Monthly Archives: January 2011

Surviving Your Long Haul Flight

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So you’ve decided on a long haul flight, maybe you’ve been looking at Holidays in Australia or Holidays to New Zealand and they seemed like a great idea but now your faced with the long 12 hours or more in a cramped economy class flight and you’re unsure how you’re going to cope. Well the following are some suggestions to help you get to your destination feeling ready for an exciting holiday.

Preparation for the flight begins before you’ve even left your home and entertainment should be top of your list for hand luggage! There’s nothing quite as depressing as being tightly trapped in a row of seats with nothing to do but stare down the isle, it makes the flight drag on and on, and if you’re lucky enough to be on a plane with in-flight entertainment it only lasts so long before you tire of it.

So with this in mind pack some books, their a great way to pass the time and you can take a selection to suit the mood your in, it might even be worth packing some travel books to the areas your going to so you can get some planning in on the flight. Newspapers are another great source of entertainment, especially if they have puzzle sections, and if you’re really up to date with the latest tech e-books mean that all this reading can take a surprisingly small amount of space in your hand luggage.

Next up is the airport, after checking in make sure you take time to relax a little before the flight, by a bottle of water from the shops and have a bite to eat of something light. Walking around can also help you relax and give you a chance to stretch your legs before the flight.

Once you on board and up in the air there are a couple of things to remember, firstly keeping you fluids up is very important so make sure you drink plenty of water and secondly make sure you get out of your seat as often as you feel you can, walking up and down the isle and stretching your legs will make you a lot more comfortable during the flight. Sleep is also a great idea if you’re the type of person who can, it has the dual advantage of not only passing time on the flight but it can also reduce the impact of jet lag depending on the direction of your flight.

These few little tips should help you get to your destination fresh and ready to enjoy your holiday!

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Are Vacation Homes A Big Waste of Money?

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Rent is a waste of money, or is it? That’s what we’ve been conditioned to believe for the last few generations. Even when the real estate market is more stable and prices are steadily increasing, buying a vacation home may not be the best decision for your wallet.

Should you buy a vacation home that you’ll only use a few months a year? Let’s take a look at a simplified example to highlight what it costs to own a vacation home. You purchase a vacation home, and the monthly costs including mortgage payment, real estate taxes, insurance, HOA, or other maintenance and utilities are $3,000 a month. You use the home for three months a year, although you’re paying for 12. So, you’re paying $3,000 a month for 12 months or $36,000 a year and using the home for three months at an effective cost of $12,000 per month ($36,000/3). You could seasonally rent a similar home in the same area for $4,000 per month or $12,000 for the season. You’d be paying $24,000 extra a year owning the home versus renting it ($36,000-$12,000). Over five years, you would have spent $120,000 more to own the home ($24,000 x 5 years). Yes, the home might appreciate, but you would have to subtract buying and selling closing costs and a potential real estate commission from any appreciation.

Let’s say you purchased a home for $400,000 plus $8,000 in closing costs for a total initial investment of $408,000. Let’s assume it increased in value 5% a year (higher than normal market conditions). It would be worth about $510,500 at the end of the fifth year. If you sold the home and subtracted a 6% commission and $8,000 in selling closing costs you would net about $471,900. Your approximate profit would be $63,900, but remember you would have spent an extra $120,000 to own instead of to rent the home for those five years which would actually mean you spent $56,100 more overall (-$120,000+$63,900).

Keep in mind that the home might have needed repairs and renovation work, which would have added to your cost as a vacation homeowner. You would, however, pay off some of your mortgage balance which would be a benefit of owning versus renting. But, know that during the first several years of a 30-year mortgage, typically 75% – 80% of each mortgage payment is interest and not principal repayment. You may also be able to deduct the mortgage interest on this second home, but the bottom line is for this vacation home, the overall financial costs would be greater than the benefits.

Every situation is different, but now you have the tools to conduct your own financial analysis. Sometimes it makes financial sense for you to buy versus rent a vacation home, and sometimes there are non-financial reasons to influence your decision. It is, however, better to make a big financial decision with your “eyes wide open” rather than with blinders on. You may avoid financial disappointment or hardship later.

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Picnic Coolers Keep Your Food Cold And Safe

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There is no doubt that going on a picnic can be a fun and enjoyable way to spend one’s lazy Saturday or Sunday. While picnicking is all fun and games, there’s a serious aspect to keeping your food cold and edible. Picnic coolers can make all the different when you’re taking a picnic on a hot summer day.

After you have spent an afternoon under the hot sun, you’re probably ready to take a shower. Keeping your picnic cooler clean is nearly as important as keeping yourself clean. After all, you’ll be putting your food into it again and you don’t want to store your food in something that isn’t clean.

There are benefits to keeping picnic coolers clean. First of all, if your cooler is clean, mold and mildew can’t grow inside of it. Getting rid of mildew is nearly impossible, so why risk allowing it to grow in the first place? Secondly, your food stays clean. You would never eat off of a dirty plate, right? So, why would you store your food inside of a space that is dirty? Lastly, if your cooler is clean, it will smell good. Mildew can cause a space to smell horribly and you’ll most likely have to just throw the cooler away.

So, how are picnickers keeping their picnic coolers clean? The most effective way to keep it clean is to ensure that it’s dry all over. Think about where most picnic coolers are probably stored? Whether it’s in the attic, the basement, or the garage, that cooler is going to get hot. The only things that bacteria really need in order to grow are moisture and warmth, so if you can eliminate the moisture factor, you’ll just be left with a hot cooler. After you have dried your cooler, wipe it down one more time with a dry cloth and then set it out in the sun. No matter how dry you think your cooler is, it might still have leftover moisture in its tiny cracks and scratches.

Even after you dry your cooler in the sun, you still need to ensure that it is completely clean. You can do that one of two ways. First, you can clean your cooler with alcoholic wipes. They’re inexpensive and the alcohol in them will purge your cooler of harmful bacteria. You can also clean the cooler by giving it a bleach bath.

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Pet Friendly Self Catering Holidays

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If you are in the process of booking a holiday for yourself and your family, you may have pondered with the idea of taking your dog along with you. Many families thoroughly enjoy taking their dog on holiday, it can be very rewarding both for the dog and its owners. Before booking, you will need ensure you find a pet friendly holiday, whether its a dog friendly cottage, log cabin or even a hotel. These are clearly advertised on all holiday sites, brochures and booking agents.

The most popular accommodation for owners taking their pets along is self catering accommodation. Many holiday home owners have specific properties that are suitable for dogs.

Its not just the accommodation you should carefully choose, but also the location. If you are visiting a rural location where there is lots of wildlife, is your dog prone to chasing rabbits or even sheep? Our pets can become very stressed when placed in unfamiliar surroundings and even act out of character. Carefully choose your accommodation and location before booking any holiday. The last thing you want if you to spend the whole getaway stressed and agitated. There are many ways to find the perfect holiday for you and your pet. Specialist internet sites carefully review and rate hotels and pet friendly self catering cottages throughout the UK. You can also visit forums and get first hand advice from people who have already been. From the gorgeous coastlines of Cornwall to the rural beauty of the Lake District, you will be spoilt for choice.

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