Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Money saving tips in Holiday season

We are heading into December, and people from all over the world are scrambling to book a cheap holiday before 2011 comes to a close. Some money saving tips this holiday season would keep you from over-spending. We all know that travel and vacations are fun, they’re also a major expense. But do not keep yourself shut in your four walls during vacation time to save money. It is the most awful idea to save money in festive season.

Saving money on one trip will in a way help you when you are planning your next trip. Here are a few tips of saving money in holiday season.

Staycations are a great idea
Spend time in a swimming pool in your backyard this vacation, or visit a local amusement park or museum with the family and you would be able to save a lot of money on traveling. It is like taking off from work to spend some time with family at home. Staycations are a good alternative to pricey, and tiresome vacations which involve a lot of traveling and expenses.

Visit the destinations in Off-seasons
Do not travel in peak travel days, as it may burn a hole in your pocket. Air fares, hotel bookings and sight-seeing, everything becomes really costly during peak holiday season. Try visiting places in off-seasons, as you can easily get a luxurious hotel for stay in affordable rate.

Discount available online
Websites like Groupon, Snapdeal, LivingSocial might help you if you do not wish to go on a specific holiday destination. Just register yourself with any of these websites and they would send you e-mail and sms alerts on a daily basis offering lots of discounts. It rains discounts during festive season on these websites. But these offers do not last for long, so you must avail them as soon you spot them.

Try to book the flights and hotel reservations in advance
When you know in advance that you are going to visit your friends or family in summer vacations, you must book flight at least three months prior to th moving date. Travelers who fly in the middle of the week will also get discounted air fares.

Avoid too much shopping
If you have planned your holidays in a different country, avoid shopping gifts for friends. Even if you are out with your family and kids, avoid indulging in shopping. It may increase your luggage unnecessarily.

There are a lot of other money saving tips that you must try if you want to enjoy a holiday trip in budget. Traveling by train is a good option; it also enriches your children's knowledge about a particular place. Look for package deals, as everything like flight, hotel and cab gets booked in one go. You can always stay in furnished apartments, as these give an at-home feeling. You will definitely save good amount of money on traveling by these creative ideas of cost-cutting.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Merits And Demerits Of Renting A Furnished Apartment

Renting furnished apartments do make financial sense for renters who need something for short-term. No carrying heavy weight furniture to your new home. Overall it is a big relief to move into a home which is furnished properly, but there are the downsides to renting a furnished unit also.

A short term furnished apartment is a boon for sure, especially if you are a first-time renter. You need not spend money on buying stuff for bedroom, drawing room and kitchen. These things add to the already existing monthly rentals and  security deposit. Moreover, you would have to invest less time in moving, no matter whether you are moving DIY or with the help of a professional moving company. Here are a few pros and cons of renting a fully furnished apartment for short stay.

You might have to pay more for getting a furnished apartment on rent, as compared to a less furnished one. If the landlord has provided you more furnishings, he would definitely charge more. If any of the furnishings like furniture got damaged during your stay in the apartment, then you would have to compensate for the same. Moreover, the landlord does not replace the furnishings every time a tenant moves out. Furnishings may show wear and damage, as they were already in use previously. You may be liable for repairing these, if they got damaged. It really doesn't feel good to be responsible for another person’s furnishings. You will definitely abhor paying for refinishing a dining table that was old or scratched.

You have the liberty to choose furniture as per your taste. If you move to a new place which is quite far from your existing home, you won't prefer to move heavy weight items like furniture and electronic appliances by you. Whether it is wood color or wood type, you can decorate an apartment which is yet to be furnished. On the other hand if you are not going to stay in the apartment for more than a year, it is best to get a home, where you must not get very choosy about vacation.

The other side of coin is somewhat different from the first one. A furnished apartment is a bliss in disguise for a carefree existence. You neither have to take stress while moving to a new place, nor you feel anxious about the services of the moving company.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Amazing Honeymoon Holiday Destinations

Are you feeling a bit low as your much awaited wedding ceremony is over? Get ready as the best part of your wedding is yet to come- your honeymoon! But you still seem to be in a fix, as you forgot to plan it ahead. Don't worry. The below listed holiday destinations are carefully selected after focusing on a particular aspect of each place.


New Zealand
Queenstown in New Zealand is a fantastic place to holiday, especially if you are a newly wedded couple. You can book a hotel located on the shore of New Zealand’s longest lake- Lake Wakitipu to enjoy the beautiful scenery outside your window. Queenstown is popular as New Zealand’s jetboat and bungy jumping capital.

The Maldives
Its pristine beaches are recognized as a major tourist destination for newly wedded couples. You can enjoy plethora of water sports. If you can either dive deep into the sea with your partner or choose drift diving. Scuba diving can be enjoyed all year round in the Maldives.

Paris
Also known as the city of love, Paris serves as the favorite honeymoon destinations for couples throughout the world. In Paris everything is just perfect., whether it is skyrocketing Le Tour Eiffel, or long walks on Champs-Élysées. Choose Paris as your honeymoon destination, and you will make it memorable for years to come.

Australia
This sparsely populated country, Australia offers a lively nightlife and breathtaking natural features. Sand, sea and water sports are some of its attractive features. On the top of it safaris are available on all parts of the continent, if you want to experience the most amazing wilderness adventures. Sydney’s most popular nightspots include Kings Cross, Oxford Street and Darling Harbour.

Disney world
Before setting your journey on the long road of marriage, go back for a while and be a kid again during your honeymoon at Disney. It is the happiest place on earth. Walt Disney World, in Orlando, Florida also serve as the most popular honeymoon destinations across the globe.

Toronto
The CN tower in Toronto is one of the most preferred destination for couples. Dining in a revolving restaurant at the world's highest free-hanging building is an amazing experience. You can always book boat tours, limousine trips, chopper tours, bus tours to roam around in Toronto with your partner. A honeymoon trip to Toronto will make your vacation satisfying as well as gratifying.


After having decided where to go, you must decide where to stay. All of us know that the quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but how about giving him a chance to cook? Rent one of the many short term furnished apartments and you can check each other's cooking skills. Moreover, honeymoon is about privacy and you would definitely not like to be disturbed by the room services boys time and again.

Renting Furnished Apartment Versus Renting A Hotel Room

Habits are hard to break, especially after a certain age. Suppose, you are going on a vacation with your family, you’ll need to import or buy certain comforts you are accustomed to, once you arrive at your holiday destination. But if you choose to stay in a furnished apartment over a hotel, you can put up with almost anything.

Renting one of the short term furnished apartments is a lot like bringing your house along with you for your travels. It is really boring to get committed to one tiny hotel room, with your kids who want a separate room just like your home. In a furnished flat you have several rooms to move about. The spaciousness and mobility that these apartments allow makes your stay memorable. buddies and acquaintances over for a relaxing visit.

You get your own personal cooking area where you can cook all your meals and cater to the health requirements of your family. The availability of all the kitchen ware allows you to eat your favorite dishes. This way your stay will not weigh much on your pocket. Eating out in restaurants or placing an order in the hotel room can make your stay costly. Save your restaurant bills by renting a furnished apartment where you get fully equipped kitchen. Once you rent an apartment, then the house is entirely yours, until your vacation ends. An apartment would consist of a drawing hall, two bedrooms, kitchen and bathrooms. You may get bored in a hotel room or suite, if you don’t have any plans for a day, but if you are staying at an apartment, you would feel like staying at home. One of the greatest reasons behind renting an apartment is that you can cook food as per your taste and requirement.

If you are on a large group vacation, you can enjoy your leisure time to the core, by sitting together with your entire gang in the spacious flats. A hotel room won't offer you this freedom, flexibility and privacy. Moreover, every apartment has an Internet connection in all the rooms and there are computers in most furnished apartments. Plus the living space of the apartments is almost two times bigger than the hotel rooms.

The constant need of registration of the visitors at the reception, makes you feel irritated at times. The room service guys in the hotels create disturbance, especially of you are on a business trip.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Why Go On A Safari Vacation This Time?

Whether you are a casual holiday-goer or you are some of those adventurous travelers who are passionate about exploring the wild, safari holidays is an ideal choice for your vacation this time. It would be really adventurous to really see elephants, lions and more, which we have been watching on Discovery Channel or on National Geographic for many years. Watching wild animals in their natural habitat is thrilling and adventurous.

But why leave the comfort of your home and go on a safari vacation this time? The reasons listed below explain well why to go on a safari at least once in your lifetime.

Thrill and adventure
Standing up in a jeep and seeing wild animals in their natural habitat is a thrilling experience. The thrill of driving on bumpy roads and vast plains with animals around will make the trip memorable for years. There is a wide range of safari packages, which consist of everything for everyone. There are walk safaris, jeep safaris and balloon safaris to help you view a colorful mixture of birds and animals up and close. Horse-back or elephant-back safaris make your safari experiences memorable.

Photography
Photographs serve as a perfect souvenirs, which you can take back home to cherish your experience for years to come. If you want to indulge in some wild life photography, then this is the place to be. These game-viewing destinations where wild animals roam free in their natural habitat, are really worth a visit. If you have embarked on a jeep safari, you can click photographs by zooming in. In a wild life safari the chances of animals getting very close to your jeep are extremely good.

Relaxation
Sitting in close proximity to nature is truly a relaxing experience. The nature offers its lap to one and all for reclining and busting stress of everyday life. A walking safari gives you a good chance to view god’s greatest creatures roaming here and there in a natural surrounding, unlike in a zoo. Escape the hustle and bustle of the mechanical routine life to get in touch with mother nature's most amazing locations. This serves as a perfect getaway and helps you get rid of stresses of modern life.

Make the best of your safari expeditions by staying in furnished apartments. These safari destinations  have great lodging places in the form of resorts and furnished apartments, located either in the wild life reserve or its boundary. Get in touch with the environmentalist in you by choosing to go on luxury safari holidays this time.

A Hotel or An Apartment Rental; Which is More Economical?

Vacations are a perfect way to shun the stress of daily life and work. Elders as well as children refresh and renew themselves by actively participating in outdoor activities, available in almost all holiday destinations. As per a recent research, doing things bring more happiness than owning. So, if you can spare some time and money from your Whereas on one hand you can not put a price tag on vacation, but on the other, you can not indulge in extravagance during vacations, as you may end up paying huge debts afterwards. So you must look for ways to fit leisure time into the family budget, or else the results may be disastrous for you.

When summers are round the corner, people start making plans for their holidays. Their minds are full of turmoil, containing a lot of questions, like whether they should visit a beach or go to mountains, for spending summer vacations this year. They are caught in a fix if a hotel is good or a condo is more reasonable to stay while holidaying.

Condo vacations do make sense in every way. Below listed are a few points which indicate why condos are better and more economical out of the two options.

Get ample space in a condo
In a hotel room you would end up staying with two children in one room. This can really turn your vacations in a complete fiasco. While in a condominium you and you kids can enjoy separate rooms, which gives them more homey feeling as compared to a hotel room. Fully furnished apartment rentals are best suited for big families and for multi-family vacations.

It seems more pricey but not
Though an apartment rental will seem a bit costly while checking in, but we take into consideration its amenities, the overall stay is way cheaper then a hotel. You are provided with a kitchen in an apartment rental which has all the appliances.

Cook as you like
You can cook whatever yo like to, if you are staying in an apartment rental. You can always save money by bringing your own groceries and cooking at least two times in a day. You can save more money by cooking on your own than by ordering something from the hotel. Moreover, you won't be bothered by room service guys, time and again.

A furnished apartment rental or a condo is more economical indeed. But while checking out, you have to take care of things like taking out the trash, dispose the garbage and making pile of your laundry separately on your own. But in the end, you will enjoy that "at home" feeling the apartment provides to your family.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Love Water Sports? Go For Beach Vactaions This Time

Whether you are a successful business owner or a salaried professional, everyone longs to go holidaying at least once in a year. Your not being able to plan a vacation is a mere example of your incompetency at work. Vacations are important for they make you realize the importance of work. Even if you are heading a big enterprise, you must take a break and be gone for a week's holiday. Neither your family, nor your co-workers will appreciate your extra-work ethic. On the other hand, you can be more productive at work, if you step away from it.

After having decided to take an off from work and go for a vacation, the next step is to decide what type of holidays you should take. Beach holidays are the most relaxing of all holiday options. Basking in sunshine and taking a stroll on a long stretch of fine white sand, while hearing the sound of crashing waves in your ears. No matter, whether you want to spend some time with your loved one, or want to enjoy water sports with your friends or wish to spend a quality time with your family, a beach holiday is the right choice. Here are a few activities which make beach holidays a perfect choice for vacation.

Water-sports:
Beeches across the globe offer adventure packages which consists of different types of water sports. While beaches offer fun and adventure activities like water skiing, windsurfing, surfing, para-sailing and scuba diving, if you are with your family, you can go for safer water sports like boating and fishing.

Swimming:
Any beach holiday is incomplete without a dip in the sea. Taking is a swim in the sea busts mental stress and gives peace of mind, fulfilling the true meaning of coming on a vacation. It is a great exercise for kids as well as elders. But if you have kids with you, forbid them to swim deeper in the sea, as it can be fatal.

Tanning:
Beach holidays are famous for tanning. Getting a tan is not good for your skin, but also relaxing to the mind. Lazing on the sand with the sun on your face is beneficial for people who suffer from high stress levels at work.

Sea food:
Coastal areas are known for seafoods. So if you love fish and prawns, a beach holiday will be suitable for you. Sea food is full of nutrients and this will give you a good opportunity to take care of your health while holidaying.

Make sure that you do not overspend by staying in a hotel, while enjoying beach holidays. Luxury furnished apartments should be an ideal choice, if you are going with your family. Your children can enjoy more space and separate rooms in an apartment, as compared to a cramped hotel room.

Top Tourist Attractions in Canada

We all want a break from our busy and monotonous routine life. Planning for a vacation with family members will surely bust the work stress and will give your children a break from studies. Siting in the lap of nature for a while will help you in getting rid of all tensions and worries of everyday life. Though staycations are in vogue but they are not a good alternative to a traveling vacation. Canada has always been on eof the most preffered holiday destinations of the tourists from all over the world.

Canada is a vast country which abounds in attractions or destinations that are particularly unique and yet to be explored. Tourist attractions here possess a diversity of interesting places. It comprises of calm and serene villages as well as marvelous modern wonders in towering cities. It is a beautiful amalgamation of new and old. Listed below are a few attractions that must be visited, if you are planning to go to Canada for vacations this year.

Niagra falls
The beauty of this fall will render you speechless. More than 6 million cu ft water falls over Niagra's brink per minute. Located on the Niagara River at the southern tip of Ontario, these falls are one of the most powerful and famous waterfalls in the world. Niagra falls is three different waterfalls- the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the smaller Bridal Veil Falls, located on the Niagra river, which runs on the border of Canada and the US. You must take 'Maid of the Mist' boat to experience the falls up close. Nature lovers from across the world flock to the Niagra Falls.

Whistler
It is a ski destination, which is a two hour drive away from Vancouver. The mountains Whistler and Blackcomb provide over 8000 acres of snow terrain, where skiing lovers throng from all over the world throughout the year.

CN tower
It is a 1,815 feet tall free standing structure located in downtown Toronto, from where tourists can take a bird's view of the whole city. Accessible via exterior high speed elevators which move upwards with the thrilling speed of 360 meters per minute, is an amazing experience especially for children.

Whether you are planning to spend your vacations in Canada with friends or family, you must prefer renting short term furnished apartments to hotels. These are more comfortable when you have children with you, who want separate bedrooms and some open space. Moreover, you can cook food of your own choice if you have rented an apartment. Enjoy the splendor of Niagra falls, the food at the towering restaurant situated on CN tower and skiing in Whistler, this vacation with your family.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

What To take along on a vacation?

The very thought of going on a vacation fills us with thrill and enthusiasm. The first step of planning a vacation is to look for a good holiday destination. All the family members share their preferences and finally one holiday destination is selected out of the preference list. After having decided the holiday spot, the first thing that comes into everyone's mind is packing.

Now the question arises; How to decide what to pack for a holiday vacation. This depends on the kind of holiday spot you have chosen to visit. If you are going to a hill station, you will be needing some warm clothes, but if you are going to visit some beach, then you will need swim suits and summer clothes. The packing also varies according to the kind of activities you are going to indulge in at your holiday destination.

Decided to stay in a furnished apartment rental? Pack some grocery
If you have booked an apartment rental instead of a hotel room for your family, you must carry some grocery with you. A furnished apartment will have a ready to use kitchen with all necessary appliances in it. All you need is some grocery to start with cooking.

Clothing; Prefer to travel light
Browse through the Internet to know about the temperature of that particular area, where your destination falls. Choose clothes as per the climatic condition of the holiday spot. Take dark colors with you preferably, as they look nice even if they get wrinkled. Do consider the norms of the place you are going to visit, while packing. At some places women are allowed to wear very short skirts.

Do not forget your important papers
If you are traveling abroad, do not forget to carry things like your passport. In the hustle of moving , travelers do forget very important things like air tickets, tourist visas and identification licenses. Do not pack these thing sin a your suitcase or traveling bag. Keep these items in your handbag (for females) or your laptop bag(for males). Other things which you can't afford to forget are mobile, recharger, camera, a small flashlight, bottle opener, sun glasses, cards, candles, match box, nail clippers, sun-block, and most importantly credit cards.


Put all the emergency supplies in a hand bag, so that you may have an easy access to them. Do pack wet wipes and tissues for quick clean-ups. Do carry extra pair of socks as well as under garments. Pack a first-aid kit, as you may get hurt while taking part in adventures like sports activities, mountaineering, etc. Make sure that anything that you pack must be worthy of the space that it will take in your luggage.

Furnished Apartments Are Ideal For Business Trips

Corporate housing or short term furnished apartments are simply the best place to stay when you are on short business trips. Be it businessmen or employees, all need to travel to distant places for flourishing the business they are dealing in. No matter where in the country you're traveling for business, you can easily find short term furnished apartments in all four corners of the world.

Business trips which take place on a frequent basis, can lead to frustration, as you have to stay cramped hotel rooms with continuous disturbance from the room service guys. On the contrary, furnished apartments available for both short-term and long-term visitors are an ideal place for staying if you are on a business trip. These apartments give an 'at-home' feeling. A hotel-stay won't give you a feeling of home away from home. Below listed are the amenities an apartment is sufficed with, which make the stay all the more comfortable.

Confidentiality
You can maintain your privacy and confidentiality, if you are staying in a furnished apartment rental. This is not possible in a luxury hotel, as the house-keeping boys keep knocking at the door all the time. You need to maintain privacy all the more when you are on a business trip, as the documents or information you are carrying in your laptop might be of great importance to your business. You can keep the keys of an apartment with you so that nobody can tamper with your documents.

Business Tools
You are on a business trip and your main aim is to complete your work as soon as possible and to return back to your office on time. You will be needing things like high-speed Internet connection, or a printer or fax machine. You may need to use a computer (if you are not carrying your laptop) or want an office setting in your apartment. All these things are possible if you rent a furnished apartment.

Fully furnished kitchen
You may rent an apartment near your work site, so that you do not have to commute long distances to reach there on time. You can cook at the time convenient to you in the fully furnished kitchen. You can cook the food of your own choice and at the time you want. You may feel hungry in the middle of the night while working; you can not place an order if you are staying in a hotel, but you can cook if you are staying in an apartment rental.

Moreover, you can always combine your business trip with a family vacation, if you are going to stay for more than a week. Your family will feel more comfortable staying in a spacious apartment rather than in a cramped hotel room. Kids can enjoy their own space, as they get separate rooms to sleep. But do your research before renting one!