Holidays and Travel

It's already late July and many property owners abroad still have dates with no-one staying. It's a great time to book last minute villa holidays in Europe.

• Be Flexible

With both your destinations and dates. If you need exact dates, exact times, or an exact destination -  then often last minute will not work for you. Looking online, you might get lucky, but more often than not you won't find exactly what you want. If you go to a travel agent and tell them you need exact dates and location then they will know not to offer you extra discounts even if they can find something for you! Last minute works best if you are able to say to yourself "I want a city break some time in the next week or 2" or "I want sun, sea and sand and to leave as soon as possible". This gives you lots of flexibility and lots of opportunity to get the best deal.

• Ferry and Drive

If you're not going too far - why not book a villa through a villa rental website and then book the ferry and drive yourself. This can often be a lot cheaper than flying and will also mean you don't spend as much money on taxis when you arrive.

• Haggle

The website may say 25% all holidays commencing in the next 2 weeks - but this often means they are desperate. Mention that you are going to book something straight away if they give you the right price and never sound happy with their first offer. Always aim for at least 40% off if it's last minute.

• Don't sound desperate

If you are speaking to someone - and sound desperate to get somewhere no matter what - then they will find it for you...with a hefty price tag! Never sound desperate.

• Save on Arrival

If you can drive then you can save a lot of money on transport when you get there. It can also really help you if you stay in a villa to stock up on big bottles of water, big bang of crisps, cheese, bread, and things you can eat for breakfast, lunch and some of your evening meals. Eating out may be cheaper than in the UK but it is usually still a lot cheaper to eat in. Mix it up and have a couple of special meals out and on days when you are enjoying other activities then eat in.


If you have any other ideas, comments or suggestions then please post below and if any of them are good - I'll include them in my next post!

Yoga is one of the best sports that anyone can choose to practice. Not only will you feel more relaxed but you will also start having more joint flexibility, you will be more confident in your powers and you will help all your internal organs function properly.

The day to day stress can overwhelm us sometimes so much so that we simply begin to feel that all our energy is fading away. Taking up some yoga classes is surely going to help us but sometimes this is not enough. Because all of us need a vacation every once in a while, going to a yoga retreat can be really helpful for our body and our mind.

There are some wonderful places in the UK that can be just perfect for those that want to relax away from all the stress of the mundane life. When you decide to embark on such an expedition you should know that you will rediscover some great places all throughout the United Kingdom that you have forgotten or maybe never visited.

UK is full of historical places and cultural heritage that will make your journey something unforgettable. You can choose to go to England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland as these are all wonderful places where you can not only relax but you can also visit some of the best places in the UK. You can choose to go to Cornwell and take part of the Eden Project or you may choose to go on a retreat somewhere near the historical Stonehenge or the The Tor. The medieval cities of York, Bath and Chester can also be great destinations for your spiritual journey. If you would like something more secluded you might want to opt for the breathtaking mountains of Scotland or Wales.

North Devon, UK is another magnificent place where you can find your spiritual power and health. The Yeotown Wellness and Yoga retreat might just be the perfect place where you can get away from the stress of the everyday life. In such a place the accent will be put on the holistic health (body, mind and spirit) and you will have a team of instructors to help you reach your inner peace. At the retreat you will also encounter some very good nutritionists, therapists and fitness instructors that can guide you to your health. The calm environment will surely do you justice so if you are planning a vacation then you know where you should go this year!

Going on a vacation is probably the best time of the year for most of us, especially when you are going somewhere new with your friends. Renting a villa is sometimes that best decision that you can take if you really want to enjoy an original vacation. There are some things though that you should avoid when you are renting a villa.

1.Make sure that the villa has enough rooms. Nothing can be more frustrating that not having where to sleep and being forced to take the couch or worse, sleep on the floor. We all appreciate our privacy, therefore sleeping with someone else in the room might put a toll on your vacation.

2.Go shopping alone. The best thing is to make a list and go shopping two by two. Organize pairs and avoid going to the supermarket in a group. You will only get lost and nervous between the ails if you have to wait for everybody.

3.Cleaning up. Everyone is on vacation and everyone wants to have a nice time. Therefore make sure that you have teams that clean the dishes and shift the teams around on a daily basis.

4.Make the reservation ahead. Don’t leave everything for the last minute as you may end up sleeping on a park bench. Sign a contract and get a receipt for your deposit. Nothing can ruin your vacation worse than not having where to sleep.

5.Lose your cool. You might love your friends but sometimes they can really get on your nerves. So, play it cool and don’t let them influence you. You are on vacation, right?

6.Talk to the landlord. Keep a friendly relationship with the landlord of the villa and maybe invite him/her over for a cocktail. You may never know when you need his/her help.

7.Get pictures in advance. Make sure that you see the place where you are going to stay. When you come to villa that is full of mold and dirty, you will surely not like it.

8.Research. Try to look the villa up, search for testimonials and comments. You may find some interesting things that might make your decision process easier.

9.Get a contract. Make a contract with your landlord for the number of days well in advance. Making friends is nice but business is business and you should not take any chances.

10.Arrival tour. Take your landlord to show you the villa before you settle in. Some things might be broken and you shouldn’t pay for them later on.

When you are going on a holiday abroad then you should know that planning everything ahead is the best thing that you can do. Not only it will save you a lot of time and money but you will also have the chance to enjoy your vacation without worrying where you are going to stay, how you will reach your hotel and so on.

Besides packing, making the accommodation reservation and buying the plane tickets there are some other important things that you should think about. For instance, if you have an early flight and you cannot leave your car at the airport, how are you going to get there? Or, once you reach your destination are going to risk taking a cab from the airport or are you going to hire an airport transfer?

These might seem silly questions but I think that we have all heard the stories of those unfortunate people that have lost their flight and were left behind to spend a miserable vacation at home. Or those that got robbed on the way to the hotel or where driven all over town once they reached their destination.

Surely none wants this to happen to him or her therefore hiring airport transfer might just be the best solution. With such services you can book a car in advance and you will be sure that you will get a nice ride to your hotel. All that you need to do is to find the appropriate company that has services in that part of the world where you want to go. Once you have figured whom you want to hire, all you need to do is to fill a standard form and all is done.

You will receive an online confirmation, you will have to pay the driver once you get to your destination and moreover you won’t need a deposit. These firms usually work on trust therefore you have no reason to worry. According to the place that you want to visit the prices may range from 30 Euros to 100 Euros. Most companies work with this currency as it is widely spread and it can be exchanged in every country. The average price for faro airport transfers for most companies is somewhere around 50-60 Euros.

For this low price you will not only ride safely to your hotel but you will also benefit from private transfers that will be the perfect welcoming gift in the country you are visiting!

Villa holidays are probably the best way to really enjoy an original vacation. Going somewhere abroad with your friends will surely be a nice change from the traditional holidays. But before you head out the door you should make sure that you plan ahead in order to have a great time. Here is a checklist of things you will have to be careful at.

1.Contact the landlord. Make sure that the dates that you are interested in are available and that you can get your villa without any problems.

2.Sign a contract. Signing a contract may be the best way to ensure that your landlord won’t change the dates nor will he/she bring someone else to stay with you.

3.Get a receipt. If you make a down payment you should make sure that you get a receipt. Nothing can be worse than a vacation and a lot of money gone down the drain.

4. Enough Rooms. Make sure that the villa has enough rooms to accommodate all of you. Sleeping on the floor should not be an option for your vacation.

5.See the villa. Organize an evening with your friends in order to see the villa. Everyone is paying so everyone should like the place that you will be staying at.

6.Walking distance. Your villa should be close to the beach or at least within walking distance. If you have to take the bus to go to the beach then surely you will not enjoy the ride!

7.No neighbors. Getting in trouble with the neighbors is unpleasant even when you are not on vacation. So, make sure that you have plenty of space to have fun without interrupting your neighbors.

8.Internet and phone. These days we cannot live without the Internet, therefore your villa should definitely have it. You will need it for e-mails and for finding out things like public transport and nearby supermarkets.

9.Runnig water. Some villas have boilers and this can be a problem if you all want to take a shower after coming from the beach.

10.Bathrooms. Having just one bathroom for 10 people for instance, is insane. Make sure that you have at least 2 if you don’ t want to have to wait in line each morning.

When you are planning your vacation you might think that some luxury vacations are not really worth it. The reality couldn’t be more different. So here are some pros and cons that will surely make you realize that luxury vacations are really the best option that you could go for.

The first thing that you should do is pick your destination. When you are looking to go somewhere exotic then the best choice would be to go someplace like Africa. This is actually one of the greatest continents and when you are looking to see the raw beauty of nature then you surely have here the best option.

Africa is a beautiful continent but it is very different from everything that you might be used to. This is why you should make sure that you make all the possible arrangements before you board the plane. Planning your holiday is something that you have to make especially when you are going to Africa. Also, don’t forget to do some research and find out what are the things that you should be expecting.

For instance, when you are going to Africa you should really make sure that you have proper accommodation. Nothing can be worse than spending your summer holiday in bad hotel, with no running water and full of dangers. Also, in Africa you cannot simply go into the reservations alone, therefore you should hire someone to be your guide. But when you do this you have to make sure that you hire a person that really knows how to behave in the wilderness.

The reservations are full of wild animals that can attack you if you don’t know how to take care of you. For instance, you should never have food lying around because animals can be attracted by it and you might just cause a great accident.

Africa is surely not the place where to go on a budget safari holiday. You have to make sure that you spend your holiday in a proper, secure resort and that you don’t get into any troubles or dangers. A special guide that knows what are he is doing and not lead you into dangerous situations is mandatory. Proper traveling plans are very important when you are looking to have a nice holiday. Therefore you should make sure that you book a luxury safari holiday if you are looking to spend a nice time.

When it comes to health issues all of us know what is best for our body and what not. Or at least this is what we think. Yoga has always been a very good way to keep one’s health or to improve it. The stresses of our mundane life and the long working hours have taken a toll on our health. So what can we do to improve it?

Yoga retreats are great places where one can not only enjoy the benefits of yoga but also one can spend some great days surrounded by nature. Before going on a yoga retreat you should really try out some yoga exercises, even in the comfort of your own home. Yoga therapy can be helpful for a great number of reasons and those that decide to start practicing will surely see the improvements in couple of weeks.

Not only will you be more productive because little by little you will eliminate the stress in your life but you will also have increased flexibility, your joints will no longer hurt and all your organs will function properly. If sitting for so many hours in front of your computer surely has affected your posture, sitting down for so long has made your feet swollen and your eyes hurt and are red then you should know that it is time you leave on a vacation.

What can be better than to spend some days way from the pollution of the city, in a place surrounded by nature and where you can begin to meditate in order to improve the quality of your life? Yoga retreats are the best places where you can do this. Specialized personnel will help you and guide you through the yoga routine and during the other hours of the day you can take long walks, catch up on your sleep or read a book.

A yoga retreat holiday is the perfect place where you can find yourself and make peace with the problems in your life. There are some special services offered such as massages, meditation classes and other activities that are meant to help you find your inner peace. For all these reasons you should definitely book a yoga retreat holiday when you have the chance and make sure that take maximum advantage of it.