Hotel reviews

Traveling with dogs can sometimes be a challenge. In our case we have two dogs that are as different as day and night. One is an 80 lb. Labrador and the other a 5 lb. Papillion. So you might imagine what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for the other.

Living in South Florida we have been known to have our occasional hurricane. I’m here to tell you that I HATE storms. They announce one coming and the dust is trailing behind me! To complicate my fear of storms we have the 2 dogs and an elderly father that lives with us. So our exit out of town needs to be well thought out.

First of all, its important to have a list of necessary supplies. By having the list you aren’t rushing around at the last minute worrying that you’ve remembered everything. Things you might include on your list are your dog’s or cat’s vaccination record. If you don’t have one, at the very least have the vet’s phone number. He or she can always provide the information to you, should the need arise. Have a list of any medications your pet may be taking and the proper dosage. Water and food dishes, leads, collars and a few toys are a necessity when traveling with your pet. You want them to feel as comfortable and “at home” as possible.

For our lab, we have the option to take one of the back seats out so that he has plenty of room to stretch out. The Papillion gets an old pillow to rest on, or you may have a dog bed. Try to keep as much familiar for them as possible. This assists in keeping restlessness to a minimum.

We research our route well before heading out to make sure of which hotels are pet friendly. Be sure and call the hotel ahead of time. We have found that hotels we visited in the past, stopped accepting pets. We also found a wide range of additional fees for the stay. Holiday Inn Express is one of our personal favorites. I can not stress enough the need to phone ahead!

While in the car be sure your pet is always secured. We keep our dogs on a lead and have found this very helpful. Especially when someone is exiting or entering the car you don’t want the pet to dash out into traffic or up a tree and be harmed.

Like people, pets appreciate stretching their legs and the chance to relieve themselves. Most rest stops have designated areas for you to use. Be sure you take this time to water and exercise them. A happy pet makes for a happy owner and a pleasant trip.

Find PetFriendlyHotels and DiscountHotels at our HotelFinder website.

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A great vacation getaway location that you own, but don’t have all the responsibility for. What a concept! It used to be that timeshares were considered a fad. Some even thought them a scam. But now, years after their first introduction, thousands and thousands of timeshare owners are loving their investment not only for the great locations that are available, but also the financial benefits they can provide.

Those who invest in timeshares technically own a piece of the property with a lot of other investors. However, just like regular real estate, the values can go up - a lot. And, there are other financial benefits as well.

Timeshares tend to be located in some of the best vacation locations in the world. From the metro areas of Europe to the beaches of Florida, California and beyond, timeshares are generally found in the big tourist areas. They also come in a variety of sizes from regular hotel room type set ups to full condos, complete with kitchens, living areas and more. The flexibility on choice is simply amazing.

Investing in a timeshare brings financial benefits both to those who actually use their timeshares for their vacations and those who don’t. Let’s take a look at both.

Investors who use their timeshares can reap these financial rewards:
* Avoidance of hotel fees while on vacation. Since the property is already paid for through its monthly payments, a vacation location is guaranteed.
* Possible avoidance of exorbitant meal fees. Since a lot of timeshares come with their own full-size kitchens, many who use them can avoid the high cost of eating out. Of course, they might have to do the dishes, but the cost savings can be incredible.
* Resale value. Depending on the location and the timeshare’s condition, the value on these properties can really skyrocket. In areas like Florida where the housing market is going insane, property values are holding and getting better all the time.

For those who don’t use their timeshares for personal use, there are these advantages:
* Regular income from rental fees. Timeshares, of course, come with an allotted time each year (or several) where the owner can take advantage of the condo or room’s use. Owners who don’t use them, tend to rent them out. This can cover payment costs and sometimes even exceed it. If the timeshare is paid off, the benefit is cold, hard cash in the pocket.
* Trade value. Timeshare weeks can be traded with others. So, if you happen to own a timeshare in Florida and you’d like to spend a week in the Caribbean, it’s possible you can swap out with another owner for free.
* Resale value. As it is for the owner who takes advantage of their vacation time, the resale values can be quite high. The initial investment is generally returned and then some.

Timeshares are more than a passing fad. They’re the way thousands and thousands the world over now enjoy the benefits of “owning” their own vacation property without having to deal with all the hassles of upkeep and maintenance. Getting in on a timeshare can also bring with it some real financial benefits, as well.

Copyright (c) 2006

Aaron Vaughn writes about Timeshares and you can find more news and information about timeshares at the website Timeshare Spaces.

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We would like to suggest you a trip to Marrakech, Morocco for the simple reason that we help a convention there and we did find it a very interesting place to visit if you’re up for some ‘emotional inputs’ overdose. The ‘Great Imperial City’ is surely a great mix of sleepy infusions of meant tea, tasty spices and incenses tha spice up the air and of course great tasting food of the best moroccan gastronomy. The city of Marrakech is a assault to the senses in the middle of incredible old buildings that seem made out of colorful silk in a frame of sand of the ‘old good times’ of the imperial ‘belle epoque’.

If you do choose to go there, the first place that you’ll visit will be most probable the big square ‘Jeema-el-Fna’ that has inspired many many movies, including the well known Casablanca (that -yes- was not filmed in Casablanca but in Marrakech, the real cultural exotic capital of Morocco). Jeema-el-Fna is just a short stroll south of the main ’suk’ (traditional, labyrinth style market); the square seems to come directly out of a painting and it is full of visual experiences that hardly could be found anywhere else in the world, including snake trainers, silver merchants and much much more. We would suggest to use Jeema-el-Fna as a starting point to explore the fascinating city center of Marrakech and in particular the main ’suk’. The everchanging main suk is a melting pot of different misterious sounds, chants and also lovely odours and incredible colors that we’ve never seen around in the US (apart of paint stores).

You will find that in the main suk haggling is in fact art and you will soon have fun in the process + you will grab incredible deals on high quality goods. In the main market textiles hanging down from the ceiling of small rustic shops to dry might seem quite odd, but surely are goodlooking. The Medina of Marrakech (the old walled city center) is the oldest and the most big of Morocco and sometimes looks like a colorful maze ready to be explored for new enchanting experiences to be discovered and tasted. Old buildings are so elaborate and detailed that it looks like they’re made of carved wood.

In the Medina itself more than 300.000 people live and work making it a crowded but peaceful place where to observe life ‘flow’. A visit to Marrakech is not complete without a visit to the Koutoubia tower and the gardens of Agdal.

If you’ve got some time on your side we would like to suggest that you visit (tours or cars are easy to find) the nearby Atlas Mountains and of course the beginning of the Sahara desert, in fact Marrakech is the perfect base if you wish to explore one of the most interesting and beautiful area of Morocco and still be able to take advantage of modern comforts and high standards in Marrakech hotels.

If you want to read the full guide of Morocco and Marrakech by Rough Guides Ltd. for free please go to http://www.travelton.com/destinationguides.htm Thanks for reading.

http://www.travelton.com
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