You can get an affordable auto insurance rate if you use the right tips. Here are 5 of such time-tested tips that will save you a bundle… 1. Believe it or not, a lot of folks are paying for cars they ve not used for months. And whose fault is it? Theirs! They forgot to remove broken cars from their auto insurance policy. What a bad way to lose hard-earned dollars. Make sure you re not making a similar mistake. 2. Some cars are more expensive to insure than others. Yes, a comparable car might cost much more to insure. There are reasons for this: Theft rate, maintenance cost and safety rating among other things. Ask what it will cost to insure a car before you buy one. It could save you thousands of premium dollars down the road. 3. Insurers have unique driving programs that are intended to make you a better driver. Defensive driving training programs that are known by your insurer will certainly reduce your car insurance premium. 4. Buying your auto insurance from the same insurance company that provides your other insurance policies will get you a discount in auto insurance premium. It is called a multi-policy discount. Notwithstanding that it pays to take advantage of a multi-policy discount, you may get a better deal by buying your different policies from various insurance companies. 5. Get and compare quotes from very reputable quotes sites and you d have set yourself up for massive savings. Visit not less than five of such sites if you want to increase your chances of getting outstanding rates. It takes just five minutes or less to complete a quotes form on a site. Here are great pages for auto insurance quotes… InsureMe Auto Insurance Quotes Auto Insurance Quotes Chimezirim Odimba writes on insurance.

If you’ve promised yourself that your next vacation will be one that is defined by luxury, privacy and California charm, then it sounds like it’s time for you to make your way to La Quinta. In particular, book a vacation rental in this jewel of a destination for access to the best scenery and diversions that Southern California has to offer. You won’t regret visiting the Santa Rosa Mountains, the Coachella Valley and all the eye-catching attractions that have been planted and tended to here like so many wild desert flowers. The vacation rentals alone in La Quinta are enough to tempt you here. They have that look of being solid and classy yet fun-loving, ready to meet your every need and satisfy your spontaneous whims. Swimming pools accent many properties, as do outdoor hot tubs, expansive patios and quaint gardens. Perusing the dozens of private homes online will be a fun way to get yourself primed and pumped for your fabulous vacation to come. La Quinta is known for its resort facilities, most notably its rolling, top-notch, professional style golf courses. If you or your traveling companions enjoy a good game of golf, then be sure to reserve a Mediterranean-style villa located within five minutes of seven public courses. This place really exists, and not only does it make for easy access to your game of choice, it’s also close to all of the Palm Springs area attractions and necessities, everything from the airport to the Living Desert, a one-of-a-kind park. Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead are perfect places to ski, hike or bike, the shopping at El Paseo holds its own to Rodeo’s offerings, live shows and great food will remind you of your trip to Las Vegas, and outdoor adventures like horseback riding and hot air ballooning will acquaint you with the unique landscape of the desert. La Quinta will keep you busy for sure, and each amusement will bring you a little closer to achieving inner calm and physical release. If you’re coming here with a big group, choose a vacation rental that will accommodate everyone in all their diverse glory. Sprawling villas with modern furnishings and plenty of room for everyone will make this trip feel especially privileged, as the atmosphere of a true home tends to be more appealing than a typical hotel room. Shutting your bedroom door to enjoy a quiet nap or stepping out to the pool in your skimpiest swimsuit with no fear of interacting with a stranger are little details that will make you happy you chose to investigate the vacation rental options instead of doing the same old thing, and those are just a couple of examples. Each night it will be a pleasure to entertain the option of staying in, dressed casually and looking forward to playing cards, watching movies, or just hanging out with your loved ones. The kitchen will likely be outfitted with every appliance you’d ever need to prepare a gourmet meal, and plenty of seating and pantry space mean that a lengthy stay will allow you to keep fresh fruit, cereal, and snacks on hand so as to avoid spending money on restaurants three times a day or having to actually put on shoes and venture out into the world. Not that you won’t go out and taste all that La Quinta has to offer, but sometimes your nesting urges will overpower you. Couples often find themselves hiding away for a bit, treasuring the chance to be alone to nourish a romance that has been overshadowed by busy schedules and responsibilities. There are plenty of properties perfect for getting cozy in, so find the one you can best imagine you and your significant other using as your escape pod. La Quinta Vacation Rentals are plentiful, but to guarantee that you end up in the one that your heart most desires it’s best to start planning early. Go online to check out the catalogue of breathtaking properties, and enjoy picking one out that will help to bring about the vacation you’ve been looking forward to. HomeAway.com is an extensive marketplace of vacation rental listings and information.

A Hong Kong vacation offers you more than great shopping and marvelous restaurants, and it is certainly far divorced from the traditional China that you would find on the mainland. Hong Kong comprises Hong Kong Island, the part that everyone associates as being Hong Kong, Kowloon, the most densely populated part of the territory, and over 200 islands, some large and some small, that combine to form what is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Asia. A major reason for this is the combination of the highly commercial modern Western, and the more traditional Oriental, civilizations. If you want nightlife, Hong Kong boasts a marvelous mix of bars, night clubs, casinos and theatres - if it exists, Hong Kong has it, and if it doesn t exist, it will shortly! If you prefer shopping, the northern part of the island offers a highly sophisticated cosmopolitan city, combining the world s most famous stores with the traditional markets of old China. A Hong Kong vacation will also offer you a dining experience that you will never forget. Try the famous Seafood Street in the New Territories area of Northern Hong Kong, or if you prefer, there is a seemingly unlimited selection of traditional Chinese restaurants. However, the food is not limited to seafood and Chinese, and there is a variety of cuisine from all over the world. You name it, it is here. If it s more sightseeing that you are after, you should get the tram up to Victoria Peak. Victoria is the capital of Hong Kong, and the peak gives a great view over Victoria Harbor. The peak has what is called the Believe It Or Not Museum , which holds a raft of bizarre and almost unbelievable artifacts and machines. If you prefer something more modern, the Bank of China Tower stands at 369 metres and is one of the tallest buildings in the world. This blue glass structure is based on the growth patterns of the bamboo plant, and has been built to withstand the typhoon winds prevalent in this part of the world. If you want a rest from the hustle and bustle for something a bit quieter for a while, catch the ferry from central Pier over to Cheung Chau island. During the week this is a fairly quiet traditional fishing area, but at the weekend it gets really busy with tourists. No cars are allowed, so it s about as quiet as Hong Kong gets. If you ve brought the kids along you must take them to Disneyland. It s a must for any family Hong Kong vacation, and was only opened in 2005. Although the smallest of the Disney resorts, Hong Kong Disneyland has the full range of Disney features to offer and is continually expanding. The children deserve it after trailing around the bustling city with you. After all, when you consider it, there is not a lot for children to become excited about in Hong Kong other than Disneyland. It s not really necessary to hire a car to get around Hong Kong because the transport system is pretty good. There are cabs, buses, trains, a subway system, minibuses and ferries. Rickshaws have unfortunately lost popularity, but can be found at the Star Ferry on Hong Kong Island for a quick run or some photographs for the album. Hong Kong is best visited on foot initially, then once you get used to where things are on the map, use public transport to travel between areas. In fact public transport is one of the main advantages of a Hong Kong vacation - you can see as much as possible without having to drive. Kowloon is the commercial center of Hong Kong, and contains Victoria Harbor which is one of the major shipping ports of the world. Everything that you find at home with made in Hong Kong stamped on it will have passed through Victoria Harbor, named after Queen Victoria, the longest ever reigning monarch of the UK. If you want to see a traditional fishing harbor, then visit Peng Chau, which displays the traditional life of the Hong Kong fishermen amidst the hustle bustle of a modern commercial city. The major excitement of a Hong Kong vacation, especially if you have never had the opportunity of traveling to the orient is visiting China. Because Hong Kong is China. It is perhaps not as mysterious as Beijing, due its westernization while under British colonial rule, but it is China. So take the plunge. Book up for a Hong Kong vacation and find out what real Chinese cuisine and hospitality is like. You will be pleasantly surprised, and will definitely decide to go there again. It s not all as you see on Jackie Chan films! A Hong Kong Vacation Offers you a Lot More than Shopping was originally published at http://www.globallifenow.com

Sometimes you would just take a car and head without a planned route to unknown destinations, seeing places without a schedule and stay a couple of nights in motels on the road and on the next day drive again, alone or with somebody accompanying you. It is a perfect possibility to get away from the routine and you are the driver, you decide where you get and what you in the next hours. It is good when you have your own car, but those people who do not own one, sometimes dream about it and even do not think about such an interesting service as car-rental. The reasons to rent a car are various. Some people live and work in a city where the public transport infrastructure is really good developed and there is no need to own a car to get to work, for shopping or even sightseeing in the local areas. Sometimes it is even financially not really clever to have a car in a big city, because the public transport does the same thing, even faster and the monthly ticket covers all the possible transportation means and is even cheaper than the fuel costs to get to work. But the idea to take a car and head to some location is still in the air and of course, most people would not buy a car just to use it on weekends. Another reason to rent a car and not to own the same one for a long time – is the chance to try various cars, before you buy one, or just try something different, for example to compare Japanese and German cars. Such a possibility is being offered for a reasonable price by various worldwide companies, such as Sixt, Alamo, Hertz. You could place a reservation for a car directly at the web-sites of these companies or use the service of such travel services consolidators as TraveLime.com or Expedia.com, who are contracting with most car-rental companies all over the world and will give you the price and class comparison to the given time of reservation. These companies offer normally quite new cars, not older than for example 2 years. That depends on the legal regulation of each country where you would rent a car. For example in Europe they offer cars that are not older than 3 years. I have driven a BMW 3 Series that had only 200 miles on the counter. And I felt this amazing interior smell of the Bavarian beauty that has left the conveyor nearly a couple of weeks ago. The funny thing about these companies is that they offer several classes of vehicles – for example A – some small cars like Peugeot 206 just to get from one place to another, B – a little bit bigger cars, like Volkswagen Golf, C – kind of BMW 3 Series and so on. And if you would place a reservation for a vehicle and when you come to the selected office to pick up the ride – and they do not have a car in that class at the moment – they offer you a ride from the higher class for the same price! There are some secret tips to get almost always a car a class or even 2 classes higher. First you should choose an office for the pick up of the ride – that is not really a large one. Usually they try to have a couple of cars available from each class and the on-line reservations are normally offering all classes without checking the availability of the vehicles in each office. In fact, if a class is right now given away – they have to give you a car from the higher class at the same price. I have only once had an offer to take a car that had lower class – and only because this office did not have any cars from the ordered class and classes higher – they were all taken. And I got this ride almost for free for the whole weekend! Second, you should take some middle class that is actually most popular. People rarely take the smallest vehicles, because you step on the gas and wait minutes till it goes. And the higher classes are almost always available, because they are quite expensive. I have driven many various cars for the price of previous or even lower class just because I have ordered always the same car and it was not available! I have been ordering the BMW 1 Series and I ve always put a remark that I need exactly this model, because at most companies you have such an option – if you need a specific ride. I thought that I actually would not pay much, but at the same time I would not need to wait till this thing runs after I step on the gas, because it is still BMW. And it is from the middle class and it was always not available. I even did not drive it once in my life! And they gave me instead of it Audi A6, BMW 3 series and once I got the wonderful BMW 330 Coupe. That was a marvelous ride. And I got it for only 78 Euro with full insurance for the whole weekend! So, even if you already own a ride, think about taking something different and use these tips to get the best out of it. Have fun with the various rides in this life. Iuri Tarabanov writes about interesting travel experiences. His Travel Deals site is http://www.travelime.com

Car renting is an art, not a skill. People seem to think “yeah I ve done it before, I can do it again, better.” The truth is that very few car renters truly leverage every trick out there to get the best possible deal. Our goal today is to change that. Take for instance, upgrades. When you rent a specific car class for pickup on a specific day, in reality unless its a specialty car, you are just renting a car, not the specific car class. Let me explain. Car Rental Agencies spend a great deal of money studying the human mind and how it works. They want to be able to predict what people will do on any given day so that they may best utilize their investment (cars). One thing has shown in these studies is that people are always looking for a bargain, or a perceived bargain. They have it down to a science. The problem is, not all of their agents are as in tune with the game plan as the computers. First, some basics. Car rental agents work on commission. Yes, they get a hourly wage, but they supplement it with sales, or more importantly, up-sells, of products that the car agency sells. This metric, or measurement category, is relayed in the form of a number, Dollars per rental day. To break that down, if you were renting a car for 10 days and they up-sold you from a compact car to a full size car for 10 dollars per day, that agent s “dollars per day” upgrade number would be $10.00. Each agent is required to maintain a specific dollar amount to avoid sanctions and this number is based on historical averages. Law of averages tells us that 1 in 4 renters will say yes to an upgrade request so long as the upgrade rate is “within normal parameters” for the market. This means that if a car rental for a mid size car normally costs around 30 dollars a day, and the car you are currently in is reserved for 25 dollars per day, if the agent offers you an upgrade between 3-7 dollars per day, the average consumer will say yes 25 percent of the time. Car Rental agencies also, through years of research, that if you raise that 3-7 dollar amount up to 7-15 dollars per day, the average consumer will say yes 10 percent of the time. Simple economics. They have a huge wealth of knowlege on how to do this. From this, car rental agencies will motivate the agent by putting in tiered commission levels that coincide with the data. If an agent has an upgrade rate of 20% and maintains a specific dollar amount, per rental day, the agent s payout on that sale will be double what it normally would be otherwise. Depending on where the agent is in their sales numbers, they may need to build up their stats to reach a higher payout level. Some agents may go for top dollar to build up their dollar per day average, other agents go for bulk upgrades and dollar amount is of no relevance to them as they need to build up their average upgrades per rental day. Other than the obvious reasons, there are some very compelling reasons to upgrade people into more expensive cars. It costs a car rental company on average 11-45 dollars per day to keep a rental car sitting on the lot unused depending on the car. The smaller and more basic the car, the lower the cost is. The 45 dollar cars aren t in great supply, and the 11 dollar cars are usually more plentiful, so when you average out the daily cost, it averages to around 15-17 dollars per day. This is a fixed cost that figures in staff, rent, insurance, finance costs, contracts, internet website, and every other thing that goes into the business. If a car rental company has a fleet of 2000 cars, that means they have a yearly cost of almost 11 million dollars whether they are rented or not. If they knew they had 1800 cars rented, that means they still have 200 more cars worth of daily cost fees to erase, or roughly $3,000 dollars per day. If the car rental agency was able to, with the same number of car renters, increase the amount of money they take in, they can offset the costs of the cars that sit on the lot. That is where the upgrades come in. Upgrades, along with additional driver fees, baby seat rentals, GPS navigation rentals, insurance profits, and fuel refuelling charges work to offset the 3,000 per day in costs. So to the average renter, this means that car rental agencies are highly motivated to upgrade and get additional revenue over and above the reserved dollar amounts. As such, really ANY rental agent can offer pretty much any dollar amount they want and they will not get into any trouble for their efforts. In fact, they may be rewarded for having good numbers. Now that you know how how they get paid, its time to learn how to turn this to your advantage. Pay attention to the market. If you really wanted that convertible, but they were renting at 75.00 per day online when you booked your subcompact at $40 per day, taking a convertible for $10 a day upgrade is a GREAT deal. Knowing the market will give you a good idea of what is a good deal and what is not. The agents know the market because they see it every day and they have little guides behind the counter to assist them. Attempting to negotiate a good rate is useless if you don t know the relative values of the cars you are looking to rent. Most agents will try and offer an upgrade at anywhere from 10-25 dollars per day for an upgrade. Upgrades could come from any car class to any other car class above. You could go from a subcompact to a full size, a full size to a van, a mid size to a convertible, it really doesn t matter. They will often quote the same price. Since we know that they really can t get into trouble, do a little soft negotiating. Statements like, ” I really don t need a convertible, but I could certainly see myself in a full size car for about 5 dollars a day more….” or “That van looks nice, I can see myself driving that for about 10 dollars a day more than my current rate.” Saying something like that lets the agent know that your interested and to put on their negotiation personna. Keep your negotiations friendly, if you antagonize, you will agonize over what could have been. Remember, these agents normally do not see tips or gratuities of any kind. If you are a regular renter at a specific location, drop off a box of cookies, or a pie, or even tickets to a baseball game that you would have otherwise thrown away. If you can get on the agent s good side, the sky is the limit. Just yesterday I rented a Lincoln Town Car for 21 dollars per day for a week. It only cost me a box of donuts and a big jug of starbucks coffee more than my reservation. Give it a shot. J.W. Parker Insider Emeritus http://www.CarRentalInsider.com J.W. spent many years as a manager of several car rental locations on the West Coast. His base knowledge has been applied to many car rental travel sites as an insider helping customers guide their way through the mess known as the Car Rental Industry. Although retired from the Rent-A-Car business, he still continues to monitor changes in the industry and help those who ask.

In today s world it seems as if everybody is on the phone, mostly cell, almost all day long. I would suspect that most of these calls are social and in some rare instances business calls but I can assure you that very few of them are vendors or suppliers returning your call. This article does not deal with social calls nor sales calls soliciting business. I will discuss the unpleasant task of returning a customer s phone call that you suspect might be a serious problem. First a few examples and please keep in mind that if you called me you would either speak to me or I would return your call if I was unavailable. Returning from lunch one day I had a call from a very significant Canadian charter operator. After exchanging amenities I ask how can I help her. Her question, “We had a few problems this past Christmas and I am wondering if we are going to have any more problems this winter?” With their tremendous volume of business the answer was obvious, “Of course we ll have problems. Look Joanne, no one calls me to give me business so when I have a message it usually means that there is either a question or a problem. I did return your call and I will do the same in the future to resolve any problem.” The customer needs to know and you have proved it, that you will be there to service their business. On another occasion I am told that Uri called and he was very angry. Uri was a secular Israeli working in the tour department for a now defunct airline. He answered my call with his last name and in a deep monotone I said, “This is the Messiah.” With spontaneous humor Uri remained calm and I pleasantly resolved his concern. As a testament for the importance of returning calls I ll mention a visit to a major mid-western tour operator. He had four programs and Alamo served only one of these. It was an Orlando package with airfare, hotel and our car rental. After the preliminary “how s business” he said, “All of you car rental companies are garbage [descriptive substitute word] but you are the only one that returns phone calls.” That was good news and an opportunity for me to say, “Then you can include Alamo in your other three programs, put me first on your speed dial and call me every day.” The bad news was that it did not happen but at least we had a better car rental company reputation. Whether I owned the business or worked in the corporate world returning phone calls was good business. It was an excellent way of retaining business that you worked hard to obtain. In retrospect this practice improved my standard of living. Since I return phone calls I can only guess why others don t do the same. I imagine it is because aggravation is implied. Perhaps even the fear of loosing the account. I would estimate that about 50% of the time there is a problem. And the other half of the time is additional business opportunities. Responding promptly to the problems only encourages the continued support of the customer. On a very rare occasion the phone was used by my customer to terminate the business. It never dawned on me when I was returning a call that there was the possibility that I would loose the business. And the rare time I lost the business at least I was on the phone and had an opportunity of attempting to save the business. When I was in the office I always answered and never fielded my calls. If I was available I took the call. If I was on the phone or not available a message was taken. I returned the call immediately upon receipt of the message. People who were not familiar with my habit were surprised by the promptness of the returned call. I know because they told me so. When I was out of town on business, usually for a week at a time, I would check my office for messages daily. It was a slow day if I only had two messages and the count averaged about five messages. I always made it a habit to return the call that I thought was the biggest problem first. After this call was concluded the rest of the calls were down hill. In summary this is not a sales primer. It is intended to stress the importance of returning phone calls. You will be miles ahead of your competition and this is certainly a consideration when a prospective customer compares you with your competition. While at Alamo, an up and comer asked me the secret of my success. I told him. “There is no secret. Just do two things. See enough people and return phone calls.” http://www.allvacation.info haljacobs@msn.com

There are many things that you should know when you are buying auto insurance. Your rate will depend on several things like your driving history, the type of coverage that you need, your age, and many more things. The first thing that you should know about first time auto insurance is your rate can depend on the type of vehicle that you want to have insured. The cars that are the most expensive to insure include sports cars. Other vehicles that are higher to insure include vehicles that are on the top ten most stolen list. If you have not purchased your vehicle yet and you want to be sure to have the lowest insurance payment possible, then you should check this list. Brand new vehicles are expensive to insure also. If you buy the car cash out then you can get the minimum coverage to be sure that your rate is cheaper but the more expensive the car is, the more the insurance rate will be. Also, if you purchase a brand new vehicle with a loan from a bank then the bank will insist that you get full coverage on the vehicle. This will be substantially more expensive for you also. When you are looking for cheap auto insurance for first time drivers it is also important to compare all rates that you can. This means shop around and gets quotes from different insurance companies and sees who can get you the cheapest rate. Age makes a difference when you are looking for auto insurance also and if the first time driver is a teenager, then you should expect to have a high rate. The rates tend to drop with age after the age of 24 and after a proven track record of good driving. Auto insurance will depend on your driving record. When you get a moving violation you should expect your insurance rates to go up. Some insurance companies will drop your rates ever six months for no tickets and no violations. If you are in a car accident and you have to make a claim, you can also expect your rates to go up. It doesn t matter if the accident was your fault or not, it is because you made a claim. Another important thing to remember when you are looking for cheap car insurance is to make sure that you read the policy. Be sure that you agree with all of the terms. You should also be sure that the policy does not say that you do not have the right to sue them. When insurance companies put this in the policy they usually don t hold up their end of the bargain and then there is nothing that you can do. If an insurance policy says that you do not have a right to dispute a claim then you should not go with the company. If you are looking for first time auto insurance or just cheap insurance there are many things that you should consider before you agree to a policy. Be sure to shop around from different insurance companies to find the best rate. Kian Chew is a car insurance expert and owner of Car Insurance Hot Zone. Car Insurance Hot Zone helps those who wish to lower their car insurance cost for life by using a few basic rules and some strategies which few people know. You can instantly view the secrets by visiting http://www.CarInsuranceHotZone.com

Are Airline Travel Vouchers Pie In The Sky? If you have been in an airport, particularly on a busy travel day, you may have seen gate attendants looking panicked, and heard the calls for volunteers to bump from a plane flight. The usual reward for this is a voucher generally good for a flight comparable to the one you were been bumped from. From an airline perspective, empty seats are lost revenue. Airlines routinely overbook flights by 4-6 percent, because on average, that s the number of people who miss connections, have to cancel at the last minute, or otherwise can t make the flight. For something close to 80 percent of all airline flights, this overbooking isn t a problem. For those 20 percent of flights where it is, it can be a great inconvenience or a great opportunity. Airlines offer vouchers rather than refunding airfares to your purchasing mechanism for two reasons. The first is time; it often takes 24 hours or more to process a credit card refund, and that takes more labor on their part to make it happen. The second is that a surprising number of vouchers don t get used. If you re bumped from a flight, make a fuss and you can usually get more than a voucher. Ask for two tickets or three. Ask for hotel credits or gift cards to restaurants. If you re using an airline miles program, ask for bonus miles. Don t be afraid to show your irritation when doing this; the airlines give out vouchers to stifle complaints, and remember that you re aiming to get the best reward possible for your inconvenience. If you absolutely have to make a connecting flight, and you have cash on you, find out how many volunteers need to voluntarily bump themselves off a flight, and look for likely candidates. College students waiting in a terminal are good candidates for this - a hundred bucks out of your pocket means they may volunteer when otherwise they would not. Take notes and get receipts - you can take the airline to small claims court and get reimbursed. The second strategy is having a flexible schedule; I routinely plan my flights on the assumption that I will volunteer for bumps to get the voucher for my next business trip. I had a two year streak going where, by taking bumps, I did not have to pay for a single trip. Just be prepared for sitting in a terminal if this is the case. If you volunteer to take a bump, be polite about it, but remind them that you re doing them a favor, and see if you can get a voucher plus airline mines, or hotel accommodations, or an extra ticket. Using vouchers requires a bit of forethought and planning. First of all, make sure you store them in a safe place, and write down the date that they expire. Whenever you re booking your next travel run, use the vouchers first before paying any money to cover the airfare. Remember, airlines are counting on the fact that most vouchers end up unused - use them to your advantage when you get them; be aware that some airlines put blackout dates on vouchers; this is why it s better to use them earlier rather than later. Jim Warren is a consumer advocate who loves to write about dirt cheap airline tickets . He reveals insider secrets hotels, airlines, car rental agencies and cruise lines will hide from you. For more info visit: http://www.costlytravelmistakes.com

The largest barrier island on the Atlantic coast between New Jersey and Florida is Hilton Head Island. This beach paradise is 12 miles long and 5 miles wide. Because of the high Atlantic tides, the twelve miles of beach are wide and clean, with a new selection of seashells each time the tide goes out. The island’s latitude contributes to its mild climate, with normal temperatures that range between 55º and 75º F all year round. The ocean breeze provides the island’s air-conditioning. Hilton Head oceanfront rentals are available in all price ranges, to allow each visitor a place to lay rest in between treks on the sand. Hilton Head oceanfront rentals come in many sizes and on all sides of the island. There are hotel or resort rooms, condos, villas, and private homes for rent. Sizes range from a single room or one-bedroom, one-bath condo to a nine-bedroom mansion with servants. The hotels offer pricing by the night, but most condos, villas and homes will expect a longer stay. A week’s rent can vary from $1,000 to $10,000 during the high season, to as much as 30% less in the winter. Condos, villas, and rental homes will, of course, come with furnished kitchens. Many will have on-site laundry facilities as well, making a trip to the beach an easy, casual experience. A Hilton Head beach rental allows easy access to a multitude of oceanfront activities. Visitors can surfboard, swim, parasail, fish, or watch the local wildlife. This environmentally protected area is home to turtles, crabs, dolphins, and alligators. The salty marshes and lagoons offer bird watchers a wealth of entertainment. Some visitors may prefer to take long walks on the beach or simply watch the tide come in. Those who want more activity can bike along the beaches at low tide or charter a deep-sea fishing boat, with a chance to bring home dinner. Hilton Head Rentals Info provides detailed information on Hilton Head vacation rentals, condo rentals, rental homes, villa rentals, and oceanfront rentals. Hilton Head Rentals Info is the sister site of Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals Web .

When planning your vacation, you make sure all arrangements are made in advance. These may include rental car, air travel, hotel, and tickets to events that may be very popular. But do you put as much effort into packing as you should? Most people do not and find themselves without many items once they arrive. Being prepared means thinking ahead and packing items that will help you have a great time when on vacation. Most people spend the majority of their time packing clothing they will not wear. Pack a maximum of seven outfits when going on vacation. You will be able to mix and match pieces to create even more outfits. Depending on where you are going, pack the appropriate clothing so you will not be too warm or cold. Packing items together as a way to save space will allow you to take less luggage on your trip. Putting socks into your shoes, bringing clothing that is light and not bulky will also take up less room. If you will be traveling with children, the same clothing rules apply. Because children have a tendency to get their clothing dirty more often than adults, pack a few extra shirts so they will have enough for the entire vacation. Older children should be allowed to pack their own clothing. This will give them more responsibility and give you more time to focus on other items that need to be packed. Writing a list of all other items besides clothing will help with travel preparation. Remember to bring medications, first aid kit, toothpaste, and any other items you feel are important. Having a list will make it easier for you to remember everything you will need. Keeping these items in a small back pack will make them easier to find when you need them. The last items you should remember to pack are travel directions. Knowing where you are going will make it much easier to get there. If traveling by car, buy a map or a portable GPS unit so you will always know where you are and how far you are from your destination. If traveling overseas, make sure you have your passport and visas handy. While you can never prepare for everything that will happen during your trip, you should try to plan in advance, especially if you will be traveling with children. Another way to plan for your vacation is to think about which activities you plan on participating in. If you will be taking a tour, call the tour guide company to see if there is anything special you should bring with you. Preparing for a trip may mean making a small trip to local stores in the area you are vacationing in. Most hotels and resorts have toothpaste and other items in case you forget anything. Just ask at the desk and get what you need. Focusing on latest news in Costa Blanca, the reviewer is writing primarily for http://www.alicante-spain.com . His articles on Benidorm can be found on http://www.alicante-spain.com .

You have the basic idea outlined; a vacation somewhere warm and tropical but not boring. The landscape should be beautiful in an interesting way, and the ambiance should be welcoming and a little on the spicy side. You’d prefer not to experience culture shock by having to seek out a rare English-speaker just to make your way around, but you would like to expose yourself to new and delightful customs, sights, and sounds. The place you are thinking of has a name: Puerto Rico. This eclectic and densely populated island is a mixture of so many things; old and new, traditional and unconventional, natural and man-made, and above all, it is defined by the influences and flavors of a colorful collection of nations. To visit Puerto Rico is to fall into a vibrant and multi-hued celebration of diversity, so be prepared to be impressed by the welcoming spirit of this vast community as well as the physically remarkable features. Now that you’ve made the choice to take an island retreat to a not-so-average island, you’ll want to find a place to stay that will help you to squeeze every ounce of enjoyment and relaxation from this trip. You might never have stayed in one before, but a vacation rental would be the perfect choice to complement the “get away from it all” attitude that you’ll be adopting as soon as you set foot on Puerto Rico’s rich soil. Perhaps you’ve heard that San Juan is the place to be when it comes to architectural sight seeing, people-watching, and of course, all the beach activities you’d care to engage in. If this is the case, then check into renting a condo in the Ocean Park area. Here, you’ll be close enough to the water to go swimming, sunbathing, or snorkeling at the drop of a hat. The ocean breezes will lull you to sleep at night, and the thought of a gorgeous tropical sunrise will have you out of bed earlier than you would have thought possible. This location will have you feeling the pulse of the town, as well, and a short walk will allow you to dine, dance, and shop to your heart’s content. Take pictures of the commanding fortresses that once guarded the city, or tour the ornate cathedrals that have been welcoming spiritual solace-seekers for hundreds of years. The food will leave your taste-buds tingling, and be sure to wash it all down with some locally produced rum, as it will be the finest you’ve ever had. If you’re ready to immerse yourself in the untamed wilderness, take a drive to El Yunque Rain Forest a few miles away. The lush environment ensures the coexistence of plants and wildlife unlike any you’ve ever seen. You’ll hear the cricket-like chirp of the ubiquitous Coqui frog and catch glimpses of hundreds of species of colorful birds as you make your way through the tropical, seemingly enchanted woods. Taking off in other directions will lead you to different geographic extremes, like caves, deserts, and karst formations, so save some time to visit each side of this multi-faceted island. No matter where you’ve been during the day and what amazing things you’ve seen, nothing compares to returning to home base certain of the fact that you have chosen the right place to stay. A comfy sofa to recount your adventures on, a kitchen in which to have a snack, and a patio that invites a casual cocktail hour to take place will further heighten the mood of what’s turning out to be one of your most outstanding vacations ever. After a day of tiring yourself out in the most satisfying of ways, you and your traveling companions will appreciate having plenty of room along with a few unexpected amenities, like an entertainment center or a bookshelf filled with beach-worthy paperbacks. Being in Puerto Rico will bring out your independent, adventure-seeking side, so avoiding the pitfalls of a nondescript hotel experience will seem like the natural route to take. You’ve made the choice to do something different, so take it all the way. Choose a Puerto Rico Vacation Rental that will enhance your journey to the lively land of friendly faces and incomparable culture. HomeAway.com has a wide variety of vacation rental listings, and will surely point the way to the one that is perfect for you.

Are you going to be renting a car in the near future? Do you understand exactly what you will be charged for? Many times there are additional costs added to your daily rate. In many cases you are forced to buy extra insurance in addition to your daily rate. The purpose of this article is to explain what types of car insurances there are and explain which ones you should and should not buy. One of the most common types of car rental insurance is for collision. This is to cover you in case you have an accident. The rates vary. Sometimes, the insurance rate is low but you have to pay the first 500-1000 dollars in damages to the car regardless of who is at fault. One thing you should definitely look into is if your credit card offers insurance for rental cars. Many of them do and it could save you loads of money. Another type of car rental insurance is comprehensive. Generally, this is optional but you are responsible for the car in the event it is stolen. Again, look into what insurance your credit card provides. You may find they offer full coverage. If you’re planning to have others drive the car in addition to yourself, they must be covered. You must list all drivers and have insurance for them. It is important that you do this. In the event of an accident, if the other driver is not listed, and he or she is driving, the insurance company will refuse to pay for the damages. This will leave you liable for all of the costs. When renting a car, be careful of the types of insurances you buy and what they do. Only get what you need but don’t ignore them. They will cover you if something should go wrong. For more information on Car Rentals visit http://www.allcarrentals.info .

Renting budget cars online is the best way to save next time your rent a car or minibus, whether it s for business or pleasure. There is plenty of competition in this business, so you may have trouble finding a good place to rent from. There are many websites that offer budget car rental to online customers. If you look at some companies you will find they have chosen reputable advertisers for their sites, as when you are looking to rent a budget car online, you should make sure the company you re dealing with is reputable. They have measured cost, reliability, customer service, and selection of vehicles. Price is the basic thing to consider when looking to rent a car. You should try to get something within your budget. If you rent online, you ll save quite a bit on the rental cost, so it s by far the best option. The issue of reliability is important. A reputable car rental firm should fulfill its obligations on the contract to the letter. Make sure you get the right kind of vehicle for your trip. Don t get a car when you really need a minibus. Online car rental will get you great competitive prices. Make sure you understand what all the costs total up to before you commit to anything. There are several different rates for car rentals: daily rates with some free distance, daily rates with the distance billed separately, daily rates and no limit on distance, or an extended period of free distance. These companies will charge variable amounts for different types of cars. Remember to book or put in your request well in advance, to get the best deals. Most of the minibus and van rental companies will have deals on rentals, especially over the weekend. You always have to remember local taxes depending on where you are visiting. On international car rentals, 10% to 30 % is typically added on top of the standard charge. When you drop your car off in another city, many car rental firms will ask a fee for the drop-off. Ask whether or not the drop-off rate is included in their regular rate. There are different policies on fuel among rental companies. Most will ask for money up front and you ll be able to return the car with an empty tank. The cost of insurance is important thing to consider. You re able to buy temporary insurance at the car rental company. Go for the extended cover so you will have piece of mind if the worst happens. Renting a car or minibus online helps you save lots of money on your rental expenses. But remember to make sure that you re not overlooking some hidden costs. You ll end up paying more if you aren t careful. Ray Onions is a travel writer specialising in niche resource management. He travels the world looking for new and exciting places to stay. His articles can be found at http://www.holiday-hire-car.co.uk He can be contacted at ray@holiday-hire-car.co.uk

Fond of traveling? Always on the go? If you re the quintessential jet setter, then you definitely should go for this - travel reward credit cards. It s the brand-new, ultimate solution to the ultimate globetrotter who always needs to be on the go. But what really are travel reward credit cards and how beneficial are they for the cardholder? Getting to Know Your Travel Credit Card Travel reward credit cards give airline mile rewards to cardholders for availing the card. The cardholder accumulates points depending on the dollar amount of his purchases with the credit card. Once the number of points has been reached, the cardholder is entitled to an airline travel or any such related reward. There are actually three categories or types of travel reward credit cards, the airline miles earning card, the travel point card, and the hybrid card, a combination of the first two types. Airline mile earning cards earn 1 mile for every dollar spent while a travel point card earns 1 point for every dollar spent. The points can then be redeemed at the credit card s travel agency. The hybrid card earns 1 point for each dollar spent and can be exchanged for airline miles or used as travel points. The jet-setter or the frequent flyer should consider an airline mile card or a hybrid card. With an airline mile credit card or a hybrid card, one can avail of free trips in first class even faster. Cards like Aerogold Visa and Royal Bank British Airways Platinum Visa can convert those economy trips to first class. On the other hand, for those who are not frequent flyers, the ideal choice to go for is the travel point card, or even the hybrid card. While these cards may not give free trips in a year, it can, however, provide discounts on your travel needs. As they offer points for every dollar spent which are redeemable as cash equivalent discounts through the credit card company s travel agency or reward center. Most cards offer $50 off for every 5000 points redeemed. These discounts can come in handy when the times come for that much-awaited trip or vacation. Depending on the type of card, the reward may also cover purchase of gas, auto rentals, hotel accommodations and even purchase in shops and boutiques. They also provide cash advances when you re on the road. There s also travel insurance that would include worldwide emergencies like medical evacuation, lost luggage, and emergency expatriation. Travel Reward Credit Card SOS The important thing with travel reward credit cards is you determine the frequency of your travels as well as your own spending habits. Before choosing which credit card to go for, assess the possible uses of these travel reward credit cards. Then, look for cards that offer the biggest savings on the types of purchases that you most probably will be making. If you re not the only one traveling, travel reward credit cards offering airline or car rental perks are good to go because it benefits, not only you, but your travel companion as well. Know also the schedule and value of the travel rewards these credit cards offer. Of course, don t forget to read the terms and conditions, like the airline miles you gain for every dollar spent, or the airline miles you need to accumulate before qualifying for a free airline ticket or other rewards. And lastly, they come with an annual fee, so check to make sure that you know the charges to your account. Michael Ziegler is a sales person and website owner. He manages a website, http://www.usa-credit-card-guide.com where you can find the best credit card offer for your needs and apply for a credit card today!

The most important thing you should remember when you go in search of purchasing a used or even a new car is that the person selling the car wants to sell the car. They may not come right out and lie to you about the car in question; however, they may not mention any problems if you do not ask and yes some may even lie to rid themselves of a lemon. The number one thing you should do before searching for a used car is to know what type of car you would like or at least have some models and types in mind. You can search online or talk with car dealerships to learn what the price might be for the make and model of the car you are seeking. You can even look up the car in the NADA to learn what the car is worth by year, make, and model. This is a good estimate on what you would get if you traded that car in to a dealer. Okay, now you know how much money you need for the different cars you have in mind. Now, where do you go to find out about reliability and other factors for this car? You can search online for reviews at car forums, with consumer reports, or chat with others that have the car now or owned one at sometime. Ask pertinent questions such as what parts were replaced, gas mileage, and even questions regarding comfort. It is always in your best interest to take any used car to your own mechanic prior to purchasing instead of going on your love for the car. Just because you have always dreamed of owning a 1962 corvette and the one you found looks awesome, does not mean that it is mechanically sound. Pop open the hood, look for worn hoses, wet spots on the engine, and look for corrosion around the battery posts. You may not be able to tell much this way but you will at least get an idea if you may have to change hoses, battery cables, or if there could be a leak somewhere such as coolant or oil. When you take the car on a test drive, listen for any unusual knocking, hissing sounds or other noises that you are not familiar with, and then when you talk with your mechanic he may know what these sounds might be. Check that the lights work properly low and high beams, brake lights, turn signals, horn, air-conditioning and heating system. You may not be thinking about staying warm if the temperature outside is 95 degrees, but you will really enjoy a warm car when the north wind starts blowing. Many times if you are purchasing a used car from an individual you will not have any type of warranty, however, if you purchase through a dealer you should get some type of warranty. Many times, this warranty will be for a certain amount of months or miles put on the car. In most cases, the warranty will state exactly what items are under warranty such as the engine or transmission, for a certain amount of months and the dealership will cover all parts and labor. If the warranty only covers the transmission, then it does not cover replacement of a water pump, fuel pump, or other parts to do with the engine and the same applies for any limited warranty. Also with a dealership instead of an individual, you may be able to apply for a payment plan if you would rather pay monthly payments until the car is paid for. Many times, you will need a down payment or good credit in order to receive a loan. You should however, be careful when applying for a loan of any kind. Be sure that you are getting the best deal around. You may be able to apply for a personal loan at your bank and receive better interest rates than you would at a car dealership. Another thing to remember is to shop around. If you found one car you like, you will more than likely find another that is the same or better and you may be able to find it for less money or in better condition. When you are ready to purchase, read the total agreement. Do not just glance over the large print. Be sure that you understand everything in the agreement and if you do not - ask. It would be best to learn upfront if your warranty will end before you have the car paid off. Dennis is the owner of Mr. Car Quote and will help you find the best New and Used Car price quotes.

Buying a car needs not just investment but deep thought. The market is overflowing with choices and temptations. Buyers need to think, what kind of car and can I afford it? Think, what do I need transportation for right now and what will I need two years from now? Do I want a car as a status symbol or as something that makes my life easier? Will the car be a commuter vehicle, or to transport children? Would a van with cargo space and high clearance be more suitable for a growing family? Should the car be a two-wheel or four-wheel drive? What kind of terrain will I be driving in most of the time? Go through auto magazines as well as consumer reports to get a clear picture of the world of cars. 1. Work on your finances and determine what you need to spend each month on transportation. A car should not cost more than 10% of your net pay per month. If it is more, then consider leasing a car instead of buying one. 2. Before you finalize anything, find out what the target price is. Four figure discounts are available with almost every make. 3. Never sign an arbitration clause or blank financial forms. Try and get finance from a separate source, a bank or financial institution. 4. Haggling will get you a good deal apart from shopping around for finance. The market is competitive be sure to check dealer fiancé, high street, internet lenders, as well as other options. 5. Try and ensure a large down payment thereby reducing the loan to be paid. Work out your finances and choice of car such that the term of loan is for the shortest period. 6. Find out what buying incentives are on offer. These vary from audio systems to cash back offers, and 0% financing. Ask what extras and add ons will cost in addition to the price of the car. 7. Be sure to evaluate your old car independently if you are considering a trade in. Pay attention to ‘cost to change’, the difference between what the new car costs and what the old one is worth. 8. Find out about warranties, taxes, and insurance. These can eat into your budget. 9. Vet the contract well. Read the fine print. Make sure that paying off the loan before time will not carry any penalty. 10. Check out at least 3-4 dealers to gauge what the best offer is. Test drive the vehicle before you finalize the deal and go through the car booklet page by page to understand all that the manufacturer needs to tell you. Be clear what is under warranty and what is not. Never choose vehicle based on a picture or dream. It is not how you look in the car that’s important but how well the car will fulfill your needs. Be practical and sensible; do not buy a model because the dealership is offering a holiday for two or a low interest scheme. Identify a vehicle that suits your needs before subjecting yourself to an onslaught of marketing. Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1866Cars.com , the premier website to find help on Cars including topics on car rental, national car rental, thrifty car rental, online car rental, pickup trucks rental, cargo van rental and more. He also freelances for the premier Insurance Quotes site http://www.1888Insurancequote.com

So you want to go to Dubai but have heard how expensive it can be for both vacationers and business travelers alike? If that s what you ve heard, then whoever told you hasn t experienced Dubai. Here are some money saving tips that can cut your Dubai budget in half. Shopping in Dubai If shopping is your pleasure, then Dubai is your dreams come true. Not only do you have some of the biggest malls in the world with all the major brands, but Dubai, being originally a trading hub between the east and west offers you one of the most fascinating shopping experiences on the globe. From traditional souks (where you can find jewelry and cloth, among many others things), to the Indian markets in Deira, finding everything from spices to electronics. Ask around in the back-alley stores and you can even find that satellite decoder that opens all the paid channels. Don t forget to haggle, they never turn away a customer, and you ll know when you ve hit the lowest price. Communication Avoid high phone charges in the hotel room and get a pre-paid calling card which you can use from any phone booth and private lines to call international. If you are expecting to stay for a while, get a pre-paid GSM card (WASEL) for Dhs.165 ($45). Limit your outgoing calls and get free incoming calls for a year (more info ). The WASEL GSM line must be purchased from an Etisalat office (don t forget to bring a passport copy), but pre-paid cards can be purchased from any convenient store, gas stations or tobacco store. Food For cheap eats, it s hard to beat the Indian restaurants serving the city s largest working population. Try the buttered chicken with buttered ‘nan bread, and you ll have cravings for it for years to come. For a $3 meal, expect to eat with your hands, but you can always politely ask for a fork or spoon. The occasional foreigner is expected and well-cared for. If you re on a tight budget, only eat at hotels when they have meal deals, otherwise, you ll be paying too much. Find Open Buffet specials starting at $10 per person, some Friday Brunch offers include use of the swimming pool for the day. You can find excellent Meal Deals here . Drink It might come as a surprise to you, but Dubai is a Party Town. With all the long hours at work, many people like to go out and chill during the week. For the budget traveler, look for Ladies Nights and Happy Hours happening in Dubai. Guaranteed you ll find one for every night of the week. Check out Time Out Dubai or Dubai Look before going out. If you don t have access to the internet, you can buy the “Time Out Dubai” Magazine from any store which includes the full listings for the month. Sun and Sand Want to spend a day by the pool at one of the exclusive hotels in Jumeirah, but not pay the high prices of the rooms? Almost all the hotels sell vouchers for a day s access to the hotel s beaches, pools, health club and spa. Sleep in a cheap hotel, spend the day in pure luxury… no one will know. Prices start at $10 and can go up to $60 depending on the hotel. There are many public beaches, but for only Dhs. 5 ($1.40) you can spend the day at Jumeirah Beach Park on the beach road in Jumeirah. Not only do you have access to the beach with life guards, but you also have gardens, play areas for children, showers and barbecue areas. Note that Saturdays are for women and children only. (Call 04-3492555 for more information) Transportation Want to save on transportation? Dubai cabs can be costly for tourists. So, until the Dubai metro gets up and running by year 2009 for the first line and 2015 for the second line, try the buses. Waiting for the bus can take a while, especially since they are hardly on schedule. In the summer months, the heat can become unbearable during the wait and most bus stops don t have a covered waiting area. But taking the bus can turn out to be quite an experience, don t be afraid and make sure you budget the time for the trip as it can take 3 times the amount to get there over taking a taxi. Renting a car? Don t use the international rental companies. Local companies, especially ones in Sharjah give you rates much less than the big brand names. They will provide drop off and pick up in Sharjah and Dubai. But if you do have problems with renting a car from a no-name car rental, then Budget Car Rental is the best choice for Dubai. Book early from an online booking service to guarantee the best prices and availability. And the best part of renting a car in Dubai? Gas is Cheap! Entertainment Dubai Shopping Festival (mid January to mid February) and Dubai Summer Surprises (end of June to beginning of September) hosts free entertainment all month long. Hundreds of shows and events all crammed into one month. You and your kids, if they are tagging along, will not get bored. Fireworks, raffle, street markets, clowns, monster trucks, are just some of the highlights. Go here for more information. Horse Racing at Nad Al Sheba is held from 28th of October until the 26th of March. Each Race Night stages 6 or 7 individual races, the first starting at 7pm (or 9pm during the Holy Month of Ramadan). Public access to the races is free. Don t forget the world s richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup held in March. (www.dubaiworldcup.com ). Unless you want to sit in the VIP section, entrance to the public enclosures is also free for this spectacular event. Christine Petrosa is a Dubai resident, business professional and a contributing writer for BusinessinDubai.com which contains information on setting up a business in dubai, real estate news, business travel, new projects, jobs in dubai, web links, telephone and addresses directory and a business forum. This article may be freely reprinted provided the Author information remain part of the article. Links should be active when published on the internet.

Getting an auto insurance quote is not a very easy task, as there are hundreds of companies providing different schemes. One should always do their home work first and then choose an insurance cover best suited to them. This plan has to start even before you buy your car. Here are some points that determine the auto insurance quotes: 1. The Condition Of Your Car It is a very important factor, better the condition of your car, lesser will be your insurance premium. A well maintained car is less likely to be involved in damages and accidents. 2. Your Driving Records Insurance companies are more comfortable with safe drivers. If you have a neat driving record, you are more likely to sign on a lesser premium amount. On the other hand, if you are prone to accidents, you will probably get involved in accidents often and keep making claims. This results in a higher premium. 3. Your Age, Sex And Health Your age and health condition is also a very important factor in determining the insurance amount. It is believed that young drivers are usually very fast and so get hit more often. Hence, they are at a bigger risk of accidents. Also, if you suffer from chronic health problem, then you are not good enough to be insured. In both of these cases, the premium amount increases many fold. However, there are specialized sites and companies providing low quotes to young, aged or ill drivers. Also, the insurance industry is of the view that women drivers are safer than men, hence they get into fewer accidents and make lesser claims. So, if you have a woman in your insurance list, cheaper will be your quote. 4. Registration Area Of Your Vehicle The safety of the area of your car registration is also significant as it determines the threat of theft or vandalism. Registration in a suburban city is recommended for cheaper insurance quotes. It helps if the building where your car will be parked most of the time is well protected. 5. Your Car Model If you are planning to buy a big flashy car with a huge engine, you ll end up with a massive auto insurance quote. Such a car is more prone to accidents, damages and vandalism, so more claims may be placed for them. It is also advised to avoid buying an imported vehicle, as the repair costs associated with it will be high. This too will seek high premiums. If you are looking for cheap auto insurance , there are many companies providing best auto insurance quotes . However, there are some factors governing the auto insurance quotes . It can be sometimes area specific too, like New York car insurance.

If you are looking for a car rental in Ireland, there are a number of options available to you with regard to pick-up locations and type of vehicles. In general car rentals in Ireland is a competitive market and you would be best to look around all the main companies, and even the smaller ones that are specific to Ireland as it is not uncommon for them to be offering the best value. In terms of locations of your car rental in Ireland, the two main cities, Cork and Dublin, are covered by all the car rental companies, and in general Dublin Airport, Cork Airport and Shannon Airport are also covered by all companies. If you are picking a car rental up at one of the major airports you may fill in much of the paper work in the airport itself before getting a bus to the car park which in most cases is located just outside of the airport grounds. When it comes to renting a car in Galway, Sligo, Tralee and Rosslare you options are going to be greatly reduced with Hertz and Budget being the only operators. In general the vehicles are top notch, and cars are generally well less than a year old. The range offered starts at Group A with a Toyota Yaris up to a Lexus IS200 or Mercedes E200. Most people travelling from America are used to air conditioning, but in Ireland it is not necessary and most vehicles do not have advanced climate control. As regards driving in Ireland, the main roads are good but not up to continental standards and while motor ways are becoming more and more common, Ireland still lags behind in this department. Crucially cars drive on the left of the road in Ireland and for those who are used to driving on the other side, it takes some time to get used to. One tip that works quiet well is to always make sure to keep your right hand to the centre of the road. The only time this is ever an issue is at cross roads. The other thing that our foreign visitors should bear in mind is that roundabouts are used extensively and in many cases with traffic lights. Speed limits in Ireland are in kilometres per hour and are strictly enforced even if the Police coverage on the roads is not as much as perhaps in other countries. In built up areas the speed limit is 50km while on motorways the speed limit is 120km. Speed signs are along every road so there should be no concerns about not knowing what speed limit the road you are travelling on is. Ronan Menton is the webmaster for a number of travel related websites and has been for some time in Ireland, associated with search engine optimisation in the Irish travel industry. He spends two months a year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and now sees it as his second home. Among the many sites he is currently working on are the following: Celtic Car Rental and e Car Rental Ireland .

Okay so it’s all about crime, bad guys, bad cops, guns, drugs and prostitution. But Miami and Southern Florida tourist authorities are hoping for a positive impact upon the release of the film, which is set to be one of the highest grossing releases of the year. The Michael Mann film , which follows the eventful escapades of two Miami police officers, showcases Miami with a lavishly shot production featuring the city in what the tourism authorities are hoping will prove to be a 115 minute promo video for Miami. Miami, and Southern Florida generally, are long established tourist hotspots with Miami itself regarded as one of the most fashionable and exciting cities in the USA. The film plays on this, featuring well known locations in the city to a point where the city itself becomes a central character in the film. Downtown Miami, Coconut Grove and Miami Beach are all heavily featured in the film and it is no wonder that the Miami city fathers believe that the film itself could be a lucrative money spinner for the economy. But the anticipated tourism bounce is hoped to reach beyond Miami city limits. Southern Florida boast a number of top drawer tourist attractions including the keys and the Florida Everglades. Tourist chiefs are hoping that the Miami Vice factor will encourage higher numbers of tourists to venture further south, away from the lures of Orlando. In particular, tourism boards are promoting Southern Florida as an ideal fly drive location featuring a city break in Miami, adventure with the Everglades and relaxation, sun, sand and sea with the Florida keys. Indeed, they may have a point, flights to Miami from Europe and internally from the States are frequent and car hire in Miami is abundant, with most of the major car rental firms having a presence in the city. A fly drive holiday to Miami and Southern Florida would have lots to offer. With a strong Cuban population, Miami is steeped in Latin American influence and this is reflected in the culture of the city, from the architecture right through to the food and music. The Everglades offer the opportunity for adventure with airboat tours traversing the waterways and the infamous Florida alligators in full view. The Keys offer sun-kissed beaches and teaming nightlife offering as much or as little excitement as you like. Just be sure to look out for the white suits, red Ferrari and Phil Collins soundtrack! Andrew Regan is an online journalist who enjoys socialising at his local Edinburgh rugby club .