Vienna, Austria’s capital city has an impressive history! As the center of the Habsburg dynasty, this once ruled much of Europe. The Habsburgs’ home was the Imperial Palace known as the Hofburg, which is one of Vienna’s top attractions. Inside you will find a 14th century Augustinian Church, Imperial Apartments and the Imperial Treasury, the Royal Chapel, the National Library and more.

Architectural and historical treasures abound in this beautiful city. This includes two famous Baroque palaces and several museums. One of the museums is dedicated to Sigmund Freud. Vienna has an extremely busy nightlife, with countless lively restaurants, pubs and clubs in the newer areas of the city.

Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, is packed with medieval Baroque architecture. Much of the town was constructed in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. This charming old town testifies to the style of this era through its many churches, plazas and ornate fountains. The city is sheltered by mountains and there are several museums dedicated to Mozart. Standing 120 meters above the city is the 11th century Hohensalzburg Castle.

For those who love to ski, head to the Arlberg Region pf Austria. This region is known for its superb slopes and snow coverage, catering from beginners to the more advanced skier. The huge Eisriesenwelt ice caves offer another wintry experience. They are open from May to October. Take a guided tour, which will show you elaborate ice formations and stunning frozen waterfalls.

An Austrian honeymoon will take in snowcapped peaks, sparkling lakes, cultured towns and cities, and much more. It will be a romantic experience neither of you will ever be able to forget!

Discover Austria’s romance and history is a post from: Shaker Springs Travel and Tours

As soon as you cast off from the dock, your adventure with BVI yacht charters begins. You can experience the thrill of sunbathing on deck, feeling the warm wind blowing in your face and the sights and sounds of the Caribbean islands. When you choose one of the BVI sailing charters with a full crew, you also have many other choices to make. The website will give you lists for you to choose from, such as what meals you want aboard the boat. You can also choose what you want in a Starter Kit if you are choosing a bareboat charter. With the many things that BVI can supply for you, you have less luggage to take with you and you can just have all the extras added to the price.

Even if you intend to bring everything with you for the yacht charter, taking a look at the list of provisions on the BVI Yacht Charters website will give you an excellent idea of what you will need. For example, if you like to barbeque, you may not realize that you do need to have your own coals, fluid and matches with you. Since you are on the water with BVI sailing charters, you just can’t pop to the store whenever you realize that you need supplies. You will have to wait until you reach your next destination.

For all-inclusive BVI Yacht Charters, you can order the kind of wine and drinks you want before you even arrive. This is because unlike a resort, everything you need for the perfect vacation has to be packed on board the sailing yacht. When you book one of the BVI sailing charters, you fly to St. Thomas and then take a ferry to Tortola. This is the starting destination for the yacht charter in the British Virgin Islands. There are also hotels in Tortola where you can spend the night before you leave on the yacht charter or the night after you return.

Before you actually depart on your charter, BVI Yacht Charters will brief you on how to use the charts on board the yachts for navigating the Caribbean waters. They will also give you advice on what to do and what not to do as well as places that you should avoid. When you do book a BVI sailing charter, the anchorage fees are included in the cost, but you can also buoys at various locations if you do not want to enter a port. BVI Yacht Charters has a well-established reputation for providing its customers with everything they need in a sailing charter.

BVI Yacht Charters – What A Way To Experience The British Virgin Islands! is a post from: Shaker Springs Travel and Tours

The big ask is how do we accomplish it? Where do we start and how much is considered over the top?  It all depends on the individual! What we have in mind and where you both want to go. How much to spend is entirely up to you. You don’t have to go over the budget. However you might like to consider going that little but extra, to make your honeymoon a more memorable holiday.

You can always depend on visiting a travel agent for ideas. Ask friends that have been
there and done it all before us. Ask your parents and work mates, or simply go with
your heart and discover some place for just the two of you.

Depending on each of you, interests will also have a lot to do with planning your honeymoon. To be able to find something that suits both of you can be time consuming.
Whether you are romantic and fancy free, to the rough and ready of camping under
the stars or trekking through national parks or another country.

Arranging your honeymoon is all up to you! Spend some warm nights on a deserted beach. Enjoy wild flowers growing in an abundance of colors, cascading waterfalls, mountain peaks high on the horizon or relax by cool springs in the middle of an oasis.

Your honeymoon is the beginning of your new life together! So whatever you choose to do, careful planning and timing can create a wonderful moving experience to last a lifetime.

Above all, enjoy your new life as husband and wife!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! is a post from: Shaker Springs Travel and Tours

A bank is an institution that seems to be trustworthy in all financial procedures, but it might be unfit in condition when you need fast cash. Faxless online payday loans are a perfect alternative that enables fast and unimpeded money borrowing.

The core stone of faxless payday loan has no ambiguous points. As a start, seek for faxless online payday loan offers in the Web. You will marvel at the number of opportunities, though, not all lenders provide qualitative service, thus be exacting. Once the final decision on lender is completed, acquaint with the application form. Online application includes a few issues requiring standard personal info: name, address, phone number, electronic address and social security id. In order that to ascertain of your payment capability a lender may ask some additional data like your checking account, a few personal recommendations and working place data. To add, don’t forget to investigate whether the creditor is located in the USA and if any testimony is present.

The result will amaze you by simplicity and rapidity because you obtain the money within one working day after your application form is examined and confirmed. The lender usually applies for affirmation to receive evidence of the success of transferring process. Instant payday loan servicing is the miraculous wand which easily resolves your short-term monetary crises.

Online Payday Loan as a Miraculous Wand in Conditions when You Urgently Need Money is a post from: Shaker Springs Travel and Tours

Further articles posted by me discuss in more detail the best beaches in each of the seven municipalities (articles 11 to 17) and these form part of a much wider portfolio of information I’m providing to help holiday makers.

So, where is the best beach then ?

As my ‘home-from-home’ is in the south of the island in Playa Blanca in the municipality of Yaiza, I am somewhat biased as to where the best beach is and for me it is without doubt, Papagayo. Judging by the research I’ve done on the Internet, I am not alone in this opinion, so no matter where you are staying, I would suggest that you should not miss this one out.

Punta de Papagayo (to give it its full name), is located at the southernmost tip of Lanzarote. With a surrounding landscape of volcanic ash, crystal clear water and fine white sand, this stretch of the coast , with several small bays and coves is quite simply stunning. Access is gained by first driving across a dirt track road (quite bumpy), then paying a toll (it’s that good, they charge you a small entrance fee), and then walking down the sand banks to the beach as there is no man-made path.

BEFORE you walk down the banks, remember to get anything you need from the one and only cafeteria in this area, as you won’t want to keep trudging up and down, trust me, I’ve done it. The difficulty in getting to the beach is worth it. If you decide to walk along the beach to look at other bays, please bear in mind the fact that some visitors bathe nude at this location as it is permitted. You should not encounter this in the bay by the cafeteria.

If you research this beach on the Internet more widely, you will read statements like ‘wild at times’ and ‘waves can be a little strong at times’, so your instinct will, quite rightly tell you to keep an eye on the children.

I want to devote the rest of this introductory article to a day on Papagayo in the Spring of 2005.
On this particular trip, my wife decided to stay at the top of the cliff by the cafeteria, as we were not planning to stay long. I took my two sons down to the immediate bay as the children were pestering me to let them play in the sand and have a dip in the water (as children do). I did what most parents do on holiday – I gave in to their demands for a peaceful life.

My eldest son (who was 11 at the time) decided he’d like to be a little braver than the younger one, who was 6 years old and who stayed in the ‘ankles only’ region of the sea with me. He wandered out to a point that each wave broke about the chest to neck area and if he jumped up as the wave broke to avoid getting a mouthful of salt water.

All children do this and I’m sure by now, you know what’s coming…. well he didn’t !

I could see a rather large wave behind him out at sea and began to shout towards him to come back in a bit. He never understood my gesticulations towards him, so I moved towards him (instructing the younger one to go back up the beach immediately and ‘stay put’). For once, the younger one did as he was told and as I got closer he heard me and moved towards me. I got to within 5 metres of him before the wave crashed 15 feet above his head !

For what seemed an eternity at the time, I completely lost sight of him. He resurfaced, spluttering, and a good 30 metres away from me, which should give you an appreciation of the waves power. My son waited to see my reaction before bursting out laughing (I think he thought I would be angry with him, as if !). He was covered from head to foot in sand, had drank a pint or more of salt water and despite his brave face, he was clearly shook up and to this day we still recall that wave at Papagayo, but he had learnt his lesson and he lives to swallow salt water another day.

It is worth pointing out that both of my children are very good swimmers, having attended swimming lessons from an early age. Their ‘reward’ for this, is to be given more freedom when on holiday, particularly in the swimming pools, providing we can still see them. I did not for one moment (you know I really mean that I did) think that he would not come back up, but please take my experience into account if you go to Papagayo as the warning ‘strong waves at times’ is often dismissed by the occasional visitor.

But don’t let this put you off, as this is truly a fantastic location and we still go back on most visits to the island.

I will to bring this article to a close with an important Safety Message – Swimming & playing in the sea is great fun, but be aware of the dangers and act responsibly and look out for Flag warnings.
To this end, you should :

1. Swim parallel to the shore ;
2. Swim within your depth (it can often be difficult to swim back to the Beach as currents can be strong) ;
3. Never swim immediately after eating ;
4. Never swim alone or at night ;
5. Be aware of local conditions (currents etc), seek advice if in doubt and beware of boats and jet skis if they are in the vicinity and please do not swim in areas allocated for their use ;
6. Remember that a Red Flag means “Dangerous Conditions, do not enter the water” ;
7. Remember that a Yellow Flag means “Dangerous Conditions, exercise caution” ; and
8. Remember that a Green Flag means its “Safe for swimming”.

Oh… and in case you’re wondering, it was a Green Flag at the time of the incident with my son and it was altered to Yellow by the time we got back to the top of the cliff.

Were we unlucky ? No we were lucky !

10 Lanzarote Beaches – General is a post from: Shaker Springs Travel and Tours

As a newbie to the wonderful world of 4-wheel drive, you’ll fall into one of two camps – those who think they know it all already, and those who are totally terrified and have no idea how to handle ‘their’ Camel-man-mobile safely, let alone get the best out of it!

This article is for you, whichever side you fall; never be too proud or too petrified to learn, for your sake and the sake of your passengers and fellow off-road track users.

Speed & Momentum

If you hit a spot of trouble DON’T accelerate – it can get you into a worse position. Slow down and take it easy – this helps you to keep traction and your tyres will work for you instead of spinning aimlessly.

When approaching an obstacle, you need momentum. The trick is to start a little way back to gain the momentum you need. This is a skill which you will master over time.

Limits

Don’t try new tricks when you’re out alone. Test your limits when you’re with more experienced drivers.

Mud

Use a stick to test a new mud hole for depth and softness. Remember a soft hole can prove impossible to escape! Enter the mud hole with a little momentum and if you feel that you’re getting stuck turn the wheel left to right to gain traction. Once you’ve gone as far forward as you can try reverse out.

Windows

Keep the windows up to avoid a mud shower or a face full of dust.

Stuck

If you are truly stuck, try letting a little air out of your tyres for better traction and when you get out of the ditch don’t forget to fill them up again.

Stalling

If you stall with your tailpipe under water, get towed out and pull the spark plugs before starting the engine again. A cylinder full of water can destroy an engine. When the plugs are out, however, the water will be safely ejected.

Obstacles

Go slowly over obstacles. Pull the hand brake a little for tension on the drive line to slow the vehicle and enable you to accelerate gently over.

Steering

Always hold the steering wheel with thumbs out when you’re off-road. If you hit a ditch or obstacle the wheel could spin too fast and hurt your thumbs. Keeping them out helps prevent injury. Keep your hands and arms inside the truck to avoid accidents.

Tools & Spares

Keep the following with you:
A hi-lift jack
Steel wire
Spare tyre and plug kit

Safety

Wear a safety belt
Don’t travel alone
Have a cell phone on you
Don’t drink alcohol when driving
Get back on the tar road before dark
Give fellow 4X4 drivers on the track plenty of space
Don’t race or churn up the soil needlessly.

Respect

Respect the land, the other people using the trail and the vehicle! Douse campfires, don’t litter (this includes cigarette butts), stick to trails so as to avoid damaging the plant life.

Leave your ego at home and remember it’s about having fun!

4×4 Tips For Beginners is a post from: Shaker Springs Travel and Tours

1. The Grand-Place
Brussels’ central square is the focal point of activity for locals and tourists alike. The heaving markets are bursting with souvenir-seeking bargain hunters. Look out for the town hall (Hotel de Ville), a magnificent example of 15th century architecture.

2. Manneken Pis
This sacred 17th century bronze statue of the small boy urinating is a Brussels landmark. Several legends exist as to the origins of this statue. One says it depicts a young boy urinating on a burning charge destined to blow up the city walls when under siege from a foreign army, thus saving the city from invasion. Whatever the truth, he is undeniable cute and has over 500 outfits, one for every occasion.

3. St Nicholas Church
Constructed in the 11th century, this fine example of medieval architecture is the oldest church in Brussels. If you are lucky, you may even catch one of the occasional services given in English.

4. Royales Galeries Sint-Hubert
Europe’s oldest glass arcade was designed by JP Cluysenaer and built in 1847. Home to fashionable boutiques and cool cafes, it was renovated and reopened in 2000. The arcade is worth visiting if only to experience the magnificent architecture.

5. Belgian Chocolate
No visit to Brussels is complete without experiencing the world famous Belgian chocolate. It has a quality all of its own and is the obvious choice for gifts to take back home.

6. Avenue Louise
If you crave a shopping fix then the Avenue Louise is the place to be. Designer shops aplenty provide ample opportunity to flex your spending power. Popular purchases include diamonds and antiques.

7. Waterzooi
This local Belgian speciality is a kind of fish stew and very popular with the locals. Other appetising native dishes include mussels, waffles, and sweetbreads.

8. Pistes de Lancement
If you are travelling with children, be sure to catch this clown festival during March. The Saint-Gilles region is awash with circus acts entertaining children and adults alike.

9. Flower Carpet
Throughout August, the Grand’ Place is subjected to a sea of colour as thousands of flowers are laid out in stunning patterns.

10. Christmas Market
The festive period is a flurry of activity as traditional Christmas stalls suddenly emerge. The effervescent displays keep you entertained between purchases as jugglers and musicians perform amongst the festive shoppers.

10 Must-Dos When In Brussels is a post from: Shaker Springs Travel and Tours

Here are some tips to make the trip easier on both you and your pet:

1. Get your dog used to riding in the car by taking him on short trips. Go to fun places like the dog park, the fast food drive through (where you can feed him bits of meat from your burger), or to visit friends. You want him to think that trips in the car are fun. You don’t want your dog to think that all car trips end up at the vet’s office.

2. If your dog tends to get carsick, don’t feed him the morning of the trip. Having your dog travel with an empty stomach will help to prevent any car sickness.

3. Bring plenty of water and a water dish along. You will need to give your dog periodic drinks of water when you stop for a rest. It will be easier to get your dog to drink if it is familiar water from home. Water in different places often smells or tastes differently, and your dog may not want to drink it.

4. Be sure to pack your dog’s food, treats, favorite bed, toys, and leash.

5. If your dog uses a crate, bring that along too. If you don’t have a large vehicle, you can buy crates that fold up. When you get to your destination, you can put your dog in his crate while you go somewhere that you can’t bring him along.

6. How should your dog travel in the car? Some dogs like to sit or lay on the seat, so bring a blanket to protect the upholstery. Other dogs may need to be kept in a crate in the car. Be sure the crate can’t slide around and scare the dog while you’re driving. You can also purchase dog seat belts to keep your dog safe while sitting in the car.

7. Make a stop every few hours to walk your dog and give him some water. Some dogs are frightened by the noisy trucks driving by, so try to walk in a quiet area. Be a good citizen and bring plastic bags along to pick up the mess.

8. If your dog is anxious about staying in a hotel or strange house at your destination, he might not eat or drink. You don’t want him to get dehydrated, so be sure to get him to drink, at least. You can mix chicken broth or gravy into the dog’s water. That will usually get him to lap it right up. You can mix chicken broth or gravy into the food too.

The first trip will be the hardest, because your dog will not realize that you are coming back. With the first trip behind you, if you have taken the time to make sure it is pleasant for your dog, future traveling with your dog should be a breeze.

8 Tips For Traveling With Your Dog is a post from: Shaker Springs Travel and Tours

A Survival Kit In Your Mind

1. Willingness to learn. Even those who know nothing about survival until lost in the wilderness can still learn as they go – if they are willing to. If you’re cold, watch that squirrel dive under a pile of leaves, and try that to stay warm (it works). Notice what’s working and what isn’t, and keep trying new things.

2. Willingness to do what’s necessary. This is one of the most important items in your mental survival kit. Hey, they can eat hissing cockroaches just for the chance to win some money on “Fear Factor,” so you can do it to save your life, right? Spoon with your buddy to stay warm, break open logs to find grubs to eat – do whatever it takes.

3. Positive attitude. This is an essential. In many stories of survival it is clear that those who expected to survive did. Even if you’re not sure you can survive, encourage this attitude by acting as if you expect to.

4. Inspirational thoughts. This is how to have that positive attitude. An easy and enjoyable way to get this inspiration is to read true stories of wilderness survival. Some of the stories are about situations far worse than anything you are ever likely to encounter. Remembering them at the appropriate time is a sure way to see that you can survive. tell them to others too, if you are in a group.

5. Wilderness survival knowledge. You don’t have to go to a survival training school to read and remember that you can safely eat all North American mammals, or that you can stuff your jacket with cattail fluff to create a winter coat. Any little bit helps, so learn a new trick or two each season, or take an edible plant guide on your next hike.

6. Reasons to survive. We all have reasons to want to live, but we need to remember to pull out those reasons when the time comes. Many people have attributed their survival to the constant thought of a loved one waiting for them, or something they want in the future.

Maybe you’ve already done this mental preparation, but it can’t hurt to look over the list above again. Is there anything you need to work on in your mental survival kit?

A Mental Wilderness Survival Kit is a post from: Shaker Springs Travel and Tours

Now if you are really interested in selling your ‘water craft’ and need some proven ideas to guide you, then I have good news for you. I advice that you approach boat selling with cautions to avoid being cheated.

For the remaining part of this article, let me showcase couple tips to sell your boat fast, starting from today.

Tip #1
Get smart knowledge of the best time to sell your boat: Does this sound weird to you? Having smart knowledge of the right seasons before selling your boat will boost your bottom line. As an example, most boat buyers hardly open their wallet for boat during or middle of winter season.

Avoid selling at very cold seasons unless you want to sell at a low price. On the other hand, you can get the best price for your boat just when the boating season begins. This is a smart marketing move because lots of people are always looking to buy a boat then. Apart from the fact you will likely sell your boat for good price, you will avoid a lot of the marketing cost that you would spend during the winter months.

Tip #2
What is the market willing to pay? The next point is to find the best possible price an average buyer is willing to pay for your boat. How can you accomplish this?

Firstly, research the boat’s worth, by getting advice and appraisals from a competent boat sales professional.

But if you don’t want to pay a professional, then check with the marine blue book value. Simply change the price predicated on the accessories plus depreciation for your boat. If you add any new accessories or some resurfacing such as carpeting, make sure to compute that and all of the boating accessories that you are going to provide with the boat.

Tip #3
Study your competitors. Always remember you’re not alone in the game. There are many competitors, just as some boat buyers may opt for buying a new boat instead of buying yours.

Therefore, you must set a very competitive price based on features that potential buyers may really desires. For example, if you find out that many similar boats (both old and new models) lack certain features such as radio, GPS, fish finders, you may add them to your own boat and let the potential buyers know this.

Tip #4
Use smart advertising techniques. Displaying a mere small add in an obscure corner of a daily newspaper may not get you many good inquiries, if any at all. Most boaters now use the Internet to search for their preferred boats. As a result, to win the game, advertise your boat by displaying both the profile and photographs of different angles of the interiors and exteriors.

Make sure your pictures are good-looking quality pictures, studies have proven that a profile with professional pictures command more attention and help to sell a boat faster online.

Tip #5
Get a boat broker. Not everyone can stand the rigor of showing boats to potential customers and answering their questions. Why don’t you contact a broker to do the ‘dirty job’ for you? The difference is 10% or 15% commission the broker will earn – but he will get the job done very fast and without any hassles to you.

However, insist to know the methods that the broker will use to advertise your boat. The best medium is to use the Internet so as to attract a large percentage of buyers as fast as humanly possible.

Tip #6
Be patient. Judging by normal standards, you may have to wait for three to six months to sell your boat. So if you want to advertise it yourself, start early and display on sites where listing are allowed for several months. However, with some luck, you will sell your boat sooner.

Tip #7
Boaters love clean boats. Apart from adding new features, make sure you clean your boat very well. Using soapy water and a handful dab, start cleaning from the exterior to the interiors. Clean off every mold, mildew and rusty stain. Everything must be thoroughly cleaned and replaced back properly after they’re completely dried up. I strongly urge you do this before you add new features and advertise you boat for sale.

Make sure the storage is cleaned and organized and get rid of any odor from the interior. This should be accomplished at the time of cleaning the boat. However, many people miss out on this vital aspect. Apart from cleaning and replacing rusty and leaking clamps and hoses, ensure the stove, cushions and refrigerators are all in working order. Also, remove every item from the storage lockers to avoid giving buyers the wrong impression that your boat storage is inadequate.

Tip #8
Do not be rigid on pricing. It’s good to sell at the best price, but let your customers’ interest be uppermost. Put yourself in his shoes and ask yourself this question, “If I’m buying this boat, what special deals will easily sway my interests to buy this boat rather than other boats that are similar?”

Tip #9
Consider doing a survey. Having considered every tip that will help you sell your boat fast, nevertheless, it’ll be futile to get loads of potential buyers coming to check your boat, their minds ready to issue you a check – but they stopped because something ‘bad’ was discovered: The buyer discovered your boat not in the best working condition!

Most times this is beyond the competence of the boat owner. So to avoid disappointment, do a survey to determine the working condition of your boat before listing. Survey cost in the region of $10 per linear foot, which means that a 20ft will cost $200.

If the survey returns a clean bill of health, you can even use it to dangle a sweet carrot before buyers to get better price.

Happy Selling!

9 Tips for Selling Your Boat Fast is a post from: Shaker Springs Travel and Tours