Planning Your Next Holiday

It’s during the dark days before Christmas that we start to think about holidays for next year.  We prefer to stay in the UK and living in the north of England, we either venture over the border into Scotland or alternatively we can go south and we think we’ll plan to have a Great Yarmouth holiday in the spring.

My husband’s work is difficult to abandon at short notice – it was an absolute nightmare when he was taken ill and rushed into hospital a few years ago.  Fortunately he recovered very well and the hospital staff let him escape just over one week later.  However, trying to cancel meetings and trips to London was difficult, and although it was really good that people were thinking about him, we received about thirty phone calls every day asking for progress reports.

Holidays are something which we plan carefully.  We enjoy getting information before we actually go and we like to find out about the area.  We like taking our time in choosing a hotel – it is a large part of our holiday and therefore we don’t just book anywhere.  

When we go away for a weekend then we may well stay at a budget hotel because it’s only for a couple of nights.  If we are going away for a week then we make our decision carefully.  There are a couple of reasons for this and the first is that because I’m sometimes not particularly well, we need to ensure that there is room service should it be required. We also need a walk-in shower cubicle, rather than an over the bath shower.

It really is irrelevant as to how everyone plans their holiday.  We all have our own ways which suit us.  That is one of the joys of being able to have choice.  If everyone said the same things and made the same decisions it would be really boring – there wouldn’t be any reason to be given a choice.

Back to planning our Great Yarmouth holiday which we are both looking forward to – we have decided to go in May before the main holiday season, and because we are able to go outside of school holidays this time of year suits us.  We’ve started looking at hotels and we’re even debating the possibility of a few days on the Norfolk Broads.  That’s a decision for another day.  

Property Investment – Does It Appeal To You?

A lot of people are in the property investment trade. Many people will purchase an apartment or house and renovate it, then sell it at a profit or rent it to tenants as a long term investment. Usually they will be buying properties within their local area, or a few hours’ drive away at most. This is probably because most people will be direct landlords and be required to organise things such as maintenance themselves. Many people however often overlook the international property market and with differing currency values and property values for countries at any given time, it can be a very profitable and hands free investment option if you play your cards right.

So how does one get involved in the international property market? Well firstly you will want to find yourself an international investment or real-estate company who can manage the business dealings in your preferred countries of choice. So if you are looking at houses for sale in France or apartments in New York, you simply have to choose your property, provide the capital and let the agents do the rest. So, I hear you asking, how does this end up working out to be more profitable if I’m paying some real-estate agency to do all this meddling? Currency exchange rates fluctuate on a daily basis. A tenants rent in one country could be worth twice as much in your local currency.

If you are getting a little bit bored of investing in property on a local or national scale, or the income simply does not seem all that rewarding, it may be time to take a leap of faith and jump in to the international property investment game. Plenty of people who have taken the risk and many of them are certainly glad they decided to. If low risk and high gain investment is what you are after, this is definitely for you.

Be it houses for sale in France or apartments for auction in New York, there are plenty of great options out there for your first international property investment. Be sure to see how the exchange rates are holding up before you sign any papers, and always ask for advice from your international property agent before making any decisions. Besides that, it should be smooth sailing from there on in, requiring little to no intervention from you as a landlord whatsoever.

Nothing however really is that easy otherwise everyone would be doing it without fail. You must research the area to ensure that it will be an attractive place for tenants to want to live. Tenants will either already have or need a job so the location is extremely important as is the transport options to and from the house. Cover all bases and you will be well on the way to becoming an international entrepreneur!

Reach Your Full Potential - Volunteer Overseas

Do you ever sit back and wonder what ever happened to a lot of your old classmates from high school or college after you all went your own separate ways? I often do, and the stories you hear can be quite fascinating if you are lucky enough to bump into them or someone else who has.

I recently bumped in to an old friend from high school in the pub and we sat down and had a long old chat. It turns out that he had started his own business after he left school, never with any expectations that it would bring in any more than pocket money. Now he has offices in 26 countries and is worth millions. Funnily enough, he hasn’t let it get to his head and still seems like the same down to earth chap he was back then.

Another story I heard from a friend was about another character from high school that used to be a bit of a bully and to say no one really liked him was an understatement. In the end, he went to volunteer overseas for about 5 years in Africa, helping communities make wells for fresh water and to build clay huts. It really is amazing how people can change over the years.

But then I looked at myself. I still live in the same little village. I have a simple job, a simple house and a nuclear family. I wonder if anyone else turned out like me. I guess a handful would have, surely not everyone has got some wild story of change and success like that. Never mind, I don’t let it get me down; I see it as more of a source of inspiration. And that’s how you should see it too.

If you don’t think you’ve reached your full potential, it’s probably time to start taking action and doing something. Now I’m not saying you need to go start a multi-billion dollar multinational enterprise, or go and volunteer overseas in Tanzania for the next decade, but have a look at the opportunities you have around you. What used to interest you back in school? What did you want to be when you grew up? It sounds cheesy, I know. But if you get into that rhythm of thinking, that’s when you can have truly great ideas and really motivate yourself to make a change in the way you’re living.

So if you have had enough of coasting through life in first gear then maybe it’s time to shift it up a gear and start taking some more risks. Have a bit of adventure and make something of yourself. 

The Cost of Motorbike Insurance

The law requires you to have sufficient insurance if you want to ride a motorbike on any UK road. That means that quite a bit of money is being added to the expenses that you already have in running the bike. However, finding affordable motorbike insurance isn’t difficult at all. All you need to know is what the factors are that insurance companies take into consideration when calculating the premiums and then you shop around.

The factors are fairly straightforward:

• The Type of Motorbike That You Want To Insure
  The first thing that insurance companies will look at, is the age of the bike. If it is new, the premium will be higher because it will be more expensive to repair or replace should it be written off. An older bike will be cheaper to insure because the parts will be cheaper and even second-hand parts will be available – therefore the insurance company won’t have to pay out as much in the case of an accident.
  The story is different with bikes that are older than 20 years. These are considered classic bikes and are, once again, more expensive to insure because the parts will be more difficult to find.
  The power of your bike’s engine also determines the size of your premium. The faster it goes, the more likely you are to be in an accident that causes greater damage than less powerful motorbikes. Hence the large premium.
  
  

• How Much You Use Your Bike
  As with cars, the mileage on the motorbike counts strongly towards the size of your premium. The more you use your bike, accumulating miles, the more likely you are to be in an accident. You will also pay more if you use the bike to go to work and back as you will be driving at times when there are more cars on the road – hence you are more likely to be involved in an accident.
  
  

• Where You Live and Where You Park
  The security aspect is a big one. If you live in a high crime neighbourhood and you bike has to be parked on the pavement, you will pay a higher premium than when you live in a safer neighbourhood and your bike is parked in a garage. It’s all about the risk of theft and damage.
  
  

• Other Considerations
  The insurer will also consider the following in order to determine the premium of your motorbike insurance: Previous claims or convictions, details such as your age, gender, profession etc., other drivers of the bike and, finally, the excess that you are prepared to pay.

If you want the best deal, you really need to shop around.

Norfolk Holidays for Golfers

For most of us older adults, our childhood holidays were spent with the family at a quiet cottage in the country, or perhaps on the coast somewhere, or maybe even in the mountains. We slept late, did a lot of nothing all day, and then stayed awake till all hours of the night. It was great. We even repeated it with our own children.

 

But now we're older. Our kids are grown and starting their own lives. Now we have the extra time and money to so some things we couldn't do before. I'm thinking perhaps a few weeks devoted to playing golf.

 

There are plenty of great golf clubs all around England, but let me suggest looking in Norfolk. Norfolk holidays have a special appeal because of the varied geography and quieter atmosphere. Outside of Norwich and Great Yarmouth, which have excellent golf courses themselves, the rest of Norfolk is a pleasant surprise of small towns and villages. And no matter where you are, you're not far from a good golf course. As an added bonus, Norfolk enjoys the driest weather in the U.K., giving you more time to play.

 

You might want to start your Norfolk holidays at Royal Norwich Golf Club. Arguably one of the best courses in all the U.K., Royal Norwich is more than 6300 yards of beautiful fairways and greens set in a combination of heathland and parkland. The course is mature, having remained largely unchanged since 1924. It is a challenge to both the professional and amateur alike.

 

Hunstanton Golf Club is another you should definitely put on your Norfolk holidays list. It sits on the northern coast, at the shore of the Wash. Hunstanton's famous greens are said to be the envy of every other course in the country. Perhaps you should schedule a round and decide for yourself.

 

In the heart of Norfolk lies Dereham Golf club, a parkland course in the region's countryside. The eighteen holes span a total of 6,225 yards, with a varied layout offering a good starting place for beginners as well as enough challenges for experienced golfers. A handicap card and proper attire are required to play at Dereham.

 

Norfolk holidays for golfers are as varied as the region itself. At last count there were no less than thirty-four regulation courses in Norfolk, plus dozens of nine hole and mini courses. You can play on the east coast at Great Yarmouth or Cromer; on the north coast at Heacham or the Searles Resort; or inland at Fakenham or Swaffam.

 

Golf in Norfolk is yours for the asking. Check with your travel agent to find the best deals for Norfolk Holidays, whether for a short break or an extended getaway.

Walking Holidays in Norfolk

With the increasing popularity of short breaks and longer trips spent taking rambling, holidays in Norfolk have really led the way. It’s little wonder though when you consider the extremely vast network of well managed walks available. There is also plenty of choice with plenty of different types of area to explore for people of all abilities. Whether you prefer to do some long distance trekking or if you prefer a more manageable circular jaunt then there is plenty to please everyone.

There are some very interesting historical walks along trails that have changed little over the centuries. Thanks to Norfolk’s many protected areas these trails are likely to survive for a long time yet. This will allow more and more people to enjoy this beautiful countryside.

One of the most popular historical walks follows the coast line and is an ancient roman route called Peddars Way this joins up with the Norfolk Coast Path National Trail. The route is 93 miles in total and when walking along it you travel through marshland and as well as passing lots of cliffs which are worth a picture in anyone’s album.

Along Boudica's Way which links the historic market town of Diss to Norwich you will find many features that will take you right back to the Warrior Queens time. In Boudica Gallery of Norwich Castle Museum there are lots of golden jewellery items from Boudica's time as well as a recreation of a Boudica-style chariot. You can retrace the steps that the Queen of the Iceni people took when they led an uprising against the Romans.

Even if you don’t fancy doing the whole forty miles, it’s worth arriving at Diss at some point. This thirteenth century town has retained much of its historic architecture. The town is part of the Cittaslow initiative which means that they adhere to tight guidelines which makes sure that it will retain its character for years to come. Diss, like much of Norfolk has that un-spoilt feel of a town where its occupants are very proud of their surroundings.

There are many more interesting walks to keep you interested which can allow you to experience this most tranquil part of England. People have been taking holidays in Norfolk since holidays began and it’s really easy to see why. As well as the obvious attraction of the beautiful surroundings the people that you meet are welcoming in every sense. Each character you meet on your trip will generally be able to part with a snippet of information as their local pride is always evident.