Alaska's Alyeska Resort - Family And Ski Vacation Extraordinaire

The "Land of the Midnight Sun" has always been an amazing source of raw, rugged beauty and many think of Alaska only as a great summertime vacation destination. On the other hand, if you like to ski you may want to consider Alaska when planning your next ski vacation because it has some of the best skiing in the world.

And one of the top resorts in all of Alaska is the Alyeska Resort. Alyeska has a top elevation slightly above 2,700 feet, a vertical drop of 2,500 and the area gets an average annual snowfall of 631 inches.

In addition to offering some of the best skiing in the world, another nice benefit of Alyeska is that you won't run into long lift lines or overly crowded slopes. There are nine lifts, including six chair lifts, two surface lifts and one cable car line. The majority of their trails are designed for the intermediate skier but with 68 trails they also have countless runs for both the beginner and expert.

Night skiing is not only allowed but it may be one of most awe inspiring ski experiences you'll ever have. Snow capped mountains, hanging glaciers and the infamous Northern Lights are just a few of the visual bonuses of night skiing at Alyeska. It was ranked number nine in Skiing Magazine's annual top twenty-five killer ski trip reviews.

The season begins in mid November and runs through mid April at Alyeska and with close to sixteen hours of daylight each day during April, this area of Alaska boasts the longest period of daylight anywhere in the United States. On the other hand, in December, there are only about seven hours of daylight but with their fabulous night time skiing it's really not an issue.

The Alyeska Prince Hotel is the wonderful place to stay. You'll enjoy elegant rooms, fine dining and nightly entertainment is also available. In addition, there are other nightlife watering holes in the area that are not associated with the hotel.

If tubing interests you, then visiting the Glacier Tubing Park is an absolute must. It features two lanes of terrain and a surface lift and everyone in the family will enjoy spending time at the tubing park. The Alyeska Terrain Park is a must for snowboarding enthusiasts. Other winter activities that can be enjoyed in and around the Alyeska Resort include flight seeing, heliskiing, ocean cruising tours, dog sledding, ice climbing, back country skiing, mountaineering and polar bear watching tours.

The Alyeska Resort not only offers some of the best skiing on the continent but when you consider the broad range of available winter activities that can be enjoyed by the entire family, it represents one of the best winter vacation destinations in the world - bar none.

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Air Travel And Luxury Vacations: How Airlines Work

In this new age of information, the concept of people being able to book their own luxury vacations has permeated the mindset of many travelers. These new trends began when airlines made air tickets available for purchase over the Internet. This truly revolutionized the travel industry. But buyer beware, the truth is hidden! When you think you are getting the best air deal available, you may not get the whole story. Take a look behind the scenes on how airline ticketing works.

The Airline’s Goal

When the time comes for you to buy your airline ticket, whether it’s airfare for the beginning of a luxury world cruise or for a quick trip to visit out of state relatives, keep in mind that the airline’s goal is to make people pay in a hurry. By changing prices on a daily basis, airlines attempt to pressure travelers into buying the ticket at that moment. They wish to take you for as much as possible as soon as possible. To enforce this attitude, airlines also charge huge premiums for last minute tickets. Why? Because they can, and because the desperate traveler will pay for it.

Air Tickets and Travel Agents


Now more than ever, airlines are making tickets available online. Keep in mind; though airlines promise the best ticket price, they are talking about for that particular flight. This does not mean that all flights are made available for purchase. If you are dedicated to finding the best price on your own, you should call the airlines directly. But the best choice for all luxury travel vacations and airline tickets is to call your local travel agency. You will probably be charged a small service fee for air tickets, but may still end up paying less than you would online. They will save you the time and hassle of calling the airline yourself. But there are some key terms you need to keep in mind. You can “reserve” a seat with an airline, meaning it is placed on hold and you must pay for it one week before you depart. The only way to reserve is directly with the airlines, and some big name travel agencies like American Express Travel.

Airlines spend millions of marketing dollars to convince you to go to their website to book air tickets. For some travelers interested in purchasing cheap airfare to add on to their luxury travel vacation, the Internet may be a good place to begin. But airlines keep the pressure on by changing prices and holding the threat of selling out to attempt to make travelers pay the most money as quickly as possible. Use all resources available and call a travel agency or the airline direct. Don’t let anyone bully you into paying more!

A Fiji Vacation Package To The Matangi Island Resort

A Fiji Vacation package to a Fijian island sounds like a dream, but the island you select is vitally important. The Matangi Island resort is the perfect solution and in fact is also an ideal place for a Fiji honeymoon. Matangi is like having your own private Fijian Island, and it is a very exclusive small resort, combining privacy, lovely beaches, great staff to guest ratio, good snorkeling, scuba diving, and superb food.

Matangi is a 240 acre island which is privately owned in Fiji’s northern group of islands. It has 11 beachfront bures, and 3 tree house suites; all built traditionally, and each with superb views. The beachfront bures are under the palm trees, and well spaced out for privacy. Each bure has king sized beds in the very spacious sleeping area. There is a good size living area, good en-suite facilities and a verandah. In fact exactly the facilities you would expect to find in a first class luxury hotel, except it looks like a traditional Fijian village where you don’t have to wear shoes!!

It is all to easy to take a Fijian vacation Package and never quite see the real Fiji, the kind of Fiji island vacation where you abandon your watch, your laptop, your television viewing schedule and get the chance to see life Fiji style.

You can do this at Matangi, where meals are announced by the traditional Fijian Lali Drum, and you very quickly begin to live your life not by the clock but by the drum.

Meals are served in the Dining Bure or on the Deck which sits out over the water with wonderful views over the neighboring islands. All three meals plus snacks are included in the daily rate.

The food here is excellent. For breakfast there is a hot menu and a fruit and cereal buffet style selection.

Lunch and Dinner has the choice of salad or soup, a main course and sweet. Add to this afternoon tea and cakes and evening appetizers.

The only things you have to pay for are alcohol, because water, tea, coffee and breakfast juices are included in the daily rate. The menu changes every day and the service is excellent.

One of the best opportunities given whilst staying on Matangi is to be around the local islanders, and the resort ensures you have the chance of doing just this.

There are weekly trips to a traditional Fijian village on the neighboring island of Qama, and if you possibly can then ask to go to the Fijian mass at the Catholic church on Taveuni. Take a picnic on honeymoon cove, and go to the waterfalls.

It is very true to say that Matangi isn’t just for a vacation. Many visitors come to get married, and many many more for the perfect Fiji honeymoon vacation, resort or package. This is a truly romantic spot in a very romantic part of the world. It is the perfect place to relax after all the excitement of organizing and actually getting married!!

A few final points to make. Remoteness has its slight drawbacks, and one of them is the price of alcoholic drinks which have to be imported.

Also you need to be prepared for the flight from Nadi/Suva to Taveuni, as the aircraft is only a fifteen seater.

This is small, so if you don’t enjoy flying, it will be an experience worth relating when you get home.

Matangi doesn’t take credit cards, but again you’ll only need to worry about your drinks bill because you’ll have paid the rest up front. In addition there seems to be no tipping, although you can make a contribution to the staff fund

Matangi is worth it, and finally the cream on the cake is the exquisite snorkeling on unspoilt reefs. Just go, and enjoy your own best Fiji resort.

A Relaxing Vacation In Altea, Spain

Altea, Spain is a small town in the Costa Blanca and is located roughly nine miles north of Benidorm, a popular Costa Blanca city. Altea is one of the few villages in the region that has maintained the atmosphere of a fishing village, creating a tourist area without sacrificing its natural beauty. This small village offers its visitor an atmosphere much more peaceful and quiet than the larger cities. The mountains surrounding the village keep the climate comfortable in the summer months as well as the winter months when the mountains help protect the village from cold winds.

Most visitors to the village fly into the Alicante airport located about an hours drive from the town. There are buses and trains available at the airport to take you to the village, or you can rent a car from one of the car hire companies at the airport. With real estate growing in Altea, you will find many new hotels and apartments in which you can stay.

Altea is the perfect destination for a quiet, relaxing vacation in one of the most beautifully landscaped areas in the Costa Blanca region. Many writers and painters come to the village for its tranquility and beautiful surroundings. The length of stay varies, but most visiting writers and painters stay in the area surrounding the old church, Nuestra Senora Del Conseulo. This church was built in 1910 and has a beautiful Mediterranean style design with its hand-painted tiles and blue dome roof. In fact, the church’s roof is a landmark in the area.

Walking tours are the best way to experience Altea and are available in the town or the surrounding mountains. You can take a private tour or a guided tour of the trails around the village. If you enjoy nature, the mountain walking tours are a great way to enjoy the beautiful surroundings in a tranquil environment.

A short distance from the beach and harbor area is a selection of small stores for shopping. Many stores break for an afternoon siesta from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 or 5:00 p.m., but the stores are generally open from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Larger stores may stay open all day. There is also a craft market open from Easter through September, offering another opportunity for shopping. You can find a wide variety of reasonably priced handmade items for sale at the market. The market is near the harbor area.

Despite its small size, golfers will still be in luck with the Altea Golf Club offering a great course for visitors to the area. The beautiful climate in the area is great for golfing, especially with the comfortable summers and mild winters. Finally, for some nightlife or more popular tourist attractions, you can take a trip to the nearby city of Benidorm where you will find vibrant nightlife, theme parks and water parks. You can travel to Benidorm by car or by train.

A Coastal Vacations Director Links Consumers To The Best Vacations

When looking for a great family vacation, a coastal sales associate knows the best destinations. Travelers usually do not know the best sites for a great coastal vacation. They look through the newspaper and phone book for special deals.

However, many coastal vacation ads promise great deals but do not deliver. A coastal vacation associate with a home based travel agency will research the sites may visit the sites themselves and recommend only the best vacations.

When customers reach a coastal call center, the coastal sales associate directs the traveler to the best family vacation package available.

The trip recommended by the coastal sales associate may take the family to Florida, California or even the Bahamas. The coastal call center representative of the home based travel agency answers important questions such as:

* How many days do you want to stay?
* Do you prefer a hotel by the beach or in town?
* What time of year will you travel?
* What kind of attractions do you want to visit while on vacation?
* Will this entire family go on this vacation?

The coastal sales associate can give the answers the family needs to make the best decision about their coastal vacation. With the assistance of a coastal sales associate operating from a home based travel agency, no one takes a bad vacation.

Many people desire their own travel agent business. Anyone interested in travel can become a coastal sales associate. Many people start a home based travel agency.

A coastal sales associate can experience the freedom of earning a great salary while working the hours he or she chooses to work.

While operating the home based travel agency, the coastal sales associate learns about the best coastal vacation travel packages available.

The coastal sales associate takes advantage of the travel deals and if the coastal sales associate chooses to use a costal vacation call center, he or she will enjoy a higher income.

The coastal vacation call center answers calls directed from the coastal sales associate and provides information to the caller. The coastal call center employees give costal sales associates a full-time, professional sales staff that closes, handles objections, and collects the money.

The coastal call center employees practically operate the home based travel agency for the coastal sales associate.

The coastal vacation call center does not encourage the coastal sales associate not to sell on his or her own. Instead, the coastal vacation call center adds another sales tool for the coastal sales associate.

The coastal sales associate must generate leads and referral to the call center. A good coastal sales associate with a home based travel agency works smarter, not harder.

The coastal sales associate obtains money, travel opportunities and financial freedom with a home based travel agency business. The coastal call center takes the worry out of “closing the deal” for the coastal sales associate by handling all the details.

With many people choosing to open a home based travel agency business, a smart coastal sales associate will take advantage of all the resources available.

A Nice Savanna Vacation

Almost everyone have their own ideal vacation spot. This usually considered as the perfect place where the worries and toils of survival can be forgotten momentarily. And two natural elements that often characterize this ideal vacation spot are the sun and the ocean.

There must be something about the sea that makes people flock to it. But humans we know are very unique. So for some reasons, other people would rather go for a vacation spot that offer peace and serenity, and perhaps a change of scenery. This for me is what a Savanna vacation represents. The city is replete with historical monuments and other facilities for a relaxing holiday.

For those who have never been to Savanna, you may want to consider it as your next vacation spot. It is certainly a beautiful city; with a pronounced serenity you can't fail to notice as I did the first time I visited the place.

I heard about this classic city as an ideal vacation spot from my brother. I went online and did further research on my own to have a good grasp of this holiday spot. I discovered the city seems to have all that is required for a serene retreat or better still a romantic weekend.

Though Savanna vacation might be an unpopular choice for many holiday fun seekers, it certainly sounds fine to me.

I never really had any chance for a honeymoon when I got married, so I decided that a trip to Savanna will be a perfect romantic getaway. The Internet will provide all the information you want about this majestic city. If historical buildings and architecture fascinates you, then Savanna vacation is tailor made for you.

There are also many exotic dining and shopping districts, and of course captivating sights that attracts many people to the city. The location of the city on the waterfront also provides tourists the opportunity to ride on fairy boats, or take leisure strolls down the coast. An ideal holiday spot don't come better that this.

Because Savanna was once a prosperous place, there is an erroneous belief that the natives don't care about new folks coming in; nothing can be farther fro the truth. Those seeking a serene getaway or romantic weekend can testify to how they were welcomed with open arms.

The natives are nice people. The huge resource of the Internet can provide numerous websites that discussed ideal Savanna vacations. These sites will usually list the interesting places to visit and the desirable things to do. For those searching for that special romantic getaway with their wives or partners, Savanna vacation it's got to be.

A Family Vacation Getaway In One Of The Best Luxury Hotels In Krabi Thailand

So far as luxury hotels go anywhere in the Far East, the Rayavadee in Krabi Thailand is as good if not better than most other luxury hotels.

It is a great beach vacation hotel, with 77 rooms, perfect for a family vacation getaway, and equally fantastic for a honeymoon vacation special deal.

The Rayavadee has to be seen to be believed and everything from the staff to the accommodation, to the grounds, the beaches, and the food are close to being perfect. Krabi is possibly one of the most beautiful places on earth so it is just the perfect position for the Rayavadee.

You have to get to Rayavadee by boat, and the first thing that will strike you is the boat. White leather upholstery and the crew all in matching sailors uniforms. Initial impressions are lasting ones, and this certainly makes you feel you are going to a luxury resort. Moving from the speedboat to reception, the impression continues with details all being taken whilst sitting down with hot towels and drinks, which beats standing around a crowded reception area any time.

The accommodation is top class, and if you are on a family vacation getaway there is the family villa with two bedrooms, one on the ground floor, the extra bedroom being the only difference from the De Luxe Pavilion

A two storey villa, and it is so well equipped with all mod cons. It is the small touches like the bathroom own brand products, the bottles of water everywhere, tea, coffee, and biscuits replaced every day. More food and drinks in a huge sideboard, and chocolates left every night by the bed.

A huge bath which holds two, is a feature of the bathroom, and a huge bed are all part of the ambiance.

A great luxury resort has great food, and on a family vacation getaway with hungry kids to feed, this is a very important consideration. If the reader is considering the Rayavadee for a Beach honeymoon vacation special then food is probably high on your agenda.

You will find the restaurants at the Rayavadee are all of the very best, with impeccable service in each of the four different restaurants. It is fair to say that food is not cheap but the views are just out of this world, and you may find it sensible to go down the beach and eat instead, where you will pay perhaps $15 instead of $100, and get genuine Thai food. It’s perfectly safe and worth the effort.

If you want to be active, then there is lots to do from kayaking through the sea caves hiking, swimming, snorkelling, tennis.

The service from the staff could not be more helpful, you will be treated like royalty.in every way. The only downside is the service by the pool which seems to be on the slow side of slow, but always extremely polite.

They are exceptional apart from that small point in every way, and are a big part of the success of the Rayavedee.

Words cannot do justice to the incredibly beautiful beaches, especially the Phranang and Railey beaches which have powder white sand and views of islands in the distance with little caves to explore. Beware however of the monkeys, who although friendly are everywhere!!

All in all there is no doubt that the Rayavadee in Krabi is one of the best luxury hotels in the Far East. It is an ideal spot place for a family vacation getaway on some of the best beaches anywhere. It would also be a good choice for a honeymoon vacation special, so look out for some great honeymoon vacation deals.

A Cheap Holiday Skiing Vacation In Austria

If you have ever wanted to take the family on a cheap holiday skiing vacation, you can plan a wonderful skiing trip during the holiday to St Anton. The area has one of the most beautiful resorts for holiday skiers. The nightlife is just as spectacular as the skiing. This is your chance to ski the day away and join in the fun at the nightclubs around the resort. You are going to find that slopes are heavily packed with snow and the mountains are challenging. You will find that your day on the slopes is one you have never experienced anywhere else.

Although the slopes are the greatest, the town is mostly sports shops, hotels and bars. The area shops are found about twenty minutes away in Lech. You will find your cheap holiday ski vacation is filled with more fun than shopping anyways. The village of St Anton is a true Austria skiing resort. You will find more excitement in one village than you could find anywhere else. You are going to find intermediate slopes, but for those who need a challenge, there are some steep slopes for the experts. If you think the St. Anton slopes are too easy, you can try the Valluga slopes nearby.

If you are looking for nighttime entertainment, you will find that one place stands out. The Moosrwit is the popular hotspot in St. Anton. You will find hundreds of post skiers enjoying a drink or two at this hot nightclub. If you like British music, Griblies is the place to start your night. They have a British band that plays all the hits you want to hear. The Krazy Kangaroo Bar is a mountainside bar. You will find hip-hop and rock music to shake the night away. You can watch the sun go down while enjoying a nice glass of wine.

Your cheap holiday skiing vacation is going to see more nightlife than you could see in one place. You will want to stop and see The Funky Chicken. If you have a need for some great live entertainment, this is the place to stop after nine. Watch the sunrise at the Kartouche Club. If you are looking for more sophistication, The Platzl’s Apres is a place to stop in at night. You will just love the restaurants in St. Anton.

If you want a quick hamburger and fries, the Hamburger Caravan is a place to go. There is no need to dress up, go as you are and enjoy the food. If you are looking for some fine dining, the St. Antoner Hof is a five star restaurant. The very popular Restaurant Museum is located in a mansion from the pre WWI era and the cable cars station is right there. You will feast on the wild game and some fine wine. After one night of dining and parting, you will need to hit the slopes the next day to work off some added calories. You cheap holiday vacation to St. Anton could not have any more excitement.

A Belize Vacation Package Has Something For Everyone

A Belize Vacation has everything you could wish for if you are an outdoor enthusiast and you like a bit of adventure on your travels. Belize offers almost unlimited opportunities to do a wide range of things.

You might well choose a Belize Fishing Vacation, as Belize is a mecca for fisherman, because you aren’t just restricted to game fishing, although this is pretty good with all the lagoons and the ocean side of the reefs with all the big fish you could crave for.

When you add the many rivers that empty in to the Caribbean you will realise that you can add spinning and fly fishing to your repertoire on a Belize fishing vacation. Most guides and boatmen speak English.

If you hanker after a Belize Adventure vacation then there is caving, canoeing and kayaking, as well of course as hiking and walking. The best hikes in Belize include Cockscomb Basin Forest reserve in Southern Belize, Guanacastle National Park, Blue Hole National Park, Tikal National Park, and all need further investigation.

The best Belize adventure vacations might include things like chartering a boat and sail to isolated Islands, kayaking and camping around Glover’s reef Atoll. Why not try riding an inner tube through the Caves Branch River Cave System, which is real easy caving for beginners.

Similarly try canoeing, kayaking or inner tubing on the Macal or Mopan Rivers in Western Belize, and finally horseback riding in Western Belize through the Cayo District.

You can of course do all or some of these things on a Belize honeymoon, but the likliehood is you will be looking for a gorgeous Belize beach resort, the best Belize luxury resort you can find, perhaps a Belize all inclusive vacation.

You are almost spoilt for choice for your Belize Honeymoon vacation, and of course Belize isn’t restricted just to honeymooners, it is a family friendly place as well, and a vacation on a Belize Caye is unforgettable. There are several levels of accommodation from the luxury resort to the cheap Belize hotel, so it is important that you do your research before you book.

At the luxury end of the market in Belize.

If you are looking for a Jungle adventure you might consider the Maruba Resort Jungle Spa, or if it is caving, then the Jaguar Paw near Belmopan.

Ambergris Caye has Captain Morgan’s Retreat, Victoria House, and off Ambergris Caye is almost a private island called Cayo Esperanto, which is absolutely perfect for the Belize beach honeymoon.

Turtle Inn at Placencia is almost the ultimate Belize Beach honeymoon destination designed by Film Director Francis Coppola, El Pescador South at Punta Gorda a real luxury Belize resort.

For a cheap Belize Hotel it is worth investigating Ambergris Caye, where you will find the San pedro Holiday Hotel, Tides Beach resort, Ruby’s, to name a few.

At Punta Gorda there is the Coral House Inn, and at Placencia there is Tradewinds.

Belize has it all, the weather the best beaches, beautiful cayes, and an exciting interior to explore and have fun.

Belize needs a visit, why not start investigating it now!!

6 Key Factors Successful Vacation Rental Owners Always Use

If you are going to spend money advertising your vacation rental property on vacation rental websites, you want to make sure it is a success. Here are 6 things you can practice which will help ensure you receive the most "bang for the buck".

1. SET RENTAL RATES APPROPRIATELY - If you want your vacation property to rent, you must be realistic, optomistic, but not greedy! Set realistic rental rates for your property and ensure that the rates are correct on the site(s) your listing and regularly reviewed as the market changes. Search for comparable properties ("comps") in the same location as yours. Only charge a premium if your property has some distinct features. And, be willing to discount your property on occassion as needed. In this business, if you lose money for a week long rental, you can't make that up!

2. CHECK E-MAIL REGULARLY - When using an internet vacation rental property website such as http://Rentals2Remember.com or http://eVaca.com, remember your users. They are typically Internet "savvy" and probably check their e-mails frequently...especially if they have requested some info. Also, be sure your phone number is listed on sites that allow you to as sometimes people choose to just call you directly, so be sure to check phone messages.

3. RESPOND IMMEDIATELY - Vacation goers usually see a few properties that are of interest to them and then contact those owners. The faster you respond, the better chance (most of the time) you have of winning them over. There have been times I have rented properties in the past and because it took an owner 24 hours to respond, I had already chosen another property. A timely and efficient response gives the renter confidence that the rental experience will follow suit.

4. YOUR LISTING SHOULD BE ACCURATE AND COMPLETE - Be sure that your listing details are kept up to date and are complete. Review your online listing frequently to be sure that your contact information are up-to-date. Also, be sure that it is accurate on the description of your property and its amenities. This will help you with repeat customers, but will also keep you out of trouble with rental contracts or laws in regards to such things.

5. GREAT PHOTOS - It is true what they say, "a picture speaks a thousand words". Remember, renters are considering staying at your rental based (most of the time) solely on your pictures and your word. The more pictures to help them be comfortable with the decision, the better. Here is how I look at it. If you were going to buy a used car, would you do so over the Internet without a good look at the outside/inside of the vehicle, the engine, etc. Not exactly the same, but you get the picture. The more pictures and the prettier, the better. Be sure to have pictures of your rental amenities such as a pool, the beach, a mountain view, the lake or a golf course - these are top vacation rental sellers!

6. BOOST YOUR EXPOSURE - There are many "hot spots" for vacationers throughout the world. Before we owned property, my family used to head to Destin every year, usually twice. There are thousands of vacation rental properties in the Destin, Panama City Beach area. In areas like this, boost your exposure by getting to the top of your sites search engine. If it costs you $20, $50, even $100 to do so but that gets you one extra rental a year, that makes it more than worth it.

5 Tips for Overseas Vacation Home Buying Success

The dream of owning a vacation home in some sun-drenched overseas location is one the majority of us share, and because real estate proves itself time and again as a solid long term investment commodity, many more people are committing to purchasing real estate abroad as an investment that they and their family can also enjoy and benefit from.

When buying a vacation home abroad there are a number of key considerations to bear in mind to avoid some of the traps and pitfalls sometimes associated with buying long distance and in an unfamiliar country.  With these 5 tips for overseas vacation home buying success you can quickly cut a swathe through the research process and move towards securing the dream swiftly and securely.

Tip One – Learn the Rules and Regulations

Different countries have different rules relating to the right or otherwise of foreign citizens to own the freehold title to immovable property.  Some widely publicised destinations don't allow foreigners to directly own the land on which their property sits (Bulgaria) or more than one property (Cyprus) for example, and some countries are less economically or politically stable than your own which can mean that real estate related rules and regulations may change in the future.  Make sure you're comfortable with the workings of the country you're considering buying a vacation home in, and if in doubt seek professional advice about that country and the ambitions you hold for owning a holiday home in it.

Tip Two - Good Investment/Bad Investment

If you're buying a vacation home with a hope that it will go up in value and be not only a family retreat but a great asset, know that real estate, just like any investment commodity, can go down in value as well as up.  Furthermore not all countries have a real estate economy the same as the one in your own country – a little research would be wise into the historic nature of the property market in your country of choice as well as predictions for its future.  While such data is not a direct indication of how well your investment will perform it will arm you with more data to hopefully make your decisions easier.

Tip Three - Title Deeds and Legalities

Legal systems and the title deed registration process differ from country to country therefore know your legal rights and try and find out about the essential searches, surveys and title deed checks that need to be conducted before you should commit to buying your overseas vacation home.  Never enter into any form of contractual agreement without the direct assistance of an independent lawyer and never accept someone's word that a vacation home has its permissions and title deeds valid and up to date.  Insist on seeing and checking all important facts and data before signing on the dotted line.

Tip Four - Accessibility and Desirability


If you're thinking about making an income from your vacation home or even hoping to holiday in it yourself regularly, one of the most important factors to bear in mind is the accessibility or otherwise of your vacation home.  If your real estate is difficult to reach, with many miles to traverse and complicated and expensive plane journeys to plan, then it will just become a less desirable commodity over time. While a vacation involves getting away from it all and escaping every day life, a vacation destination and home should be easy and affordable to reach.

Tip Five - Enlisting Assistance

Consider enlisting the help of a reputable real estate agent, an independent lawyer and if you want to make money from your vacation home, a property management service.  Such professionals can save you time, effort and money and they can make the whole process of buying and owning a vacation home that much simpler.  Make sure you take references, examine credentials and see qualifications before employing anyone to assist you however, and if at all possible seek recommendations because anyone who does a good job will always get good press!

5 Fun Watersports You Can Enjoy On Your Next Lake Vacation

Lake vacations offer numerous activities for those who have a passion for water fun.  From merely lounging around on the shores to enjoying serious water sports, lake vacations are not for the water shy.

Of course, the most obvious of water sporting enjoyments is swimming.  Many lakes offer competitive swimming events for those who appreciate the benefits of swimming.  Most lakes also offer boating and sailing packages.  Look into daily sailboat and/or powerboat rentals and spend the afternoon on the water, or haul your own boat to the vacation location.  Some lakes even offer paddle boating rentals for those who enjoy a slower pace.  And, more and more locations are adding canoeing, kayaking, and even jet skis to their equipment rentals.

Large and small lakes appeal to the fisherman in many vacation seekers.  Smaller lakes entice the early morning fisherman out onto the water to enjoy the peace and solitude of waiting for that fish to bite.  Larger lakes offer fishing boat rentals for the enjoyment of a pair of fisherman who enjoy the competitiveness of the sport and some larger lakes offer guided fishing charters for both small and large groups.

Many lakes also offer water ski, wakeboard, wakeskates, and wake surfboard activities.  Included in these activities is personal instruction for the novice skier and equipment rental for all ages and skill levels.  And for the high-flying adventurer, the lake vacation also offers parasailing.  From equipment rental to guided instruction, lakes are adding parasailing to their water activities to provide complete water fun packages for all ages.  Lake vacations are great locations for all varieties of water fun and activities.  Take advantage of a lazy day on a rowboat or a soaring parasailing adventure or even skimming the water with a fast-paced and energetic ski outing.  There is something for everyone on a lake vacation.

Why you see the SAME AUTHORS all the time!

Isn't it funny how you've started to read an article about why me, and a certain select few authors write articles almost daily?

CONTENT, CONTENT, CONTENT!

#1 reason why people fail online is because they fail to deliver fresh content. Let's forget search engines for a second, instead let's concentrate on the end user who visits your web site.

Let's say "Jim" has been to your site once before and all of a sudden he sees your web site for something else and decides to visit. But what, oh no, it's the very same thing he saw 1 month ago. What happens to Jim? Just another statistic from your web site that will never get repeated.

On another note, let's say Jim happened to see your link in search engines again, except this time, you've revised your web site template. Jim is now intrigued and excited to see what is new, but oh oh, you have the same bloody content as the last time. Jim is yet again another statistic.

NOW - Let's say, not only have your revised your images, template, graphics, you've also been committed to adding 1 article on your site every single day. Jim is happier than the pope himself since you've played right into Jim's hand.

We all search online, for some of us, it's sheer boredom, for others, it's doing what your not supposed to be doing at work and so on. The whole point is, if nothing changes on your site, how do you expect to stimulate people to come back. Getting people to your site is the easy part, getting someone to come back is very tough.

So back to the title: "Why you see the SAME AUTHORS all the time!" It's not only a matter of adding an article everyday to bring people back but at the same time, search engines act almost like us. They see new content (they=search engines), they also get excited and browse around to see what you've added, not to mention that they also index all your pages for search engine listings.

Let's go a little further and bring attention to this newly found content. Many people out there are hiding their new content within folders and sub-directories and so on. What I suggest is having a small little box on your front page that just details some daily new content. Try keeping the content you add within this box up there on your site for about a week or so, just so that new visitors have a chance to view it and search engines have a chance to index it.

So in the end, a site that doesn't grow daily will have accomplished nothing online. A web site that caters to the needs of the many, will have more success than it can handle.

What you put into the world, will ultimately come back to you in the same amount.

Cheers!

Publishing Options For Freelance Book Authors

It is difficult to break into the publishing industry as a new author, and even more difficult to get an acceptance letter from an editor at a large publishing house.  As an author you will work hard to finish your book, and work even harder to find the right book publisher. The good news is you can tap into several types of publishers to publish your book. Here is a look at some common types of book publishing.

GROUP PUBLISHING: Group publishing is the process by which a large company publishes your work in the name of a larger company. For example, large publishing companies often operate smaller publishing companies. The larger publishing company serves as an umbrella over the smaller group publishing companies. Sometimes these companies operate several smaller companies and book imprints that produce different genres of writing and books. Sometimes this is referred to trade publishing. For example, a large publishing group may produce best-selling adult novels, but may also operate under a smaller name to produce certain non-fiction books, cookbooks, children's books, or niche titles. Group publishing is a popular way to publish a book.

EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING: Educational publishing shares some likeness to trade publishing. These companies deal specifically with educational material. They may deal with only college textbooks, or they might deal with textbooks and materials for grades K-12. Besides textbooks, these companies might also produce other forms of educational material, which include posters, workbooks, CD-ROMS, software, testing material and maps. There are several big name educational publishing companies.

UNIVERSITY PUBLISHING: Better known as the "University Press," this type of publishing is different from group publishing and it is not the same as scholarly publishing. These types of companies are usually non-profit. Universities, colleges and sometimes museums or other organizations operate these publishing imprints. These publishers usually publish books by scholars and other specialists.  Besides distributing their books to bookstores, they also make their book titles available within the university system. Sometimes larger trade publishers publish these types of books.

INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING: Independent publishers are often the best way to publish your book with established distribution channels. Independent publishers are generally small, privately-owned companies. Many times, these companies only publish a handful of books each year and they specialize in certain subjects. They have the freedom to publish just about anything they wish.

SOFTWARE and other MEDIA: You might consider software and other types of media as a publishing option. Think about the many e-books, CD-ROMs and digital downloads, many published by large and small publishing companies. These types of publishing companies are often associated with larger trade publishers. In fact, many large publishing companies have their own in-house media publisher to spawn the traditional paperback book into other types of media. Digital and alternate media is a huge, profitable business, and these publishers are just as important and lucrative as the large trade publishers.

As you can see, you can tap into various publishers who might consider publishing your book. If you are unlucky with a large trade publisher or group publisher, then don't give up. Keep looking at the different types of publishing companies until you find one that wants to work with you and your book.

Do You Have A Website If You Are An Author?

I was browsing online the other day and discovered the news about a first time novelist who had recently published a book telling the story of an African tribe suffering the loss of land and identity. Her story is based on her true-life experiences and research. She’s even donating a portion of the book’s profits to a charity that helps the displaced people. Her whole story sounded intriguing. However, when I looked for her web site--I couldn’t find it.

What a shame, I thought.

While her book is featured on Amazon.com and other online bookseller sites, and there’s a couple of press releases announcing her book signings, there is no obvious web presence for this wonderful book and its author. My immediate thought was that she was leaving book awareness and sales on the table.

Maybe she feels she doesn’t need a web site because she has the charity and her publisher assisting with publicity, or because there is some expressed interest in movie rights. Even so, I feel that a simple web site featuring her telling her story of how she researched and wrote her book, with photos of her on location, would do wonders for her novel.

In today’s fast-paced world, where attention spans can last a nanosecond, an author can’t afford NOT to have a web site. Even if people aren’t lining up to buy your book today, they can visit your web site and browse. If they like your site, there’s a good chance they’ll be back in the future, or tell friends about it. I think this point is especially true for us first-time novelists. In my opinion, a fiction novel is the hardest type of book to promote and sell online or offline. There are literally thousands of fiction novels published each year, due to how easy it is to get a POD published book on the market.

Authors have tons of competition to get noticed. While the amount of readers are declining, the amount of books being published is going up. New authors have to compete with each other, as well as, established authors, movies, TV, blogs, video games, and other entertainment offerings. From a reader’s perspective, why should they read your book over someone else’s?

Your web site gives you a fighting chance to capture someone’s attention and introduce them to you and your brand of storytelling. Plus, you have the creative freedom to make your site look however you wish. It’s all about colors, graphics and words—especially words.

HELLO WORLD, I’M HERE!

CHECK OUT THIS GREAT BOOK!

HERE’S A SAMPLE OF MY STORYTELLING!

Because most authors have to do their own promotion, your web site is your own personal promotion booth sitting amidst a vast sea of similar booths inside a virtual flea market. Remember, people are online 24-7 looking up information on all sorts of things.

While you’re sleeping, someone could be visiting your web site.

While you’re out shopping, someone could be visiting your web site.

While you’re busy at work, someone could be visiting your web site.

Of course, if you don’t have a web site promoting your book, then potential readers will just have to wait until they stumble across your book while reading about your book signing somewhere, or maybe browsing the online bookstores, or maybe hearing about your book from a friend of a friend . . . you get the idea.

Why leave it up to chance?

Web sites are easy to get up and running these days, so there’s no excuse not to have at least a page featuring your book. Believe me, people will be looking for it, and if you don’t have a web presence, they’ll move on to the next author that does.

Three Typical Mistakes Numerous Authors Make Prior to Submitting Their Contents to Article Directories

Write-up writing, submissions, publications and blogs are getting popular because with modern communication technology comes the popularity of information-based marketing, which is one of the oldest and most efficient techniques in obtaining targeted prospects to web sites and converting them into buyers.

Submission tools abound that authors and marketers can use to produce the process of submitting their articles a lot much more effortlessly. Even though this is invaluable in acquiring the contents a lot much more exposure, it is only half of the process.

Here are 3 common mistakes many authors make before submitting their contents to article directories:


1. Confusing the reason to promote the articles with the reason to write them.

In article writing, there are three key benefits in using them for promotion; branding, lead generation and promotion, which are all part of your optimization strategy.

But there is only one reason why you write an article, and that's to inform your audience. Your write-up must be focused on a subject to attain the three promotion advantages simply simply because nobody will be thinking about reading them if they are not.

The extremely initial objective could be to get people to read your write-up, the subsequent would be to get them to click on your resource box. Supplying focused content will assist you attain these objectives.


2. Overlooking all of the promotional opportunities of write-up advertising for maximum outcomes.


To begin with your articles can assist you generate extra links back to your website. Most marketers already know this. But do you know which you can get more visitors and much much better search engine results from those exact exact same articles?

How do you get more visitors and much much better search engine results?

Mention key phrases at strategic locations. Just be sure not to overdo them. A keyword density of 3-5% is an optimum percentage. Some directories support anchor texts which is effective. It's important to note as of this writing that majority of the directories are not able to support anchor text links. Within the event you technique on utilizing anchor texts you'll have to determine which directories will accept your submissions.

Maintain in mind that isn't only about the links back to your site. Part of doing well in your article marketing is getting picked up by publishers with a large number of audiences and gaining the ability of leveraging other brands because of the high quality of your function.

A lot much better search engine outcomes also are great benefits. But these issues don't put a lot cash inside your pocket. You will find other elements that may turn your write-up advertising efforts into an chance that may increase your earnings. Not just improve the quantity of visitors to your website.

Begin out having a strategy. Make a list of all the various methods you are able to put that write-up to function for you and all of the purposes it serves. 1 guru I know makes his articles function in 20 numerous methods or he doesn't use it. How many techniques can you come up with?


3. Submitting content that is not useful for the readers.

Maybe inside the process of writing articles, you are thinking that all that is you wanted is links back to your web site. And any visitors it can create is just a bonus.

THAT couldn't be farther from the truth. Not all article banks and directories are going to accept your content automatically. Each of them have guidelines and specifications on the articles that they are accepting. You can double the number of sites you can submit to by writing articles that the directories want to share with other people. All it takes is one publisher with a hundred thousand readers to increase your potential audience overnight.

Write the articles that publishers want in their publications if you want your article marketing to work probably the most efficient way for you. This also indicates you've to obey the regular guidelines, spell checks, researching on a great subject as well as hiring a writer to create great content on your behalf.

How To Publish Your First Book!

Are you currently thinking about writing a book? Have you already written 1? Do you wonder how to get your book published? Should you so, read on. Here are some hand-picked suggestions on the best way to publish your book.

To write a effective book you need to start off out with some original believed. You in all probability have a lot of originality, but you could have trouble developing a coherent flow of concepts and info that the public will digest. The first step is always to make the skeleton (or blueprint) of your book. You need to organize your thoughts into a progression of chapters.

Should you be writing a non-fiction book, start with a table of contents. Write chapter headings and sub-headings. Organize your chapters so you build each and every chapter upon 1 another. For those who can brainstorm additional chapter headings than you may use, you will find it easier to fill your book having a series of short articles that flow into 1 a further.

For anyone who is writing fiction, you are going to will need far more of a storyboard. You might need to make cause and effect too as character sketches. To make your story coherent your characters will have to react to events. Their reactions must become predictable as your readers get into the story. You could should generate some scenarios for your characters to introduce their traits towards the reader.

These are general guidelines on how to construct your book. The total procedure will probably be a lot much more involved as you move closer to finding out tips on how to get your book published. Even soon after you might be finished with the bulk of the content, your aim to publish your book involves a whole lot much more function.

The subsequent step to obtain your book published is locating a publisher. Each the internet and your neighborhood library have a lot of resources. You'll be able to tap into these resources to find the most effective publisher to publish your book. After a series of queries and correspondence with potential publishers, you might get an invitation to submit your manuscript. Then the function begins.

A publisher is really skilled in acquiring marketable books. He knows what it will take to get your book to sell. Do not be offended when a book editor tears your writing apart, as this may be a positive sign that the publisher is thinking about your book. Expect to enter into a close relationship of compromise and change with the editor as you rework what you have got already painstakingly written. Whenever you are finished, you may have a readable, clean, and correct manuscript, ready for print.

The road to finding a book published is usually a lengthy one, however it is properly worth the effort. Trust yourself, and trust the publisher to generate a lovely masterpiece. Do not be discouraged if quite a few publishers are not thinking about your book. You could have to self-publish your first book, after which once again, your book might eventually get accepted immediately. Great luck and appreciate the procedure.