Mar022010

Apartments for sale in Buenos Aires

apartments for sale buenos aires

The apartments offer brand is more than tempting, for the purchase, from the standpoint of making an investment, as for rental apartments Buenos Aires.

As we might expect higher prices when Buenos Aires apartments locator, we will find in the areas of Palermo, Barrio Norte, Recoleta and Belgrano.

In those districts, the maximum value per square meter for the purchase of a property exceeds $ 2500, except in Belgrano whose ceiling is 2,300. Of course, if we refer to important avenues ventures with luxurious buildings, the square meter reaches $ 5000.

In contrast, there are areas of the City of Buenos Aires to which you can access more affordable prices, finding the maximum value of $ 1600 per square meter, as is the case of Slaughterhouses, Congress, Colegiales, Boedo, Almagro and Agronomy.

Thus, the cost of a 60 square meter apartment in a remote area would be around $ 78,000, while one of the same characteristics in Palermo, Recoleta and Barrio Norte, would cost $ 162,000.

Of course the price difference in Buenos Aires Real Estate is due to the location of apartments, and facilities presented by each one, like swimming pool, solarium and gym, to name the most common.

But if the idea is to spend only a short period of time in Buenos Aires, you may access the temporary rental of apartments, for a period of one day up to 6 months.

In general, these comfortable apartments, brand new or recycled, located in the areas of Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood, Barrio Norte, Recoleta, Belgrano, Las Cañitas, Congreso, Caballito, and so on.

Finally, all units fully furnished and equipped with optional maid service, cost $ 500 per month thereafter. An offer not inconsiderable for the times.

Feb262010

10 reasons to spend a student vacation in the Czech Republic

Student life is a brilliant time, though it is full of exams, seminars and other studies… No matter what you may be getting – degree in finance or AAT qualification – they say, if you worked hard, you should find some time to relax. For example, spend the holidays in the Czech Republic! Why here?

Nightlife, concerts, dances

A student just can’t understand the term “no nightlife”. Czech Republic, a country in the heart of Europe, invites you to the various entertainment stocks and concerts of various styles, which are arranged here in large quantity.

Extreme sports and experience

You want to get new exciting vacation experience? Want something unusual and extreme? Well, Czech Republic consistently offers many opportunities for fans of extreme sports.

Culture – in the heart of Europe

The Czech Republic belongs to countries with rich cultural traditions. Every year there are thousands of different cultural events. For example, numerous festivals and workshops, hundreds of expositions at exhibitions and in museums.

Open-air festivals

Open-air festivals are in “boom” in recent years. Only in the summer months, there are hold several dozens of open-air in the Czech Republic. They were attended by hundreds of prominent Czech and foreign artists of all musical genres.

Tourism and cycling

Czech Republic offers thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails. You – on foot or by bicycle – to know the beauty of the Central European region!

Cheap transportation and discounts for students

You definitely will love the fact that in the Czech Republic there are discounts for students. Almost all the attractions – museums, galleries, fortresses or castles offer students admission discount, sometimes up to 50%.

Cheap Accommodation

Czech Republic not only offers a very cheap transport, but also cheap and quality accommodation at the same time.

Best beer in the world

Czechs consider beer as their national drink. Dark, light, cutting, unfiltered… In the Czech beer market, currently numbering more than 470 sorts of beer. Beer always is included in the menu of Czech restaurants, outdoor cafes and clubs.

Traces of history

Czech Republic, due to its location in the heart of Europe, a place where all the events in European history have somehow affected the territory.

Feb252010

5 attractions to visit on your IOW holiday

The Isle of Wight is a picturesque island situated around 5 miles off the south coast of the mainland in the English Channel. Separated from the mainland by the Solent and south of the county of Hampshire, the island is well renowned for its outstanding beauty, world famous sailing resorts and rich history.

Accessible by a short hovercraft or ferry trip, the island is easy to get to from the mainland of Portsmouth. Its island location coupled with the short travel time, makes it an ideal offbeat venue for music festivals. Indeed, the Isle of Wight hosts two of the most famous events on the festival calendar: the Isle of Wight Festival and Bestival attracting the likes of The Prodigy, Blondie, Jay-Z, Muse and Kasabian.

With a variety of different places to stay, from Isle of Wight holiday parks, to luxury hotels to camping venues, the island really is an ideal place for a family holiday or more peaceful couples retreat. There is a multitude of things to see, do and visit on the island with the top 5 attractions including:

- Osborne House: A former royal residence in East Cowes, Osborne House was built in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased the residence in 1845 as a get away from the stresses of court life. Employing the architect who designed the facade of Buckingham Palace, they created their palatial home, with a private beach, swiss cottage and ornate state function room. After Queen Victoria’s death in 1901 the house was presented to the nation and is now under the care of English Heritage who have hosted concerts, created holiday cottages and opened the house to the public.

- Donkey Sanctuary: Well one can’t visit the Isle of Wight without petting a donkey… The sanctuary near Wroxhall is free to enter with a small gift shop and café on site. Adopt a donkey schemes are available, with other animals including horses and ducks to look at in addition to the donkeys, making it an ideal family visit.

- Isle of Wight Zoo: Home to Britain’s largest collection of tigers, this award winning zoo has been dedicated to the preservation of the tiger for over 25 years. The zoo is also home to a wide variety of animals including lemurs, lions, leopards, monkeys, snakes, spiders and lizards. The zoo champions many conservation projects and hosts a variety of eduction schemes making it ideal for a schools visit or an informative day out.

- The Botanic Gardens: located in Ventnor, this is an interesting place for a pleasant amble through the sub-tropical exotic plants and trees from around the world. This location has it’s own micro climate, where summers can be very hot and winters are generally quite mild. The gardens are well equipped for family visits with a playground, visitors centre and accessible car park.

- Carisbrooke Castle: is a historic motte and bailey castle near Newport. It has a rich history, with Charles I being imprisoned in the castle in the months leading up to his trial and execution in 1649. The castle may have been occupied since pre-Roman times so is a must see for any history buffs who want to see changing castle architecture set in glorious scenery.

Jan292010

Quick travel guide to Bergen

Blessed with a spectacular setting, Bergen is located on the western coast of Norway nestled beneath seven hills and surrounded by picturesque fjords. Founded in the 11th-century and once home to Norway’s Royal family, Bergen is now the second-largest city in the country and home to over 250,000 inhabitants. The port town is divided into two main parts – Bryggen, the old city, and the modern city, which contains many of Bergen’s commercial and cultural attractions.

Torget Fish Market

Torget sells a range of delicious seafood, as well as fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers handicrafts and souvenirs at outstanding prices. It’s also a great place to observe local boats passing in and out of the harbour.

Bryggen

In the late Middle Ages the Bryggen (meaning waterfront) became a thriving centre of international trade. The characteristic old wooden buildings facing the waterfront in Bergen harbour represent a building tradition dating back almost 900 years. These old wooden structures were placed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1980.

Fantoft Stave Church

The old medieval wooden church at Fantoft, originally built in the Norwegian region of Sogn in 1150 and moved to Fantoft in 1883, burnt down in June 1992. Fantoft Stave Church located just outside the centre of Bergen has now been rebuilt just as it was before the fire.

Håkon’s Hall

Håkon’s Hall was built by King Håkon Håkonsson almost seven hundred and fifty years ago and served as a royal residence and banqueting hall. The grand hall was the largest and most imposing building in the royal residence at ‘the holm’ (the political centre of the 13th-century Norwegian kingdom). At that time Bergen was Norway’s largest and most important town, and Håkon’s Hall was built intentionally for major national events, such as the drawing up of Norway’s first complete set of laws. As a national cultural monument, Håkon’s Hall is still used both for royal dinners and other official occasions.

Floybanen Funicular

For the best views over the city, take a trip on the famous Floybanen Funicular from the city centre to the top of Mount Floyen, about 320 meters above sea level. From the top you can see the magnificent views over the surroundings islands. During the summer the restaurant on top of Mount Floyen is open daily and there are numerous paths to explore, offering easy walks through beautiful woodland terrain with lakes and mountains.

Mount Ulriken cable car

Observe the unique view of the fjords from the top of Mount Ulriken by taking the cable car up to the top. Make use of the free telescopes to look out over the spectacular scenery of city and fjords. During summer the outdoor restaurant serves grill food and there is the occasional free outdoor concert. Mount Ulriken is also a good starting point for hikes. A popular, but long and quite hard hike is to Mount Floien which takes approximately 4 hours to walk.

Rosenkrantz Tower

Rosenkrantz Tower dating back to medieval times is one of the most prominent buildings of the Bergenhus fortress. The tower was constructed in the 16th-century by the governor of Bergen Castle, Erik Rosenkrantz, and served as a combined residence and fortified tower to the city of Bergen. The view of the sea front from the tower is amazing!

If you really want to enjoy your break in Bergen, don’t forget to take out your cheap holiday insurance as soon as you book your trip. It is important that you remember to check that your cheap holiday insurance policy offers you the level of cover that you need for your break before you buy it.

Mar092008

New Travel Forum Launched

Planning the perfect family vacation often involves talking to other travelers.  Simply reading through all of the available advertisements and brochures doesn’t always give you a true idea of what the destination is like.  After all, those things are put together in an effort to draw you in and to get you to spend money.  That’s why I like to visit forums and share idead with other people.

Today, I learned about a new travel forum, which you can see check out at http://www.lmvr123.com/forum/.  It’s pretty new, so there isn’t a whole lot on there yet, but I am sure it is going to get busy rather quickly!  I am going to head over there to see what types of conversations I can get going – Care to join me?  See you at the forum!

Feb272008

Having Fun in Yellowstone

As many of you know, I am planning a trip to Yellowstone for this summer.  It is going to be a really long road trip for my family, but we plan on breaking it up and stopping at some other sites along the way.  We are traveling from Indiana, so we decided to stop along the way at the Dakotas so we can see Mt. Rushmore and Badlands National Park.  We are also going to be stopping at Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, and Devil’s Tower.  From there, we will head to Yellowstone and we are planning a visit to the Grand Tetons and to Glacier National Park.

 Well, life is interesting sometimes, as I was just contacted today by a man named Allan Wright.  Allan told me about his company, which is named Zephyr Adventures and, interestingly enough, will be providing adventure-based family trips to Yellowstone and to Glacier this year.  I can’t personally say much about the service, but Allan tells me that they have been in business for 11 years and I think it is worth checking out what they have to offer.  If I see Allan while in the area, I will be sure to tell you all about him and his tours! 

Sep032007

Involve Your Kids When Planning a Family Vacation

In my opinion, it is essential to involve your kids when planning a family vacation.  Whether you are planning a Disney vacation, at trip to the Smoky Mountains, a visit to Wisconsin Dells, or anywhere else, involving your kids will help create a better experience for everyone.

 I know, the control freak in you probably wants to plan the entire event.  Well, that is how I am anyway.  But, you will find that involving your children in your family vacation plans will actually help reduce your stress while also increasing their level of involvment with the trip.

When kids are involved in the family vacation planning, they feel as if they are an important member of the family and that their opinion counts.  This in of itself should be good enough reason to involve them in the planning.  But, one of the great benefits is that it will actually help reduce the whining during the family vacation.  After all, if your kids played a role in the planning, it becomes a bit more diffcult for them to complain about the plans.

 Of course, you can still narrow down the choices that you give to your kids.  That way, you can make sure that any activity they select will fit within your budget and will be something that you can tolerate visiting. 

I always involve the entire family in my planning process.  Sometimes, I find that the things they want to do are different from what I thought they would be interested in.  So, it always pays to ask and it will definitely lead to a far more pleasant family vacation experience.

Aug292007

Purchasing a Family Vacation Vehicle

In light of my recent vehicle catastrophes, I thought it might be relevant to discuss purchasing a vehicle for family travel.

The vehicle we had to replace isn’t actually the one we use for family travel.  This car is actually my husband’s work vehicle.  My primary vehicle is a Yukon and this is also the one we use when going on our family vacations.

When selecting the Yukon, my husband and I had travel at the forefront of our thoughts.  Initially, we wanted to get a Yukon XL because it has more storage space in back.  The only reason we wanted this feature, however, was because of vacations.  After much discussion, my husband and I decided that this would actually be cumbersome for day-to-day driving and we would just get a cargo carrier if we needed more space.

When shopping for a family vehicle that would also serve as our family vacation vehicle, we had many things that we kept in mind.  These include:

  • Comfort
  • Durability/ease of cleaning
  • Having a DVD system installed
  • Safety
  • Good for vacations and for day-to-day living
  • Able to meet all of our vacation needs, including towing

We actually had a mini-van before purchasing the Yukon.  I am not really a fan of mini-vans because I don’t really care for the way they look.  But, it worked out well when the twins were young.  Now that they are five, we decided I could go back to having an SUV without much trouble.  This is great because we like to ride ATVs and we have a trailer to tow them.  So, we can now easily take them on vacation with us if we like.  In the future, we might get a boat as well.  Having towing capabilities will be handy for this too.

 For me, having the DVD system was a must.  In the minivan, I had purchased an add on system but didn’t much care for it.  With the Yukon, the system is built in.  I much prefer this system because it is higher quality and the kids get good sound from the car speakers.

 Regardless of what you are in the market for, be sure to do your homework to make sure you get a great deal.  We prefer purchasing slightly used vehicles because you don’t have to pay the new car sticker price but you can still get a car that is in great shape.  Check out the Kelly Blue Book value beforehand to make sure you aren’t overpaying and look at many dealers to make sure you get exactly what you want.

Aug212007

Check Out the Damage!

OK,  everyone.  I think I am ready to start blogging on a more regular basis once again.  I apologize for the delay, as I was making posts every day.  As I mentioned in my previous post, my house was hit hard by some terrible weather.  A large tree limb fell on my husband’s car, as you can see here:

 scotts-car-1.JPG

 Here’s a close up of the back window – check out the speakers sticking out.

scotts-car-2.JPG

I know this doesn’t have a great deal to do with family travel or family vacation tips, but I thought it would be interesting to share!

Unfortunately, the car wasn’t the only thing affected.  As you can see here, the same tree pushed into our house.

scotts-car-3.JPG

 This next picture is kind of difficult to appreciate without knowing what this area is supposed to look like.  Anyway, that little bit of white that you can see in the background is one of my garden sheds that was crushed by another huge tree limb that fell in my backyard.  I have a garden walkway in this cove that leads to the shed.  Obviously, you cannot see that at all now!

Damage

So, we have most of this cleaned up now and the insurance adjusters have been out.  So, I should be able to start talking about educational family travel and family vacation tips next time.  Thanks for your patience and the words of support!

Aug182007

I am Still Here!

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to write a quick blog to let you know that I am still here.  Unfortunately, we had a terrible storm tear through here a couple of days ago and it completely wiped out my power – not to mention putting a tree through my husband’s car and one of my sheds (and some other damage as well).  On top of it all, I was quite sick for a couple of days.  I should be back up and running with regular posts again soon!