New York Cruises: Tips on Scoring the Best Cruise Deals

A wealthy friend decided to take a one-month vacation with Seabourn Cruises and knew the ship, itinerary, departure date and stateroom she wanted. She decided to conduct an experiment in cruise bargain hunting by calling three travel agents and, after relaying the specifics of her desired voyage, advised each agent that whoever gave her the best price would get her business. She saved thousands of dollars.

The travel agent who won her business did it by rebating. If there is one dirty word in the cruise industry it’s rebating, which means an agent kicks back part of his or her commission (generally 15% of the cruise fare) to pass along a lower fare.

After 15 years of writing about the cruise industry I still don’t see why rebating is bad – don’t real estate agents and car salesmen do the same thing? Isn’t this just basic competition? Still, several cruise lines won’t let any travel agent rebate cruise fares, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Sea Cruises and, to a large part, Norwegian Cruise Line.

The remaining cruise lines do allow rebating, but won’t permit travel agents to advertise or promote a lower price to the public. You have to ask.

This means that if your sights are set on a Princess, Holland America, Cunard, Oceania, Carnival and Seabourn cruise, it’s worth your time to ask travel agents if he/she can come up with a lower price than the one you’re first quoted.

Of course your chances are better in some cruising regions. Right now, sales of Caribbean, Mexico and South America are soft. Hence, here you stand a better chance of getting a lower price than on Alaska and Greek Island cruises, which are selling much better this year.

It’s all about supply and demand. And timing. For example, traditionally suites and balcony cabins sell out first. But now that a bad economy is upon us and there’s overcapacity in the Caribbean and Mexico you still may get a better deal on the highest-priced categories. So ask. The only thing a travel agent can say is “sorry, this is the price.”

WHEN NOT TO SHOP AROUND: When you have a wonderful travel agent you trust implicitly, who has steered you towards good deals in the past. To save $100 or so isn’t worth it.

One caveat. Travel agents can only rebate the price of a cruise. There are fixed costs, like port charges, taxes, fuel surcharges and airfare that are never negotiable.

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For additional information, visit Cruising From New York (http://www.cruisingfromnewyork.com ) the premier web site for New York cruises written by Anne Campbell, a journalist who has been covering the cruise industry for 17 years.

Choosing The Right Property Management Company For Your Vacation Rental Property

Luxurious homes and private villas are becoming a popular alternative for travelers looking for more than a typical chain hotel. Property owners looking to rent can capitalize on this trend by working with a vacation rental management company. Property managers help owners by renting out and maintaining their properties. Guests benefit as well, since some of these companies go beyond simply managing properties and offer amenities such as housekeeping and concierge services. There are many factors for owners to consider when choosing a management company to rent out their properties.

Some owners choose to manage their vacation rental houses on their own in order to stay involved with every part of the process, but it is often easier to rely on a property manager’s services. There are many types of property management companies, from tenant finders to full-service providers. An owner seeking a management service will need to assess their individual needs to see which company is the right fit. The tenant-finding service costs less, for example, but the owner will need to remain involved with the property on a regular basis. On the other hand, a full-service contract will cost more, but the management company takes over nearly every aspect of running the rental, from reservations and accounting to marketing and maintenance.

Completing thorough research prior to signing a contract helps owners avoid aligning themselves with an unreliable company. Check with your local chamber of commerce and industry associations like the Vacation Rentals Managers Association for reputable companies in your market area. Perhaps most importantly, meet with the staff of several potential companies to get an idea of how they operate. You should be able to trust your manager to fulfill their contractual obligations. You should also ask to be shown other rentals they manage. Make sure their rental agents are fully familiar with all competing properties in the area.

Of course, it’s good to also get a feel for how potential management companies may treat your guests. What kinds of amenities will they provide to enhance your guests’ vacation experience? Some can connect guests with local attractions, for example, while others can help make transportation arrangements or even arrange for private chefs. Look them up on travel review sites and read what guests have said about their experiences, but be mindful about looking for trends in the reviews rather than isolated instances; don’t make a decision based on just one negative comment.

Owners should also compare the commission rates property managers charge in your market area and find out what services are included in their fee structure. If the rates are on the higher end, see if they are covering things like landscaping that might otherwise be an additional charge for you. However, rates that are too low are not always ideal; the company may be making up for them with higher fees elsewhere, so be sure you know all the costs or you could be looking for payday loans.

Once you decide on a management company, it is important to make sure you get everything in writing. Because contract formats vary with each company, make sure your manager discloses as much information as possible. Consulting an attorney can help ensure you understand everything going into the contract, which should include a detailed list of what your costs are and what’s included in the fees being quoted. Your contract should also define what repairs are covered by the company in order to avoid any surprise charges to you.

Choosing the right property manager can be a grueling process, but it has a huge impact on the success of your vacation rental. A rental home is a major investment, and a quality management company will treat it with the same care and attention to detail as you would.

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Stephen Daniels is an acclaimed http://seo-search-engine-optimization.netbiz.com researcher. For a vacation rental management company in Orlando, he highly recommends http://www.villa4less.com . With no start-up or termination fees, they offer honest management services at competitive rates.

Getting the Train From London To Paris by Eurostar

Are you planning a trip via train from London to Paris? Then Eurostar is the way to go. Eurostar is a high-speed train service that provides a super-fast connection from London to Paris. The service operates from London’s St. Pancras International Station to the Gare du Nord Station in the heart of Paris. Services from London to Disneyland Resort Paris and other seasonal destinations in France are also available.

Eurostar is a viable substitute to air travel from the UK to Europe. The train from London To Paris by Eurostar takes just about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Although the time for a London to Paris flight might be less than the train ride, if you consider the time spent in commuting to and from the airport and the waiting time in between, then Eurostar definitely works out faster.

Eurostar trains have an excellent track record of reaching their destinations on time. Over 90% of trains on average arrive on schedule or within 15 minutes of their scheduled times, in contrast to just 62.3% for flights on the same route. Eurostar is therefore the preferred mode of travel and it is no surprise that Eurostar London to Paris trains have captured over 70% of the London to Paris market from airlines.

This train is also more convenient and comfortable than flying. Journeys can end up becoming excellent sightseeing tours as trains pass through the beautiful countryside of Kent and Northern France. Meals are served on board for Business Premier First Class passengers and are accompanied by metal cutlery and half-bottles of wine, on the house. Eurostar is also a 100% non-smoking service.

While traveling you need to reach the railway station at least 30 minutes before the departure time for security checking. This time is far less than taken at airports and thus reduces the overall journey time. You can carry your entire luggage without paying any extra fees and there is no restriction on the size of luggage. At St. Pancras stations you can find numerous facilities like free WiFi access, shops and cafes. You can easily recharge your mobile and laptops inside Eurostar trains using computer video cables. There are also snack bars that serve refreshments with a decent selection.

A Eurostar train from London to Paris is a cheaper way of traveling than other travel options such as flights and ferries. As a cheaper, comfortable and faster transport alternative today, it has become known as a lifeline of Western Europe.

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Are you planning to travel by train From London to Paris by Eurostar? Click on the link to visit our website:
http://www.trainfromlondontoparis.com

Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com

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Be sure to Stay at the Aston Waikki Hotel

If you are planning on going to Hawaii, be sure to visit the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel. They just finished up a $30 million renovation project to bring the hotel up to a whole new level of luxury. The hotel will be waiting for you with open arms.

The two tours of the hotel contain more then 644 rooms. 85% of them have partial or full view of the ocean. The Aston also boasts oversized Tiki torches, a three-story volcano with 15-story light, and with the gentle breezes that blow off the ocean it will give you the perfect Hawaiian night to remember.

Guests are treated to a traditional breakfast on the beach every morning. This great breakfast is included in the hotel’s room price, the breakfast itself offers American as well as native Hawaiian food. It is a breakfast like no other that you’ve ever had before and with the fresh breeze off the ocean, life can’t get much better than this. There are also complementary beach chairs provided for your convenience. This is a great way to start a great day.

Waikiki Beach is right in the front of the Aston Hotel. Located on the most scenic end of the beach, the rooms are spacious and the specialty of the staff is making you feel relaxed and comfortable during your stay there. There is an ocean view from every window in the main tower with all the amenities that you would expect in a hotel such as this.

There are plenty of things to do and see whether you’re on a budget or money is not a problem. It won’t matter to Mother Nature with the fine array of beautiful scenery she offers and she doesn’t discriminate. It is there for everyone to enjoy. Take a walk along the beach and listen to the song of the waves lapping gently against the sandy shore. Watch the most beautiful sunset that you’ll ever witness as evening comes to an end. Visit the zoo and see what fine displays it holds for you, take a helicopter ride high above the island and see its majestic cliffs that jut out and run down to meet the sea, or go snorkeling and open up another world of Hawaii that will be like unveiling colors you have never witnessed before. This island truly is a paradise on earth, and it will be a vacation to remember for a life time to come.

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Joe is a professional freelance writer, seldom seen in medical scrubs, who specifically loves to write about traveling. One of his current favorite location to write about is Hawaii, which offers many fun activities from Hawaii dinner cruises fun scuba diving adventures. Joe is a contributing author for http://hawaiianmarketplace.com so be sure to visit.

Going away on holiday heightens your sensitivity to all the things that can go wrong while you are thousands of miles away, and one of the biggest worries is that of burglary. We loudly chatted about the phantom son who would be staying in our house as we took a taxi to the station for our last holiday!! More reliable, of course, is a top quality burglar system like ADT. You can get an adt pulse pricing quote today and ensure complete security in your absence.

Going away on holiday heightens your sensitivity to all the things that can go wrong while you are thousands of miles away, and one of the biggest worries is that of burglary. We loudly chatted about the phantom son who would be staying in our house as we took a taxi to the station for our last holiday!! More reliable, of course, is a top quality burglar system like ADT. You can get an adt pulse pricing quote today and ensure complete security in your absence.

More Time to Relax than Packing

If you are going on a weekend trip, you wouldn’t want to bring your wheeled luggage with you, do you? One of the best investments when it comes to weekend bags would have to be leather. Here are some of the reasons why you need to buy yourself a leather weekend bag:

1) Durability

When it comes to durability, you can be sure that leather bags are the best in the field. Leather, if genuine, can really withstand extreme weather conditions. You can bring your leather weekend bag to Cabo in Mexico where it is hot and tropical and at the same time, you can also bring it to a ski trip in Aspen in Colorado. You can be sure that wherever you bring your leather bag, it won?t chip and it won?t wear out. You just have to make sure that the one you invest on is real leather. The best thing too about leather is that it is very similar to wine. Like wine, as genuine leather bag ages, it gets finer and the quality is stronger. Read more »

Volcano Hunting In Guatemala – Hot Stuff

If geography classes never used to excite you, Guatemala will change all that. Sitting on the boundary between two tectonic plates, the country is host to over 30 volcanoes of all shapes, sizes and states of activity. If you ever wanted to see what the inside of our planet is like and what happens when it decides to make an appearence, Guatemala is for you. From the thrill seeking adrenaline junkies that want to stand next to flowing lava to those wanting to see the lush tree-covered volcanic slopes rising above the gorgeous Lake Atitlan, there’s something for everyone.

Active volcanoes – Bubbling Hot
If you want to feel like you’re inside a National Geographic Channel episode, you couldn’t go wrong with a visit to the following active volcanoes.

1) Pacaya
Pacaya is an active volcano located within easy reach, just 30 kilometers (20 miles) south of Guatemala City. A short hike brings visitors to the summit, where they can observe eruptions of ash and lava at close range. Some even return with stories of how walking over the upper slopes melted the soles of their shoes…

2) Fuego
Constantly spewing small ash clouds, this monstrous volcano’s last major eruption occurred in 1974. To hike up barren slope is grueling, and most visitors will be content to admire Fuego’s beauty from the safety of Antigua’s cobblestone streets.

3) Santiaguito
The most dangerous volcano in Central America, Santiaguito first erupted on Volcano Santa Maria’s southern flank in 1922. It constantly spews spectacular ash clouds and lava, and may be safely observed from nearby Santa Maria’s summit. The hike to the top of Santa Maria takes about 4 hours and camping on the summit is recommended, to witness a spectacular nighttime lava show from Santiaguito below.

Dormant volcanoes – Keeping Us Guessing
They can’t promise booming gas eruptions or spewing lava, but these volcanoes are just as impressive to visit.

1) Acatenango
Acatenango’s last eruption was in 1972, so you can climb all the way to the summit without dodging lava flows. One of the most beautiful and varied hikes availble, you’ll pass through entirely different ecosystems on the way to the summit. First farmland, then cloud forest followed by high alpine forest and finally the volcanic zone to the very summit, where womens boots need to be sturdy enough to withstand the pace. .

2) Agua
Looming over the pretty colonial town of Antigua, a climb up this volcano is recommended for spectacular views. Hiking time is about 5 hours from Santa Maria de Jesus, or 2 hours from the end of road that climbs partway to the top.

3) Atitlan
The tallest of the three volcanoes dominating the stunning lake with which it shares its name, Atitlan’s summit takes about 8 hours to reach; the reward is a breathtaking view of the world’s most beautiful lake and Guatemala’s Pacific coast.

Extinct volcanoes – Just Big Hills
Their glory days as unstoppable forces of nature may be gone, but the volcanoes left by ancient activity still have plenty to offer the visitor, especially in the way of flora and fauna left undisturbed by any activity.

1) San Pedro
Perhaps the most frequently photographed of all Guatemala’s volcanoes, San Pedro’s beautiful cone seems to rise from the waters of Lake Atitlan. The hike to the top takes about 4 hours, and while visitors will not get great views due heavy vegetation on the summit, the crater serves as refuge for rarely encountered species of plants and animals.

2) Toliman
One of the three volcanoes, along with Atitlan and San Pedro, that forms the natural dam holding in Lake Atitlan, Toliman has its own delights to offer. A small group of rare Horned Guans survives in the forest near the summit and hikers should plan on camping out for a good chance of sighting the birds.

3) Cerro de Oro
A smaller volcano on the south side of Lake Atitlan provides an interesting mix of geography and history, having once contained a Mayan fortress in its crater.

Getting to know the varied and spectacular geography of Guatemala will undoubtedly be an adventure, but that doesn’t mean you should take unneccessary risks. If the lure of the active volcanoes should take your fancy, ensure that you book a tour with a reputable and responsible agency that provides you with a professional guide. This way you’ll make sure that you will have nothing but incredible memories and photos of some of the most incredible and unique experiences that Latin America has to offer.

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Gary Sargent is the Managing Director of the tour companies Escaped to Peru and Escaped to Latin America and has lived in South America for over 10 years. Gary is passionate about life here, the people, customs and places. To learn more or to book your next adventure please visit http://www.escapedtoperu.com