We all use home appliances with some using them more than others, our day to day activities mean home appliances get used very often and as such they use a considerable amount of energy. We are all being encouraged to live our lives in a more environmentally friendly way and as such the government is helping us with our homes in terms of the home improvements we make.

As a result of the environmental issues that exist many of the leading brands have released energy efficient models of all their products. These include all major products such as washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers and these will not only help you do your bit for the environment but will also, and more importantly for many people, having these types of appliances will help you save money on your utility bills each month.

Appliances are products that you will not have to buy on a regular occurrence as long as you buy a good quality appliance in the first instance. These are definitely investments for the future as a good quality home appliance should be lasting you 10 years at least.

Unfortunately there are plenty of appliances that do not meet the required standard and as such you need to be careful with what you are buying. Buying from a trusted brand such as Hotpoint, Beko or Bosch is a good way of ensuring that you have brought a high quality product.

There are many different appliances that can be brought for the home and if you have never had one break down on you then you are very lucky as those who have not been so lucky will tell you. Appliances are very important to the running of our homes and you don’t realise how much you rely on something until you can not use it.

The best place to find all home appliances is online where you can also take advantage of all the services available such as home delivery which saves you having to transport the appliance yourself. One of the best services that online stores offer is they will dispose of your old appliance in an environmentally friendly way. This helps you as well as disposing of your old appliance can be quite difficult and very tiresome.

For cheap tumble dryers make sure you search online where there are also some great cooker deals available.

Our top travel secret isn’t really a secret at all, but it takes a while for some of us to learn and apply it. Here it is: Slow down. Slowing down and spending more time in each location is not only a secret of cheap travel, but in our experience, it means more fun.

Slowing Down For Cheap Travel

We returned yesterday (August 13, 2007) from a ten-day road trip, and I can report that going slower saved us money, as it usually does. This isn’t just about driving less, though when we started driving 200 miles in a day instead of 600 we certainly saved on gas. However, we also found that with time on our hands, we could do a better job shopping for a place to stay or to eat.

Make the big mile days the ones that pass through the boring stretches. Then when you come to an interesting place, find nice, affordable lodging and stick around a while. Once, while driving around the country camping in our van, we discovered hot springs in a wild part of Arizona, with picnic tables and bathrooms and desert hills to explore – everything we needed at the time. It cost just $3 per night, so it was easy to stay a while.

In fact, we stayed for eight days, enjoying the hot pools even during an unusual snowy day in the desert. We took daily hikes and hunted for antiquities and rocks in the surrounding hills, but more on that in a moment. Just once, we drove into the nearest town for groceries and water, so the entire eight days might have cost us $80 or so. That’s cheap travel.

Five years back we stumbled into a great mountain town where we wanted to stay a while. We were in town early, instead of our usual driving until evening and scrambling to find a hotel, so we had time to check things out without rushing. We asked around and heard about a hotel above a pub. The rest of the hotel rooms in town were generally $60 per night and up, but we got a room above the pub for $120 – for an entire week. It had a stove and refrigerator, so we could cook our own meals if we wanted to save more.

Slowing Down Means Better Travel Experiences

More important than the fact that slowing down means cheap travel is the fact that when you go slower you discover things you would have missed. While at the hot springs mentioned above, for example, we befriended a Mayan Indian who brought us to an old Pony Express station in the desert hills. It still had parts of the old walls remaining.

He showed us areas where we could find old arrowheads, and we found some. Out in the middle of the desert, he showed us perfectly round holes that had been drilled into the rocks hundreds of years earlier. They were used for water storage. In our van, we followed him to an area where ancient pottery littered the desert, and where gemstones could be found as well.

We wouldn’t have found these things on our own. The experiences were also only possible because we didn’t rush from one park to another, trying to fit as many “sights” into a trip as possible. It may not be a secret that a slow trip can be more interesting, but not many people seem to want to try this more relaxing, slower pace.

Where we stayed a week for $120 in that mountain town, we discovered area waterfalls and secret mountain lakes that only the locals knew about. The town was our base as we made trips into the surrounding area. Talking to people in local bars lead us to a well-preserved ghost town that wasn’t on our map. Its streets were still full of buildings and foundations, but no tourists – one other car pulled in while we were there.

Our travel secret number one: slow down to save money and enjoy the trip more.

There are some great options available to families who are looking to get away from the usual Christmas settings and spend it somewhere that the family will remember for many years to come. Children are the ones who probably enjoy Christmas the most as for the rest of us there is so much more to Christmas than the presents where as at a young age that is the best thing.

One great option for families this Christmas is to visit one of the holiday parks that have become so famous in the UK. The excitement that everyone gets when visiting one of these parks is insurmountable as there is so much to see and do for the whole family as well as providing the fun and excitement for all the children visiting.

If the giant Christmas tree is not enough for them then Santa’s grotto is sure to get them in the festive spirit (if they aren’t already that is!). There are a range of fun activities for the kids to do and these activities are tailored depending on their age so there are will always be plenty for them to do. The good thing is that all these activities are supervised by trained and qualified assistants so you do not need to worry about staying with them at all times.

This gives you the time you need and want at Christmas to kick back and relax as after all, you went there to ease the stress that can easily be a common thing at Christmas. All the preparation for the big Christmas dinner, getting all the presents, making sure the tree is up and the house decorated. Having the tree up and decorated is something that you should still do but you can miss out the dinner and let someone else cook and clean.

Christmas is meant to be a relaxing time for all and the events and shows that are on at the holiday parks will allow you to sit back and enjoy the entertainment put on by some of the UK’s best talent. Contestants from shows such as Britain’s Got Talent and the X-Factor will be on stage ready to perform for you all. A winter break at a holiday park is sure to bring the family a lot of joy with indoor and outdoor activities, you will never get bored.

If you are looking for UK family breaks this winter then go online and search between the great deals that the holiday parks have at the moment. Also, accommodation such as Bognor Regis hotels offers everything you could possible need.

As a child, I used to holiday in self catering accommodation with my parents. We’d hire a caravan for a week on one of those holiday parks. Check out http://www.travelglobal.co.uk/Self-Catering-Articles.php

I used to enjoy the environment as there was a pool and slot machines nearby, not to mention the beach and a small harbour where I went fishing.  They used to be fantastic holidays!

One of the things I remember is my parents cooking dinner. It was like home from home and I enjoyed it. I don’t think any child really enjoys eating out in restaurants like an adult does and anyway, the facilities you find these days for children, didn’t really exist in those days. I always deem myself lucky for those happy days. I would certainly recommend self catering for families.

We used to have a large breakfast in our self catering accommodation, then at lunch time, we would have something very light. For dinner, we would either eat out or have dinner where we were staying. As an adult now, I have done the same, and it works out quite a money saver. Of course, I didn’t have a large breakfast if I was going swimming in the morning!

To save money when I’m on holiday now, I usually eat in pubs as they tend to offer the best value for food. Without a shadow of doubt, eating out is the bulk of your spending on holidays, and this can be controlled quite easily without affecting your enjoyment.

For more reading on travel tips goto http://www.travelglobal.co.uk

Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts and its inland waters serve up a mouth-watering menu of marine cuisine. Depending on the time of year and where you are, you can dine on Apalachicola oysters, Fernandina Beach shrimp, St. Johns River blue crabs, Florida Bay lobsters, and Cedar Key clams, Grouper, mahi-mahi, largemouth bass, speckled perch, and trout.

For Starters – here are a few;

Conch Chowder – a creamy soup made with conch (a giant sea snail). Conch live in those shells that some of you buy in souvenir shops, take back home, put it to your ear and think that you can hear the ocean.

The two most common ways conch is prepared is in chowder or fried.

U-Peel-Shrimp

This is a dish consisting of shrimp cooked in a spicy broth.

Some Main Course dishes

Seared Tuna may be served with a mango salsa and grilled chayote (a type of squash). For the mango salsa; Fresh mangoes are blended with herbs, spices and scotch bonnet peppers for mild heat.

Chicken Tropicana This is a chicken dish with tropical fruit sauce, coconut and cashews. Dessert.

Key Lime Pie – you cannot mention Florida desserts without mentioning this Florida Signature dessert.

Key Lime Pie is filled with a tangy custard made from Key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and sugar. The pie is named after the small Key limes that are found throughout the Florida Keys.

Key lime juice is yellow, not green – so if it is green it is not authentic. To sample a day’s worth of Cuban delights (Cuban cuisine is a fusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean cuisine), begin at breakfast with a wedge of hot, buttered, Cuban bread with a cup of caf

? con leche — this is strong coffee with a some milk.

Other choices include frijoles negros (black beans), arroz con pollo (chicken and yellow rice), boliche (a beef roast, stuffed with chorizo sausage), Cuban mojo-roast pork, arroz salteado (salted rice), and deviled crab with hot sauce. Feast your eyes and stomach on a heaping dish of paella — rice mixed with a profuse amount of delights that may include mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, lobster, oysters, stone-crab claws, chicken, and/or pork.

To finish off, try flan, egg custard oozing with caramel sauce. Then go back to your Florida Vacation Rental Home and have a well earned rest.

Located in the center of the Iberian peninsula, 650 meters above sea level, we are Madrid, the capital of Spain. It has a population of 3,000,000 inhabitants, who joined the metropolitan area, is a figure in excess of 6,000,000.

The capital is a major financial and business center, with a significant amount of corporate head offices.

Excels in its cuisine cooked, tripe, churros (for breakfast and snacks), squid, potato tortilla, patatas bravas and the typical wines of the region.

The choice of hotels in Madrid is quite wide, with over 70,000 hotel rooms available.

Barajas airport is located at a distance of 15 kilometers along the motorway from Barcelona A-2. It has 4 terminals T1, T2, T3 and T4, which was the last one opened. It is accessible from the airport to the capital through the Metro Line 8 (Nuevos Ministerios-Aeropuerto T4).

Madrid’s climate is continental with cold winters (temperatures below 0 ?) and very hot summers (with temperatures above 40 degrees).

It is worth special mention are the San Isidro festival between 8 and 15 May and the feast of Our Lady of Almudena November 9, official patron of the Villa.

Notable Museums and Monuments:

-The Royal Palace in Madrid. It is located near Bailen street and Plaza de Oriente. It was opened by King Charles III. Neoclassical style, is considered one of the finest palaces in Europe. It has excellent facilities among which stand out, the Jardines de Sabatini, Annexes, Campo del Moro and the Throne Room.

“Puerta de Alcala: Monument of reference of the city of Madrid. It is located in Independence Square, at the confluence of the Calle Alcala and Calle Alfonso XII. It was built by Sabatini in 1778, by order of Charles III.

-The Museo del Prado is located on the Paseo del Prado. It is an ancient neoclassic style palace built by Juan de Villanueva. Its construction was completed during the reign of Ferdinand VII. Exhibition of the Flemish school are El Greco, Titian and Murillo.

“In the Plaza de Moncloa we find the Arch of Victory. This stands on a platform of 130 by 42 meters and a height of 39 meters. Dedicated to arms and letters, is the work of the architect Modesto Lopez Otero and Pascual Bravo.

Places of interest:

-Casa de Campo: a large forest in the city with pines and cedars. Within the same are in the Amusement Park and the Madrid Zoo.

-Parque del Retiro: green lung of the capital with numerous fountains and statues. There is a small lake where we can make boating.

-Parque Warner theme park located in the municipality of San Martin de la Vega, 29 kilometers south of the city. It can be reached by car via the motorway A-4 Andalusia in train from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha and by bus from the Plaza de Legazpi.

I am a bit crazy about elephants and this is something I have wanted to do for some time.
After lazing on the beach at Nakamanda in Krabi for four days to acclimatise, having come from the snow in Britain, and soaking up the charming Thai hospitality, we headed up to Chaing Mai.
The Thai Conservation Centre in Lampang, about an hour outside Chiang Mai, is set in parkland and jungle. It is bigger than I had expected and we were booked into participate in the 3 day VIP Mahout elephant training course. The VIP part just ensures you have your own elephant and Mahout for the entire time and there are only 4 participants in the group. From the moment you arrive, after donning your mahout suit, you are with the elephants.
My ele was called Tradang, he is 32 and has a hole in one ear. Charming! The first thing that struck me was his size – he stood about 9 or 10 feet high – it was a long way up there! It was a bit scary at first, although I soon got into the swing of it and began to learn about the special bond between a mahout and his/her elephant. The next challenge was getting off!
Three days of constant contact and interaction with extremely well loved, well trained and well cared for elephants followed.  (Incidentally, we there is also a wonderful elephant hospital that treats and looks after elephants sent from all over Thailand.) From 6.30 or 7am to 4 or 5pm each day we were with our elephants, feeding, bathing, training and even participating in the daily show. My elephant was particularly keen on bathing me as well as himself and I was always absolutely soaked after the bathing session.
We took our elephant to a different part of the forest each night. The accommodation in individual chalet style cabins is spacious, basic and clean and the food is home cooked to order by the very friendly staff.
Until you ride & spend time with an elephant you really can’t imagine how intelligent and how intuitive they are. The last day of the course it was my birthday and I was in heaven riding out to the water hole at sunrise on my elephant.

Switzerland; The very mention of the name inspires visions of a veritable heaven on Earth – with its perfectly manicured landscapes, ever changing sceneries, amazing weather and one of the most advanced transportation networks in the world… Switzerland offers many worlds, each and every day, that one explores this country!

Be it in the shadows of the Swiss Alps, or by the river Rhine, or the Spa Facilities at Bad Ragaz & Leukerbad, or even quaint little Hamlets of Grindelwald & St. Moritz, the soothing pace and the climate of this paradise country, will not only fill your mind with fresh air, but the picture perfect country-sides, and the mere sounds of silence, will rejuvenate your body & soul.

What better way to explore and enjoy Switzerland other than go with the experts Swiss Holidays. With its experienced tour planners, its excellent track record of endless happy guests and its Swiss Roots -Having their own office in Zurich – The Swiss Holidays offers a unique opportunity to the people of The Gulf to spend an unforgettable vacation on this heaven on Earth.

Swiss Holidays offers you many exciting tour package options for you to choose from. You are spoilt for choice between the pristine cities of Interlaken, Luzern, Grindelwald, Zermatt, St. Moritz, Laussane and the mountain excursions of Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, Pilatus, Titlis Rotair, Mt. Rigi and many more. The terrific train journey to Kleine Scheidegg via Lauterbrunnen is full of fun and excitement. The famous Jungfrau Railways will take you to the highest station in Europe. The captivating snow peaks of Jungfraujoch, – from where Sunny Deol jumped into the depths, in his Bollywood Starrer “The Hero” are there to mesmerize you. You may visit the Ice Cave with its ice formations or else explore the snow on the glacier. A scenic train will take you to Luzern via the Br?nig Pass. You can enjoy a cruise on Lake Luzern, travel by boarding the steepest cogwheel rail in the world upto Mt. Pilatus (2’132 m/7’000 ft).

The spectacular snowcapped 4000m + Alpine peaks and beautiful lakes make the country a true heaven for tourists. Chocolates, Cheese and Clocks – one of the many things that Sweet Memories are made of, are all found here in their purest forms. You can visit the largest city in Switzerland, Zurich, the Capital and one of the most happening places in the country. The grandeur of the finest churches, contrasts with sparkling treasures like the frescoes of M?stair or the abbey complex of St. Gallen, both World Heritage sites.

Interlaken is a rich and one of the most popular cities in Switzerland. Nestled between the lakes of Thun and Brienz and at the foot the famous three Swiss Peaks: the Eiger, the M?nch and the Jungfrau, Interlaken beckons you with its breathtaking environs.

You may explore legendary city of Luzern by visiting the 700 year old wooden Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument and of course the premium Shopping Establishments. A shoppers paradise, so do not forget to claim the VAT refunds when you depart from this vacation of a lifetime……..

The Swiss Holidays offers you the option of choosing from five star hotels to Luxury Apartments or private chalets for long stays with fully furnished interiors including cooking facilities and private car parks – so the next time anyone thinks of a holiday, pack up for Switzerland, and book your “Holiday of a Lifetime” with http://www.theswissholidays.ae/.

Most often than not, couples spend so much of their preparation time on the wedding details that they tend to overlook the specifics of their honeymoon.

Unfortunately, the honeymoon usually comes right after the chaos of wedding celebrations giving newlyweds no time to rectify their lack of preparation. So, they just rush into their pre-booked flights and discover too late that they have cooked up a big anti climax instead of a spectacular highlight. You don’t want to commit the same mistake.

Set a time to sit down and talk it over. You don’t need to allot more than a day or two to do this. Most couples tend to forgo after-wedding preparations because of the erroneous belief that it will take so much time from their hectic schedule for before-the-wedding preparation. In fact, you can discuss the matter during your free time together such as during lunch or dinner. The important thing is that you have allotted a particular time to talk about your ideas on where and how you want to spend your first few days or weeks as a married couple. This will give you the right mind-set to focus on just one topic – your honeymoon!

Agree on a budget. Weddings can be costly and you don’t want to worry about your finances during your first year as a couple. So, set a budget that you can afford and not a budget that you wish you had. This amount will guide you in choosing where you can go, where you can stay, what entertainment options you can enjoy and what types of restaurants you can visit. Remember, you don’t have to break the bank to have a wonderful honeymoon. All it takes is good planning and a touch of creativity on your part.

Discuss where you want to celebrate love and romance together. It is important to see eye to eye on your destination. You want to have a great time as a couple, so you want to consider each others interests when choosing a honeymoon spot. You may also want to recall the places you’ve visited together and consider the sites that gave both of you much fun and excitement. It could be a tropical beach, a winter getaway, a glamour camping trip or an African safari.

Book everything in advance. Early birds do not just get to save but also get to have more time to enjoy. Advance bookings, from your flights to your massages, usually get discounted prices compared to on-the-spot appointments. When you get to your destination, you will not have to waste your precious time on this mundane task but you can immediately get on with having a good time. Moreover, it’s a convenient way to avoid joining the usual queue. With pre-bookings, you can be sure to have your preferred restaurant, service or activity available at your convenience.

Finally, take advantage of honeymoon perks on offer. Hotels, restaurants, spas and what-have-you usually have special prices and/or freebies for newly weds. So take time to find out what privileges are available for you to enjoy. These bonuses are usually designed to create an atmosphere of romance and passion for the newlyweds – just perfect, don’t you think?  Oh… And congratulations!

Need help planning a Family Staycation. Look no further, here is a quick guide for tips on planning your family’s Staycation.
Camping-Set up a tent! If you would like a camping staycation set up a tent in the back yard. If it seems like rain, set up the tent in the garage or maybe in the middle of your living room! It doesn’t matter where the tent is so long as you sleep in it. If you do not have a tent just pull out the sleeping bags and sleep under the stars or by the fireplace inside. No sleeping bags? Use blankets! You don’t need much gear to have a fun family camping trip to nowhere!
Out of the Kitchen–Cook out or pack a picnic! During your staycation you need to stay clear of the kitchen as much as possible. Either plan on cooking on the griddle or prepare picnic items that you can instantly grab from the fridge. Eat on a blanket outside or on the sitting room floor if the weather is bad. Or try something else by arranging a make-your-own pizza night or salad bar night. Both are good options if it’s raining and you are compelled to eat indoors. Tell stories as you eat and enjoy yourselves! Switch off the TV! No Television in a staycation… None! No PCs or cell telephones either. This is family time. Play board games, read books aloud, sing songs, tell stories, go for a stroll, ride bikes, climb trees. Just do something different!
Invite the Neighbors–Round up the neighbors! Want your staycation to be even more fun? Ask the neighbors to go on a staycation at the same time as you! Get together for B.B.Q.s and yard games. Take turns swimming in each others pools. Go spend a group day together at a park. Have family day at a local lake. Or have a family friendly block party! Take day trips! If you’re taking a whole week off or even a weekend off plan some day trips.
Be a Tourist–If you were on a regular vacation you would get out to see the sites. So you must do the same on your staycation! Visit a museum or go to the local library. Visit your fire station or police station. Walk around graveyards to take a look at old gravestones. Or take a ride to the lake or the beach or visit a store you haven’t ever been to. And save cash on food by bringing your own lunch.
Work- Get work done!– What? Working on a staycation? Sure! Why not! Work can be good fun when you do it as a family. Does your place need painting? Have a painting party! Invite everybody you know and ask them to bring food. Everybody can paint in the day then have a pleasant pot luck dinner in the evening. Those who need to spend the night can bring their own tents. This is a way and inexpensive way to do a huge task that you routinely would have to hire somebody to finish for you.
Swap homes!– If you are unable to afford to get away but you actually do need to get away considering swapping houses with another relative just so you may have a change of views. Perhaps you would like to run away from the town and can swap homes with someone that wants to get out of their little city for a bit. Or perhaps you can trade your lake front home for your best buddy’s beach house. Or perhaps you just need to enjoy a different back yard for a change. The entire point is to keep it inexpensively and to enjoy yourself. Family Staycation here you come!

What you just about Family Staycation Ideas is just the beginning. To get more ideas and everything you ever wanted to know about Staycations, Here is the absolute best source we uncovered, Staycation Nation or Staycation Ideas