Tiep Travel

For those who recently purchased static caravans it has hit them hard. With water leaks and burst pipes as well as boiler breakdowns the cost to unprepared caravan owners was immense.

Many should have learned a lesson, that winterisation of your Static Caravan is paramount to ensuring that costs are reduced. However, it seems that many will still forget what happened last year and not drain down their static caravans.

For many caravan owners the start of the 2012 season has been a difficult one. They started their season with costs arising from burst pipes which in some cases could run into £1000’s. Winterisation is something owners can forget, but they should learn lessons of the past and ensure they drain their caravan before winter.

Some caravan parks offer a year round maintenance plan to help owners ensure that their caravans are in tip-top condition. This allows them to help owners spend quality time when they visit their holiday home and for those who cannot get to their caravan in time for winter or are unsure of what to do.

It is paramount that before extreme weather conditions start and having purchased a static

1. Check Weather

Don’t just assume that you’d be fine on the trail. Hot weather comes with a lot of risks. It is important to check the weather forecast before planning a trip.

Humidity can be a sign of rainfall. Be prepared in advance.

Thunderstorms are also much more likely to occur when it’s hot. Keep yourself safe in all situations. So, check the weather before going out.

2. Start Early or Finish Late

Another good way to avoid heat is to start your trip early in the morning or in the late afternoon or evening. Skip the midday heat, don’t hike between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hike during the coolest time of day. Be an Early Bird or a Night Owl.

3. Choose Your Trail Wisely

Hiking in a shady forest is different from on an uncovered mountain pass. So, it’s important to choose your trail wisely. Your trail should include shady sections where you can rest for few minutes.

Try to find a trail that runs along running water/river.

You can get drinking water easily
You’ll be able to refresh yourself and cool down.
A trail

Bang Pae Waterfall

Phuket is not home to a great deal of large waterfalls, but Bang Pae Waterfall is without a doubt the biggest. A place to seek shade and cool down when the weather gets too hot, it is based in the Eastern part of the island and is accessible from condominium rental in Phuket. Picnic facilities are available to members of the public. The entrance fee is 200 baht per person, but it’s a magical place to spend the New Year with someone special.

The Big Buddha

Standing tall at 43 metres, the Big Buddha of Phuket is one of its most famous attractions. Expect it to get very busy during sunset, when the photo opportunities are indescribable. The Buddha is noticeable from various parts of the island and when staying at condominium rental in Phuket, you won’t have trouble getting to it via taxi, bus or tuk tuk. If you’re staying in a desirable location, you could even walk. Follow the red signs if you are not sure where to locate the tourist attraction.

Coral Island

The locals would refer to Coral Island as Koh Hae and if you plan

Can’t afford the Mexican Resort?- Take your kids to Pilsen the Mexican neighborhood right off the 18th st. pink line train stop. Your kids will be able to experience authentic Mexican culture in America rather than a sterile cruise and resort where everyone speaks English. Get educated at The National Museum of Mexican Art located at 1859 W. 19th St. Visit a Panaderia(Mexican bakery). Let your kids pick a yummy pastry. Don’t forget to pick one out for yourself too!

The week after, visit Chinatown! When the weather is warmer take the kids to Ping Tom Park. The possibilities of touring the world within Chicago are endless.

Resort activities- How about taking your kids and doing Zumba together? This works better for children 7 and older. I took my son to a Zumba class with the permission of the teacher. Set the example for your kids that movement is wonderful.

How about family karaoke? A great place to do karaoke with the family over dinner is at Hiromi’s located on 3609 W. Lawrence. It’s a quaint family run Filipino/Japanese karaoke restaurant. No stage needed. You can sit right at the table and sing your heart

Firstly, some of the best British holidays take place among the tranquil beauty of the Scottish highlands. As the UK’s northernmost region, the highlands offer stunning scenery in a truly remote setting. Whether it’s an exciting boat ride around the famous Loch Ness in search for the illustrious Nessie or simply enjoying a pint among locals in a cosy Scottish pub, you can personalise your highlands holiday for optimal enjoyment.

Over at the opposite end of the country are two of the best English counties for a relaxing domestic holiday – Devon and Cornwall. You can get to know the southwest corner of Britain by exploring the National Marine Aquarium, the famous Dartington Crystal headquarters, Dartmoor National Park, the Penlee House Gallery, St. Michael’s Mount and many other fascinating landmarks that have given the region its glowing reputation.

Of course, you can’t discuss domestic holidays in the UK without mentioning some of the country’s famous cities. London is one of the world’s most-visited cities for a reason, and you can guarantee that you’ll never be bored when visiting the bustling English capital. For a similar experience without all the crowds, you can visit the Scottish capital

Start a journal to record all inquiries for your property. Write down their name, address, phone number and email address, the number of people in their party and dates that they are interested in renting. Keep this information regardless of whether they end up renting or not. It will be useful later when you have cancellations or available rental periods.

In the second half of your journal, record all bookings for your property. Keep a calendar to record which weeks are booked, adding the name and dates for each party. This will show availability and the weeks that are taken at a glance. Bring this along with you whenever you can. You never know when you will meet someone who is interested in your property. Add your housekeeper’s schedule to the bottom of this calendar or add it to your journal. It’s important to give a copy of this to your housekeeper each time changes are made so you are always in sync.

Start two email lists and record each inquiry to the first list and each renter to the second list. Send out specials, cancellations or available weeks to the emails on each appropriate list.

Share with Multiple Families

Another way to save on a beach vacation is to share a condo or rental house with more than one family. Most of these homes are very spacious, and many offer three or more bedrooms. Planning a group trip with additional families can really drive down the cost of the condo.

Find Free Entertainment

Many beachside attractions attempt to draw people in, but these can often be very expensive. Instead of spending half of the budget on activities, find some forms of free entertainment that the family can enjoy.

The beach itself is an obvious attraction that can take up hours of the day. Pack a small cooler with drinks and snacks and spend all day soaking up the sun and playing in the waves.

If everyone gets tired of being at the beach, go inside, watch a DVD from home, and eat popcorn. It may also be a good idea to bring along the family video game console to enjoy at night. Just keep these activities to a minimum in order to fully enjoy the time spent together.

For an inexpensive option outside of the house, check

The Room

If you are looking for a place that is perfect for a family meal, then you should try the Room. The Room has a comfortable atmosphere and serves a variety of delicious dishes. You can enjoy a delicious meal at this restaurant while staying at one of the spacious Paignton holiday cottages. Some of the dishes you can try at the Room are; thyme jus and summer peas, Paignton crab cooked in chive mayonnaise with fennel and watermelon, bay scallops with cabbage and lemon, lobster royale and lemongrass cream, Cornish lamb rump with roasted artichoke and roasted halibut with celeriac. The restaurant has an impressive wine and champagne list. You can order a nice bottle of wine to go along with your meal. The wine list includes rose, white and red wines. You can call in advance and book a table for your family. This is one of the places you can enjoy a fine meal with your family while staying at Paignton cottages.

Paignton Pier

One of the first places you can visit during your stay at the comfortable Paignton holiday cottages is Paignton Pier. Paignton Pier is a popular attraction and

Venture just a few minutes out of the hustle and bustle you will definitely be greeted by landscapes with lush greenery, dusty paths and sheer rugged hillsides. Here you cannot miss the villas that are meticulously restored and will give you an uninterrupted view of the unspoilt coves, hilly terrain, and stunning sea and beyond. Life at the countryside is untouched for centuries, and still continues to be traditional, and is bustling during the day with nature lovers who come to soak up its vibrant atmosphere. Known as ‘the campo’ or countryside, this is a must explore and you are bound to have a fantastic adventure on the way, whilst absorbing the breathtaking scenery that envelops this stunning little paradise. Some villas have their own stables and that leaves us with a must not to miss way to explore the island’s countryside on horseback.

Sprinkled with Carob, almond trees and figs, pine woods and olives, and hundreds of miles of unblemished shoreline with little paths leading down to quiet coves one can find some of the most beautiful beaches and tranquil waters. These paths are mostly known to the locals – so it would be the best

Timing

What you need to remember is that the bus tours operate at scheduled times which means you need to be ready for pick up at given times. Apart from arriving on time to pick you up a good company could offer to come right to your accommodation facility to pick you up rather than creating a terminal for everyone. Determine what works best for your convenience when choosing among the tours. Drop-offs should be just as suitable.

On board snacks and drinks

Some tours can be quite long depending on the areas they are designed to cover in a day. Because you may not have the luxury to keep stopping to snack or eat because of the time schedules, it is important to consider what is offered on board so you can pack anything else as you deem fit. Some companies offer complimentary morning snacks, sandwiches and even water at no extra cost. The more you know the better prepared you will be for your day tour.

Sight stops

When it comes to bus tours, you are likely to stop at some sights and check others out from the bus. Find out

Vacationers all over the world are moving away from staying in traditional hotels and resorts and expanding their horizons to include luxury home rentals. Websites such as HomeAway and Air B&B are making headlines with the growing popularity in the use of private residences for vacations. Rates are offered on a weekly basis. However, monthly rates and extended stay options are also available to fit the diverse needs of travelers.

The use of private residences as vacation rentals combine the convenience and amenities offered by hotels and resorts with the privacy and indulgence of a luxury home. Clients enjoy a fully furnished homes that include fully equipped kitchens making staying in an attractive and relaxing option. Though hotels and resorts often have many suite options to choose from, private residences tend to provide more space and versatility. They are also great for entertaining.

Affordability is also an excellent point to consider as luxury rentals tend to be far more affordable than renting a suite or penthouse. Manuel Antonio offers accommodations starting as low $200 per night. They have options that start at condos and apartments. More indulgent and larger villas are also available in excess of

These backpacks are designed with specially installed lightweight solar panels giving superb facelift to the natural sunrays. There are photovoltaic cells on these bags to convert the solar energy into electrical energy compatible for charging your gadgets and devices.

How Can You Use the Energy on the Solar Backpacks?

When exposed to the sunlight, the solar panels start charging the photovoltaic cells automatically. Using a connector to these small batteries, you can start charging devices like MP3 Player, Smartphone, Digital Cameras and similar small gadgets.

Key Advantages of Using Solar Backpacks

Portable and Lightweight

The solar backpacks are very lightweight much like any ordinary trendy student bag. You can store all your essentials while on a journey while keeping your devices charged on the go.

Convenient Source of Green Energy When Outdoors

One of the prime reasons of rising popularity of the solar bags is the joy of using clean eco-friendly energy for charging the small devices. The devices will receive the energy in the same form as from a powerbank or plugged in electricity. Hence, you do not have to worry about damage issues when using the solar energy.

1. Find the Right Destination

The beaches in the United States are certainly beautiful but perhaps you are looking for something more exotic. If this is the case, the Mediterranean can be the perfect tropical destination spot. Perhaps you would like to go to sunny Spain or the posh French Riviera, or you could head further out to the island of Cyprus and enjoy some breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and the mountainous regions of Turkey.

2. Evaluating Costs

Once you have chosen the spot you need to factor in the cost. You may have found the perfect locale but can you afford a rental house or just a small villa? There are several different travel websites that can assist you in finding that perfect, affordable place on the beach.

3. Finding the Right Sized Rental

Next you need to make sure you are able to accommodate the number of people coming with you. You don’t want to rent a 2 bedroom villa in Tahiti when there are 8 people in your party. You need to find the right size to make sure everyone is comfortable and has their own space. This

If the name of the trail seems familiar, it is because it is named after the Greek goddess Artemis, daughter of Zeus and Leto. What makes the trail more exciting and intriguing is it brings you around the summit of Mt. Olympus, the home to the gods of the Greek Mythology, and locally known as Chionistra. Reaching the summit takes you a little more than 1800 meters above sea level. This means you will be at an excellent vantage point for the spectacular scenery, which include views of iconic villages like Paphos and Limassol.

Linking up to the Atalanti Trail, Artemis Trail is actually a rough circular loop, and covers 7 kilometers. It begins and ends in the small car park just off the summit road of Olympus. The trail leads to shaded areas but also open ones that offer breathtaking views of the mountain. Even though Artemis takes about three hours to complete, the trail is relatively flat, and that is why it is perfect for new hikers with varying fitness levels.

Mount Olympus is not the only highlight to the trail, Artemis also leads to the “Walls of the Old Town” (Teisia tis Palias

1) Well known for its beaches, so if you’re planning a stay then you’ll probably visit the principle beach of Playa l’Ampolla, which is located next to the fortress. The second local beach is at El Portet, located on the north side of the marina. Both are Blue Flag beaches and un-crowded at peak times, cleaned daily and are safe places for families and their children. If you take a kayak from the beach then you’ll discover some glorious sandy coves very close by, which you’ll probably have to yourself, so don’t forget the picnic, water and sun cream.

2) There are plenty of things which you can do in the area whilst on holiday, for which activities include go-karting, fishing, golf, tennis, squash, as well as all other water sports including skiing, scuba diving and snorkeling.

3) The town and the surrounding areas are known for great restaurants, for which all serve local fish and delicious paella. Varieties of other cuisines are also available and include English, Italian, Mexican, Greek, Moroccan, Indian, Chinese and Thai. So you’re sure to find something to tempt you.

4) The Moors and Christians’ fiesta is the most famous

1. Read and Understand Your Rental Agreement – If there is one place to take your time, it would be when reading your rental agreement. Look for any extra fees and make sure you know how your rental deposit factors into your rental pricing. Will breaking specific rules mean extra costs for you? Ask as many question as possible, and it never hurts to have someone with no connection to your trip look over the agreement(s).

2. Check Local Renter Rights and Laws – It may feel like overkill, but knowing where you stand as a renter is always beneficial. Consider that you may be in another state or country. The last thing you want to depend on is hunches and general knowledge regain your rights.

3. Have a Detailed Walk-Through and Document Everything – When you get to your luxury condo, don’t be taken in by the glitz and glamour that comes with a high ticket rental property. As you would in renting an apartment, go through and check the premises for any problems such as stains, chips, scratches, and general upkeep that needs to be taken care of before you finalize an agreement. Take

Almond blossom –

When the worst of the Mallorca winter is finally subsided, and the sky is blue with a touch of liveliness, the island is nothing but hundred and a thousand’s mixture of approximate four million almond trees, decorating the place, then yes you are in Mallorca in its late winter and it is indeed time for bliss. The story says that these were once planted by a Moorish ruler, who wanted to woo his Scandinavian queen, who was tired of winter around her. The late winters in Mallorca is the perfect time for a wonderful occasion for stately homes, now turned into luxury hotel, offering the best of the best spa experience.

Golf-

When summers are more of swimming and surfing, why not use the winter to catch up with some golf lessons? The golf courses of Mallorca offer the best of the instructors and golf courses, with slashed price. The upmarket Son Vida on the outskirts of Palma, is a must for all golf lovers. Also indulge in the three courses, Son Quint, Son Vida and Son Muntaner, the best places, also very close to the airport.

Tramuntana hike-

Away