Useful Blog From Liza

After the Costa del Sol, the traditional mass tourist destination in Southern Spain started to become saturated many travellers started to look for alternative destinations. This change in tourism behaviour was not only motivated by the saturation, but also the increasing degradation of their natural setting of the Mediterranean coastline.
Soon the rural inland areas of traditional destinations like Malaga or Almeria started to notice an increase in the number of inquiries for places to stay. The local government of Andalucнa saw in rural tourism an opportunity to reactivate the economy of small inland villages and hamlets which had been suffering from a decreasing population due to the lack of opportunities for the young people. Traditionally the rural areas of Andalucнa solely depended on the extensive agriculture which generates very few man-hours of work during the year.
With the help of Spanish and EU funding many villagers started to restore abandoned houses and converted them into country houses, modern cottages with ancient style or traditional fincas and haciendas. Like in many inland areas the rural population of Andalucнa is fairly experienced constructors and most of the properties have been converted into country houses and holiday homes of high standards and quality.
However the spectacular growth of the demand for rural tourism in the late '90 has already been caught up by an ever more spectacular increase in the offer. If it was not difficult to have an occupation of 50 - 60% % in the early days, today many owners of rural country houses and inland holiday homes in Andalucнa have great difficulties to even get close to these numbers.
The mayor reason for this is the lack of professionalism and experience in marketing the holiday homes. Most owners of country houses in Andalucнa have no specific studies in the filed of rural tourism and do not speak any other languages apart from Spanish, which makes it difficult to communicate with foreign customers in the pre-reservation stage. It also makes it very hard to get in touch with tour operators abroad who specialise in rural tourism in Andalucнa.
The mayor part of the country houses in the provinces of Granada, Malaga or Jaen is empty almost all year around, except for the Spanish school holidays. Foreign tourists, who travel outside the traditional Spanish holidays, can find exceptional good offers for beautiful country houses of high quality, many of them in fantastic natural settings, like the Alpujarras, the Ronda Mountains or the Axarquia in Malaga.
We have seen cases of astute owners with knowledge of foreign languages who have to deal with an overbooking situation during many weeks of the year and others, less fortunate but with country houses of exceptional quality and high standards, who have vacancies for these same weeks. These cases can normally be found in the more remote villages of Granada, Malaga, Jaen or Almeria where there is a bigger lack of professional marketers.
Some of the most beautiful natural areas in Spain, like the Alpujarras, the Valle del Lecrнn or the Axarequia still offer holiday bargains in select country houses and fincas, even during the periods considered high season.

So you're taking a European vacation. You've decided on a location, purchased your airline tickets, and booked your accommodations, whether it's a hotel in London, a short-term apartment in Florence, or Tuscany villa rental. You've taken care of the "where" and the "how."

Now comes perhaps the most important question: what?

Namely, what locations are you going to visit, what sights are you going to see, and what activities are you going to participate in?

For many travelers, the answer is "Everything!"

We'll call this the "supermarket sweep" mentality. Given a limited amount of time, say two or three weeks, travelers feel compelled to pile as much as they possibly can into their metaphorical "shopping carts." The temptation is to schedule every hour of the day in advance to cram in every Roman ruin, French chateau, Greek temple, and hill town in Tuscany.

If this is your inclination, I'd invite you to stop a moment and reconsider. What is it, exactly, that you want out of a European vacation?

Above all, I think most of us want our vacation to be relaxing. We're going to Europe because we want to escape the hurried pace of our normal lives; to slow down a bit and enjoy life at another pace; to come home rested and rejuvenated. Nobody wants to spend his or her vacation feeling just as stressed as if they had never left work!

Secondly, most people travel to Europe because they are looking for an experience. They want to experience a way of life that is unique and different from their everyday American existence.

So how does trying to see and do "everything" fit in with these two major goals? That's right... it doesn't! If you begin your European vacation with a checklist of "famous sights," you'll come home with a lot of pictures but no real emotional connection to the places you've been. You'll have spent your time running from one place to the next, worrying about whether you'll be able to catch the next bus rather than absorbing the significance of that historic monument you just flew by. You're also likely to get very bored along the way. After a while, the hundredth medieval masterpiece is going to look exactly like the first.

Conclusion? It's not so much what you do as how you do it. So here's how.

Number one: Slow down. Do not plan every day in advance. Of course, this doesn't mean you can't plan some things, but I'd suggest just picking a couple of major sights and aiming for those. As for everything else, educate yourself in advance, and then be flexible. This is especially true if you're renting a villa in the countryside. You don't want to spend your entire vacation in the car or on the train, after all! Set aside some time to hang out at your villa, or in a local village. Odds are, you'll meet some locals and strike up friendships that could last for a lifetime.

Number two: Stop. That's right. Stop. Find yourself a little cafe, a pizzeria, or a pub. Sit down. Order something. Now relax and enjoy your environment. Listen to the locals chatting, even if you can't understand the language. Talk to a stranger. Take a deep breath and remember the smell of freshly baked bread or slow-roasted lamb. Savor that glass of wine with your feet planted firmly on the fertile land from whence it came.

Number three: Savor. If you slow down and stop during your vacation, you'll reap the benefits immediately. If you don't have to be at point A at 10 o'clock sharp, Dad isn't going to blow up when he can't figure out the map, and Junior's emergency potty stop is not going to bring the entire vacation to a halt. More than that, when you discover something amazing, whether it's on your list of "major interest points" or something you've stumbled on by chance, you can relax. You've got the leisure and the flexibility to spend all the time you like admiring it.

All right. Perhaps you're convinced. Perhaps you realize that a great vacation is not about "seeing everything." But you've only got so much time! You're worried that you're going to miss something important if you don't plan ahead!

Well, there's an easy answer to that. If you don't see everything, no problem. That just gives you the perfect excuse to go back next year!

No one likes to think that bad things will happen while you're on holiday, but it becomes a reality for lots of travelers every year.
The right travel insurance policy can reduce the impact that injuries, illnesses, delays and lost property have on your precious holiday time. Finding the right travel insurance policy, unfortunately, is not as easy as ticking off the box next to "Do you want travel insurance?" at the travel agent. In fact, that could be the most expensive cover with the least benefits. According to Direct Line insurance, buying your travel insurance through your travel agent could cost you up to five times as much as you'd pay if you take the time to research and buy your own travel insurance policy.
Doing that requires a little knowledge beforehand though. It's important to understand the types of medical situations that are typically covered by a holiday travel plan, and which tricks to watch out for that could leave you without the cover when you need it most. Here's a quick guide to what to watch for when you're comparing holiday travel insurance.
1. Watch the excess.
Excess is the amount that you must pay before your travel insurance kicks in and picks up the remainder of the cost. On the typical travel insurance policy, there's an excess of J50 which is often counted against each incident. A few count an overall excess - they might require that you pay the first J150 of all insurable expenses on the trip no matter how many incidents are involved. This can be a vital difference. If, for instance, you stumble and fall, breaking a leg - and your expensive digital camera, along with your eyeglasses - some insurers may count that as three separate incidents, and charge you an excess for each of them, although they all stemmed from the same incident.
Solution: Consider getting a policy with an overall excess.
2. Watch the cover.
Read through the policy carefully so that you can be sure that the most important items are covered. Many policies don't cover you for the most common losses and injuries while you're on holiday. For instance, nearly all policies exclude injuries that happen while engaging in "winter sports".
Solution: If you're going on a skiing holiday, go over the policy, and if necessary, take out specific "winter sports cover" because it's better to be safe than sorry.
3. Cover your baggage.
Your baggage should be insured for at least J1,500, but keep in mind that many items you commonly carry may not be covered. It's typical for baggage insurance to exclude cover for sunglasses, mobile phones, cameras, watches, baby buggies and other expensive pieces of equipment. It's also typical for insurers to set an upper limit for how much they'll pay toward the loss of any one item. If your upper limit is J75 and you lose your J800 laptop, you'll be out of luck.
Solution: Look at getting separate cover for any expensive items that you plan to take with you.
4. Cover your pre-existing conditions.
If you have pre-existing medical conditions that flare up while you're abroad, you may find yourself responsible for all expenses related to them. Pre-existing conditions are also the most common reason for travel insurers to reject your policy. If you have a condition like angina or high blood pressure, a history of heart problems or diabetes, you might be wise to look into travel cover that takes those conditions into account and will cover you regardless. You may pay a bit extra for the premium and have a higher excess, but the peace of mind will be worth it.

Using luggage tag is one of the best ways that you will get difference and uniqueness for your luggage. There are some problems with many people, especially frequent travelers is difficult to find the way to have personalized travel luggage. This is because luggage tag will help you to find your bag easier, particularly when they are in the airport. Moreover, having luggage tag helps in case you lost your luggage but you have contact details on the tag, so other will find the owner of the luggage easily. The benefit of having luggage tag is not only making your luggage easier to be found but also preventing someone else to steal your luggage. Apart from the there are some more benefits of using luggage tags, which can be summarized below.
a) It is very easy to identify your luggage in case there is a similar design that belong to other person, so you can find yours easily.
b) Luggage could also prevent someone to pick up our luggage, especially during the airport transit, which there is a chance during airline check-in process.
c) Luggage tag could help to reduce chance for your luggage to be stolen, this is because thief prefers to steal luggage that has no identification so they can claim that they have picked the wrong luggage. The case like this often found with small suitcase which people generally do not have tag on their small suitcase.
d) This is probably the most important one. If you are the frequent travel person, you will realize that there is a great chance to lost luggage during when the luggage managed by airport or airline staffs.
e) Also, if you have suitable luggage tag, in case if your luggage is misdirect to other flight, it will be quickly found and return to you without worry.
However, it seems that these advantages above only benefit to the person who travel by air, but in fact it also benefits to you even you travel in groups by bus, coach or any kind of transportation as misdirected luggage always happen in all situation so it is also compulsory to have one. There are variety of color and design of luggage to choose from. Some providers have more alternatives for customers such as leather luggage tags. As we all know that leather is more durable, look neat and luxurious than any other material so this kind of luggage is becoming popular today. Meanwhile many provides have categorized their product by the material that luggage made from but some other function, such as air plane luggage, business luggage tag, briefcase tag and so on.
As mentioned above that luggage tag can be purchased individually and in bulk, for people who already got a set of luggage, you may have to buy them in bulk for all of your luggage, because it is even more easy to identified for a set of luggage that has same color and style of luggage tags. As far as safety is concerned by parents that they always choose luggage tag that has no sharp edge which will harm to children, so if you have little kids so this is also one factor that you have to consider.

With cruises a popular choice amongst many holiday makers. It is interesting to see just how the industry has evolved from the days of early transportation to the multimillion pound leisure industry it now is. There have been many milestones during the growth of the industry which has pushed the boundaries of what is possible aboard a ship further and laid foundation for what was to become one of the must relaxing, luxurious holiday options available.
The wealth that the industrial revolution brought with it, combined with the good service and shorter transfer times of early trans-Atlantic flights, allowed passengers to arrive and spend more time at their destination. This brought about a steady decline in the demand for ship crossings. However by the time of this 'air revolution' cruise companies had already established a cruise model.
During the 1980's cruise companies pioneered the idea of travelling for pleasure not just for purpose. It was still in the interest of the passengers to get to their destination, but the idea was to enjoy the journey as well. Ships became an ever more pleasurable place for passengers to spend time.
The cruise industry has evolved at a tremendous rate since the early days of cruising and offers unparalleled comfort. Cruise operators spend huge amounts on researching and developing what their current and potential customers want. Removed, from the old standards, of providing just a space on a ship, today's liners provide Individual high quality living spaces. Cabins have evolved to be as stylish and comfortable as some of the world's top hotels. Private bathrooms, Minibars and music systems are standard on most ships. In addition to this, individuals required to be contactable at any time are able to stay connected using sophisticated satellite broadband links.
Entertainment, equally, has also been included in the evolution of the cruise. Theatre, shows, ballrooms and casinos are all common place. Those looking for active pursuits are also catered for on today's cruise ship with activities such as rock climbing, ice skating and even wave simulators.
With the evolution of ships into floating hotels comes a structure and network of cutting edge technology that keeps these huge vessels afloat. One of the earliest changes that accelerated the industry was the change in materials used to build propellers and hulls which laid a much sturdier foundation. Competition amongst cruise lines also pushed design and build forward at a great pace. Larger, faster ships were commissioned and lavish, luxurious designs of living spaces became an industry standard. This pushed the boundaries of marine physics and technology to new great heights, not too mention the perception of cruising.
With growing concerns about carbon emissions and the environment, the cruise industry are making strives to implement technology to help vessels reduce pollution. Advancement in the design of propulsion systems, cleaner fuel and reductions in weight has resulted in ships that consume less fuel. This eco-friendly knowledge, only adds to a complete relaxation and indulgence of a cruise holiday.
It is clear to see just how the cruise industry has evolved over the years. Technology has paved the way for large, more manoeuvrable, robust vessels. Whilst modern lifestyles and living, have created facilities to match those of international hotels. Whether it's sending an email off the coast of Alaska or rock climbing at 100ft above sea level. Anything is now possible onboard a grand modern cruise ship.

You must have heard at least once about reward travel points and benefits either on a television commercial or, if you are a frequent traveler yourself, from your travel agent or airline personal.
How Do Reward Travel Programs Work?
Reward travel is like an incentive or, better said, a reward given to you by the airline because you gave them your business and choose their airline to fly to your destination of choice. Most airlines will issue a frequent flyer a card, which looks similar to a credit card and through which you can add points every time you fly with that particular airline or the one they are partners with.
Travel points are usually calculated by the amount of miles you covered in one flight and are added to your account accordingly. Another way to gather reward travel points is through your credit card, as sometimes the same incentives are applied by your bank or Credit Card Company as well.
What Can You Get From Your Accumulated Reward Travel Points
Once you have accumulated a considerable number of points, you can use them to either purchase duty free items, hotel reservations, car rentals and so on; the list is endless, especially if the reward travel points are accredited to you by your bank and not the airline, as they usually have many more partners affiliated in this program at any one time.
With the accumulated points on an airline frequent flyer card you can usually get flight upgrades, which are a blessing if you have a long flight and are looking forward to relaxing and maybe get a little sleep as well; also, you may be allowed heavier bags than normal without having to pay for the extra weight.
Sometimes, airlines offer free flight for their frequent flyers with an upgraded membership with them; it does not happen often but it does happen and when it does it could very well be you if you start collecting your reward travel points from today.
Conclusion
You can accumulate reward travel points if you travel for business or pleasure and, thus, have the opportunity to shop, stay in a hotel or even fly for free from time to time, depending on the amount of points you gathered and/or the available programs from the airline.
You can start today as the membership and card are free. The only thing you have to remember is to always travel with the airlines that are included in the reward travel program and thus keep accumulating reward points.

One question that's asked a lot is how to get the best deals when buying ferry tickets.
There are no real secrets to getting the best deal, but here are some pointers to help you when you are looking for tickets.
Which route should you use?
Shop around for prices traveling from a range of ports. For example, the short ferry routes from Dover are extremely good value. However, don't ignore the opportunity to cross from other ports such as Portsmouth. You can find some bargain tickets and, combined with mileage and fuel savings, may actually cost you less overall.
When do you wish to travel?
Unless you have fixed travel dates, look to shop around for bargain ferry tickets on the quieter sailings. After all, you may not find a bargain ticket traveling on a Friday evening in August. But you may find a great deal traveling on a Wednesday afternoon.
Taking a vehicle?
Take the smallest vehicle that you can. You may then be tempted to add a roof box or a trailer. These will usually add pounds to your ticket costs, so you may be better off taking a slightly larger vehicle and leaving the roof box or trailer behind.
Never attempt to get a cheaper price by booking a smaller vehicle than you wish to take. Remember, the check-in staff are there to check these things and you could find yourself paying lots more at the port. Even worse, you could find yourself being refused shipment.
What about on-board accommodation?
This area is one where you can make some great savings on the right routes. Think about how long you may use the accommodation for. You may not consider paying a lot of money for a cabin when you may only get 4 or 5 hours sleep as good value. Why not look at booking reclining seats if they are available? Perhaps by altering your sailing time you can do away with the requirement for accommodation altogether?
Single or return tickets?
Try to make return ferry ticket bookings. You will usually find there are plenty of savings to be made. However, it is always worth checking prices of single ferry tickets to compare the two. Never book a cheap day return to save paying a single fare. You are breaking the terms and conditions of your ticket and a dim view of this is usually taken by the ferry operators.
Do you want to eat whilst on board?
Some ferry operator's offer reduced prices when booked as a package before traveling. If having a meal on board is something you would like to do, why not look into seeing if there are any meal packages available when booking?
If you do follow these points then you will probably find a great deal. And remember, when you find that great deal it probably won't be around for long, so look to book it straight away so that you don't end up missing out on a great deal.

When planning your vacation, you make sure all arrangements are made in advance. These may include rental car, air travel, hotel, and tickets to events that may be very popular. But do you put as much effort into packing as you should? Most people do not and find themselves without many items once they arrive. Being prepared means thinking ahead and packing items that will help you have a great time when on vacation.
Most people spend the majority of their time packing clothing they will not wear. Pack a maximum of seven outfits when going on vacation. You will be able to mix and match pieces to create even more outfits. Depending on where you are going, pack the appropriate clothing so you will not be too warm or cold. Packing items together as a way to save space will allow you to take less luggage on your trip. Putting socks into your shoes, bringing clothing that is light and not bulky will also take up less room.
If you will be traveling with children, the same clothing rules apply. Because children have a tendency to get their clothing dirty more often than adults, pack a few extra shirts so they will have enough for the entire vacation. Older children should be allowed to pack their own clothing. This will give them more responsibility and give you more time to focus on other items that need to be packed.
Writing a list of all other items besides clothing will help with travel preparation. Remember to bring medications, first aid kit, toothpaste, and any other items you feel are important. Having a list will make it easier for you to remember everything you will need. Keeping these items in a small back pack will make them easier to find when you need them.
The last items you should remember to pack are travel directions. Knowing where you are going will make it much easier to get there. If traveling by car, buy a map or a portable GPS unit so you will always know where you are and how far you are from your destination. If traveling overseas, make sure you have your passport and visas handy.
While you can never prepare for everything that will happen during your trip, you should try to plan in advance, especially if you will be traveling with children. Another way to plan for your vacation is to think about which activities you plan on participating in. If you will be taking a tour, call the tour guide company to see if there is anything special you should bring with you.
Preparing for a trip may mean making a small trip to local stores in the area you are vacationing in. Most hotels and resorts have toothpaste and other items in case you forget anything. Just ask at the desk and get what you need.

I've noticed lately the tourists that make their way to central Mexico (Guanajuato) tend to be either the loosey-goosey backpackers or the tourist elite who tend to have a lot of experience in coming to strange and new places.
The backpackers (and there's nothing wrong with loosey-goosey, I would like to add) seem to be a highly adaptable group that can, more or less, stay almost anywhere, under most conditions, and more easily go with the flow, no matter what the flow throws their way.
The tourist elite group has the money to stay in places that cater to every wish. This group can shell out the bucks to stay at places that cater to every whim and make the accommodations feel safe and secure. Because of this group's vast experience at traveling, these people are not rattled much when they encounter new and strange things within a culture.
What has become apparent to me is there is a missing class of tourists. It is the middle-class income group of Americans and Canadians who, although they've heard of central Mexico, have never visited. They might want to check central Mexico out as a cheaper alternative to the classic resort areas of Mexico, but are terrified to come to a place where Spanish is the predominate language and where they might have a bit of a rough go at managing their trip.
In March 2007, while tooling about the smaller towns looking for article fodder, we met an American woman sitting quietly on a bench reading. She told us she and her husband take the time and effort to come to central Mexico to escape the traditional Mexican resorts with their sky-high prices. She also told us of friends who vacation in the resort areas and would never think of coming to central Mexico because of the language factor.
Whenever I think of the language issue and tourists, I am reminded of the travel writer, Bill Bryson, and his book, Neither Here Nor There. This man went all over Europe despite being devoid of language skills. Yet, he did it and produced a very funny book because of it.
Spanish, though immensely helpful for the central Mexico wannebee monolingual American traveler, is not necessarily a major requirement. Now, admittedly, we've seen some tourist meltdowns in some foreigners who miraculously got to Guanajuato only to discover that "everyone speaks Spanish here." You can read these all-to-frequent comments on many travel forum websites.
The misconception is that English is going to be spoken by the locals involved in the tourist service industry everywhere in Mexico. Unfortunately, it's not so.
My belief is that if central Mexico wants to attract more and more Americans and Canadians, it should begin the process of becoming bilingual in English. I remember being so amazed in the resort areas of Mexico that so many were bilingual. In central Mexico, they've yet to get the vision that English will attract more visitors who want to spend a lot of money in their establishments.
What those who could vacation in central Mexico don't generally know is there are ways of overcoming their fear of the language factor. They don't realize there are places other than the hyper-expensive places that can easily set you back 150.00 to 250.00 USD a night. We saw this American man, who, again I say, miraculously showed up in Guanajuato, have a meltdown. In an act of desperation, he whipped out his cell phone to call home. His conversation went something like, "I'm turning around and leaving this place...no one speaks English." While it is not true that no one speaks English, I can understand his frustration because in the town where I live, English is not widely spoken.
How these tourists end up in central Mexico seems to me to be the greatest miracle!
One way to overcome this sometimes-paralyzing handicap is to, of course, learn some Spanish. There are home study courses that can offer you far more versatility in the language than you might think.
Another way is to stay in one of the high-quality Bed and Breakfasts that are scattered around town. Some of these establishments have Americans who are totally bilingual and bicultural. They will take care of you and alleviate your fears about getting around town where you would be hard pressed to find English speakers. There are also some Mexicans B & B owners who are totally bilingual and bicultural who would offer you the same peace of mind as well as fine accommodations at considerable savings over what you would pay in the resort areas.
I really think this is the way to go. There have been some B & B's in Guanajuato for quite a while that could set you back the equivalent of your children's college tuition. If you can afford to pay resort prices and want to, the uber-rich places are here for you. However, if what you want is a cheaper, high quality place with a home-like atmosphere where not just your sleep and eating needs are met but one in which the owner can set you straight on cultural issues and guide you through the rough spots, then you want the smaller, and in my view far more versatile, Bed and Breakfasts.
And, let's be honest, if you want to venture out and try stretching your vacation muscles by coming to Guanajuato, you need more than three hots and a cot when your vacation legs feel a little rubbery in a place where Spanish is predominately spoken.
More Americans and Canadians could come to central Mexico and take advantage of the mind-expanding experience of visiting the birthplace of the Republic of Mexico. Colonial Mexico exudes history and culture with each step you take. This is the place where it all began. The resort areas, fun as they most certainly are, having seafood to delight your tastes, expenses to break the bank, is not all Mexico has to offer.
There's far more to see and it's right here, in central Mexico.

Everyone comes from a different type of experience which affects the type of home you choose. As you begin looking at new apartments in Houston make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to visit the apartments and tour the neighborhood community as well.
Although it may seem like a simple process, apartments come in a large variety of styles to accommodate different types of people. If you are clear about the type of apartment you want to rent, it will save you a lot of time and money. Houston is a big city and there are several high rise apartment building that offer attractive rents. These types of communities offer a diverse cultural environment and are usually very busy simply because of the number of people living there.
If you are a busy individual this may be perfect for you, while for a person who prefers a calmer atmosphere around their apartment will be miserable. Pay attention to your personality as well as your budget to find the perfect new home in Houston.
Many people are so focused on looking at an apartment for the features that they want that they sometimes do not see some very important features that will be just as important to their quality of life in their new home. For instance, you may find an apartment rental with extra large rooms, but the walls are paper thin, or the apartment building has a pool, but there is also a resident that makes unwanted advances.
It is a good idea to check and see if the apartments that you have in mind are listed on the apartment review websites. On these sites you will find first hand accounts from tenants; many times you will find that an apartment complex that you thought was a great place to live, is not such a good place to live.
Weather is a factor everywhere you live, but you should be aware of any conditions that may affect your lifestyle. If you rent an apartment in a two family home and there is a flood, what are your rights as a tenant? Or if you live in a Houston apartment complex, who is the person in charge of maintenance and how do you contact them in case there is a plumbing or electrical problem? Before you sign a lease for any apartment rental, make sure you understand what you are responsible for, i.e., garbage disposal and what the management or owner is responsible for, i.e., repairs to you apartment due to a hurricane.
Although renting your apartment in Houston is a business transaction, it is not the same as your relationship with your bank; you will be spending a lot of time in your apartment on a daily basis so it is important for you to be sure that you get good value for your money. Make a note of the included services that are available where you live now and the services you would like your new apartment in Houston to possess. Use this as a means to judge which apartment rental is best for you, you want to improve your situation or at the minimum keep the status quo, not take a step backward.