true emergency arise - not that one will because of all your pre-planning.

3. Leadership is being a delegator not a dictator - If you never delegate important tasks to others, you can't expect them to be ready to fill your shoes when you want to take time off. To create a saner situation and build confidence that good things will happen when you aren't there, learn to delegate responsibilities - divvy up those pieces that must still happen in your absence and postpone those that can wait for your return.

4. Strategically schedule your vacation time - Most businesses have a slow season or times of the year when the pace is slower, or at least a bit less crazy. Plan your vacations to coincide with those lulls.

5. Mini-Vacations - If you just can't let go of the business for a whole week or two, or you can't bear to be too far away from the office, try taking a few days out of town, or extend a weekend somewhere else. Even a brief escape from routine with a change of scenery can do wonders for your perspective and re-energize you.

6. Disconnect entirely - When you do take a vacation: turn off your cell phone, don't bring the laptop, don't check your email, don't bring work with you and avoid the temptation to call or visit the office to "check up" on what's happening. If there's an emergency they can't handle, they will find you.

7. Take time off to sharpen skills - If you just can't justify taking time off to kick back and relax, then take time off to learn something new - business or personal. Taking continuing education courses at a local college or business school is a low-cost and effective way to break from your office routine, be with new people and try new things. Some programs are 3-5 days off-site if that fits your schedule better.

8. Keep your priorities straight - When you go through the exercise of listing the things you really care about, is your business really #1, 2, and 3? Outside of work, your priorities might be connecting with family and friends, spending time with kids, cultivating personal interests, staying healthy or pursuing an avocation. To regain balance in your life, you need to keep work, family and personal time in perspective. Those other priorities help you find more enjoyment in your time away from the business.

Let me know if these tips help you take a well-deserved vacation (or two) this summer.

Ajanta Ellora Tour

2006-11-02T00:18:00.000-08:00

If you wish to have the wish to experience the flavor of ancient Indian culture you must visit Ajanta Ellora. For this you better opt for Ajanta Ellora tour package in India. The amazing chasm pictures and crafts of those days will make you mad.

Arrive at Mumbai International airport and have your Breakfast at the hotel. Morning is at time off for own actions like swimming, etc. Lunch is served at the hotel. Now you mentally prepare yourself for the forthcoming India cultural tourism as to Ajanta Ellora.

After Breakfast, one hour boat ride across Mumbai quay brings you to the verdant green Elephanta Island where you start experiencing the cultural tourism India package of Ajanta Elllora. Here, visit some of the massive and intricately engraved Elephanta Caves that date back to the 8th century.

For rows of gigantic columns cut into solid rock from three Bravura Boulevard, lead to the wonderful three-headed sculpture representing Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. Devoted to Shiva, the beauty and power of these phenomenal statuettes depicting the different manifestations of Shiva is uncontrollable. You feel like as you are one of those exquisite ancient “engineers”. There are many organizations that arrange such cultural travel India.

After breakfast go out for a full day trip of Ajanta Caves & Ellora Caves. Ajanta Caves - situated 100kms a 2½ hour drive, and northeast of Aurangabad in the Waghora dell. These splendid rock-cut caves, 30 in number, date from 2nd BC to 7th Century AD. They are completely Buddhist, exceptional in that they mingle three forms of Art - architecture, sculpture and painting. You can consider it as a heritage tour India. The fabulous frescoes and paintings describe episodes from the Jataka stories and the life of Lord Buddha. So, in Ajanta Ellora adventure tour you get taste of both the history and cultural of ancient India. Thus you have a learning experience from this particular India culture tourism package i.e. Ajanta Ellora cultural tourism package.
Early morning shift to the airport for Mumbai.

About Author

Maria visited most of the touring places in India including Ajanta Ellora, she found them best touring places through out the World,
Pls visit at: http://www.allindiatourpackages.com/culture-tours-india/ajanta-ellora-tour.html

Source: ArticleTrader.com

Outdoor Activities Available In Denver

2006-11-02T00:17:00.000-08:00

The city of Denver is also the city of outdoors and adventure. The pleasantly warm climate can change at any moment. Therefore, it is always advisable to keep your sweaters or jackets at arms length, wherever you go. It is also to be noted that though it snows at unexpected moments, you can find snow melting away in no time. You will enjoy the climate at the Rocky Mountains beyond the plains. So leave your Denver hotel and get out there to enjoy it.

Activities like bicycling, trekking, hiking, rock climbing, horse riding, camping, canoeing, boating, kayaking, rafting, skiing, fishing, ice fishing, fly fishing, snow mobiles, dirt biking, jet skiing, etc are some of the activities you can pursue while in Denver. The places to look for are Dillon Reservoir, Gross Reservoir, High Line Canal, Eleven Mile Reservoir, Williams Fork Reservoir and Waterton Canyon. Dillon reservoir is known for boat camping. Hunting is prohibited in Denver, but you can go hunting to adjacent state and federal property.

I am not that adventurous; do I have some thing in Denver? Hey, did you ask that question? OK, I will let you know other activities available in Denver too. Are you a lover of the past? Then you can go to different museums in Denver.

The main museums in Denver are:

Buffalo Bill Museum
Colorado Historical Society Museum (see here how Colorado looked 3 million years ago)
Denver Art Museum (a treasure-trove of American Indian and Spanish Art)
Museo de las Americas (learn about the art, life and culture of Latinos in America)
Denver Firefighters' Museum
Colorado Railroad Museum
Denver Children's Museum (designed for children up to age of 8)
Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and
Molly Brown House ("unsinkable" lady millionaire Molly Brown's home - memoirs of Victorian era in Denver)
The Denver Art Museum has just reopened in a stunning new building- an architectural masterpiece.

Advance reserve a trip to Denver mint to have a look at the processes of coin minting. Enjoy dance, theater performance, and enjoy shopping at Denver Pavilion in Sixteenth Street Mall or Larimer Square.

Denver zoo, always filled with some exotic wild animals is another place you can enjoy. You can take a ocean journey at the marine sciences center, where you will find fauna from the depths of the Pacific Ocean.

If you are an ardent fan of artworks, go to the different art galleries of LoDo Historic District. Lower Downtown (LoDo) is also known for its restaurants and shopping centers. Red Rocks Amphitheater is a natural amphitheater, where you can enjoy some summer concerts. LoDo is also a place where you can find many Denver Hotels.

Do you plan a full day playing with roller coasters and water theme games? Six Flags Elitch Gardens is the place to go. Here there is lots of fun for families and singles alike.

Are you in the mood of spoiling your taste buds? You can hit more than a few hundred restaurants serving Italian, Chinese, continental, Indian, culinary delicacies. Most restaurants have an informal setup while some are formal, where you need to observe certain dress code.

Getting around in Denver is not a major hassle as it is in many big cities. Denver is a warm hospitable city. It also gives you a tranquilizing country life experience. Accomodation is available at a wide range of Denver hotels.

About Author

A Lennon is a Denver hotel owner. His property can be viewed at www.bestwesterndenver.com

Source: ArticleTrader.com

Holiday Destinations - The City of Kalamata, Messinia, Greece

2006-11-02T00:14:00.000-08:00

The Prefecture of Messinia

Messinia lays on the southern part of mainland Greece, now divided from the mainland by the Corinth Canal. The peninsula hosts some of the most important and impressive ancient sites in Greece. It has a warm winter, it’s not too hot in summer and boasts some of the best and cleanest beaches in the whole of Greece. Even in the height of the summer holiday season there are no more than a handful of people to be seen on them.

The mountain landscape of the Messinian Mani is simple stunning and is dominated by Taygetos, one of the largest mountain ranges in the Peloponnese. Whereas the Messinian peninsular has rolling hills and fertile valleys considered to be the market garden and wine centre of Greece.

Messinia is an ideal place to relax and go for walks. Wander off the beaten track into the old hill towns and discover the true beauty of the region. A world apart from the islands, the beautiful and sparsely populated the Peloponnese is a bastion of disappearing Greek village life. The rural villages in this area are beautifully authentic, traditional and spread out. The local villagers are friendly and welcoming, often plying new tourists with gifts of wine and oranges.

The City of Kalamata

Kalamata is positioned at the head of the crystal clear Messinian Bay, between the Mani and Messini peninsulas and Sparta to the north. This makes Kalamata an ideal base from which to explore the beauty of the surrounding areas. The capital and chief port of Messinia, Kalamata is the land of the Kalamatianos dance and the silk kerchief. Of succulent black olives, honeyed figs and the sesame-covered sweet called pastelli, which can all be sampled at the immense new market near the bus station. Kalamata market is a collection of meats, cheese, and fruit shops as well as a daily farmers market

Kalamata has three districts; the seafront, the residential quarter with its strict grid plan and the old town with its wandering narrow streets. The seafront has all the attributes of a resort: hotels, cafes restaurants, ice cream parlours and bars, but it is fairly low key compared to other towns. The beach is clean and the water is clear and safe for swimming in. Another lovely attraction is the train park at the end of Aristomemous street. It has shady trees, cafes, a performance area, a duck pound, and ice cream parlour in the converted station. Antique trains are displayed on the tracks. Just off the water front is the Kalamata School of Fine Arts which exhibits the work of Greek Artists. The residential quarter was rebuilt after the 1986 earthquake that killed 20 people and left 12,000 homeless

The charming old town is dominated by the 13th century Frankish fortress built by Geoffrey de Villehardouin which rises above Kalamata. On the north side of the citadel there is a small Byzantine church, dedicated to the Virgin of Kalomata (of the good eye), from which the town may have acquired its name.

From the fortress you can survey the expanse of sea below with its sandy and pebbly shores or turn your gaze upon the deep green plain, the "happy land" of the ancients.

The old city with its busy streets and shops reaches out underneath the fortress. Here you will find the Byzantine church of the Virgin Ypapanti and the convent of the Kalograies, where the nuns are famous for weaving and embroidering the Kalamata silks.

There are many churches in town, the oldest being the historic church of Agii Apostoli (13th c.), where the Greek Revolution against the Turks was formally declared on March 23, 1821. And the Benaki Museum displays the archaeological remains from the War of Independence. It also presents a small collection of folklore and fine art exhibits and a library containing 60.000 volumes.

Every summer cultural events like concerts featuring jazz, rock and classical Greek plays put on by the Kalamata theatre are held in the amphitheatre of the fortress. In the evening, the town comes alive, especially along the waterfront which is lined with tavernas, seafood restaurants and rotisseries serving local dishes and drinks, fresh fish, roast suckling pig and chicken, sausages, cheese, olives, retsina and ralki.

Other Useful Information

 Tourist office in Southern Peloponnese 9699500
 Main language/s Greek
 To dial from Southern Peloponnese call 00
 To call to Southern Peloponnese dial 30
 Emergency phone number/s
 British Embassy: (1) 723 6211 Police: 100 Fire: 199 Tourist Police: 171 Auto road assistance - ELPA: 104 Auto road assistance – Express, hospital 0721-85203/25555
 Lost travellers cheques: Thomas Cook: 00-800-4412-8366
 Lost credit cards: Mastercard freephone number: 00-800-11-887-0303 VISA: call collect 24 hours a day 410 581 9994
 Electricity supply 220V, 50Hz
Food: There's a predictably wide choice of seafood and the ouzo is cheap and very good.

Nightlife: The nightlife in Peloponnese resorts tends to be low key and centered around a few bars and clubs, though some tavernas have live music. The emphasis in this area is concentrated on good company and wine.

Shopping: Local arts and crafts, wine and clothes are good buys.

Days out: Hire a boat for a trip around the Messinian Gulf, or rent a car and travel around the Messinia peninsular
Events: Arrange to watch a show at the internationally acclaimed Kalamata Dance Festival, held every summer at the Kalamata Castle, above the town. Check local tourist information. Or for further information call (UK) +44 (020) 7734 5997.

Travel Information

How to get to Messinia

Kalamata airport is served by charter flights from the UK, currently on Sundays, from Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and East Midlands. Alternatively you can fly to Athens and take an air-conditioned coach to Kalamata (four hours).

The drive from the south of England to here takes about four days with ferry from Ancona to Patras being the easiest. A great drive!

Travel Suggestions

There are many different website and discount travel companies who offer cheap charter flights. You can simply type “charter flights to Kalamata” into a search engine on the website or try some of the sites or companies listed below. The charter flights run from beginning of May to mid October and go from Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and East Midlands.

Scheduled flights to Athens go mainly from Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton although there are flights from many regional airports (mainly with British Airways). You can book online at their website www.ba.com and they often have competitive fares. www.easyjet.com is also often very competitive with fares from Luton and Gatwick. Olympic airlines are also very good and you can book direct with them at ww.olympicairlines.com

To give you an idea of cost for travel midsummer, a return charter flight from Gatwick to Kalamata averages £230. A return flight on Easyjet to Athens is around £140. A scheduled return flight to Athens on British Airways averages £170. Prices do vary, dependent on how much in advance you book and the time of year you travel. Bargains are often available!

Buses: Buses from Athens to Kalamata run every hour in the mornings and every 2 hours in the afternoon, costing approx. €15 one way.

Car Hire: It is possible to book car hire in advance which may be collected at either Kalamata airport or Athens airport.

Taxis: There are always numerous taxis waiting at Kalamata airport and Athens airport to take you to your holiday accommodation. Taxis from Athens cost approx. €70 from Athens to Kalamata (although you may have to share with other people.

Train: The train station is at the west end of town, between the fortress and the waterfront. Five trains a day to Athens. Three a day to Patra. 0721-23904

Companies to try for competitive priced flights:

www.flycheapuk.com
www.go-nowtravel.com
www.wecanbookit.com
www.greektourismtravel.co.uk
www.mytravellite.com
www.lastminute.com
www.cheapflights.co.uk
www.charterflights.co.uk
www.skydeals.co.uk (tel: 0800 298 0912)
Argo Holidays 0870 0667070

The Greek National Tourism Organisation has a website with useful information: www.gnto.gr

For further information about Messina follow the link http://Blog.r-and-c-pms.biz

About Our Company

R & C Property Management Services can help you look for the prefect holiday rental accommodation for your dream holiday in Messinia, Greece. We have a selection of holiday rentals in the Kalamata area. To view our website for further information click the following link. http://r-and-c-pms.biz/

About Author

Claire May is the owner of R & C Property Management Services which offers full property management and real estate services including; building maintenance and renovations. We can care for your holiday home and for your holiday guests. Or simply find you a property to rent for your holiday. For more details about our services look at our website. http://r-and-c-pms.biz.html

Source: ArticleTrader.com

Malta Tourism In Freefall

2006-11-02T00:12:00.000-08:00

Tourism figures just released show a fall in the number of visitors to Malta for the first six months of 2006 compared to the same period last year, adding pressure to the Malta government to secure a deal to allow low cost airlines to fly to the Mediterranean island to reverse the trend.

The fall of 2.4 per cent of visitors included a decrease in the important British, French and German markets, but a welcome increase in Italian tourists.

Commenting on the news one local travel guide said 'if it hadn't been for the increase in visitors from Italy it would have been far worse. The UK, Germany and France still account for nearly two in three holidaymakers coming to Malta, and if these markets decline further the island will become less and less attractive to the tour operators to promote'.

Rumours in the island's tourism industry earlier this year suggested that one of the major UK tour operators was considering pulling Malta out of their holiday brochures, which could have led to others taking the same action, but so far these rumours have not become reality. If they were to it would have a major impact on Malta's economy.

Unemployment is running at over 8 per cent in Malta, and tourism is a major industry and employer.

The Malta hotel industry was particularly badly affected by the drop of visitors for January to June, with a near three per cent drop compared to 2006.
Malta Holidays

The Malta travel guide also commented on the delay in the introduction of low cost airlines to Malta and the possibility from that of an increase in tourist numbers.

With worrying signs that the number of tourists for the whole of 2006 visiting Malta could be similar, or perhaps even down from 2005, the opportunity for the island to have low cost flights operating from the UK appears to have slipped by for the all important summer season.

The island's official airline, Air Malta, reported a drop of over two per cent in the number of passengers it carried in the year from March 2005 to March 2006.

The hope among hoteliers and others involved in the Malta accommodation trade is that at least one of the low cost airlines will start operating from the UK and perhaps other parts of Europe in the near future to boost visitor numbers.

'With the holiday market vital to the Malta economy,' comment the guide, 'potentially millions in lost revenue will be lost this year because of delays in agreeing to allow the low cost airlines to fly into Malta. In today's world Malta has to compete with new destinations in Europe as well as Spain and her islands. Cheap Malta flights aren't in themselves enough to sustain tourism at reasonable levels anymore, although this will be welcome, but the trick of sustained tourism is to have repeat business, and unless Malta attracts new first time visitors then repeat business is an impossibility'.

About Author

For a Malta map and a seven day forecast for the Malta weather visit YourMalta.com

Source: ArticleTrader.com

Going For Vacation To Mexico While On A Budget

2006-10-30T20:39:00.000-08:00

If are planning a trip to Mexico, but you have a budget in mind, then you will be glad to know that visiting Mexico while on a budget is possible. There are many ways to save money through package deals, low-cost airfare, discount accommodations, dining out, and traveling within the country.

Mexico is known for its beautiful beaches, rich culture, and fabulous cruises. Even while on a budget, these activities can all be enjoyed during your visit. So no matter what your financial situation is, you will be pleased to discover that planning a vacation to Mexico is affordable for just about anyone.

Saving on airfare is the first way to begin planning a vacation to Mexico while on a budget. There are many different packages available. With the help of the internet, finding a great deal is often simple and easy. Depending on your location, you may also be surprised to discover that your own local travel agent may have vacation packages that include airfare, as well as your accommodations.

Accommodations are a necessity when visiting Mexico. If you are staying with friends or family then you will automatically save money. However, if you need to make arrangements for your housing, then you may find that a package deal is most beneficial to those on a budget. There are other means of inexpensive housing, such as camping, but if you are looking for a hotel environment, then look for one with a package deal. A travel package can save you a considerable amount of money, so shop around and find the best deals that fit your needs.

Restaurants and eating out can be expensive, especially in trendy nightclubs and other famous resorts. However, if you are traveling to Mexico on a budget, you can spend wisely and eat delicious foods while remaining on your budget. You can take advantage of the many outdoor street markets and save. The food is great, delicious, and a true taste of Mexican culture; not to mention, it is also easy on your pocketbook.

Shopping in grocery stores is another way to save money while visiting Mexico. By eating the local produce, you will save money and have more to enjoy for your other vacation expenses. It is important to note that you should treat any fruit and produce that you buy as food that requires care. Make sure to peel and wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them and practice safe handling instructions for all food.

Transportation is another area where you can save money and remain within your targeted financial plan. Mexico buses are a very cheap way to travel. If you need information regarding bus schedules, times, and whether or not you will need a ticket, check with locals during your stay. However, as a safety precaution, you are encouraged not to ride in any taxis that haven't been prearranged through either the airport or your resort.

When it comes to transportation, you can also save money by taking a bus, rather than an airplane, into Mexico. Some major bus lines, such as Greyhound, will take you straight into Mexico. This is an affordable way to save money and plan your vacation as well.

Planning a Mexico vacation on a budget may seem difficult to do, but you may soon realize that there is a lot of assistance available. With careful planning, and sticking to your budget, you can enjoy a wonderful vacation in Mexico.

The Things You'd Be Celebrating When You Travel Australia

2006-10-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

It's not a secret anymore that Australia is a hodgepodge of countries and culture. Blame it on the inviting and alluring appeal of the Land Down Under, or blame it even on the very democratic Australian visa system. Whatever it is, Australia enjoys a rich tapestry of culture and breathtaking kaleidoscope of people from all walks of life. Australia is indeed a sweet melting pot, and this is especially evident during festivals and holidays. In fact, even if you travel Australia entirely, you'd be surprised that a year isn't enough for you to participate in everything. In Australia, the whole year round is peppered with colorful festivals and frenzied celebrations that each country has brought along with them.

The Chinese New Year, for one, is a fiery explosion of bursting dragons and dancing fireworks, whereas Laotian Buddhists celebrate amidst a shower of flowers and restless gongs. Even the Greeks and the Brits have their own awesome festivals to share, and for that matter, every other nation that travel Australia and settle there makes Australia one bit more colorful than it already is with their smörgåsbord festivities.

Of course, Australia too has its own distinct gamut of festivals, from the artistic (like the Adelaide Festival of Arts or the Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures), to something as petty as brick-throwing contests, which just goes to show that Aussies are the most fun-loving, outdoorsy people there ever was. For the Australian flavor of the Mardi Gras, there's even Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras every February, flocked by tourist from all over the world.

Even when the calendar isn't busy and bustling with festivals and parties, you'll find out soon enough that to travel Australia is to lose track of time and to plunge into the world.

National Visas
E-mail: webmaster@nationalvisas.com.au
Address: 3/118 Church Street
Hawthorn, Victoria
Australia 3122
Phone: +61(0) 3 9697 4922
Fax: +61 (0) 3 9815 1544

About The Author:
A writer for an online firm specializing in search engine optimization. A vegetarian and sleepwalking poet, he dreams of the day people will stop hating each other.

How Can I Take Ski Vacations And Not Go Broke Doing It?

2006-10-19T01:24:00.000-07:00

When we think of ski vacations, we think of expensive trips with lots of added items on the side. So, we usually don't go. But if we could afford it - why not? There are some basic shortcuts we can use in order to have a wonderful time, doing something that is different and fun, without costing a small fortune.

One of the main expenses are clothing, boots, gloves, or skis. What we don't think about is the ones people have packed away as they either outgrew them, or didn't ski anymore. These can be family members, or even going to second-hand clothing stores. After all, we don't have to have brand-new outfits to wear once a year, do we? Thrift shops, garage sales, attics, and so on - look everywhere you can to save money for the trip. The only time this may not work is if the buy is for children - who grow like crazy. If you buy them an outfit, plan on booking a ski vacation soon. Also, remember there are always discounts for children or they can get in free, especially if the family has never went skiing before. Many ski resorts will cater to you then, as they want you to return. Special offers are usually always available for children, so check this out online.

By joining a ski club, as the small cost to join will be offset, with discounts on trips, lower to cost ski lessons, non-ski promotions, and health club markdowns. Try to join a local one, or choose a low-key ski resort with lower prices and more one-on-one for training or working with beginners. This doesn't mean that these resorts won't provide you with a fun vacation - it simply means that they aren't quite as well known as other resorts, and therefore, the prices may be a great deal cheaper. Also look for ski vacation packages that will include your lodging, lift tickets, lessons, rentals, and possibly even some meals from them also.

Because most ski resorts want booking six to eight months in advance, you have time to make some sacrifices if money is a real issue. For instance, instead of eating in an expensive restaurant each night, eat cheaper fast food, or make sandwiches in your room, while putting the money saved into a jar marked for skiing.

Other ideas are to borrow equipment from friends instead of renting it. Or join a group for lessons instead of taking private lessons - splitting the fee. Don't stay at a lodge, stay at a motel farther away from the slopes if necessary. There are numerous ways that you can cut down on the expense of your ski trip. It is all about the powder after all!

About The Author:

Check out http://www.winter-sportz.com/ for more articles on cheap ski vacations and indoor ski areas.

Okanagan Mountain Range Ski Vacations - The Perfect Winter Destination

2006-10-19T01:16:00.000-07:00

Gently nestled between world-class ski resorts, the Okanagan provides an alternative to the "big ski resorts". A small lift line, powder skiing, and moderate winter weather, combined with heli-skiing and snow-cat lodges, offers a personal guided and backcountry skiing experience. Snowboarding is also available for the dedicated winter sports fanatics. The area is full of natural beauty, many historical sites, and every level of recreational levels. This area is not only a winter area to enjoy but also a summer recreations area. Things to enjoy would be swimming, fishing, hiking, and sailing on one of the four lakes: Okanagan Lake, Wood Lake, Duck Lake, and Kalamalka Lake.

The Okanagan is located in southern British Columbia of western Canada, consisting of mountains and valleys, with many visiitors visiting the "Okanagan Canada's Fruit Basket" of orchards and vineyards. It is also called the "Apple Capital of Candada". During the winter, its mild winter temperatures and snowy terrain, combined with its natural beauty, makes the Okanagan the perfect winter destination.

There are several small resorts that are scattered throughout the area, with Champagne and Okahagan providing untracked powder - fresh, light and deep snow available for fresh tracks, arriving from the moist air of the Pacific Ocean. The Okanagan has some of the most consistent and comfortable winter conditions in all of Canada. Temperatures average around 0 degrees, which maintains the snow for winter fanatics and skiing enthusiasts. Very rarely does the northern weather systems with its frigid temperatures enter this area.

Some of the region's major ski centers are Apex Mountain Resort, Big White Ski Resort, Mount Baldy Ski Area, Silver Star Mountain, and Sun Peaks Resort. Thompson Okanagan, in the center of British Columbia's interior, offers sight-seeing to those who are interested - golf, ski, horseback ride, visit historical sites, and visiting a winery, are just a few of the events offered. The mountain ranges of Okanagan offer different trails and skill levels, but most of all they provide you with the skiing vacation of your dreams. The Apex Mountain Resort Vacation Rentals is a ski village with a wild-west theme. This ski resort is in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia that has very small skiing line-ups. Another fun place to go is the Big White Ski Resort Chalet Rentals, British Columbia's second largest ski resort near Penticton, Big White Ski Resort, and Silver Bowl Resort. This is the pride of British Columbia's snow rich Okanagan Valley, with some of the biggest and best snowfalls available to worldwide ski resorts.

An excellent place to eat is the Gray Monk winery, known as the "Gray Monk Estate & Grapevine Restaurant, open for tastings and also a wonderful restaurant. Neatly planted vineyards sloping toward the shore of Lake Okanagan gives the place its name and value. Fine vintage wines reflect the blend of art, science and consistent skills. Four generations on the land, the Heiss family welcomes company to share their wine, and share their etched copper doors and wood carvings at the entry, suggesting more elegance to come.

Visit Canyon Lake, Texas, A World Of Wonderful Landscapes And Scintillating Activities

2006-10-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

Originally developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers to provide flood control and water conservation, Canyon Lake, Texas today offers recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. A reservoir located on the Guadalupe River, Canyon Lake is hidden among the lush greenery of Texas Country and currently consists of eight park areas suitable for camping, picnics, hiking and many more fun outdoor activities. Furthermore, visitors to Canyon Lake can enjoy a variety of water sports like boating, sailing, kayaking and even fishing, as the Guadalupe River is a fantastic location for all these activities. Rental equipment is even readily available, so you can participate in various different activities on your trip to Canyon Lake.

If active leisure pursuits are not your style, you can also enjoy the beautiful, peaceful surroundings of Canyon Lake by taking a scenic drive around its perimeter. There are also countless photo opportunities, so you'll be able to keep photographic mementos of your trip to Canyon Lake. And if your visit to Canyon Lake is going to be a short one, a drive around the lake is a great way to see a multitude of areas around the reservoir.

Whether you're on a holiday with your family or a group of friends, Canyon Lake provides the perfect recreational facility to turn a potentially good holiday into a great one. Canyon Lake caters to a diversity of interests, from active outdoor hobbies to peaceful, relaxing landscapes. Furthermore, there are excellent recreational facilities located around the Lake, such as Wonder World Park, where visitors can explore a wildlife park, various caves and the stunning San Marcos River.

If you're a seasoned camper, you'll be pleased to know that Canyon Lake offers a range of great camping grounds. However, if you're more accustomed to indoor comforts, there are a number of terrific accommodation options to choose from; Hilton hotels, for example, has hotels in Austin and San Antonio, both of which are within 40 miles from Canyon Lake.

Whatever your requirements, Canyon Lake possesses the makings of a fabulous holiday for you, your family and your friends. Whether you're visiting for a week or a weekend, Canyon Lake has plenty to offer, from its breathtaking surrounding landscapes to its popular recreational activities; and it always guarantees to deliver a life-changing holiday experience in the heart of Texas.

About The Author:
Richard lives in Edinburgh, is a keen writer on a variety of subjects, and is the main contributor to the personal finance blog Cashzilla

Double your Excitement At Orlando with Vacation Rental Villas

2006-10-18T11:45:00.000-07:00

Orlando is regarded as the favorite tourist holidaying destination. There are almost around 90 places which attract the tourists. Some of them are Disney world, universal studios, Kennedy space center, Busch gardens, Magic kingdom and many other places. It is definitely sure that you will get tired after such an excited and adventurous day and then you will spend your precious time in locating such place where there is no one to disturb you and above that you can feel as your home. One of such place is Orlando vacation rental villas.

Orlando vacation rental villas have been designed in such a way that it doesn't let you feel that you are away from your home. Rather it provides such a homely environment that you will definitely feel as if you live there since number of years. Orlando vacation rental villas are available in different sizes, location and price tags. It is totally discretionary that which location and size of vacation rental villa you choose.

Orlando vacation rental villa offers all the amenities which are available in your own house such as washer, dryer, phone, computer, internet, bedrooms, living room, refrigerator and the most important fully furnished kitchen. Kitchens in vacation rental villas contains all the stuffs from utensils to other food stuff which are needed for cooking so that you can cook for your family, friends and your partner. Some of the Orlando vacation rental villas also provide outdoor grills so that you can enjoy your food by taking the beautiful view outdoor.

You may think that there are other places also to accommodate then why not there? The reason as to why Orlando vacation rental villas are recommended is just because they are less expensive than any other accommodation. Not only, the cost factor which matters rather other factors such privacy and is spacious than any other place of accommodation.

There are numbers of sources available through which you can book your Orlando vacation rental villa either from any traveling agencies or directly from the owner of the villa. Booking directly through owner is cheaper as compared to the booking through a traveling agency. As, if you book an Orlando vacation rental villa from a traveling agency, then, they also include their commission in the deal which subsequently increases the cost of booking.

Lastly, before booking a villa just put an eye on your budget and number of people who will stay in Orlando vacation rental villa, so that you can book accordingly.

Magazines For The Traveler

2006-10-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving (Lao Tzu, Chinese traveler). Now whether you want to do a spot of armchair traveling, or plan a family trip, or even catch up on your knowledge of world geography and culture, then you must be a subscriber to at least one travel magazine. Many people fall in the first category, and they have more knowledge than most frequent flyers. Take Herge, for example, the man who created Tintin. He never set foot out of his country his entire life, but he sent Tintin everywhere. And how did he know where to send him? Armchair traveling to the rescue!

Not all of us are minting money, and we would want to know how to make a weekend worthwhile, beyond the neighbor's Sunday barbeque, or a visit to the grandparents. Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine is, then, for you. It lists the hottest spots, resorts and tourist attractions, worldwide. And yes, these places are accessible to the most penny-wise traveler.

The US of A is a marvelous country. There is plenty to see and it has the best roads possible. If you missed out on a road trip during your college days, we suggest you subscribe to the American Road Magazine. This magazine will give you the history of America's historic highways, and the events and the people associated with them.

Does your business often require you to travel? Are you the type who has a collection of overnight attaches? There is one magazine dedicated entirely to many business people is the Business Traveler Magazine. The articles in this magazine will not waste your time with tempting offers and vacation ideas, but will give you the update on the most feasible business offers in resorts and hotels, so that you can plan your out-of-town seminars or business lunches without running into holidaying families or relatives.

What if you are not willing to while away your time even when you are abroad? Do you believe that the only way you can learn about the culture of another country is by living the way the natives do, even if it is for two weeks? Then Transitions Abroad Magazine is the periodical for you. It has information on vacation jobs, accommodation, voluntary work, as well as living with local families.

However, if all you want is a luxurious vacation, and you can afford it, then the Cruise Travel Magazine is your guide. It may just have some affordable prices listed for a short cruise. Itineraries and ports-of-call are listed here, and you can look forward to a great time without any worries. Just plan like they tell you to.

If you are a serious travel magazine buff, then your month is incomplete without the most revered National Geographic Traveler Magazine. This is the magazine that teaches you the art of traveling, with its fascinating stories from across the globe. No trip to Europe or the Bahamas is complete without prior advice from National Geographic.

And if you want to really live it up, and add excitement and adventure to your holiday, then the National Geographic Adventure Magazine is for you. You can live vicariously as a biker, cross-countries across Australia, or as a team of college footballers climb the Everest.

Hawaiian Cruise Guide

2006-10-15T20:26:00.000-07:00

Experiencing an Hawaiian cruise is a dream come true for many people around the world. Very few travel adventures can live up to the thrill of sailing out into the depths of the Pacific Ocean on a luxury cruise liner in search of a paradise that is Hawaii and her neighboring islands. And what a paradise it is too!

Golden sunsets, sun-drenched sands and palm trees swaying in the warm gentle breeze await all who take a Hawaiian cruise. Is there anything on Earth that could rival sipping your favorite poison while watching the sun dip down below a watery horizon - all to the gentle sound of wavelets breaking on the golden sands of Hawaii? For many, this is paradise found!

For U.S. and Canadian citizens, Hawaii cruises depart from numerous seaports along the west coast of North America. Vancouver, Seattle and San Diego are the main ports of departure to Hawaii, although several of the other ports up and down the coastline offer cruise services to Hawaii too.

Hawaiian cruise vacations normally comprise of a round-trip of 15-18 days and take in Hawaii and one or two ports on the other islands in the group. One-way cruises can also be booked where passengers opt to fly back home from Hawaii. Many companies also offer extended Hawaiian cruise vacations of 25-30 days or more. These extended cruises are an excellent choice for those wishing to experience a more intense adventure in Hawaii and also for those who would like the opportunity to spend some time on the other islands of Maui, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai.

Aside from lazing on the pool deck and soaking up the sun on the beautiful beaches of Hawaii, a Hawaii cruise offers many shore excursions to satisfy even the most restless of vacationers. On the Big Island itself you can turn intrepid adventurer and explore the dormant volcanoes of Mauna Kea or the smaller Kilauea crater. If you don't fancy the hike you can always do a Circle of Fire tour by helicopter.

On the south side of the Big Island near the port of Kona is the Kona Cloud Forest botanical walk. You can also enjoy many varied types of watersports here, as well as taking a passenger submarine down to explore the 25 acres of coral reef in the vicinity.

Further afield, a Hawaii cruise lets you relive the drama of Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, as well as providing an opportunity to explore the beautiful city of Honolulu. You can go in search of whales off the shore of Lanai Island, and even head off into the rainforest of Kauai in a 4x4! So, whether you want endless days of relaxation, the ultimate in outdoor adventure or a bit of both, an Hawaiian cruise could be the dream vacation for you.

Taste the Different Flavors of North Carolina with Vacation Rental

2006-10-13T01:20:00.000-07:00

Before we start discussing about North Carolina vacation rental, let's know some facts about North Carolina. North Carolina is situated on the seaboard of the United States and also is the major attraction point for sun seekers and history buff in US. North Carolina approximately have has 600 golf courses which is one of the attraction point for the travelers visiting there. New Bern and Havelock are the major cities of North Carolina, and these cities are basically known for their rich history.

It is generally seen that when an individual visit to places like North Carolina, they usually stays in hotels which are very expensive these days. Above that taking rooms in hotels may not be an apt option for privacy seekers as they are always disturbed by cleaners or any occupant there. But both, the cost and privacy factor is absolutely present in North Carolina vacation rental. Vacation rental at North Carolina can be an apartment, cottage, bungalow or any other accommodation.

North Carolina vacation rental gives one the feeling of home. Vacation rental at North Carolina caters all the amenities which help in making the environment as comfortable as home. The commonly services provided by North Carolina vacation rental are dining room, kitchen, bed rooms, living room etc. It is also right to say it will be the second house outside the home town for the days an individual is holidaying in North Carolina. It is also sure that enjoying North Carolina with vacation rental will make holidaying at North Carolina a memorable journey.

It is always recommended that an individual must plan his holiday in such a manner that it fits in their pocket and budget. And, it is sure that vacation rental will fit in the pocket of an individual but, he will be required to search for the best place, cheap and competitive deal. Due to the advancement in the information technology, this can be done through sitting at home. Only the thing required to search is a computer and internet accessing on it. Many of the traveling agencies arrange tours to North Carolina and also help in locating vacation rentals. All have their different rates but finally that must be finalized which suits the budget. And, lastly an individual must not forget to compare the rates with other offers made to them.

Whether an individual stays at hotel or at vacation rental it totally depends on his decision or as he feels convenient but is always advisable that if he wants a cost effectiveness and comfort while holidaying then North Carolina vacation rental is the best place to accommodate.

Author:
Sylvestor Johnson is offering loan and rental advice for quite some time. He is working as financial consultant for ThinkRentals. To find Apartment rentals, Cabin rentals, North Carolina, Rental homes, Colorado vacation rental, Beach house vacation rentals at cheap rates that best suits your needs visit http://www.thinkrentals.com

Do Your Travel Plans Include Air Ambulance Service?

2006-10-13T01:16:00.000-07:00

If you're planning a trip to a foreign destination, you better add researching air ambulance service onto your list of things to do. This might seem like an odd task at first, but after reading this article, you'll understand why advance planning for air ambulance service makes sense.

Few consider need for an air ambulance

Preparing for the worst is by far the most important reason to research air ambulance or medevac service. People heading off for vacation don't usually consider the possibilities of becoming injured or ill while on vacation. But in fact, this happens all the time and it happens in developed countries as well as those considered underdeveloped.

Suppose you're having a wonderful time out on a Caribbean island, frolicking in the sunshine when something terrible happens. You've slipped and severely injured your head while photographing a pristine waterfall or your breathing apparatus malfunctions while you are scuba diving or some other terrible or life-threatening injury occurs.

Chances are good that you're not going to want to receive your medical treatment at the local medical facility where the equipment, while functional, has not been updated since World War II and the staff at the facility cannot speak your language.

Incidents can happen at sea, too. You've likely heard stories of cruise ships having to cut their journeys short because there's been an outbreak of gastrointestinal virus on board. Those with severe cases may not be able to wait until the cruise ship returns to port. They need to be transported via air ambulance to the nearest well-equipped medical facility as soon as such transportation can be arranged.

If you're traveling abroad and you end up needing an air ambulance charter company, it's quite possible that this type of service is going to cost tens of thousands of dollars. It's true! If your condition is such that you cannot travel via commercial airplane, it's likely you are going to need a fully-equipped air ambulance, complete with medical equipment and trained medical professionals, to get you to the nearest medical facility capable of dealing with your type of injuries or illness.

Travel insurance with air ambulance service

If you're not considering travel insurance because there's no chance you are going to miss your trip, then you aren't fully realizing all that travel insurance has to offer. It will protect you against a cancelled trip, whether you cause the cancellation or something or someone else does.

But travel health insurance is what's going to protect you if you need medical attention while on your trip, or you need air ambulance service to transport you back home fast (or at least to the nearest "Western" medical facility).

If you are older with pre-existing medical conditions, you definitely should consider advance planning for an air ambulance. Depending on your condition, it could take only moments for your health to take a turn for the worst. Planning for an air ambulance makes sense if for no other reason than to provide you with peace of mind.

Author:
Emergency Air Ambulance

Travel Clocks: The Backpacker's Must Have Travel Accessory

2006-10-13T01:02:00.000-07:00

When you're traveling to another country there's nothing like a few comforting touches of home. One of the easiest things to slide into your backpack is a travel clock. Before you get your passport stamped, make sure you stop by a travel store or an outdoor sports store to pick up a travel clock. Once you're off on your travels you'll be happy you did.

Now you may be thinking, "I'm going back packing. I'll be on my own time. No schedules, free as a bird!!!" Once you're on the road for a few days you'll learn that this is not the truth to backpacking.

Starting with the beginning of the trip, you'll have to be aware of flight plans and once you get to Europe you'll have a crash course in train schedules. Keeping track of what time it is so you can make it to your next destination becomes a part of the every day backpacking experience.

The other thing that you may have overlooked are the check-in times for those cheap, but effective hostels that you want to stay in so you can save your money for other, more adventurous things. Most hostels have an early, set time for check in and if you miss that time, you are not only out of time, but also out of luck.

So now that you understand the need for a travel clock on your European vacation, it's time to learn about some of the other bells and whistles available in these little, sleek travel companions. Not only do they keep the time where you are, but many come with world clocks that tell you what time it is anywhere in the world. This will deter the amount of accidental phone calls home to Mom and Dad at 4am when you thought it was 4pm.

Unsure about the currency exchange in Greece? If you've selected the right travel clock, it will come with a quick currency exchange feature. This feature can help you from getting ripped off buying baklava or from paying too little on that shot of Ouzo.

If you're into more rugged travels, consider a weather resistant travel clock that you can attach to your backpack just like a carabineer and carry with you everywhere. It may not have all of the features as stated above, but they're sure to last through your entire trip.

Consider the time and money that can be saved on your next trip by bringing along a travel clock. Choose the one that works for you and get on with the trip!

Author:
John Gibb is the owner of Travel Clock sources , For more information on Travel Clocks check out http://www.Travel-Clocks2k.info

Reasons Why People Choose To Cruise Travel

2006-10-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

Why do people choose to go on cruises, instead of booking a plane flight? One thing that attracts people to these large boats and cruises is the food. Not only does a cruise offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, they also offer midnight buffets, afternoon snack buffets, ice cream bars and 24-hour room service! There is a veritable open bar on food. You can eat casually or formally. You can have a large meal or a small meal. You can eat with hundreds of people or privately. Keep in mind, of course, that the quality of the cruise line determines the quality of the food. Also remember that many of the cruise ships are feeding approximately 2000 people 10 meals per day!

A cruise offers everything you could possibly want from a getaway: entertainment, relaxation, great food, and variety. Next time, don't overlook that great big boat out in the harbor.

Entertainment is another attraction. Most cruise lines run full-scale production shows, have live bands, and/or add other specials for the children. The Disney® Cruise line offers meals with Disney characters and special entertainment geared towards the younger crowd. Floating casinos adorn most cruise ships to the delight of many adults who use this as their evening entertainment. Having activities planned throughout the entire day, some cruise lines are like floating day camps. You can be as active or inactive as you choose to be.

Cruises offer one-stop-shopping. Variety. One flight plus one boat equals lots of different locations. It would be impossible to attempt to visit each port individually outside of a cruise line. It would be very expensive and much too time consuming. There would be no time for fun. Once aboard the ship, you leave only to visit the places of port. No need to pack and unpack. No need for unnecessary travel. On the ship, you have any number of things to keep you entertained while waiting for the next docking.

Carnival® Cruises is great for the first time cruiser. It has many departure sites around the country. Land and sea prices are available for those who need to fly to a port of departure. Just a few of the destinations to which Carnival® Cruise Lines will take you include: the Bahamas, Aruba, St. Thomas, St. John, San Juan Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, the Keys, Cozumel, Hawaii, Alaska, Martinique and Barbados.

Celebrity® Cruises is higher-end. It has a sophisticated AquaSpa on board and sports a unique art collection on the Galaxy ship as well. Celebrity® has received a 5-star rating for its cuisine (not food but cuisine). If all of that is not impressive enough, it also includes an in-cabin entertainment and information center.

Radisson® Seven Seas, Seaborn® Cruises and Windstar® Cruises offer even more luxury than the Celebrity® line. The Radisson® offers the ultimate luxurious experience by managing suites only. It also offers unique destinations such as Tahiti, French Polynesia, Antarctica, the Mediterranean, and Europe. The Windstar® line has romantic trimasted ships and sail to the Caribbean, The Americas, the Greek Isles and Europe.

As you can see, there are cruise lines for everyone. These lines are just a few of the many options of cruises. But every line has something which makes it unique, so you might want to do some research to make sure you find the cruise you were looking for.

Find Out The Advantages Of Traveling On Cruise Ships

2006-10-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

A cruise ship can be likened to a floating palace. It can afford the traveler an opportunity to relax, enjoy the ocean breeze and escape the rigors of everyday life. However, a cruise ship is also a place where one can gamble, dance the night away, and indulge in some masterfully prepared food.

As far as cruise ships go, variety is the key word. Some cruise ships are small and intimate, with room for only about 500 passengers. Then there are cruise ships so large that you could virtually get lost on them, and they can accommodate upwards of 4,000 passengers. Each cruise ship has its own special amenities and features, so before booking your cruise you will need to decide what type of trip you are looking for and do a bit of research.

Larger cruise ships will of course have more to offer than the smaller cruise ships. Those cruise ships that can accommodate thousands and thousands of passengers feature such amenities as personal choice dining. This option allows you to choose between casual, traditional, or specialty menus. Many cruise ships also have full service restaurants aboard, as well as exquisite dining rooms. The entertainment options on large cruise ships is also quite varied; choose from plush nightclubs, live bands, big screen movies, live theater as well as swanky casinos.

If you prefer to stay active during your time on the cruise ship, many of them offer 9 hole putting courses, jogging tracks, various swimming pools and spas, yoga classes as well as work out gyms. After a day full of activity, you can wind down by taking advantage of the ships' library, or by browsing through the art gallery, as many larger cruise ships have on display beautiful art collections.

If you are a die-hard shopper, you will certainly be able to indulge on a cruise ship. Many of them feature glorious boutiques that carry upscale, name brand clothing and gift items. Shop for jewelry, perfume, or maybe a special souvenir for that friend you left back on dry land!

The room options aboard a cruise ship will leave you wondering; suite with a balcony, ocean view or interior room, family suite, mini-suite or a grand suite? The possibilities seem endless. Furthermore, you can also rest assured that in the unlikely event that should you become injured or ill while aboard the cruise ship, there is always a licensed medical doctor aboard, as well as a trained medical staff.

Another cool thing about cruise ships is that they go just about anywhere you could possibly imagine. While enjoying your journey, you will probably have the opportunity to travel ashore as the cruise ship docks and allows time for day trips. A cruise ship can be a wonderful way to spend a vacation, and with so many options, you will be able to find a cruise ship that offers exactly what you are looking for.

Five Affordable World Travel Destinations: Locations That Offer More But Cost Less

2006-10-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

So
you want to travel the world but you have a tight budget?
Are you tired of reading about everyone else’s exotic adventures and
ready to have some of your own? Have
you always wanted to take an international vacation but thought you couldn’t
afford it? There are numerous
travel destinations across the world that are both exciting and affordable.
Five of them are described here to give you ideas and get you started
planning your own getaway.

There
are two ways to approach affordable vacations to distant destinations.
Either you will save money getting there or the savings will occur once
you arrive at your selected spot. If
you want the trip there to be affordable, many travel consolidators recommend
choosing well-known destinations that are served by numerous airlines and
receive millions of travelers each year. The
competition for customers usually drives costs down for everything from lodging
to tour packages. Airfares between
major hubs tend to be more affordable and there are often plenty of discounts
and last minute travel deals.

London

In
Europe, London is a top pick for affordable vacation destinations, for these
exact reasons. Not only do you have
more flights to choose from, they are cheaper than if you flew to a more remote
location. On average, staying in
London may be a bit more expensive than other European destinations, but the
seemingly endless choices in hotels, restaurants, transportation, tours, and
other travel essentials gives travels opportunities to mold their vacation to
fit their budgets. And you can use
London as your home base to set out on day trips to other more exotic locations
or buy a Eurorail pass and see those more remote countries without the expense
of flying there.

Playa
del Carmen, Mexico

This
theory also works well for traveling in the Caribbean.
Belize is an appealing destination, with wonderful Caribbean beaches and
a lush tropic setting, but since it has only recently emerged as a popular
travel destination, it is more expensive than Cancun, Jamaica or other
well-traveled locations along the Mayan Riviera.
With fewer flights, getting there is more expensive, and there are few
moderate lodging options. Development
of larger luxury resorts have begun to boom, but the only real alternative for
those on a budget is staying in local facilities that may be hard to locate from
home and may be more rustic than most travelers are willing to try.

Although
there are many options for affordable vacations in the Caribbean, an excellent
pick is Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Accessible
via flights to Cancun, which are often some of the cheapest in the region, Playa
is just a half hour away. It is
filled with a multitude of lodging choices, from expansive luxury resorts on the
ocean to quaint but clean hotels downtown.
From Playa, travelers can branch out and visit Tulum and other locations
on the Mayan Riviera or take the ferry across to the island of Cozumel where
snorkeling is prime and the attractions are many.

For
Asian destinations, travelers often do better to focus on saving money once they
get to their destination. Depending
on your country of origin, getting to just about any spot in Asia is going to be
a sizable chunk of your travel budget. The
difference will come from the cost of lodging, food, entertainment and other
travel expenditures once you arrive. By
choosing destinations where you get the most for your money, you can save a
great deal on your international vacation.
A drink or dinner in Tokyo will cost you many times more than what it
would in Saigon. The key here is to
go where your dollars buy you more and where the local cost of living is low.

Tioman
Island

An
affordable yet exotic choice for Asia is Malaysia and specifically Tioman
Island, knows as the mythical 'Bali Hai' from the film 'South Pacific.’
Tioman Island is located at the southern end of the east coast of
Malaysia on the South China Sea. Its sandy beaches, bordered by lush jungles and
stunning mountains make it a relaxing yet intriguing destination, ideal for sun
lovers, snorkelers and divers. The
island also has many villages for exploring and shopping.
English is widely spoken and the
rates are amazingly affordable, with a two night lodging package for a suite at
a lovely oceanside resort averaging around 100 U.S. dollars.
Typically visitors reach the island via the speed ferry from the
mainland. Although the trip can
take over two hours, it is enjoyable and provides opportunities for dolphin
watching along the way.

Buenos
Aires

South
America also has many destinations that are affordable because of the savings
once you arrive. Locales like Rio
de Janeiro in Brazil, the areas top destination, are coming down in price but
are still more expensive than cities such as Buenos Aires in Argentina, where
the rates are lower and the U.S. dollar goes further.

A
huge metropolis that is more European than South American, the city has much to
offer including cultural events, thriving nightlife, shopping, local sports, and
a host of tours and excursions. La
Boca, with its street performers, shops, and unique architecture is a big
tourist draw. The large number of
choices for lodging, restaurants, and activities provides opportunities for
budget travel and savings. Airfare to the city is relatively reasonable for an
international destination, with discount fares from the U.S. averaging around
$500 round trip. Buenos Aires might
not be one of the most exotic or inspiring destinations in South America, but it
is a city that everyone should see at least once, and with some of the most
affordable rates and fares around, it makes the list as a top South American
destination.

Las
Vegas

The
list would not be complete without a North American destination, and the champ
of all affordable locales is Las Vegas. It
too is a city that should be seen at least once, and many world travelers return
again and again for the gaming, art, shows and people watching that just can’t
be found anywhere else. Close
enough to other top U.S. attractions like the Grand Canyon, Vegas provides other
options for those who have had their fill of casinos.

The
city has long been known for its cheap vacation packages with hotels and resorts
that offer discount rates for rooms, meals and entertainment in hopes of
attracting people to their gaming tables. Airfare
rates into Vegas are some of the most reasonable in the United States, no matter
the origination destination. And
with more than 100,000 hotel rooms to choose from, there is sure to be a lodging
choice that fits your budget.

The
world provides hundreds of affordable travel destinations. With all the options available, there is no excuse to put off that
life-long desire to travel to exotic places at the far ends of the earth. Destinations can be researched on the Internet or your
travel
consolidator can make
recommendations and help with locating cheap
international airfare and
lodging rates that fit your budget. So
what are you waiting for? Get out
there and explore the world.

Travel accessories

2006-10-07T11:52:00.001-07:00

Online Travel Bargain

2006-10-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

Top Ten Travel Nursing “Hot Spots”

2006-10-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

Travel Insurance Bargains for Brits

2006-10-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

If you're traveling in the UK, or a UK citizen traveling elsewhere, you have many options including full year travel insurance. While the occasional traveler such as a vacationer may not find full year travel insurance preferable to the one-trip options, business travelers or other frequent travelers may opt for full year travel insurance as the best time saving and money saving choice.

UK travel insurance options, in addition to full year UK travel insurance coverage, are numerous: one-trip or multiple-trip plans, extended stay, business travel plans, several designed especially for family travel, and even one that's focused on the needs of backpacking travelers.

With just about every plan lost luggage coverage can be included or deleted a la carte, since travelers may find that this protection is included in their homeowners' policy. Full year UK travel insurance, as well as one or multiple trip options, also includes medical coverage while participating in most sports, although you sometimes must choose this option for the coverage.

Instant quotes are available online. On one informative UK site your instant quote is given individually for your choice of single trip, annual (also known as multiple trip) or backpacker.

Let's take a look at the full year UK travel insurance quote.

For this quote you are asked to register and then choose destinations. The destination choices for this full year UK travel insurance plan are for travel specific to the UK, travel within all of Europe, travel worldwide with the exception of the United States and the Caribbean, word travel that includes the U.S. and the Caribbean, or travel in Australia and/or New Zealand. We indicated that we are a couple - 45 and 43 years of age - with no children under 19 accompanying us, that we are traveling throughout all of Europe starting September 1st of 2005, and that we are going to participate in winter sports.

The quotes, converted from British pounds to U.S. dollars, ranged between $92 and $255, depending on the extent of coverage. At the low end of the full year UK travel insurance coverage we found lower ceilings on medical coverage. These quotes also excluded lost baggage coverage and some sports coverage. An accident during a round of golf, for example, was not included in this quote.

The highest premium full year UK travel insurance product, offered an amazingly high ceiling on medical coverage - over $17 million -included compensation for any loss of limbs, dental coverage, mountain search and rescue and repatriation for medical emergency.

Clearly, if you seek full year UK travel insurance, you'll find many options and something that will fit your wallet.

Yes, You Too Can Take A Vacation

2006-10-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

Why can't business owners let go? What are the concerns that keep them tied to the business? According to the survey:

Let me know if these tips help you take a well-deserved vacation (or two) this summer.

Where Are The Regions of New Zealand?

2006-09-19T03:37:00.000-07:00

Where is New Zealand, exactly? New Zealand is two islands in the Pacific, but it is not a Pacific Island.

All those islands we normally think of as "Pacific": New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, the Cook Islands, and Tahiti, lie between 15 and 23 degrees South.

They are north of the Tropic of Capricorn...

... New Zealand is south of it. By a long way.

New Zealand stretches from 35 to 47 degrees south, and covers 270 000 square kilometres. It is:

the size of Burkina Faso, Colorado, Equador, the UK, or the Western Sahara
twice the size of Bangladesh, Fujian Province (China) or Greece
four times the size of Sri Lanka
half the size of Madagascar, France or Kenya
and would fit comfortably into the Caspian or Baltic Seas...

Some geography...

For the sake of convenience, we can divide up the country into 2 degree bands of latitude. Down here, the numbers get bigger as we travel south. And it gets colder. Down here, birds fly NORTH for the winter...

The regions of New Zealand fall into these bands as follows:

34-36 Northland
36-38 Auckland, The Coromandel
38-40 Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Rotorua, Taupo, Eastland, Hawkes Bay, Wanganui-Manawatu, Taranaki
40-42 Wellington, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson
42-44 The West Coast, Canterbury, Christchurch
44-46 Mt Cook-MacKenzie, Wanaka, Queenstown, Otago, Dunedin, Fiordland
46-48 Southland, including Stewart Island

What else can you find at these latitudes?

Following the same bands of latitude around the Southern Hemisphere, the regions of New Zealand share their parallels with:

34-36 Buenos Aires, Adelaide and Canberra in Australia, and Cape Town in South Africa (in fact, Cape Town is NORTH of the northern-most point of New Zealand, and Sydney is the same...)
36-38 Auckland and the Coromandel lie in the same band as Melbourne
38-40 Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Taranaki cover large slices of Argentina and Chile
40-42 Wellington, Wairarapa, Marlborough, Nelson - more Chile.
42-44 West Coast, Canterbury (Christchurch) are neighbours with Hobart
44-46 Otago, Southland (Dunedin) is the same as... Patagonia! (just look at the landscapes to see why...)
46-48 more Patagonia...

The Northern Hemisphere

While it's not an accurate comparison, New Zealand is in the middle of the ocean with no part of it further than 130 kilometres (about 80 miles) from the coast, in the same bands of latitude in the Northern Hemisphere you will find (moving north):

34-36 Cyprus, Kabul, Tokyo, Los Angeles
36-38 Seoul, Tunis, Athens, San Francisco
38-40 Ankara, Beijing, Lisbon
40-42 Istanbul, Tashkent, Madrid, Rome, New York
42-44 Almaty, Vladivostok, Sofia, Toronto, Boston
44-46 Bordeaux, Milan, Belgrade, Bucharest, Ottowa
46-48 Geneva, Seattle

Now you know where you're heading. All you need to do is get here...

About the author:
Stephen Hay invites you to explore the opportunities for luxury travel and accommodation in New Zealand.

The site, http://www.luxury-new-zealand.com/, brings together all luxury offerings in New Zealand.

© Stephen Hay All Rights Reserved. You may use this article in its entirety with this Resource Box and links.

Set Sail with the Right Cruise for You

2006-09-19T03:36:00.000-07:00

You have just seen what seems to be the one thousandth picture of your neighbor's recent cruise. With your eyes and ears on autopilot, you start to daydream about taking a cruise too. If anything, it would give you the opportunity to take your own thousand pictures to parade in front of your neighbor!

Where would I want to go? Which cruise line do I choose? How much is this going to cost me? Deciding the right cruise for you can seem a bit mystifying at first, but if you sit down and brainstorm on what you want, you can find a cruise line that closely fits your requirements.

For instance, where you live can be a deciding factor on which cruise you could take. If you live close to the ocean, chances are there is a shipping port of some sort nearby. You could drive to the port within a reasonable amount of time since most cruise lines have to temporarily dock somewhere to refuel and replenish supplies. However, if that is not an option, you would have to factor in the cost of flying in to an airport that is closest to a shipping port. Depending on your budget and location, this could be cost prohibitive for some people.

What destination you have in mind is also helpful in your decision to pick a cruise. You can cruise in practically any ocean in the world. Want to see Mexico? There are many Mexican cruises departing from Texas ports like Galveston. Perhaps you would like to take a cruise in cooler weather and head to Alaska to see its many glaciers and wildlife.

Where you go on your cruise can also dictate when you go. For instance, if you want to take that Alaskan cruise, plan to depart anywhere from May through September. Cruising those icy waters in the winter time can be dangerous. Also keep in mind that seasons are reversed in some areas of the world. Winter time in the United States might call for a South American destination like Rio de Janeiro because it is summer there.

The number of vacation days you can take off from work is also a factor in choosing the right cruise for you. The typical length of a cruise is anywhere from four days to twelve days. If you are close to a shipping port, then short two days cruises might be a great option for you.

Money matters in your cruise decision as well. Research what the cruise is offering. Some are all inclusive which means that your cabin, meals and entertainment are taken care of in your price. Any services offered on board like the spa, manicures, hair stylists and massages are extra. Liquor and extra food and drinks can be additional. Your cabin also determines the price of your cruise. Do you want the inexpensive cabins on the inside of the ship? Or do you want your own view with a large window, porthole or even your own balcony?

Once you have an idea of where you want to go, what you can spend and how long you can be away, then you are ready to shop around. If you are a member of an association like AAA, they can offer you great deals for cruise packages to a variety of destinations. Use the internet as a research tool and visit websites of various cruise lines for more information. Or if you prefer, talk with your neighbor about her experience and how she booked her cruise. Just be prepared for another round of pictures from her vacation!

About the author:
Andrew Porter is a travel consultant and contributor to www.Specialty-Discount-Cruises.com

6 Steps To Super Pictures Of Your Vacation Rental Property

2006-09-19T03:35:00.000-07:00

As an owner, you know all the intimate details about what makes your property so great. The challenge is in conveying those to prospective renters. Vacation rental web sites help by providing you with a custom web site for your property, and promoting it to family vacationers around the globe. So what can you do to leverage this worldwide exposure? Attractive and descriptive photos can take a good property listing, and make it great. And it is a lot easier than you think.

So a picture really can be 'worth a thousand words', as they say. But how you create the best impression for your property? Here are some tips from the vacation rental property marketing experts at GreatFamilyRentals.com:

1. Digital or film, either works
Whether you use a traditional film camera or a digital one does not really matter. Use what you're most comfortable with. Even single-use, disposable cameras (with flash) can take reasonably good photos. Both digital and film camera technologies are sufficient to capture images extremely well. We recommend 400-speed film for the best results from film cameras.

What matters far more is how the camera is used. Which brings us to...

2. Interiors - Plan the setting
Professional home photographers spend hours creating the right look before snapping the first picture. While we don't recommend similar time devotion, a little time making sure your property is presentable will pay off. You will likely take your pictures between rental sessions, after the property has been cleaned. Of course renters like seeing everything neat and tidy, but we've noticed that sometimes a less sterile view helps vacationers imagine themselves in your property - and that's what it's all about. Here are some ideas to make the interior of your property look less like a hotel room, and more like a vacation home:

- Set the dining table for a meal, including wine glasses and candlesticks
- Put out some board games or books on the coffee table
- On your deck or patio, put a beach towel and a couple of cold drinks next to those chaise lounges

All right, since you're taking pictures, the drinks don't really have to be cold, but you get the idea. Of course your property should be clean and neat, but making it appear more like it probably does when occupied, helps show the potential of your vacation rental.

Spend a few minutes choosing which rooms you wish to show. Common areas, like living rooms and kitchens are important. You might not think your kitchen is anything special, but that's not the point. Many vacationers like to see the kitchen's layout, even if they know what equipment it contains. Primary bedrooms are important as well, as they allow renters to visualize their sleeping arrangements.

If your property has anything out of the ordinary on the inside (a complete home theater, for example), it's a good idea to take a photo of it as well (and don't forget to include it in your property description). For many properties, views to the outside are important - so capture them, and at the best time of day.

Like any good Realtor would recommend, turn on all the lights inside your property before taking your pictures. Set your flash to automatic, so that it will fire whenever necessary. Set your zoom on its widest setting and move back to position yourself to capture as much of each room as possible.

3. Exteriors - Open your eyes
You probably don't think too much about how your property and the surrounding area appear. You've been in and out of your rental property hundreds of times. But take a few minutes and decide what you'd like to show potential renters - it could sometime make the difference between someone booking, and passing. Showing which unit is yours in a multiple unit building can be helpful. If your property is a house or detached condominium, the exterior appearance and setting can be a big selling point. Amenities specifically for your unit can be worthwhile showing as well, such as swing sets, docks, saunas, etc.

Aside from your particular property, there are probably other reasons to book your vacation rental. So show them! Include a photo of the beach your renters can use. Put one in showing how close the chairlift is from your front door. Show the pool, playground, fishing pond, hiking trails, etc. You may be wondering, should I only show features that are for my guests only, like a private pool? Of course you'll want to include these, but by all means you should include non-exclusive amenities as well. Potential guests want to know what then can do, where they can go, etc. The idea here is to give potential renters a sense of the setting of your vacation rental property, and the best things about the immediate area. All the more reason to book their vacation with you!

4. Maps, floor plans, etc.
Perhaps there some things about your vacation rental property that you'd like to show prospective renters, but you can't take a picture of them. Does your property have a unique or particularly expansive layout? In addition to the description you write, there is a way to include a floor plan in your listing. Just take a photo of it! Lay out the floor plan on a table with good light. Try to position yourself directly above the center of the floor plan, instead of at an angle - that way it won't be distorted. Sometimes standing on a chair can help. Lastly, make sure you hold the camera very still so that the image is not blurred when you press the shutter.

5. Labeling your photos
Here's another opportunity to include information about your vacation rental property. Don't pass up the opportunity to label your photos when you upload them! And include some descriptive text. Which sounds better to you: "Master bedroom" or "Spacious master bedroom with king bed and Gulf view"? If the seasons affect the views your property offers, like leaves on trees that block that mountain view in the summer, or the sunset that's only visible from the living room window for part of the year, you should label your photos appropriately. Such as: "Sunset view from balcony in August". Some might assume that these views exist throughout the year, so it's best to be explicit in this regard. Don't forget to label maps and floor plans, too, so prospective renters know what they're looking at. These are all opportunities to help get inquiries and sell bookings for your vacation rental property, so take advantage of them.

6. Processing issues
Unfortunately, all film processing is not the same. We prefer one or two day service from an off-site lab, compared to typical one-hour results. While we've gotten acceptable results from one-hour service at a drugstore, the off-site labs provide more consistent photofinishing quality. If you try one hour processing and aren't happy, you can always have a lab reprint your photos.

About the author:
Courtesy of GreatFamilyRentals.com, a leading directory of vacation rentals by owner.
Find villas, condos, etc.
Owners can list vacation rentals for more bookings.

Fliers Beware! Did You Let Airlines Damage Your Property?

2006-09-19T03:34:00.000-07:00

If you travel with small children, you no doubt have taken a stroller, car seat or some other essential on board an aircraft. These days, with full flights, you'll most likely have to gate check the item. This means leaving your item at the end of the jet way as you board, and picking it up after your flight in the same place, or at baggage claim. We have found that this is a fairly convenient strategy.

In the rush of boarding and keeping track of kids and your belongings, you were probably asked to sign a tag which was then attached to your stroller. Like us, you probably didn't bother reading the fine print. But after a recent flight on Northwest Airlines, we did, and we were surprised to learn what the airline’s legal department is up to...

The set up...
When you sign that tag, you are absolving the airline of responsibility for any damage to your stroller, car seat, etc. How? By stating that your item was already damaged when it was given to the agent at the gate. Of course you never said this - but it is what the fine print you signed contains.

Here is the text of what is on Northwest Airlines' Gate Luggage Claim Check:

"In consideration of carrier(s) transporting my property which has been damaged previously, I hereby release carrier(s) from liability resulting solely from such pre-existing damage."

Below this text is a line to enter a description of the damage, and one for your signature. You can see a picture of an actual Gate Luggage Claim Check by searching for 'check tag' at http://images.google.com/. Look for the pink tag.

So what's the big deal?
By signing the tag, you are acknowledging that the item is already damaged! The airline is saying they won't be responsible for this damage. That seems fair, but, here's the kicker: it is hard to prove when damage occurs. So they're covered if they ruin your stroller, because you said it was already damaged, and that gets them off the hook.

In our scenario, we checked a brand new stroller, purchased just for this trip. If it was returned to us at our destination damaged, the airline would no doubt say that the damage occurred before we handed it over to them, and the tag that we signed is their proof that we acknowledged previous damage. Pretty sneaky!

Again, on the surface the wording seems reasonable, as airlines can't be responsible for damage that really does occur before they take possession. And it isn't saying that they aren't responsible if they damage the item. But because it is hard to prove when damage occurred, and since you signed the tag saying it was damaged previously, the airline is in the clear for any damage that they cause.

The form does have a legitimate use, as I'm sure airlines do get strollers and car seats with existing damage. But the form should be rewritten so that the gate agent must identify existing damage in order to absolve the airline of responsibility.

So what do I do?
The next time you're asked to sign a gate check tag, make sure you print 'NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE' clearly, above your signature. You can use the damage description line for this purpose. By doing this, you are establishing the fact that your item was not damaged when handed over to the airline. So if it comes back to you all mangled, it is clear that the airline must have caused the damage, for which they are then responsible.

About the author:
David Goldschmidt invites you to visit GreatFamilyRentals.com, a leading directory of
href="http://www.greatfamilyrentals.com/">vacation rentals by owner.
Find villas, beach houses, condos and cabins for your next vacation. Rent direct from owners and save. Free for vacationers.
Owners can
href="http://www.greatfamilyrentals.com/addrental.html">list vacation rentals for more bookings with no commission.

Taking A Cruise: Make It A Family Affair

2006-09-19T03:33:00.000-07:00

This past year, more than one million youngsters under the age of 18 years old sailed on Cruise Lines International Association ships. Young people make up a large portion of your fellow passengers when you take a cruise ship vacation. Kids on vacation period, especially if they are not your own, can really can drag down on the fun.

Of course, you probably want to take the kids along with you on your vacation. They can add to the fun if you take care of things right, and cruises are a great time to spend time with your children, especially if you work or go to school and so do they. Keep in mind though that if you were on a child-free vacation you wouldn't want somebody else's children running amok, being loud or rowdy, ruining the fun of those who aren't involved in their rowdiness. Have enough respect for your fellow passengers/cruisers, as well as the ship's crew, to keep your children under control.

Easier said than done, right? Let's go over a few ideas on how to keep your children under control and make your cruise one of, if not your most, memorable family vacation ever.

The biggest and most important tip of all is not to take your kids on a cruise they will not enjoy! Idleness leads to rowdiness and mischievous, often uncontrollable behavior. Many cruise ships, especially those on the Carnival Cruise line, offer kid-friendly "Fun Ships" that have entire itineraries dedicated to keeping your little ones out of your hair and the hair of your fellow cruisers. There are kids' pool areas, dining rooms, and game rooms. There are even scheduled and supervised trips ashore for those who wish to go along. (Who wants to take a 5-year old scuba diving in the Caribbean? Certainly not I).

All cruise liners have a list of rules and regulations to follow, and that goes for the kids as well. Many cruise liners have a separate set of rules that apply to the kids and a separate set of rules that apply to the adults. Unfortunately as a parent your parental responsibilities do not end when you venture on board your cruise liner. You have a responsibility set forth by the shipping company (yes, just about all of them) to keep your children under supervision. If you are not supervising your youngsters yourself, it is your responsibility to make sure that someone is watching them, even if it is the children's program coordinators.

Unfortunately, the actions of your children could cause you your vacation. If the behavior of your children is in any way detrimental to the safety or pleasure of the other passengers, many cruise lines have policies that allow them to drop you and your youngsters off at the next port, and keep on sailing without you. Most people cannot or do not wish to afford plane tickets back home because your kid's were unable to control themselves and you were unable to control them. Don't take the risk!

About the author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a cruise and travel expert specializing in discount cruises and travel. Visit for more information on how to cruise the world for little or no money.

Take Two On Cruise Travel Tips

2006-09-19T03:27:00.000-07:00

Pay attention to the advice from frequent cruise travelers. They have seen it all and have the stories to tell. Using their guidance can make things a bit easier for an inexperienced cruiser. After all, no one wants any “surprises” to put a damper on your cruise enjoyment.

Got Your Paperwork?

Nothing is more frustrating that digging through your bags at airport security or customs on the way to your cruise. Have everything handy and in one place. Use a little carrying case, something similar to a business card holder or small pocket photo album to contain everything.

Copy several sets of your driver’s license or photo identification as well as your passport or visa. Your credit cards and traveler’s checks should be copied. Leave one set at home with a trusted, easily reachable family member. Lock one set up in the personal safe in your ship cabin or lock it in the ship’s main safe. Also keep your originals and another copy with you at all times, but in separate places. This will help you in case you lose anything or it is stolen.

Items that are handy:

If you don’t want to miss the beautiful sunrise or a particular activity, bring your travel alarm clock. If you are in an inner cabin aboard the ship, there are no windows so it will be dark and virtually impossible to know what time it is.

Take a mesh laundry bag with you to stow dirty or soiled clothing. This will keep your clean clothes separated. There is nothing worse than having some of your clothes stink like dirty, sweaty socks!

An extension cord or two comes in handy with those cabins that have electric outlets in strange places. Many times, they are not where you need them, so the cords will be helpful.

Clear Ziploc baggies are useful when packing your suitcase. Such items as shampoo and sunscreen could possibly leak, so the baggies would contain the leak and keep your clothing from being ruined. Medications can also be packed into clear baggies. Going through airport security or customs can be a hassle too, so baggies allow the security officials to see the contents of your suitcase at a glance and you won’t have to unpack a travel toiletry bag for inspection this way.

Stay Connected:

If you decide to bring your cell phone to stay in touch with friends and family at home, check with your service provider about temporarily extending your calling area or inquire about special rates during your travels. No one wants to be shocked with a cell phone bill that is a few hundred dollars higher. Or should you leave your cell phone at home, invest in a few prepaid phone cards. This is a cheaper option than using the phone service on the ship.

Take extra batteries and memory sticks for your digital camera. Your battery charger might be useful too, depending on how much your camera will be used. Should you decide to use a camera with film, do not pack it in your luggage if you fly to your cruise port. Airport security scanners could ruin your film.

Binoculars are a must for sight-seeing. Sometimes, you will not be able to get up close and personal to things, so you’ll be glad to have them. You don’t want to miss anything, do you?

This is your time! Don’t spend it fretting about your ruined camera film or lamenting about the greasy sunscreen that leaked all over your suitcase. By heeding the advice from seasoned travelers, you will save yourself some trouble in your cruising vacation. Now prepare for some fun and adventure!

About the author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a cruise and travel expert specializing in discount cruises and travel. Visit for more information on how to cruise the world for little or no money.

Barcelona and Beyond....

2006-09-18T05:04:00.000-07:00

One of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, Barcelona has something to offer even the most discerning tourist. From beautiful beaches to the vibrant street life of the Ramblas, from architecture to football, Barcelona truly is a city for everyone.

But what if the unthinkable happens, and you get bored of Barcelona? What if Gaudi’s masterpieces hold no interest for you? What if the thought of going to the Nou Camp makes your heart sink? What if you just can’t deal with one more piece of street theatre, or one more smiling face trying to sell you beer as you walk down the street?

The answer is simple. Set on the beautiful east coast of Spain, Barcelona sits in the middle of stunning country, within easy reach of some of Spain’s hidden treasures. Hire a car (try http://www.easycar.com), and set about exploring the depths of Catalonia.

There are many different self drive routes to make the most of your time in Spain. But to make the most of your time, try leaving Barcelona and driving up the Costa Brava to La Gavina (available at http://www.hotelnet.co.uk), one of Spain’s most beautiful hotels and the only Five-Star Grand Luxe resort hotel in Catalonia, just 120km northeast of Barcelona.

Even if La Gavina is somewhat outside your price range, S’Agaro itself has a huge amount to offer, with beautiful beaches, tranquillity and a relaxed pace of life that is almost impossible to find in bustling Barcelona.

From S’Agaro, carry on north to Figueres, the home town of Salvador Dali. Figueres houses the famous Teatre Museu Dali (Dali Museum), a true spectacle which contains not only the largest single collection of the Dali’s work, but maybe even the spirit of the surrealist himself, as he is buried within his Museum.

A short drive from Figueres lies Girona, an ancient walled city with a wealth of history and culture. Alternatively, drive inland towards Cardona, set deep in the mountains. Cardona is a beautiful town, a real ‘find’ off the beaten track, sitting on a hill almost surrounded by the river Cardoner and boasting an imposing citadel set high on a hill – the Parador, which is now a hotel with luxury accommodation and unbelievable views.

Tired yet? For the hardcore tourist, why not make one final stop on the way back, with a day trip to the monastery at Montserrat – destination of thousands of pilgrims every year, hoping to touch the famous black Virgin Mary (La Maroneta).

After all this excitement, you may well be ready to head back to Barcelona for a couple of days recuperation (and souvenir shopping!) before returning your hire car and heading home, with a wealth of experiences and memories that could never have been accumulated in one place. Barcelona is a fantastic city – but the rest of Spain’s pretty lovely too, and definitely worth setting out to explore.

Quick Guide for Global Travel and Vacations

2006-08-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

Whether planning a trip to Europe or a cruise to the Caribbean, there are few things you should know before booking your vacation. Global travel and vacations are somewhat different than the average three-hour drive from your home. If you don't plan in advance, you might find yourself stuck in an undesirable hotel with no money left for fun! Here's a quick guide to make your vacation planning experience easier and more enjoyable.

Choose a Travel Destination

Don't settle for the norm! Choose a global travel destination that will make a lasting impression. Consider the following before making your decision.

1. What leisure activities do you enjoy while on vacation? Golf, amusement parks, nightlife, fun on the beach, skiing, hiking, biking, or some other activity?

2. Climate of the destination. Will it be cold, hot, or mild for the time of year you will travel?

3. Do you want seclusion from the hustle and bustle of the city or do you want to stay where the action is?

4. What is your travel budget and available vacation time frame?

These four things should be carefully considered before booking a trip. Choose a destination that features the activities you and your family will enjoy. If it's a beautiful beach resort you want, try an Asian beach in Indonesia, Thailand, or Singapore. If it is art and culture you enjoy, try a destination in Europe such as Rome, Venice or France. If you're an avid shopper while on vacation, choose Hong Kong, where open-air markets, shops, boutiques and malls are at every turn!

Research Your Destination

Once you choose a destination, narrow it down to a city and hotel or resort within that city. Use online resources to research the area and find the best deals. But, be sure a "good deal" doesn't mean sacrificing service or quality of the hotel. With global travel and vacations, you should research in detail so you'll know what you're getting beforehand.

If you want huge savings on luxury resorts, consider joining a travel group that offers membership discounts for booking. This will save you both time and money. They will research and book your vacation for you. Some travel groups will even allow you to sell memberships or travel packages to others as a "work at home" business. You can save money and make money at the same time, all while traveling to the places you love!

Plan for Legalities

Give yourself plenty of time to get your passport and other important documents you may need while traveling internationally. Different countries require different things, so check with the country's government offices to find out what is needed. If you don't know where to begin, ask a travel agent for help in this area, or use the Internet for research. Be sure to ask about car rentals or car hire, driver's license compatibility, airport luggage regulations, and travel insurance.

Plan Activities before You Travel

Once you know your destination, use the Internet to find activities you'd like to do while there. This will save you time when you arrive and will give you a general idea of what's available in the area. Find out where the best spot at the ocean shore is for swimming or sunbathing. Get directions to local golf courses. Find holiday coupons online for amusement parks, museums, aquariums, and other sites.

Planning ahead has many advantages for long hotel stays or cruises, and you can enjoy your vacation without worry when you arrive at your destination. Start planning for your global travel and vacations today!

Author:

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies. For tips/information, click here: global travel vacations
Visit Majon's Travel directory.

Santiago de Chile To Become World Tourism Capital

2006-07-26T02:07:00.000-07:00

Santiago de Chile will host the world’s largest gathering of travel journalists from October 18 to 23, an event that some likened to “bringing the World Cup to Chile.”

The 51st annual gathering of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) will draw over 500 writers and photographers to Chile’s capital city - and other travel destinations throughout the country - for story gathering and professional development.

“When selecting a destination for our annual meeting, we look for a site that offers dozens of travel story ideas so that each of our writers and photographers can come back with different material,” said SATW President Ed Malone. “Chile certainly fits that bill. It is one of the fastest growing travel destinations in South America, but the American public still knows very little about it.”

The purpose of the conference, in addition to professional development and networking, is to produce photographs and newspaper and magazine articles on Chile to be published around the world.

“By having our national convention there, we will generate dozens of newspaper and magazine travel articles, thousands of photo images and a variety of radio and television travel shows that will bring the wonders of Chile to American readers and viewers,” Malone said.

An upsurge of stories and images of Chile may continue to pulse through the media for years, as has been the case with previous conference sites.

Before and after the conference, participants will explore the country in small groups, visiting some locations already well known to the outside world and others that have yet to be discovered. These include fishing villages and vineyards in Chile’s Central Coast, colonial towns in the Colchagua Valley, the Atacama Desert, the Lakes District, and the Patagonia.

The writers and photographers will also travel to sites like Easter Island and Robinson Crusoe Island, places that exist more as legend than reality in the foreign imagination.

Santelices, who is also president of the Corporation for the Promotion of Chilean Tourism, said the combination of natural beauty and social stability is a major selling point for Chile.

“Journalists and travel writers are looking for nature and unexplored corners, but also a solid infrastructure, high quality facilities, and tourist services in a climate of security and stability,” he said. “That is why we were chosen as the site of the conference, and now it’s our turn to respond as a country.”

Past SATW conventions have been hosted in Thailand, Israel, Australia, India, Switzerland, Wales and Bermuda. This will be the second convention in South America after meeting in Ecuador in 1995.

Chilean tourism has grown in past years, including a record number of luxury line cruise ships sailing to Chilean ports. Over 120 travelled to Chile in 2005, up 20 percent from the previous season (ST, May 18).

Chile has considered expanding its tourism industry by joining with Peru and Bolivia to offer an extended Inca Trail, integrating the most important historical and cultural attractions of the ancient Inca Empire throughout the three countries.

Chile also responded favourably to promoting integrated tourist networks between Chile and Argentina, offering stunning panoramas of national parks, lakes and volcanoes (ST, May 26).

World Tourism Summit To Be Held At Portugal In 2007

2006-07-26T02:06:00.000-07:00

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced that Lisbon, Portugal would be the host of the 7th Global Travel & Tourism Summit, to be held from May 10 to 12, 2007.

Lisbon, Portugal (PRWEB) July 19, 2006 -- Portugal is the closest destination to the U.S. in Europe, easy to get to and to navigate, and it serves as a gateway to the rest of the continent. Famed for a mild climate year round, an excellent range of sports awaits the active traveler; each corner of the country is rich with historical attractions. It is one of Europe's best values - prices compare favorably with other European destinations. It is a destination of timeless appeal. As one senior travel editor recently put it… “Lisbon is it. It is the capital of cool in Europe.”

Jean-Claude Baumgarten, WTTC President, said: “We are delighted to accept the invitation from the Secretary of State of Tourism for Portugal to host the Summit in Lisbon in 2007. The Global Travel & Tourism Summit has been held on three previous occasions in Vilamoura in the Algarve Region, in 1997, 2000 and 2003 and we are honored to work again with Portugal to ensure that the Summit builds on its success. Lisbon will provide the ideal platform to encourage global leaders to broadcast a message of strength and unity for the Travel & Tourism industry.”

The proposed Host Committee in Portugal has already gotten strong support from the Portuguese Prime Minister, José Socrates, the Minister of Economy and Innovation, Manuel Pinho and the Mayor of Lisbon, Antonio Carmona Rodrigues.

Manuel Fernando Espírito Santo, Chairman of the Espírito Santo Tourism said: “As a long standing board Member of WTTC, I look forward to welcoming the 7th Global Travel & Tourism Summit to Lisbon. Travel & Tourism is one of the most important contributors to the Portuguese economy expected to account in 2006 for 6.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product and 17.7 percent of total employment. Both public and private companies are committed to making this event a huge success by providing their generous sponsorship and vital organizational skills.”

Fernando Pinto, TAP Portugal CEO added: “As a major European city, Lisbon is an ideal location to host this event and is easily accessible from any point in the world. TAP Portugal is committed to offering all delegates a high level of service and to making their visit to Portugal an easy and pleasurable experience.”

Lisbon, a city with two million people and 2,500 years of history, sits on the north bank of the Tejo River, where the river meets the Atlantic. It is Portugal’s largest city and its capital, with the added distinction of being the warmest and western-most capital in Europe. Its climate is strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream. An earthquake in 1755 leveled a large portion of the city, but those areas were restored, and the city retains several of its original medieval neighborhoods. Built on seven hills, some of Lisbon’s streets are too steep for cars, but visitors can and should take in panoramic views of the city by traveling to the top on the trolleys or funicular.

The Summit is the industry’s highest profile event and attracts Chief Executives, Chairs and Presidents of the world’s most leading travel & tourism companies as well as senior government officials and major media from around the globe. The event provides a unique platform for discussion between the leading public and private sector decision makers who will shape the future of one of the world’s largest industries - Travel & Tourism.

Unlike most commercial and political conferences that are effectively a procession of speeches with little time built in for questions, the Summit will revolve around a series of highly interactive discussions, moderated by business leaders and journalists, who challenge and organize contributions from the audience. This format promises to promote genuine, lively discussion and is a great chance for industry leaders to express their opinions candidly.

ITP- Portuguese Tourism Board is a public institute and a distinct legal entity with administrative and financial autonomy and its own assets. The ITP's activity is exercised under the aegis of the Ministry of the Tourism. Its objective is to provide support for the development and promotion of the business structure and investment within the tourism sector as part of the strategic partnership between public policy and the initiatives of private economic agents.

Spending in tourism in the world reached US$ 800 billion in 2005

2006-07-26T02:04:00.000-07:00

Last year tourists around the world spent US$ 800 billion, according to statistics released today (12) by the World Tourism Organisation. Nearly US$ 700 billion were spent in air transportation, an increase in 3.5% in comparison to 2004.

According to the World Tourism Organisation, Europe is still the main tourism destination and also where tourists spend the most, with nearly half world expenditure in tourism. In Latin America, however, spending has been increasing and the region is amongst those that invest the most in the sector.

World Tourism Info

2006-06-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

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