For anyone plotting a summer holiday there are lots of simple ways of minimising the impact on climate change, during and after your trip.  Before you go •    Don’t overlook the potential to holiday at home. Explore some of the areas of outstanding natural beauty, blue flag beaches and historic buildings that the UK has to offer. •    Choose accommodation that operates sustainably and look for signs that your hotel is taking steps to reduce their environmental impact, for example by being more energy efficient or asking guests not to request fresh linen and towels. Some organisations also offer guidance on sustainable holiday options. •    Why not turn your hot water off while you are away on your summer holiday – you will save energy and money. •    Consider taking public transport rather than driving to the airport. Have a look at www.transportdirect.info which will help you plot your journey anywhere in mainline Britain and compare car and public transport options to see which option has the lowest carbon emissions. •    Taking one longer holiday will have a lower impact than going on several small trips if you are flying each time. •    If you are flying to your holiday destination, one choice is to offset the carbon emissions your trip generates by paying for projects which reduce emissions elsewhere. While you’re there •    Try not to abandon your excellent habits on holiday – remember to switch off air-conditioning, appliances and lights as you would at home. •    Try something different, such as exploring by bike or on foot – you’ll get to see the area in a new way and come back feeling fitter! •    Help the local economy by buying food, drink and souvenirs that are produced locally and in season. This will help reduce the carbon emissions associated with transport. •    When on holiday, try to reduce your car use. Look for other ways to get around like trains, trams, cycling  or walking. •    If you are renting a car on holiday why not hire a fuel efficient car if possible. When you get back •    When you’ve finished with your holiday brochures, pass them on to a friend or recycle them. •    Don’t throw away holiday clothes try to reuse them another year or give to a charity shop.

For all the latest news visit http://www.in2town.co.uk for hotel reviews and to leave your hotel review visit http://www.in2town.co.uk/Benidorm-Hotel-Reviews-and-Benidorm-Holiday-hotel-reviews.html

Bikers who are intending to go abroad to ride for their holidays are being urged to ensure they are fully covered on their bike insurance policy according to high street retailer, Swinton. According to the insurer most insurance policies automatically downgrade to third party status once bike riders leave British soil. In order to be covered comprehensively some policies require bikers to buy additional cover, which many may not be aware of. Anthony Aronin, the head of Swinton Bikes, said: “All motorbike insurance policies will give some basic cover for travelling in Europe. But, depending on your policy, you may only be automatically insured for the minimum amount demanded by the laws of the country you are visiting. “We would advise anyone plotting on riding their bike overseas to speak to their local broker to check the cover offered by their existing policy and if necessary increase the level of insurance for the duration of their trip.” “The risk of accidents and theft can be far higher when abroad, so it is vital to ensure you are fully covered to provide peace of mind while you are away.” Brits three times as likely to crash abroad This has been proven through figures released by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (FCO) that show that Britons riding mopeds abroad are three times more likely to be involved in road accidents than locals. The research has shown that British holidaymakers who hire mopeds on while they are on their holidays take unnecessary risks and are a danger on the roads. Statistics show that over half (57%) have ridden without wearing a helmet, while one in 10 have ridden whilst drunk and over a third (35%) have failed to check whether their travel insurance covered them to ride the bike. Shilpa Caldeira, the consular head in Goa, said: “In Goa we frequently see cases where a British tourist has chose to hire a moped on holiday having never ridden one before. This is never a excellent thought because as well as learning to ride the bike, they must also contend with local drivers on roads which are far busier and less predictable than those in the UK.” She continued: “Anyone who does choose to hire a moped or motorbike should double-check their insurance, and always wear a helmet and appropriate clothing. We have come across many cases where someone is riding a bike in only swimwear, and even a couple who were not wearing helmets because they were worried about ruining their hairstyles.” New policy launched Help is at hand for bikers but. A new type of travel insurance has been launched which is set to cover motorcyclists who ride abroad, even if they are renting or riding their own bike. Adrian Flux Insurance Services launched the new insurance to the approval of bikers across the country. The extensive nature of the policy will mean that all motorcycles and scooters above 125cc will also be covered, providing the policy holder has a valid UK License. Motorcyclists will now find that they have the same cover as regular holidaymakers, including such perks as medical and other expenses, personal accident, and legal expenses are covered up to £25,000. Robert Balls of Bikesure, said: “Our guys were all moaning about holiday insurance.” “They were complaining that motorcyclists weren’t covered when they hired bikes abroad and pointed out that the risks for experienced bikers just weren’t the same as for holidaymakers larking about paragliding, etc. So we questioned our parent company, Adrian Flux to look into taking motorcycling out of the perilous sports category.”

How many times have you wearily glanced at a stack of paperwork or laundry, and sighed “I need a holiday”? Or sat at work daydreaming about the far-flung places you could go next summer, if you could just book the time off, save up some cash… learn a new language… and get those vaccinations sorted… make sure your insurance is up to date… and so it goes on.

A recent survey showed that 40% of Britons reckon holidaying is more stressful than a trip to the dentist. The sad truth is that worrying is one of our favourite pastimes, so even taking a break can be serious business! But there are ways to improve your holiday experience without adding angst.

One of the first things to consider is your mode of transport. Flying may seem simple and affordable, but when you factor in things like taxes and booking fees, getting to and from airports which are miles outside of the city, and the joys of checking in two hours before flights to sit around in a dingy lounge – often in the middle of the night, for ‘value’ fares – before getting crammed onto a plane; all the while hoping that crying toddler isn’t going to be one of your fellow passengers, it’s not always such a pleasant experience.

Naturally, air travel is a very serious cause for concern to anyone who cares about the planet, its heritage sites, plants or people. Aviation is the fastest-growing source of noxious greenhouse gas emissions, and also responsible for unlawful levels of nitrous oxide pollution. It’s increasingly obvious that ‘carbon off-setting’ is a dishonest, and ultimately pointless, red herring of an industry – as one environmentalist puts it:

“Off-setting doesn’t make flying ‘OK’ any more than giving to Amnesty gets you a licence to torture.”

Do read the science and reckon twice before you jet off – 45% of flights taken in Europe are less than 500km, or in other words, really unnecessary. If your destination is easily reachable by train or bus, which will take you straight to city centres or attractions and are about ten times less polluting, why glide?

If you do choose you need to glide, several options are available to make it a less personally stressful experience. Instead of driving, consider travelling to the airport by bus or coach, which can save you hundreds of pounds on long-stay parking. And instead of travelling all night to make an early-morning flight, you could book a night at an airport hotel, leaving you free to get there any time, relax and delight in a fantastic night’s sleep before you go. Many rates include airport parking, so this could be another money-saver.

The hotels aren’t all grim, identikit breezeblock scenes either; many are really luxurious and situated in gorgeous countryside to help you get into that holiday state of mind. In fact, many around the UK cater for those who want to stay in a relaxing environment. Scotland has some of the most attractive accomoation close to to major transport hubs, for example Aberdeen airport hotel to the north-west of the city, is an ideal starting point from which to explore the stunning Cairngorms national park, and there are several similar places near Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Who knows – once you’ve checked out Britain’s fantastic scenery, perhaps you’ll reconsider that choice to glide away after all!

With more than five million passengers in 2008, Newcastle Airport is a major destination for travelers worldwide. All of this traffic means there are ample chances for cheap car hire at Newcastle Airport. If you will be one of these passengers and your final destination is Newcastle, you can have a fantastic holiday with the assistances of a car hire. The city is filled with fascinating, relaxing, educational and exciting attractions that are easily reached with the freedom of a Newcastle Airport car hire. You will not have to deal with the hassles of public transportation or the expensive taxi fares if you make a reservation for a car hire at Newcastle Airport. Take control of your vacation today with a cheap Newcastle Airport car hire.

Pick up a car hire at Newcastle Airport and be on the quick track to exploring the UK at your own pace. There are a lot of fun places to learn in Newcastle and outside the city that will be well within your reach. It is vital to have a car hire from Newcastle Airport so you can quickly reach the destinations of your choice with the privilege to spend as much time as you wish at each. Use an online source to book your car hire at Newcastle Airport well in advance to reserve a fantastic car hire at a low price.

Kick off your holiday travels by taking a Newcastle Airport car hire into the city center. Visit the most well-known locations in the city to have fantastic memories and tales from Newcastle. One of the Newcastle’s best icons is the Tyne Bridge. Delight in some fantastic views of the bridge from the banks of the River Tyne before finally going across. There are many fantastic vantage points near and on the bridge to take photos of Newcastle. While standing on the Tyne Bridge, you can look out at the city and determine the next place you want to visit. If you prefer to do more plotting, you can arrange a visit Chinatown, St. Nicholas’ Cathedral, the Royal Theatre, Gosforth Park and more. The tourist attractions are numerous in Newcastle and you can find them quick with the help of a car hire. After enjoying some time in the city, you can take your travel group outside the city and explore the UK with the freedom of a car hire.

Drive the car hire from Newcastle Airport and travel north to the Scottish cities of Edinburgh or Glasgow. There are a lot of fascinating castles, museums, parks and buildings to learn when you travel to these places. They are a small drive from Newcastle and provide fun places to spend a day or two. To the south of Newcastle, a car hire allows you to drive to Liverpool, Manchester or Leeds. These English cities are really fantastic places to watch a football match or to visit the coastal areas of the UK. No matter where you choose to drive, you can get there quick with a Newcastle Airport car hire.

 





Over the last few years there has been a trend for visitors coming to Malta & Gozo on holiday to stay in private rented accommodation rather then hotels. The lack of hotel rooms for tourists coming to Malta in the peak summer months was causing problems and prompted several new hotel establishments to be built over the last few years and this has increased the hotel capacity considerably. But, this has not slowed the rise in private holiday rentals. The operation of low cost flight airlines such as Ryan Air & Simple Jet has meant more visitors to the historic islands of Malta. Add to this long summer season climate from April to October and there is often a demand for accommodation in Malta.

One of the most in demand markets is the self catering apartments for a family with children at an affordable price. It can be quite expensive staying in hotel accommodation for a family of four or more and a cheaper alternative is to rent an apartment for a week or two. The benefits of renting an apartment are that one can experience a truer Maltese experience by living in similar accommodation to the locals. It is also normally considerably more cost friendly for a family. This saving for the family can then be place towards something else within the holiday. Most self catering apartments are in excellent locations and conveniently placed next to supermarkets, bus stops etc.

According to one leading official at Holidaysmaltagozo, standards are raising. He states “Owners are waking up nowadays to the needs of the consumer as well as the competitions of other property owners and are equipping their apartments well. Long gone are the days of minimalist furnishings and premium rentals”. Prospective tenants will find that most self catering apartments have television (some cable), telephone line, fully equipped kitchens, washing machines, air conditioning/heating or fans/heaters allowing for a comfortable stay. Owners with young children should check safety and child friendly issues out before booking apartment’s as most have balconies and most are serviced with lifts, but families with young children and buggy’s should double check as climbing six sets of stairs each time would not be ideal.

An increasing number of people are now looking to sample a traditional way of living by letting out a typical Maltese Townhouse with traditional Maltese furniture and these are becoming more well loved each year. Another option for more traditional living is to let out a restored farmhouse, which Malta & Gozo in particular has plenty of. The majority of these offer a very excellent standard of accommodation and most have the benefit of a swimming pool. The location of these accommodations is either in the glorious Maltese countryside or in a typical Maltese village or small town.

The most well loved destinations in Malta continued to be the towns of Sliema & St Julian’s, which have the benefit of being very close to Malta’s capital, Valletta. They are well loved because of the shops, nice restaurants and quaint cafes, as well as the renowned coastal promenade. They offer excellent swimming and rocky beaches. Mellieha, Ghajn Tuffieha and Golden bay in the North of Malta offer a more rural holiday with brilliant sandy beaches. In Gozo, well loved spots continue to be Marsalforn, Xlendi and Victoria.

For more information on Sliema, please click the link below:

 

 

For more information on the areas of Malta

At Holidaysmaltagozo we have an in depth knowledge of the properties to let market, fantastic experience, specialised skills and resources necessary to provide many fantastic options for all visitors to Malta & Gozo looking for accommodation. Our website has been developed further and has an extensive array of properties ranging from self catering apartments to luxurious villas and it will allow you to see clearly what each property has to offer you. This allows the user to clearly match their requirements. Should the user not see what he is looking for, our team is more then prepared to discuss other options on receipt of an email.

We want to take this opportunity to welcome all prospective visitors to Malta & Gozo worldwide to our website portal.

For more information about accommodation and staying in Malta, please visit:

 

 

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There are several major benefits to be had by using holiday let insurance to protect your holiday home property. If we consider that your private vacation property is likely to be one of the most expensive assets you will ever buy, it makes perfectly excellent sense to ensure that it is protected at all times, including the periods that is occupied by your customers. Below will take a look at some of the major benefits of using holiday let insurance to protect your holiday property.
1. Holiday let insurance is similar to a standard residential buildings and contents policy, it protects not only the building itself but the goods and chattels within it. This means that should any of your possessions be hurt, or the building itself is either hurt or ruined entirely, then your holiday let insurance will help towards recouping your losses. Where a holiday let insurance policy differs to a standard residential policy is in the fact that you are also covered for loss and hurt at those times that your vacation property is let to a client.
2. Holiday let insurance will also usually contain a clause within the policy schedule designed to provide cover in the eventuality that you need to make an emergency visit to your property. This visit may be to assess hurts and instigate repairs or to replace some of the contents that has been hurt or ruined, and helps towards the cost of emergency travel expenses.
3. The major difference between a holiday let insurance policy and the standard buildings and contents policy is the fact that a holiday let insurance product will have a schedule in place to cover you for loss of earnings, if your vacation property becomes too terribly hurt to be rented to visitors, in this eventuality your holiday let insurance policy will make up some or all of the shortfall in your income due to your holiday accommodation being of the market until repairs are made.
4. Holiday let insurance is specifically designed to make every aspect of dealing with the protection of your vacation property as simple as possible; this will often include such features as a 24-hour telephone helpline, and the ability to speak with representatives of the insurance company in the language of your choice.
Your holiday property is not merely an asset, it is also an income stream, it is vitally vital that you protect this source of revenue at all times, both as a tangible asset and a source of income, by availing yourself of holiday let insurance you will have taken an brilliant first step in making sure that not only your investment, but your income is safeguarded against loss or hurt to your vacation property. Contact your insurance broker for more information about holiday let insurance, your broker will be able to advise you on which insurance products suit your needs most closely and will be able to help you with the entire application process.

Scotland may be a small country, but walking the vast countryside has all the grandeur of an epic adventure.  The magnificent Scottish Highlands are a walker’s dream. It’s a place that allows the soul to sing. A weekend walking tour can include a hike through rugged terrain with comfortable accommodations and excellent food. These trips can vary from an simple walking tour to a strenuous hill-climbing trip. All guided tours include experienced guides.A tour to Glencoe and Glen Nevis starts with a climb up Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK and culminates with a full ascent of Buachaille Etive Mhor, Scotland’s most photographed mountain. The glens offer dazzling scenery of the surrounding mountains. The trip includes transportation from Edinburgh and two-night’s stay at a bed and breakfast.For a daytrip, there’s a 10.5 kilometer hike to Ben Lomond, a mountain on the edge of Loch Lomond. The climb to the summit takes most of the day, but ends in a spectacular view looking out over the lake.A walking tour in Scotland includes more than just mountains. The gorgeous Scottish coastline offers a myriad of walking opportunities. The isles of Colonsay, Oronsay, Isly, Jura and Gigha are clustered together for coastal exploration to observe rare species of flora and fauna. The island hopping ends with a visit to Dunadd, the capital of Dalriada, the ancient kingdom of the Scots.A visit to the Highlands and surround Isles makes for an unforgettable time. The Highlands, wrapped in mists and ancient legends and the surrounding lochs offer one-of-a-kind scenery. Off the Highland shores lie the Hebrides, a cluster of magical islands in the Atlantic. Two nights on the Isle of Skye and three nights on the Isle of Lewis offer visits to some of the best prehistoric sights, sandy beaches and miles of unspoiled nature. Walks will cover approximately seven miles each day.Bird lovers will delight in a week-long walking tour of the Shetland Isles on the northerly tip of Scotland. Coastal walks along the shores of Shetland Isle, Isles of Yell and Unst are filled with historic sights and bird watching opportunities. The National Nature Reserve is home to 20,000 Gannets, 3,000 Kittiwakes, 25,000 Guillemots, 1,200 Puffins and hundreds of Razorbills, Skuas, Black Guillemots and Shags. At the end of the trip, climb up Ronas Hill, Shetland’s highest mountain. Scotland’s brooding moors, splendid coastline and hills make for an unforgettable trip.

Many people today are buying holiday homes, not really for somewhere to stay when they choose to go on holiday but instead as a worthwhile investment in terms of property prices and rental income. Holiday homes are a large financial investment so there is small wonder why so many people are realising the potential to make money from their holiday homes during the times when they are working and unable to reside in their home from home.
The dream of having a holiday home that you can rent during the times you are not there and delight in when you are ready to make the trip is enticing. There are but factors that must be considered that you may not be aware of when the thought is formulating in your mind. There may be high outgoings, insurance premiums to settle and management fees for rental homes. Added to this, holiday homes now fall under a separate council tax code, in some places as much as ninety percent of the residential council tax.
The first thing to remember when looking at holiday homes is to choose a excellent location, whether at home or abroad you should pick a location that will be well loved with tourists. Depending on how much you plot to rent out the house, the type of resort is also worth considering, for instance a beach resort will only really be well loved during summer months, but in those summer months will be extremely busy. On the other hand a property in the hills that will be well loved with walkers will be used all year round but most probably not constantly.
It is only really worth looking at holiday homes with two or three bedrooms. Most people who will want to rent your property will be families who will need the space. A one bedroom apartment or flat will seriously restrict its profit potential. In comparison buying a huge six bedroom property will also hurt profits as most people rarely need more bedrooms than three or four when on holiday.
When picking the mortgage for your holiday home choose an interest only option, the interest can be set against tax for second properties. If you have a large amount of money that you will be investing it is more advisable to use the sum to pay more of your main homes mortgage than the mortgage on your summer cottage.
When renting it is worth employing a letting agent who specifically deals with holiday homes. If you do not there will be a lot of hard work involved in the management of your property. Repairs, handing over keys and as well as emergencies such as burst pipes and people being locked are all inconveniences that will make your property seem more of a hindrance than a pleasure. It may be an extra charge but the peace of mind and stress free approach is a worthy alternative than constantly travelling back and forth to the property.
The property must also be up to date at all times, items such as dishwashers and CD players may have been luxury items ten years ago but they now come as standard. Most importantly but is ensuring that the fire precautions are met as hefty legal requirements have place the responsibility firmly in the hands of the landlord. Making sure fire extinguishers and smoke detectors are in excellent working order are all part of keeping a safe property. Getting the right insurance cover to cope with anything that guests may cause is also essential.
If you follow this advice there is no reason that you will not be as successful as the hoards of people who have already bought holiday homes. Understanding your own responsibilities to your tenants is vital and will make for stress free arrangements. Also finding the right property is vital for your holiday home to be an added income, rather than an financial drain.