Archive for June 3rd, 2009

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 1 – WHAT IS INCLUDED AND WHAT IS NOT!

You can come across some amazing looking prices for hiring a car in Florida but when you look at the detail you find that the Florida car hire companies do not include unlimited mileage, local taxes or car hire insurances.

When you hire a car in Florida you may not be doing much driving in which case unlimited mileage may be unnecessary but insurances are essential and do increase the car hire cost in Florida markedly. We usually found these cheap looking car hire prices were really not so cheap after all and could be regarded as a pretty underhand and misleading tactic.

When searching for car hire in Florida make sure all of these potential extras are included in the car rental price you have been quoted:

Third party insurance.
Airport fees.
Breakdown cover.
All local surcharges.
Loss/collision damage waiver.
Unlimited mileage.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 2 – AIR CONDITIONING.

It may sound obvious but DO check that the cheap price you have found for your car hire in Florida applies to car hire with air-conditioning. Temperatures in the summer in Florida will mostly be above 30 degrees Celsius, sometimes over 40 degrees Celsius (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit).

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 3 – BOOK AHEAD.

Do not just arrive at the airport in Florida without a car hire reservation. When you find the car hire desks they are invariably busy and chaotic with long queues and stressed staff. It is far better to already have reserved your car hire in Florida so you have a car hire reservation with a reference number so at least you know they will have a car ready and waiting.

At least if the Florida car hire company does not have your requested car hire they will have to upgrade you to a better model of car hire for free. You also tend to get cheaper car hire in Florida if you have booked your car hire in advance – not if you just turn up at the last minute.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 4 – DON’T PENNY PINCH.

Do consider the large amounts of luggage you will have in Florida and maybe go for the next size of car hire up and just treat yourself rather than traveling round on your holiday in Florida like a sardine. The price difference between different models of car hire in Florida is usually surprisingly small.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 5 – CHILD SEATS.

When you hire a car in Florida you can usually hire a car seat for children for about an extra $5 a day. Not only can this add-up, it can often happen that the message doesn’t reach the local car hire office in Florida. It can often be a no-hassle option to take your own car seat rather than getting angry when all after a stressful flight all you want is to get your car hire and go. You simply check-it in at the airport with your luggage so it is not really much trouble to do this.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 6 – CHECK EVERYTHING!

When you get to your car hire pick-up point in Florida you must check that everything matches your voucher. When you booked car hire in Florida over over the internet or at a travel agent, you may have requested certain car hire extras such as adding extra drivers and maybe the message didn’t get through. Even check you are getting the right sort of car hire you asked for!

Do all of this before you sign all the car hire paperwork. Make sure you take any print-outs you have so if there are any problems in Florida at the car hire office you have it all in writing.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 7 – DAMAGE.

When you have got your car hire in Florida you naturally just want to get going but make sure the car hire company in Florida acknowledge any bumps and scrapes already on the car. If you don’t you may find that when you return your car hire the car hire company may hold you responsible (and charge) you.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 8 – PETROL.

When booking car hire in Florida make sure your car hire is a diesel car as it will be much cheaper to run.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 9 – EXCESSES.

Most Florida car hire insurance policies have an excess which means you promise to pay a set amount (say it is $500) if you have an accident and the car hire company cover the rest of the cost of repair. Be aware of how much the car hire excess is because sometimes they can be very high in Florida.

When you are at the car hire office in Florida you may want to consider paying a small bit extra to make sure you are not liable for anything or at least lower the excess, especially as when you are driving in Florida you may not always fully understand the local road rules.

Copyright Mark Eastwood. Feel free to use this article online and in your email newsletters as long as you leave it intact and do not alter it in anyway. The byline and biography must remain in the article.

Mark Eastwood is a regular visitor to Florida and is publisher of a guide to Florida if you are going on vacation or holiday to Florida. You can find the guide at LakeTarponVillas.com/Florida-Guide.html LakeTarponVillas.com/Florida-Guide.html


Unique Camping Gear

When searching for the right gear for your camping trip, you may happen upon some very unique camping gear items. Depending on what type of camping you plan on doing, if it be in the mountains, in the desert, or along the coast, you may end up needing these special and unique camping gear items.

There are several sites online that specialize in selling unique camping gear. Items such as a snake bite kit, camouflaged tent and clothing, or even night vision goggles. Some of these items may seem unnecessary, however if you plan on a trip in the desert, a snake bite kit may become a life saving device, or if you’re going to be camping while out hunting the camouflaged tent and clothing along with night vision goggles may be necessary items. A whistle could also be considered a unique item, as it is not something you would typically think of bringing, but it just may come in very helpful in a time of need. When purchasing unique items, and deciding on what you will need, it all depends on the location you plan on camping in, and what activities you plan on doing while you are out camping.

There are also several different, and innovative, tents that are being developed and are available on the market. One of these many tents is a glow in the dark tent. This type of tent may come in handy when you head out for the bathroom at night and have a hard time finding your way back to your tent. The company that makes the tent also claims that the glow keeps away any bugs and insects. The same company that makes the glow in the dark tent also makes polka dot tents for those who wish to have a very fashionable and unique tent. Other companies are starting to make tents that are accessible for those with disabilities. Because it can sometimes be difficult for someone on a wheelchair to enjoy camping with the rest of the family, there are companies who make unique camping gear with this in mind.

There is a range of unique camping gear available that will suit any unique camping trip. These unique items are not only useful to many, but also rather enjoyable as it is something new and different. Although to some, these items may seem a bit foolish or useless, it will almost always turn out to be an extremely useful item and possibly a life saving device as well. However, these items may be more expensive than ordinary camping gear because of its uniqueness, so keep that in mind when deciding on what gear is necessary and what items you are purchasing only because its different and new.

How to have a safe, fun and inexpensive vacation, please visit:
gear.yourcampingonline.com gear.yourcampingonline.com and unlock your free report ‘Camping with the Family’


Going on holiday is supposed to be a relaxing, refreshing experience. You get to forget about everyday life and just enjoy yourself for a week or two. However, if you do not properly prepare for your vacation away then it may not end up being so relaxing after all!

No matter whether you are going on a summer or a winter holiday, you will still need to ensure that you have everything needed before you set off, otherwise you could end up extremely stressed, worn out and fed up by the time you come home again.

Having the Best Plan for Your Vacation

If you are going on a cruising holiday then you may not think that remembering everything would be that important. After all, if you do forget something surely you can just purchase it whilst you are there? Well whilst that may be true, you really do not want to spend a large proportion of your money on something you could have remembered to take if you had done a little more planning. So financially it does not make much sense to just pay more for something that you could have had for free!

There are a number of things which you will need to think about before setting off on your holiday. So creating a good travel plan is an excellent idea. Firstly write a list of everything you will need to pack. This should include identification such as your driving license or an identity card. You will also need your passport if you are going out of the country. Also it would be a good idea to check to see if a visa is needed in the country you are traveling to, otherwise you could end up in a bit of a pickle! Medical records and proof of vaccinations should also be kept in case they are needed for official purposes.

An obvious thing which you would think that you would not forget is money. However make sure that you do not carry too much cash. If you have debit and credit cards then make sure that you take them too as they will help to stop theft and they will ensure that you always have money on you. If you do not own a credit or debit card then consider using traveler’s cheques as these are accepted almost everywhere. Finally to keep yourself safe from thieves, make sure that you do not keep all your money together. Keep some in one pocket, some in another and some in your bag. That way if a thief does manage to steal from your pocket, you will still have some money left.

Overall it is essential that you properly prepare holiday essentials. If you don’t you could end up having a disastrous holiday and even if you can purchase whatever it is that you have forgotten, it will come at a much higher price. So when preparing for your travel tour, make sure that you take everything into account in order to have the best time possible.

The writer Clinton Maxwell is especially interested in information relating to Costa Blanca. Sharing his passion in reports on alicante-spain.com/benidorm.html Costa Blanca and Benidorm the author established his expertise in the area.


There are many activities that senior citizens decide to engage in upon retirement. Traveling is among the most popular, and is often something seniors look forward to well in advance.

Whether you are visiting relatives and friends, or just traveling to parts of the world you have never seen, it can be both fun and rewarding.

Often times, seniors will choose a package deal that will allow them to see many places, while saving money in the process. This can come in the form of a tour, and can mean making some very important decisions. Choosing the right tour is vital, and because of this, there are several considerations to be made before embarking on the trip of a lifetime.

One of the first factors to consider, before choosing the right senior tour, is the activities that will take place. If you have a history of health problems, or simply feel you are unable to participate in these

activities, you may want to keep searching for the right tour. When gathering information on a particular tour, you might ask if you will be required to take part in all activities, or if you will have the opportunity to choose among several different ones, or even go off on your own during those you are unable to do.

The second factor to consider when choosing your tour is how well it matches your likes and dislikes. If you are adventuresome by nature, or if there is something you’ve always wanted to try, you might consider a tour with action, health permitting. If sight seeing is what you enjoy, find a tour that is both relaxing and informational. It is important that you choose carefully, especially since you are paying for it and it will take up a considerable amount of your time.

Find out what you are getting for your money.This is especially important since you could conceivably find yourself stuck with costs you weren’t aware existed, so be sure to ask all the questions you might have, and that you understand the “fine print”.

Check the pace of the tour. If you are unable to participate in a busy tour, or simply want to travel at a more relaxed pace, choose a tour that isn’t too demanding. Find out what activities will take place, and decide whether or not they would suit you.

Compare tours. If one company features what you think is your dream trip for a considerable sum of money less than another, there is probably a very good reason. The more you know what you are getting, the easier it will be to itemize the trip and compare the pricing. While you do want

to save money where you can, you don’t want to be gypped out of a great vacation, so make sure you know what you are getting before you pay for it.

Ask a lot of questions. Before you spend any money, especially a good deal of money, on a trip, you want to know what you are getting in return, and what that will mean for you. Asking questions will also help you to decide which tour is right for you. Once you have narrowed it down to a few choices, the answers you receive will be crucial to the outcome of your decision. Remember, you are there to have fun, so the more you know, the less you have to worry about, and the more you’’ll have to talk about when you return.

Daniel Wilson is the founder of seniorsdiscounts.co.uk Seniors Discounts. Provider of discounts and informative articles to help people 50 plus save money.

For more on seniorsdiscounts.co.uk senior travel tours.