Today there are different ways for you to relax. There are those people who spend their time taking a walk in the shore, some are having fun in the beach, there are some women who spend their leisure time in spas and so on.

Now there is an additional idea on how you can spend your relaxation. One of the best ways for you to feel more relaxed is to explore the ocean. This will only possible if you have your own yacht. In order to spend a more relaxed time, you have to buy your own yacht. Now there are already yacht for sales that you can see as you read magazines and newspapers. These publications will help you to have a great access in the different types of yachts for sale.

As you check out the different yacht for sale, you will be able to encounter the different types of yachts. You will have the chance to find the latest type of yacht as well as those antique yachts. For sure with the plenty of options, you will find the best yacht for you. When it comes with the price of yachts for sale, it totally depends on the condition of the yacht.

When buying yacht it is important to consider all of your options. And when inspecting each of your selections, there are other considerations that you need to take into consideration. These will include the seaworthiness of the boat in question. When the yacht is used in deep water sea, you need to see how the exterior of the yacht. It is also better if you are going to spend some time at a sea in a yacht to see the different facilities, living spaces and equipment will help you with your travels.

If you are done inspecting the yachts for sale, it is time for you to make a decision about the yacht that you want to purchase You might need a test drive when buying in order to feel how to handle such yacht. If you are given the permission by the seller then by all means take the yacht and try to test drive it.

While you are in the yacht check out how the yacht handles. With this you will get a feeling if you can handle such yacht by yourself or you still need help from others. In test driving you will know how the yachts handle in different water conditions. Keep in mind that different yachts have different handling styles.

Yachts For Sale
Ella Ayson writes for Jump2top.com - SEO Company

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ella_Ayson

The world of yachts is a varied one, there are many types which will suit numerous uses and a range of budgets.

Day sailing luxury yachts are typically small, at less than 20 feet in length. Occasionally called dinghies, they usually have a very retractable keel, centerboard, or daggerboard. Most day sailing yachts don't have a very cabin, as they're designed for hourly or every day use and not for overnight journeys. At very best they may have a very 'cubby', where the front part of the hull has a raised solid roof to supply a place to store equipment or to offer fundamental shelter from wind or spray.

Weekender luxury yachts are slightly larger, at below 30 ft (9.5 m) in length. They often have twin keels or lifting keels this kind of as in trailer sailers. This allows them to operate in shallow waters, and if required "dry out"-become beached as the tide falls. The hull shape (or twin-keel layout) enables the boat to sit upright when there is no water. These kinds of boats are designed to undertake brief journeys, rarely lasting more than 2 or three days (hence their name). In coastal areas, extended trips may possibly be undertaken in a series of quick hops. Weekenders typically have only a straightforward cabin, frequently consisting of only one "saloon" with bedspace for two to three individuals. Clever use of ergonomics permits space within the saloon for a galley (kitchen), seating, and navigation gear. There is limited room for stores of water and food. Most are boats with one mast(not to be confused with the kind of traditional Bermudian ship referred to as a Bermuda sloop), using a solitary foresail from the jib or genoa sort plus a sole mainsail (a single variation of the aforementioned Bermuda rig). Some are gaff rigged. The smallest of this sort, usually called pocket yachts or pocket cruisers, and trailer sailers could be transported on unique trailers.

Cruising luxury yachts Cruising yachts are by the far the most widespread yacht in private use, making up most from the 25 to 45 ft (7 to 14 m) range. These vessels may be very complex in style, as they will need a balance between docile handling qualities, interior area, excellent light-wind performance and on-board comfort. The huge variety of such craft, from dozens of builders worldwide, makes it hard to give just one illustrative description. Nonetheless, most favour a teardrop-planform hull, with a wide, flat bottom and deep single-fin keel to offer good stability. Most are boats with one sail, with a sole fore-sail with the jib or Genoa type plus a sole mainsail. Spinnaker sails, in different sizes, are often supplied for down-wind use. These types are often chosen as family vessels, particularly those inside the 26 to 40-foot (8 to 12 m) array. This kind of a vessel will generally have several cabins below deck. Usually there is going to be three double-berth cabins; just one significant saloon with galley, seating and navigation equipment; plus a "head" consisting of a toilet and shower-room.

Most significant luxury yachts, 50 ft (15 m) (15 m) and up, are also cruisers, but their design varies greatly as they're frequently "one off" designs tailored to the certain needs from the buyer.The interior is usually finished in wood panelling, with plenty of storage area. Cruisers are quite capable of taking on long-range passages of many thousands of miles. This kind of boats have a very cruising speed upwards of 6 knots. This fundamental layout is typical of the standard types produced by the major yacht-builders.

These luxury boats are typically 82 ft (25 m) or longer. In current decades, these luxury boats have evolved from fairly easy vessels with simple accommodation into sophisticated and luxurious boats. This is largely as a result of decreased hull-building costs brought about by the introduction of fibreglass hulls, and elevated automation and "production line" methods for yacht constructing, particularly in Europe.

On the biggest, 130-foot-plus (40 m) luxury luxury yachts, each and every modern convenience, from air conditioning to TV, is found. Sailing luxury boats of this size are often highly automated with, for instance, computer-controlled electric winches controlling the sails. This kind of complexity requires dedicated power-generation methods. In recent decades the amount of electrical gear utilized on luxury boats has increased greatly. Even 20 years ago, it was not widespread for a 25-foot (7 m) yacht to have electrical lighting. Now all but the smallest, most fundamental luxury yachts have electrical lighting, radio, and navigation aids these kinds of as Global Positioning Methods. Yachts around 33 ft (10 m) bring in comforts these kinds of as hot water, pressurised drinking water methods, and fridges.

Hopefully you have found this blurb about sailing boats helpful. If you need more information about yachts for sale please go to yachts-forsale.com.au

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregoria_Bonnington

Luxury boats are traditionally the cherry on the top of the cake when it comes to demonstrating prosperity among the rich people around the world. There are thousands of big and luxurious yachts -all offering their owners ultimate comfort and exceptional joy at sea. Among motor yachts there five boats that stand out - their enormous length and luxury is unmatched - they are the longest yachts in the world.

Number one is reserved for Eclipse. This 560 ft (170 m) long mega yacht was completed in 2010 and her proud owner is Roman Abramovich. Needless to say, the yacht offers an exceptional comfort and luxury. Ecipse has two helicopter pads, two swimming pools and can easily host between 60 and 80 guests, not counting the 70-person crew. Something that you don't normally see on a private yacht and makes Eclipse distinct is the submarine on board which can dive up to 160 ft depth. Another unique feature of Eclipse is the missile defense system that ensures the security of everyone on board. Eclipse maximum speed is 25 knots.

Dubai is currently the second largest yacht in the world. She is 524 ft (162m) long and was built in 2006. The owner of this luxury yacht is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - the ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is equipped with a helicopter pad, a spectacular pool, and numerous dining and rest areas. A special aspect is the impressive variety of water sport activities equipment available on board. The yacht can accommodate 70 guests and 40 crew members. Despite of its size, Dubai can cruise with the impressive maximum speed of 26 knots.

Al Said is 508 ft (155 m) long and was completed in 2007. Currently, she is the third largest yacht in the world. Her owner is Qaboos bin Said Al Said - the Sultan of Oman. Al Said impresses not only with its speed - her cruise speed is 22 knots with maximum speed of 25 knots but also with the extraordinary comfort and luxury on all of its 6 decks. This mega yacht can host 65 guests and a quite large crew team of up to 150 people. Among the distinct features of Al Said are its sandy color and the concert room on board which can accommodate a 50-member orchestra.

Prince Abdulaziz is a spectacular 483 ft (147 m) mega yacht. Compared to the other largest yachts in the world, Prince Abdulaziz is quite old - it was built in 1984. She is the largest yacht in the world built in the 20th century and was considered the world's largest yacht for more than two decades. Despite its age and size, the yacht demonstrates a cruising speed of 18 knots and an impressive maximum speed of 22 knots. This luxury yacht is a property of the Saudi Arabia Royal Family.

Al Salamah is currently the fifth largest yacht in the world. She is owned by the Saudi Arabia defense minister - Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz. Al Salamah measures 457 feet (139 m) in length and was built in 1999. Among the amenities on board are a movie theater, a spa salon, a library and a fully equipped hospital. The yacht's cruising speed is 17 knots with a maximum speed of 21 knots.

These are the five largest motor yachts in the world as of 2010. Considering the vast expansion and popularity of sailing around the world, we can expect that even bigger and more luxurious yachts will be built in the near future. Most of the mega yachts above 100 feet are built in Germany. Two of the world's most notable ship builders (also German) are Blohm+Voss and Lürssen. If you want to join the circle of the mega yacht owners you have many options - luxury yacht builders will work with you on bringing to life you dream boat - everything about you dream toy can be done to match your taste -from the size and speed to the specific bedroom number on board and special amenities. All you need is just to make sure you put enough cash aside. A good start would be a few million dollars...and the maximum price...the sky is the limit - just like your dreams.

Find out more interesting and fun information about boats, yachts and sailing at http://www.sailingjoy.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_P._Sparrow

Yachts are one of the expensive investments that you could have. This is the reason why it is very important for every potential owner to be cautious when buying yachts for sale.

There are lots of things that need to be considering when buying one. Failure to consider important things can easily put you in the losing end. Here are some of the mistakes that most buyers commit and you have to avoid it.

Regrets research

Before buying yachts for sale, it is important to learn more about yachts and the responsibility of owning them. You do not have to sound experts when learning details but you have to make sure that you know some important facts about them. You have to make some researches when buying boat. Learning the basics will help you learn more about yachts and eventually lead you to a better decision.

There are lots of things that you will learn about yachts but you do not have to necessarily know all of them instead those important information only will do. You have to know the types of yachts for sale and the different responsibility of the owner. And of course, maintenance of the yacht is also one of the important things that you need to consider. All of these things will help you decide if you have the potential to own a yacht or not.

Buying the wrong yacht

Knowing the types of yachts is very important. Through this you will have the greater chance of knowing which type of yacht will perfectly fit your preferences. You must keep in mind that you have to pick the boat that you like the most. Normally boaters regrets their purchase if the size of the boat is wrong. It will be more practical if you are going to pick a large one. So before you decide picking a small one, you have to think about the long-term use. Keep in mind that this kind of decision should not be done out of whim; this is a major decision to make so you have to come up with the right decision to avoid getting disappointed.

Understating the cost of ownership

Money is one of the important factors to be considered when buying yachts for sale. Keep in mind that the cost of the yacht is just a part of the long list of expenses of owning a yacht. If you are buying a yacht, then you have to be ready with the different expenses like storage, fuel, motor maintenance. Ownership is a crucial consideration that you need to keep in mind. Even before you search for the right yacht, you must consider your budget.

Yachts For Sale
Ella Ayson writes for Jump2top.com - SEO Company

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ella_Ayson

Located in the appealing Devon apple of Tuckenhay in the admirable South Devon countryside this chocolate-box thatched abode sits forth ancillary the Bow Brook River. The abode is a prefect country break and even a abbreviate break will accept you advertent giving up your old activity in adjustment to move to Devon. The Abode lays just a abbreviate airing anatomy the account column agenda apple of Ashprington and either a admirable two hour airing or a abbreviate drive to the boondocks of Totnes.



Martello Belfry - Suffolk

Martello Belfry is not your accepted anniversary home, it is in actuality an age-old acropolis advised to stop Napoleon and his army. The architecture is create up of thick, broad rock walls advised to with angle French cannons. The angle from the belfry are stunning; abnormally from the active allowance area you can sit and watch the after-effects breach at your feet. While the interiors accept absolutely bigger back it was active by the troops it is still not the alotof comfortable and doesn`t even accept a bath. Yet there is abundant added to this abode than its autogenous design.



The Gothic Temple - Buckinghamshire

The annular Gothic temple was congenital in 1741 and is a absurd archetype of English follies. The Temple lies with in the area of the Stowe Academy admitting from the beauteous angle on action this is no accustomed academy grounds. Anticipation the architectonics is amazing the accoutrement are a little on the basal ancillary (fitting appliance into a annular allowance is no simple feet) yet the architecture itself, the admirable area and the adventitious to use the schools pond basin and tennis courts during the summer months added than create up for this.



Fisherman`s Cottages - Inverness-shire

Located on the 60,000 acre area of the Cawdor acreage these cottages accept been advised by above Faddy biographer Isabella Cawdor. Congenital in 2002 the cottages are a cantankerous amid a Altitude hunting abode and a London bazaar which amidst by heather broadcast berth land. The interiors are a mix of avant-garde and acceptable and create for a balmy and adequate environment. A bassinet is cat-and-mouse for you on arrival, as is a video bulletin on the TV and if your activity annoyed afterwards your continued adventure then you don`t even accept to anguish about food, there will be a absurd home adapted meal for you.

The recently opened 380-room Tangla Beijing, a new five-star hotel in the central administrative and financial area of Beijing, has joined Worldhotels as a Deluxe Collection affiliate.

The hotel is located at Chang'an Avenue West, a new landmark in the heart of Beijing, within walking distance of Financial Street and major national offices and bureaux.

Steven Song, the president for operations of HNA Hotels & Resorts and general manager of Tangla Beijing, commented that Tangla hotel is delighted to extend its sales net worldwide by joining Worldhotels, which is a worldwide sales, marketing, and distribution brand for independent hotels.

For events, Tangla Beijing offers 2,300 square meters of meeting and banquet space, including ten function rooms, together with a full service business center.

http://www.chinahospitalitynews.com/en/2009/10/21/13797-tangla-beijing-joins-worldhotels/

For food and beverage the hotel features six choices of restaurants and bars including Cafe d'Or with two open-view kitchens while the Astral, the signature fine dining restaurant of Tangla Beijing features Australian fare, from grilled Australian beef to traditional fish and chips.

All guest rooms feature deluxe marble bathrooms and beds with premium linens and featherbed, a goose down quilt, and a choice of pillows. Rooms also incorporate high-speed Internet access and independently controlled air-conditioning.

For health and beauty conscious guests, Tangla Beijing offers a fitness centre, wellness and spa centre, indoor swimming pool and onsite medical facilities. Other facilities extend to a 24-hour room service and concierge.

REMEMBER YOUR LAST CONVERSATION WITH THAT family relative who couldn t talk enough of how much they saved on their last holiday package deal Or that colleague bragging about his 59 round trip flight to Las Vegas and his stay in a 5 star hotel at 89 a night Have you found yourself staring wistfully and suspiciously at a 399 package deal for two for Hawaii
Just because your email seems flooded at times with seemingly impossibly priced travel offers, and you find Internet search engines are flooded with 1000s of sites selling internet travel besides big hotel brands and branded distribution sites don t discount them all.
Who can you count on
Just four or five years ago, when you looked for travel discounts you could choose between a travel agent, the airline offices and the hotels themselves, and maybe, if you were lucky, some travel guru down the street. Today, theres a massive range of things you can do online, and a lot of them can save significant amounts of money.
The reality is

Nine out of 10 online travelers now have some history of shopping for travel online, and nearly 15 of all Americans purchased travel online last year thats five times the penetration rate of 1998. PhoCusWright Consumer Travel Trends Survey Nearly one third of online travel buyers say the Internet was responsible for their travel purchases last year.
In 1998, six million consumers bought travel online in the U.S. Jump ahead to 2002 when 30 million Americans purchased travel online in the last year. Half of them only buy their travel online. PhoCusWright Consumer Travel Trends Survey

Online travel bookings exceeded 23 billion in 2001, and are expected to reach 63 billion by 2005.

Internet bookings in the first three quarters of 2002 accounted for over 23 of rooms sold in New York, and over 15 in Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. Anecdotally, for some properties, hotel managers are reporting Internet bookings ranging from 30 to 50 of all room nights in 2002. Smith Travel Research and Travel Click

What does this mean

This means that online distribution channel is extremely successful in reaching buyers and buyers are finding it more confirmable to shop online. They are seeing a broader range of travel options and variety of products and packages. And its more likely that consumer wants to control that transaction through access to more competitive pricing. Pricing is becoming key factor to determine the sale.

Key factors Why travelers prefer to book online

Competitive Price
Ability to compare product and Prices
Ability to plan last minute
Availability of Range of options

Online travel shoppers are not very loyal on where they shop 65 percent of online travelers do not view themselves as brand loyal. As much as they love to shop online and spend their time researching what suits their needs, they are not loyal to the companies from which they buy.

The above scenario indicated that the travel suppliers have no choice but to participate in this online distribution channel. The suppliers are realizing that the traditional channels like GDS Global Distribution System travel agent and call center reservation office is somewhat inefficient and expensive, especially when the economy is weak. Ignoring online distribution channel and concentrating only on traditional distribution channels will result in lower occupancy, and higher distribution and operational costs for travel suppliers. As online channels become more popular among suppliers their participation is increasing.

How Pricing and Distribution Become Key

9 11 caused a dramatic shift in how consumers booked their travel. The instability caused a large drop in demand for airlines, hotels and car rentals leading to ever lower prices. This low demand factor forced travel suppliers to introduce unprecedented discounts. Travel suppliers struggled to sell seats, rooms, car rentals to a significantly shrunk leisure and business travel market. Every air seat, room and auto not booked cost their companies money. Better to sell dirt cheap than not to sell at all. But how to get the word out

Smart, proactive suppliers adopted the Wal Mart business model sell low and distribute inexpensively and efficiently. But how

The Internet allowed them to reach consumers, sell inventory outstrips their less progressive competition. Those suppliers who had no clear Internet strategy or understanding of how the Web and online distribution works suffered.

Discount hotel sites attract millions of buyers with their special rates leading to stratospheric sales through these channels. They thrive on hoteliers selling their distressed inventory at a fraction of their normal rates. Occupancy is the lowest it s been in years, hoteliers continue to work with leading online retailers to move inventory at lower price.

The 6.3 billion in online hotel sales 2002 with are split roughly evenly between discount agency sites and hotel Web sites. PhoCusWright projects that around 75 of discount agency hotel site sales are via the merchant model, where the agency typically takes a 20 30 margin on the hotel net rate instead of the usual 10 commission. This approach has helped profits at Expedia and Hotels.com, who have roughly 60 of online discount agency hotel sales. Travelocity and Orbitz are instituting the same successful approach. Other notable players thriving in this arena are Hotwire.com, http www.hotels and discounts.com , Lodging.com and Travelweb.com.

What is the Future
Online travel growth will continue to grow in 2003 2005, but it will slow down year by year compared to the record gains see so far. However millions of travelers haven t yet made their first purchase so the market is not near saturation. Technological improvements will soon make it possible to more easily dynamically package vacation deals including air, hotel and car leading to even lower prices but higher average sales. So growth is projected to come from customers buying more, higher ticketed products online.

The growth of the online distribution channel will prove beneficial to the end user when the suppler finds it easier and more cost effective to distribute their inventory there than over the traditional distribution channels. As technology becomes mature in the online distribution sector, it will become more effective and user friendly for the Buyers and thus will attract more Suppliers. Due to its low cost of distribution and emerging ability to package and cross sell inventory, prices will be attractive for years to come, until this channel eventually becomes a commodity.

The peak of the mountain is covered by glacier giving it a white cap. Mount Kenya stood at 5,199-meter-high above sea level with its peaks located immediately south of the equator. It is the second highest mountain in Africa after Kilmanjaro. Some opine that Mount Kenya, an extinct volcano, must have been more than 6,000m high.

Years of weathering it is believed, removed the dust and achieve revealing two jagged peaks that are over 5,100m high and a third that is 4,985m high.

Flora and Fauna

Over the years, melting ice has turned the desert of lava into a large seedbed for diverse forms of flora. The lower slope is covered with dense forests. The trees found here include cedar, camphor and yellowwood which are good for manufacturing furniture. There are also tall bamboo trees, which fill up the forest with heights over six meters.

Mammals such as lions, leopards, zebras, bushbuck, water buck, Cape buffalo, elephant and black rhinos find comfort in this mountainous habitat. Smaller animals like Sykes monkeys, tree hyraxes, Colobus monkeys and many species of rodents also dwell here.

If you are interested in watching birds then you can be rest assured that you are at the right place. They are vast and varied in type. They include the crowned eagles, long-crested hawk eagles, white-backed vultures, black kites, mountain buzzards and red-tailed augur buzzards. The crimson-cloured Hartlaub's turacos, silvery species of sunbirds are constant features of this forest.

At about 3,000m, a large unending moorland is revealed. The ground here is covered like a mat by tussock grasses, the unique cabbage groundsel - that flowers once in 20 years - is found here.

Few animals are found in this lofty terrain, and most of them live there for just part of the year. The rabbit-sized mammal, rock hyraxes are the only full time resident of this terrain.

The Peaks

The highest points Batain (5,199m) and Nelion (5,188m) are shaped like two large horns. They consist of huge, black volcanic boulders. Some of the glaciers at this peak are visible from Nairobi, Kenya's capital city, 130km away.

Fortune Ihunweze the author of this article is a professional Environmental Resources Manager. He is very vast in environmental management issues and has written many articles on the environment. His website which covers just about everything you would need to know about the environment is located at: http://www.environmenthighlight.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fortune_Ihunweze

The Zambezi is Africa's fourth largest river; flowing for about 3000km across central Africa. The river hails from a small brook at the upper Northwest corner of Zambia and it then flows through Angola and borders Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe before finally cutting through Mozambique where it empties its waters into the Indian Ocean through a Delta.

The Zambezi River ebbs and flows depending on season. If there is prolonged rain, the river swells up and bursts its banks in particular areas displacing thousands of people. On the other hand if there is no rain, the waters recede. The river is divided into three sections; the upper Zambezi, middle Zambezi and lower Zambezi.

Though the river, has a lot to offer with every square kilometer it passes through, it has the best of its features in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Perhaps the most spectacular feature along the Zambezi is the magnificent Victoria Falls. Known locally as "Mosi-oa-Tunya" (the smoke that thunders), the Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The deafening roar of the falls as millions of liters of water cascade down its rocky cliff can be heard from metres away. From the falling water rises a glistening blanket of mist which makes the sight all the more enchanting.

The best time to tour the falls is during the dry winter season which runs from July to August. Around the rainy season, the blanket of mist gets so thick that it makes it impossible to catch a glimpse of the falls. The peak of the dry season is also not best because the falls are at their dullest during this time. If you wish to, you can catch a helicopter ride and get a bird's eye view of the falls. However, most people prefer the experience from the ground where they can feel the spray of the falls on their faces. If you plan to view the falls from the ground, carry a raincoat as you are bound to get soaked, most people get a kick out of this though.

Not far from the falls stands the grand Victoria Falls Bridge. The bridge is a prized piece of fine architecture that joins Zambia and Zimbabwe while also providing an expansive view of the Zambezi and the adjacent rain forests. The most popular activity at the bridge is bungee jumping. The fall is 111 metres long making it the second longest bungee distance in the world. Other notable sights along the Zambezi include the expansive Kariba and Cahora Bassa dams.

The Kariba dam in Zambia, boasts a vast 300km. The Cahora Bassa dam lies in Mozambique and is 20km smaller than the Kariba making it 280km wide. Both dams are deep and quite popular for their sport fishing activities. You can choose whether to fish from the banks or go out into the water in a canoe. The most common fish in these areas are Tiger fish which can grow to as much as 10kg, the yellow-belly bream, and the red-breasted bream among others.

Besides fishing, the dams also provide the local community with enough water for irrigation for those who practice farming along the river. The dams are also a source of hydropower. The Kariba dam supplies power to Zambia and Zimbabwe while the Cahora Bassa dam supplies power to both Mozambique and South Africa.

There are a number of game parks and reserves dotted all along the Zambezi and offering some of the best Africa safaris. The most popular of these include the Zambezi National Park, the Victoria Falls national park, the Mana pools park, and the Wide horizons elephant camp. Here, visitors can watch a wide array of wild animals along game drives or in fenced and controlled reserves. The activity that the Zambezi is world famous for is its eventful white water rafting expeditions. The rocky riverbeds of the Zambezi and the steep, gorged terrain as well as pressure pools provide an excellent flowing strip for the exciting rapids.

The Zambezi rapids have been classified as grade five, meaning that they are very difficult to negotiate, very fast, violent and unpredictable as they have no clear pattern that a negotiator can get used to therefore making each trip different from the next. The rapids are also popular because they have little bare rock allaying fears of injury therefore allowing kayakers to make the most of the experience.

There is a wide array of hotels and lodges to choose from along the Zambezi. They range from outdoor tent and mattress camping lodges to luxury five star hotels. Whichever you choose, they all promise different adventures that are bound to make your stay memorable. A couple of the most popular hotel and lodges include; the Royal Livingstone hotel, the Tongabezi lodge and the Thorn tree lodge at Victoria Falls. The Mwambashi river lodge, Kasaka river lodge and Mtondo river camp are good choices for those who want to be close to the river and around wild game. And for those who want to spend their days fishing in Lake Kariba, the Chete Island deluxe tented safari lodge and the Chikanka Island hotel would be good choices for you.

There are a number of towns and settlements along the Zambezi River. The major ones include; Katima Mulilo in Namibia, Mongu, Lukulu and Livingstone in Zambia, Victoria Falls and Kariba in Zimbabwe, and finally Songo and Tete in Mozambique. Interestingly, over 70 different languages spoken by the people along the Zambezi. Most of these natives depend on the Zambezi for their livelihood and have a fascinating culture as well as unique practices. The Bundu people of Zambia, for example, believe that there is a live spirit called Nyaminyami in the river. They believe that the spirit offers them protection and therefore regularly perform rituals at the river bank to appease the spirit.

Samuel Maina is online travel writer for Africa Point Limited, an Africa specialist travel agent, offering online reservation services for hotels, airline tickets, rental cars, tours and safaris to 13 African countries. Read some of his works on Africa Tours & Flights Guide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samuel_Maina

South Africa is a land of enchantment and dreams. When you voyage to South Africa for a safari, you are in for one wild ride. You can expect to see all of the animals you've heard about in the classroom and witness nature in all of its glory. Your South Africa Safari will take you into the heart of the animals' natural habitat and see them, first hand.

Each day of your Safari will bring something new and exciting. You'll be having very long, full days on your journey to the heart of the African animal kingdom, so be sure to get plenty of rest each night. You will be getting up before the sun during your Safari trip. Your resort or hotel will serve you a large breakfast each morning. Make sure to get plenty to eat, too... Long days on Safari can make you as hungry as, well, a lion.

Each morning you'll head out, bright and early on your trek to the wilderness. You'll be traveling in an open air 4 wheel drive vehicle that allows you to see everything, all around you and your party. You can expect the most incredible trip of your life when you go on African Safari.

You'll enter the protected animal reserve and you will probably start out with a brief nature walk. Your guide will show you all of the local trees and plants that help sustain the wildlife. You'll get to do a little bird watching, too. There are some of the most colorful and unusual looking birds in the world in South Africa.

You'll marvel at the beauty of nature all around you on your Safari. You and your group will then get back into your vehicle and proceed deeper into the reserve where you will begin to see a variety of animals. It's very important to always follow the rules that your Safari guide gives you. You will be able to see the animals behaving in their natural habitat.

You'll see everything from crocodiles sliding through the marshes, pouncing on prey to nature's most majestic creature-the African elephant, bathing and playing. You may encounter animals that come right up to the vehicle. When they do, don't make a lot of loud noises or attempt to get out of the vehicle. As long as you don't give them reason to fret, they'll consider you harmless.

You'll also see all of the wild cats that you've read about or seen at zoos, in all of their majesty and brilliance. Your entire family will benefit from a South African Safari.

South African safaris are a great vacation. Check out http://www.KanyeziSafari.org for the best guides in South Africa.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sylvia_Rolfe

We are living in an excited time in modern human history! There are numerous magazines, newspaper articles, cable channels and television programs set aside for travelers who want to experience various levels of adventure related to customs and cultures. I am not an expert on all types of customs and cultures. However, what I can safely say is that I once lived in South America and I can certainly add my two bits to the conversation in regards to adventure travel.

Being born and raised in South America can certainly add to what I am about to say in regards to traveling to the Amazon Region. The Amazon River carries the largest volume of water is the world flowing about 3,300 miles from the Andes through Northern Brazil to the Atlantic Ocean. A traveler wishing to visit the Amazon Region will expect a trip of a life time! The indigenous people of the Amazon Region are made of a number of tribes speaking distinct languages and each tribe has its own culture and custom.

It not easy to travel into the heart of the Amazon. The terrain is a mixture of thick rain forest, mountains, swamps, small rivers and waterfalls. There is also a large abundance of wild animals, reptiles (venomous and nonvenomous), poisonous plants and man eating ants. There is a plant called "Bena" and some tribes use this plant to create fear. Legend says that some Bena plants can actually make a visitor in the Rain Forest lose their way. The plant gives off a special scent that traps it's un-looker into a trance-like state. It is also said that the only people that can actually help a lost visitor find their way is the local tribes within the area.

Some tribes in the Amazon are capable of shooting poisoned arrows or blow darts with their points dipped in the poison of some species of frogs and special plants. The staple diet of some tribes are mainly fruits, wild nuts vegetables and wild meat. There are also some tribes who plant cassava or yuca and make intoxicating drinks from this vegetable. Traveling to the Amazon is not for the faint of heart. Travelers need to also be aware of the large infestation of mosquitos which carry malaria. There are guided tours specially set up for travelers wishing to visit the Amazon. However, it is always necessary to check with your travel agent before you decide to visit this part of South America.

OC Tross is the author of two books Another Thought and Supermarket of Life. He is a teacher, artist, motivational speaker and philosopher for over fifteen years. To read more of OC Tross' philosophy visit; http://www.octross.com

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The Normandy region in France is an especially beautiful location that is rich in natural beauty and splendor. It is a historically significant area and has lots of beautiful buildings and gardens that you can visit. This naturally beautiful area is also rich in culture and heritage hence you will be able to catch a glimpse of the rich history that makes France so very attractive.

You can start by visiting the Mont Saint Michel. This is located on the Brittany/Normandy border. The structure of the abbey on Mont Saint Michel has gone on to become iconic in northern France. The entire structure rises out of a flat sandy island that is connected to the mainland by a causeway. It is considered to be one of the western world wonders and it is famous all over the world.

You can then visit the Normandy American Cemetery Memorial, which was built to honor the memories of the American soldiers who died in WWII. It is located on a cliff in Colleville sur-Mer and overlooks the Omaha Beach. This beach was one of the main landing beaches during the Normandy Invasion.

World famous and immortal painter Monet is still remembered for the beautiful landscape paintings that he has given us. He was also a connoisseur of landscapes in the real world and surrounded himself with one of the most beautiful gardens in France. This garden in located in Giverny and is just an hour's train ride away from Paris. You will see first hand the water lilies that inspired the painter. You can roam around the beautiful garden that inspired Monet over and over again.

The four largest urban areas in Normandy are Rouen, Caen, Le Havre and Cherbourg. It is simple to arrange a car hire service in any of these cities as well as many other locations throughout Normandy. A rental car is a great asset when touring Normandy. Make sure to choose the right type of car for your trip. Consider all passenger and luggage requirements.

If you want to experience the art and culture of Normandy, you have to visit Rouen. At the heart of the city's attractions is the Gothic cathedral of Rouen. This cathedral was one of the Monet's favorite subjects. Even though it was bombed during WWII, it now stands beautifully restored.

If you are a person whose heart is after gastronomical delights, you will enjoy Dieppe. It is an old and busy port that is famous for its Herring festival and seafood. You will love the fresh fish and scallops that are brought in everyday. There are many more places to visit like the old port at Honfleur, Trouville and the Cider route.

Normandy is an excellent place to go for a holiday at any time of the year. This splendid region of France never fails to impress.

Read more information about traveling in Normandy at car hire Le Havre and car hire Caen.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_C_Wilson

A bird watching tour is a fantastic way of seeing unusual birds in their natural habitats all under the eye of a local guide. If you've never been on a bird watching or any other holiday tour then there are many great reasons to do so.

Travelling on your own can not only be lonely but it can also be unsafe in some parts of the world. By joining a specialist tour group you will meet like minded people and get the opportunity to visit places you may otherwise not have found by yourself.

An organised tour is also a good way of budgeting for your holiday. There is nothing worse than finding that you have run out of cash half way through a holiday but as you pay upfront for a tour and usually everything is included in the price such as park entrance fees you will not have that to worry about. A tour may also be cheaper than sorting out a holiday yourself as your operator can often get group discounts.

Your tour operator will also be able to help you sort out any difficulties you may encounter such as problems with accommodation, border checks or even unscrupulous taxi drivers. Your tour operator and guide will also have local knowledge and be able to advise you on the best places to eat and drink and visit if you want to spend any time away from the group. However, it is recommended that you spend as much time as possible with your party as the excursions that they lead you on will help make your holiday even more enjoyable.

Your local guide will have excellent knowledge of the local area and habitat of the indigenous birds and you it is likely that you will be taken to places where you will be able to spot rare species. Before you go buy a guide book and read up on the local flora and fauna. Make a checklist of the birds you would like to see and don't be afraid to ask your guide if he or she can help you find these birds. If you are travelling in a small group your operator may be able to customise your tour and will certainly try their best to accommodate your needs.

Take a good pair of binoculars, a digital camera and sketch pad. If you see a bird that you are unable to identify out in the field, make some notes and ask your fellow birders or your guide when you are back at the hotel.

Going on a bird watching tour is an extremely efficient way of seeing as many different species in a short a time as possible. You will be taken to locations at the best times of day to view different birds so you will not waste time waiting around or miss that all important rare sighting.

Choose a tour operator that is fully bonded and insured so if there are any problems you will be able to get home safely. However, do take out full adventure travel insurance and make sure you have any required jabs.

Bird watching tours operate in all four corners of the globe and with a bit of planning and research you could end up having the holiday of a lifetime. You can find a selection of bird watching tours at British Bird Lovers.

This article was written by the owner of British Bird Lovers.

The author is a keen gardener and amateur bird watcher.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Price

High fuel costs and economic stress are taking their toll on yet another industry. The travel industry. An industry with multiyear growth is beginning to level off at mid year. And may only have a slight chance of ending the year with an increase, thanks to leisure travel sales.

The continued rising gasoline prices have already forced some consumers to cancel their vacation plans, according to a key consumer survey. Although leisure travel is still expected to continue growing this year, even if families are forced to vacation closer to home.

Although the number of domestic trips taken this year and next are not expected to decline, it has been suggested that the spending patterns and consumer choices may change. Substituting domestic travel for international trips, trading down in hotel quality, foregoing in-trip shopping or entertainment spending, and shorter stays are all viable options that will be considered.

Leisure travel was predicted to grow by 0.8% in the second quarter of 2008, and then pick up more speed with a 1.1% increase in the third quarter. Leisure travel is predicted to greatly increase in the second half of the year as Americans spend part or all of their tax rebate on travel. Time will tell if this prediction comes true.

The travel industry growth is being hurt mainly by the decline in business travel due to corporate cost controls and increased reliance on technology-based alternatives. This is expected to carry on through into the year 2009, as well. Unless we see some sign of relief at the pump, then some of these changes may be more temporary in nature.

But on a high note for our economy, the International travel to the United States will continue to grow. Due to the fact that our foreign visitors will continue benefiting from exchange rates and other factors that have combined to create an increase of international visitation. This is following strong increases from last year as well. It has been forecasted for foreign visits to reach 62.1 million next year, which is even 4.8% higher than the current year stats.

Although some reports indicate leisure travel to weaken in 2009, if problems caused by the credit and housing crises continue to hurt the overall economy. The total number of trips could decline by 0.4%, to 1.996 million, and leisure travel would see its first decline since 2003.

As a person that loves to travel and enjoys time away from the daily routine, I believe I speak for all of us when I say that I hope the economy starts to turn around soon. I wouldn't want us to have to go home to our families and break the news that there will be no summer vacation next year.

Larry Buhrandt is a Certified Travel Agent with TraVerus Travel. He has a passion to travel and a desire to help others succeed in the travel industry.

VACATION FOR LE$$...ENJOY LIFE MORE...WHILE EARNING AN AMAZING INCOME!!

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There are dozens of benefits of having a home based travel business. First this is a great idea because you are now in the industry which means you qualify for insider benefits. By just having a home based business in the travel industry you also get huge tax advantages.

You also get your own personalized website where your friends and family can book their travel as well and you earn up to 90% commission.

Also your travel business runs 24/7/365 days a year. Your home based travel business is running 24/7 and has the potential of making you money every second of the day, allowing dozens of people from all over the world to book from your travel site and you get the commission... It's as simple as that.

They also have very little start up capital- you can have a profitable travel business up and running with very little capital. And you also have unlimited customer base. You can even sell travel international.

One of the best parts is that you get to travel at wholesale prices just for having a business. And you will get paid every single time you travel, no matter it be a cruise, hotel, family vacation, and even travel for free. Travel companies offer travel trainings, and even allow you to get your CLIA card (Cruise Line International Association) which is great because with this card you can receive the highest commissions from cruises, hotel, flights etc.

Another great benefit of owning a home based business in the travel industry is that you get huge tax breaks, for example....Gas, clothing, rent, mortgage, food, cell phones, and many more are all things you can write off on your taxes just by owning a home based business in the travel industry. Your start up cost is also tax deductible as well so you can literally own your business for free.

You can work your own hours with your business, and you can work it at your own leisure. Most travel business are very easy to start and have programs known as the member trips program. This program is a program that allows you to take these trips at huge discounted prices. All inclusive cruise, vacation spots and more. Most people get involve just for this benefit alone. And you are also able to create residual income from home with the referral program. If you are going to start a home based business, by far the travel industry is by far the best kind just because you don't have to do any selling of products or services, and everybody loves to travel and save money, and even make money at the same time. Just find a company that has the best interest in your needs.

To view more information on this topic please go to http://specialtravelperks.com

Jeffrey Hunter - Certified Travel Specialist 240-645-9718

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For my first trip to Shimla, I took Kalka Mail from Delhi to Kalka. After an overnight journey, I reached the sleepy little station of Kalka around 5.30 in the morning. From Kalka I had one of the most beautiful train journeys one can have. The journey, some 90-KM long, was done in a toy train. It was November 8, 2003, just a day before that railway line was about to complete its 100 years. I was travelling in the same train, which was supposed to make the historic journey next day, marking the hundred years of this wonderful gift of British India. You can blame them for a lot of bad things they did to India during their rule here but you have to give it the firangs (As British rulers were called then), they took the trains to the kind of places where Indians have not been able to even 60 years after getting independence. The toy train passes through some 103 tunnels, one of them, at Barog, is more than a kilometer long. That's not all. It uses more than 800 bridges to reach Shimla!

My train, Shivalik Deluxe Express, stopped at Barog - a beautiful little station. The stop was for 10 minute where most of the passengers got down while catering staff collected breakfast to be served on the train. It was a lovely experience; early morning sunshine made me feel in a different world.The train was full of honeymooners, as it was marriage season in India. Some of the couples seemed in a hurry to get lost in each other's arms. Since it was a toy train that has small coaches, people were seated pretty close to each other.

I arrived at the Shimla station around 10.30 am. Starting from 660 mts at Kalka, I was now about 2000 mts above sea level. Immediately I was surrounded by Kashmiri potters. I negotiated with one of them and he helped me climb out of the station where I was met by the cab drivers. After bargaining, one of them drove me to my hotel. After checking into the hotel, a Raj-era building, I took shower and had brunch. I checked with the hotel manager about the places I could see in the remaining day. He suggested I walk up to the Mall Road, that quintessential Raj left-over. Acting on his advice I decided to walk to the Mall. I was surprised to see so many tall deodar trees on both sides of the road before I reached the actual hustle and bustle of the Mall. It was same as the other Mall Roads. All kind of eateries asking you to 'come and try' the delicious fare. I went inside a restaurant, which served north Indian, south Indian, Chinese food and whatever you can think of. To be frank, it was awful. I ordered a pizza and that did not look like the pizzas one had seen or eaten before! After that misadventure with food I walked up to the Ridge. It has, for years, been used for all kinds of functions. During British rule, it was used to hold military parades. Sahebs and memsahebs used to enjoy the romantic evenings. There, you even have a place called Scandal Point, thus named because it is said that some officer's wife had run away with an Indian prince from that very point!

I walked back to my hotel as it became dark and cold. The mountain air was having its effect. Next day I visited Kufri, came back to The Mall Road, and did some roaming around.

On my last day in Shimla I went to see Viceregal Lodge from where British Viceroy ruled all over India for six months during summer. The Lodge now houses IIAS (Indian Institute of Advanced Studies). It was a magnificent building with a well-maintained and beautiful lawn in front of it. It was in this building that India's destiny was decided by the Britishers. The tables and chairs have been kept as it is and every half an hour a tour is conducted with a guide to give you a glimpse of the history.

The visit to Viceregal Lodge was worth it. I am now better informed about the goings on in the final hours before India got its independence.

Archna Gupta is a veteran in the marketing of Internet and writing of the articles on the range of subjects. For any information on currently working on Travel To India and India Tour Packages

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Archna_Gupta

There are numerous other treasures waiting to be discovered in the Eternal City, which most probably would not be found within the pages of a guidebook. So if time allows you to take a stroll off the beaten path, take some notes because it is there that you will find Rome's best kept secrets. Sites such as the church of Sant' Ignazio di Loyola, San Luigi dei Francesi and the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli are just a few of the many sites often left out of the guide books, yet definitely worth a visit.

Sant' Ignazio di Loyola is located amongst the shops on Via del Corso and has one of the most impressive "domes" in Rome, sure to make you look twice. Enter the church and you will find the dome, located at the front altar. If you take a few steps forward, you will notice that it is painted on a flat wooden surface making the dome an optical illusion. Many visit this church to witness for themselves as they find it quite amazing.

Also not to be missed in the city center is the Church of San Luigi di Francesi. This little jewel is located off of Piazza Navona. Designed by Giacomo della Porta and built by Domenico Fontana in the 1500's it is known as the official French church of Rome. Here you will find three of Caravaggio's world-renowned originals: "St. Matthew and the Angel", "The calling of St. Matthew" and The Martyrdom of St. Matthew".

Last but not least is Santa Maria degli Angeli. Michelangelo designed this church, planned its construction alongside the ruins which were originally there from the roman baths of Diocletian. The outer walls consist of the brick of the baths giving the exterior of the church its unique appearance. It is quite impressive to see how he actually incorporated these ruins into a church that is still used to this day. Getting to Santa Maria degli Angeli is simple, as the metro line A will take you directly to Piazza Repubblica where the church is located.

The best thing about visiting these sites is that they are free. However, keep in mind that proper dress code is required as they are places of worship. It is advised to turn off your mobile phones and keep your voice down before entering.

Article contributed by Danielle Russo of When In Rome Tours WhenInRomeTours.com, Experts in Vatican Tours and Rome sightseeing Private-Tours since 1999.

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Thailand is an amazing place to live. The friendly people, delicious food and beautiful scenery are just a few reasons to live here. However, the culture is very different from what most westerners are familiar with. Below is a list to help you determine if some of the more curious Thai cultural oddities have rubbed off on you.

You see an elephant in the street and don't think "Oh wow! An elephant!" but instead complain about how it's slowing down traffic.

You wake up in the morning with a hankering for rice and noodles, not eggs and toast.

You think that riding your motorcycle the wrong way down one-way streets, running red lights and riding on the wrong side of the road are perfectly normal.

You think that Singha and Chang are actually pretty decent beers.

You see a family of four and their dog riding together on a single motorcycle and you only wonder what they ate for dinner.

You wear sweaters and sweatshirts despite the steaming hot weather.

You are deeply concerned when your favorite rice dish goes up in price by $0.15 to a staggering $0.60.

The language actually starts to make a little sense.

You have no problems eating raw pig organs mixed with pig blood and spices.

10 year olds riding motorcycles in the streets do not faze you.

You think Sangsom and Mekong are actually pretty decent whiskeys.

You haven't cooked a meal in months, besides what can be made with a hot water maker.

You find that some of the Thai music is actually pretty decent.

Shaking somebody's hand feels weird.

You can ride a motorcycle with 10 grocery bags, a bookshelf and a hot pizza box strapped to it.

You ask for every meal extra spicy.

You put spicy fish sauce on everything.

About The Author

Tom Bak is a professional software developer with over ten years of programming experience on diverse projects, including seven years of videogame experience with numerous published console game titles. He is currently working on a free word game and an online word puzzle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Bak

I always quite fancied myself as a business woman but having had a long and fairly successful career in the media in London I never dreamt that moving to Spain and having a baby would lead to creating my own business!

We live in the age of technology and so it was only fitting that I met my business partner on the net! As anyone who has moved to Spain knows, it can be difficult to make new friends and meet others in the same situation. Lesley and I had both had babies here in Spain at around the same time and were both having a difficult time finding information and dealing with this huge change in our lives without the network we would have had around us back at home. We both discovered a website called mumsinspain.com and as we lived near each other we became friends via the site's forum. A while after we met we found that a lot of our conversations were taken up with moans and groans about baby products we wanted to buy but couldn't find here in Spain. After my parents had literally heaved a heavy playpen all the way from the UK we realised there was a definite gap in the market and on whim decided to fill it!

Looking back we were both taking a huge gamble starting a business with someone we barely knew. But right from the start it felt right for both of us and we both felt that our different professional backgrounds would compliment the business and we both believed in what we were doing, agreed on the way we wanted the business to work and trusted each other. And so far so good!!

Firstly we had to face the facts ... one, we knew little about retail and even less about starting a business in Spain! Two, starting a business with two small (often grumpy) toddlers in tow was not going to be easy! When we started in October 2007 our daughters were both around 10 months old. As they have got older it has become more difficult as our girls need more entertaining and we need more time to work.

One of the reasons we decided to start the business was that we both wanted and needed to work, but neither of us was keen to return to a 9-5 desk job where we would have to leave our babies and not be able to be with them if they needed us. We hoped that working from home would allow us the best of both worlds. Of course in reality it's not as idyllic as that at all!! Most days we have found working at home with babies to be a completely unpredictable experience, one day they'll happily play together for hours on end, needing hardly any attention and we can sit at the laptop and smile over at our wonderful daughters, the next they act as if they can't stand each other and cling to our ankles as if we were the meanest, least affectionate mums in the world.

At times like these it's almost impossible to work properly and we have come to realise that starting a business in Spain is all the harder because often there is less extended family around to support you or those that are here work full time. Both the girls start nursery this September and so things will be slightly easier, but at the moment it is a case of juggling the job of being a full time mum with that of being a company director!

However the trials of setting up a business with a baby on your lap are far outweighed by the thought of having to leave them completely and we have been lucky to have had the opportunity to base our work around our children.

So our first hurdle was working our way around the maze of legalities involved in setting up a business in Spain. Do we become an SL or do we work as autonomous? This seemed to be a question that no one had a finite answer too! After a few months we realised that we just wanted to find someone who could tell us what to do, but as helpful as the lawyers, gestures and general business experts were, every meeting simply seemed to just throw up more and more questions. Luckily our two husbands acted as translators, without them the process would have been even more confusing.

We have found that if you go and search for it, help is out there ... but it's not easy to find!!! By chance we stumbled across an office in our local town hall which specialised in helping new business set up. Through this office we have been able to set up our business, and by doing it ourselves with their help we avoided many of the costs of setting up a business with a gestor. It has however been a time consuming and complex process and is only recommended if you have access to a Spanish speaking family member! The lovely lady who took on our 'case' desperately searched for grants to help us, painstakingly typed up our business plans in Spanish, filled out forms for us and on one crazy Easter weekend stayed late just so we could finish and submit a form for a 'women in business' grant before the deadline. She also spent many hours explaining to us how an SL company would work. (All this with our babies creating havoc under the table, pulling apart the plants, taking all the cups out of the water machine and tying the string from the blinds in knots etc etc ... you get the idea! ) On her advice we took the paperwork ourselves to the various offices in Malaga such as the Hacienda and waited in line for our papers to be processed. The whole process took several months but when we finally signed our business escritura it was definitely worth all the running around!!

Having decided on an online shop, we secured the site domain name ( http://www.indybel.com ) and choose and registered our own name ( a story in itself as the names we chose kept coming back as 'taken' ... in Spain you must submit 3 names but you won't know for a while which name will be chosen, so you just have to keep your fingers crossed it's the one you want! ) Our next challenges included the logo design, website design and deciding what we could afford to sell as opposed to what we would really like to sell! This was now several months after we had began and with one expensive trip to London to visit a baby product trade show under our belts, we were feeling the pressure to get the business up and running. Lesley in particular needed everything to be finalised as she had just discovered she was expecting her second child and we needed to be up and running before she gave birth.

We began the 'second phase' of starting our business by 'interviewing' design companies. The look of both the logo and site was very important to us as we wanted both to look professional, sleek and most of all convey our message. Having chosen different companies to work on the logo and the site we excitedly gave both the go ahead to start work. We expected the logo design to take a few weeks but it ended up being nearer to a few months. We wanted the logo to have an 'organic' feel or theme whilst clearly also saying 'baby' and preferably 'pregnancy' too ... we went through a number of ideas with our long suffering graphic design company and after exploring teddy bears wearing towelling nappies, babies playing on our name, babies sitting in flowers and bumps and lumps all over the place, we eventually settled on a baby on a leaf in green and brown colours. It took a long time but we are really happy with our logo and have received some really nice compliments on it already which makes the whole process worthwhile.

Once we had our logo colours confirmed we could really get to work on the website design. We wanted a really clear and easy to negotiate shopping section as well as easy to understand pages on baby showers, gift deliveries etc. Choosing a company to work with was difficult and unfortunately we parted ways with our first design company shortly before the 'first' site was due to launch. We lost a lot of money but felt that we had been through a real 'learning curve' and that although this was a major setback and we had to cancel advertising and put the launch date back, in the long run we'd probably had a lucky escape. After a very stressful few weeks during which we both began to wonder if we'd ever actually launch our business and if we could even afford to pay for a new site, we found another company and our 'second' site was created on an extremely unrealistic timescale and with neither of us really sure how it would turn out. Luckily and to the credit of the second company we were delighted with the end product and the site was launched only a month later than first planned!

Choosing products has been really exciting. We started off with a wish list and changed our minds about a lot of products which were either too expensive and we felt wouldn't sell, or weren't quite what we were looking for. We wanted to offer the types of products that we have found we needed over the last 18 months but just couldn't find here in Spain as well as a good organic range. As our babies grow we find there are more things we need ourselves and so we are adding products with experience! We went to the Baby Show in London last year and found some brilliant new products and Lesley has managed to find the time and energy (while pregnant with number 2) to pop over to Thailand twice to source manufacturers, suppliers and products for our own brand items and packaging! One of the things we have had to learn to do is negotiate with suppliers and barter the price down ... Lesley was definitely better than me at this!! With the products in place we finalised courier companies, delivery prices, packaging options and translating the whole site into Spanish. We organised storage of the products here in Spain, chose a bank with the right business package and organised our monthly accounting with our gesture for when we launched. As with everything none of these things was simple, but we got there in the end!!!

The last few weeks before the launch were hectic. We had about a week to get all the products and all our information and photos onto the site before it went live. It was lucky that this period co-incided with the summer and we both had families out here. During those weeks we worked around the clock and long into the night once the girls were sleeping.

And so in August 2008, nearly a year after we first started, we finally launched our business!! In the time it's taken us to set up a business our daughters have gone from crawling to walking, from purees to three course meals, and from home to nursery! They've celebrated their first birthdays, started to talk and discovered they don't much like us working! Meanwhile Lesley's bump has grown and she is due to give birth any day now!!

As for the business, we finally launched and have received some lovely feedback and many positive comments. There is so much still to do and most of our days are spent juggling babies, emails, meetings and whenever possible grabbing just a few minutes here and there researching new products on the net. But the experience has been so fulfilling and so exciting that despite the sleepless nights, babies in meetings, working into the small hours once they are sleeping and ongoing fear it could all be a huge disaster and we might be bankrupt this time next year .... we wouldn't change a thing!!

For more information about our products please visit http://www.indybel.com

Samantha Sintes

http://www.indybel.com

British, International and Organic Products for Pregnancy and Baby in Spain

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_Sintes

Booking a last minute holiday can be very exciting. One minute you are sitting at work with nothing but your regular timetable of events to look forward to, and the next you've discovered a bargain last minute break and booked the time to jet off on holiday to somewhere warm and sunny.

It's guaranteed to put the shine on any day but once the initial excitement has worn off you've also got to think about the practicalities of the situation. Where are those suitcases? What do you need to take with you? Is everything that you'll need washed and ironed? And you know you put your passport in a safe place, but can you remember where?

It's easy to get into a panic when you know you've only got a day or two to make sure everything is ready to go, but the easiest way to get around this is to make a list of all the things you need to remember. That way you'll be able to cross them off as you go along, enabling you to concentrate on the things you still have to do.

The first step is to work out how many days you will be away for, as this will allow you to ensure you have the right amount of essential items with you, such as underwear and toiletries to last the whole trip. Of course you can also buy toiletries wherever you go, but you should make sure you at least take enough for the first couple of days.

Next, do some research if necessary to see what the weather will be like wherever you are going. Depending on the type of holiday you've booked, you could be packing for tropical temperatures or sub-zero temperatures, so make sure you go prepared!

Think about the type of holiday you are taking as well, as this will influence what you need to take. If you are going on a beach holiday you will want to take plenty of beachwear and perhaps some snorkelling gear as well, whereas a city break would no doubt need comfy shoes to walk around in as you're more likely to be doing a lot of sightseeing.

Don't forget arrangements you'll need to make at home as well, such as enlisting the help of a friend, relative or neighbour to look after your cat while you are away, or simply check on your house every now and again to make sure everything is okay and perhaps remove mail away from the door, if it is visible. We quite often get so caught up in what we need to organise for taking away with us that we forget essential tasks such as these.

Finally consider taking out travel insurance to cover you during your trip. This is essential if you want to have peace of mind during your last minute holiday that any potential holiday hazards are guarded against.

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Singleton

Students, who wish to study in the United States, need to apply for U.S. student visa with the U.S Consulate or Embassy. You may fill up the application for your visa after receiving the I-20 form. The I-20 form is a confirmation of your acceptance as a student given by the university. The form confirms your admission too.

Three Types of U.S. Student Visas:

F-1 - This is the most common type of U.S. student visa. Students make use of this visa for academic studies in the United States. This type of visa is designed for students, who want to enroll for an educational program with a college or University in the United States. It is also used to study English language at an Institute or at a foreign language Institute to study English.

M-1- This type of visa is for people who enroll for vocational training or study or for non-academic activities at an American Institute.

J-1- This is also known as Exchange visitor visa and is useful in cultural and educational programs in the United States.

When to apply for a U.S. student visa?

You may apply for a U.S. student visa 90 days before the date of registration given on the I-20 form. If the date of registration has expired or if you are not able to arrive at the institution on the date of registration, obtain an extension form informing them the date of your arrival.

Students generally get their visa within few days or hours after they submit the application form. Sometimes, the procedure takes a long time depending on factors such as consulate and the time of the year. In denial of a specific visa, you have a right to ask to know the reason for denial from the U.S. consulate.

Fundamental Requirements:

1. It is important that the University accept your admission as a student. You need to submit the I-20 form, which is a confirmation by the institution. You need to sign the form and present it along with a visa application.

2. It is mandatory for you to know English language for undergoing a course in a particular institution in the United States. You need to provide proof of the knowledge of English language in the I-20 form. You may give the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) passing certificate as a proof.

3. The applicant has to provide a financial proof to determine that he/she has enough funds to meet the educational expenses. An applicant may show funds from his/her sponsor, who is taking care of the educational expenses.

If the financial support is obtained from a financial institution such as a scholarship, mention it on the I-20 form. If the finances are coming from the home country, applicants need to produce proofs such as bank statements. The U.S. Embassy gives maximum importance to proofs submitted in an affidavit, as they are legal and documents bound by law.

Final Step:

You need to submit proof to the consulate that your purpose of visit is solely for educational purpose. After the completion of all these above formalities, the consulate affixes visa stamp on your passport.

Tom Tessin is an author for FINDcollegecards.com that is geared toward students looking for a student credit card

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Tessin

Summer Holiday Periods

Busy holiday periods may be completely booked out months in advance for the most popular motorhomes & campervans. In Australia the summer months, Christmas and New Year period, Easter and school holiday times are the most popular periods for campervan or motorhome hire. To avoid disappointment, plan and book early.

Each year campervan and motorhome rental companies see the same scenario repeated over and over; travellers who have left it too late desperately trying to get a suitable vehicle.

While the total fleet size of all the rental companies that offer campervans or motorhomes in Australia is quite large, there is a huge number of people wanting to hire these vehicles. Combine a popular destination such as Tasmania with a peak season and all vehicles will be booked out; sometimes months in advance.

While the summer is the main peak season for camper hires there are also other periods that are also extremely busy; the holiday period around the Easter weekend in one obvious example. There are other, localised busy periods that affect the availability of motorhomes.

Motor Race Meetings

Each October there are 2 major race meetings that are extremely popular for motorhome hires. The famous Bathurst car races are on in early October and racegoers from all over flock to Sydney to collect their motorhome and head west to Bathurst. Large motorhomes are the most popular as this provides accommodation and transport for a group of friends attending the race meet.

Motorhomes are moved to Sydney in large numbers to cope with the demand which affects availability in other places like Brisbane or Melbourne. Unless those wishing to hire have booked well in advance there will nothing available during this time.

The same applies to the Phillip Island motorcycle races also held in October. Motorhomes from Melbourne will be very heavily booked.

4WD and Camper Hire During the Dry Season

It is not only the summer months that are busy. The cooler, drier months of June, July and August are the peak season for those wanting to visit the tropical areas of north Australia.

This is also the peak season for 4WD hires as many of the most popular tracks are only accessible at this drier time of year and are often completely closed during the Wet season. If you want to hire a 4WD camper in July then you had better book early or you will miss out.

Discounted Rates

Another reason for booking early is that you can often get a cheaper rate for your hire. Many campervans and motorhomes are offered at cheaper rates for forward bookings under what is known as a flex rate system.

A rental company may be quite happy to offer a cheaper discounted rate for forward bookings 6 month or more in advance. As availability lessens the rate will slowly increase accordingly until the point is reached where there is no longer a discounted rate. Those that get in early get the better rates.

Vehicle Choice

Those that book early will get their preferred choice of camper. Once availability decreases you may have to settle for a vehicle that is less than ideal for your circumstances. Then it becomes a matter of taking what you can get.

Want to know more about campervan hire in Australia? Check out http://www.autorentals.com.au for all things relating to camper hire in Australia.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shane_Spencer