Jeff Mills Coastal Vacations Club Blog

Vacation Houses Like No Other

manuser — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:45:31 +0000

Houses, with their high cost and importance in today’s society, have come to represent more than just a place to live. Our house is an extension of who we are and how we are perceived by the rest of the world. The state of the yard, the cleanliness of the home, and the neighborhood that we live in says a lot about who we are. Home exchanges are also a way of learning more about who we are as people. By staying under someone else’s roof as though it were your own, it will give you a new perspective not just on yourself, but on how we view others based on their living space.

Owning a house gives people roots and creates communities where certain ideas and concepts of life get formed. Therefore, people are defined by where they live. When people exchange homes, they get a chance to see how life is led by different people by living where they live. It is not the same when you go to a new place and stay in a hotel; there, you are always separate and have a clear status of being temporary. When you stay in someone else’s home, you get a real sense of how people live in that particular area, whether it is another country or a different part of the state where you reside.

People who are willing to engage in home swaps as part of their vacation are taking a big risk. Sharing houses opens people up to a lot of judgment on how they live and what type of people they are. Whether this kind of judgment and analysis is right is irrelevant; even subconsciously people will make assumptions about your character based on where you live and how you live. You need to be quite secure and comfortable with who you are as a person to let someone else into your home, especially if it is for a period of weeks rather than hours. And remember, you won’t be there to guide your visitors through, shaping their perceptions with what you choose to reveal.

In terms of things we own, houses could be considered the windows to our souls. If our homes are messy it says one thing about us; if they are meticulously designed, then it says another. Even the food we keep in the pantry says something about who we are. This is the beauty of the home exchange holiday: it opens up our eyes in terms of seeing how others live, but it also forces us to consider how we live as well.

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Swap your home and feel cozy!

manuser — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:45:17 +0000

A popular movie in 2006 was the film, The Holiday, which starred Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz and Jude Law. It is a romantic comedy that centers on a house exchange between a woman in California and one in England. The result of this vacation home exchange was happiness for both characters, as one was able to find love and the other was able to gain her independence from a past love. Though this venture doesn’t usually result in the kind of adventures presented in the movie, there has been an increase in interest in doing home exchanges.

There are a number of websites out there that cater to the needs of people interested in doing a house exchange. The one featured in The Holiday is www.homeexchange.com, and is probably the most well known. The setup is very straightforward, allowing those who are interested in trading homes to post pictures and information about their property, and search through the postings of others. Contact details of users are provided so that when a possible match is discovered, the homeowners can talk to each other and work out the details of when and how the swap will take place.

The increase in vacation house exchange transactions was particularly noticeable after the release of The Holiday. On www.homeexchange.com the number of users is now over 27,000 and climbing. Other websites have also been created with the same concept of providing people with the services help in negotiating exchanges, by offering the opportunity to put their home up for consideration and search for other homes. People have become more comfortable taking risks online with strangers. This is evident in the success of online dating sites in recent years, as well as websites like www.craigslist.com, which both offer a wide range of ways for people to interact with each other.

The Holiday showed how a house exchange could offer a new vacationing experience. Not only do you get a chance to explore a different locale and culture, you can feasibly change your own life by immersing yourself in someone else’s world. With a normal vacation you are still you, just in a different location; yet a vacation exchange gives you the opportunity to become someone else for a short period of time. All the while, you’ll be saving money and creating new relationships. As the general public becomes more aware of the positive benefits of this kind of vacation alternative, the number of people who want to do so will continue to rise.

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Swap Your Palce With Another

manuser — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:45:03 +0000

If you haven’t heard of a home swap before, then you soon will. This is a way of taking a vacation, experiencing a new place in a different way, and saving money all at the same time. As the name indicates, it’s a process whereby two interested parties will trade their homes for a short period of time as part of their vacation. Though at first it may sound strange to allow strangers in your home unsupervised, it is actually becoming very popular and there are numerous sites available where you can find estate listings and a possible house swap partner.

One benefit that home swaps provide is less money spent on accommodations and food. The average homeowner is likely to be staying in a hotel or motel during a holiday and this can run a minimum of $50 per night in some places, but usually closer to $100 a night; and these are the cheap motels. Accommodations in popular tourist destinations can cost much more, in addition to food costs, as most meals will be eaten in restaurants. If you exchange homes instead, there are no accommodation fees, and you have access to a proper-sized refrigerator as well as a stove and other typical appliances in a kitchen. This will let you save money on meals as well.

A home swap will also let those travelers who tend to avoid touristy places have a more interesting vacation experience. Sometimes the places that only the locals know about are the ones that provide the best holiday experiences. If you’re lucky, the person that you exchange homes with may leave maps, notes and even contact numbers of people who can show you around town. This gives you a similar type of experience to staying somewhere new with friends.

The swapping of homes will also create new relationships. Searching for the right home is somewhat akin to searching for a possible partner. There are many similarities to online dating and home swapping, as both involve profiles that are created and a lot of searching, looking for that right fit. It can be difficult sometimes finding a home that you like in a place where you want to visit, and have both parties’ vacation time sync up. The same can be said for online dating and finding the right match in personalities. Once you find the right home and everything works out, you’ll have this shared experience with someone else. They will have lived in your home, and you in theirs; they will have explored your neighborhood, probably met some of your friends, and vice versa.

A home swap can be very beneficial by saving you money and giving you new experiences on your vacation. The key to success would be your comfort level. As long as you don’t mind having strangers in your home and living in someone else’s personal space, then you would be likely to have a positive home swapping experience.

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Home Echange: Who Invented That?

manuser — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:44:49 +0000

Starting in the 1950s, a new way of vacation travel was started called a home exchange. This allowed people to save money on accommodations when going on a holiday, and experience life through someone else’s eyes. In the 1970s it became more popular as society became more relaxed about certain conventions, and currently home swapping is seeing a renewed interest thanks to a poor economy, a terrible real estate market, and the success of the movie “The Holiday,” which told how love stories could develop through the swapping of homes.

So how does a home exchange work? In principle, it is quite simple. You basically trade the use of your home with someone else for a period of time. Usually, it is for a home exchange holiday, and the trade only lasts a short period of time. Each party gets full use of the other person’s home, unless there are any particular restrictions outlined. They live in the house as though it were their own, enjoying the different locale and saving money on hotels and restaurant food.

The easiest way to organize a vacation home exchange is by going online and searching for websites that cater to people interested in this venture. There are a few popular ones out there, notably www.homeexchange.com. These websites allow you to find estate listings in locations that you are interested in visiting and putting your own home up as a potential swap. They also offer a bit more security than trying to do a home swap on your own with people that you don’t know.

Once you’ve found a location and a person that you want to do a vacation home swap with, you enter into an agreement with them regarding when and for how long you wish to vacation. The homes are typically swapped at the same time, so that one party stays in the other person’s home and vice versa, though other arrangements could be made. Issues like use of cars, pet care, cleaning, and other details are also ironed out before the actual swap so that everyone is clear about what will happen.

In the current economy there are fewer people out there who have the funds to take an expensive vacation. A home exchange can help minimize costs and because most people have been pleased with their home swapping experience, there is now a high percentage of travelers trying it out. As people become more comfortable with the concept, the number of travelers exchanging homes should only increase.

Would You Consider A Home Exchange?

manuser — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:44:36 +0000

The swapping of vacation homes tend to work out well for both parties, but if you want a positive exchange home experience for a permanent trade, then it is best to take some precautions. The website www.homeexchange.com, which specializes in vacation house exchange agreements, has never had any serious complaints regarding theft, damage or any other type of destructive behavior in over seventeen years. Yet with a permanent home exchange, there can be more serious problems, basically because the change is permanent, and because of other complicated legal matters.

For exchange home agreements to come together, both parties have to want the house that the other person owns. So it’s not just a matter of you liking the home that you find is available for a home swap, as the person who owns that home must also like your place and be willing to trade for it. This isn’t a trade of baseball cards, or even cars; it’s a trade of real estate, most likely valued at well over 100,000 dollars. This is what makes permanent home swapping so difficult.

One reason for difficulty in finding suitable partners for exchanging homes is because not everyone understands what home swapping is all about. It is not really about unloading a poor home on a bad property on someone else, and trading up. There are few people willing to trade down when it comes to their property and loss of money. Unfortunately, not all people who put up their homes for an exchange realize this and that is an added factor that makes the homes exchange difficult.

A home exchange agreement should never be entered into without the consulting of professionals. This is another crucial element that if neglected can create a bad experience for at least one of the two parties, if not both. A real estate agent or lawyer who specializes in home swapping should be consulted to make sure that things go smoothly, and the usual steps of research and inspections that would go with the purchase of a new home should also occur with a homeswap transaction. The deal between both parties should also be finalized on the same day to avoid one party being stuck with two homes.

Nobody wants a bad exchange home experience. Being stuck with a home that you are not happy with is only going to make you upset and force you to try and sell the place or find someone else who wants to home swap. As these kind of permanent home exchanges become more popular and well known, there will be a higher chance of finding that right place for you. So take your time and make sure that you do things the right way so that you have a successful experience.

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Winter Getaways Made Easy with Alcatraz Media

manuser — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:44:22 +0000

(PRLEAK ) With winter fast approaching, travelers have reason to rejoice as they plan for their winter break. Alcatraz Media, a premier provider of destination travel products, has scheduled a number of activities and tours geared towards those looking for the perfect winter holiday. Winter brings with it an influx of holidaymakers looking to take part in activities like skiing and snowmobiling. Travelers look forward to spending the perfect winter vacation in places like Branson, Missouri, and New York, where Christmas-themed shows are the order of the season.

According to Alcatraz Media, travelers have a number of options in locations that include Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Branson, Lake Tahoe, Boston, and Whistler, BC. Their packages include a number of activities in each of these markets. For those wanting a close encounter with Whistler’s natural beauty, Alcatraz’s special Blackcomb Snowmobile Mountain Safari tour is the ideal package. Guests can enjoy a trip whizzing through the forests and up the mountains on a snowmobile. Similar packages are available for several locations worldwide including Lake Tahoe and Maine.

European travelers need not worry as they have a choice of locations that include Mount Titlis and Mount Pilatus in Switzerland. Those intending to book their winter break can log on to Reserve123.com for a detailed listing of tours and activities. From a skiing trip to Auckland, New Zealand to a snow tour departing from Santiago, Chile, the choices are plenty.

About Alcatraz Media and Reserve 123:
Alcatraz Media is one of the largest providers of tours and activities, serving millions of visitors around the world. Formerly based in San Francisco, California, the company has now moved its headquarters to Atlanta, Georgia. Alcatraz provides reservations for over 10,000 tours in over 400 destinations worldwide. The latest addition to Alcatraz’s network is Reserve123.com, a one-stop place for vacation packages, and an excellent site to search for the perfect holiday worldwide. The site also provides a number of travel resources including travel blogs. All the tours and activities are selected by a handful of travel experts, travel agents, and local operators. The company sells directly to consumers as well as through affiliates and a network of agents worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.Reserve123.com or contact Jamie Siegel by phone at (678) 320-2245 or email at Jamie (at) Reserve123 (dot) com.

Find Flights,Miami To Cape Town

manuser — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:44:09 +0000

There are only 3 main flights from Miami to Cape Town South Africa. Your options are British Airways, South African Airways and Delta Airlines. There is no direct flight and all of the flights make 2 stops before getting to their destination.

The routes of some of these flights includes via Washington, New York,Baltimore and Johannesburg. With each stop you have to switch flights but this is normal for long flights.

South African Airways

This flight to South Africa from Miami departs from Miami at 13:25 heading for Washington Dulles. It gets there at about 16:04. After about 90 minutes it takes off this time heading for Johannesburg where it arrives at 15:50 the following day.

It then departs for its final destination Cape Town at about 17.40hrs and arriving at approximately 1950hrs, the whole journey is about 20 hrs long

Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines lives Miami at 06:00 and flies to Baltimore. It arrives there at 10:34 and takes off at 11:00 heading to New York, specifically to the JFK airport. Its scheduled to arrive at 12.10hrs and leave New York at 16.00hrs for Cape town.

This flight is longer than the South African Airways i.e. it’s a 23 hour flight.

British Airways

British Airways will leave Miami heading for London at 20.50hrs and will arrive the next day at 10.05hrs. The waiting period for the next connecting flight is quite long as it will leave London at 17.50 for Johannesburg

You can expect to arrive at 06.35 hrs the following day. You are then switched to another flight i.e. the SA317, which lives Johannesburg at 09:00 and gets to Cape Town at 11:10. The total time for this journey is 2hrs better than the Delta Airlines time, it is 21 hrs.

If you are going to be comparing prices then South African Airways comes out as the cheapest.You will be able to access current airfares and ways you can book your travel tickets from one of the these:

Ways To Use Duvet Covers

manuser — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:43:55 +0000

The concept of a duvet cover was developed from the need to protect the actual duvet. Using a duvet cover means your duvet does not have to be washed often and therefore lasts you longer. What gets washed is the cover that is so much easier to wash and maintain.

For some really great ideas on how to use duvet covers you might want to try any of the following: kid duvet cover full quilted white cotton duvet covers with embroidery or cutwork duvet sets

Maybe you even have duvets and comforters that are slightly torn or worn, you can still use them by putting them inside a cover. Besides the obvious function of protecting your bedding duvet covers have other functions as well. They can also be incorporated into bedroom decorative ideas meaning you can vary the way your bedroom looks.

Having a family might prove to be an advantage. You can buy a duvet cover for everyone and by rotating the covers between all of you get to have the place looking different all the time. Buying duvet covers as set is always cheaper than buying the items separately, so you could consider buying a set of covers for evryone.

When it comes to the designs and color combinations you have many choices to choose from. You can buy duvet covers that will go along with your cabinets and cupboards, or the wall paint. They have duvets covers that are classical art designs comprising of wildlife, outdoor scenery etc.

The ideas and variations that you can come up with using duvet covers are endless. Whatever style you think you like you will be able to experiment with it using duvet covers.

The only thing that you might have to think about is the fabric or material of the cover that you choose. Different materials have different properties in terms of comfort, style and durability. This is not usually a problem as cotton is the most common type cover that you will find and also the strongest.

Thailand – One of the Best Kitesurfing Destinations

manuser — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:43:41 +0000

Thinking about a kiteboarding vacation in Asia? Some very good reasons to check out Thailand. Here some great tips where to go in Thailand and what you can expect there.

Before all, Thailand is a great place for a holiday, with an amazing Buddhist culture. The landscapes and the weather are a dream. Whether you want to party or you look for quiet places, you can easily find the right things to do and it’s for sure not far away from your hotel room. Also Thailand as a tourist destination had some negative press in the past year, it must be said that Thais are very friendly people and it’s calm in all regions, except the Islamic southern part of Thailand. The reports have been extremely exaggerated in the media coverage. Rest assured, to stay in Thailand is quite safe.

Kiteboarding in Thailand has become very popular over the past few seasons. Along the coastline of Thailand you will find a couple of very good places. Important when you plan your holiday is to consider the different wind seasons in Thailand. Various websites provide credible information about the wind conditions. A beautiful web service covering kitesurfing in Thailand and the rest of Asia is KITOONS Asia Kitesurfing Spots. Thailand has normally thermal winds and it’s important to know, that web services like Windguru won’t pick up on them correctly or not at all. The wind range is typically between 12kn and 20kn. So pack especially your bigger kitesurfing kites. The pattern is a thermal wind, that begins to blow around noon with increasing wind speeds until sunset. Therefore the wind conditions allow to have several kiteboarding sessions per day.

Hua Hin – The Biggest Kitesurfing Crowd in Thailand

Not far from Bangkok you will find Hua Hin. Hua Hin is the most famous kitesurfing destination in Thailand. The wind season begins end of October and lasts typically until April. Hua Hin is a developed little town with a good range of hotels for all kinds of budgets. Kiteboarders will enjoy the 5km long wide and sandy beach. Here you can join the largest kiteboarding crowd in Thailand. The best wind blows every season from mid February until April just before the monsoon begins.

Pranburi – A Cosy New Spot

Not far from Hua Hin is Pranburi. This is a relatively new spot and not many took note of it yet. You will find it just 30km to the south of Hua Hin. It’s a quiet little town with a rural atmosphere and just a few hotels. The beach at this place is surrounded by small hills and is wonderful for kiteboarding. Some reports mention the wind picks up earlier here and is a bit stronger than in Hua Hin. The newly formed KTA (Kiteboard Tour Asia) will hold an international kitesurfing competition in Pranburi from March 25 to March 28, 2010 as part of their tour. If you want to see a competition with Asia’s best professionals in action, the beach of Pranburi is the place to be in March.

Chumphon – Thailand’s Windiest Place

Arguably the windiest place in Thailand is Chumphon, 265km south of Hua Hin. In comparison with all other spots in the country, the place definitely offers some extra knots. The beaches in Chumphon are wonderful and you can get a beach bungalow right where the kitesurfing action is. It’s a bigger town, but yet provides only little infrastructure for tourists. The nightlife options for westerners are scarce, but you can always hit the Thai places. If you like it quiet and kiteboarding is your main concern, go to Chumphon.

Phuket – A Destination with a Different Wind Season

While all the locations above have a wind season from end of October till beginning of April the southern island of Phuket is not the same. The season there is from April until September. Phuket is one of Thailand’s major tourist hubs and offers everything from cheap stays to 5 star hotels. The nightlife scene ranges from classy clubs to seedy beer bars and everything in between. The kitesurfing beaches are Chalong Bay and Nai Yang beach. These two beaches are a bit off the tourist track and you need to be prepared to hire a car or taxi to go there. The most entertaining places to stay are the main tourist areas Patong, Kamala and Karon.

Samui and Phangan – Kiteboarding on the Islands

Koh Samui and Koh Panghan are also worthwhile mentioning. The islands are situated next to each other and the kitesurfing season is here from beginning of November until end of February. You will need a little bit of luck, because the winds are usually not too stable. Nevertheless, these islands are beautiful and if you have some time and want to do other things as well, one of them could be your pick. If you want to party: on Koh Panghan are each month the world famous full moon parties.

Kiteboarding Courses and Lessons

You look for a place to learn kitesurfing? Then Thailand could be it. All the destinations in Thailand have a few Kitesurfing Schools spread around each spot. You can typically decide between private and semi-private lessons with an experienced IKO teacher. Make your reservation before your holiday to make sure you can take the course where and when you like. The schools include all rental gear in the course price. A first level course takes around 3 days and you will be able to practice on your own hereafter. How fast you can make progress, depends on good wind too. Plan at least a week in for the course to give yourself some margin.

KitesurfShops in Thailand

Kitesurfing Equipment is a bit cheaper in Thailand than in most other countries. For Europeans the exchange rate is very good and you can find great deals. All the schools sell gear and have usually one or two kite brands in their shop section. A word of caution: be aware of grey market products. Some schools are very aggressive in their selling tactics and claim falsely to be a distributor of certain brands. The products that you will buy are grey imports with no warranty by the manufacturer. Up to 15% lower prices is what you can reckon with, everything lower than that is quite likely not regular. To find out information about a certain dealer you can always check the website of the kitesurfing brand they sell. There is normally a link to a page where all their dealers are listed.

See you in Thailand this season.

Disney world Getaways for toddlers

manuser — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:43:27 +0000

Disneyland was designed for children of all ages – and
toddlers are no exception! There are a lot of things
that you can take pleasure with your toddler – so a lot of
things in fact, that unless you will staying for
various days, you won’t have time to perform them all.

Lead with Toon Town. Here is where you will discover
your kid’s much loved Disney Characters, including
Mickey and Minnie Mouse. All of the Magic Disney Characters
have homes in Toon Town, full of things that will
amaze your tot, and make them laugh.

Your child will positively get pleasure from the Disneyland
Railroad. This is a wonderful way to get around the park,
since there are stations in New Orleans Square,
Toon Town, Tomorrowland, and on Main Street. This
will charm your tot, and bestow you a chance to
see a number of sights and rest a bit.

Its A Small World is incredibly correct for toddlers.
Song and colors will keep your kid captivated
while you like a relaxing ride across the water. The
Storybook Land Canal Boats is an alternative magnificent choice,
as it will take you through the tiny villages that
your toddler will be quite recognizable with from their tale
books.

Rides that you and your toddler should not miss . Rides that are
correct for youngsters, but that can cause a
small fear are the rides that are dark. These include
Peter Pan’s Flight, Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, Alice
in Wonderland, and Snow White’s Scary Adventure.
Buzz Lightyear is a accepted ride for all preschoolers at Disney Magic Kingdom.

There are added areas of the park that have
attractions and rides that are proper for preschoolers.
Bear in mind that Disney world is a place for children of all
ages. Pay attention to the tallness and age necessities
for every attraction, and keep away from taking your child to
rides that they will not be able to get pleasure from. This will only
cause your child dissatisfaction.

Stick to the areas where the tot suitable
attractions are located as much as achievable. As an
adult, you become conscious that several rides are simply not safe
for small people – but your small person will not
comprehend this! made sure that there is something for every person at . It is up to you to keep your tot happy,
and to remain them interested in the rides and
attractions of Disney Parks that they are meant to take pleasure in.