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How to Turn Your House Into a Vacation Rental

September 13, 2020
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| hotel, travel, vacation

Turning your house into a vacation rental can seem overwhelming at first … but it really does not have to be. This is a process that you can really enjoy and have fun with! I have set up houses as vacation rentals dozens and dozens of times, for my client's properties, as well as my own houses. I understand what is involved and required from every aspect, from assuring the property is in compliance with governmental agency rules and regulations, to making sure it has all the essentials that most guests require. In my commitment to assuring that my clients are continuously successful with their vacation rental houses, I often find myself in the role of 'vacation rental counselor,' mostly referring to governmental agency and code compliance, quality assurance, and ongoing property maintenance required to meet the current industry standard.

So, with that in mind, it's important to begin with the basics when you decide to offer your house as a vacation accommodation to travelers. In this article I will provide you with the 5 most important steps to follow to secure your vacation rental success. As you read through this, I advise you to consider the fact that your house is in a unique town or city, that this article is a general guide, and that that is critical for you to become aware of your local community sentiment, and rules and regulations about short-term rentals. Always remember, your house is a private property, it is not a hotel, and preparing your house and managing it as a vacation rental accommodation for tourists must be carefully and thoughtfully done.

1 – LAWS, ORDINANCES, RULES, AND REGULATIONS

The very first thing you need to do is to educate yourself about your local city, county, and state laws, ordinances, and rules and regulations referring to offering your house as a vacation rental in your unique community neighborhood. Please do not just assume that because it's your property, you can do whatever you want with it. And, please do not put a lot of effort and expense in setting up your house as a rental for tourists until you rule out the possibility that there are laws preventing you from doing so. Many local and state government agencies have clear regulations stipulating that setting up your house to rent as a vacation rental turns it into a business, and it will probably be subject to some level of city, county, and / or state licensing. Many governing agencies also require that to legally rent your house as a short-term rental, you must collect local and state tax from tourists who rent your property.

A quick search in the vacation rental news reveals, that as short-term rentals become more and more popular, many communities have licensing restrictions and very specific rules and regulations regarding renting homes short term to tourists. Call your local town or city governmental offices and get to the appropriate licensing department that can answer your specific questions. Find out …

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Romantic Ski Resort Getaways in Crested Butte

September 12, 2020
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| hotel

Some of the finest skiing in the Rocky Mountains can be found at romantic ski resort getaways in Crested Butte. The world’s best and boldest skiers cycle through here during the winter for extreme skiing and snowboarding championships.

The quaint Victorian mining town provides plenty of romance on its own in addition to the resorts with activities and amenities to please even the most demanding. Add to this the Nordic ski, Snowshoe, and Ice Skating Center at Big Mine Park. For cross-country skiing at is best, groomed trails circle the quaint mining town and the National Historic District in addition to the miles of trails ideal for both cross-country skiing and for snowshoeing. Include the kids in your romantic ski resort getaway in Crested Butte. Programs for kids include the Fun Ski and Kids’ Ski Team programs.

Private lessons for adults, teens, and kids can be a part of your romantic ski resort getaway in Crested Butte. Many of the instructors say they retain lifelong friendships with many of their students. Private lessons provide for learning at your own pace. Your lessons are tailored to fit your specific needs.

Several hotels and resorts offer a variety of choices and packages for your romantic ski resort getaway in Crested Butte. For example, The Lodge at Mountaineer Square offers excellent accommodations and superb hospitality. It has an outdoor heated swimming pool as well as an outdoor hot tub and sauna. The fitness center features Life Fitness exercise equipment. A shuttle for the hotel and the town is complimentary. The hotel offers a ski valet and complimentary storage for your skis and bicycle.

You’ll enjoy the Trackers Bar and Lounge with cozy furniture arranged in front of a roaring fire and two large plasma TV sets. Mountaineer Square offers many restaurants and retail stores. You’ll find an outdoor patio with live music and family entertainment as well as an outdoor fire pit.

Other lodging includes The Black Bear Lodge and The Buttes, both of which offer condo-type lodging that will accommodate a group. For the budget-conscious, there are less expensive choices.

A romantic ski resort getaway in Crested Butte will meet all your needs. Skiing is excellent, not only downhill but cross-country, excellent restaurants abound, there is shopping galore, and the scenery will fill you with awe.…

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Travel – Dealing with Air Sickness and Jet Lag

September 12, 2020
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| travel

If you dread the idea of ​​air travel because of air sickness and / or jet lag, there are a few precautions you can take to prevent both.

Air Sickness

Generally, air sickness is at its worst on take off and landing. This is due to the steep attitude of the aeroplane, the sudden increase or decrease in speed and height and the fact that the ground is visible and seems to be rushing past. The difference between what one sees and what the "balance" area of ​​the ears is telling one causes the brain to become confused. The sickness can be a physical or psychological reaction to all of this, the latter being caused more by fear than by an actual physical reaction to the conflicting signals being received by the body.

Normally airsickness manifests itself in a feeling of nausea, which may or may not result in actual sickness, as well as sweating, digestive disturbance and the need to swallow much more than normal.

Even pilots and other aircrew suffer from air sickness, which obviously can prevent them from doing their jobs effectively. As a result, studies were made into the problem and the following means of avoiding air sickness were devised.

1. Stress or fear can cause air sickness because an already emotionally disturbed brain has even more difficultly interpreting the conflicting signals from eyes and ears. So try to relax, don't get stressed and if you already have a fear of flying, take a mild sedative an hour before take off is scheduled.

2. A full stomach can contribute to air sickness, so eat and drink sparingly before getting on the 'plane.

3. Once on board, even when the seat belt signs have been turned off, remain in your seat if possible. If your balance is impaired, any sudden motion of the aircraft is likely to cause sickness.

4. Take anti-air sickness tablets in accordance with the instructions on the box or use the special wristbands on sale in many airport terminals, which are said to have a beneficial effect.

5. Try not to think about air sickness because the more you do, the more you are likely to feel sick. Concentrate on a book or film or get some sleep and you'll soon find that you've forgotten about feeling sick.

Jet Lag

Jet lag can be a curse for people who need to travel extensively for their work because sleep patterns become disturbed and business meetings or training sessions become a real test of endurance.

This really occurs when ones body clock is confused and symptoms include sleeplessness, tiredness, lack of concentration, headaches and a general feeling of disorientation.

Jet lag is usually at its worst when crossing several time zones particularly in an easterly direction, for example from London to Los Angeles. In this instance, say departure from London is 11:00 am and the flight is eleven hours long, arrival in Los Angeles will be 2:00 pm, whereas ones body clock will think it's …

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Many Las Vegas Vacation Tips

September 12, 2020
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| hotel, travel, vacation

With world class dining, entertainment, shopping and attractions, Sin City is at the top of almost everyone's travel list. Whether you plan to stay for a week or a weekend, make sure you have your trip planned well before you touch down in Nevada with some great tips.

Take some time to talk with your fellow travelers and come up with a tentative itinerary that you can all agree on to make the trip one to remember.

You first order of business should be booking a hotel room. Keep in mind staying Sunday through Thursday will be less expensive than the weekend, so if your time permits you can plan accordingly. Booking at least 30 das in advanced will probably get you a better deal. Once you've found your hotel room you can start looking into flight deals. There are a variety of discount airlines that fly daily to Vegas from most large cities, and if you do not mind stopovers you can probably save on your airfare.

Once you arrive in Vegas there are several options for getting to your hotel. Shuttle buses are the cheapest bed, averaging $ 5 to $ 7 per person, but be aware that it could take up to an hour until you finally arrive at your stop. A taxi or limousine on the other hand will run from about $ 15 to $ 65. Public transportation is also available in the form of monorail lines, bus and trolley service which are a prefect way to get around on the cheap.

You can also stay entertained for free in Vegas with a number of attractions like the fountains of Bellagio, the volcano at the Mirage, lions at MGM and a free circus performance at Circus Circus.

While you're spending your time taking in the fun of the Vegas strip, make sure you keep a few things with you. The sun is quite strong in Nevada so be sure to pack a good pair of sunglasses no matter what time of the year you are visiting. The strong desert sun is also known to dehydrate tourists, so be sure to drink lots of water. Hotels and casinos will take advantage of thirsty travelers with expensive water bottles, but if you stock up at a drugstore and keep the bottles in your hotel room you can avoid inflated prices. Comfortable shoes, a hat and sunscreen are also a good idea any time of the year. Do not forget you are in the middle of the Mohave Desert after all!

Above all else have a budget before you leave. Las Vegas is full of incredible things to see and do, but you will not want to come back regretting all of your frivolous spending. Take into consideration the amount of days you will be there to ensure you will have enough to cover all of your meals, transportation, as well as budgeting in whatever forms of entertainment you will be taking advantage of while on vacation. Decide …

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Proper Foot Care For Hikers

September 12, 2020
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| recreation, travel

If you are new to hiking, you have likely experienced blisters and torn feet. Perhaps you even had trouble walking home. Sometimes you hear many positive travel experiences and you just have to try a popular hiking destination. Before you go for any type of walk or hike, it is important that you make sure you buy proper shoes and take proper care of your feet.

No matter what type of walking you do you need to properly condition your feet. Even the best-conditioned feet can have problems in hiking boots that aren't properly broken in. First, you need to avoid cotton street socks since they will produce hot spots, which quickly lead to blisters.

Unless you are getting cheap, unlined leather footwear, most of today's shoes require some breaking in before you take them on a long walk. Modern production methods and materials have lead to hiking boots that fit properly, provide adequate support and cushion the parts of your feet that need it.

If you are going to do any type of walking exercise whether it be hiking, jogging, backpacking or running you need to invest in a proper type of footwear. While shoes can be a bit expensive, it is important to spend a little extra otherwise your feet will end up paying the price. However, even with proper footwear you can be in for some painful times if you don't properly prepare your feet.

Walking is a popular form of exercise and recreation for many individuals. However, most individuals don't get nearly enough exercise. Even if you plan to get a few hikes in before your big backpacking trip, time will likely slip by and you won't have time to properly prepare yourself. If your feet aren't properly prepared then your feet won't hesitate to tell you they aren't up to the task of hiking.

The best way to prepare for your hike is by taking short walks around the neighborhood or in a nearby park. Consider a four-mile course at least three times a week in order to be properly prepared. Gradually build up to this distance. Starting out at a distance that is too long is no different from going into a trip unprepared. So be sure you start out with a distance that is comfortable for you and your feet before making gradual increases. If you skip a walk then take the time to work your way back up to that level. Skipping one walk, a week isn't bad, but if you miss too many then you should start over from the beginning in order to properly prepare your feet. …

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Recreational Inline Skates – Recreation Or Just Inline?

September 11, 2020
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| general

What are recreational inline skates exactly and how should they be used?

Firstly, recreational inline skates are easy to use, fun and a great way to get in shape. They can be used for most skating activities and offer a good all-round skate.

If you are a beginner then no doubt you will come across the terms, inline and recreational inline skates and easily become confused.

Here’s a quick comparison between both types of skate:

  • Inline skates usually have five or even more wheels on each skate and are more suited for speed skating.
  • Inline speed skates have light, short boots with large wheels designed to reach and maintain higher speeds.
  • They are manufactured for fast, straight skating and are not well suited to recreational skating, ice hockey, or trick skating.
  • Recreational inline skates on the other hand are the most versatile and generic of skate styles.
  • Recreational inline skates have medium-sized wheels and are intended mostly for skating over moderate distance and providing healthy leisure pursuit.
  • Inline skates have small wheels, and often have grind plates and areas of reinforcement on the sides, toes and between the wheels to make sliding along various obstacles easier.

In the UK, recreational skates are available in size ranges: UK4 to UK12.

HOT TIP: Retailers recommend that you order one size up from your normal shoe size. This helps to increase comfort and reduce painful chaffing and blisters.

Another variation of the 2 skates discussed above is the aggressive skate, or street skate, which are designed with smaller wheels and stiffer boots, suitable for performing tricks similar to those of skateboarding, such as grinds and jumps.

Some measure of protection in the form of elbow, knee, and hand pads along with a helmet should be worn by all skaters, whatever the style of their skate and skating.

Whether you are looking for skates to suit your lifestyle or simply shopping for clothes and protection to make your skating experience both stylish and safe, an online or local skate shop should be able to outfit you properly and give you the right advice.

As a rule of thumb, good recreational skate stores should offer from budget to top of the range and from beginner to expert. They should also carry replacement stoppers, wheels and other accessories.

Make sure that any skates you choose have brakes, and remember that wheels can be swapped out to increase speed as your skill improves.

Beginners should avoid speed and aggressive skates as their lack of brakes may pose a health and safety issue.…

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Cheap Travel to Europe – Plan a Wonderful and Affordable Trip

September 10, 2020
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| hotel, travel, vacation

Every year many people flock to Europe to enjoy the majesty and to explore this wonderful holiday destination. The beautiful mountains and hill peaks, European cuisines, farm yards, road side taverns and architectural beauty of the monuments of Europe hold something which attracts people from all over the world. You can visit some of the popular Countries such as Greece, France, Italy, Rome, Paris, Germany, United Kingdom, Hungary, and Switzerland and make your trip an unforgettable experience for you and your family.

It would be better to plan your trip to Europe in best season which is from April to June, September and October. To know more about the tourist destinations and spots you can always rely on Europe guide or travel books. Just don’t forget to carry your digital camera with you to capture the beautiful sceneries and click the best moments spend in the lovely continent. You can easily collect information of safaris spots, bird and animal sight seeing spots, places of religious and cultural significance so that you can explore the rich culture and heritage of Europe.

Cheap travel to Europe has been designed so that it caters and fulfills every tourist’s desires. You can have the privilege of best vacation that too at very affordable and reasonable prices. The minimum affordable prices make the cheap travel to Europe the ideal vacation trip for all. You can choose the destinations keeping your budgetary allocations in mind. All the traveling arrangements are very well taken care beforehand to avoid any inconvenience for you. You need not worry about booking your air tickets hotel reservation, hiring cabs and other such things. This enables you to save a great deal of money and further reduces your tension and burden.

You can easily grab information online and choose a cheap travel to Europe deal suiting your personal requirements. But before applying with any just check the reliability and authenticity of the company. You can access all the necessary information and about various tourist sites and destinations.…

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3 Days at Sea – To Work Or Not to Work – To Die Or Not to Die

September 10, 2020
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| hotel

For Movmedia crew shooting onshore, offshore, up in the air or down on the ground is sometimes all in a day's work, make that a couple of days work.
This time I experienced it too. I was asked to go with our crew for a 2-day off shore shoot. First I thought it would be lots of fun and adventure joining the team for this shoot but not for long.

Day 1:

We started off from our office straight to the port. We raised the boat (seemed big enough for me) and arranged our stuff. I was checking the sea and assumed that today it was calm. As we set sail I asked the captain if the sea is OK and he told me that its OK but the sea is starting to swell and we have 1-2 feet of waves. So in my mind I measured 1-2 feet and told my self that it's not high. Then after a few minutes I felt that the boat is quite shaky and asked the captain what's happening and he said that its OK we are just experiencing small waves.

So after 1 hour of traveling I started to feel a cold sweat and started throwing up … whew it's so bad that I just lay down and slept. While thinking what will happen to me in the middle of the sea Arul our cameraman rushed in and informed us that we are now approaching the vessel and need to go out and start video shooting. Honestly, I do not know if I could stand but fortunately I did.

By evening we had to transfer to the larger ship where we were to spend the night and return to the smaller boat early morning to complete the shoot. But transferring is not as easy as I thought it would be. Our transportation from one deck to the other was something I had never experienced before … it was on a Billy Pugh.

My initial nervous reaction was 'why am I here?' But I do not have time to question, to ask and to complain just wear the life jacket and hold on tight … and I survived (I hope in flying colors =) We slept overnight on this big ship and WOW should I say the accommodation was like a five star hotel. It was very impressive. This big ship is so clean and well-maintained even though it was not a passenger cruise liner. The food was good too and of course everyone on the ship was nice and very accommodating.

Day 2:
Woke up by 4 am to get ready since we need to be on our service boat by 6 am to start shooting. Can not eat much of the breakfast since I'm expecting that the sea would be like yesterday. The sea was little quighter than yesterday but still it's like its rocking me up and down. We need to start shooting since the operation has started. George, our …

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Chennai Hotels: Home Away From Home

September 9, 2020
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| travel

Chennai is one of the oldest cities in India, established almost 350 years ago. Chennai is very well known for its sculpture, temples, rich cultural heritage, food, silks, beaches and other historical monuments and buildings. The people here are warm and the city provides a rich mixture of heritage and modernity.The most popular tourist spot at Chennai is the Marina beach that draws a lot of people here. People visit Chennai for excursion as well as business purposes. Especially during the auspicious festival of Pongal, Chennai witnesses tourists from all over in huge number.

Since a lot of people visit Chennai for business as well as leisure trips, the hotels at Chennai are available for all classes. The star hotels include the three star, four star as well as the five star hotels. These hotels are well built, located at the heart of the city and well known for their hospitality and excellent services. These hotels are spacious and have several rooms. For those who wish to organize weddings at this heritage city can book these hotels and offer to their guests the most splendid experience. The five star hotels at Chennai are absolute indulgence. The most exquisite facilities are provided here. These hotels include a swimming pool, multi-cuisine restaurants including a restaurant exclusively dedicated to South Indian food.

For business meetings and conferences, Chennai hotels are ideal as they provide professional services with a touch of luxury. These hotels include a business lounge where access to computers and internet is provided. The conference rooms are designed to carry out the conferences and meetings in utmost privacy. At request, the facility of video conferencing is also provided. The reservation for these hotels can be made online.

The other class of hotels available at Chennai are the budget hotels. These hotels are cost effective and the most popular ones. Located near the sandy marina beach, these hotels are ideal for the tourist. They also provide the guests with services like cab on call and travel desk. With the help of the travel desk, the guests can effectively plan their trip in the city and to the nearby popular places like Madurai and Kodaikanal and reasonable prices. By making prior reservations, visitors can also ask for discounts on the stay as well as on complete tour packages. The reservations can be made online or even with the assistance of tour managers. …

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Seven Things You Should Do On Your Next Texas Vacation

September 9, 2020
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| hotel, travel, vacation

Being able to take a break from life is something we all look forward to, which means that when it comes to taking a vacation, we really want to be sure to make it count. Earth is a pretty big planet, and while there are a number of places on the globe you could travel to for your next vacation, you might consider Texas vacations to be requisites for your next few getaways.

Texas? Really? Absolutely! Before you begin to scoff at the idea of spending your well-earned time-off in the Lone Star State, you might want to consider what it is that you do on standard vacation. You travel by either land, sea, or air. You make it to your lodging, and more often than not, you might just call your first day a “chill” kind of day. You figure you’ll regroup, get refreshed with a good night’s sleep, and when the morning comes, vacation mode will be in full-effect. You take in the sights, buy meals out, take in more sights, and then head back to the hotel or vacation rental. You’re absolutely tired, and you very quickly begin to think that maybe a “hotel day” would be a good option instead of seeing more sights. Eh.

With a vacation in Texas, you can’t help but run into things to do, see, and experience everywhere you go. Moreover, why not make it a really memorable getaway by renting a car & having an epic road-trip through the state? The options are really pretty endless.

But before you get overwhelmed thinking that you wouldn’t know where to start, here are seven things that need to be part of your next Texas vacation:

Take a Picture with a “Don’t Mess with Texas” Sign – As iconic as they are important, Texas prides itself on maintaining the stunning looks of its land.

Take a Pit-Stop at A Buc-ee’s – If you think you’ve been to a convenience store on a road-trip before, you will be sorely mistaken. Be prepared for an experience.

Cruise on I-35 – It’s the major thoroughfare in Texas. You can’t say you’ve driven in Texas unless you’ve hit this highway.

Check Out Historical Markers Along the Way – With as much history as there is in Texas, you’ll find countless historical markers everywhere you go.

Visit the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station – Fmr. President Bush is the longest-living president in history, and his decades of service to this country make this destination a must.

Check out an Antique C.W. Parker Carousel in Brenham– Tremendous craftsmanship that is over a century old & is the only example of a C.W. Parker carousel with Herschell-Spillman horses.

Explore Washington-on-the-Brazos – See “Where Texas Became Texas” with the site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836.

Texas vacations may not seem like they would provide you and your family with much in the way of entertainment and excitement. You figure …

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