Tips Guides

The world of caravanning is becoming increasingly popular with holidaymakers as a serious alternative to taking vacations abroad. The reason this has become the case is because owning a caravan is cheaper than regularly taking flights and booking hotels. Those new to caravanning however find it difficult to decide exactly which caravan will be suitable for their purposes; with such a large selection on the market today this difficulty is understandable. In terms of what lures people to buy caravans, the open road and the freedom to travel to anywhere in the country and beyond attract many. Additionally, having a home from home to live in also entices many to go out and buy new caravans.

For those deciding to buy caravans however it is not always the case that new models have to be bought. Older used models can be a bargain, providing the same holidaying pleasure as newer models. This is once again understandable as brand new caravans are expensive, if a high quality used model can be picked up for a fraction of the price it is advisable to go for that. In general a new model costs around fifteen thousand pounds; however more luxurious models can cost anything into the twenties. As the price is so high, getting the choice right from the outset is desirable, buying a poor model will only damage your holidaying experience.

It is important not to fall in love with and buy the first caravan you see when at the showroom. It is always vital to see many different models to ensure you make the correct choice. In addition, visiting more than one dealer is an advisable course of action to follow. This is because many dealers purely deal with one or two different makes of caravan and will not be able to show you a wide cross section of what is present in the new caravan market. As with most things in life utilising the internet as a research tool is a good idea as it will give you a representation of exactly what is on the market in your price range.

Another important consideration as well as budget when looking at new caravans is the power of your towing vehicle as a poorly powered outfit is inherently unsafe. This is because an underpowered outfit, that is the car and caravan together, will be hard to control. Most cars have the maximum towing weight contained in the handbook although there are a large number of websites out there that will allow you to enter your make and model of car and then present a list of suitable caravans. Unfortunate ignoring this advice can land you in the proverbial hot water. Penalties for towing an outfit that is too heavy can result in legal action and in the case of an accident can result in an invalidation of insurance.

New caravans should arrive in top condition but if buying used models there are certain considerations that must be made. For instance checking for damp is highly advisable as caravans with damp can be instable and in mot cases fragrant. A part of your checks should also include looking at the windows and doors and particularly the seals in these areas.

It is hoped that this information has given those buying caravans essential advice on the best ways to carry out the task. With careful and conscientious planning from the outset it should be possible to obtain an outfit that will supply years of holidaying pleasure.

Travel expert Thomas Pretty looks into the process of buying new caravans and why this type of holiday is becoming increasingly popular.

The majority of people who visit Tuscany see Florence and Pisa as the predominant attractions and fail to recognise that the rural localities of the region as a tourist attraction in their own right. This countryside paradise, full of wonderful farm buildings and beautiful medieval towns and villages should form part of any trip itinerary when in Tuscany; it is simply too good to miss. Most consider this to be the real Tuscany, a landscape of rolling hills interspersed by farm buildings, vineyards and terracotta houses.

Holidays spent travelling round the sumptuous Tuscan countryside are relaxing in extremis; allowing visitors to completely unwind and forget about work and life at home. Visitors may choose to watch the world go by sitting at a local cafe sipping the great wine or coffee, or may wish to sit atop one of the many hillsides purveying the glorious scenery. Holidays in this part of the world are all about relaxation and rejuvenation, winding down to the local way of life and simply, taking it easy.

For the chance to sample the fine cuisine and wines of Italy Tuscany is a must visit destination. The Tuscan cuisine is heavily focussed on meat dishes even though the countryside is predominantly used for arable farming. The dishes include steaks and pork cooked in a traditional way and accompanied by fresh, juicy seasonal vegetables. Locals think of nothing of spending hours at the dinner table conversing and enjoying both each other’s company and the great food; for travellers, doing the same is a vital experience.

Italy is famed for its wine and has been since at least the Roman age. Thankfully Tuscany is exactly the same and is intensely proud of its wine making heritage. The farm complexes and affixed vineyards in most cases are happy to welcome tourists on tasting trips to sample their wares. A large number of wines are produced in the region although the most famous variety is Chianti. Chianti from Tuscany is considered by many to be the perfect tipple to complement the meat dishes and a great way to understand the Tuscan culture.

The rural regions of Tuscany are in most instances, picture perfect. Rolling hills dotted with quaint farm buildings at the centre of richly coloured farmland. The crops gently sway in the wind while the cypress trees that border the fields give a vista that is impossible to find anywhere else in the world. In many cases it is like stepping back in time for tourists to a simpler, less stressful age. The rural localities can be considered perfect for holidays whether travelling as a couple or as a family. The scenery oozes romance while the wide open spaces give children the chance to play to their heart’s content. All this is accompanied by warm Mediterranean sun and glorious blue skies; some may argue that the word paradise simple does not do rural Tuscany justice.

In terms of accommodation there are a variety of choices for holidays. While Florence and Pisa are filled with large hotels, increasingly farm accommodation is becoming popular with tourists as it gives direct access to the marvellous interior. It is not just farm buildings but also castles are being converted into holiday complexes with swimming pools and places to undertake activities such as horse riding and cycling. In most cases these places are run by locals ensuring the warmest of welcomes and service with a personal touch.

The benefits of visiting rural Tuscany are hard to dispute. Tourists are guaranteed to return from their holidays, more relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated having sampled the best that the region has to offer. So for a unique and interesting holiday idea, consider rural Tuscany as the perfect destination.

Travel expert Thomas Pretty looks at the farm holidays Tuscany option for tourists who want the finer things in life.

Travel lovers heading for Western Australia are in for a treat. This enormous but beautiful state of Australia has something for everyone when it comes to a holiday or vacation.

In particular, if you like to stay at a 5 star hotel where-ever you travel, then Perth (the capital city of WA) has some excellent choices available to ensure you get to relax in style and comfort while exploring the most isolated city in the world.

Here’s my top 4 recommended hotels in Perth:

1. Hyatt Regency Perth

Overlooking the Swan River, the Hyatt Regency Perth is widely regarded as the city’s premier hotel in terms of luxurious accommodations, excellent service and the so-called intangibles. It provides a spectacular bird’s eye view of South Perth and the surrounding areas.

There are 367 rooms in all as well as a large ballroom for 1,200 guests, four function rooms and an elegant boardroom. In addition, the hotel has gained the reputation of being an excellent and well-equipped business venue for corporate conferences and meetings. It also boasts of three award-winning in-house restaurants.

The Hyatt Regency Perth offers a bar and minibar, parking, television, restaurant, bureau de change, sauna, whirlpool, fitness center, swimming pool, safe deposit, business facilities, internet access, childcare facilities, car-hire facilities, 24-hour room service and air conditioning.

2. The Chifley on The Terrace

Located in the heart of the city, The Chifley on The Terrace is the newest luxury hotel in Perth. It is a short walk to the business district and the main entertainment and shopping area and a brief drive to the Swan River.

There are 85 rooms in all as well as one conference room good for business conferences of up to 120 guests and stocked with the latest audio visual equipment. The in-house bar and restaurant are quite popular in the area.

The Chifley on The Terrace offers a bar and minibar, television, restaurant, safe deposit, whirlpool, business facilities, internet access, 24-hour room service and air conditioning.

3. Broadwater Pagoda Hotel

The Broadwater Pagoda Hotel reeks of luxury and is one of several hotels that overlook the picturesque Swan River in Como. This one is a short walk to the Perth Zoo and to a wide array of South Perth’s eating, entertainment and shopping options.

There are 101 rooms, a conference room for 300 people (theatre style) and a host of audio visual equipment. The hotel provides a shuttle bus service to Perth.

The Broadwater Pagoda Hotel offers a bar, parking, television, restaurant, bureau de change, sauna, whirlpool, swimming pool, safe deposit, business facilities, computer facilities, disabled access, childcare facilities and air conditioning.

4. Burswood Entertainment Complex

The Burswood Entertainment Complex is widely regarded as the premier resort in Perth. It gives the term “self contained” a whole new meaning as the complex boasts of every facility a travelling tourist could ever want or imagine.

It has its own casino, 18-hole golf course and stadium, the Burswood Dome, as well as six bars, nine restaurants and a convention center.

Burswood provides a wide range of catering options for small intimate dinners as well as for corporate exhibitions and trade fairs.

There are 413 rooms in the hotel, and comprehensive conference facilities that include function rooms, a ballroom and theatre. The Burswood Entertainment Complex offers a bar and minibar, parking, television, restaurant, bureau de change, safe deposit, sauna, whirlpool, fitness club, swimming pool, business facilities, computer facilities, internet access, disabled access, childcare facilities, hairdresser, car-hire facilities, 24-hour room service and air conditioning.

The Simply Lush website profiles and reviews luxury accommodation all across Australia, including hotels in Perth. Stop by and browse it for Free, to find a great place to stay.

Very often I hear about new tourism related businesses who open their doors somewhere in the country. The various careers in tourism who can be studied at the local universities are in very high demand by students, who just finished their college.

In Ecuador, tourism is often considered an easy way to earn money. For this reason, new tourism businesses are created carefree and its owners seem to have excellent intentions at the beginning.

Because Ecuadorians are excellent hosts, most people think that to receive a foreign visitor is the same easy thing as to receive a good friend. Unfortunately is this perception not always right.

Sad to say that the very low level of education, combined with a practically non existing quality control from the authorities, let fail a lot of the newly created businesses. This situation often leaves disappointed investors alone with a big whole in their finances.

Too much amateurism is reigning in Ecuador’s touristic education. Beginning with the universities who teach tourism careers without any practical knowledge from the sector. There are different tourism careers available, but there are no studies about how many professionals are needed in each career.

The reality today is that a graduated has a title in tourism, but has in fact very little technical and practical knowledge about his profession. As an example, how can it be explained that in Ecuador students have to learn 2 foreign languages at the same time, often instructed by teachers who don’t even have a diploma in the language they instruct.

After graduation, the universities leave their students very often without the foreign language skills needed to start successful a career.

Other educational problems occur because most of the teachers have never worked in tourism, and most of them don’t even have the necessary contacts who would help them to know what the expectations from the industry and their employers are.

Another deficiency is that there are no controls of the graduation process itself, that means the final “tests” are controlled totally by the universities themselves. The instructors of each discipline “test” their own students.

This process opens doors for corruption and there is absolutely no control in which quality and quantity the tested knowledge was transmitted to the student.

This inadequate education in tourism has not only the effect that lots of graduates don’t find a study related job after they have their diploma, it is often a frustration for their family too.

The family often invests a lot of money in the academic work of their child, in the meaning that he or she should have a better life afterwords. If the graduated does’t find a job in his career, the family is often very disappointed because years of saved money seems to be invested badly.

The practical part of a career should be learned in a well coordinated and organized training in career related businesses. Business owners should be motivated to employ trainees, and to take the time to introduce them to the practical part of their career.

There should be exact plans for every trainee what to do in a company, depending on the level of their studies. The practical work should be, of course, part of the final qualification.

A nice side effect for the participating company would be to have an interesting possibility to pre-select future employees.

For the Ecuadorian tourism industry should it be a priority to ensure an excellent education for future professionals.
Only this way the tourism in Ecuador can have a healthy growth in future.

More and more good trained young people have to be involved in our interesting industry. They help to ensure an excellent reputation of Ecuador in the world and ensure an excellent standard of living for themselves and all of us.

Peter Lauffer, General Manager of TrueColors
Travel in Quito - Your Expert Guide for Galapagos Cruise Travel at www.galapagostraveller.com

Sometimes when we go on vacation or on a trip for business, it’s almost as if we are carrying our entire lives along with us in our checked bags, so it comes as no surprise that in this day and age that travelers want their possessions that go along with them to be as safe as possible.

Travel insurance plans have become increasingly popular in the US since the tragedy that struck during 9/11, but before you decide if travel insurance is something that you need to spend your money on, it would help to know what is typically covered by these protective plans.

What’s covered?

Lost or stolen bags:

Some companies offer different grades of travel insurance, much like you can get with your homeowners or auto insurance. Depending upon the level of protection that you choose to pay for, a lost or stolen bag may garner a reimbursement of five hundred to a thousand dollars each. This is a potentially good feature if your bags are stolen, but all airlines have reimbursements for lost luggage which has just been recently raised to three thousand dollars per traveler.

Delayed luggage:

We all travel with things that are absolute necessities; clothes, razors, deodorants and other toiletries - with travelers insurance, if your bags end up at your destination more than twenty four hours after you do, you may be eligible for a reimbursement of up to two hundred dollars or more to purchase these types of items to hold you over until your bags arrive.

What’s not covered?

Under each type of travelers insurance policy that you may invest in, be wary of exclusions. Items that are difficult to prove may not be covered under your policy - things like contact lenses, eyeglasses, and cash are usually among the lists of items that are not covered.

Do you need travelers insurance?

This can be a pretty tough call in some cases, if having the extra protection is going to make you feel safer and able to relax and enjoy your vacation more, and the money isn’t a very big concern, than by all means - invest in the travelers insurance, just be wary that you may already be covered.

Some travelers are eligible for coverage under their homeowner’s insurance policies. If you take the time to check your homeowners policy you may find that you are protected up to a certain dollar amount on lost or stolen possessions.

If you paid for your trip with plastic as many travelers do these days, your particular credit card may offer you certain protections. In fact many cards geared towards business people and frequent travelers have a built in insurance that is far greater than what you would get with a purchased policy - and you won’t have to pay out anything to get that coverage.

If you book your trip through a service you may have some extra protection as well. Online services in which you book your entire trip - from flight to hotel to rental car, often offer some coverage for just using the service and many offer the chance to purchase some additional coverage for a small fee. Though you probably wouldn’t get as great a level of coverage with this method it will often come at a lower price.

With all of the things that we take along with us as we travel these days - expensive clothes, laptop computers, digital cameras and portable electronics - it only makes sense for us to be safe. Traveler’s insurance can be a very good thing to have in the event that one of your bags that contains a very important possession gets lost or stolen, just be sure that you don’t already have coverage for a similar event through another avenue before you spend some of your hard earned money that could potentially have been used elsewhere in your journey.

Travel Insurance Broker offers travel and medical health insurance needs for Canadians, Canadian expatriates or visitors to Canada. If you are looking for travel insurance or medical insurance, consider Dan Pucher Insurance.

Murcia San Javier Airport is located to the North West of La Manga approximately 20 minutes drive by hire car. To drive to Alicante from Murcia airport takes around 40 minutes.

In the past few years there has been a vast increase in the volume of commuters using this airport; Murcia saw a 22 percent increase in the number of passengers passing through the airport between 2006 and 2007, these were primarily passengers from the UK. However the airport has taken all the necessary measures to accommodate this influx of travelers. Property owners and holiday makers alike are now enjoying the convenience that Murcia Airport offers.

The Airport is located just outside of Murcia City, approximately a 10 minute drive, making any additions for on going expansion possible. In 2006 the recent temporary modernisations and expansions were finished adding over 1000 square meters to the arrivals area, the number of check-in desks was doubled, and two new baggage claim carrousels were added as well as offices for four new car hire companies.

After two million passengers traveled though Murcia San Javier airport last year a permanent expansion of the terminal was considered vital. In July of this year the work began. The 266 million Euro development is due to be completed in 2010 and will make Murcia airport the most suitable and convenient for anyone visiting La Manga.

Although a hire car is not essential around La Manga Club it can offer much more freedom than having to use busses and Taxis during your stay, not to mention a hire car can let you explore local Spanish towns and villages and Murcia. See our guide on The Top 5 Places to Visit Around Murcia.

Many low cost airlines are now flying to Murcia San Javier airport Including Ryan Air, Easy Jet, My Travel Lite, Monarch, BMI baby and jet2. Ryan Air alone provides around five flights a day to Murcia from Stanstead and other regional airports.

Murcia airport still boast extremely easy access and a speedy service though the complex. The car collection point is still within a short walk from the terminus, and most of the larger car hire companies have offices on site at Murcia airport.

Murcia airport is located so conveniently close to La Manga that it has to be a first choice to anyone on holiday or staying at their property on the resort. Excellent transport links make hiring a car here a really sensible option. Leaving Murcia the A-30 is a quick and direct route on a good road that will take you to the La Manga resort.

When it comes to urban sprawl and development the Costa Calida compared to the Costa Blanca or Costa Almeria is relatively untouched, but where building has taken place great consideration has gone into the planning ensuring the resorts have been constructed in harmony with the natural features of the area.

The attractive woodlands, golden beaches and crystal blue green seas, have all been conserved to maintain the original alluring charm of the area. The Calblanque nation park remains one of the least disturbed areas of conservation land, and it will stay protected there for future generations to enjoy. Recently The World Health Organisation decreed the Murcia Province the cleanest in Spain.

It is well worth considering this trip by hire car as you can take in the outstanding natural beauty of the Costa Calida at your own pace. Sample the scenic twisting coastal roads, and reach towns and villages of the region which might otherwise have been missed.

A Car Hire Murcia is the perfect way to explore the region. With so many interesting places to discover a Car Hire Spain is the recommended and most cost effective transport option