Category: TRAVEL

Chile

Stretching almost the entire length of the South American continent and wedged between the intimidating Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, lies Chile, a country rich in natural beauty, culture and heritage.

The most fascinating aspect about Chile is its geography. Although the country stretches over 2,800 miles from north to south, making it the longest country in the world, it is only 265 miles at its widest point, east to west. The country offers an amazing landscape, ranging from a chain of volcanoes in the Andes to freezing glaciers, fjords, inlets and islands.

Since the country spans over 30o of latitudes, it experiences some dramatic climatic variations. The northern region undergoes mild variations in climate and has little to no rainfall. The Central Chile region features more pronounced seasonal changes with some rainfall in the winter months. The southern part, stretching to the famous Strait of Magellan, is considerably cooler with more rainfall than the rest of the country.

Chile has had a turbulent and exciting history, since its days under the Native Americans to its independence from Spain in 1810. From Ferdinand Magellan’s discovery of the southern passage around the tip of the country to the European invasions and their wars against the Native Americans, Chile has had a history covered by many tomes and books.

Santiago, located in the center of the slender country, has been the capital city since the first European settlement was established there in 1541. Although Santiago is the capital city, the Congress is located in the nearby port city of Valparaiso. Chile’s foreign trade market largely flourishes on the exports of copper, seafood, forestry and wood products.

The country’s culture shows the traits of all its inhabitants, from the Incas and the Spanish, to the French and English. The Chileans take pride in their tradition and culture and call their country Pais de Poetas, which means ‘Land of the Poets’.

With its rich scenic beauty, wonderful culture and history, and a modern-day cosmopolitan outlook, Chile has been soaring to new heights, just like the condor depicted on the country’s coat of arms.

Chicago Suburb Real Estate

The real estate market in the Chicago suburbs is as vibrant as it is in city itself. A large number of residential and commercial real estate are always available for sale or purchase in Chicago’s suburban areas such as Cook County, Lake County, McHenry and Boone counties, Kane and DeKalb counties and DuPage and Will counties. There are also other Chicago suburbs where real estate market continues to flourish.

There are real estate firms which deal exclusively with one particular suburb, and others that deal with all suburbs. The south suburbs are relatively new. The real estate prices are high here. Some of the buildings have still preserved the architecture of previous centuries.

Excellent commuting facilities leading into the city have resulted in relatively higher prices for real estate in this area as compared to some other suburbs. The northern suburbs are considered “elite.” Here we have villages with beautiful houses and magnificent churches, a good choice for those who are looking forward to buy residential real estate. The northwest suburbs cover huge tracts of land. The population density is low. The architecture of most of the buildings reminds one of a typical 20th century urban landscape.

Those looking for commercial real estate can go for vacant spaces in shopping malls. Residential real estate is also available in the countryside as one keeps on moving farther out in these suburbs. In the western suburbs one finds a variety of real estate, as these suburbs have a very diversified culture and economy.

There are affluent sections, as well as agrarian and industrial communities with their feet on the ground. One can get a range of real estate in western suburbs. It is clear that in general the real estate prices might be a bit on the lower side as compared to the main city area of Chicago, but as all of them have good connectivity with the main city area, one can settle down in one of these suburbs without having any major impact on one’s quality of life.

Chicago Real Estate

The Chicago real estate market is one of the most dynamic and diverse real estate markets in US. Buying a piece of property in Chicago, residential or commercial, is not an easy task, as the market environment is quite challenging. There are many real estate firms and attorneys available here to help you in completing the transaction. There are specific real estate laws that govern these transactions. At times, these laws are amended. For a buyer or seller of real estate it may not be possible to keep track of all these developments, so it is better to seek professional help and advice in such matters.

Useful information about the Chicago real estate market is available online as well as offline. If you need a mortgage, there is a list of mortgage brokers you can chose from.

If one is planning to buy or sell real estate in Chicago, the transaction can be completed in five steps. The first step is to deal with preliminary matters. Then one hires a broker or real estate agent. The broker or agent negotiates the contract for the buyer or seller (whoever has hired him/her/it). Then, pre-closing matters such as mortgage issues are settled. The final step is to close the deal.

Some of the biggest real estate firms in Chicago were able to cross $700 million mark in revenues in 2005. There are many small real estate firms also. Dealing in real estate is a lucrative business in Chicago, as thousands of properties are always available for sale or purchase throughout the year. There are firms which specialize in residential or commercial real estate transactions. There are other firms which provide services for buyers or sellers of both kind of real estate. They could always make available a piece of property that suits your budget.

Chicago Real Estate Developments

Chicago is also knows as the birthplace of skyscrapers, since the first high rise building was built here in 1885. Today, due to rapid strides made in the field of real estate, Chicago is amongst the top three cities in the world which can boast of the tallest skylines – the other two cities are New York and Hong Kong. There are more than 1500 high rise buildings in Chicago. They are lined up along the beautiful parks and beaches.

The suburbs around the main city have also developed both commercial as well as residential real estate at a tremendous pace. This has made Chicago one of the most dynamic real estate markets in the recent times. Of late, the trend of purchasing real estate from investment perspective is catching up. The business in real estate sector has been looking up as many top real estate firms were able to rake up more than $100 million of revenue in the year 2005.

As a number of Chicago builders have been offerings homes and commercial properties, the real estate sector continues to expand. The trend is greater particularly in Chicago suburbs, even though some of the suburbs have still large areas of vacant land, which have the potential of becoming a “hot” property in the near future if developed properly.

In the mean time, since one of the biggest developments in Chicago real estate sector is unearthing of a mortgage fraud, it calls for being well-informed about these developments in order to safeguard yourself from such frauds. Such occurrences have the potential of duping thousands of families who have interests in the real estate developments. But for rendering you a helping hand, there are a number of real estate development experts in Chicago whom you can contact for valid information.

Chicago Real Estate Agents

Are you selling your house? Are you interested in purchasing a home in the suburbs? Then you need a good real estate agent to handle your business.

Selling a house is a tricky business. The seller must make sure that he is making a logical and well thought out decision during each step. This is precisely why, if you are planning on selling your house or apartment, you should consider hiring a good professional real estate agent. If you are in Chicago, it shouldn’t be too hard for you to find a Chicago real estate agent. There are plenty of brokerages that have more than enough real estate agents in their roster to help you out.

The same goes if you are planning to purchase a home. First-time home purchasers usually make impulsive decisions that they regret and are left feeling short-changed afterwards. Looking for just the right home in Chicago can be a bit challenging, but with a reliable Chicago real estate agent everything should be a snap.

The first step in finding a Chicago real estate agent is to find a reliable real estate agency. Once you get in touch with the agency and let them know your intent, they will put a qualified Chicago real estate agent in touch with you.

For your agent to be effective, he or she must be familiar with the area in which the house you are either purchasing or selling is located. If you are buying a home, your agent should also be able to help you explore all the possible options available to you and inform you of the economics, i.e., taxes, maintenance, and insurance involved.

Selling something is always a challenge, so your Chicago real estate agent should be able to advise you how to make the best deal possible. Take the following into consideration: 1.) Don’t peg your price too highx97stick to what’s realistic; 2.) Do not push the envelope too farx97playing hardball is good, but too much negotiation might discourage the other party completely; 3.) Strut your stuffx97advertise your home, have people come in for and make sure it’s in tiptop shape.

Chicago Commercial Real Estate

There is currently a booming market for commercial real estate in Chicago. There are local firms and brokers who specialize in commercial real estate in Chicago. In addition, there are online resources available that can help one buy, sell, or research Chicago commercial real estate.

Retail businesses occupy a large percentage of the commercial properties in Chicago. Because there are a numerous federal and state laws that must be followed when to buying or selling commercial real estate, it is advisable to ask the advice of a professional real estate firm and/or attorney before doing so.

A number of websites provide online listings of commercial properties for sale. These lists are regularly updated. One can search these lists to gain a general idea of the quality of the properties that are available within a given budget. (The prices of commercial real estate typically vary according to their location, size, and quality of construction.) If you are planning to put one of your commercial properties up for sale, it might be to your advantage to add your property to one of these lists.

Although it is often more convenient to do research online, there is no dearth of professional service firms that can help one research commercial real estate in Chicago.

Some Chicago real-estate firms deal with only premium commercial properties. Most middle and small level firms, however, deal with all categories of commercial real estate. There are many individual brokers and commercial real estate attorneys who can help a buyer or seller close a real-estate transaction quickly and efficiently.

An attorney will complete and verify the necessary legal documentation. Real-estate attorney fees are usually commission based. The rates of commission vary according to the price of the commercial real estate being bought or sold and the reputation of the individual firm or broker.

Cheap Venice Hotels

Hotel accommodations in Venice, Italy are considered the most expensive in the country. Simply the law of supply and demand can explain this — there are lots of people who want to see and experience everything that Venice has to offer but unfortunately, the number of rooms available can’t accommodate all those who wish to go. That’s why hotel rooms are expensive in Venice. However, if you give extra effort in making a thorough search of what’s available, you can come across some cheap Venice hotels.

Cheap Venice hotels are hotels that offer a lower rate and discounts to travelers. Some provide a free breakfast as part of their package, and their prices are about 40%-70% off published rates. If you travel in a group, you can get even better discounts.

Some of these cheap Venice hotels include Nelson Hotel Venice, Nember & Garden Hotel Venice, Terramare Hotel Venice, Bristol Hotel Venice, Svezia & Scandinavia Hotel Aparthotel Venice, Ariston Hotel Venice, Panorama Hotel Venice and Albergo Rigel Hotel of Venice. Although these hotels may not be as luxurious and elegant as the luxury hotels, they offer you a wide range of facilities and amenities such as cable and satellite television, mini bars, modem or data port connections, IDD telephones, air conditioning, parking facilities, restaurants, swimming pools, lounges and cocktail bars. So even if you’re on a tight budget, you can have an enjoyable and relaxing stay in Venice.

Having a pleasurable and memorable vacation in Venice need not be expensive, if you are just patient and do your research for cheap Venice hotels. Not only that, early planning and organizing trip details can save you a lot of money, time and effort. You just have to take advantage of the power of the Internet, because it is a great source for cheap Venice hotels information.

Cheap Vancouver Hotels

Going on a vacation or honeymoon in Vancouver certainly needs a lot of planning and organizing to make sure that your trip will be successful. In doing this, there is a lot to consider like your budget for hotel accommodations. If you have lots of money for your trip this will not be a problem at all. But if you have just saved enough for your vacation, then perhaps you just have to settle for cheaper accommodations in one of Vancouver ‘s hotels.

You can find cheap Vancouver hotels if you search through mid-range and economy class hotels. These hotel categories are a 1 to 3 star rating respectively. The mid-range hotels offer above average hotel accommodations and a large range of facilities and amenities. The economy class, on the other hand, offer modest accommodations and meet standard requirements of cleanliness and comfort as well as safety. From these categories, you can easily find a cheap Vancouver hotel that offer discounts and complimentary shuttle service.

Some of the cheap Vancouver hotels that you can check out are Budget Inn Patricia Hotel, Vancouver Centre Travelodge, Biltmore Hotel, City Center Motor Hotel, Days Inn Vancouver Metro, Bosmans Hotel, Howard Johnson Hotel Vancouver, Coast Vancouver Airport Hotel, Dominion Hotel and the Greenbrier Hotel. These hotels offer different facilities, and some offer some free services like parking. You just have to check their rates and see which one offers you the best deal.

Spending a vacation or honeymoon in Vancouver can really cost you a fortune, considering all the activities and the places that you will visit during your stay as well as the airfare, food, transportations and other fees. That is why it really makes a lot of sense to check into a cheap hotel, so you can save a great deal on accommodations.

Cheap Travel Health Insurance

We are all fond of bargains, and paying less for a given product or service and travel health insurance is not an exception. But one thing never to forget is that cheap can often get more expensive and savings are not always reasonable – especially when health and life are concerned.

So be careful when you select a cheap travel health insurance plan. If the plan does not cover what happens when you are traveling, then you might regret your stinginess. You’d better find other ways to cut costs than by reducing the number of risks covered.

One way to get travel health insurance cheaper is by purchasing a multi-trip travel health insurance plan. This is applicable in the cases when you travel frequently. Another alternative for frequent travelers is purchasing annual plans or choosing a new plan that has the option of renewing it at a discount.

Another way to save money is to buy travel health insurance for a particular country only. There are companies that offer such plans, though most of the offers on the market are for any country outside the US.

If you travel with your family, then a family plan is the best option in terms of money. The same applies to group plans, if you are traveling as part of a group.

A riskier alternative is to select a plan in which not all medical expenses are covered by the insurer but you are a co-payer. In general these plans are cheaper, but there is less security for you.

How much you will save from choosing a cheaper travel health insurance plan is up to you. There are many online insurers that provide a calculator to check which of their plans are applicable for you, but never forget that cheaper is not always better. It is a bargain only if you pay less money for the same risks!

Cheap Toronto Hotels

Toronto has a lot to offer. It is the largest city in Canada, and home to more than 2 million people. Its cafes, museums, theaters, opera houses and entertainment centers, to name a few, make Toronto one of the cultural capitals of the world. Travelers often prefer to spend their money experiencing Toronto and visiting its attractions, rather than on fancy accommodations. Consequently, the city offers places to stay at heavy discounts. The best way to find inexpensive hotel accommodation is through package deals. Airlines are a good resource for finding cheap hotels through package deals because in many instances, they offer these discount package deals themselves. Venues also provide hotel accommodation at a discounted fare.

One can find decent Toronto accommodation in hotels and inns for less than $65 a night. Bookings for most cheap lodging facilities can only be accessed online and should be done well in advance. These websites include the entire range, from the luxurious to the modest.

Most cheap hotels are close to all amenities and everything one needs in order to have a good trip. If one is on a business trip in Toronto, there are hotels close to fine dining restaurants, European bakeries and cafes, the Toronto convention center and the CN tower, among other things. If one is on a vacation with family, cheap accommodation can be found close to the Casaloma Royal Ontario Museum, boating and golf at High park and Lake Ontario, the metro zoo and downtown Toronto.

Despite being on a shoestring budget, which many travelers tend to be, accommodation in Toronto is never an issue because cheap hotels are in abundance. Cheap hotels in Toronto have earned a reputation for being good for overnight stays, weekend trips or longer. Most hotel owners advertise their rooms online, so booking online and in advance is the best way to ensure a cheap hotel room in Toronto.