Buying Train Tickets in France

Taking the train is a simple way to travel in France, and it can also be done very cheaply. We show you how to buy tickets at bargain prices.

SNCF, the French national train operator, seem to have taken a leaf out of the book of the UK railway companies in having a pricing structure that is almost incomprehensible, even to the French!

Does it make sense to book at the last minute, or is it best to book well in advance? Would if be cheaper to buy a rail pass, or simply travel using promotional offers?

You can never be quite sure, although the general principle to apply is that the best offers can be found by paying in advance. However, as SNCF seek to optimise the number of passengers on each train, you also need to take into account the time and day of your departure.

To help you through the maze of tariffs and cards, here is a brief explanation of just what there is available.

Tarif Loisir

This is that standard SNCF ticket tariff that applies irrespective of age.

The tickets can be purchased 90 days in advance, or right at the last moment.

They are also fully reimbursable right to the day of departure, although there is a charge of €10 per ticket (or 50% of ticket price if less than €20) if you seek reimbursement on the day of departure itself.

The nearer the date of departure, the more expensive the tickets become, in some case up to 50% more expensive for those tickets purchased at least one month in advance.

'Les Prem’s'

These are tickets purchased in advance for departure on a particular date, at a particular time.

They offer a reduction in price on the Tariffs Loisir of up to 70%.

They are not always available to all destinations in France, but most are direct trains.

There are different types of Prem’s:

i. Standard Prem’s – These tickets are available between 3 months and 14 days before departure, costing between €22 and €33 for journeys throughout France. Around 10% of all seats on French trains are reserved for such tickets.

ii. Prem’s Weekend – Provided you are happy to arrive around 0100 hours at your destination and arrival points, these tickets are also very good value. The cost is between €25 and €45 per ticket.

iii. Prem’s Dernier Minute – Last minute tickets sold only over the Internet, provided places are available, up to 60% cheaper than the standard rate. They are normally available three to ten days prior to departure.

iv.Prem’s Vente Flash – These are promotional tickets that are available from time to time.

iDTGV

The iDTGV is a low cost high speed train tariff, aimed mainly at young people, but available to anyone!

The main aim of the tariff is to compete with the low cost airlines.

The service offers a choice of comfort, whether in a coach for relaxation, or one for disco dancing!
There are also DVD rentals and other high tec offers available.

The train takes the same routes as the normal TGVs, and, indeed, most are part of the regular TGV service.

There are both day and night trains, with departures from most main stations in France.

Tickets can be had for a little as €15 one way for many journeys between the major cities of France. A return train ticket to Paris from Bordeaux can be purchased for €38! The earlier you book, and the more flexible you are on the times and dates, the cheaper is the ticket.

Tickets can be booked up to six months in advance, and go on sale from a specified date every three months.

The tickets are non-reimbursable, although they can be exchanged.

The tickets can only be purchased and printed on-line on the site of iDTGV.

French Rail Passes

There are a range of different rail passes available that offer price reductions of a minimum of 25% on standard fares.

They are normally valid for a year, and the tickets are reimbursable.

The cards also offer ‘S Miles’ that are convertible into tickets or presents.

i. Carte 12-25 – The most interesting of all the cards, offering reductions of up to 60% off the standard fare. The card costs €49.

ii. Carte Enfant + - Available for children under 12 years old with one card that offers price reductions for up to four other people accompanying the child. Price reductions of a minimum of 25% on the standard fare are offered. The cost of the card is €70 per year.

iii. Carte Senior – Available to those aged 60+ it costs €56 and offers price reductions of up to 50% on the standard fare.

iv. Carte Escapades – Available to those aged 26-59 it costs €85 per year and offers reductions of up to 40% for return tickets, which must include a Saturday night.

v. Forfait Bambin – A child under 4 years old can travel free of charge on the lap of an adult on a French train, but by using this card they get their own seat. The cost is €8.20.

vi. Carte Familles Nombreuses – Available to families with at least three children. It costs €18 and offers reductions of between 30% and 75%.

Buying Tickets for Trains in France

Tickets for trains can be purchased either from a local SNCF rail or travel office, or over the internet at www.voyages-sncf.com

Colour coding of the tickets gives you an idea of the price range: the orange band is the cheapest, with blue for normal, and grey for the most expensive.

Remember, however, that iDTGV trains need to be purchased direct from their site.

In addition, there are other sites where you can buy unwanted tickets, or where you can sell your own.

The main sites are KelBillet.com, Trocdestrains.com and Zepass.com

Enjoy your journey!

Learn more at http://www.french-property.com/news/

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Riding Motorcycle on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Vietnam

An eleven-person, a 18-day trip with 11 -day motorcycle trip through Vietnam during the hottest part of the year may sound like an endurance test to some, but for John Kerry, vice president of Motorcycle Travel Club in USA. It’s a vacation.

From August 30 to September 17, Kerry, two guides and nine others will make the 800-mile journey from Hanoi to Hoi An riding small motorcycles down the country's eastern coast. A combination of off-road and highway riding, their route will take them to sites such as the Phong Nha Cave, widely hailed as the most beautiful in the region; Hue, the imperial capital of feudal Vietnam; and China Beach, the site of the first major Marine landing of the Vietnam War.

Active Travel Asia, a professional adventure company that offers bicycle and motorcycle tours throughout the country, is arranging the trip. Kerry's group paid $1,954 per person, but prices vary depending on the size of the group and the route.

The company provides most of the essentials: motorcycles, fuel, escorted van, camping equipment, food and guides. Tourists need only supply their own clothing and transportation to and from Hanoi. But Kerry, an Adventure Travel Editors, is preparing for the trip in other ways.
"I'm taking motorcycle tour here and I’m eager to travel to Vietnam war in the past," Kerry, 65, says, adding in an e-mail: "I'm happy to challenge this historial trail on a motorcycle after more than 30 years, and handling the rougher parts of the Ho Chi Minh Trail [the route that the North Vietnamese used to travel to South Vietnam during the war]. I'm told some of it is no more than a cow path." Though Active Travel Asia's Web site (www.activetravelvietnam.com) warns of the "no rule" nature of Vietnamese streets in several alarming sections, it also promises that the company takes tourists on the safest roads. Despite those reassurances, Kerry is taking few chances. He requested that the tour begin outside Hanoi, though it usually starts within city limits.

"I was not going to drive in that crowded traffic, probably the bad traffic in Vietnam," says Kerry, who plans to write about his experiences for your daily newspapers. "I do know Hanoi has one of the highest fatality rates in the world."

Though cool on the prospect of motoring through Hanoi, Kerry does plan on spending several days in the capital before his tour begins. "I'll visit the site where John McCain was held prisoner for 5 1/2 years, known to American POWs held there as the Hanoi Hilton," he says. "I'll also revisit Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum in Hanoi's Ba Dinh Square. I'm curious if the Vietnamese still line up to file past his open coffin to view his preserved corpse... And, of course, [I'll see] the French architecture, which dominates the Old Quarter of the city."

As excited as he is about the visceral thrills of the motorcycle trek, the chance to immerse himself in Vietnam's history is even more enticing. "As a young reporter the war was going on and I covered a lot of campus demonstrations working for MTC," he says. "Having traveled there in the spring of 1993, I got even more interested in it. Hanoi was just coming alive then. Southern Vietnam was obviously much more developed than the North so I'm looking forward to seeing it now, almost 17 years later."

By Bobby Nguyen

Recommended websites about motorcycling tours in Vietnam:

- Motorcycle Vietnam Travel Guide
- Ride Ho Chi Minh Trail tours
- Motorbike Tours in Vietnam

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Teaching English Abroad Can Improve your Job Prospects

Teaching English abroad isn’t just a great opportunity to get paid to travel – TEFL can also be a valuable way to boost communication, leadership and interpersonal skills, making teaching English as a foreign language an astute career move for those having difficulties finding work in today’s highly competitive jobs market.

In a survey of employers by the Association of Graduate Recruiters, 55% felt that graduates lack soft skills, such as communication and leadership skills. A stint teaching English abroad can change all that though: TEFL teachers who successfully bridge language and cultural barriers in the classroom in order to teach their students can certainly prove that their communication and interpersonal skills are up to scratch. While standing in front of large classes of students (often rowdy kids!) every day and keeping control boosts leadership and presentation skills.

Chris Cockcroft, 25, who taught English in South Korea for a year after graduating from university in Leeds, said: “The most important skill I gained while teaching English abroad was the ability to think quickly and not panic. Teaching English is different every day, so it teaches you to organise and prioritise your workloads and be ready for anything.

“It also gives you a great deal of confidence in dealing with all manner of people no matter what language they speak, and the international experience never fails to impress potential employers.”

What’s more, teaching English abroad is the perfect opportunity to learn a new language, another useful addition to any CV. TEFL teachers often take part in ‘language swaps’, where they offer private English tuition in return for lessons in the language of the country in which they’re teaching. Mike Sciola, director of the career resource centre at Connecticut's Wesleyan University, said: "Getting fluent in another language, particularly Chinese or Spanish, but even now Hebrew or Arabic, gives you a distinct advantage." Fortuitously, many TEFL jobs are in China and South America, making learning Chinese or Spanish a realistic possibility.

Now is also the perfect time to take the plunge and start teaching English abroad. According to Charles Ball, research director at the Higher Education Careers Services Unit, the graduate jobs market in the UK will not fully recover until 2013. So, those who choose to boost their CV by teaching English as a foreign language for a year or two can do so in the knowledge that they’re not missing out on a wealth of opportunities at home.

Those wanting to get TEFL qualified and start teaching abroad should speak to one of i-to-i’s TEFL advisors on +44 (0) 800 093 2552 or visiting http://www.onlinetefl.com/. For media enquiries contact honor.baldry@i-to-i.com.

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Real Estate in Mexico - Cozumel Recognized as Safest Community

TOPMexicoRealEstate is currently presenting Cozumel Real Estate as one of Mexico's safest communities and ideal retirement destinations. Recent national and international acknowledgments have distinguished Cozumel Real Estate as not only a safe community, but one of the safest that exists.

This important factor, along with Cozumel's small community, beachfront lifestyle and the close proximity to beautiful and protected nature make Cozumel an ideal choice for those looking for a relaxing retirement, or a secure, healthy atmosphere for family living.

Cozumel's level of safety is obvious in the relaxed, peace-of-mind atmosphere felt on the island, and this aspect of Cozumel has recently been officially recognized on two different occassions. One was an official recognition on a national level that Cozumel is the safest community in Mexico.

While the island has fewer police than is officially necessary for its population, it has the unique situation of the presence of the Mexican Army, Navy and Federal Police, which work in conjunction with each other, communicating on a regular and established basis to monitor safety on the island, and prevent crime. The key word in Cozumel security is "prevention," which can give real estate buyers the confidence that safety is being given attention and priority before it becomes a problem. While the island's high level of security gives peace of mind, authorities are also working to keep this status in a proactive way.

Another important recognition for Cozumel is that it was recently named the "Island of Peace." This designation was given as a part of a recent project called "Child, Sea, Peace and Cozumel." The project was undertaken by Manuel Diaz Rubio, a businessman from the nearby state of Yucatan, and the Spanish ship captain, Vital Alsar. Diaz and Alsar had a ship built in the Mexican State of Veracruz in a combination of ancient styles, including Mayan and Greek, which sailed from Cozumel as its host port carrying its crew, the "International Peace Flag," and a child from Cozumel from a fishing family of Mayan origins.

Since August the ship has sailed to various coastal cities throughout North America, Europe and Africa. The ship's name is Zamna, which is the name of most powerful of the Mayan gods. At each destination, the child aboard Zamna has delivered a peace flag to local children. Two key destinations have been New York, where Zamna and its crew arrived on Sept. 11 to participate in the ceremonies remembering the terrorist attacks of 2001, and Santander, Spain, the home town of the ships captain, and its first European destination. The ship is currently in the Mediterranean. The project is delivering the message of peace on behalf of Cozumel and its residents, reflecting the peaceful, safe atmosphere of the island. See TOPMexicoRealEstate's Real Estate Blog for regular updates on this voyage.

While these two events are simply acknowledgments, they reflect the extent to which people associate Cozumel with safety and peace. This reputation is, in turn, a reflection of the reality of life in Cozumel. Safety, a sense of relaxation and peace of mind permeate life on this island, where many homes are integrated into its natural settings, and all properties are within very close proximity of it. TOPMexicoRealEstate presents these benefits of living in Cozumel as an ideal option for non-Mexican Retirees or families.

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Living in Uruguay - An Expat Account of The Fiesta House Phenomenon

There is a distinctly Uruguayan phenomenon that both intrigues and repulses me—the immensely popular party or fiesta house, where children and adults celebrate birthdays and other significant events.

Birthdays here are no small affair. A child is usually required to invite his entire class or grade, his whole extended family, and possibly neighbors and his parents’ friends or co-workers. Speckled throughout middle and upper class neighborhoods of Montevideo, fiesta houses offer clients a worry-free party. The staff there cooks, serves, and cleans, along with entertaining children. All you have to do is bring the cake, and even then, it can be included in the price of your rental. So, why do I hate them so?

Well, let me set the scene. You have been invited to a party at some place that is illogically called something like “The Enchanted World” or “Queen Froggy’s”. Your invitation comes on shocking pink or green paper. This is just the start of the colors that will abuse you. You buy a gift and bring it to the party house. A young woman meets you at the door, takes your gift, and puts it in a gift bin with all the other presents. After the party, on a sugar influenced high, the birthday kid will plough through that bin of gifts, ripping off paper and tags, never knowing who gave what.

The walls of the party house are painted bright colors. Actually, each wall is a different color: mandarin orange, fire truck red, neon yellow, and each wall has a poorly painted replica of a Disney character with glitter and butterflies to accompany it. The music is blaring. You go outside to the soccer pitch. Here, twenty boys of differing abilities are hurtling themselves after one rather flat soccer ball. You hear people talking about the piñata that is to come, and head in to the house.

Inside, you pass several children who are in a trance playing video games; another pair is smashing at the floating puck of air hockey. The air hockey table is whining like a vacuum cleaner. All the walls are deep purple. This is the teen area.

The neighboring room is crawling with youngsters. There are three youths in matching t-shirts that are working as the “animators.” Their spirited shouts rise above the din. One is cajoling children to dress up in faded cartoon character costumes. “Who wants to be SpongeBob SquarePants?” Another is applying makeup and hair accessories for the girls. A third is trying to control children who are playing in the pelotero (a cross between a jungle gym and a sandbox). With this one, there are balls in the area where a sandbox would be. Thankfully, the balls are not too hard as the children are pelting them at one poor victim in particular.

Finally, you arrive in the area with the food. On the low tables, you notice that the staff has kindly set out chips, hotdogs cut in slices with mayonnaise dip, and orange pop. This is for the kids. There must be something better for the adults. Yes, at the lovely adorned tables in the very front are some plates with interesting looking hors d’ouvres. You sit down, wedged between the wall and a table exhibiting a trio of immense cakes. Your plate of goodies, it turns out, is laden with thin sandwiches on white bread. They look rather limp and sad. Their crusts have been cut off. You try a sandwich. Your choices are ham and cheese sliced as thin as paper, or canned corn with mayonnaise. The waitress passes with another plate of appetizers—cold and cheese-less pizza.

Your soft drink options include cola with sugar or with artificial sweetener. There is no water or other soft drink. Luckily there is also whiskey.

The “animators” are now serving homespun cotton candy to the children. Then they set up a puppet show. If the performance is good, the children may sit for a few minutes but usually, the combined effects of the environment and the recently ingested junk food nullify any desire to sit still.

Finally, the exhausted animators call the guests to sing Happy Birthday. You dutifully sing the Happy Birthday in three versions: Spanish, English, and then something different like “Dog” where people woof-woof their way through the tune. The birthday boy stands with his friends and family behind the cakes and all the children sneak licks of the icing as the grandmother looks for her camera. Photos are snapped. You are served a piece of chocolate cake with very little icing and lots of dulce de leche (caramel). You leave most on your plate, gather your things and your family, and leave. But not before meeting to host to congratulate him on such a wonderful party.

By Suki Davis - writer for http://www.olauruguay.com/

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Buying Property in France: Tax Efficient French Leaseback SIPP purchase

The self-invested personal pension (SIPP) is a flexible, highly tax-efficient personal pension comprising of investments you choose yourself.

Unlike a traditional Personal Pension which is tied to an insurance company that dictates where you can invest, makes charges which can be hard to justify and upon your retirement steers you towards an increasingly expensive annuity, a SIPP offers the freedom to choose and manage your own investments and hence your own pension fund.

SIPPS and Leasebacks - Why should I incorporate a leaseback property into my SIPP?

It has been possible for some years now to put leasebacks into SIPPS, an option which has been very popular with investors seeking to profit from France’s position as the most popular tourist destination in the world by purchasing property here. Buying a leaseback property and placing it in a SIPP allows an investor to profit not only from the substantial tax advantages proffered by this type of pension but also the tax incentives offered by the French government to encourage the purchasing of property for tourism purposes under the leaseback scheme.

The tax advantages of SIPPs
Each payment you make into your SIPP is boosted by basic rate tax relief from the government with those paying higher rate taxes able to claim as much as 40 % tax relief (although restrictions will apply to additional rate tax payers from 6 April 2010).
In real terms this means that you pay less for your property, for example a high rate tax payer wishing to invest £100,000 would only pay £60,000.

Any income generated by your SIPP is tax-free meaning that any rental income you earn through your leaseback is also tax-free.

Capital gains tax is not payable on SIPP investments so when you sell your property you will not have to pay capital gains tax.

Tax incentives to those purchasing leaseback properties in France
Tax incentives for buying leaseback properties include:
- A 19.6 % VAT rebate on the price of the property, paid to the property owner upon completion
- Capital gains tax exemption after 15 years
- Minimal tax on any rental income in France

Purchasing Options

For those wishing to purchase a leaseback property to put into their SIPP there are different options available to suit every budget:

1. Buy now, SIPP later: Purchase the property in your own name and transfer the property into your SIPP at a later date (tax relief payable upon transfer).
2. Classic: Purchase the entire property using funds from your SIPP.
3. Joint purchase: Purchase part of the property using funds from your SIPP and part in your own name (which can be financed by a personal loan).
4. SIPP and mortgage: Purchase the property using your SIPP and take out a mortgage on the rest with mortgage repayments normally being covered by the rental income. As much as 50% of the net value of a SIPP can be borrowed to increase the funds for your property investment. For example, a fund that has a value of £150,000 can be increased by 50% or £75,000 to make a total fund of £225,000 available to invest in property.

NB With options three and four you will only benefit from proportional tax benefits according to what percentage of your leaseback is in your SIPP.

What happens to my leaseback property then?

Once you have purchased your leaseback property from the developer you sign a lease contract with a management company who will take care of your property for you.
By investing in a French Leaseback property you will benefit from:

• The peace of mind brought by guaranteed rental income for the duration of the lease
• No management or maintenance hassles
• No running or insurance costs
• A secure rental income which can be used to meet any mortgage repayments
Always look at the quality of the management company when choosing your leaseback to ensure you will receive a secure income from it.

The Buying Process

1. Identify and reserve a leaseback property with a deposit
2. Set up your SIPP and arrange finance
3. Complete paperwork for the transfer

For more information on this topic visit Sextant French Property

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Real Estate Investment and Retirement in the Philippines

For many British, Australians and Americans, retirement time is just around the corner. At home, with low interest rates and high cost of living, the prospect of trying to live on a pension, in old age, is a daunting one unless you are prepared to substantially downscale your lifestyle. For some, moving to retire in another country is an option which has been successful in the past with Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Puerto Rico being among some of the more popular destinations. But why not consider retiring in the Philippines

The Philippines offers a significantly lower cost of living. The Philippine Peso exchange rate is approximately 48 to $ 1.00 or 70 to 1 Pound [Sterling (GBP)]. Housing, food, and labor costs are quite reasonable. A One bedroom condominium can be purchased for around $ 100,000 or GBP 55,000 or a Studio for only $ 60,000 or GBP 35,000 and one can dine out on average at a three star restaurant for less than 500 pesos. A private driver’s salary is approximately 15,000/month, while trained housekeepers earn approximately 8,000/month. These salaries are lower if you live in the provinces.

Cable Television, Hi-Speed Internet and Satellite Communications are cheap. One can hire an air-conditioned taxicab for eight hours for less than $30.00. In a country where a provincial Governor’s salary is only about 35,000 pesos per month, and a Presidential Cabinet Under-Secretary earns something like 45,000, your pension can go a long way. So, if you have a retirement income in the region of $1,500 to $2,000 per month (70,000 to 90,000 pesos) you can live quite well in the Philippines.

The Philippines offers affordable real estate and good investment opportunities for those seeking a retirement haven. If you have $60,000 or GBP 35,000 to invest, here are some buys you could make right now with that budget:

1. A Freehold 'off plan' unfurnished Studio Condotel Suite at the Lancaster Atrium Manila for Initial Property Appreciation Investment and Rental Income from 2011 in Metro Manila, Philippines.

2. A Freehold fully furnished ready for occupancy Studio Condotel Suite at the Lancaster Suites Manila or for Condo Hotel enrollment and immediate Rental Income in Metro Manila, Philippines.

3. A Freehold fully furnished ready for occupancy Studio Condotel Suite at the Lancaster Cebu Resort Residences or for Condo Hotel enrollment and immediate rental income in Cebu, Philippines.

According to Beth Collingz, of PLC International Marketing Networks, a lead marketing partner with Pacific Concord Properties Inc., whom have Condotel developments in Metro Manila and Cebu, and specializes in working with international clients: “My phone has been very busy with buyers from the UK, Scotland and Australia interested in purchasing investment properties and holiday homes here. A lot of this interest is being driven by the relatively cheap entry level prices in the Philippines and the easy payment options available for our condo hotel developments, but there are other factors, too. Offshore property investors, Foreign baby boomers as well as overseas Filipinos, are looking for ways to maximize their return on investments as they approach retirement, and so are purchasing second homes, particularly Condotel Investments where they can use the Condo for vacations and rent it out through our in-house Condo Hotel Management when they are not using the unit thereby gaining rental incomes that on today’s purchase prices, give a projected ROI on their investments of up to 14% depending upon the mode of payment for the unit”

Unlike other offshore rental properties, where the rental market is largely seasonal, in the Philippines there is a strong market for rental properties year round. This gives buyers greater flexibility in choosing when to use and when to rent their property. The strong rental/second home market also has resulted in a proliferation of professional property managers and rental agents, making property ownership and rental easy. Pacific Concord Properties Inc with it’s flagship Lancaster Condo Hotel Developments fit’s the bill.

Financing Options and Security open up Philippine real estate market to International buyers. Previously a stumbling block for some international buyers was the perception that it is difficult -if not impossible - to obtain financing in the Philippines. As a result, many purchases in the past were cash sales.

Pacific Concord Properties recently introduced the new affordable easy payment plans for the Lancaster Atrium Manila Condo Hotel Suites where a Studio unit can be purchased without any down payment, and 67% of the contract price payable over 60 months interest free and the 33% balance payable on turnover of the unit or to be extended for another 60 months through PCPI’s no prequalification no hassle finance plan, sales of the companies inventory of units will surely sell out quickly to investors seeking to take advantage of the Condo Hotel Investment “Boom” in the Philippines.

A major stumbling block for some Investors from the UK was the perception that purchasing property in the Philippines was risky with nightmare stories of fraud and deception abounding due to the lack of professional Realtors and internationally accepted principles’ of real estate transactions.

Another drawback to purchasing property in the Philippines was that most overseas buyers of the real estate have become accustomed to normal home buyers standards like putting their money in escrow (which protects them if the developer does not deliver on its commitments) whenever they buy real property.

Pacific Concord Properties Inc., now sets that “International Standard’ in the Philippines with the “Buy Safe Payment Policy” of Escrow Trust Account Banking with Equitable PCI Bank, one the Philippines largest Banks, for the purchase of a Condo Hotel unit in either the Lancaster Suites Manila, Lancaster Atrium Manila or Lancaster Cebu developments.

Buyers of Condo Hotel units at the Lancaster Suites Manila, Lancaster Atrium Manila and Lancaster Cebu Resort Residences in Cebu, pay their Reservations, down payments and all monthly payments directly to the Companies Trust Account with the Bank thereby ensuring that funds are maintained and ultimately used only for the purpose of direct construction related costs. This not only guarantees that the buyers money is safe, but more importantly the development will be completed on schedule and within projected time frames for the project.

Collingz highlights the importance of working with those experienced in this type of transaction. “Buying property in the Philippines is significantly different from buying in the UK and other European countries, for example,” said Collingz. “The purchase process is more direct, with less stress and more accountability; and we work directly with the buyer or collaboratively with the client’s agent or representatives. Our goal-and that of Pacific Concord Properties Inc - is to make the whole process as easy as possible. Prospective buyers can view properties online on our Web site and save listings they’re interested in an online portfolio”

Philippine real estate, medical, social services, and employment agencies are now working together under the government’s Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) to set up standards and make the retirement industry truly world class. Under the active direction of retired Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Edgar B. Aglipay, chairman of the Philippine Retirement Authority, plans have been put in place to ensure that the growing demand for housing and ancillary services for the retirees are met. The objective is to turn the country into the retirement haven in Asia.

EMail: plcsales@pldtdsl.net
http://www.lancastersuites.com/ [Lancaster Suites ]
http://www.condotel-manila.com/ [Lancaster Condotels]
http://www.condotel-sales.com/ [Lancaster Atrium]

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Do You Want to Know the Best Way to Learn Spanish?

What is the best way to learn Spanish? Well the answer depends on two things really, the money you are willing to spend and the time you are able to devote to your studies. Immersion courses are best but are expensive so what is next best?

If I had a dollar for every person that asked me how to learn Spanish or, more to the point, what is the best way to learn Spanish, I would be an extremely wealthy man right now, unfortunately for me though I don't so I guess I'd better give up on that one.

Many different people have different opinions on the best way to learn Spanish ranging from classroom courses and Spanish immersion courses to self teaching books and CD course programs. In all fairness it all depends on an individual's situation; my personal opinion is that the best way to learn Spanish without a shadow of a doubt are Spanish immersion courses and classroom courses. The benefits of these types of learning are that they allow for intensive interaction, speaking the language constantly with Spanish speakers and fellow students, Spanish immersion courses, specifically, are definitely the best way to learn Spanish as the student not only has the benefit of the classroom interaction but also benefits from the cultural exchanges as these courses very often take place in a Spanish speaking country.

The down sides to learning Spanish in this way are that they are expensive and also require the student to devote a large amount of time to the course, especially in the case of Spanish immersion courses where the student can expect to be away from home for many weeks; hence the reason that this method is preferred by the younger student body, but I have to reiterate that this is definitely the best way to learn Spanish and achieves the best results on a regular and consistent basis.

However, not all of us can afford the luxury of these types of courses so what is the next best way to learn Spanish?

Without a shadow of doubt the fastest growing and most popular method utilized for the studying of Spanish today is the interactive Spanish online course. There are a lot of free websites that offer you tuition in the basics of Spanish but if you really want to get good at Spanish as quickly as possible I would have to recommend that you buy a good Spanish language product that incorporates both listening and conversational exercises as this is definitely the best way to learn Spanish conversation.

Regardless of whichever way you decide to learn Spanish you should always ensure that you put enough time aside for your studies and make sure that you practice whenever possible, watch Spanish speaking TV whenever you can and shop in Spanish speaking districts, when you get to the point where you are starting to think in Spanish you will find your steps will become easier and quicker to take.

For more information about how you can learn Spanish and gain access to a totally FREE Spanish Language course visit http://www.learntospeak-spanish.net/ or if you need help getting to grips with Spanish verbs visit http://www.irregularspanishverbs.com/ where you will also be able to download a FREE Spanish Verb Conjugation Book !

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Gap Year in Italy - An Unforgettable Experience

Do you feel fed up with your daily routine? Then you should try a new exciting experience abroad.

Every year, many students from all over the world decide to have a different experience and learn a foreign language in a foreign country, and more and more young people choose Italy as their favorite destination.

Italy in fact, offers a wide range of environments, landscapes, cities where to live for a long term period, for studying the language, for working or just for knowing our wonderful country and culture, rich of traditions and ancient habits and customs.

In Italy it is possible to find cosmopolitan and internationally renowned cities like Milan or Rome, or smaller but rich of art and culture towns like Florence or Siena. It is easy to make new friends and know people of different nationalities who want to share such a magnificent experience with other students. It is an occasion which young students have to try at least once in their life.

That’s the reason why so many students come to Italy and choose the Italian language school for foreigners Leonardo da Vinci to spend an Academic School Year in Italy (http://www.scuolaleonardo.com/gap-year-in-italy.php) and learn Italian language.

The Academic School Year or Gap Year course in fact is intended for beginner and elementary students and lasts for 32 weeks, leading to the internationally-recognized AIL (Accademia Italiana di Lingua) diplomas (DILI-Intermediate and DALI-Advanced).

By attending this course, students will gradually learn Italian language, but they will also discover and deepen every aspect of Italian culture, from art and culture, to economy and fashion.

The course is divided essentially in two parts: the first part of the program is concentrated on Italian language preparation and grammar, where students will attend 480 Italian standard course lessons taught in Italian from the very start and 80 lessons to prepare them for the AIL diplomas, whereas the second one is focused on art, history, civilization, business and fashion subjects.

At the end of the course, we will ask you to write a final essay on a topic of your own choosing related to Italian culture (art, history or business), with the help of our school library and of a personal tutor (10 lessons).

We remind all the students that the Italian language schools for foreign students Leonardo da Vinci are located in the most beautiful and charming cities in Italy: Rome, Milan, Florence and Siena and students will have the chance to attend the Academic School Year courses in all the school locations.

Next starting dates (http://www.scuolaleonardo.com/Italian-language-dates-newyear.html#AcademicYearItaly ...) for the Academic School Year Course are:

- From 4th January 2010 to 13th August 2010;
- From 3rd May 2010 to 10th December 2010;
- From 20th September 2010 to 13th May 2011.

For further information about the Academic School Year in Italy, please visit our website: http://www.scuolaleonardo.com/gap-year-in-italy.php

Scuola Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the most important Italian language schools for foreigners in Italy, and organizes Italian courses since 1977. It is present in the most beautiful cities of Italy (Florence, Milan, Rome, Siena), and each year the company welcomes thousands students from 60 different countries in the world.

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How To Make Money Overseas Using A Offshore Securities Account

The biggest hurdle to living overseas is making money overseas.

In previous articles we discussed several modalities for making money overseas.

One subject that was mentioned was a scalping technique with a securities account.

Because I received the most email response regarding that subject, I will repeat it here.

Read the full details by Roger Gallo, owner and publisher of EscapeArtist.com by clicking on this link http://www.escapeartist.com/Roger_Gallo/Offshore_Securities_Account/

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Dealing with Death from Abroad

When a loved one passes away it is always extremely difficult; recently I have seen first-hand how living in a foreign country changes the grieving process. I have lived in Belize with my mother for the past year and we both moved here from Oregon after growing up and living there our whole lives. The bulk of our friends and family still reside there.

We knew when we left that we would miss everyone very much but the opportunity to experience a place like Belize was too much to pass up and so we took it knowing that life would continue on without us in Oregon. When we left we knew that we would have to be okay with significant events happening back home that we would miss out on, but death really was the last on our minds.

Recently we made a trip back to the States to visit everyone and everything seemed to be in order. About a week after our trip my mom got the news that her best friend had been diagnosed with cancer. It was unclear what type of cancer it was and what her chances of surviving it were but of course the bottom line was that it was the big C word and it was scary.

My mom had been around this woman almost every day while she lived in Oregon and now she wasn’t able to just reach out and give her friend a supportive hug as she would have been able to do before. As the weeks went by the news became worse and worse and my mom had to rely on everyone else to keep her updated – it was extremely frustrating that she didn’t know exactly what was going on. Information came through vague and with various interpretations and oftentimes she felt as though she wasn’t being told everything.

The worst news came mid-November when she found out on Facebook that her best friend had died. She hadn’t been able to be by her bedside or talk to her during those last couple of weeks since she had declined so rapidly. She never saw her friend sick and because of that the entire scenario seems surreal. In this situation it all happened extremely fast and my mom felt totally helpless. She had commitments in Belize now so going back home to wait and see what would happen wasn’t a realistic option, and on the other hand everything happened so quickly that by the time reliable news came through that she wasn’t going to pull through it was too late.

When events such as this take place there is a feeling of helplessness as information comes through on various social networking mediums or email and the best you can do is make a phone call which can be difficult to do depending on where you are. It is an event she never expected would happen, but it did and it is possible that when we make the decision to move to another country away from friends and family things back home can drastically change and being aware of that is essential.

By Kristi Rifenbark

Read more stories from Belize at http://scottysbarandgrill.com/belizedragonfly

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Rent to Buy Property in Spain - Launched by Mercers

Long-established award-winning real estate agent, Mercers, has just launched its newest concept which is ideally suited to today’s Spanish property market - Rent2Buy. With purchasers hesitating and vendors despondent, a Rent2Buy arrangement bridges a win-win gap between the two.

Jason Báez Sulsona, Property Consultant for Mercers’ Jerez office, comments, “The two key stumbling blocks for today’s Spanish house hunter are the poor pound-euro exchange rate and the bank’s inability or unwillingness to lend. However, price-wise, the climate is right for negotiating an incredible deal. This leaves the purchaser in a dilemma which could be easily solved by a Rent2Buy scenario. The house hunter gets their home and the vendor some welcome cash flow.”

With Mercers’ concept, the purchaser settles on their ideal home and negotiates a fair sales price with the vendor which is then locked-in until the end of the agreed rental period. After passing across a 10 to 15% down payment, the purchaser can then access all the usual legal rights of use and enjoyment of the property for 12 – 24 months whilst paying market value monthly rent. At eventual completion both the down payment and the rental fees are credited against purchase price.

Jason continues, “There is no loser with this arrangement. The assumption is that both the exchange rate and the lending environment will improve in the future so delaying completion clearly suits the purchaser. House prices will also begin to rise again so locking-in the price today is another big bonus. Meanwhile the vendor secures a buyer in a troubled market, cash flow to cover mortgage payments and the peace of mind of having a lived-in home rather than one exposed to deterioration or delinquency. And, should the purchaser pull out of the deal down the line, the vendor keeps the down payment and rental fees eliminating all risk. For many people this will become the new way to buy a Spanish home.”

Mercers has a portfolio of ‘rental with option to buy’ properties across both Jerez on Spain’s Costa de la Luz and Mazarron on the Costa Cálida.

Lebrija nr Jerez – Rent with Option to Buy
Brand new 109m²-built townhouse set in the typically Andalusian town of Lebrija ideally located some 35km from Jerez and 65km from Seville. Arranged on two floors, the home has three bedrooms, the master with en-suite bathroom and Juliette balcony, a further family bathroom, a large lounge and completely fitted kitchen alongside a useful utility/laundry room. Fitted wardrobes, installed hot and cold air-conditioning and a large front patio complete the picture. Lebrija itself is within walking distance and well-stocked with excellent bars, restaurants and supermarkets. Meanwhile the sandy beaches at Sanlucar are a swift 20 minute drive.
Suggested sales price 120,000 euros. Monthly rental fee 500 euros per month plus bills.

Contact Mercers Costa de la Luz on 00 34 956 329 572, UK Local Rate 0845 017 7805, email jerez@spanishproperty.co.uk or visit http://www.spanishproperty.co.uk/

Mazarron, Costa Cálida – Rent with Option to Buy
Three bedroom two bathroom Cibeles-style villa with large swimming pool set on the popular Camposol Golf resort. Fully equipped with air-conditioning, central heating, satellite TV, all white goods and DVD/CD player, the home makes an ideal long-term rental proposition. Every ‘extra’ has been thought of to include bedlinen and towels as well as a selection of games, toys and books. The 832m² plot has superb mountain and countryside views whilst Camposol itself has an 18-hole golf course, Spa hotel, bars, restaurants, commercial centres and medical facilities. The beach at Bolnuevo and marina at Mazarron are within a 15 minute drive. Wheelchair friendly.
Suggested sales price 245,000 euros. Monthly rental fee 600 euros per month plus bills.

Contact Mercers Costa Cálida on 00 34 968 199 188, UK Local Rate 0845 017 7805, email ccsales@spanishproperty.co.uk or visit http://www.spanishproperty.co.uk/.


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Costa Rica Property Taxes And Other Taxes You Need To Know About

Recently, Costa Rica passed a new luxury home tax. As usual, the onus is on the homeowner to keep themselves up to date and educated on this new tax. The law came in to effect, October 1, 2009.

Now it's time to shed some light on this new luxury tax...

Actually, if this article was only written on the subject of this new 'luxury tax' we'd be done by now. That's because there is mass confusion on the subject. Questions like, "does it include raw land or just structure?" and "how do I file and where?". If you are expecting this article to explain these questions then you are in for a surprise.

Lawyers, real estate agencies, property managers and Costa Rica homeowners, all have differing opinions on the new tax. Some say that it does not include raw land however others say there was a last minute, unauthorized, notation made to the law that includes land.

This is what WE DO KNOW....

The luxury tax is based on homes valued at over ¢100,000,000 colones starting with .25% and going up from there to a maximum of .55% for homes exceeding the ¢1.5 billion colones mark.

The new “Solidarity Tax for the Strengthening of Housing Programs” will collect approximately $45 million a year during 10 years.

The purpose is to build affordable housing in order to help impoverished families out of the shanty towns. There are roughly 390 shanty towns and government estimates put the number of families living in inadequate housing at 40,000.

So that's what is known about the new tax/law.

In respect to capital gains taxes, once again Costa Rica did try to pass a new law to implement this tax but the vote failed so as of this day, there are still no capital gains taxes in Costa Rica.

There is a 3% Costa Rica property (http://www.costaricapropertysite.com) transfer tax. This tax is based upon the registered value placed on the property transfer deed at the time of sale.

From November 30, 1995, the law states that the administration and collection functions for property taxes to the Local Governments (Municipalidades) where the property is located.

Under the new law, it will be these entities’ responsibility to conduct property appraisals and collect the corresponding property tax.

The property tax is established on an annual basis and may be paid annually, by semester or by quarter depending on the procedures established by each Local Government. For the next five years, the property tax payment will be 60% of the appraised value of the property. Starting on year six, the municipality may set its own rate not to exceed 1%.

Costa Rica Property

Personal and corporate income tax is beyond the scope of this article and we would also like to take this moment to explain that we do not recommend using this information for taxation purposes within Costa Rica.

We are not accountants nor do we pretend to give advice on taxation in Costa Rica. The information provided above is purely for the purpose of thought provocation and if you require advice on taxes and laws within Costa Rica, we highly suggest you seek the advice of an attorney or certified accountant from Costa Rica.

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Prosper and Live Well in New Zealand

New Zealand has made it into the top 10 of a list of the world's most successful countries, according to a global survey of wealth and happiness.

New Zealand ranks 10th in a "prosperity index" of 104 nations covering 90 per cent of the world's population released last week by London-based free market think-tank the Legatum Institute. Finland takes the top spot, while Australia ranks sixth.

Unsurprisingly, Zimbabwe is at the bottom.

The survey brings together data on economic growth with ratings for democracy, social provision, happiness and quality of life.

It shows the most prosperous nations are not necessarily those that have only a high GDP, but also those that have happy, healthy, and free citizens.

A key finding is that it is true money can't buy happiness - unless you are poor. Only in the poorest countries do increases in income have a significant effect on people's life satisfaction.

Most New Zealanders see themselves as healthy.

With few bureaucratic hoops to jump through to start a new business, a spirit of entrepreneurship prevails in New Zealand.

Just over half of the population owns a computer, ranking New Zealand near the global average on this measure.

Efficient and open processes inspire public confidence in New Zealand's businesses and Government, the report says.

Economic and commercial activities are well regulated, business institutions inspire high levels of confidence, and New Zealanders believe their government and businesses are largely free from corruption.

The Emigration Group was established in 1992 with the sole aim of helping people achieve a new life overseas. We are a UK company, dealing primarily with British and other English speaking migrants wishing to emigrate to Australia and New Zealand.

http://www.emigrationgroup.co.uk/

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Foreign Investors can Profit from Brazil’s Burgeoning Middle Class

Brazil is now officially a middle class country with 52% of the 190 million-strong population falling into this bracket. These professionals are using new found wealth to snap up status symbols from televisions to new cars (sales of the latter jumped almost 20% in September of this year) and of course a stylish apartment is next on the list. The problem is that Brazil has significant supply shortages in that all-important middle-sector bracket, something which certainly applies to the north-eastern city of Natal. But a solution is on its way…

The State of Rio Grande do Norte is calculated to have a current deficit of 143,319 houses of which 24,000 apply to the capital city of Natal. Upwardly mobile Natal professionals emboldened by reduced interest rates on mortgages (Brazil’s Central Bank has slashed interest rates by five percentage points already this year) are now highly home-owner hungry and envisage themselves in chic homes close to infrastructure that will deliver them to work and to play. Capim Macio is just what they’re looking for.

Samantha Gore, Sales and Marketing Director for Brazil real estate specialists http://www.uv10.com comments, “According to the Government Capim Macio ranks first amongst Natal’s top three income-per-capita suburbs yet is the only one of the trio that can boast a coveted location close to the beach. City planners have tipped the area for even bigger things and ploughed a substantial 43 million Reais (15 million pounds) into infrastructure since 2008. This covers shopping centres, schools, office space and a general facelift for the neighbourhood. As a result Capim Macio is forecast to enjoy the highest capital appreciation in Natal over the five-year build-up for World Cup 2014. This is the ideal spot for a hands-free overseas property investment which cannot fail to deliver returns based on simple supply-demand principles.”

Residencial Capim Macio http://www.uv10.com/brazil-property-natal-capim-macio-1.php is a 42-unit development in a privileged city-beach location. Many of the city’s best-loved shops, bars and restaurants are on the doorstep and the 4km long Ponta Negra beach with its famous dune is within easy reach, as is Natal’s business district. Designed with the white-collar worker in mind, Residencial Capim Macio is gated, protected by 24-hour security, offers private parking and has communal relaxation areas to include barbecue facilities and a refreshing swimming pool. Homes have pre-installation for air-conditioning as well as TV and internet.

The two bedroom two bathroom apartments are priced from 126,612.20 Reais (approx. £44,000 pounds) which is below current market value to the tune of 28% thanks to an early land purchase on the part of the developer. Various calculations have been made on the ROI to be achieved by those buying now and selling upon completion in 18 months’ time. These range from 14% based on a conservative 5% capital appreciation per annum up to 28% based on a more-likely 15% capital appreciation - particularly, as an official FIFA World Cup 2014 host city, Natal’s brand new 45,000-capacity Estadio das Dunas stadium will be within 3.5km of Residencial Capim Macio’s doorstep. This is a net return taking into account a sales commission and CGT and is based on the 18 month build period upon which resale will be very easily achievable.

Prices start from 126,612.20 Reais (approx. £44,000 pounds) for a two bedroom two bathroom apartment. Payment terms are 25% upon start of construction (Q4 2009) and six equal stage payments until completion (Q1 2011) where a final 10% will be payable with keys. Should owners wish to hang on to the property up until World Cup 2014 a rental guarantee of 6% is in place for those four years although, with the help of the developer’s rental management service, http://www.uv10.com would suggest operating outside of the guarantee as market studies put net returns at 9%.

Contact uv10 on info@uv10.com, visit http://www.uv10.com/ or telephone UK local rate +44 (0)845 643 1036 or the Spanish office +34 952 764 560. Skype uv10-brazil.


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Kill A Chicken On Your Vacation?

A new tour operator is hatched but it's not business as usual. Extreme Mayan Adventures is a new business in Guatemala specializing in educational travel packages to a small Mayan village on Lake Atitlan. The business was recently launched in an attempt to bring meaningful tourism directly to the people who need it the most; traditional Mayan farmers and Mayan families without resources in Santa Catarina Palopo.

Lake Atitlan is no stranger to tourism. People have been flocking to the shores of this famous Central American lake for decades. With three picturesque volcanoes and traditional Mayan villages painting the shoreline, it's no wonder why traditional tourism businesses have been operating here for years. So what's all the clucking about?

Extreme Mayan Adventures is different from other tour operators in the area because it offers a total immersion cultural experience for travelers. According to their website, http://mayanadventuretravel.com/, Extreme Mayan Adventures offers, “...travel packages to people who want to have an exciting, educational, and non-traditional experience in a socially responsible manner. Our packages are for people who want to see more than what's on the surface of Mayan culture. Our packages are for people who want to experience it.”

A quick survey of their website shows that Extreme Mayan Adventures travelers are put into many unique scenarios. Besides learning a little Kaqchikel Mayan language and carrying things on their heads, Extreme Mayan Adventures participants learn how to do Mayan chores. They also get to meet a traditional Mayan shaman, learn how to forge for wild herbs, visit sacred caves, and go to an indigenous market. But do travelers actually get to kill their own chickens? You bet they do, but only if they want to.

Now that's something to crow about, but don't tell the chickens!

Extreme Mayan Adventures website: http://mayanadventuretravel.com/

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Finding a Happy Place to Live Overseas

By Judy Rickatson

Thinking of relocating to a tropical paradise and living happily ever after? You might want to think again. A report just released by a London based think tank ranks the top 5 countries based on wealth and wellbeing as Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway – all cold climates. How so? Well according to the Legatum Prosperity Index, economic success is part of it, but the highest levels of overall life satisfaction are reported in countries which score best in the areas of health, safety, freedom, trustworthiness in relationships and strong communities. Indeed money only has a significant impact on people’s happiness in the world’s poorest countries.

Eric Weiner, author of “The Geography of Bliss” would agree. After travelling the world as a foreign correspondent and reporting on some of the world’s worst problems, he decided to find out which were the happiest places in the world and why. He agrees that most of the happiest countries are cold and says Italy and France, which we normally associate with “joie de vivre”, both score lower than Switzerland. His theory is “get-along-or-die.” In cold countries people need to work together and co-operate in order to survive, but in the sun-soaked tropics, where your next meal literally falls from the trees, getting along with your neighbour isn’t so essential. He believes that a cold climate promotes a closeness of humanity which is one of the fundamental keys to happiness.

So which countries should we avoid? Well the bottom 5 countries on the Legatum list are Cameroon, Central African Republic, Yemen, Sudan and Zimbabwe – probably not high on most people’s possible destinations anyway. And America? It comes in at number 9. But if you simply MUST have sunshine, then try Australia, which makes the list at a still impressive 6th place.

About the author: Judy Rickatson publishes http://expatriatelife.wordpress.com/ an expatriate resource.

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Top 10 Eco-Friendly Asian Resorts for 2009

Agoda, Asia's leading online hotel reservations company, continues to promote responsible tourism with the publication of its Top 10 Eco-Friendly Asian Resorts for 2009, which recognizes resorts for their innovative environmental policies and practices.

Mr. Michael Kenny, CEO of Agoda, said the Top 10 Eco-Friendly Asian Resorts list helps travelers make informed environmentally-conscious decisions when booking their vacation by highlighting properties with established "green" policies and carbon-reducing practices.

"Since we first launched the list two years ago, we have seen an increasing number of properties supporting sustainable tourism and travel," said Mr. Kenny.

"Agoda considers it the company's responsibility to recognize hotels and resorts for their efforts to reduce the tourism industry's impact on the environment," he said. "Not only does this provide valuable examples of eco-friendly policies for other resort operators, it also helps our customers do their bit to combat climate change and to conserve nature."

Agoda’s selection criteria for the list ensures the green policies at these top-rated eco-friendly hotels go beyond simply encouraging guests to reuse their linen or take shorter showers. Hotels are given extra credit for reducing their carbon footprint, empowering local communities and implementing green policies specific to their locations.

1. The Tongsai Bay, Koh Samui, Thailand

This resort near Chaweng Beach was pioneering sustainable policies long before the global trend caught on. When the resort’s late founder, Akorn Hoontrakul, designed the property in 1985 he ensured it accentuated the bay’s natural beauty without needing to fell a single tree. Akorn’s son now runs the property and continues his father's legacy with the resort's Green Project, a policy that outlines several initiatives including waste management, recycling and energy conservation. The Tongsai Bay works with the local community where it has built a low-carbon school and it is collaborating with other hotels on the island to ensure Koh Samui preserves its natural beauty for future generations.

2. Alila Ubud and Alila Manggis, Bali, Indonesia

These two Alila Group eco resorts featured in Agoda's Top 10 Eco-Friendly Asian Resorts for 2007. Alila Ubud was built in the style of an Indonesian hillside village while the Alila Manggis combines traditional Balinese architecture with contemporary design. Both resorts have policies to reduce their impact on the environment and each promotes Earth-friendly activities such as trekking, cycling and Balinese cooking lessons.

3. Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, Cambodia

The Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort is the only hotel in Cambodia to win an Asean Energy Award, which it received in 2005, 2007 and 2009. For more than five years, Accor – Sofitel’s parent company – has partnered with Agrisud International, an NGO which runs a number of poverty reduction programs in Seam Reap. Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort also buys produce from local farmers, sources locally made products and employs staff from nearby communities — many of whom are trained at the Paul Dubrule Hotel School in Seam Reap (Paul Dubrule is Accor’s co-founder).

4. El Nido Resorts, Miniloc Island, Philippines

This resort, which has won several awards for its nature conservation activities, is passionate about protecting the local wilderness. Surrounded by forests and mangroves, El Nido Miniloc Island Resort minimizes its waste through recycling, operates an energy conservation policy and requires all staff to attend a five-day training seminar called ‘Be G.R.E.E.N.’ (Guard, Respect, Educate El Nido). The property also works with local organizations to conduct coastal clean-ups and monitor the Miniloc Island's ecosystem. A database of local plants and animals is featured on its website.

5. The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa, Langkawi, Malaysia

This secluded resort is located on a 400-meter stretch of sand on Pantai Tengah Beach, southwest of Langkawi. Its various green programs are integrated to streamline and minimize the environmental impact of its daily operations. The resort helps conserve the local environment by reducing its consumption of resources, minimizing energy use, only using environmentally-friendly detergents and cleaning waste water through wetlands – a natural biological filter.

6. Banyan Tree, Bintan Island, Indonesia

The architects who designed this property took special care to avoid cutting down trees. A conservation lab was built to preserve the surrounding rainforest, where trees are aged from 50 to 100 years and include some rare species. To reduce its impact upon the fragile environment, Banyan Tree Bintan supports a local village and helps preserve indigenous traditions by employing a network of more than 40 village craftspeople and connecting them with project partners throughout the region.

7. Hotel de la Paix, Cambodia

Everything about this hotel says ‘luxury’, but in practice the Hotel de la Paix is an environmental workhorse. Its responsible tourism policy is realistic and sensitive to the local infrastructure and it sponsors many initiatives that benefit local communities, including a Sewing Training Center that provides skills training to disadvantaged Khmer women. The Hotel de la Paix’s sister hotel, Shinta Mani, runs the Shinta Mani Institute of Hospitality, an award-winning capacity building program that supports young Cambodians from high-risk areas. The hotel also offers guests the opportunity to sponsor students or donate bikes, wells and pigs to local families.

8. The Orchid Hotel, Mumbai, India

The Orchid Hotel was Asia’s first property to receive ECOTEL® certification and it has won more than 61 awards since opening 11 years ago. It boasts an environment officer who leads its 'green teams', organic rubbish is disposed of in nine ‘vermiculture’ bins (worm farms) and an onsite water treatment facility recycles waste water. Guests have the option of pressing the ‘Green Button’ which increases the room's temperature by 2C incrementally over a two-hour timeframe, reducing the air conditioning system's power consumption. Coat hangers made from sawdust and herbal pesticides are other examples of the hotel’s sustainable policies.

9. Soneva Fushi by Six Senses, Maldives

Sustainability isn’t a buzzword for the award-winning Soneva Fushi, which is on the Agoda green list for a second time – it's wired into the resort's DNA. Its list of green initiatives is both long and impressive and includes tree-planting projects, campaigns to ban shark fishing and a carbon offset program to buy a wind turbine in India. Soneva Fushi also has an in-house marine biologist to educate guests and ensure dive trips do not damage the local environment. One of its guiding principles is 'Slow Life', an approach which emphasizes 'slow' pursuits such as nature walks, star-gazing and non-motorized water sports.

10. Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village, Fraser Island, Australia

Situated on the Unseco World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village is an eco-tourism veteran. Since opening in 1992, it has won several awards for its environmental practices, including the inaugural Steve Irwin Ecotourism Award. In partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast, the resort runs a research and education center that closely monitors the island's ecology, while guided eco tours cover everything from mangrove colonies to Aboriginal culture. Waste is sent to the worm farm where it is transformed into fertilizer and then used on the resort's herb garden.

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Invest in Dubai - New Law Welcomed

The revolutionary law paves way for non-UAE nationals to own properties in designated areas of Dubai Emirate and register their ownership with the Dubai Lands and Properties Department. The new Dubai law announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, re-confirms the visionary approach of Dubai government.

The law is of substantial nature and said to be followed by a number of new procedural bylaws that will identify the freehold areas the non-nationals could own, determine the registration fees and related procedures. The law has appointed Dubai Lands and Properties Department as a regulatory authority for all properties in the Emirate.

Once the procedurals are set in place, the law will bring the needed stability to real estate industry and help in its organized growth. The legalization of the private property ownership rights will be an enormous boost to trust and credibility of Dubai as an investment destination. The new property law is a welcome delight and marks the dawn of a new era to the thriving Dubai property Market. It is a boon to international buyers considering property purchases in Dubai as a safe and viable investment.

The author is a real estate news editor and works for many websites related to real estate properties sand developers.

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Living in Belize - Pretention Rears its Ugly Head

By Kristi Rifenbark

I recently attended a new event in the small town of Corozal located in Belize where I am currently living. The event was “ Art in the Park” and it was a unique event for Corozal.

Most of the expats here are retirees so since there are not many tourists coming through, there are not a lot of places around town which showcase the art of local Belizean artists. This was the second monthly Art in the Park event (I missed the first) and the atmosphere was surprising. The event was located in the central square of town and a local jazz band was playing in the background. Artists could set up to show off their wares without charge as long as they set up their own space within the park.

The vibe was exciting – expats and locals alike mingled in the square enjoying each artists creations and many people seemed to dress up for the occasion. The event was established one month ago by a group of expats who wanted to bring an idea that is prevalent in North America to Belize. The suggestion was received positively rather than many others that had been proposed which were pretentious and degrading because of a way of thinking that is far too common among expats in Corozal – that Belizeans are not capable of first world standards of creativity, intelligence and focus.

I was thrilled with this Art in the Park concept, but there was one thing missing – no beverages were being served. This was a minor detail but in each similar Art in the Park event I’ve ever been to, wine, beer or some type of beverage was sold and it seemed – on a Saturday evening – that this would be a natural addition to the event.

The topic came up in casual conversation between my mom and another expat, “wouldn’t it be perfect with a glass of wine?” and the answer that followed crushed all my optimism for the purpose of this monthly event, “It wouldn’t be a good idea to sell alcohol because the Belizeans wouldn’t be able to handle it.” The woman almost whispered to my mother. What?!?

This is precisely the type of attitude that doesn’t need to be imported in to countries like Belize as North Americans and Europeans continue to choose these locations to retire. It creates a resentment among local Belizeans towards foreigners such as me which has become a standard preconception that many local people have when meeting a foreigner for the first time.

Yes, Belize is a third world country; yes, they don’t have a lot of opportunities that someone in America, Canada or Britain has but this does not give people the right to make brash assumptions that every Belizean is ignorant, uncontrolled or inferior.

Sadly this topic comes up regularly in many forms among the expats who come to the restaurant my mother and I run here. We chose to come in to this new country and give people here the same consideration we would give anyone else at home in the United States. This in turn allows the opportunity for the local people to share their customs and culture with us.

We try very hard not to propagate these pretentious attitudes and I hope as I continue to make my home in Belize I will meet more and more expats who have that same attitude. It will make life richer when we all can learn from each other and not segregate ourselves so much. Belizeans and expats alike coming together to create events such as Art in the Park is fantastic and collaboration should be encouraged, but without kid gloves.

For more stories from Belize visit http://scottysbarandgrill.com/belizedragonfly/

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Restaurant for Sale for $1.00

Ready-to-go restaurant for $1

The signs of the times are visible everywhere, businesses are shutting down and there aren't many people willing to take over the empty space and start new ventures.

The commercial real estate market is currently a mess, but that could be good news for someone, now that an Italian restaurant, and the property it sits on near Kalamazoo is on the market, for just a dollar.

Jim Sieklucki is selling his business, but he says it's more than that, it's an opportunity. With loans so tight, selling it outright wasn't the way to go, so Sieklucki says that selling the business for a buck could give a person who has the passion, and talent for it, a chance to open their own place.

"I think there's a lot of people out there who would like to do that," said Sieklucki.

Sieklucki is hoping to find someone with the passion and talent to make a go of it, after all it was his passion. His father opened the first pizzeria in Kalamazoo.

"It was Lucky's, this was 1956," said Sieklucki, "and I decided to bring it back 50 years later."

Sieklucki opened his own Lucky's in October of 2006, but closed it in 2008. He says a bad partnership and health problems are forcing him to sell. He feels the area just north of Kalamazoo is growing, and he didn't have problems finding customers, now he just wants to find a new owner.

Here's how the sale is supposed to work. For $185, you can fill out an application and get yourself into the lottery. Sieklucki is looking for at least 1,600 applicants to recoup his long-term investment. Then, he'll randomly pick out two people, who will come in and cook for him and his family.

"Pizza, then an entrée of their own. whatever they want, then we'll judge it and then decide who will get it," said Sieklucki.

The winner will get the business for just one dollar. Whoever gets the restaurant can walk right in, the place is ready to go, and everything inside the building is going to the new owner, but Sieklucki says he isn't going far.

"I live right by here, so I will be visiting it," said Sieklucki.

Sieklucki plans to choose the two finalists on December 5th. For more details go to:
www.ForSaleForOneDollar.com

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