Ten years ago cheap French property brought a lot of people to the country. New air routes were opening up and with the associated cheap flights it became much easier to get here. As a result, prices increased more or less everywhere and finding cheap property in France isn’t as easy as it was. They are still out there though, and I have an extra little tip that the French use that could save you eight or nine per cent of the price if you buy your French house from the right place!
The price of the property you are looking for will, of course, depend a great deal on location. A flat in Paris or Cannes is never going to be cheap. On the other hand a French farmhouse in need of renovation at the eastern end of the Loire valley can still be had remarkably cheaply. The cost of renovation is another matter and will depend to a large extent on whether you want to get your hands dirty or if you have the necessary skills.
Whether you think something qualifies as cheap French property will also depend on your budget and the kind of house you are looking for. The French tend to prefer to buy new so renovation properties remain affordable. On the other hand coastal properties, like in most other countries, command a premium. If you’re not concerned about fast international travel then you will find prices cheaper away from the airports and main cities. The center of France (a big rural area of farms and forests) is least expensive, with properties in the “Indre” region probably the cheapest of all.
But what about that saving I mentioned? Getting your dream home for six, seven, eight or even nine per cent less may not be exactly cheap French property but it’s nice not to have to pay it!
The trick is to avoid the real estate agents (called “immobiliers”) and look for the “notaires”. Notaires are the people who do the conveyancing. You need one to handle your French property purchase by law. It’s not something you can avoid but you shouldn’t be at all concerned about it. Charges are fixed by the French government and notaires are highly qualified. The interesting thing a lot of people don’t know is that notaires can also offer houses for sale.
What difference will that make? Well a French real estate agent will charge you somewhere between five and ten per cent on top of the asking price of the property. In France, the buyer pays that fee so it’s common practice – and sensible – to allow ten per cent on top of the advertised price to cover all eventualities. On the other hand your notaire normally wants much less – they make their money on the paperwork so they don’t need to make it on the actual house sale!
It’s true that perhaps you don’t get the same level of help from a notaire that you might from a good agent. Not all agents are good though! If your command of French is reasonable (most won’t speak much English) then you could save yourself thousands!
Although the rules may differ slightly the housing market in France is like any other. Cheap French property is still out there if you know where to look and are prepared to compromise. Take your time, learn some French and have a good look in the notaire’s wndow!

With the credit crunch hitting us even harder just as we unpack our suitcases, people are going through extreme measures to accumulate a little extra cash. Travel insurance scams have seen an 80% increase recently as the credit crunch develops with holiday makers claiming on items which have not even been stolen or claiming for more than the items actually worth. Some people have booked holidays but now cannot afford to go on them; you will lose your deposit if you can’t attend your holiday if pre-booked. So people are paying a visit to the doctor and pretending to be ill so they can obtain a sick note, they can then use this sick note to legally get a full refund from the holiday provider. It is extremely hard to determine a genuine claim as the foreign police are often uninterested in lost or stolen items such as cameras or ipods resulting in low prosecution rates for fraud abroad. With the number of claims increasing it has forced the insurance companies to act, they now look out for tell tale signs from a claimant and can determine a fraudulent claim much easier now than a genuine claim. They are however, reluctant to release these signs. If you have a claim rejected, it will be marked on your credit rating and will remain there for three to six years. This has also forced the insurance companies to bump up their premiums resulting in the honest genuine people paying more whilst the frauds claim the extra cash. You can still save money on travel insurance by shopping around and comparing quotes.

The Vietnam’s first luxury tour company LUXURY TRAVEL will be presented  with a Excellent Product and Service Awards 2008 from the Vietnam Small and Medium Enterprise Association on Sunday 4 Jan 2009 in Hanoi.

According to Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Mr. Hoang Trung Hai, the criterias for this prestigious award certificate the quality of the products and services of the player in the market.

This is the annual award of the Vietnam Small and Medium Enterprise Association with the purpose of honoring the most outstanding faces in thousands of companies in Vietnam.

This year, the organization committee will award 100 enterprises national wide in all sectors, the economy components, including the enterprises with 100% foreign capital operating effectively in Viet Nam. Luxury Travel will be awarded for the most Excellent Product and Service Awards in Vietnam in 2008 in the tourism industry.

The “Excellent Product and Service Awards 2008” award ceremony will be organized solemnly at Hanoi Opera House on 04 Jan 2009 and live broadcast on the Viet Nam National Televisions VTV1 and VTC1.

The organization committee expects the presence of many high ranking officials of States, Party and Government at the event live on TV, among others, Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet – President of Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr. Le Kha Phieu former General Secretary of the Communist Central Committee of Vietnam, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Doan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, Mr. Nguyen Ðuc Kien, Vice President of the National Assembly.

“We are very proud of this Excellent Product and Service Award 2008 as it is acknowledgement of our continued efforts to create the niche tourism products for high-end tourists and deliver the right experiences with best available services. We are a small company but we still believe small is beautiful” Mr. Pham Ha, Founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Vietnam said:

“We recently returned from our wonderful 15 day journey to Vietnam and Cambodia arranged by Luxury Travel” attested Pamela Solvang, a journalist from Shark Tivi, Texas, USA. “We can’t thank Luxury Travel enough for providing such an excellent travel experience for us from start to finish. The three of us on this trip have all traveled extensively, all around the world. We have used the best luxury travel companies in the US and elsewhere and can says that Luxury Travel Vietnam have moved to top notches of all”

Notes to Editors

Luxury Travel Co., Ltd. (Vietnam) is a 100% fully registered and privately-owned Vietnamese company. It was founded by luxury travel specialists since the 1990s when Vietnam had just opened its doors to worldwide tourism.

The Luxury Travel Company is Vietnam’s first luxury tour company and full travel service agency. Luxury Travel is experienced in providing special services and unique tourism products to luxury global travelers.  The company’s depth of experience and large infrastructure enable it to create unique itineraries with the operational confidence to fulfill client expectations.

Luxury Travel Company’s main business activities – luxury inbound/outbound operator, luxury adventures, custom tours, romance, wellness and spa, MICE, family travel and private travel arrangements for VIP stars, celebrities, Royal and Government clientele, private jet and yacht cruises…nothing is impossible in the whole luxury meaning.

Last year, the company served 10,000 satisfied customers. Among Luxury Travel’s clients are ambassadors, senators, Russian millionaires, CEOs and presidents of Oman Oil Company, royalty and Oman Royal Government ministers, French ministers, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada…and others.

Luxury Travel operates two brands – Luxury Travel and Premium Travel, both for high-end travelers who are inbound and outbound. They are both registered by the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam.

Luxury Travel is a member of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), American Association of Travel Agents (ASTA), Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Vietnam E-Commerce Association (VECOM), Vietnam Tourist Association (VITA).

Luxury Travel has several locations throughout Vietnam. The Head Office is located in Hanoi. Branch offices are located in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Danang, Sapa and Nha Trang. All company operations are run by experienced, creative managers and guides. The Luxury Travel Team includes more than 50 people located throughout Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Luxury Travel has won numerous other awards in Vietnam including the most recent award: Vietnam’s Top Trade Service Awards 2007, Integration and Development Businesses Awards 2008, Cultural Entrepreneur Awards 2008, Excellent Performance – The Guide Awards 2007-2008, Vietnam’s Excellent Product and Service Awards 2008 and Most Nominated So Far for Vietnam’s Best Service Awards 2008.

Luxury Travel is headquartered in Hanoi and has offices around Vietnam and management offices in Laos and Cambodia. It pioneered luxury tourism development in the early 2004. Today, Luxury Travel boasts a 5-year industry track record and brands that are recognized nationally and worldwide. www.luxurytravelvietnam.com

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/.

Coventry, the world?s first twin city is located in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry cathedral is the newest cathedral in the world and the town boasts of an ever-expanding motor industry.
Tourist and frequent passengers alike, travel to Coventry. For a tourist, a UK tour features the town for its industrial richness. Let us first attempt to understand what an average tourist would like to do just after boarding in the town.
Obviously, unless he has a unique agenda, he may wish to see a few places of interest in town. This can be made possible with a rented car. Fortunately, there is no dearth of car rental suppliers. Cars are available for as cheap as 20 pounds and the prices can vary up to 140 pounds in general conditions and can go a notch or two higher for fancy high-end cars.
Who can shy away from the fact that tourists get peace of mind when they know in advance that some car on rental is ready for them? In such a case, they begin to anticipate convenient traveling; this alone takes away a lot of their stress – much of it caused by transportation issues. Fortunately, almost everyone can rent a car easily online these days.
Visit a car rental website that ties up with many top car rental suppliers. They may cater to over 400 car suppliers globally. By going to a Global car hire search engine, a traveler can get the type of car he wants, at cheaper rates. The rates that he will get is all inclusive and there shouldn’t be any hidden costs. These are usually the best rates available.
Let?s take up both statements. Primarily, the rates are all inclusive as it covers for Road fund taxes and VAT and other local taxes. Further more, the breakdown assistance is for free. In the event of any cancellation prior to traveling, they also waive the cancellation fee. Apart from this, there is a premium location fee charged by most car hire agencies for showing you the best places around. Bookings made through an online car search portal may enable you to waive this fee. Note that this is only possible if you book through car rental portals. There is also a car theft indemnity for the travelers.
Let?s understand the second point; An online car rental network manages to give the best possible fare, a largely discounted one, as it negotiates through various car rental suppliers at the same time. In a world where market is governed by the need to survive through fierce competition, each company tries to provide the best possible deal to be in business. Thus, the consumer stands to benefit.
All a traveler needs to do is go to a car rental website and search the engine for the bookings. Once he fills in his details comprising of his personal details along with preferred car type, driver?s age and preferred location, the engine makes a booking for him and provides him with a confirmation number. This number is his proof of rental once he alights at the Coventry airport.

When you go on a luxurious vacation, be prepared to shell out premium price. However, you tend to pay less when you make detailed plans.

To start, make clear and concise goals. Do you need the vacation for healing purposes? Or just traveling to relax your mind. Different people travel for different reasons. Try to reconcile your needs with those of your travel companions. To avoid tension, be sure to discuss your plans openly with whoever you are traveling you. Come to a common understanding early.

Everything else becomes easier to plan for when you are clear about what you want. For example, if you are traveling to relax, focus more on that. Who will you be traveling with? Make a list of the equipment that you will need. How many days do you intend to spend golfing? It is sometimes good to have variety.

Variety actually helps to keep your entertained throughout the entire trip. You want want to plan for a massage session after a full day of sight seeing. Your vacation will then be filled with fun and exciting activities.

In sum, make sure that your plan works in your favor. Don’t set yourself up for more stress. Distractions are abundant, so you must be careful not to let them spoil your vacation. If possible, leave all your work and worries behind. Having some peaceful moments to yourself is rare and precious. Your travel plan will help you achieve that.

Now is the time to choose a luxury vacation destination. Where would be most ideal? Each destination will have its own unique characteristics. But there will be a place that will appeal to your own personal preferences.

On luxury holidays, you will be staying in villas instead of resorts. We are not talking about resorts here. Villas are private dwellings with their very own facilities. They are very private, and offers a lot of peace and quiet. For this simple reason, the rental will be much higher. But in return, you get more space.

The most expensive destinations are those from developed countries. This is because real estate prices are high in such countries. Therefore, you can expect the prices of such villas to be two or three times more than villas in other destinations.

For a much lower price, you can enjoy staying in villas in Asian countries. In these countries, land is a lot cheaper, and you get to enjoy breath taking scenery and beautiful beaches without having to pay premium prices.

In addition, you will also see sights that you don’t normally see in western destinations. For example, you can visit temples and learn more about the eastern culture. A quick visit to Bali, and you will immediately experience what we have just mentioned. Even the architecture of the villas look and feel different. Depending on your group, you may stay on small villas with one to three rooms, or larger villas with 4 to 5 rooms.

When you stay in an Asian villa, you save a lot of money, and you enjoy similar experiences. You just have to know where to look. Other interesting luxury destinations include Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii, and Caribbean.

By buying travel insurance you can make sure that your holiday is going to be as stress-free as possible. If something goes wrong while you away from home, you want to make sure that you can deal with it, as quickly and efficiently as possible. A wisely chosen travel policy will assist you in achieving this goal. Buying travel insurance is an essential part of your preparation, although it involves adding to the cost of your holiday at the outset, it could save you a great deal of time and money if any problems should arise. So, where to begin? It is important to shop around when buying your travel insurance. There are a number of different policies on the market offering different levels of cover suitable for different needs. Most insurers will have websites where you can view their policies online. You should make sure that you check both the benefits and the exclusions of a policy before you buy. Some policies may look cheap, but if you check the exclusions or look at the amount of excess you will have to pay if you want to make a claim, they may work out as less cost effective than a policy with a more expensive premium. Investigating the reputation of your insurer before you buy a policy is a good way to ensure that making a claim is likely to be as hassle free as possible. AA Travel Insurance, Go Travel Insurance and 1Stop Travel Insurance are all recommended insurers as members of the Drakefield Insurance Group, which, since its incorporation in 1998, has established itself as a reliable insurer, winning a number of awards. Although all insurers are regulated by the Financial Services Authority, consumer reviews indicate that not all companies are supportive when it comes to making claims.