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Archive for November, 2008

Buying Used to Get an Affordable Diesel RV

November 30th, 2008 by Keith Windlor

Stepping out and purchasing an RV can seem like a daunting prospect. But getting out there and purchasing can be a lot less daunting when you go used. Buying new leaves purchasers subject to high rates of deprecation in the first few years of ownership. Buying used is the easiest way to avoid the loss of value and save money up front while still getting a high quality product.

Depreciation is usually sharpest in the first two to three years of ownership. That is the perfect age range to buy a used diesel motorhome. It is still new enough to avoid most maintenance or repair issues, and will likely still be in good condition cosmetically, depending on the care of the previous owner. A used diesel motorhome beyond a few years old can still be a safe and smart purchase, depending on use. Look at consumer reviews, consult warranty length, and consult a mechanic before making this investment.

The issue of warranties is an important one. This purchase is going to be a pivotal part of your travel experiences for years to come. When you are traveling is probably the worst time to deal with unexpected problems and delays. When you are in an unfamiliar area, it is harder to find reliable service and assistance, and breakdowns in the wrong place can be dangerous. For these reasons, many buyers choose to buy from a dealer or wholesaler.

Large dealers offer the added benefit of manufacturer’s warranties. They also usually offer extensive knowledge of the product and an extensive inventory of well maintained vehicles. Dealers or wholesalers will often have certified mechanics on hand to offer written vehicle inspections; they have no intentions of selling unreliable products. Some even go so far as to offer no lemon guarantees, satisfaction guarantees, or even extended options for your manufacturer’s warranty. Large dealerships are also subject to local and state regulatory measures providing buyers with added peace of mind that their seller is subject to regulatory measures and accountable for their product quality.

Buying a used diesel motorhome is a wise decision for more reasons than just lower pricing. Diesel motorhomes, used and new, are generally the best products available in the RV market. All classes are the classic design of a self-contained vehicle and living space. Therefore, your living areas, bathroom, etc. are accessible to passengers at all times, although wandering around the motorhome while it is in motion is not safe or recommended. More importantly, these offer owners the ability to just get up and go as their whims, needs, or safety demands. Most diesel engines get a higher mileage rate than gas engines, making them more cost effective to operate. As far as comfort is concerned, these are the best of the best for cross-country voyages, or groups larger than three.

When it comes to luxury, the diesel RV can’t be beat. Models range from simple to extravagant. Budget conscious buyers can opt for less features to obtain the lowest price while those looking for extreme comfort and class have many options to choose from. Some used diesel RVs have as many amenities as a luxury home. For the majority of buyers, their purchase will fall in the middle of the two extremes, but the spectrum is wide a varied to suit the needs of every buyer.

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How Does Car Rental Companies Work?

November 30th, 2008 by Greg Hansward

If you have travelled abroad you have probably experience having problems with your transportation. This is true to a lot of people this may be the reason why Car rental Companies are so popular and the business are booming because a lot of people opt to rent a car.

The Rental Industry is on rise. This is particularly true to places that attract most tourists. This industry is providing a great service to those people who are really into their comfort and taking their time enjoying their vacation. AN increase in demand of car for rent may not be only due to tourists but also because car owners are now looking for car rental because their car is broken or in the shop for monthly check-up. Also the growing popularity of “road trip” especially for the young ones helped in the growth of the rental industry.

Rental Companies are the people that offer car rental service to their costumers. This company will be the one that will entertain your demands and need for a certain car if you want one. They are also responsible for the pricing of a car or how many discounts off they will give you. Do not forget to get acquainted with the companies different Terms and Conditions when it comes to car renting. If you do not understand these conditions you can always ask a company representative or anyone working for the company to explain to you what the terms are about. This way there will be no confusion and problems will be avoided. Waiver and insurance are offered by the company and it if up to you if you will accept it or not.

These Terms and Conditions differ from company to company. You cannot expect to have the same services offered to you by your past car rental company to this present company that you are renting a car from. You need to remember that making a reservation online will not assure you that you will be getting the exact car that you have reserved online. Change in car model or sometimes the type of car might change. The next thing that you should know is to make that the company will provide you with a car with the features that you needed, like GPS and other important things. Also you need to know that do not expect to pay the same amount that you paid other companies. Each company charge differently.

Car Rental Chains are also one familiar characteristic of big car rental companies. It is the same as food chains it is just that their services are geared more on renting cars. If you have tried renting a car from the same company before and have found their services to be satisfactory you might want to rent a car with the same company. It’s in fact advisable that you do transactions with same company as you did before because more or less you are familiar with how the organization works.

The terms and conditions are clearer to you and you can expect to receive the same service that you had before. Do not forget to do a little background check of the company you are having a transaction with. A little search in the net won’t hurt. You will at least know if the company is reputable and dependable.

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Get 1Time

November 30th, 2008 by Susan Renolds

1time was born out of a unique opportunity to launch South Africa’s first genuine low-fare airline. At that time, it appeared on the surface as if there were already an airline operating in this market but, in order to qualify as an authentic and sustainable low-fare airline, a company should be set up from scratch as a low-fare model.

1time offers consumers a guarantee that its advertised airfares will be offered on every seat, every flight, and every day - irrespective of when the reservation is made.

1Time Travel Routes Include:

Cape Town to Jhb Cape Town to Durban Cape Town to East London Cape Town to Port Elizabeth Jhb - George Jhb to Cape Town Jhb to Durban Jhb to East London Jhb to Port Elizabeth

1time is extremely proud of its fleet of aircraft. They currently operate a single type of aircraft to ensure their pilots, cabin attendants and maintenance crews are specialist on their family of aircraft. They operate six MD80 and four DC9 jet aircraft and they fly up to eight hours a day. The first of six MD80 series 157-seater jet aircraft arrived in mid November 2004 and went into service in December 2004. The MD80 is a newer generation craft within the family of DC9 aircraft. Their high utilisation is one of the secrets to consistently offering the lowest fares.

The passenger cabins of their aircraft are designed for optimum passenger comfort and convenience. Economy class seating is five across - an arrangement consistently preferred in passenger surveys to the six across seating in other single-aisle airliners. The DC9, with 110 economy class seats, and the MD82 & MD83, with 157 seats - in both cases all leather - provide what they believe to be the best legroom on the South African domestic market for an economy class product.

1time Holdings - a diversified aviation group - was listed on the Johannesburg Altex Stock Exchangeon the 14th of August 2007. The company has evolved in leaps and bounds since it’s inception in 2004 and is the 100% shareholder in 1time Airline, 1time Charters, Aeronexus Technical and Aeronexus Corporate. For more information on the holding company and how it is structured, please visit www.1timeholdings.co.za 1time’s story is a story of courage of 4 men and then a 5th who believed in them, and all this started with a dream which realised into a reality.

Once in a while the time is just right for a good idea to manifest as a reality. The environment is ripe for a new venture to seed, take root and grow. Enterprising people of vision, if they are alert and hungry, see this potential. They act with courage and ingenuity, plant the seed, nurture it and grow it into an enterprise over which other people exclaim: “Why didn’t I think of that first?” This is what it was like for Gavin Harrison, Glenn Orsmond, Rodney James, Sven Petersen and Michael Kaminski - five entrepreneurial men with a wealth of experience in the aviation industry and a hunger to do things their way: with no nonsense integrity.

In 2003, the South African Rand was stronger than it had been for a long time; aircraft acquisition costs were still low in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks; and research proved that low fare, no frills, short haul airlines had been the only successful business model for a number of years, while premium class short haul and domestic airlines were fighting for survival.

South Africa’s domestic airline market carried 7.5 million passengers each year. This market was clearly over-traded with high cost seats and therefore, high airfares. The time for a sustainable, real low fare airline could not have been better. In short, South Africa’s first real domestic low fare airline was beckoning to be born.

The perfect foundation was already in place. Through their aviation holding company, Afrisource Holdings, the four entrepreneurs owned Aeronexus - an aviation company that offers aircraft management, crewing and aircraft maintenance services. They realised that this would be an ideal launch pad for setting up an airline.

The team got to work and produced a business plan, that critical document necessary to raise the balance of the funding required to realise their dream. Businessmen were approached and the 50% balance of funding was very quickly taken up. Once again, perfection struck as Mogwele Investments, a black empowerment partner, took 20%, and an IT group the remaining 30%. Afrisource Holdings retained 50%. The business model was thus strengthened by diversity and IT skills - aspects without which it is virtually impossible for a modern business to succeed. The availability of key airline executives and managers, with relevant experience, to set up and run the airline, was a huge bonus.

On Thursday, 22 January 2004, 1time Airline opened for ticket sales through the Internet, its service centre, and its ticket sales counters at Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airports. 1time proudly commenced operations on Wednesday, 25 February 2004, with three return flights a day on the Johannesburg / Cape Town route. In the time since, the airline has grown from strength to strength, expanding on their initial frequency and incorporating more and more destinations.

The name 1time, is a reflection of the South African soul of the company. In South Africa, the phrase “one time!” is a colloquialism meaning “for real!

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Timeshare Ownership - Find Relief In Financially Troubled Times

November 30th, 2008 by Bobby Kip Hernandez

With the global economy in crisis, timeshare developers are facing a credit crunch that reduces the number of timeshare buyers. With a reduction in overall sales, timeshare companies must tap another source of revenue for some relief to these tough financial times. Timeshare owners have already started receiving notices of abnormally large special assessment fees.

While some timeshare owners know of the special assessment fee, few know that timeshare resorts can call for nearly any amount they deem necessary. The financial impact for these economic extenuating circumstances can add up to high dollar amounts for owners.

Recently, timeshare owners have opened up their mailboxes to find bills ranging from $500 upwards of $3,000. It’s a crushing blow to those who may have lost jobs, experienced cuts in pay and/or work hours, and seen their stock portfolios plummet in value. Owners are truly understanding where they fit in the financial pecking order of the timeshare industry.

You would think that the millions in upfront cost and annual maintenance fees would be able to keep afloat all timeshare resorts. Unfortunately, many corporations leverage what they have to build more timeshare units in different locales. This strategy works well in good economic times but tragically multiplies the draining effect when credit is scarce and when revenue decreases.

But owners should not think about NOT paying those timeshare bills. Through decades of legal precedence, timeshare companies can and do impose stiff penalties for non-compliance. These include high interest rates on principal owed, collecting debt through employers, and placing liens on assets like homes, bank accounts, etc.

With the timeshare resales market already saturated, there is little left to do but to pay the bills and keep the timeshare. Many charities don’t even want the liabilities. For some relief, owners can try to rent their units to recoup some cost. But, they need to realize that their resorts are probably doing the same thing, yet at lower rental rates.

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Get Kulula

November 30th, 2008 by Susan Renolds

Kulula Air, the recently re-branded kulula.com, is a highly popular low-fare domestic air travel provider in South Africa thanks, in part, to its edgy and humorous marketing message.

In business since 2001, Kulula is owned by Conair Limited. It was named the best domestic airline by the Airport Company of South Africa in 2003 and operates a fleet of Boeing 737s with the following routes: Johannesburg to:

Cape Town Durbs George PE Lusaka Harare Windhoek Ndola Cape Town to: Johannesburg Durbs PE Lanseria Durbs to: Johannesburg Cape Town PE George to Johannesburg PE to: Johannesburg Cape Town Durbs Lusaka to Johannesburg Harare to Johannesburg Windhoek to Johannesburg Lanseria to Cape Town Ndola to Johannesburg.

Travelers receive seat assignments at check-in.

Kulula began by offering flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town. Over the next few years, its route map incorporated destinations in Durban and Port Elizabeth while its number of flights in operation increased. International destinations now include, Blomfontein, Windhoek, Harare, Ndlola, Lusaka and Mauritius.

Recently, South African online shoppers bought some 55,000 airline tickets for R27 million as part of Kulula’s ‘garage sale.” Kulula’s mega-website (kulula.com is the country’s largest online retailer, handling more than R1.6 billion annually) processed up to 150 flight quotes per second during the shopping frenzy’s peak hours. Nearly 145,000 visitors viewed more than one million web pages, shopping for travel specials from October 2008 through January 2009.

Even though Kulula takes a laid back approach, the company has a strong commitment to customer satisfaction. It has imposed a 90% on-time take-off rate goal. According to the company’s own records, it has not reached that 90% goal, but is making every effort to eliminate “avoidable delays,” those which the company has control over. They do often manage an on-time take-off rate in the high 80s.

With an eye toward simplification and living up to its name (Kulula comes from the Zulu word for “easy”), Kulula Air also offers services to hire a car, book a room or cab easily and affordably. The Kulula website offers even more options, as the brand has branched out into other lines such as cell phones and internet access.

In an effort to provide a full travel experience, Kulula offers easy self-booking on its website. Purchases on a Kulula credit card earns “Kulula Moola” which can be redeemed to purchase flights, and Kulula also offers a Jetsetter rewards program for frequent flyers.

Kulula strives to set itself apart from other airlines. It’s unlikely you will forget the Kulula flight during which you heard the flight attendant say, “There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways off this airplane.” Or, how about your captain saying “Whoa, boy!” as the plane comes in for a landing? Kulula’s planes also sport unique paint schemes such as “cow” and “camo.” This airline also promotes environmental issues. One reason it changed its fleet to Boeing 737s is that they consume less fuel than their original fleet of MD82s.

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Spend Your Vacation In Torrevieja, Spain

November 29th, 2008 by Leroy Calstard

by Leroy Calstard

Torrevieja, Spain, is a wonderful place to spend your vacation. Here is some background to help you plan your visit.

Torrevieja is about halfway between Alicante and Cartegena, at the southern end of the Costa Blanca of Spain. Torrevieja means “Old Tower” in English, referring to an old salt storage tower that was dismantled in the 1800s. While salt production is still a major industry, tourism is also important. There is plenty to see and do here.

You can have a great time in Torrevieja at any time of year. Summers are hot and dry, winters are quite mild. Tourists from Scandinavia, Germany and Britain love to escape the winter by coming here.

Your best bet is to drive here from the airport in Alicante, which offers many discount flights. You can easily arrange for a rental car or you may ride a bus or taxi. The additional freedom of a rental car is well worth the extra cost. Reserve a car in advance for the best price and selection.

Once you are settled into your accommodations, it is time to explore. To get the real flavor of the town (sorry, pun intended), visit the Museum of Sea and Salt. You will get a really fascinating look at how salt is produced. Torrevieja has two salt lakes and produces 500,000 tons of salt each year. At the Natural Park of the Lagoons of Mata, you can take a salt bath, which many say relieve arthritis and skin diseases. You can also see some exotic birds and beautiful plants.

Once you have enjoyed the salt baths, you will like seeing the rest of the city. You can get to know the locals at the open air market, where you can buy fresh produce and crafts. This is a great place to get a one-of-a-kind gift for someone special. Be sure to get something for yourself too: Jewelry, leather and wood products are all available for very good prices.

If you are a golf fan, you must be sure to play a few rounds in Torrevieja, which attract golfers from across Europe. The weather is so good, you can enjoy golf any time.

No trip to the Costa Blanca would be complete without spending at least a day on the beach. There is a reason they call this area the “White Coast”: the sand here stretches for miles. If you prefer something more active, you can swim, boat, hike or bike. A walking tour of the city is also a great way to spend your time.

These are only some of the great reasons to visit Torrevieja. Why not find out about the vacation destination that is Europe’s open secret? The Costa Blanca of Spain awaits you and your family.

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Murcia draws visitors from Alicante

November 29th, 2008 by Clinton Maxwell

by Clinton Maxwell

If you are planning a trip to Spain, don’t miss visiting the Murcia region. Here are some tips to make sure that you and your family will enjoy your trip even more.

Murcia is the capital of the Costa Calida and is part of the Mar Menor, an outdoor sports Mecca. Murcia has a lot to offer tourists both young and old. In fact, San Javiera Airport has experienced a 77 percent increase in traffic between 1996 and 2006. Many people visit from other regions of Spain, such as Alicante

Once you’ve settled in one of the many great hotels or inns, be sure to explore downtown Murcia. First of all, visit the cathedral, with its imposing spire. The cathedral’s doors have fascinating carvings showing the Apostles and other important figures in Christian history. Inside the chapel, admire the beautiful artwork and soak in the reverent atmosphere. Be sure to climb to the top of the spire for a fantastic view of the region.

Be sure to visit the Almudi Art Palace, which houses the city’s archives. The local clergy once used this building to collect tithes (usually corn crops) from the faithful. You can find out about this and other parts of Murcian history in the Museo de la Ciudad (city museum). You can see many fascinating items from the city’s past as well as a Moorish orchard.

Murcia is on of Spain’s educational centers: In fact, there are more than 30,000 students in this place nicknamed the University City. For that reason there is plenty for young people to do here, from outdoor activities to clubs. If you enjoy water sports, you’ve come to the right place, with swimming, sailing, fishing and water skiing all readily available.

Murcia has plenty places for you to just kick back and relax. For example, visit the Spa La Manga Club or the Las Lomas Village and Spa for reflexology, massage, hot tubs and more. These are elegant locations for you to pamper yourself.

Once you’ve relaxed, you’re ready to take on the nightlife in this college town. The Gran Casino Murcia has all the excitement of a European casino along with an elegant ballroom. There are also plenty of other nightspots for you to get the local color.

Murcia is a busy, fun place to visit. To get the most out of your trip, be sure to start making your travel plans early. Use your favorite search engine and type in “Murcia” to begin discovering all this region has to offer. Be sure to book your reservations well in advance: you never know when graduations or other university events will result in filled-up hotels.

Once there, you will easily understand why Murcia is such a popular destination. Why not plan to visit soon? It will be a most memorable experience.

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Holidays Resources - Reduce Your Stress During the Holidays

November 29th, 2008 by Nicole Mendari

by Nicole Mendari

The holidays can be a stressful time of year for everyone. Some people are stressed out from the sheer volume of things that need to be done, such as shopping, baking, and decorating. For others, events with their family can cause great stress. Regardless of what creates stress for you, take some time for yourself to relax, rejuvenate, and rest so you can enjoy a peaceful and joyous holiday season.

If you are concerned about having too much to do and not enough time to do it, sit down and make a Christmas to the task list. Include your spouse and children in the planning process for holidays, and try to delegate tasks to the entire world to help make things simpler and more free time. Even the youngest children can do much to help mom and dad for the holidays including picking up your room and behave. Older children and adolescents are able to do a little more. If you have a teen-age driving home, and you have to take deliveries, mail Christmas cards, or run errands for you.

Be realistic in your planning. If you know that you are usually takes most of the day to do your Christmas decorations, do not try to cram all in a morning or afternoon. And most importantly, do on the timetable and try to do too much in one day. Schedule in time to read a book, take a hot bath, or get to bed early.

You might also want to consider hiring professional help during the holidays. If you know you’re having company but you just won’t have the time yourself to do your housecleaning, hire a cleaning service to come in and help you. Consider it an early Christmas present to yourself. Even if you just have the service do the big jobs and you do the smaller stuff later, you’ll have saved time and effort in the process.

If spending time with members of their extended family creates stress for you, consider yield out of the festivities. After all, the holidays are supposed to be peaceful and happy. It is very likely that if you family is in turmoil in the rest of the year that will be the case during the holidays too. Try to make alternate plans with the members of his support system, as friends or other relatives. If you have to attend, rely on this system to get strong support you through, and if things were tense all day and go home early. There is no need to tolerate an intolerable situation that will cause your stress levels to skyrocket. As an alternative plan, consider donating your time to a local soup kitchen, home, shelter or nursing home, to all who would appreciate a hand and an ear of support during the holidays.

More importantly, listen to your body. If you start to feel the signs of stress, such as headaches, pain, anxiety and insomnia, it’s your signal to slow down and take things easier. Reducing activities, ask for help with projects or chores, and take some time out for some deep-breathing exercises and walking.

If you take care of yourself, you’ll be able to take care of the things on your list, your family and your holiday season as well.

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A Villa in Florida or a Hotel

November 29th, 2008 by Craig Walker

by Craig Walker

Once you have arranged your flights to Florida you will then need to decide whether you stay in a hotel or do you rent a private villa? Your choice will depend on what your requirements are and the size of your family or group travelling.

Most travellers from Europe are generally used to staying in hotel acommodation when they go on their usual European holiday however the option to rent a private villa is more common in Florida than anywhere else.

So what are the main differences between staying in a Private Florida villa against staying in a hotel or motel accommodation?

Normally in a hotel you would only get one room for your family and depending on how many people are travelling you may need more than one room which will obviously add to the costs. Most private holiday homes will have between two to three bedrooms and possibly a fold down couch in another room. So if the number of people travelling will not fit into a hotel room or you just want more privacy on holiday then a villa could be the option.

The quality of the furnishings in the private homes and villas are generally of an excellent standard and are more spacious than a hotel room. A lot of the villas are privately owned and the owners use thyem themselves most times of the year.

Another thing to consider if that if you need to get more than one hotel room there is no guarantee that you will get them together. You could have a room on one floor and the other could be on a different floor in a different part of the hotel.

Lots of hotels can be noisy and people staying in rooms nearby are free to come and go as they please. This means that there could be noise at any time of the night, especially if the people next to you have been out all night at a club.

In your Florida villa you will have cooking facilities should you wish as well as a fridge to stock up with drinks so you don’t need to keep going down to the next floor with your ice bucket and a hand full of change for a vending machine.

Some of the Florida villas available to rent have their own swimming pool. This can be a very popular option as only you and your friends and family are able to use it. On the downside the pools are generally quite small whereas the hotels normally have large pools shared between all its guests.

Don’t forget if you are travelling in the quieter months you may need to pay extra to heat the swimming pool. Charges vary depending on the villa you rent however a charge of around $40 a day can be normal. This is an expense you would not incur if you were staying in a hotel.

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No Tricks Fluff or Gimmicks with Golf Beginners Guide

November 29th, 2008 by Golf Fan

by Golf Fan

Want to learn the game of golf? How about a 272 Page Golfing Guide for Beginner Golfers. Get started with Golf the Right Way. Golf Beginners Guide

Several qualified golf teaching professionals have put together the most comprehensive Golfing Guide available for Beginner Golfers. This learning guide will help Beginner Golfers play their best Golf - with no fluff or hype but all the needed facts and knowledge - for less than a lesson from a reputable golf teacher.

This publication walks you through everything you ever need to know about Golf. From the total basics to the advanced tips and techniques that will give you the confidence to play Golf as it should be.

It doesn’t matter if you are a senior golfer playing more now that you have retired or a brand new enthusiast looking to establish a strong golf foundation, the ‘Golf Beginner Guide’ will help you improve. There are no tricks, fluff or gimmicks, only solid information that will improve your physical and mental golfing skills as well as your general knowledge about golf.

You’ve probably seen this, there are a million products out there promising to make you a better golfer. Reality is, you can buy all the special clubs and fancy balls you can afford (or even ones that you can’t) and still never actually improve as a golfer. The focus of the ‘Golf Beginner Guide’ is making you a better golfer by teaching you about all aspects of the game.

Almost every Beginner Golfer I meet tells me that they yearn for a golfing resource that covers all aspects of golf, not just specialized areas such as the golf swing - so here it is! Golf Beginners Guide

Whether you are a senior golfer or brand new to the game, there is solid information here to take you to the next level.

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