hotels articles

BUY shares in tour operator Thomson and you will be eligible for 10 per cent discounts on holidays.

The perks only apply to those who buy at least a minimum pounds 500 stake when the firm floats on the stock market in May.

Justin Urquhart Stewart, of Barclays stockbrokers, is optimistic about Thomson’s future. “But until we know next month what price the shares will be, I can’t say whether they are worth buying,” he said.

You’ve seen some of the choices Westerners face when they want to buy a house. But you’re still wondering if now is the time to take the plunge and buy your first home, or to sell your current house and trade up to something larger. Will prices continue to drop? Will a single-family home continue to be a lucrative investment? We turned to the experts for help in answering these questions.

The biggest news of 1993 is that a combination of slightly lower prices and very low mortgage rates has made homeownership a more realistic possibility for many families, even in California. “This is a lesson that housing prices do equilibrate,” says Stephen Levy of the Center for the Continuing Study of the California Economy. “The California premium over the rest of the country has been shrinking, and it continues to shrink. Affordability is as good as it’s been since the 1970s.”

Bradley Inman, real estate columnist for the San Francisco Examiner, agrees. “The big change is the new range of choices open to the first-time buyer. In 1988 and ‘89 it was gridlock. People’s only option was to gamble 40 to 50 percent of their income on a mortgage, betting that their income would rise. Now the housing gridlock has ended.”

The big variable, of course, is the state of your finances and your job security. William Fulton, editor of the California Planning and Development Report, says he believes that recessionary fears are still preventing many Californians from entering the market. “California’s economy is still too weak, and while prices in inland areas have fallen, coastal areas arc still too high.” Fulton cautions, too, that “real estate is not an independent section of the economy. It isn’t going to bring Southern California out of the recession. If the Orange and Los Angeles county economies keep dropping, real estate prices will, too.”

But most experts expect Western home prices to stabilize. “We’ve had a slide,” says Levy. “Are we about to have a really big slide? I don’t see it, at least not in 90 percent of the market.” Seattle economist Dick Conway says, “My guess is that Seattle prices are likely to remain flat over the next 18 months or maybe suffer just a short-term dip. Despite our economic problems, we’ve still got people moving in here.”

The one thing virtually all observers agree on is that owning a house won’t be the gold mine it was in the 1980s. “In the 1990s, appreciation in home prices will go back to what it’s traditionally been, about the rate of inflation plus 1 or 2 percentage points,” says John Tuccillo, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors. “People will eventually get used to it.”

“For 20 years people have bought houses as an investment,” says Fulton. “Now people have to buy houses because they want to live in them. Our parents’ generation can retire on their houses. That won’t be possible for us. If you can live with this change, then buying a house is fine.”

Nobody says owning a home is going to make you rich, says Stephen Levy. “But that’s not what most people want. What they want is a house.”

Have you visited Cape Verde once or maybe twice in your life and you think that it is a beautiful place to be? You can probably even picture yourself living in a nice house in Cape Verde. Then perhaps you should thinking about buying a home in Cape Verde for yourself. Because you only live once, and if you can afford it then I see no reason why you shouldn’t think of buying a home in Cape Verde.

If you are buying a home in Cape Verde you may want to start putting your home on the market as well, this will give you some money on purchasing your home in Cape Verde, but first make sure that you have a home already in Cape Verde, you can work something out if you really want to buy a home in Cape Verde.

If you do a bit of research for your home in Cape Verde you will find that it won’t be that hard to do. But buying a home in Cape Verde will take some time and patience. Buying a home is never anything that you can up and do. You do not want to end up getting in debt so first you should try to budget yourself at a payment you can afford when buying a home in Cape Verde.

Another rule when you are buying a home in Cape Verde is you should be aware of their laws because Cape Verde’s laws are more than likely different with the laws that you are familiar with.

If you like sun then Cape Verde would be the place for you to buy a home because in Cape Verde throughout the year they only get about 24 centimeters of rain. So the sun is basically always shining in Cape Verde.

When buying a new house and have younger children, one thing you should make sure that the house is a child proof home. One thing to lookout for if you’re buying a house to make sure your buying a child proof home is where the house is located. If the house is located on a main street where a lot of cars pass by, it might not be the best location to raise children. It is recommended that if you have young children that you get a house that is not so close to a busy street like a main street.

Another thing to lookout for if you’re buying a house to make sure your buying a child proof home is the stairs in the house. If the stairs in the house is steep it can be dangerous for younger children. It is recommended that if you do get a house with steep stairs and you have younger children, that you restrict their access to the stairs. One way of doing this is to fence off access to the stairs.

One last thing to lookout for if you’re buying a house to make sure your buying a child proof home is to make sure all radiators are covered. The last thing you want is your child to get burned because he or she touches a hot radiator. If you do see a house that you like and the radiators are not covered, you can always buy covers for them. Radiator covers are not that expensive and it can keep your children safe. When it comes to buying a new house safety is very important especially if you have younger children.

Buying books online have its own advantages and disadvantages over the on-road book shops. But for people who love reading books are happy to buy books either online or offline. Online books store have regular customer support on their online store. Thus, if an online user who is having trouble in purchasing books can take the online support of the selling site. These online stores provide supports to many users at a time while in bookstore books sellers are unable to provide every shopper individually.

Buying books online is much easier and full of fun than purchasing books from on-road books shops. Online Buying of books not only save your time but also the physical exertion and money you spend while traveling to purchase books from the regular bookstore.

There is some security issue related to buying online, not only books but any products one want to purchase online. If online shopper doesn’t take a good look at the Buying cart then (s)he might un-knowingly giving his/her credit card information to the hackers who are preying their eyes on less secure sites. Thus, while buying online one should focus on the security seals like that of VeriSign. Since, these certified sites are using modern encryption and Secure Socket Layer technologies. Thus, online buying of books or other products is safe when a user purchase online from these online book shop.

Thus, buying books online is more advantageous than buying books from regular shops. As buying books online is fast, accurate, take less time and is just a click away from the users.

Carpet Buying

Caution is the watchword when it comes to buying carpets, which means sticking to reputable fixed-price, non-commission shops. If it matters to you, please ask your local carpet store manager to tell you about their policy of buying carpets from countries where child labor exists. Since a few years SACCS is therefore asking western consumers to stop buying carpets produced by children. While buying carpets, look for one with a Smiling Carpet label - these come from factories that do not employ child labor. A store that provides genuine information freely about buying carpets, carpet installation and carpet cleaning is hard to find, but these carpet stores do exist.

There is an etiquette to buying carpets and selling, as there is to any sort of business negotiation. When buying your new carpets, consider haggling, this is a common tradition that we seem to have forgotten when buying carpets or goods which are rather expensive. Initially you may find the store manager/owner reluctant to move on price, but persevere, there is always another shop to continue your carpet buying adventure in if needed. One more tip to buying carpets would be to consider buying your carpets near the end of the month when stores have targets to make. If a few more sales means the area manager is happy you could be the lucky customer with a discount carpet.

It may seem obvious to most that we should first, check the quality when buying carpets, but it seems there are a few who take the store managers word on the quality being offered and end up with a houseful of carpet that looks like trash in just a few years. In buying carpets, as in everything else, those of the best quality are cheapest in the end. I do not recommend buying carpets on any online auction, you need to be able to see and touch the carpet and also ask direct questions which in turn means you can get answers to your carpet buying questions, face to face.

Is Buying a Used Fork Lifts Good For the Business?

Buying used fork lifts can prove fruitful for the business in a number of ways. If the maintenance capacity of the concerned business is of high quality, then the buying a used lift is always recommended. Buying a used lift can be a very good option of saving money. However, the decision of buying lifts can also prove hazardous on account of the fact that, the used version requires a lot of maintenance than their newer counterparts. One way of looking at the decision of buying lifts can be the thinking of the exact use of the fork lift for the business. If the lift is used for a lesser duration during the day, then buying a used lift is always preferable.

Reliable Sources for Buying

If the lifts are bought from a reliable source such as a reputed dealer, chances of the lifts lasting in the same manner as the new fork lifts is increased. But, buying lifts from a previous owner is not recommended, as they may have not kept the fork lift in proper shape. The dealers are smart enough to understand the fact that, selling of fine lifts will result in them getting more customers. Hence, they usually sell good quality lifts. This proves the point that buying lifts from esteemed dealers is always fruitful.

Safety Concerns

The accidents caused by the fork lifts at work places are a common factor. Hence, making sure about the safety before buying a lift is a necessity. When buying used fork lifts the capacity plate describing the maximum load handling of the truck has to be checked. Checking of the harness, seatbelts, warning lights and visibility has also to be done before buying a lift.

Quart presents a depressing view of the marketing world’s ploy to capture US youth. How very true, and utterly disgusting, are her points and observations: pre-teens begging their parents for their “right” to have a $40,000 birthday or bar mitzvah party; teens marketing clothing to their friends who are ignorant of their true loyalty; and thousands of youth who are consulted daily by marketing big shots and paid for their services with clothing and invitations to swank parties. The list goes on but still manages to grow in absurdity.

Quart’s discussion of the issues makes for a shocking read for those involved with marketing literacy and teen education, but her vocabulary may surpass that of the average YA reader. She adequately covers the issues for those whose interest lies in countering teen marketing strategies, although the complexity of the subject is difficult to grasp in the context of one book. Parents may find Frontline’s Merchants of Cool a more concise guide to teenage marketing strategies. Ely Marie Anderson, Youth Scvs., Fox River Grove Lib., Fox River Grove, IL

At lunch today, my wife hit me with one of the questions I dread most every year. “What do you want for Christmas?”

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, or some other holiday, or simply look upon the season as a fun time to give and receive gifts, finding the right gift is almost always a frustrating exercise. What, exactly, do you get a tech geek who seems to have every last tech gadget, game, software package or obscure T-shirt?

Being tech fans ourselves, we sympathize, but need to point out that the holidays are actually a great time. Lots of companies aim product releases for the holidays, and even the most obsessive tech junkie can’t possibly pick up every cool piece of gear or software, because of the sheer volume that arrives on the scene this time of year.

So we’ll give you some hints as to what’s hot, within a few budgetary ranges, but for the most part, we’ll stay general and try to give ideas rather than specific products. Where it is possible, we’ll suggest items from our very own Geek Gift Guide. Be sure to check out the guide, which may give you ideas for the technophile in your life.

Let’s begin by looking at price categories. Then we’ll dive into shopping strategies… Continued… The type of item that comes to mind for under $10 is paperback books. There are a host of used and new books within this range. It’s likely the geek in your life is a science fiction or fantasy fan, and there are hundreds of such books released every year. Better yet, buy the first book in a series, like Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files , which will keep your fantasy fan happy for hours and hours. One big plus: No batteries needed.

Books aren’t the only gift items for less than $10, though. For example, DVDs of older movies often ship at prices below $10. Older science fiction, action, and suspense movies can be found for as little as $4.99. We’re not talking Ed Wood quality stuff, but movies that were considered prime in their day, or at least very good “B” movies.

If the person in question is a PC gamer, it’s also worth perusing the bargain bin at the local game shop to see what’s available there. Older PC games are often available at incredible prices. Bear in mind that you have to have some idea as to what games they like, and what they’ve likely played, but it’s unlikely that anyone has played every PC game available. Continued… As we rise above the $10 mark, a host of options present themselves (no pun intended). The entire spectrum of DVDs becomes available, except for pricey boxed sets. If your geek is a fan of a particular movie, it may be worth tracking down new versions, such as new “director’s cuts” and “extended editions,” which seem to arrive daily. And those special editions aren’t just for Oscar winners, but for all types of movies. A wider array of games for all platforms become available at these price points, although the latest console games tend to cost more than $50. PC games are a relative bargain, as first run games are often put on sale for the first few days after release for under $40.

At these price points, gift cards become an interesting option. If that special person can’t go anywhere without their iPod, consider an iTunes gift card. Is he or she devoted to reading? An Amazon.com , Borders or Barnes & Noble gift card may be just the thing. Can’t pin down anything in particular? Consider a gift certificate to Think Geek .

Here are a few sources for digital music gifts: iTunes , Napster , Urge , Rhapsody , or whatever online music source your friend favors. Gift certificates from these services start at $10, which will get them pretty much any complete album they crave. You can also buy iTunes and Napster gift cards starting at $14.95 at a lot of national chain stores like Best Buy and CompUSA, and even the big drug stores. If you’re late with your gift giving, you can often have this present delivered via email.

Another category to consider is toys. Remote control gizmos are particularly fun, as are faux weapons (think Nerf guns.) Comic book fans might appreciate action figures. Board and collectible games are also worth considering, like Axis and Allies Miniatures , Caylus and Dreamblade. Be warned, though, that some of these games can start a collecting addiction! Note that quite a few board games these days, particularly those with high production values, can cost well above $50.

Every technology fan loves USB flash memory keys, and you can get 2GB devices for about $30 these days. If your gift recipient hasn’t bought one in half a year or so, you can probably get him one that’s a big boost in capacity without spending a lot.

Want to get something for a co-worker, or a group of them? Maybe a trip to your local plant store or nursery will be the trick. Pick up a plant, or anything that will add some green to their deskspace. Or you can even decorate their cube walls or office with a poster, or even (dare we say) a calendar. Even little desk flip calendars aren’t a nuisance. Get something geeky like an Onion Daily Boxed Calendar .

WHETHER THEY’RE CALLED incentives, rebates, bonuses or cash allowances, these tantalizing discounts, which are proliferating year by year, are causing auto leasing to lose its luster. Why? Many incentives and rebates are not applicable to leased vehicles, and even for those that are, the savings can get swallowed up in the variables of lease financing programs.

Three years ago, leasing accounted for 25 percent of new car sales. Today, that figure has decreased to 13.3 percent, according to Jesse Toprak, senior analyst at Edmunds.com Inc., which provides automotive information for buyers. While leasing usually means free maintenance, commercial vehicles are more often purchased rather than leased because commercially used trucks and vans rack up high mileage, which means stiff penalties in leasing contracts. Even the used-car market has been affected by incentives and rebates on new vehicles because lower new-car prices are pushing used-car prices down.

Which to choose? It’s a daunting task requiring serious research. Fortunately, manufacturer and automotive Web sites are loaded with information, color graphics, optional features and comparison prices to help you figure out which fleet and commercial vehicles are best for you. GM dealerships even offer a free 24-hour overnight test drive. Call (800) 508-1050, or visit www.gm.com/24hours for details.

When buying or leasing a fleet of vehicles, factor in size, function, capacities, mileage, life cycle cost analyses, insurance and maintenance, warranty coverage, and driver feedback. Keep in mind that light-duty trucks depreciate less than cars. To find the right vehicle for your business, ask yourself:

* How much cargo space is needed to make deliveries efficient?

* How heavy are the products your business delivers?

* How many people need to ride up front in your pickup?

* Are deliveries mostly stop-and-go or long hauls? Figure out fuel economy for both situations.

* How big is your budget?

Automakers have been designating their incentive dollars for cash rebates and low APR purchase programs rather than toward subsidized leases, and that trend is expected to continue in 2004. “Currently, there is no special lease program that includes a rebate amount that can be applied to leasing a vehicle, but some programs include a cash incentive, called ‘lease cash,’ that is automatically applied as a cash down payment toward the lease,” says Toprak.

Some carmakers, such as Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, offer special fleet incentive programs for fleets using alternative fuel vehicles. While incentives are subject to change, and regional programs may vary, manufacturers post the latest incentives on their Web sites. At press time, for example, Ford was offering incentives ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 on various trucks and vans. GM gives you a $4,000 cash allowance on its S-10 and Silverado pickups, and GMC offers $3,000 on the Savana, Sierra and Yukon.