What You Need to Know About the US Passport
What You Need to Know About the US Passport
The modern passport contains many characteristics that enhance the appearance and safety aspects for travel. These ensure that tourists can have a smooth passage into the country of destination.
Essentials: Every regular US passport contains a few standard features – a blue cover page with the Great Seal of America affixed on it, a personal data page and a page carrying the signature of the bearer and a message from the US Secretary of State requesting permission to enter a foreign country. The passport covers for diplomats and officials, however, differ from regular ones. Each passport contains a standard of 32 pages, or 52 pages for frequent flyers such as businessmen.
Visa access: Some countries, such as China and Australia, require visas for entry into the country. The time taken and cost for visa application varies from country to country. A vast majority of countries in the world, including most of Europe and Japan, do not require any prior visas to enter. For information as to whether to apply for a visa, do remember to check the Foreign Affairs website of the country you re about to visit, or simply enquire with your travel agent.
Safety: The new US passport now contains an electronic chip that stores all your bio-data and passport information. This is not only to ensure that no changes are made to the passport illegally, but also to allow for a faster checkout at the immigrations.
Passport card: An alternative to the passport booklet is the passport card, specifically for travel to countries in North American – Canada, Bermuda, Mexico and the Caribbean. It might be a good idea to apply for a card instead of a standard booklet if you are traveling to these countries, since it is not only more portable, but also cheaper.
Validity: Both booklets and cards are valid for 10 years for an adult, or 5 years for a minor under 16 years of age.
Application: Applying for a passport can be done in person at any passport agency or acceptance facility. Current costs for an adult passport booklet are $100 and $85 for minors, or $45 for an adult passport card and $25 for minors. Passport renewals can be done through the internet and mail.
These are just some of the basics of a US passport, and would serve any traveler well when using or trying to obtain one.…
Are Vacation Homes A Big Waste of Money?
Are Vacation Homes A Big Waste of Money?
Rent is a waste of money, or is it? That’s what we’ve been conditioned to believe for the last few generations. Even when the real estate market is more stable and prices are steadily increasing, buying a vacation home may not be the best decision for your wallet.
Should you buy a vacation home that you’ll only use a few months a year? Let’s take a look at a simplified example to highlight what it costs to own a vacation home. You purchase a vacation home, and the monthly costs including mortgage payment, real estate taxes, insurance, HOA, or other maintenance and utilities are $3,000 a month. You use the home for three months a year, although you’re paying for 12. So, you’re paying $3,000 a month for 12 months or $36,000 a year and using the home for three months at an effective cost of $12,000 per month ($36,000/3). You could seasonally rent a similar home in the same area for $4,000 per month or $12,000 for the season. You’d be paying $24,000 extra a year owning the home versus renting it ($36,000-$12,000). Over five years, you would have spent $120,000 more to own the home ($24,000 x 5 years). Yes, the home might appreciate, but you would have to subtract buying and selling closing costs and a potential real estate commission from any appreciation.
Let’s say you purchased a home for $400,000 plus $8,000 in closing costs for a total initial investment of $408,000. Let’s assume it increased in value 5% a year (higher than normal market conditions). It would be worth about $510,500 at the end of the fifth year. If you sold the home and subtracted a 6% commission and $8,000 in selling closing costs you would net about $471,900. Your approximate profit would be $63,900, but remember you would have spent an extra $120,000 to own instead of to rent the home for those five years which would actually mean you spent $56,100 more overall (-$120,000+$63,900).
Keep in mind that the home might have needed repairs and renovation work, which would have added to your cost as a vacation homeowner. You would, however, pay off some of your mortgage balance which would be a benefit of owning versus renting. But, know that during the first several years of a 30-year mortgage, typically 75% – 80% of each mortgage payment is interest and not principal repayment. You may also be able to deduct the mortgage interest on this second home, but the bottom line is for this vacation home, the overall financial costs would be greater than the benefits.
Every situation is different, but now you have the tools to conduct your own financial analysis. Sometimes it makes financial sense for you to buy versus rent a vacation home, and sometimes there are non-financial reasons to influence your decision. It is, however, better to make a big financial decision with your “eyes wide open” rather than with blinders on. You may avoid financial disappointment or hardship later.
Please note that all information contained within this article is educational and should not be interpreted as financial advice. For advice that is specific to your needs and circumstances, you should consult a financial or tax adviser.…
All You Need to Know in Holiday Cottages
All You Need to Know in Holiday Cottages
Modest structure, rural nature, small size, quaint architecture, is what cottages are generally about. Many people have different opinions about the term cottage and it is rural type of dwelling house that is typically made of wood. Cottages are also called bungalows, are often small houses of one or two stories. Though it is typically found in countryside’s, some cottage style house elements are also worked into suburban and urban design. So before hiring your holiday cottages, know its advantages and uses so that you can find the best one and can have a nice vacation. In this article, you can find some useful information about vacation villas and how to get the best one.
The advantage of holiday cottage is you can feel comfortable and your babies and children can be easily accommodated. In recent years, vacation rental has been famous and you don’t feel the pressure as you feel in hotels, and holiday homes bring you much more experience to your holiday. They may be small and big and it gives you complete freedom. You can come and go as you like and it does not have any restrictions. You can eat in and out and can stay in bed as you like. The holiday home has the features that typically look like a countryside house and they have the features such as garden or large outdoor space. Another advantage of rental villas is, if you are interested in gardening, you can grow some flowers or plants, so when you come next time you can see its growth and enjoy.
The holiday homes have accessories such as stone or rustic wood benches and even wishing wells are typical features. If you are fond of having garden on your cottage, then holiday houses are perfect setting to indulge. You just came for a vacation to enjoy the trip and some of you may like loneliness and don’t want yourself to be in a crowd. So vacation rentals may be your perfect choice and most of the holiday cottages are as like your house and you can have all the facilities such as kitchen, music room, television, music player, kid’s room, playing room and more. The villa rental owners have made this facility for the convenience of the vacationers.
The best way to find these holiday homes is by doing some search on internet by using the keywords and you can find the list of companies and sites that have provided information about villas, villa guests, travel ideas and tips. All of our vacation villas are professionally cleaned and managed and provide the ultimate in luxurious accommodation. So you can find some of the villa rental websites who provide information about the spectacular mountains, landscapes and beaches nearby your vacation spot. Also, it is advisable to book a villa before, so that you can have a best vacation home for your holiday. The website that provides information about villas has also made the facility to contact the villa owners directly.…
Travel Packing Tips – 3 Super Critical Things That Every Traveler Must Bring
Travel Packing Tips – 3 Super Critical Things That Every Traveler Must Bring
Traveling can be an exciting time, but without proper planning and preparation then your trip can be ruined. The most critical part of the preparation process is packing. Without a proper plan and with poor execution of packing, then you may accidentally overlook essential items that were supposed to be packed. In this article about travel packing tips, I will provide an overview of probably the three most crucial items that must be packed for any traveler.
Critical Item #1: Cash, Credit Cards, and Traveler Checks
I would like to refer to this item as the triple C’s: Cash, Credit Cards, and Traveler Checks. These are listed in the order of importance. Sufficient cash is the most important item to bring, without money your trip will be worthless.
Credit cards are important, as this acts as a backup reserve in case you run out of cash or want to save on the amount of cash you want to bring. This comes in handy for places where credit cards are readily accepted, such as hotels, and restaurants.
Traveler checks are sometimes a good item to bring along as it is a secure way of bringing money as only yourself will be authorized to cash out the checks. However the limitations with traveler checks is that there are only a limited number of places where you can actually cash out these checks, such as the local bank.
Critical Item #2: Passport and / or ID
For any place you go, you must bring a form of government issued identification of yourself. If you are going abroad to another country, or planning to fly domestically within your own country then definitely your passport is needed. This is pretty much self explanatory why passports are a must, simply because either you cannot enter the country or board the plane! But surprisingly enough, some people do forget to bring their passports.
If you are just driving or traveling by rail within your own country, then most of the time only your government issued identification is needed, such as a driver’s license or national ID card.
Critical Item#3: Bus tickets, Train tickets, Boat tickets, or Plane tickets
Whatever form of paid transportation you will be taking, be it by bus, train, boat or airplane, you must remember to bring the necessary tickets. This is again self explanatory; you will not be allowed to board your transportation without the tickets. Again, people do sometimes forget this as well!
By forming a checklist of these three critical items, this will help ensure you do not forget to bring these items along with your trip. This is probably one of the most crucial travel packing tips to have.…
4 Must-Haves For Booking a Disney World Vacation
4 Must-Haves For Booking a Disney World Vacation
You and your family cannot help but get overly excited for your upcoming trip to Disney World. After all, it is your first vacation as a family and your kids’ first time to see Mickey Mouse and the gang live. One of the first things you must do to ensure a wonderful time is to book your Disney World vacation. It is as easy as calling up the office of Disney World and making a reservation. Just do not forget to have these essentials handy during your call to make the whole process easier and quicker for you.
1. Calendar and proposed travel dates
Have a pocket calendar ready in front of you with your preferred dates circled or marked. This way, you can easily ask if these dates are available and how much the rates are. You should also have second and third choices on the travel dates just in case your first options are not available or are too expensive. It is always smart to choose travel dates that do not coincide with holidays, summer or spring break, and weekends.
2. Choices on hotels
You should also have a list of hotels or resorts that you prefer to stay in. To do this more effectively, visit the theme park’s official website so you can get a list of all the Disney Vacation Homes and Disney Hotels. Get to know the price range, amenities, and inclusions for each hotel so you can choose those that will give you the best value for your money. After this, go on to read customer reviews and testimonials to help you come up with your choices. List down your choices on hotels according to your priority.
3. Names and info of your family
Even if you know your family’s basic information by heart, you would want to list them all down just to be doubly sure that you do not forget anything important. List down their full names, ages, and dates of birth because the Disney World reservation agent will ask for all of these.
Do not forget to list down any special needs or requests that you may have for any of the member of the family. For example, if you are bringing Grandma with you to this trip and you need a room for her that is located in the lower ground floor then specify that to the reservationist. Or if you have a baby with you, you would want to request for a crib or a room located in a non-smoking area.
4. Pen and paper
It is not safe to make a mental note of your booking details. Be sure to have a pen and paper ready so you can immediately jot down on your notes crucial information about your airline flight, schedule vacation, booking reference number, accommodation details, and many more. See to it that you keep your notes in a secure place so you do not end up losing it.
Planning Disney World vacation can be a cinch if you are able to do your homework and make a reservation early enough.…
An Overview on Vacation Rentals
An Overview on Vacation Rentals
To those who may not be familiar, vacation rentals means renting out a fully furnished house or apartment for a prescribed period of time – a few days or weeks – to tourists who may wish not to stay in hotels. They are quirt commonplace in USA, certain parts of Europe including UK and Canada. Of course this facility is now becoming increasingly popular across the world.
Of course, there are some criticisms that the vocational rentals are becoming a threat to the hotel industry as most tourists – particularly the ones traveling with families – opt for vacation rentals.
It is of many kinds – a cottage, condominium, apartment, single-family-style home called as villas – but all of them well furnished. The tourist avails the property on rental basis for an agreed number of days or weeks. The owners usually charge on nightly basis like the way the hotel rooms are charged – though there are some who opt for weekly rentals.
Legally speaking, their property is not for sale to the tourist or any other hirer and the owner of the vacation rental only lets the property on rent for a limited period of time.
The fact is they are preferred by many over hotel accommodation for a variety of reasons like cost savings, bigger space compared to hotel rooms, greater privacy, no need to pay tips, taxes or service charges. The family members and kids, instead of being confined in a small congested space in hotels, may feel be more comfortable with lot of space to roam in a vacation rental. Most of them are conveniently located – on the beachfront, city centers and close to shopping arcades and restaurants.
Furthermore, villa and many vacation rentals have kitchens for cooking so that you can avoid costly food in restaurants. There are spacious living rooms for family members to spend quality time together. In fact, many of them offer lot of floor space including multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, fully equipped kitchens and separate dining area. Besides they also provide amenities like fireplaces, private hot tubs, television etc.
The perceived demerit of them are lack of on-site service staff, standards of cleanliness etc. But they are now becoming more and more occupant-friendly. There are agencies that manage vacation properties for the owners and they offer services similar to hotels – front desk check-in, 24-hour maintenance, house housekeeping, concierge service etc.
Of course, the traveler has to check on vacation rental terms before finalizing. Some of them may separately charge cleaning fee, parking fee, security deposit etc. Some may not allow pets, disallow smoking, impose harsh cancellation fees etc. In the final analysis, however, the advantages of vacation rentals far outweigh the couple of negatives and they are increasingly fancied by tourists.
But, if you are traveling singly and you plan to stay only for a couple of days, you may as well opt for hotel rooms instead of a vacation rental. Again, you are a happy-go-lucky person the does not want to cook on your vacation, and leaving place in disorder, a vacation rental may not be an ideal choice for you.
It can range from simple apartments affordable by all to expensive luxurious private villas – some costing thousands of dollars per night.…
How To Give Your Child The Best Backyard Birthday Party Ever
If you are looking to host a birthday party for your little one that is sure to impress, look no further than your own backyard. Hosting a birthday party at home can be so much more than just snacks and mingling around; however, you will need a clear plan. To take your party to the next level, consider these tips and tricks.
Featured Entertainment
If you want your kiddo’s birthday to be one to remember, consider bringing in featured entertainment. Whether you hire a professional children’s performer or bring in a Bungee Trampoline Houston TX, this party will be one for the ages with featured entertainment.
Plenty of Games and Activities
The key to a child’s birthday party is knowing the shortness of an average child’s attention span and the need to entertain them. If you want everyone to have fun, make sure that you have plenty of games to keep everyone occupied.
A Parent Plan
Regardless of whether parents or other family members are invited, make sure that you are clear in your plan for parents and siblings. Include this on the invitation so that the other families can plan their days accordingly and avoid awkward conversations about the plan. Don’t forget to include them in the food, activity and entertainment to the best of your abilities.
Kid and Allergy-Friendly Foods
If you want to make sure that everyone can fully enjoy themselves, make sure that you have a plan for refreshments that meets everyone’s needs. While you cannot cater to every food preference, you can make sure that you offer kid-friendly options and take into consideration attendees’ allergies.
Theme
To elevate the event and truly make it an immersive experience, you will require a theme for the party to bring it all together. Create a comprehensive and cohesive experience by tying everything from food to activities to party favors to the theme.
Creating a party at your home may sound boring and unappealing; however, you can make sure that this party is sure to make memories with these key steps.…