How to Go on an Affordable Vacation During This Economic Recession
Saturday, January 28th, 2012 / admin


1. Plan your vacation ahead of time. Block some vacation time on your calendar at least two months ahead of departure. Book your flight far ahead of time- this could cut your vacation costs in half. Planning ahead of time also means speaking to the necessary authorities at work, scheduling the pet’s stay at the kennel, and stopping the newspaper delivery and lawn mowing service. Make sure to tie up all your loose ends so you don’t end up paying for it due to last minute scheduling.

 2. Book your flights online. Be sure to use every resource at your disposal to book the cheapest flight possible. Many sites allow you to compare flight prices and details, be sure to use these tools. Always consider flying into or out of a less-trafficked airports (i.e. Oakland  instead of San Francisco). Some examples of well known sites that allow you to compare flight prices across various airlines are Orbitz and Expedia



3. Book your lodging at a vacation-ownership sponsored resort. This essentially means that you will have access to  an extra-discounted hotel or resort lodging in exchange for attending a timeshare sales pitch at that resort. These pitches are harmless and usually only take up to 90 minutes of your time. The benefits of doing this mean extremely deep discounts as well as freebies like gas certificates, dinner coupons and theme park tickets. There are several sites online that are partnered with resorts across the country and provide the best deals out there like Vacation Offer



4.  If you are traveling with a large family or party, you can save a lot of money by shopping at the grocery store instead of eating out. People often have the inclination to eat at restaurants when they are on vacation, however, cooking in a condo or grilling outside is far cheaper and usually more relaxing.

 5.  Go where the natives go. Keep your eye out for restaurants, shows and shops that are meant specifically for tourists. These places are the most expensive areas and are also where you are most likely to empty your pockets. Try to do some research ahead of time as well as speak with the locals to figure out where normal people go around the destination. If you follow this rule of thumb throughout the vacation you are likely to save quite a bit of money.  Lonely Planet is a great resource to find out about a destination’s flavors, culture, and local hot spots ahead of time.

 6.  Take public transportation. People often forget how expensive taxi cabs can be, especially when they are on vacation. In any city center or popular destination there is almost always a mode of transportation on the cheap that the locals take advantage of.  Be sure to find this out ahead of time to drastically cut down on transportation costs.  Google recently added a  that allows you to calculate bus and train directions as if you were driving.

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Luxury Transportation South Florida From Key Transport Service
Thursday, January 26th, 2012 / admin


Key Transportation Service is your key to luxury transportation for special groups, corporate travelers and individuals. Their limousine service offers transfers and charters in luxury sedans, stretch limousines, vans and buses. From arrival to departure, Key Transportation’s goal is to provide their customers the highest level of service and satisfaction. As a family owned business, Key Transportation has provided complete ground transportation services for over 25 years. They have been in the Limousine business in Florida offering luxury transportation South Florida options for groups and individuals.

Understanding the importance of on-time service, dependability and expertise is why Key Transportation Service has become the largest independently owned, woman certified transportation company in Florida. Expanding with demand, Key Transportation has grown to its current fleet size of over 40 vehicles which includes Sedans, SUV’s, 15-passenger vans, luxury vans, stretch limousines, mini-busses and specialty vehicles and the new Yukon hybrid to fit all occasions. Each member of the Key Transportation team brings years of experience in both the airline and ground transportation fields. Their company owes its growth and success to their dedicated team of professionals that make every aspect of your transportation flawless. When each detail of corporate travel must be perfect, using chauffeured driven cars and Limos is a necessity for many traveling business executives. Travel planners and executive assistants rely on Key Transportation for instant reservations, 24-hour flight tracking and the quick accommodation of all last minute changes to ensure that the arriving passenger reaches their destination promptly and safely. Their services provided are Single source for nationwide reservations, Instant e-mail confirmations, Prompt, clear billing, In-vehicle wireless internet access in major US markets, Nationwide airport pickup instructions. Their professional greeters meet and assist arriving and departing passengers at the airport. Arriving passengers are met at the gate with a cart and are escorted to either baggage claim or to their waiting vehicle. Departing passengers are met at the requested location, assisted with check-in, and escorted to the lounge or directly to the gate. Connecting passengers are met at their arrival gate and escorted to their departing flight. Key Transportation provides personalized service. Their clients consistently rate us as one of the Best Limo and transportation companies in South Florida. Their greeters extend a warm welcome to the arriving group attendees at the concourse or baggage claim area and then escort them to their waiting vehicle. Greeters monitor the status of the flights to ensure that all attendees are met and arrive at their destination. Last minute changes are inevitable in the travel industry and they are happy to accommodate every need.

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Vacation rental by owner – how to make money on your property investments
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 / admin

Some interesting information to go over today: how to actually make money (instead of losing it) from your investment of a vacation rental by owner home.Today we are focusing on the Caribbean resort city of Cartagena in Colombia for the simple reason that this is the city we operate our business from. However, I believe these simple rules  apply to any destination you choose to invest in.

Cartagena is a costly location and has some, if not all, of the most expensive real estate in Colombia and perhaps South America. Vacation rentals by owner especially oceanfront or beach rentals and luxury homes in Cartagena can well exceed USD 450,000 for an apartment (not such a big one either). These costly homes and new resort complexes are going up each day in a market is already saturated (at least for the moment). Surely nobody in their right mind would consider this kind of real estate as an investment! Beautiful these units may be but just how much higher can prices grow to make such an investment worth while? Prices of real estate are at an all time high here and it’s difficult to see the possibility of making heafty profits from these luxury vacation rentals in the near future. We mustn’t forget about the monthly building administration costs either, which can go up to and well over USD 200 a month. By the way that is over $2000 a year! That surely eats into your investment like a plague of killer ants. Naturally it is of no importance if you occupy the unit a day, week or all year … you have to pay your fixed costs on your vacation rental investment home..

A Question For You …

So we’ve already seen some of the negatives for these upmarket vacation rentals and beach homes in Cartagena, now try answering this question: Would you buy a stock if it cost you $2000 a year just for the pleasure of owning it? Of course you wouldn’t, then why would you want to buy into a holiday beach rental, as an investment, with such high up-keep costs? Such costs mean that in just over four years you would have eaten a chunk of almost $10,000 from your investment. Translated, this means if you wanted to sell for a profit after four years you’d need to be looking at somewhere around $15,000 just to break even.

As I have said, and I believe I have made the point quite clear, Cartagena is VERY expensive. However, if you are looking for investments in real estate interesting properties can be found … if you look hard enough.

My experience here has taught me to keep things simple and to work with lower priced units that hard working Colombians can rent. Forget about fancy condo units, beach rentals and luxury apartment complexes for foreign tourists. Such properties generally rent out for two months a year. I prefer to have my properties rented out twelve months a year.

I want to tell you about a personal experience that happened with us last month (July 2009). We managed to find a small 3 bedroom apartment in a middle-to-low class gated complex that had a price of 40,000,000 pesos (20,000 USD). After negotiations we managed to get the price down to 37,000,000 pesos (18,500 USD) and placed a “For Rent” sign in the window. No ad in the local paper, just a simple sign in the kitchen window. We were getting on average of 5 calls a day from people wanting to immediately rent the apartment. Even after removing the sign we were still getting a couple of calls a day! We were able to rent the apartment for 450,000 pesos a month (225 USD) with no trouble whatsoever. That is more than 1% return on investment.

We are now negotiating a second apartment in the same complex and are currently talking to an architect who is interested in renting it for 1,000,000 a month (USD 500). Needless to say we are very interested. There are many gems like this available that won’t eat into your saving and can give you a very healthy return. We are fortunate enough to own a handful of these properties and they give us very healthy returns. If you want to live in a luxury apartment then by all means buy one, but don’t buy one here as an investment. Vacation rental by owner homes in Cartagena can be found to fit your budget, just don’t stop looking. Of course it takes time and effort but the important thing is that you don’t need to follow some over-priced, hyped-up, course on real estate investing, all you need is dedication and common sense.

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What is the Cheapest Form of Transportation?
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 / admin

Apart from hitchhiking, you will find that in most developed countries the cheapest form of transportation is the rail network. In third world countries where catching trains may not be an option, the public bus system will be a cheap way to travel.

Getting a rail pass is one of the most popular ways to get around large countries/continents but generally you need to buy your pass before you leave home. If you are traveling overnight to a destination, rail travel is also a good way to get cheap accommodation. Mostly trains are a quick way of getting around, especially the rail system in big cities. However in some countries where the rail system is not so advanced, trains may be more expensive than buses. They can also be cold and slow. Pick the right networks in the right countries for a positive and cheap rail experience – Europe, India, China are good examples of rail being the cheapest form of transport and having excellent networks.

Buses can be quite cheap, (especially in Britain), but also slower than rail. In under-developed countries they can be a unique way to experience the culture and scenery but prices vary from dirt cheap to outrageous. Consider that you might have to stand for the whole trip and share it with the local chickens! Night buses, like sleeper trains mean you get a free night’s accommodation thrown in. However a sleepless night on a crowded bus may not be appealing to many travelers.

Traveling by ferry or boat is another cheap form of transportation. Ferry travel can be cheaper than flying and can often get your there a lot quicker. Stories of over-crowding and boats sinking in some countries make the headlines. Ensure your ferry is safe and follows regulations.

Car travel can be a cheaper option if traveling in a group. Work out the cost of a rail pass for four people and then see how much you can rent a car for and divide it by four. Usually the car rental will come out cheaper. Cars also give you more freedom of choice when traveling and for families are probably the best option. Consider taxis when there are no other forms of transport available and you can share the cost with other travelers.

Flying internally around countries and continents can offer the traveler good value. In Asia and Europe it is worthwhile considering this form of transport as a cheap alternative. Although flying can cost more than rail and bus systems, the extra you pay is compensated by the time you save and the comfort you travel in. Many budget airlines are available now but avoid peak seasons if you can. It is cheaper to purchase your flight tickets from the country you will be traveling in.

Research the travel options in your chosen destination and work out the cheapest alternative for you. You may be surprised by how you end up traveling and be prepared for some culture shocks along the way!

This article is brought to you by: Stuart S. Travel – Your Online Travel Guru

www.stuartstravel.com

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Transportation in Lagos
Friday, January 20th, 2012 / admin
As we all know that transportation does play an important and significant role in any part of the city. The network of roads which is in the most extensive mode and manner is the major requirement for the tourists as well as for the visitors. Varied number of ferry services are being provided and offered by the transportation sector in the city of Lagos. Read on further and you will be able to get to know through this piece of writing each and every detail regarding the transportation sector in the city of Lagos. In this way, all of your queries and questions will be solved in a detailed way. At the side of West Africa, Lagos contains and consists of extensive type of network in the best possible way and mode. Varied number of highway and bridges are being connected and attached to the Lagos.

The free ways and express ways are exceptional and significant in number. Local roads are also in good quality and well maintained. The commercial centers and ports are being maintained regularly keeping in mind the strategic location. It has been noticed and observed with great care and attention that as the city of more…

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Travel Tips To European Countries: Holland
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 / admin

About the Country

The summers are cool here but the winters are severe with some chances of snowfall. Rainfall can be expected in any month of the year. Dutch is the official language here. English, French and German are the other languages that are spoken, out of which English is widely spoken. Incase of emergency call 112.

Culture

Handshake is the commonly practiced form of greeting. Although tipping is not mandatory, but it’s better to pay rounds figure in restaurants and taxis. A humble gift should be taken to the host’s house always when invited for a meal. Informal clothes are worn on a daily basis, but people are expected to turn up in formals at social functions and smart restaurants.

Shopping

Pottery of Delft, Makkum and Workum is a must buy. Silverware from Schoonhoven, crystals from Leerdam and diamonds from Amsterdam are highly recommended.

Site Seeing

Apenheul Primate Park is a place to visit which is a home to more than thirty species of mammals. It remains closed during the winter. De Hoge Veluwe is the oldest and largest park of Holland. Bicycles can be used to explore the 5,500 hectares of the park. Paleis Het Loo is a magnificent Palace surrounded by gardens and remains open year round except on public holidays.

Electricity

230 V and 50 Hz

Travel

The national airline that operates in Holland is KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines. It connects to almost all the major cities of Europe, North America and Asia. Amsterdam Airport is the hub for many international and local flights. It is located at 15 km away from the city and it takes 20 minutes to reach there by train. The Airline, KLM, provides bus service every 15-30 minutes which takes passengers to some of the famous hotels of the city. Public buses can be availed too, to reach destination. Trains connect to Amsterdam’s Central Station and Zuid Station. Taxis take tourists to almost any location. The Airport features duty free shops, banks, showers, business center, baby rooms, and car hire.

Rotterdam airport and Eindhoven airport are 8km away from the city. Trains and buses operate every 15 minutes to transport passengers to their hotels. Facilities such as duty free shops, eateries, car rental, and internet can be availed at these airports. No departure tax is implemented on passengers at any of these airports.

The main sea ports are Hook of Holland, Vlissingen and Rotteradm. Stena Line, P&O ferries and DFDS seaways provide ferry service to get to Holland.

If traveling by railway, Eurostar provides the best service and connects to all the major cities of Europe. It provides high grade services. Good offers are provided on regular basis and to utilize them they should be monitored from time to time. Unused tickets are easily refunded. The Inter-Rail pass can be bought to avail the unlimited second class train travel within 29 European countries.

Top class road network connects Holland to majority of cities in Europe. They are well maintained and signs are posted every where for safe driving. 120kph is the speed limit while driving on highways. Many car dealing agents exist if opting for car-rental. Some of them are Avis, Europcar and Budget.

Cycling is also a major means of transportation in Holland and is part and parcel of daily life. Tourists can hire cycles from the airport or other service providers with some money-deposit.

Duty Free Items

1. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of tobacco

2. 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette

3. 1liter of liquor or 2liter of sparkling wine or liquor wines and 2liter of non-sparkling wine

4. 100g of tea or 40g of tea extract

5. 500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract

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Cairo Day Tour from Hurghada Red Sea Egypt by Flight
Monday, January 16th, 2012 / admin

Departure: Everyday

Lenght: 16 Hours

Type: Private Tour

Private: Egyptologist Guide

Price: From : 225 USD

Tour Itinerary:

Our Cairo tour will start in the early morning with pick up from your hotel in Hurghada. Then you will be transferred to Hurghada airport to fly to Cairo, where you will be accompanied by your Egyptology expert tour guide to visit the great Pyramids of Giza are the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt. These massive stone structures were built around 4500 years ago on a rocky desert plateau close to more…

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The Difference that Flight Deals Can Make to Your Trip to Fiji Resorts
Saturday, January 14th, 2012 / admin

Among the islands nestled in the South Pacific Ocean, Fiji is an island nation whose neighbours include New Zealand, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tonga, the Samoas, and Wallis and Futuna. With its volcanic terrain and origin, it is an archipelago composed of around 330 islands of which some 100 remain uninhabited. Its major islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu wherein 85% of the country’s total population reside. Fiji was invaded and became a colony of Britain for almost 100 years. It is a country rich in natural resources and is considered one of the most developed countries in the South Pacific.

Because Fiji is situated in the vast Pacific Ocean, it is a tropical paradise. One can imagine its perfect deep blue waters and the white sandy beach lined with tall coconut trees. It offers 5-star resorts and various activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, diving, surfing, and trekking for the more adventurous types of tourists. For couples and older ones, they can bask in the glow of the setting sun while walking along the shores. Fiji can also be location for fabulous beach weddings. There are more people around the world choosing to explore Fiji and its beautiful tropical Fiji resorts.

As with any vacation, it is important that one takes budget into consideration. There are lots of more…

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Downtown Hotels
Friday, January 13th, 2012 / admin


In American and Canadian cities, the term downtown refers to the heart of a city, which is usually the city’s central business district. A downtown is a significant area which can be considered as the original town which is indeed true if considered the example of a city like New York. As the town of New York grew into a city, the only direction it could grow on the island was toward the north, increasingly upriver from the original settlement. Thus, anything north of the original town became known as “uptown,” while the original town (which was also New York’s only major center of business at the time) became known as “downtown.”

Since then the downtown reflects the area of importance and we can certainly find many such examples which lead us to the above mentioned theory. A downtown is a city’s central business district and automatically is an area of great importance in any city. It is hence but natural that the downtown region sees many commercial and cultural activities and also the flood of visitors. Therefore you will find a plenty of hotels, motels and Inns in downtown region.

At downtownhotels.org we are there to help you find the best hotels in the major downtowns of the United Sates. We provide many services including heap deals on hotels in Downtown, downtown Memphis hotel, downtown Orlando hotels, cheap car rental and Downtown Hotel Packages worldwide! Whether you are looking for a budget hotel in any downtown, or a budget flight to any where in worldwide, we are here with our guaranteed low prices and secure servers to make your vacation planning easy, quick and absolutely safe. We provide cheap hotels wherever you want to go, from downtown Miami hotels, to downtown Houston hotels, from discount downtown Washington hotels to Virginia budget hotel deals, it’s all here at downtownhotels.org.

You can find the hotels in the downtown districts to suit every budget and pocket. Due to the factor that lot many visitors want to stay in the downtown region it is necessary to make prior reservations to avoid last minute hassles. The downtown hotels offer a variety of services which are according to your budget. The luxury hotels provide finest services including many facilities like air conditioned rooms, swimming pools, health clubs and spas, airport pickup and drop facilities etc. Whereas the Inns and motels are the best places to head to for the ones who are visiting on a tight budget. A great benefit of staying in the downtown hotels is te variety of food offered by the restaurants. You can have all the delicacies around the globe which will satisfy your taste buds. Another advantage of staying in the downtown hotel is the access to the cities major recreational and business centers which are always clustered around the downtown. It is very convenient to plan your holidays staying in a downtown hotel.

Looking for more information on Downtown Hotels check out www.downtownhotels.org your guide to Downtown Hotels

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Hotels in Malaysia
Thursday, January 12th, 2012 / admin

Situated in the north-west coast of peninsular Malaysia, the island of Malaysia attracts plenty of tourists throughout the year. Plan a trip to Malaysia this summer and enjoy a memorable holiday experience! If the attractions of Malaysia draw you to Malaysia, hotels in Malaysia will add more charm to your stay. Malaysia hotels epitomize elegance and sophistication. The ideally located hotels with excellent hospitality services and superb modern amenities have made for a beeline of tourists searching for exquisite accommodation in Malaysia.

The conveniently located hotels are close to fascinating attractions and a colorful variety of activities. Explore Malaysia’s tradition and culture, preserved in the many local attractions across the country. A salubrious climate will always be on your side, enabling you to indulge in more and more memorable sightseeing experiences. Malaysia is home to a vast range of hotels to suit the taste of the discerning traveler. Whether you are looking for high-end facilities or convenient amenities at budget prices, Malaysia caters to all and sundry. With the increasing inflow of tourists every year, Malaysia has witnessed a mushrooming of more…

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