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Car rental options – Which is best?

If you are planning a Self Drive holiday around South Africa, there are three vehicle options open to you.

• Short Term Rental
• Long Term Rental
• Buy Back

So how do you figure out which is the best value for money and most practical option for you?

Let’s unpack these three options…

Short Term Car Rental
If you’re planning to hire a vehicle for anywhere up to a month this will be your best option. Short term car hire is available across a wide range – whatever vehicle you require, whatever your budget, you will be able to get mobile from one day to 30 days with any reputable local car hire company. The staff will walk you through the standard procedures and explain what is included – such as unlimited mileage, a free tank of petrol etc, as well as help you to select a car which meets your requirements in terms of features and extras like power steering, air-con etc.

If you plan to stay for 6 to 8 weeks or longer you want to weigh up the merits of Long Term Rental and Buy Back.

Long Term Car Rental
Most car hire companies offer discounted rates on Long Term Rentals. This term applies to any vehicle hired for longer than a month – in some instances it needs to be longer than 40 days for the discounted rates to apply.

Buy Back
This option has become increasingly popular in recent times. You are usually offered a completely serviced vehicle and are guaranteed that the agent will buy the vehicle back from you at a set price (depending on the condition of the returned vehicle) when you wish to cash it in. For periods of more than 6 weeks, Buy Back can be up to 60% more cost effective than long term rental options.

Many students prefer this option if they are going to be staying in South Africa for any length of time. Business men or working holiday makers also prefer this option.

It makes more sense to buy from an agency than to try buying a second-hand car independently – especially if you end up buying from the newspaper or from the ‘side of the road’. The Buy Back vehicle should be road worthy, comprehensively insured, Automobile Association registered, and covered for breakdowns. All this will be undertaken by the reputable agent. There should also be a limited guarantee on the vehicle. There is no hassle with trying to sell the vehicle privately when you have to leave the country, as the buy back clause ensures that the dealer will be paying you the agreed amount for the vehicle on your departure – no advertising costs, no hassle.

So what are the main differences between Buy Back and Long Term Rental options?

With a Rented car you get:
• Unlimited mileage
• Lower initial cost
• No age-restrictions on insurance
• Cheaper insurance
• East border crossings
• Unlimited number of drivers

With a Buy Back scenario you have:
• Insurance protection
• Vehicle guarantee
• Time and Energy saving
• AA membership
• Serviced vehicle prior to sale

You are now in the position to make an informed choice on whether to go for Short or Long Term Hire or Buy Back.

Whatever you choose you can be sure that the countryside of South Africa is beautiful from whichever vehicle you’re enjoying the scenery!

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How To Travel With A Gun Safely and Legally

How To Safely And Legally Travel With A Firearm
Complying with the TSA requirements is something you don’t want to worry about after you arrive at the airport. It is important that you fully understand the TSA requirements for transporting your firearm from destination to destination. This will not only provide for a faster, easier, more hassle-free experience when you arrive, but it’s also important for other reasons, like the threat of weapon confiscation, a run in with the law, and not following the rules is a crime with stiff penelaties of nto only criminal prosecution, but cival penalites up to $10,000 per violation.

Rules and Regulations for safely and legally transporting your firearm*

The key regulatory requirements to transporting firearms, firearm parts or ammunition in checked baggage are: (taken from the TSA website)
* You must declare all firearms to the airline during the ticket counter check-in process.
* The firearm must be unloaded.
* The firearm must be in a hard-sided container.
* The container must be locked.
* We recommend that you provide the key or combination to the security officer if he or she needs to open the container. You should remain present during screening to take the key back after the container is cleared. If you are not present and the security officer must open the container, we or the airline will make a reasonable attempt to contact you. If we can’t contact you, the container will not be placed on the plane. Federal regulations prohibit unlocked gun cases (or cases with broken locks) on aircraft.
* You must securely pack any ammunition in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
* You can’t use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard).
* You may carry the ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as you pack it as described above.
* You can’t bring black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder type firearms in either your carry-on or checked baggage.

Additional restrictions and regulations for transporting a firearm

Violations can result in criminal prosecution and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. Airlines may have their own additional requirements on the carriage of firearms and the amount of ammunition that you may have in your checked baggage. Therefore, travelers should also contact the airline regarding its firearm and ammunition carriage policies. Also, please note that many other countries have different laws that address transportation and possession of firearms. If you are traveling internationally, please check with the authorities at your destination about their requirements.

Crushproof casing is required

The best travel gun cases are made with a high-impact ABS plastic reinforced with fiberglass that provides superior strength and durability. Many have an outside that is rugged and strong while the inside may come with a foam bottom and top lid, and a soft center of “pick & pluck” foam. This foam is a block of foam that has been pre-scored, all the way through so that you litterally just “pick” out the individual pieces of foam you don’t want, and “pluck them out leaving the negative space behind to softly cradle your contents.

*This list is not meant to be an all inclusive list or a legal document. Please consult the TSA and your airline for the most up-to-date information.

Read more: How To Travel With A Gun Safely and Legally

Useful Tips On Driving Across Dubai

Any world class infrastructure will carry its own problems along with the high standards of living it might own. Dubai being one of the busiest cities in the world, does also have its own quota of overcrowding, planning woes, traffic congestion and cultural and sociological matters to take care of. Those traveling from the developed nations might specially find some of these issues very nagging.

Traffic congestion is one such aspect of Dubai’s life, that often gets mentioned in all Dubai related chatters. Cars on Dubai’s roads could often be found over speeding, evading red signals or skidding on in the wrong lane. Despite having tough regulations in place for dealing with the traffic violations, freak collisions keep on being reported from various parts of Dubai at an alarming rate.

The administration is busy on its own part chalking out plans for new flyovers and highway junctions to deal with the situation. Major revamps are being awaited in the traffic department as well. Five new divisions have been devised to regulate vehicular movement and thus improve upon the traveling scenario in general. This will also help in apprehending the traffic violators more easily.

Overcrowding on Dubai’s roads is found to be maximum at a time when schools have just started again after vacationing. One should start early from home during such times to be able to on time at workplace, and similarly be ready to be late after usual working hours. We are enlisting some easy tips for the commuters here for making out a safe and speedy journey across Dubai’s overcrowded roads.

1. Linking roads should be made one’s first priority, in case one was dreadful of encountering an overcrowded narrow street. The extra few hundred yards would mean almost zilch in terms of the gasoline costs but would help one save plenty of traveling minutes.

2. Do not move on from one to another lane, unless you were certain about acquiring greater speeds. People often end up stranded more in the lanes they to move on to compared to where they had earlier been in.

3. Keep alternative routs well planned before commuting across Dubai. Not all the routs are going to be of help everyday, but some will indeed prove out to be handy on different occasions.

4. Avoiding being trapped inside a lane that might disallow you lateral movement. Always make sure you had enough space around to move out of the lane you were about to enter in.

5. One should avoid making use of very usual routs on times. Make sure the flyover or underpass you were about to pass through did indeed have free flowing traffic. Better face out the red signals at normal junctions than being trapped inside an overtly flooded underpass.

6. Identifying slow or fast moving patches in lanes is very significant. All lanes normally do have sections that will either speed up or slow down with time. One may even find a pattern of various speeds on different routs one normally travels across Dubai. Once you have made an observation of the routs you generally move along, you might easily switch over from one to another lane at different locations.

7. Once gaining optimum speeds in the less crowded lanes, be careful of not being trapped inside the formations of moving vehicles. These formation can hinder your speeds considerably as you move on with them.

Getting used to the above traffic suggestions might take some time, but it will help you in saving a lot of time in the longer run.

Read more: Useful Tips On Driving Across Dubai

Traveling tips in Europe

Europe has always been a dream destination for tourists. With high skyscrapers, world’s most beautiful beaches and rich cultural legacy, there is nothing more to desire form a perfect getaway destination. Majority European countries have world’s popular cities that individually are a star attraction as hottest tourism spots. Among the numerous cities located in different countries of Europe each one is a favorite tourist destination. But some of those that deserve special mention are inevitably Paris, London, Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Florence, Dublin, Venice, Edinburg, Istanbul, Nice, Lisbon, Berlin and Madrid. All these are the top cities in Europe and are very beautiful, charming and inviting to its visitors.

Paris, being the capital of France has an exceptional atmosphere, a unique spectacular range of monuments and endless historical sights. All these are absolutely worth visiting. Paris is undoubtedly one city that will seduce you to fall in love on first sight. Another city adored by tourists in France is Nice. The city is situated near the Mediterranean Sea and provides great range of visitor attractions and activities. Numerous beautiful sights and the Mediterranean beaches make the city a charming place.

The city- Cannes famous for its Film Festival is located here in France. But there is more to it than the just the film attraction. Cannes has an excellent climate, that is typical of the French Riviera and many other phenomena to keep the visitors occupied.

One most favorite European country that simply cannot be characterized in few words is London. You ought to visit the city to experience its charisma and explore the outstanding monuments and cultural events. Its unique atmosphere only adds to the beauty of the place. Manchester- another city in Britain is world famous for its football club.

While planning travel in European countries finalizing your itinerary with due diligence is a must. Since there are so many not to be missed places that it is important for you to take advice of some experienced travel agent. When deciding the travel plan you can refer to guides for the required city, which is available at the tourism office. Organizing things would allow you cover a greater area without a lot of pressure on your pocket.

Since Europe has the cream of tourists from all over the world its hotels are built to match the taste of the high-end gentry. Hotels in Europe offer the best of Amemities that include: Meeting Facilities, babysitting, broadband access, restaurant in hotel, fire place, whirlpool bath, multi-lingual staff and every thing else you would ask for. The interiors in the hotels are no wonder a masterpiece. All European hotels are designed keeping in view the high taste of its possible inmates. There are also great discounts and offers available while booking rooms at these 5 star hotels. Checking through the latest proposals could save you huge riches. Among the popular hotels here is the Channings hotel, Hillside Beach Club, Lykia World, Marco Polo Presnja Hotel, Bahia Principe Costa Adeje, Kempinski Hotel Airport, Barut Hotel Hemera, Olympic Lagoon Resort and Westin Excelsior Florence.

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Student Travel: The Best Way to Travel

Traveling is a compelling pastime from time immemorial. Humans love traveling; they get restless if they stay put for too long a time in one place. Traveling answers to the quest for knowing more about other people, other cultures, other customs and traditions, other ways of living, other religions, and the list goes on.

All this makes traveling thrilling and one of the greatest ways of relaxation of all. Everybody loves traveling, but those who simply thrive on it are the students. Students, all over the world, undergo most trips in their pursuit of fun and adventure.

What Makes Student Travel so Special

Student travel is special simply because it is totally carefree. They have no worries to carry with them, they have their youth to support them, and they have the greatest possible discounts to encourage them. In short, student travel is actually the best travel experience you will ever have in your life. So, if you are a student, make sure you make the best of this opportunity.

The best way to get the most out of student travel is to seek out the special offers at different times of the year offered by different destinations and airlines. Work out an itinerary that would keep entertained for as long as you want – from one week to one year or more. Of course, the fun would be multiplied to no end if you decide to travel in groups. Groups are offered even better prices, and being together enhances the joy of any vacation trip to anywhere in the world.

Some Great Ideas for Student Travel Destinations

If you are bitten by the travel bug, you will do good if you indulge in it as much as you can during your student days. Once you leave the education stream and step into the world, the “free rides” are over. You have many, many choices, just make the best and the most out of it as soon as you can.

Visit all historic places in a continent, such as Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and so on. This type of a student travel trip is best endeavored with a group of colleagues and friends for three major reasons: traveling in group is great fun, traveling in group is safe, and traveling in a group gets the best discounts.

Volunteer with the UN Forces or any other world-famous volunteers, and travel wherever you are sent to help the fellow human beings out of economical, political or health problems. All over the world, students make for more than 75 percent of volunteers in development work, which is extremely commendable.

You might have learned to climb a mountain and you want to experience your prowess and strength. You might want to find out what it is like to raft down the rapids of a river, or the thrills that a Safari in an African jungle offers. The list is endless, because every day new quests are introduced by these youngsters, making impossible to know about everything all the time. However, the best thing is that you have some great choices waiting for you.

Read more: Student Travel: The Best Way to Travel

3 things to do before travelling to Rome

1) Book a flight. Or a train. Or a ferry. Or a bus (a ferry? A bus? Why would you do that?!). Well book whatever you prefer to make you get there, but do it in advance. Especially if you want to travel to Rome on a plane, the earliest you book it, the less you’re going to pay it. Go to your travel agent, if you’re a little bit old fashioned, or join the third millennium and surf the web looking for the cheapest offer available for the period you need. Thanks to many low cost airlines companies and the development of the second airport of Rome, Ciampino, it’s never been so easy to reach the Eternal City. Booking in advance will also do you good if you’re travelling by train: Italians themselves love to use trains and they can easily become fully booked in the weekends or around festivities or bank holidays. Trenitalia.com, the web site of the national railways company is easy to use to book your e-ticket directly online. If you’re really intentioned to come by ferry, you’re probably from Spain, a little be masochistic (24 hours trip) and very very old fashioned: you’re probably not even reading this, so why should I waste my time? Wondering about the bus? The bus is dead…rest in peace.

2) Book a hotel. Or an apartment, a bed & breakfast, a guest house. Even for the accommodation, advance will be your best friend: first come, first served, as usual. Rome is full of beautiful and comfortable hotels, and many other are flourishing all over the city, especially b&b. But Rome is the destination for thousand of tourists every year and in specific periods all these hotels are not enough to serve them all, especially if they want to lodge in the very centre of the city. Are you one of them? Then surf the web looking for the best accommodation in Rome, centrally located and cheap at the same time…it’s going to be tough, especially if you stays in the sites in which you just bought your low cost flight: usually they just want to stay cheap and offer extra low prices, but to do so, they often offer average quality hotels and located at kilometres of distance from the centre.

3) Book a transfer. Did you choose the train before? Then you’re done. Termini Central Station is already in the core of Rome. Just get off the train and enjoy the chaos and the magic of everyday life in the capital of Italy. But if you choose to come by air, well, ther’s one more step yo have to take. Because so far you booked your flight to the airports of Rome, Fiumicino or Ciampino, and a room or an apartment waiting for you in the city centre. Well, you miss something in between. Book your car transfer in advance, if you don’t want to waste any time queuing for a taxi or getting lost using public transports.

Read more: 3 things to do before travelling to Rome

Spring Break Bahamas is the perfect holiday package for relaxation

Feel like getting into a holiday mood and thinking over the destination and that too in spring season! Well, beautiful beach islands of Bahamas are the perfect and ideal place for resting in piece. That awesome scenery and cool beaches provide you with the relaxation that you have always wanted. In fact, spring is considered as one of the best times to enjoy a break in Bahamas, the hub of beaches. It is this reason that spring break Bahamas is a hit among those people who love to freak out at beach areas. Everyone wishes to spend some time with family members or friends, after working through a long and tiring schedule.

Spring break Bahamas has lots to offer to visitors, as per their preferences. If a visitor is willing to enjoy a vacation that is full of water sports, then you can visit Paradise Island, Grand Bahamas and many others. Be it fishing or any other form of adventure sports is concerned, spring break Bahamas has everything for all the visitors. Bahamas has been preferred by almost every visitor, as it gives the mesmerizing views, tasty food and many activities to relax themselves. Every other beach in Bahamas unfolds something or the other option for perfect enjoyment experience.

Bahamas is a perfect destination bliss that can be checked out. You can decide over the island that you have to visit and go to a travel agent for checking out the packages that he or she may have. Spring break Bahamas package will surely provide you with what you want in your holiday. The travel agent may have a variety of tour packages to suit your budget and needs. You can consult your travel agent and you will surely be assisted with the package to suit your budget. And if you happen to get a cheap spring break Bahamas vacation, then you are one of the luckiest chaps.

Nothing in this world can be more relaxing than going to a place that offers everything as per your likes. After all, you and many others deserve a break from your tight working schedule that you undergo everyday. One of the main things in spring break Bahamas package can be your staying option. Bahamas has a variety of hotels and resorts that offer a perfect staying experience. You can choose the resort of guest house according to your budget, so that you can enjoy you holiday within the allocated budget. In fact, Bahamas is an ideal place for couples who can even come here for their honeymoon.

If it becomes difficult for you to find a tour operator near your place who offers spring break Bahamas packages, then you can search them on internet. Internet is the best option to check out a number of travel agents. It is, in fact, appropriate for those people who do not get enough time to go to a tour operator and discuss his package with him or her. It is not like this that you cannot afford to visit Bahamas. You can take up only 3 or 4 days tour package instead of 10 days one. The choice is entirely yours as you are going there for having a peace of mind.

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How to Stay Healthy as You Travel

Many of us love to travel but it has a tendency to play havoc with our regular healthy lifestyles.

What can I eat when I’m on the go?

How can I choose healthy meals when eating out and in a foreign environment?

What happens to my body when I’m sitting in planes and cars for long periods of time?

How can I exercise when I can’t go to the gym or workout to my favorite videos?

Read on to find out how to take care of yourself on the road or in the air.

1. Nutrition – There is no reason to leave your healthy diet at home when traveling. If you are traveling by car then bring a cooler along with your favorite snacks and quick meals. You can keep raw vegetables, fruits, string cheeses, yogurt, juices, and water, along with bread and peanut butter for a quick sandwich on the road.

While traveling by air help your body to adjust to destination time by drinking plenty of water (dehydration disrupts circadian rhythm) and avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages since they can cause dehydration. No matter how bad you want that soda or Cup of Joe to stay awake try to avoid them. The low humidity in an airline cabin can contribute further to your dehydration.

When eating out or ordering ask for dressings on the side and most restaurants now have a heart healthy menu. Just look for the little heart next to the healthier selections. Try to avoid heavy, fatty foods (which can interfere with sleep, even under the best circumstances).

2. Prolonged Immobilization – Long hours traveling by car or in a plane can cause potential problems. When sitting for long hours in a car or plane you can develop blood clots in your legs. If the blood clot becomes free it can drift toward a lung and become fatal. Prevention is simple. Make sure to get up and walk down the airplane aisle every 45 minutes to an hour. If you are driving, take frequent breaks. It’s recommended to get out and stretch your legs and walk every hour.

3. Exercise – There are many convenient and great ways to exercise when you are on the road, in the air, or just out of your element.

Probably one of the best ways to stay healthy and explore your new environment is by walking or jogging. All you need is a good pair of shoes and an appetite for the open sidewalk or road and just exploring your new surroundings.

Stretch bands are a lightweight and convenient way to exercise when traveling. They don’t take up any packable space and weigh less than one of your socks and are very versatile for exercising. The bands are color coded for your strength and can be found in your local gym or online. One of my favorite sites for exercise bands is at www.fitbuy.com .

Pilates mat exercises are another great way to exercise on a hotel room floor or on your mother-in-law’s floor. These exercises not only stretch and tone your muscles, but also energize you by improving blood flow and breathing. That’s something we can all benefit from when we are experiencing jet lag.

Read more: How to Stay Healthy as You Travel

Top 10 Reasons Why Hotels Stink

We’ve all endured the pains of staying at hotels. No matter where you’re visiting, your experience at the hotel has a profound effect on how the trip turns out. Here’s our top 10 reasons that hotels stink(!) and cause headaches for innocent travelers who are just looking to enjoy themselves.

10. “Waiter, This Isn’t the Room I Ordered.”
We’ve all been through this one. Everyone’s excited for the vacation to finally start, and naturally the first thing to do is head up to the hotel room to drop off the luggage. Upon opening the door of your hotel room, however, you discover that there has been a horrible, terrible mistake. This isn’t the room you reserved. Maybe you wanted two single beds instead of one queen, or vice versa. Maybe you explicitly asked for a view of the ocean, and instead got a view of the murky pool.

9. Waking Up to the Sound of “Housekeeping!”
You stayed up late last night. And why not? You’re on vacation! You deserve it. Now, all you want is to sleep in and maybe wake up sometime before the sun sets. But unsurprisingly, the hotel’s housekeeper bangs on the door sometime in the early, early morning. Having to deal with housekeeping services in a hotel may seem like a trivial problem, but it’s related to privacy in general.

8. Hassles at the Reception Desk
In order to get into your hotel room, waiting in line at the reception desk is a must. During peak holiday seasons, these lines can sometimes be long and arduous. Furthermore, when checking in, some hotels require several forms of identification. In some instances, the concierge working the desk may even take reservations over the phone before speaking with customers in line. All in all, it can be a real mess.

7. Want to Use the Internet? That’ll Cost You.
In this day in age, the internet plays a key role in our daily lives. Even when on vacation, some might need to keep checking their email, want to read the news, or keep track of other important information found on the internet. Fact is, getting internet access in a hotel is sketchy at best, and often expensive. It is not uncommon for large, nationwide hotel chains (and even smaller, upscale hotels) to charge between $10 and $20 for internet access per day. This exorbitant price can really add up over a week or more of vacation.

6. Pay-Per-View Can Make You Blue
Sometimes the best way to relax after spending a day out on the town is with a movie. Hotels realize this, and offer guests the option of watching movies by purchasing them via a pay-per-view system. The problem is, these movies can often be $10+ per viewing! This is often more than you’d pay if you were to see the movie in a theater! Let’s not even go over the possibility of your children finding the “Adult” section of the pay-per-view movies in a hotel room…

5. Problematic Parking
Hotels are built to cater to hundreds of people at a time. As such, guests are usually required to park in a large lot. This can be stressful for a number of reasons. Hotel guests are often forced to park in a section of the parking lot where their car will not be visible from their hotel room. This can be disconcerting as criminals know that hotel guests often keep valuable luggage in their cars, making hotel parking lots prime locations for breaking into vehicles. To make matters worse, some upscale hotels in urban centers may even charge the hotel guests extra for parking!

4. Additional Charges for Everything
The mini-bar is a testament to the power of capitalism. Here, right in your hotel room, is a tiny refrigerator full of snacks, drinks, alcohol, and sometimes even aspirin or socks. However, while each of these products might be reasonably priced in your neighborhood grocery store, they are outrageously expensive in the mini-bar. Why do hotels charge so much for a tiny bottle of liquor or a few cookies? The convenience of having these items right in your hotel room. Just another example of how hotels will charge extra for absolutely anything. Need to do some laundry? You’ll probably have to pay a fee.

3. Noisy Neighbors
This is an easy one. When staying in a hotel, the walls of your room are usually shared by another room. In some hotel setups, as many as three of your walls may be shared. Depending on the quality of the construction, these walls can range from quite thick to paper-thin. In cases of the latter, this means you’ll be hearing everything your fellow guests are doing. This may include partying, yelling, arguing, drinking, snoring, using filthy language, or other illicit activities – many inappropriate for younger members of the family. Furthermore, this is just another facet of the lack of privacy in most hotels. Keep this in mind: with all those people so close, they’ll be hearing everything you’re doing too! An unsettling thought, but unfortunately one that most hotel guests will have to deal with at some point.

2. Size Matters
Let’s face it, hotel rooms are small. This may seem shocking at first, but it’s true. In fact, just one bedroom in a vacation rental may be bigger than a standard hotel room. Imagine how much more comfortable you’d be on vacation if you had an entire house to call your own instead of a tiny, stuffy, ugly hotel room.

1. The Question of Cleanliness
Several studies performed in the last decade have proven that hotel rooms are some of the least clean public places. These studies have gotten a lot of exposure in various media outlets, from the evening news to national magazines. And they’re not wrong: from the bed to the doorknob to the remote control, hotel rooms can be havens for germs, bacteria and other disgusting things. The sheer amount of people that stay in large hotels should be proof enough that there will be a lot of mileage on those bedsheets, showers, and other items. Yes, most hotels employ cleaning services, but there is no telling how often they clean a room, or how well. Just because a bed is made properly doesn’t mean it’s sanitary.

Quite the list of unpleasantries. In fact, nearly all hotel stays will have you fighting through a majority of these inconveniences – so what’s the alternative? Vacation rentals, which is just a broad term for all kinds of lodging types that are for rent in vacation spots (including homes, condos, townhomes, apartments, cabins, etc.), offer up great alternatives to all the downfalls of themodern hotel. Parking, ample space, privacy, no “add-on” charges, and cleanliness are all a step above when you’re talking about vacation properties.

You also can easily find properties that cater to your particular tastes and needs for your vacation. You’ll likely have a much more enjoyable experience and you’ll save money to boot!

Read more: Top 10 Reasons Why Hotels Stink

Online Horse Classifieds great for Horse Buying Research

Buying a horse can be a very time consuming endeavor, with all the different horse breeds and skills to choose from. The more you become familiar with the process of buying and selling horses, the better your chances will be to end up with the horse to fit your needs. There are many avenues to look for the horse you want, like a local barn, tack shops, newspaper classifieds, and now you can go online and look through thousands of horse for sale classifieds. Take your time and don’t get to overwhelmed. If you make the selection process in a hurry, you might make an unwise purchase. Plan to take from one month to one year to find your ideal horse. Understandably, if you are without a horse, one year mite sound like a very long time, but you can use this time to become more knowledgeable about what you want by taking lessons.

The first thing you must determine is what you really want from a horse, and to what extent you will be using him/her. Will the horse be a trustworthy companion or wonderful Dressage prospect? Buy taking the time and comparing the different classified ads presented to you, will help determine your priorities. Be sure to use the advanced search features each online classified horse website has to offer, this will help you to narrow down your search results.

Once you have found the horse you want, its always a good idea to get a professional opinion when you are buying a horse. Whether or not you use an agent to help you select your horse, you should always have a basic veterinary pre-purchase exam performed. When you seek out professional advice, pay for it and then listen to it! When your instructor or veterinarian cautions you about a horse, it is for a reason. When seeking advice, it is best to a well-respected professional that has no vested interest in the horse sale.

Here is a breakdown of what to look for when a horse is for sale:

* does the horse fit your needs * what skills does the horse possess * does the horse have a good temperament * do comparisons of other similar horses * does the horse fit the selling price * get professional advice * are there any lessons with the sale * make sure to have pre-purchase vet exam * can you afford the upkeep on a horse (such as boarding, feed, and veterinary care.)

Stay focused. Keep in mind that you are selecting a horse for a particular reason or desired skill. There are many decisions and compromises lying ahead, so it helps if you set your priorities clearly at the outset.

If the overall purpose of the horse is to teach you how to ride rather than to carry you to the winner’s circle, then the selection process will emphasize different traits to fit your needs. If the horse is intended to be a long-term project rather than a stepping stone, you may need to invest more time, effort, and money in your purchase. Remember to take your time and use the tools at your disposal, such as online horse classifieds, you will thank yourself in the end.

Read more: Online Horse Classifieds great for Horse Buying Research

Parking at Cardiff Airport

Due to my profession as a director of a well-known supermarket chain I frequently fly out of Cardiff airport to Newcastle and Manchester but I also used the facility for short summer holidays to Malta and Amsterdam. You do not have to consider, if you want to park your vehicle here, from which terminal your flight departs as Cardiff airport only contains one terminal. As a frequent flier I’ve used nearly every available parking option at Cardiff International airport and I think I’ve become somewhat of a specialist on the subject.

First of all I would suggest always arrange your car parking in advance online. Booking through the internet is the most comfortable way and you will not need to rush getting through customs. Also a benefit is that online booking saves you a couple of pounds due to the discounted rates which are only available on the internet.

Most of the parking agencies which are available at and near Cardiff airport offer satisfactory services and are excellently secured and run by professionally staff. The same standards of security and services are offered almost everywhere you go. Mostly the parking agencies have a different location and parking prices vary. I always base my decision on where to park on how much money I want to spend and how much time I need on the day I have to travel.

If you are going to use one of Cardiff airport’s parking facilities for the first time and you haven’t figured out yet where you want to park your vehicle, the short descriptions below of some of the better car parking sites with easy check in procedures might help you making the right choice.

The Highwayman is a family-run business which was established ten years ago. They are positioned at the runway’s end. Because of the excellent security measures they hold the prestigious Police Gold Star Award. Their car park is dog patrolled 24 hours per day and supplied with CCTV. A free of charge transport service is catered for as well. Due to the company’s ten years of experience in the parking business you can be completely sure regarding the safety of your automobile during your absence.

Directly opposite the airport terminal building you can find the long duration parking facility which is operated by NCP. Some areas of the site are just a stone’s throw away from the terminal. During the busy summer months you probably have to park you’re your car at the further away areas but for your convenience during this time the company provide a transfer service which operates every five minutes with a travel time of just a few minutes. Cardiff Airparks Services is another good choice. They operate several other well-secured airport parking facilities across the United Kingdom. Their Cardiff parking site is located nearby the airport terminal. You will be transferred for free to the terminal building.

Over the past 18 months I’ve really had the opportunity to check out all the other available methods and I found out that the online booking services which are listed below are the most convenient ones. The easiest and quickest means of arranging car parking at Cardiff airport is offered by them. No fuss, all it takes is just a few clicks with your mouse.

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Visiting Europe? Keep these 6 tips in mind!

Travelling to Europe can be a wonderful and life-changing experience, but many people don’t enjoy it the way they could and should because of the little annoyances that pop up during the trip.

Here are a few tips to ensure you can make the most of your travel through Europe:

1. Instead of taking a taxi to your hotel it might be a lot better to share an airport shuttle with a few other travellers. Airport taxis are usually more expensive and some unscrupulous drivers will take side routes or even mess with the meter just to get more money out of your pocket.

With an airport shuttle you save money and you don’t have to worry about directions or finding the hotel; plus, you can get picked up again at the end of your stay and dropped off at the airport.

2. Take your time when travelling! Some people go on vacation doing a speed tour of every city and location they can think of, and this really is not the way to travel anywhere. Travelling this way will only exhaust you and you won’t get to enjoy each city the way you should.

Remember this: it’s good to plan ahead but don’t stick to it if you feel that you haven’t spent enough time somewhere. It’s better to go back another time and pick up where you left off than to go home tired and disappointed with the experience.

3. Are you sure you have enough time to visit all the places you want? Make sure that you reserve 2 or 3 days for each location and half a day or a full day for travelling from one place to another.

Given this reasoning for a 10 day trip you should plan to visit 3 or 4 places at the most, and a 15 day trip would be suitable for 6 destinations.

It is also helpful if you plan ahead for a route that will take you less time to travel from destination to destination – saving on travel time will give you more time to do other things.

4. Rent a car or go by train? Both options have pros and cons, so it’s worth thinking which is suitable for you.

Renting a car can give you freedom that a train can’t: for example in France there are a lot of vineyards that offer free wine tasting or dairy farms with free cheese tastings. Just pop out of the car and enjoy!

On the other hand, trains are best when you are short on time and money – unlike the United States, train fares are cheaper here and the distances are not that great. Also, if you stick to major cities you’ll most likely get there faster than in a car. If you plan on visiting smaller towns or even villages chances are that a train runs through there, so going by rail is always a good choice!

5. Gas Prices – if renting a car you should also be aware of the higher gas prices in Europe. While the average price per gallon in the United States is hovering around $2.50 in Europe you won’t find it cheaper than $4 per gallon, and that’s at best. Some European countries have it at around $7 per gallon.

That train ride sounds better and better, huh?

6. Bring batteries and power adapters – if you’re from Asia or the United States be sure to bring batteries and power adapters for every electronic device that you have with you.

Although you can find them in Europe too, they are cheaper in your country and you wouldn’t want your camcorder dying on you when you really need it!

Keep these tips in mind and your trip to Europe will be the best one in your life!

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How to Find The Best Hotel Deals

When you are scheduling your vacation or business trip, take a little extra time to search for hotel deals to be able to spend more money on other portions of your trip. Remember that cheap does not always equate to good hotel deals, rather what you are getting for the price you are paying will determine the value of your choice.

For example, if the majority of facilities in a certain area book rooms at $100 a night and you can find one for $50 a night, do not be surprised if the towels are pretty worn through or the staff is slow at responding to your needs. With some hotel deals the free breakfast may be a three-day-old donut and yesterday’s coffee and while price may seem like a good deal, you will get what your pay for.

Many times, hotels with a higher visitor satisfaction rating may offer hotel deals when you stay a certain number of nights or book the room along with airline reservations giving you the opportunity to stay at a more luxurious location for a reduced rate. Having the amenities of a top of the line hotel for middle of the road prices will make those hotel deals that much better.

Keeps Eyes Open For Seasonal Specials

Frequently, hotel deals are available just before or after a holiday as hotels try to keep their revenue flow regardless of the season. However, if you are booking a room through a holiday, there may be a major price difference on specific days if they occur while an important event is going on. In a college town, for instance, the few days of the year when the students are coming to town with their parents and the rooms will all be booked, you probably will not be able to find any good hotel deals.

The same could be true in a resort area where more travelers are coming in for a holiday or special event. Hotel operators are going to keep their rates as high as the market will bear and hotel deals will be at a premium. You may not even be able to take advantage of special rewards during specific periods, as many places will have black out dates and only a certain number of rooms are available for hotel deals based on your rewards. Once those rooms are gone, the rates will not go down.

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The Effects of Stress – How Adrenaline Adds Years to Your Face

A threat is a threat as far as your subconscious mind is concerned. Whether real or imagined your brain reacts in the same way to any ‘threat’ – by pumping stress hormones into your bloodstream.

It’s these stress hormones that trigger immediate changes in your body’s biochemical state. You have experienced it – we all have – raised blood pressure, palpitations and mental reactions such as anger, fear, worry or aggression.

In short, stress upsets your normal bodily balance. Of course nature doesn’t do this to you lightly. Adrenaline is released for a reason – to save your life. Raised adrenaline levels prepare your body to run away from trouble or to confront it with a superhuman effort in dangerous situations.

Adrenaline is the reason you could survive a life-threatening situation. Adrenaline is also at least partly responsible for great sporting achievements or a supreme test of endurance. Unfortunately, when the stress response occurs in less threatening situations, the adrenaline released simply causes burn out and disruption to your body.

Think about a situation which caused you acute anxiety recently – a job interview; standing up in public to say a few words; confronting a personal difficulty with a friend or colleague; an argument at home. You probably felt your heart thumping, your brain racing, your blood pressure increase and every sense in your body on high alert.

When the situation was over no doubt you felt exhausted – physically and mentally drained. That is the toll the stress response takes on your body. Fine if it saved your life – but extremely harmful otherwise.

Most times the extra chemicals in your bloodstream from the stress response don’t get used – for instance in fleeing for your life or fighting off attackers. Many times the imaginary or real threat persists over a long period. In this way your immune system is affected and you can become more prone to mental and physical illnesses.

It can happen to anybody from a high profile business executive to a student, or a home-maker. We are all are burning out our energies to defend ourselves from real or perceived causes of stress.

You probably won’t be at all surprised to learn that stress accelerates the aging process. The stress response upsets your body’s natural balance which causes damage to hormone secretion, cell repair and collagen production.

So next time you look at someone and conclude they must have had a hard or a sad life – based on what you see on their face – the chances are you’re right. Worry, anxiety and stress really do etch themselves on our faces.

Read more: The Effects of Stress – How Adrenaline Adds Years to Your Face