Don’t get me wrong, I have absolutely no problem with young people, lacking in funds, doing what they can to see a bit of the world and broaden their outlook. But it’s the “professional” backpackers who give them a bad name. You know the sort I mean, rich folks back home, trying to get down and dirty with the poor folks, whilst at he same time treading on people’s sensibilities wherever they go. Bangkok was full of them.

Pham Ngu Lao is home for most of the backpacker community

I don’t know what it is, but Saigon attacks a different sort of backpacker. Sure the idiots are still here but they are few and far between. You are not likely to get someone arguing over the price of a 1 dollar snack here, like you do in Bangkok. Pham Ngu Lao in general and Bui Vien in Particular are happy go lucky sorts of places, that attract a fair old mix of people. Many expats congregate here to watch the football in The Spotted Cow or enjoy an al fresco late night beer in Shots Bar. Change the venue to the Khao San Road in Bangkok and the expats wouldn’t go near the place.

These areas are so different by day and by night that if you didn’t know better you’d think you’d walked into a different district. Day time, and it’s all souvenir shops, spas, food and travel agencies. However, darkness brings a metamorphosis of epic proportions. Shops seemingly disappear into the background and bars take over.

Innocent looking spas become enticing massage parlours offering more than a neck rub. The travel agencies fade away completely and street vendors, whilst here during the daytime, are here in much greater numbers. The bars spill out right across the street as drinkers play chicken with the hundreds of motorbikes zipping up and down the street.

The noise is epic, it’s just that wonderful, raucous rumble of humanity as people talk, drink and have fun. I have never really found anywhere quite like it. The locals and the expats all know each other of course, whereas the ever changing faces of tourists and backpackers, keeps the place vibrant.

The street food here is as good as it gets. Traditional food like Vietnam’s famous noodle soup, Pho, shake hands with new wave food vendors selling things like meatballs in French bread. The Banh Mi, favoured by the locals are not a million miles away from the Kebabs enjoyed by the Westerners.  It all sits happily side by side and it all works.

If you find yourself with time to kill in Saigon, get along and join in the fun. You won’t regret it.

Writers Profile:

Keith Hancock is a singer/songwriter and writer based in Saigon, Vietnam. He has lived in Asia for more than 5 years and travels throughout the continent researching and writing. He’s also Publication Manager of  HalongLuxuryTravel– the #1 ranked Halong Bay tour operator in Vietnam. Keith is one of only two DIAMOND STATUS rated writers on Ezine articles in the whole of Indochina He has had work published in magazines and websites in the UK, Europe, USA, Australia and Asia. His great loves are music and travel, but he writes on a whole range of subjects.

Saigon’s Amazing Bui Vien by money-fox.com

This lack of family time can be hard to avoid, even for the most adapt of time managers. So, for all the hard-working types, there must be a reliance of big public holidays and periods throughout the year that are good chances to get away from the usual working life.

While these aren’t the only time a family can take some time out for a holiday, we realise that the people involved are often too busy to even think about when or where they might go, so here are a mix of options.

Christmas

Christmas holidays have changed pretty drastically over the last century, and how much you appreciate the ever fancier and more expensive Christmas presents probably depends on who’s buying, but one thing that has stayed the same all this time is the family values that we all naturally enforce around Christmas Day.

There are some who are content with staying at home with the family, watching old movies and eating Christmas Dinner leftovers, but a surprising amount of families now take the chance to get away while work is off the mind.

Christmas breaks are quality time for families no matter what’s done during that time, but anyone who takes the opportunity to get away to a UK holiday get an extra bit of luxury. Places like Butlins often do Winter Wonderland breaks to escape to while it’s (hopefully) snowing.

Easter

Easter is perhaps slightly less conventional than Christmas, but it still has the advantage of school holidays. This obviously means breaks abroad can be more expensive- charging you a higher premium while the kids are off- but it’s nevertheless a great mid-year time to get away.

Summer Break

The school-summer holidays are notoriously the most expensive time of year to get away, but that’s for a pretty good reason: Everyone is off, the weather is good and families would have to pay for childcare during these weeks anyway, so logic says that they might as well make the most of it.

Although lots of people go abroad for this time, it’s always a good idea to make the most of the UK weather while it’s nice and hot, making sure everyone gets the most before autumn sets in.

February Half-Term

February has a lot of responsibility as a month. Families have just battled through the January blues, so the best way to counter that would obviously be some time away. It still manages to take advantage of school holidays, avoiding any educational upsets, yet holidays in this time are going to be a lot cheaper than ones booked in August and July.

Early Summer

This is at the bottom because it can be the most risky, in terms of education, and therefore should be contemplated more than the rest. Holidays abroad, and usually England, will be nice and hot, but as school holidays have yet to start by this point it could be detrimental to the education of the children in the family.

5 times of the year when you can spend quality time on a family break by money-fox.com

Between Art and Kitsch B&B

Art lovers are sure to feel right at home in this cute and friendly budget hotel. The Between Art and Kitsch B&B is situated in the De Pijp district within walking distance of many of Amsterdam’s leading attractions. The owners of the hotel have really pulled out all the stops and each of the guestrooms has been beautifully decorated and feature en suite bathrooms. There are also three shared rooms for guests to make use of including a well-stocked kitchen and although guests who book one of the top floor rooms will have quite a limb, they will also be treated to pretty views of the city.

CityCenter Bed and Breakfast

Finding quality budget accommodation in the heart of Amsterdam can be difficult, but this cosy establishment certainly fits the bill. The hotel is situated on Sint Jacobsstraat in between Nieuwendijk shopping street and Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal and despite being right in the thick of things manages to provide a peaceful atmosphere. There are only two rooms for rent here so it is important to book early, but the plus side of this is that guests will have the full attention of the owner, who works hard to ensure that the needs of guests are met at all times.

Chic&Basic

As the name suggests, this hotel combines style with budget amenities and is sure to suit people who are on a tight budget. The hotel can be found in the Herengracht district on the edge of a canal and is conveniently situated just a five minute walk from Central Station. The furnishings are minimalistic yet comfortable and Chic&Basic offers guests great service and free internet terminals that they can use to catch up with friends and family back home in between exploring the city.

Hans Brinker Budget Hotel

This establishment makes no secret of the fact that it caters purely for the budget crowd and although the beds tend to be pushed close together and the amenities are basic, there hotel is very clean and tidy. The hotel can be found on Kerkstraat, which puts travellers right in the heart of Amsterdam’s’ colourful nightlife scene.

St Christopher’s at the Winston

Situated on the edge of Amsterdam’s notorious red light district on Warmoesstraat, St Christopher’s at the Winston offers a range of different types of budget rooms for travellers to choose from. the private rooms here have been decorated by local artists and are very comfortable, while one of the best things about the hotel is that it located just a short walk from Dam Square.

Stayokay Hostel Amsterdam Zeeburg

This modern hotel features colourfully decorated spacious rooms and is one of the best budget options in the city for people who enjoy bright colours. Both private and shared rooms are available here and all the amenities are in excellent condition. Although the hotel is situated a little apart from the main tourist zones on Timorplein, there are plenty of interesting nearby attractons such as the vibrant Dappermarkt.

The cost of accommodation in Amsterdam tends to vary dramatically depending on the time of year. The best deals can be found during the week in the winter months, while prices shoot up at weekends and during the summer. The best budget hotels in Amsterdam tend to be popular, so it is a good idea to book at least a couple of weeks in advance. There are lots of cheap flights available to Amsterdam throughout the year if you keep a look out, too, so the city really is an attractive option for an inexpensive city break.

Photo Credit: Claudio.Ar cc

The Best Budget Hotels in Amsterdam by money-fox.com

All of the above are tried and tested ways of spending while on holiday, but they all have their downsides; you’ll have to pay commision to your bank or the Post Office (commission-free is usually anything but), while getting it at the airport means you’ll get a terrible exchange rate (this is THE worst way to get your travel cash).

And if you take a big wad of cash then there’s always the risk of having it stolen while you’re travelling and the added headache of stashing it away when you reach your destination.

Putting it on plastic will eliminate this problem, but means while you’ll be hit with all sorts of additional charges on top of any interest you might incur even when using a debit card. Unless, that is, you use a prepaid travel card.

What is a prepaid travel card?

A Visa Prepaid Cardlooks like, and can be used like, any credit or debit card – it will have a long card number, valid to and from dates, a signature strip and will come with a chip and pin code. However, unlike a credit cards, a prepaid card must be loaded with cash before it can be used, meaning that you can only spend what’s on the card and so there’s no chance of running up debt.

In addition, these cards also often come with great incentives for travellers, for instance the ICE Travellers cashcard offers free cash withdrawals from any ATM and there are no fees for using it abroad. Or if you go for the T24 Black Prepaid Visa then you’ll get free travel insurance on your flight tickets (provided you book using the card) and also get a free priority pass to 600 airport lounges in over 100 countries.

But like most things, these prepaid cards have their advantages and disadvantages, so let’s take a closer look…

Prepaid cards – the pros…

The main advantage of using  a prepaid card for your travel money is that you’ll not have to carry around significant sums of money while you’re away, and if your card is stolen then you only stand to lose the amount on your card and thieves will not be able to go on a massive spending spree at your expense, maxing out your credit card or clearing your bank account.

When you’re abroad, prepaid cards are also often cheaper to use than debit or credit cards, which will often charge a fee of around 3% when you spend abroad. This also applies when withdrawing cash on your card and you may also be hit with a cash transaction charge and interest will be charged on credit card purchases from the second you take out your cash.

Pick the right prepaid card, though, and you can do away with all of those fees.

If you like to keep an eye on the exchange rate then another plus point of prepaid is that you can load up with cash when the exchange rate is favourable and you won’t lose out if the rate worsens.

Furthermore, because you can only spend what you load up, a prepaid card is a great way of setting, and sticking to,  a holiday budget.

…and the cons

Not all prepaid cards are created equal – if you don’t do your homework and make sure you pick up the correct card you could find yourself hit with an application fee, a monthly fee, a loading fee every time you top up and even an ‘inactivity’ fee when you don’t use your card!

Overall, though, the pros far outweigh the cons and a prepaid card is well worth considering if you’re travelling abroad any time soon.

Photo Credit: ArloMagicMan cc

Are Prepaid Cards Best For Travel Money? by money-fox.com

Food and Drink.  Waiting for a flight on an empty stomach, quite frankly, sucks.  Naturally, that’s why many airports are packed with restaurants.  Take your pick from the fast food variety of Burger King, Chick-Fil-A, McDonalds, Panda Express, or Wendy’s.  If you’re looking for a sports bar, you can hit up the Fox Sports Sky Box and grab a plate of wings.  Then, if you need to satisfy a craving for sugar and fat, wander on down to Carvel Ice Cream & Bakery or Krispy Kreme.  Nothing takes the edge off like ice cream and donuts!

For a more sit down dining experience you can check out McCoy’s Bar and Grill. They offer a variety of menus, including lunch, dinner, and sushi.  It’s an airport favorite located in the airport’s adjoining Hyatt Hotel.  Also in the hotel is the Hemisphere Steak & Seafood Restaurant.  This restaurant is slightly more upscale and pricier, but if you’re looking for more options, including breakfast, you might find something to satiate your taste buds, plus the restaurant offers an impeccable view of the MCO tarmac so you can eat and marvel at the wonder of flight.

Shopping.  Could this airport be any more of a mall?  The answer is no.  It couldn’t be.  Need a new book?  Head on down to Barnes & Noble.  Want some Disney memorabilia (because, let’s face it, if you visited Walt Disney World, you didn’t already spend enough money on stuff with “Disney” emblazoned on it somewhere), then you better stop by the Disney’s EarPort or Magic of Disney shops.  Yes, it wouldn’t be the Orlando International Airport without two Disney stores.  Alternately, if Disney isn’t your thing, but you want some merch from other “Orlando-ish” attractions, you can browse the Kennedy Space Center store for NASA related goodies or head over to the SeaWorld store to pick up a dolphin snow globe.  Some other stores include the Universal Studios store (movie merch), Swatch (watches), and InMotion Entertainment (tech, gadgets, movies, video games).

If shopping and eating aren’t enough to keep you occupied, you can visit the King of Kong arcade.  Opened by Billy Mitchell (one of the stars of the 2007 documentary The King of Kong) in 2011, the arcade isn’t big, but it offers enough variety to keep you occupied for a couple hours.  Just don’t expect to find any Donkey Kong arcade machines here, strangely enough.

Billy Chamberlin is an avid, frugal-minded traveler and writer who’s always on the lookout for travel deals, such as affordable MCO parking.   When he’s not traveling on business, he strums away on the banjo and builds model spacecraft.

Photo Credit: mrkathika cc

Stuck at Orlando International Airport? How to Occupy Your Time by money-fox.com

Calgary can easily be discovered by public transportation or on foot, though having your own vehicle makes it easy to go on day trips to its stunning natural surroundings. A campervan is a popular way to do this and also allows visitors to save a few pounds on accommodations. There are a few parksfound right near the city that make it easy to explore Calgary and its surroundings, but these are the top 5 campervan parks near Calgary Canada. 

Country Lane RV Park – This beautiful gated campervan Park is just a 25-minute drive from the city and features a gym, a swimming pool and 290 sites. It is situated along Sheep River and surrounded by lovely countryside. One of the main draws of this great campervan park is its massive clubhouse that houses a library, a media room, a playground and a lounge. In the immediate area are three golf courses, 25 miles of walking trails and the unique Old Town Okotoks.

Calway Park Stay & Play – This all-inclusive campervan park is part of the Calway Park theme park, which is the largest outdoor family amusement park in Western Canada. The campervan park has 100 sites and those that stay here get discounted admission to the fun family park. Facilities on site include Wi-Fi, laundry and showers, though the best part of it is that it is fun for the whole family and it is only 15 miles outside of the city. For more information visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calaway_Park and if need to hire an RV then “RVRentaCampervan”  http://www.rvrentacampervan.com/motorhome-hire/canada/ will compare rates with different suppliers in Canada.  

Calgary West Campground – The closest campervan park to the city, Calgary West Campground has 320 sites, 120 of which have full hook-ups. It has a grocery store on site as well as a swimming pool, a playground, laundry facilities and showers for those travelling in a campervan without one, such as Westcoast Mountain Campers’ Muscle Truck. The campground offers a shuttle bus service to and from the Calgary Zoo and the city centre as well as to the Calgary Stampede grounds.

Mountain View Camping – Just two miles east of the city, this 202-site campervan park features a picnic area, an 18-hole mini-golf course, a grocery store and a tourist information centre. In the evening live music is played, while in the day time guests can play volleyball, basketball or badminton. The campervan park has wireless internet access and is close to key attractions, such as the CalgaryStampede grounds, the Calgary Zoo and three golf courses.

Nature’s Hideaway Family Campground – Catering predominately to families, this lovelycampervan park is situated on the banks of the Highwood River around 31 miles southeast ofCalgary. The park has sites with power, water and sewage hook-ups as well as those with no hook-ups to cater to those travelling in all types of campervans. It is close to the championship Heritage Pointe Golf and Country Club, Kayben Farms and the Calgary Corn Maze & Fun Farm and also has a playground on site. Amenities at the park include a general store, laundry facilities and hot showers.

Top 5 Campervan Parks near Calgary Canada by money-fox.com

After a brief 50 minute flight from London Gatwick our pilot welcomed us into Guernsey as we taxied off the runway to the airport. My hotel had kindly arranged for me to be picked up and transported to my 4 star hotel out on the west coast of the island, but they might as well have transported me to a different planet. The hotel was amazing, with a very welcoming atmosphere and impeccable food, however that was not my main consideration for my visit.

I began my outdoor holiday on the Saturday morning, unsurprisingly, with a 3-hour coasteering session.  Definitely one for the adrenaline junkies, I chose to undertake a black route rather than a less intimidating blue or yellow course.  Over the span of the session we scrambled, climbed, jumped and swam our way around a section of Guernsey’s beautiful southern coastline. For anyone who might be a bit apprehensive on this, don’t worry; the guides are fully trained, friendly and approachable. As I was polishing off my seafood dinner that evening I was so pleased with myself about enjoying this experience, especially since it was one I would never find at home; however coasteering was only the first part of my weekend adventure.

The next day, after a particularly self-indulgent lie in and breakfast, I set off for another 3-hour activity session, this time however I was going ocean kayaking. Suited to your group’s ability and prior experience, our guides took us out for another worldly expedition, again around the southern cliffs of Guernsey. Sweeping in and out of caves and riding the swell through the gullies, whilst having a competition to spot the native wildlife I truly felt in a completely different environment than I would back home in the stress and hustle of London life. I must put my little caveat in here though; I think it best not to go for a practice kayak down the Thames if anyone reading is interested in doing so!

After our kayak tour came to an end I headed back to my hotel room to freshen up before spending my final evening on the beach enjoying a BBQ with some friends I had made during my weekend. As I sat there watching the sun go down and with the faint scent of sizzling BBQ the thing I wanted more than anything else in that moment was to combine my home life in London, with the exhilarating opportunities that Guernsey had present me with.

This is only a slice of the myriad of activities I could have chosen however, between coastal walks, climbing, abseiling, a resident surf school, paintballing, motocross and much more there is truly something for everyone to enjoy. My only regret is that I didn’t have enough time to experience all of this as well!

I would strongly recommend a weekend break or holiday in Guernsey to anyone who just wants to get away from city life and try something new and exciting. I have absolutely no doubts that I will be going back very soon!

About Emma

Emma is an avid traveller and loves visiting quirky places. She works to travel and loves to spend as much time discovering new places as possible. Check out her blog at www.travelbagel.com

Two Day Adventure Break in Guernsey by money-fox.com

The dream of retirement to some exotic foreign clime for one’s golden twilight years is a fairly universal ambition, particularly as the increasing life span stretches that twilight into more of a ‘late afternoon through twilight’ season of life. However, the prospect of spending that extended expatriate holiday without the money to ‘spend’ your retirement anywhere or on anything is less appealing. So finding a retreat where you can stretch your dollar (or pounds sterling, Euro, baht, drachma, etc.) from a pension, savings or hopefully both, and where you’re happy to do so, is the ultimate goal. With those criteria in mind, here are some possibilities for great retirement spots with great QROPS and more general investment opportunities.

Guernsey

Until HMRC’s QROPS-killing Statutory Instrument 1221 (SI 1221) razed its pension investment scheme industry in May 2012, the Bailiwick of Guernsey was the Qualified Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme superstar. More than a third of all QROPS could be found there. After SI 1221, though, business took an obvious and precipitous nosedive and many financial experts presaged the extinction of Guernsey as a QROPS destination. The Channel Islands dependency has no doubt been happy to prove them wrong.

There are now about 40 HMRC-recognised QROPS in Guernsey. Although that’s only about an eighth of the 313 schemes present at Guernsey’s peak, it’s considerably more than most other QROPS-holding nations and 40 more than many pension scheme specialists thought there’d ever be there again. Guernsey’s history as a QROPS hotspot, an economy and financial sector designed with accommodation of QROPS in mind and a host of resident experts in the field with years of experience shouldn’t hurt their recovery either. Devastating as SI 1221 was, the experience gained and future safeguards enacted should likewise serve as a bulwark against comparable future poleaxings.

Combine that with a solid economy in the EU Common Travel Area and a location right off the coast of the UK, moderate climate, beautiful white sand beaches, excellent scuba diving and snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, unique wildlife-viewing opportunities, lovely sea-side vistas and charming population, and the appeal of Guernsey as a home-base for retirement becomes apparent.

Malta

As a younger man, I was fond of hatching plans with my friends about pooling our funds (when we were grown-ups of course) and buying an island together somewhere exotic. We’d establish our own government and infrastructure, only invite people we liked to join us and live out our days in the utopia we’d made.  I’ve always had a soft-spot for the Knights of Malta (the Hospitallers) because they did exactly that- just took Malta and made it their own. And their presence is exactly the sort of thing that’s given Malta such an incredible backstory- a paradise for history buffs. Over the course of its tremendously storied history, Malta’s been ruled by the Phoenicians, Romans, Normans, Aragonese, Arabs, Knights of Malta, Arabs again, Knights of Malta again, Spain under the Hapsburgs, the French and the British. All of these cultures, and more still, have left their mark, their relics, their culture and their history on and in Malta.

When Guernsey fell from its place of dominant eminence as QROPS capo di tutti capi, Malta was waiting to pick up the pieces. If not the most popular pension investment jurisdiction, certainly the QROPS destination with the most ‘buzz’.  Their rock bottom tax rates and double taxation agreements (DTAs) with dozens of other nations have attracted pensioners and allows them to have a Malta QROPS subject to Maltese taxes while living somewhere else. Considering Malta’s turquoise water, pristine beaches, Mediterranean lifestyle and modern night life, stellar diving and all the accompanying water sports, EU governmental stability and incredible history however, one has to wonder why many do choose to live elsewhere.

Barbados

I’m not sure I really have to elaborate on this one. It’s Barbados. Tropical paradise; cost of living far lower than most of Europe, North America and Oceania; English as the official language; a community of 34,000 fellow British expats; a Caribbean haven outside the principal Atlantic hurricane belt and stewards of an excellent QROPS program. I can literally hardly think of a retirement more amazing.

St. Lucia

When I first looked at photos of St. Lucia I was honestly convinced they had to be the product of Photoshop alteration. It looked simply too perfect and beautiful- painfully inviting beaches and crystal tropical lagoons; stunning, vegetation-clothed peaks rising dramatically from the sapphire sea… It turns out, however, that there was no digital trickery afoot- that’s just St. Lucia. Basically, St. Lucia is a jewel in the Barbados mold though with slightly fewer amenities a slightly lower cost of living.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

I’m beginning to feel a little repetitive here but another Lesser Antilles paradise, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is to St. Lucia what St. Lucia is to Barbados- a little more exotic, a touch less discovered, a solid QROPS program and a tropical dream come true.

Gibraltar

There are a number of places that have been described as “where the East meets the West”- Budapest, Hong Kong, much or all of Central Asia and Russia… However, it’s far rarer for anything to be categorised as “where the North meets the South”. It’s a title that would aptly describe Gibraltar, being the one place in Europe from which one could actually see Africa. Like Malta Gibraltar offers excellent outdoor activity options and like Malta it has an amazingly fascinating history.

Its history actually predates human history with the Neanderthal habitation that lasted thousands of years. In fact, relics found in Gorham’s Cave make Gibraltar the last recorded holdout of any Neanderthal groups. Recorded history has the incredibly strategically-important sea-bridge between the Atlantic and Mediterranean being held (after being single-handedly created by Hercules) by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Visigoths of pre-Spain Hispania, Arabic and Islamic empires, Jewish ‘conversos’ (for two whole years before being persecuted out of the area), groups from Morocco and Granada, the Spanish, Dutch, British, et al.

Like Malta, Gibraltar’s location amidst a number of different cultures and enjoying the influence of its many visitors and conquerors has resulted in a poly-cultural pastiche atmosphere where English is spoken predominately. Also like Malta, Gibraltar sports a comfortably moderate climate and a stable EU/British-backed economy with an extremely attractive and specially designed QROPS sub-industry. In fact, with its tax rates comparably low and its investors not dependent on being the expat resident of a Maltese-DTA-sharing nation to ensure those low rates, many pensioners find they prefer and do better with Gibraltar QROPS.

Of course there are dozens of other countries that offer QROPS and every one of them has something totally unique to offer the investor. As is the case with any other major decision, and perhaps more so the case here, finding the right retirement country and the right retirement savings/investment package requires a great deal of research and a solid understanding of what you’re looking for, what you’re hoping for and what works best for you. Good luck and bon voyage

Photo Credit: shashchatter via cc

The Best Retirement Destinations for Investment, QROPS and Overall by money-fox.com

Of the many European destinations that are suitable for self-catering, Corsica is especially popular with many Britons. Located just off the French south coastline this Island features over 600 miles of coastline making it popular for various water sport holiday activities from surfing to water skiing. The weather is mild for many parts of the year and warm in summer, thereby contributing to its water sport appeal. Finding a suitable self-catering can be done extremely easily using one of two methods, however before doing so you should narrow down the type of property most suitable for your party.

Flats – Apartments and flats are often suitable for couples and small parties. In Corsica, you are more likely to come across holiday flats in the main cities such as Porto-Vecchio rather than the more rural areas.

Cottages and Villas – Holidaymakers are often confused as to the difference between the two types of properties. In reality, the two are extremely close. Cottages are more traditional homes, often featuring one floor that over the years have been converted and modernise to accommodate holidaymakers in style and luxury. On the other hand, you will find villas in Corsica featuring newer build often spreading across two or three floors and featuring a private pool. Both cottages and villas will vary in size and interior spec so research both options well.

Irrespective of the type of property, the internal spec will vary from one to the other depending on various factors. You can safely assume that essentials such as fully working kitchen, small towels, bed lining and as well as inclusive energy bills are included, however from here on the spec will vary. To avoid disappointment, write down what you get with the property and compare to what you deem needed for your party. Missing items can often be sourced locally, you may consider bringing them with (permitted you have enough space) or look for another property.

If you decided that Corsica is your preferred holiday destination, there are two methods to find a suitable property. You can scan the web for various forms in which private landlords will advertise their property. In which case you might find that the listings are in French so unless you speak that language, you might struggle. Another option is to use a travel agent that acts as the middleman between you and the landlords. In using such service, you are safe in the knowledge that your deposit and money is secure provided the travel agent is registered with the ABTA (the UK’s leading travel association).

Information written by Affair Travel. Photo Credit: http://stephrando.fr.cr

Your Guide To Self-Catering In Corsica by money-fox.com

Ibiza

The White Isle of Ibiza has for many years been one of the world’s number one party destinations, so what better place to get the party started? A beautiful destination with the perfect blend of weather, unbelievable beaches, gorgeous people and some of the most stunning and exclusive nightlife the world has to offer. In case you are an electronic or house music lover, it’s definitely the best place to be with the best DJs and a collection of well-known clubs like Pasha and Amnesia – the best time to enjoy these parties is from the end of May through ‘til the end of September.

Rio De Janeiro

Samba Parade, Scala Balls, Street Parties, beaches, surfing and lots more -the party never ends here. Possibly most famous for the Rio Carnival, which is a 4 day celebration comprising wild dances, balls, masquerade parties with the hottest bodies and booze flowing all around. Usually held in February every year, it offers one of the best party atmospheres the world over.

Las Vegas

Sometimes referred to as Sin City, Las Vegas is a shining emerald in the dry western deserts of the United States. It dawns at night here where the rich and the famous party hard at the glitziest and most expensive hotels on the planet. Heavy on your pocket; the place has everything to offer to a rich party animal ranging from pool parties to its world-famous casinos.

Marbella

Another popular Spanish destination, located in the heart of Costa Del Sol, Marbella is the something of a new kid on the block when it comes to partying hard, with famed visitors like Mariah Carey and Kate Moss making it their destination of choice. The best way to have a holiday here in Marbella is to have lazy day outs spent at the boutiques or by enjoying cocktails at classy marina carried forward with a cosmopolitan nightlife which is slightly expensive for the drinks.

Cancun

Well known for its 24-hour-partying and free-flowing Tequila, this Mexican city is another famous summer holiday destination, with the Inception Music festival – which offers up 30 days of electronic dance music – a particular high point of the partying calendar. Visitors can party at the day time enjoying the antics on the beaches and resort pools. And the most loved activity at this destination is to recover from the last night fatigue by taking a cool & a fresh dip in the water. The most famous club here is The Ciry Cancun Club.

The only downside to downtime in these party destinations is that you might need to take a holiday in order to recover!

Photo Credit: Stuck in Customs, gordon2208

Time to party at the top 5 summer party destinations by money-fox.com