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Holiday in Greece – Rent Private Vacation Rentals at a Bargain Price
If you have an interest in beauty, art, architecture and the classic culture that gave us our civilization, then a visit to Greece is just the ticket. And a vacation rental of a villa, a beach house or another type of private home will give you a chance to experience this wonderful country that is impossible when going from hotel to hotel.
There are so many places in Greece that choosing a location for your vacation rental can be mind boggling. Choices include beach houses, apartments, cabins, condos, and other types of holiday homes. Securing lodging is easy though, when you see what is available. And the locations in Greece are wonderful. Crete, the largest of the Greek islands is beautiful and has many archeological sites to visit, as well as tourist attractions like Knossos and Phaistos. Crete was home to the ancient civilization of the Minoans, from 2600 BC to 1400 BC, and in more recent times gave the world the famous writer, poet and novelist Nikos Kazantakis.
Athens is known as the birthplace of democracy. This ancient city was home to the Greek philosophers like Aristotle, Plato and Socrates. Named after the goddess Athena, Athens is one of the most famous cities in the world, and one of the oldest. As a city state Athens figured prominently in ancient history as well as myths and legends of the ancient world. The Greek capital, now home to three and a half million people, has been called the cradle of civilization due to the many achievements of its culture. Birthplace of the Olympic Games, Athens is home to art and architecture, including the famous Acropolis.
Wine, honey, olive oil, and sheep herding are just a few of the products that can be sampled fresh if our holiday home is in Thassos. This island figures prominently in ancient history and is named after Thasus, son of Phoenix and leader of the Phoenicians who first settled the island and erected a temple to Heracles. Imagine a vacation on Thassos, staying in a private home near a beautiful beach, enjoying sun and sand and dreaming of the long ago days of great civilizations. You will be sure to enjoy the native cooking, picking up a bit of the Greek language, and staying with some of the most hospitable people on earth.
Greece is a country that at one time ruled the known world, through Alexander the Great. And even when military conquest was no longer part of its agenda, many believe that Greek culture conquered Roman culture from within, with the Romans copying Greek art and architecture and even religion. When the Roman Empire split into Eastern and Western halves, it was the Greek half of the empire, the Byzantine Empire of Constantine, which lasted far into the middle ages. Greece is truly a country to enjoy and to learn from, and the most enjoyable way to learn about Greece is through a vacation, with lodging in a private home.
Rent holiday home or vacation rental in Greece on http://greece-holiday-homes.com and enjoy your stay!
CONDOTELS (CONDO-HOTELS) – New Hotel Phenomenon Set to Sweep the Philippines
Interest in the Philippines condominium hotels sector has increased significantly in the past two years following many years of intermittent development and association with other shared ownership vehicles, says Beth Collingz in her recent report: ‘Condominium Hotels-The Philippines Latest Hotel Phenomenon’
Beth Collingz, Overseas Marketing Director, Investment Sales for PLC International Marketing the lead marketing partners for Pacific Concord Properties Inc’s Lancaster Brand of Condotels in the Philippines explained: A condominium hotel is a hotel operating unit which is sold to individual equity investors, where each owner acquires a room, suite or studio whilst the whole enterprise is managed as a hotel operation under a single brand.
Buyers own their units the same as regular condos. There is no time limit to ownership. All Condos come with freehold title deeds. The Condotel model is similar to the serviced apartment or apart hotel sector and is suitable for an investor who wants to test the water in hotel investment.
We are seeing more and more sophisticated customers coming to the market and a change in demand patterns; the traditional timeshare products seem past their prime. This, plus an increase in investment appetite for the hospitality sector, suggests that the condominium market looks set to grow Collingz continued: Many international hotel brands have also declared that the Philippine hotel landscape is ready for condominium hotel developments, either in conjunction with self-contained hotel operations, as fully self-contained condominium plans or as a part of a mixed-use development plan such as the Lancaster Brand.
Condominium hotels are significantly less developed in the Philippines than in the US, in part owing to a low cost residential focused market as well as the lack of development in the hotel sector since the 1997 Asian Crisis. Alternative hotel ownership are featuring more and more in the hotels sector, with the rise of condominium hotels and a shift in investor strategy, thus creating a new investor profile. At the moment, the Philippine condominium market is being targeted and driven by private retail purchasers, typically reasonably net worth individuals attracted by a city centre or a resort investment foothold although we are now seeing more and more first time property buyers moving into the Condominium Hotel marketplace said Collingz.
Metro Manila and Cebu are particular favorites as an investment destination. There is room for a wider pool of institutional and real estate investors to invest in a portfolio of condominium units or the establishment of an investor-developer partnership.
Collingz continued that a lot of this interest is being driven by the relatively cheap market prices in the Philippines compared to Europe, specially UK Housing prices, and the easy payment options available for our Condo Hotel Developments, but there are other factors, too. Offshore Property Investors, Foreign baby boomers as well as overseas Filipinos, are looking for ways to maximize their return on investments as they approach retirement, and so are purchasing second homes, particularly Condo Hotel Investments where they can use the Condo for vacations and rent it out through our In-House Condotel Management when they are not using the unit thereby gaining rental incomes that on todays purchase prices, give a projected ROI on their investments of some 12-16% depending upon the mode of payment for the unit.
Pacific Concord Properties Incs Lancaster – The Atrium, Shaw Boulevard, Metro Manila, Philippines is a “Full Service” Condominium Hotel offering Studio, One, Two and Three Bedroom Suites for sale. To be completed and ready for turnover from December 2010, the Lancaster Atrium will provide unit owners with premier residential condo units with option of enrolling their units in the Lancaster Condo Hotel Rental Pool and earn Rental Incomes as Owner Non-Residents when not using their units through Condotel Management. This makes the Lancaster Brand of Condotels, one of the Hottest Investment Opportunities in the Philippines.
Part of the success story for this sector will be the education of a whole new investor base previously accustomed to buy-to-let residential plans or conventional commercial real estate investments, together with the emergence of a secondary market in the Philippines to demonstrate transparency and liquidity said Collingz.
Beth Collingz
PLC International Marketing Networks
Book Vegas Online: 5 Reasons To Book Your Vegas Trip Online
With over 30 million visitors a year, Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world. From the gorgeous mega-luxury hotels to the exclusive Vegas shows to the unbeatable buffets to the 24 hour casinos, Las Vegas has something for everyone.
More and more travellers are booking their Las Vegas trips online. So should you book your next Las Vegas vacation online? Here are the top 5 reasons to consider booking your Vegas vacation online:
1) Save Money
You don’t have to pay travel agent commissions which can amount to significant savings of hundred of dollars. Plus there are direct-to-customer online travel services that give you special discounts just for booking online.
2) Convenience
Book your Vegas vacation from the comfort of your own home. You don’t have to go out to pick up the tickets or haggle with travel agencies. You simply shop, click, book and print – easy as that. (and if you have questions, there’s usually a toll free number you can call for 24 hour support)
3) Larger Selection of Las Vegas Packages:
Instead of just choosing from the latest travel agent specials you can choose from EVERYTHING that’s available. You know what you want in a Las Vegas vacation better than anyone else – and you can easily browse everything that’s available to you online.
Many online travel agents upload new vacation packages weekly so you can monitor the new packages being offered and find an amazing deal.
4) Easy To Search & Book
With easy search functions and large travel package databases, you simply plug in your search parameters and get a listing of possible trips, prices and descriptions. The easy search functions make it simple and fun to find the Las Vegas vacation of your dreams
5) Research Hotels and Find Out What Other Travellers Think – BEFORE You Get There
Ever travelled some place, got there and thought – ‘I wish someone had told me what this place was really like before I spent all this money!’?
Now you can know what your Vegas hotel is like before you stay there. Many online travel agents have pictures, detailed descriptions and even downloadable brochures on each Las Vegas resort.
And some online travel agents are also introducing a Travellers’ Opinions section where people can leave feedback and rate their hotel vacation experience. They rate hotels and also leave comments on their experience. This is a great tool for you to not only find out which hotels are popular with other travellers but you can usually also pick up other Vegas travel tips that can save you money.
Considering all this, it’s no wonder that more and more people are booking their Las Vegas trip online, it’s easier, cheaper and you end up making a better choice (and thus having a more enjoyable vacation).
Condotel or Apart-Hotel Suites Make an Excellent Rental Property Investment
Many people are aware of the strategy of developer extended loans to purchase rental real estate says Beth Collingz, Overseas Sales Director of PLC International, lead marketing partners for Pacific Concord Properties Inc’s Lancaster Brand of Condotels in the Philippines. You make a very small down payment with the majority of the purchase price payable over as long a period the developer extends at zero interest.
In Apart-Hotels or Condotels, the rental income goes a long way to cover the cost of servicing and managing the unit and in the long term after paying off the purchase price, can give a ROI through rentals of up to 16% per annum. Regardless of the possible bumps on the road to greater wealth, condotel investments are at least an easily-understood investment tool that most of us can handle added Collingz
Collingz expects rental income to rise 15 percent in the coming 12 months after gains of as much as 30 percent since January 2006, when Pacific Concord Properties Inc are set to launch Condo Hotel operations of their flagship Lancaster Suites located in the Ortigas business district in Metro Manila.
UK Private equity units of banks and investment clubs, driven in part by the current strength of the Pound Sterling in international trading, are being attracted by returns in the Philippines as much as double those in the United States and Europe, are purchasing significant blocks of real estate for investment trusts for Asian commercial property. There are large amounts of capital now chasing increasingly limited investment-grade real-estate opportunities in Asia, said Collingz. We are currently in the closing stages of packaging the investment of some $20M in private-equity real estate funds for new Lancaster Brand Apart-Hotel or Condotel developments in Metro Manila and Cebu, on the strength of expected rental returns which will continue to grow at a rapid pace. With funds raised for commercial property deals in Asia having doubled in each of the past five years, Collingz see the market value of Condotel investments in the Philippines reaching new heights in 2007/8 as more developments come on line.
Rising demand for homes, hotels, short and medium term rental accommodation, offices and shopping malls in the Philippines, home to a population of almost 80 million and with a significant number of the more than 10 million returning overseas Filipino Baby Boomers, is fueling rents. Residential rents in Metro Manila rose 26 percent in the three months to March 2007, their highest quarter-on-quarter increase in more than a decade, as more and more IT companies set up shop in the Philippines. Companies like Texas Instruments are investing $1B in expanded operations in the Philippines. High-end rents rose some 13 percent from a year earlier, said Collingz.
Collingz projects that Rents in the region are set to effectively jump up by at least 8.7 percent per annum over the next five years, compared with 3.3 percent in the United States and 3.7 percent in Europe. Yields from 8 percent to as high as 14-16 percent ROI on rental income property contrast with the 4 percent to 5 percent that private equity firms get in the United States and Europe.
People are in general looking to shift fund flows relatively towards Asia,” Collingz said. It already has had a profound impact in markets where there’s a lot of this money chasing the same assets. In Singapore, the region’s second- biggest market after Japan, investments by private real estate funds accounted for seven of the 19 office blocks, worth 6.7 billion dollars, sold since September 2005. REITs bought six. A Goldman Sachs fund paid 690 million dollars for two buildings last November that house the headquarters of DBS Group Holdings. In Hong Kong, property funds of Morgan Stanley and Macquarie Bank paid a total of 7.9 billion Hong Kong dollars, or $1.02 billion, for four office blocks from March to May, according a recent article published by CB Richard Ellis.
As the Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong markets become saturated, the Philippines will be the next real estate market to attract substantial overseas investments. Lower prices and retirees spending money are also directing foreign attention to residential condominium hotels in the Philippines, which in turn is driving up more construction. A lot of this interest is being driven by the relatively cheap market prices here compared to Europe especially UK housing prices and the easy payment options available for condominium hotel developments Collingz said. The buyers gain rental incomes that on todays purchase prices give a projected ROI of some 8 percent to 14-16 percent depending on the mode of payment for the unit she said.
Beth Collingz
PLC International Marketing Networks
From the adventure lover to the historically inclined tourist, everyone has something to do in Greece. It has places that are frozen in a different time zone altogether. At the same time, it has places that have the exuberance and the vibrancy of today.
In simple words, Greece is the ultimate tourist destination. And it is also one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the world.
If you are planning to visit Greece, then it is recommended that you spare a thought to travel and accommodation well beforehand to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Greece has some of the best of the best Hotels in the world and you will be surprised at the variety on offer. You can choose from small, cozy and affordable cottages to high class luxury hotels that cater to tourists who are accustomed to international luxury standards.
Cheap Hotels
For most tourists, price is not the only determining factor. It has to be economically luxurious. Isnt that a difficult combination to find?
But there are hotels in Greece that can be considered to be economical and provide the basic luxuries that can be accommodated within the price.
If you are headed to Athens, then the Athens Plaza is worth checking out. While it cannot be compared to the extremely luxurious hotels close by, it surely has a charm of its own. Its strategic location which has a view of the Acropolis is considered by many to be a key factor that works in its favor. But let me add that the staff is extremely professional and friendly.
You can also look for cheap hotels in Greece on the internet. There are numerous websites that are dedicated to the tourist looking for travel and accommodation in Greece. You are sure to find a hotel that suits your needs and requirements.
If you decide to go to Africa, you surely shouldnt miss the opportunity to see its nature, its animals and birds, its savannas and deserts, its jungles and waterfalls. For many centuries the most of the Africa countries have been colonies of the great European powers mainly Great Britain and France. Nowadays Africa is free and open for tourists. Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania have become very popular travel destinations. Now, in Africa there are a lot of natural parks where you can enjoy carefully preserved flora and fauna. Several decades ago, only desperate courageous people risked traveling across Africa. In the beginning of the XXI century one can make his trip to Africa with all the necessary comfort.
The best and the world-known safari destinations are Masai Mara in Kenya, Serengeti on Zanzibar (Tanzania), Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Okavango in Botswana and Kruger Park in
South Africa. Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and the Maasai Mara protect the greatest and most varied collection of terrestrial wildlife on the Earth.
Masai Mara is a land of rolling hills, woods and acacia trees. It is watered by the Mara and Talek rivers and opens onto the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. No trip to Kenya would be complete without a visit to Masai Mara. Its one of the most-promoted parks in Africa, and its really worth visiting. Here you can enjoy comtemplating leopards, rhinoceros and over 450 bird species.
The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth. Its climate and nature have barely changed in the past million years. The Serengeti is the jewel in the crown of Tanzania’s protected areas and makes up the significant part of the country area.
Victoria Falls is a world heritage site sometimes is called one of the Seven Natural Wonders. Victoria has the largest curtain of falling water on earth. Its sound is spreading a lot of miles around.
The Okavango Delta is really unique. It is the largest inland delta in the world. Instead of flowing into the sea, the annual flood of water flows inland, spreading over 15 000 km of the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons and channels. The countless islands that emerge from its waterways gave birth to several diverse ecosystems which are home to vast numbers of birds. The crystal clear waters support many kinds of fish. The heart of the delta is accessed by air only.
The Kruger National Park in South Africa is one of the oldest and largest reserves in Africa. The park boasts a tremendous variety of game and birdlife in its numerous habitats. The south is home to some of the most popular restcamps as the wildlife is prolific. The central region consists of extensive grassy plains that are interrupted by lush riverine vegetation along the Olifants and Letaba rivers. The northern region is quite remote and thus, less popular.
A trip to all these reserves and park will take a lot of time, but you can make several voyages to the Black continent.
Condo-Hotels – New Hotel phenomenon set to sweep the Philippines
Interest in the Philippines condominium hotels sector has increased significantly in the past two years following many years of intermittent development and association with other shared ownership vehicles, says Beth Collingz in her recent report: ‘Condominium Hotels-The Philippines Latest Hotel Phenomenon’
Beth Collingz, Overseas Marketing Director, Investment Sales for PLC International Marketing the lead marketing partners for Pacific Concord Properties Inc’s Lancaster Brand of Condotels in the Philippines explained: A condominium hotel is a hotel operating unit which is sold to individual equity investors, where each owner acquires a room, suite or studio whilst the whole enterprise is managed as a hotel operation under a single brand.
Buyers own their units the same as regular condos. There is no time limit to ownership. All Condos come with freehold title deeds. The Condotel model is similar to the serviced apartment or apart hotel sector and is suitable for an investor who wants to test the water in hotel investment.
We are seeing more and more sophisticated customers coming to the market and a change in demand patterns; the traditional timeshare products seem past their prime. This, plus an increase in investment appetite for the hospitality sector, suggests that the condominium market looks set to grow Collingz continued: Many international hotel brands have also declared that the Philippine hotel landscape is ready for condominium hotel developments, either in conjunction with self-contained hotel operations, as fully self-contained condominium plans or as a part of a mixed-use development plan such as the Lancaster Brand.
Condominium hotels are significantly less developed in the Philippines than in the US, in part owing to a low cost residential focused market as well as the lack of development in the hotel sector since the 1997 Asian Crisis.
Alternative hotel ownership are featuring more and more in the hotels sector, with the rise of condominium hotels and a shift in investor strategy, thus creating a new investor profile. At the moment, the Philippine condominium market is being targeted and driven by private retail purchasers, typically reasonably net worth individuals attracted by a city centre or a resort investment foothold although we are now seeing more and more first time property buyers moving into the Condominium Hotel marketplace said Collingz.
Metro Manila and Cebu are particular favorites as an investment destination. There is room for a wider pool of institutional and real estate investors to invest in a portfolio of condominium units or the establishment of an investor-developer partnership.
Collingz continued that a lot of this interest is being driven by the relatively cheap market prices in the Philippines compared to Europe, specially UK Housing prices, and the easy payment options available for our Condo Hotel Developments, but there are other factors, too. Offshore Property Investors, Foreign baby boomers as well as overseas Filipinos, are looking for ways to maximize their return on investments as they approach retirement, and so are purchasing second homes, particularly Condo Hotel Investments where they can use the Condo for vacations and rent it out through our In-House Condotel Management when they are not using the unit thereby gaining rental incomes that on todays purchase prices, give a projected ROI on their investments of some 12-16% depending upon the mode of payment for the unit.
Pacific Concord Properties Incs Lancaster – The Atrium, Shaw Boulevard, Metro Manila, Philippines is a “Full Service” Condominium Hotel offering Studio, One, Two and Three Bedroom Suites for sale. To be completed and ready for turnover from December 2010, the Lancaster Atrium will provide unit owners with premier residential condo units with option of enrolling their units in the Lancaster Condo Hotel Rental Pool and earn Rental Incomes as Owner Non-Residents when not using their units through Condotel Management. This makes the Lancaster Brand of Condotels, one of the Hottest Investment Opportunities in the Philippines.
Part of the success story for this sector will be the education of a whole new investor base previously accustomed to buy-to-let residential plans or conventional commercial real estate investments, together with the emergence of a secondary market in the Philippines to demonstrate transparency and liquidity said Collingz.
Avignon, an enticing medieval town in southern France, is found in the region of Provence. At times referred to as city of the popes, Avignon was sanctuary for nine such men who sought reprieve from the hostilities of Rome. Once established, these illustrious men embarked on an architectural odyssey, and a distinguished town was born.
Today, Avignon is a magnet for sightseers in quest of rich history and an ambience absorbed in fervour, none more so than during the annual drama festival. Every July thousands of visitors congregate in support of this celebrated occasion, though accommodation may perhaps come at a premium. If you can endure the squeeze then this event comes especially recommended.
The heart of Avignon is enclosed via a commanding wall, constructed in the fourteenth century by the now occupant popes, and serving as a gauge of their intent for remaining at their recent quarters. These prominent walls prevail today – as does much of the ancient architecture in a remarkably preserved state, presenting an immense contrast among early and progressive worlds.
Set against the magnificent backdrop of Palais des Papes, the bustling principal market of place de lHorloge is alive with activity. Business prospers as tourist and native endeavour to seek bargain of the day. Take a seat, quench your thirst, and devour the unique ambience afforded from this mature, town emporium.
Neighbouring the frenzied coffee shops and market district, you soon discover the Musee du Petit Palais and its fine collection of religious art. Some of this work dates as far back as the thirteenth-century, inspiring many a young artist privileged to have encountered this distinguished city.
On behalf of modern art, the Musee Calvet is well worth a look, possessing a number of exquisite works. Once engrossed in the splendour of these canvases, afternoons merely lapse unnoticed, every print inciting your mind’s eye.
Protruding from the riverbank, the Pont dAvignon is testament of the sands of time. Built in the fourteenth-century in support of a developing township, this charismatic bridge was relentlessly plundered by the ceaseless course of the Rhone, ultimately succumbing in the seventeenth-century when preservation was considered no longer viable. Today it remains as a monument to the triumph of the river and is perhaps the most instantly recognisable feature of Avignon.
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy.
Cagliari is renown for its open and friendly international people, art museums and Art Galleries, the sea, the movida and cheap lodgings, classic itineraries and a lot more to make a visit worth wise.
Cagliari’s Sardinian name Casteddu literally means the castle.
In general, Flashbooking guides have been written for giving the essential information about the most visited cities in the world and in particular for any traveller or first-time visitor.
It has about 160,000 inhabitants, or about 350,000 including the suburbs.
For a short visit, a week-end, a city break, these free pocket guides are useful printable and downloadable tools available online.
Cagliari has some peculiar gastronomic traditions. Many dishes are based on the wide variety of fish and sea food available, for example, burrida.
With the monthly newsletter, Flashbooking puts at travellers, students, volunteers free disposal some useful pocket travel guides of major European cities: the Amsterdam City guide, the London City guide, the Prague City guide, the Paris City guide, the Rome City guide, the Florence City guide, and the freshly issued Naples City guide!! For the Cagliari travel guide Flashbooking staff efforts concentrate on making it simple to read dividing the Cagliari centre in different districts with their relevant amenities.
Although it is possible to trace influences from Spanish gastronomy, Cagliaritanian food has a distintctive and unique character.
Flashbooking cheap lodging solutions are all available for online bookings and divided by Countries. Travellers have free access to the updated list of Europe hostels and budget hotels, North and South America hostels, Caribbean and Central America hostels as well as for Asia cheap accommodations, Oceania youth hostels and Africa hostels.
Very good wines are also part of Cagliaritanians’ dinners: excellent wines are in fact produced in the nearby vineyards of the Campidano plain.
In particular Flashbooking provides a large selection of cheap or low cost accommodation offers in Cagliari where there are plenty of low cost solutions for backpackers in budget youth hostels, Bed and Breakfast, family run guesthouses, cheap hotel deals.
See Flashbooking database of selected accommodations worldwide and help us enlarging the hostel offer by reporting the contacts of some accommodations, lodgings, BandB, youth hostels and budget small hotels where you personally stayed. In fact, Flashbooking policy tends to privilege small and family-run hotels in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies.
Flashbooking is becoming a recognized source of information and services for who loves creating a trip by him/herself and book bed nights securely online.
Flashbooking is a growing youth hostels and hotels directory specializing in budget accommodation for independent travellers, students, backpackers, families and all the ones that travel on a pocket.