Every holiday is different, of course, and every rental comes with its own personality. So what are the key draws that hold the holiday cottage business together?

Atmosphere

As noted above, holiday cottages in France tap into a particular atmosphere. French village life is slow; French city life is quick: but life in France in general is about taking the time to relax and appreciate good food and wine. Long dinners and epic lunch breaks just about say it all. If your taste for the fast life of a city is still tempered by a desire to linger over the dessert course, then the atmosphere of the country is likely to sit well with you.

Variety

France is full of different types of place and geography. The country enjoys coastal scenery, some of which also serves a thriving water sports industry (go to Hossegor to witness world class surf); mountain ranges (the Pyrenees and the Massif Centrale are both extraordinary places, completely different in their own ways as well); rolling vine lands  and heavily wooded valleys. Technically, you could stay in a series of holiday cottages in France over the years and never stay in the same kind of environment twice.

Activity

Some French locations are specific to particular activities. Hossegor and Biarritz are both associated with water sports. Various mountain locations associate with skiing, in the right season. Then, of course, you have Monaco for motor racing and Monte Carlo for gambling and living the high life – or at least for peeking into the lifestyles of the rich and infamous!

HistoryFrance is full of history. From the blood-stained history of its royal lineages, to the blood-stained history of its political and social upheavals, the country has always been at the centre of grand changes – both in the European theatre and beyond. Medieval fortresses still abut the foothills of some French regions; astonishing Royal palaces and plazas bedeck the crowns of its cities. Plus, of course, there are plenty of locations made famous by their parts in the two World Wars.

Culture

France is much-loved for its culture, The country that brought Monet and Toulouse Lautrec to the attention of the world is a country not to be trifled with, in artistic terms; and as for literature and music, well it’s had its share of sensations there too. Home to one of the most famous art galleries on earth (the Louvre) and a country with art still running in its veins, France is often chosen as a destination by culture lovers from all over Europe.

Food

There’s a reason why Michelin stars are Michelin stars and not (for example) Smith stars – because food and drink have been running in the blood of the French since time immemorial. Eating isn’t a convenience in France – it’s an art form, elevated in some of its more famous establishments to the plains of rarefied culture, and enjoyed even in the most humble bistro by everyone, from farmers and workers to the rich and indolent. To go to France is to enter a culture where the restoring of the tissues is an almost religious experience.

Holiday cottages in France fit into this country in the same way. While each is clearly different, every one has the unmistakable air of France.

Elizabeth Bailey is an avid travel blogger. She enjoys sharing her tips and insights on various travel blogs. Visit Expedia.com.au for more information on renting cars while overseas.

When traveling whether for business or for pleasure, making sure that you have your passport is going to be on the top of your priority list when your travels take you outside of the country. You know that there is no way that you can enter or exit other countries without your passport. A passport, like anything else, can become lost or also be stolen. Should you find that your passport has been lost or stolen while you are traveling outside the U.S. you will find comfort in knowing that there are steps that you can take to get another passport so that your travels continue uninterrupted.

Give Notification

Once you’ve discovered that your passport is missing; you will want to make sure that you notify the U.S. embassy or consulate, and they will be able to help you to obtain a new passport. You will be able to find a listing of websites for the embassies and consulates in other countries when you visit the State Department website. You will need to speak to the American Citizens Service department of the Consular Section. They will be able to assist you and give you all of the information that you need to obtain a new passport including your passport photos. Once you have reported your passport lost or stolen, it will no longer be of any use to you should you find it after giving notification that it is missing. You will be asked to fill out a DS-64 form or to sign a sworn statement that includes all of the details of the lost or theft of the missing passport.

Be Prepared

You may find it helpful to carry a paper copy of the information page on your passport. This will allow you to have all of the information handy that you will need to give to the U.S. embassy. This may help you to save time and to keep the itinerary that you have planned. You will also need a copy of your driver’s license. By having a photo copy of your passport when you travel abroad you will be ahead of the game should your passport be lost or stolen. Keep your photo-copied passport in a totally different place that your original passport.If you are scheduled to leave on the day that you discover your passport missing, let the embassy office know your departure schedule so that they will be able to help you quickly and efficiently.

Embassy Expectations

In order to get your new passport, you will need to fill out a new passport application. The embassy representative will need to be certain that you are who you say you are and that you have the proper U.S. citizenship that you claim to have. Without it, you will not be able to obtain a replacement. They will examine any documents that you have available and they will also ask you questions about why you are in the country to just make sure that you are on the up and up. They might also question any of your traveling companions as well as your contacts within the U.S. Should you be traveling with a child under the age of 14; you may want to find out if the requirements are different for obtaining your new passport.

Short Waiting Period

You will have to wait while the embassy confirms with the Passport Verification System that you in fact had a passport prior to your report. They will also make sure that you have no outstanding warrants that would prevent you from having your passport to begin with. This can take minutes or hours depending on the system.

Completing the Application

Once the embassy confirms your identity and the fact that you did have a passport, you will be able to fill out the application for a new passport. Your replacement passport may have the standard 10 year life that is normally issued with passports, or if the embassy has any doubts regarding your identity or the statements that you made, your passport may only be good for 3 months. You may have to renew your passport again when you return to the U.S. They will tell you where you can go to have your passport photos taken and you will need to have them when you return to complete the application. You will then pay your application fees and prepare to pick up your new passport. You may be exempt from fees if all of your money has been stolen along with your passport.

Help From Home

Friends and relatives in the U.S. can also let the U.S. government know that you have lost your passport abroad so that you have a jump start on getting your new passport quicker and easier through the embassy that you will be dealing with.

Should you find that you have lost your passport while traveling in a foreign country, don’t panic, you will be able to get what you need to help you get home or continue your travels by visiting the embassy or consulate. The key to easier travel is to be prepared with photo copies and all of the information you need to take care of the mishap.

Boracay has been a popular vacation destination here in the Philippines and it’s usually flocked by tourists during peak seasons. To cater to tourists and adventurers alike, there are different water sports one can do while on the island.

Though there is one activity that local businesses offer that isn’t extreme but instead, it’s more relaxing.

While waiting for our sailboat…

Rent a sailboat for roughly half an hour to catch the sunset. It’s not those fancy sailboats but just a bangka with sails. There are nets on both sides of the boat where you can sit and enjoy the view.

On the sailboat

The boat solely relies on the winds to move. It doesn’t have a motor at the back. We asked the boatmen, “What if there’s no wind? How will we get back?” One of them replied, “We’ll have to use oars to row back.”

He just stood there the whole time!

Being out in the sea while the sun goes down is such a wonderful scene. There are other sailboats roaming around which adds more detail to the beautiful seascape.

Good bye sun…

The day after the new year, I decided I would wake up early to catch the sunrise. My alarm went off at 5:40 in the morning and I woke up… But sadly, I turned the alarm off and went back to bed. When I woke up that day, it was already bright. The sun was already grinning up in the sky.

So I made a resolve that I would not leave Boracay until I can capture the sunset on film digitally.

Taken at 6:05 AM, 2013.01.03

I set the alarm for 5:30 AM. Woke up and changed out of my pajamas. Took the camera and walked towards the beach.

6:00 AM
The sky was turning a lighter shade of blue. But still no sun… Where is it?

6:10 AM
I began to doubt that I can see the sunrise because of the thick clouds up in the sky.

Taken at 6:13 AM, 2013.01.03

Then a thought struck me. The sun rises at the east. I took my iPhone out and used the compass to check the direction…

I was facing west!

I felt stupid for forgetting that the sun rose at the east. It was basic knowledge!

In the end, I never got a sunrise photo at Boracay. But I did manage to take some photos while waiting because it still was a different scene than a sunset.

Karolina Shenton is a cruise consultant at The Cruise Web. The Cruise Web is a travel agency that specializes in cruising. The expert cruise consultants focus on providing travelers with the best value for their time and money in finding and booking a cruise vacation!

It always astounds me to read those statistics about how many people don’t use all of their vacation days, or hear about people who say they’ve never left their hometown. As a travel agent and a travel lover, it breaks my heart. If you are reading this blog, you are probably already a fan of travel, but as much as we love to see the world, we do have to admit there are some hardships that come with it.

That’s why I love cruising. I find travel on a ship drastically cuts down on a lot of the typical travel stresses. Here are three reasons why travelers, no matter if they are new or old, should consider a cruise.

Goodbye security pat downs.

Air travel has become a nightmare for many. First you start with expensive tickets then you add on fees for extra luggage or the privilege of picking your seat ahead of the flight. Those hassles can occur even before you reach the check-in. Follow that up with a giant line to get through security, and then you might have to walk a mile to get to your terminal. It’s no fun. Cruise lines make you go through security when boarding, but because everyone is getting on the same ship, it’s less stressful, and once you’re through the cruise terminal you are on the ship and can start your vacation. This is why a lot of cities in America have modernized their ports and allow cruise ships to dock, so travelers don’t have to fly anywhere to see the world.

Just like a buffet, a cruise is great for sampling.

There are so many regions of the world and so many things you could focus on like climbing Mount Everest, or spending days on end at the Louvre in Paris, but in being so focused you might find yourself missing out on the big picture. A cruise helps you sample of a variety of destinations, affording you a chance to decide if these places are the places for you. You may find out that while Paris was extraordinary, the artwork from the Dutch masters in Amsterdam is more intriguing. If nothing else a Mediterranean cruise or a South American cruise with lots of ports gives you the chance to experience lots of cultures and countries when you have a limited budget or number of vacation days.

Friends and backup are included.

Going somewhere new while exhilarating can be scary. You are alone in a city where you can barely communicate, which makes the task of getting around seem impossible. Travel on a cruise means you will have the advice of the staff and be able to go on excursions that have been pre-planned by a cruise line and are led by area experts. On top of it you will surely be able to find other people on your cruise that you can befriend and explore the ports together.

Now when you think of exploring a large region with lots of cities and locals, think of a cruise as a sampler box of chocolates. If you think of travel as lines and fees, remember an all-inclusive cruise brings the destination to you. Lastly, if you are scared to travel alone or in a small group, think of your fellow cruisers as your posse. Now, all you have to do is find your perfect itinerary and board the ship.