One of the biggest reasons for parent dissatisfaction is lack of communication. It’s extremely important in any small business and especially in family daycare. Remember daycare centers are taking care of a persons must valuable asset, their child. So it only goes to show that a parent is concerned about the level and commitment of care that they are receiving from a daycare provider. Communication is of such importance, not only does it show that you care about your clients, but also that you are a professional in the daycare industry.

1. When a parent comes at the end of the day to pick up their child, always start out a conversation with positive information. If there is anything negative to say about a child place that information in the middle of a conversation. So in other words, start with positive comments, than negative, and always end in positive.

2. When interviewing parents for enrollment to your daycare, always ask many questions regarding a families habits and patterns. What do they enjoy doing on weekend, what are their concerns regarding childcare, what are they looking for? Really try to find out what kind of family your customer is and what their needs are. Chances are you will be better off filling their needs if you know who they are from the very beginning.

3. Establish your rules and guidelines from the beginning. Having a contract stating your rules and regulations establishes a boundary in your business. So many times I hear from other daycare owners that parents do not respect their wishes. From the start you need to set the rules and boundaries, if you don’t parents may take advantage of you.

4. Always give parents enough time and warning. If you plan on closing your daycare, raising your prices, or making any type of change give your parents enough time. Many people do not do well with change so it’s always important to give them more than enough time to make the appropriate changes.

5. Once a year do a survey in your daycare. Find out if your parents are happy and what kind of improvements they are looking for. The more information you find out about your parents and what they want the better off you will be. Make sure that the survey is anonymous so that parents are not afraid to tell you their thoughts and opinions.

A lawn care business fits in perfectly in any economy - the grass still grows during good times or bad. Keeping yourself organized is one of the keys to getting started with your lawn care business. Creating an efficient route is a great way to start being organized.

Simply having a guide to start and run a lawn care business is not enough but it is a good beginning. It is not as difficult as you might imagine starting your own professional lawn care business. Knowing how to use the tools, good customer relations and if you can't find a good mentor then there are excellent ebooks and eguides on starting and running your lawn care business.

You can start your lawn care business with little investment so it is not high risk and with good marketing this little investment can pay off very well. As well as having the right equipment for the job, you will need to learn the marketing of your lawn care business as this is a crucial component for any successful business.

Compared to some other businesses you could invest in, your own lawn care business can be started with ease and your start up costs minimal. Within reason you set the hours and the days you work, which makes the lawn care business attractive.

You can get started so very easily with your lawn care business even today if you have all your equipment in order. This is a business that can be run from your home so there is no need to pay for premises, this is a big saving when running your own business. Any business run from home needs the business owner to be well disciplined.

The lawn care business is a large market these days. Do your research, people are so busy with their jobs and families that getting someone professional to take over their lawn care is well worth the money.

If you do it the right way, starting your own lawn care business can be a virtual cash cow . Build a reputable lawn care business and earn loyal customers through being reliable, efficient, and deliver beautiful results with top of the line well maintained equipment.

The professional lawn care business has developed into a billion dollar industry and you can take advantage of it and reap the rewards.

There are affordable, easy to use lawn care business software to help you run your lawn care business. These software programs are complete with information to help you get the most out of your lawn care business or mowing business.

Offer a variety of lawn care packages to fit your clients' specific needs and budgets. This way you will keep your clients happier.

Have brochures made up to make it easier for them to see what you have available to care for their lawn needs and this will help them to choose what suits them best.

These brochures can be delivered to new housing estates. As new-home construction grows, the lawn care service industry is expected to keep pace. New home buyers will be wanting to find lawn service landscaping contractors and lawn care businesses to establish their new lawns and gardens.

If you have dreamed of starting your own business, then starting your own lawn care business may be just right for you. It can be done very easily and has developed into a large market today. Find your USP, (Unique Service Proposition), to win your share of this market and you will have a valuable asset.

Internet business opportunities abound on the net from work at home jobs, affiliate businesses, and other ventures. However, it is important that you take your time in selecting the program that will then consume a great deal of your time. With that in mind, always match the program you pick to your personality, skill level, experience, personal needs, and situation.

Your first major decision is, of course, what direction you want to pursue. Ask yourself what are your interests? Do you have a hobby or a passion driving you? Give your brain the opportunity to mull over these questions, you'll surprise yourself with the answers. Often insight comes when we least expect it. Give yourself time to choose. With the right decision, you'll be better able to apply yourself to your newly chosen work at home field.

But things don't stop there. More questions to consider include: What does it cost to get involved in the program? Do they want a lump sum payment or is there ongoing cost? What form does the program's support provide? Will you get assistance when and if you need it? Consider all of these questions carefully, and get satisfactory answers to them, prior to joining any program. They are just some of the basics you need to keep in mind to successfully get involved in any endeavor online.

Assuming the answers you receive to all of the above questions are satisfactory, you must also be aware that there is a lot more to working online and running a work at home business than meets the eye. Starting your own work at home business takes more planning than just putting up a page of products and calling it "done."

Once you've chosen the type of field or your area of interest, consider carefully the fact that it is much easier to promote from a single web site. Affiliate programs offer great opportunities to begin a work at home business, but over time many find the restrictions of not being able to modify their own web site a hindrance to effectively promoting their products.

That said, should you wish to not create a web site, keep in mind that the traffic you send to your affiliate web site needs to be motivated to sign up or request additional information. Whether you create your own page or use one provided for you, the ultimate goal of that web page (typically the index page of the site) is to:

1. Impart additional information

2. Provide additional resources, or

3. Close the sale for you.

The ultimate goal of all work at home business people is to make money. Sounds like a given, but in actuality many people do not pay attention to the finer points of what it is they will be promoting. Web sites that lack substance or any real need for that product will not do as well as ones with viable, usable, needed products and information.

Above all else, it is most important to keep this one key question in mind, "What is my "it?" What will motivate me to try my hardest to succeed?" The answer to that question will make or break your ability to successfully work at home.

Always chose to promote something you have an abundant and enthusiastic interest in. Getting involved with a program that does not "move you" means you will lose interest in it quickly. Disenchanted people populate the net. Jumping from this to that, they keep searching for the perfect fit when really what they need to ask themselves is, "Am I interested in this one? Will I apply myself fully to promote it and make money at home?" If the answer is no, keep moving. The right resource is out there. Define what "it" is and pursue it.

If you're looking for income opportunities worth millions, you have definitely come to the right place. In the next few paragraphs I am going to reveal 3 easy steps that will have you instantly on your way to locating income opportunities worth millions.

Let's get right to it.

Step 1 To Creating Income Opportunities Worth Millions

- Decide What You Want

If you're looking for income opportunities worth millions, what kind of opportunities are you looking for? It's best to decide if you want a work from home business or a brick and mortar business (like a storefront).

I highly recommend you get started with your own online business because they are much easier and cheaper to start. People who have their own online business have more free time and usually more dispensable income.

Think of it like this. To even start your own retail business, you are going to shell out at least somewhere in the neighborhood of $25,000 - $50,000.

In a world long since gone, I spend over $50,000 starting two cell phone stores. Things went well until construction came to town and put a damper on EVERYTHING! So, needless to say I am a little biased on the issue.

What I will say is this. Working online has been wonderful for me. It has been the one true thing that works for me, even when I'm not around. After I get things set up, everything keeps going, even when I'm not around.

I have actually been out for a day doing whatever I want only to come home and see that I made over $500 while I was gone. Talk about being lazy!

I'm not telling you all this to brag. I'm telling you this because you have the power to do the same thing. Let's take a look at the next step.

Step 2 To Creating Income Opportunities Worth Millions

-Choose A Product

If you're going to have an online business, you're going to have to have something to sell. Most people want to start off selling “physical goods”. These are anything you have to ship to people. It's easier to start selling with info products.

Info products are anything you can pass on to the customer without having to ship any physical product. Basically this means ebooks, software, access to a tele-seminar, etc.

Selling info products will greatly reduce your cost (you'll have no inventory expense) and will greatly increase products.

All you've got to do is write a short ebook on a topic you have a good knowledge of. It could be gardening, fishing, swords, or pretty much anything you can think of.

Step 3 To Creating Income Opportunities Worth Millions

- Find a Mentor

No matter what you want to do in life, someone is going to have to teach you how to do it. You can't play football without a coach, you can't get educated without a teacher, and you definitely can't start an online business without a mentor.

A mentor is someone who has been where you are right now and can help you get to the next level. I was lucky enough to find a mentor who walked me step by step teaching me everything I needed to know to get started.

You can find mentors by searching for your particular business interest in Google, or you can start asking around. Try to find someone who is already where you want to be. These are the best people to learn from because they have proven track records.

Finally, never forget that what separates you from anyone else on earth is only what you know. Never quit seeking, learning, and acquiring new information. Everything you learn will serve to help you get to where you want to be.

When my husband retired in 2000, not only did we discover that our savings was not going to see us through as we thought, but living together 24/7 put a serious strain on our relationship. You see I was a stay at home Mom for over 30 years. My husband worked 6 days a week, 50 weeks a year. When we first were married in 1970, like so many young people we didn’t think of the future, only the now.

Our first child was born in 1972, and it was our decision that I would stay at home and raise her. Neither of us wanted Day Care and we had no family around us to take care of her. So I quit my job at United Airlines and stayed home. Over the next ten years we had three more children, and that put a stop to the idea of my ever going back to work, at least not until the were grown. It was a decision neither of us has ever regretted. Our family is what keeps us centered.

Back to retirement in 2000: First let me say I love my husband very much, but living with him 24/7 was driving me nuts! He was restless and had a hard time adjusting to relaxing, something he never did a lot. I no longer had the freedom to do what I wanted when I wanted to do it.

So I did the most logical thing in my mind. I went to work.

I worked for a small carpet cleaning company in Michigan, first as a customer service person, then an Oriental rug plant manager, then an office manager. It was while I was the Office Manager that I was asked to set up a database program for the new computers. You see until this time, they had no computers. I leaped at the chance…I knew that not only would it make the customer service reps job easier, it would make everyone’s job easier. So I jumped in with both feet. The system was set up, new computers for everyone, everyone was trained (by me), things were moving along very nicely. Until one day I came back from lunch and was told my services would no longer be needed. It seemed I had outlived my usefulness to the company.

I was devastated! Here I was 55 years old, with no job. I had poured a lot of time and effort into this company for 5 years to be told my services were no longer needed. I had to go back to the company the following day to pick up some things I had left behind, when I saw the new office manager…very young, no experience (I learned that from a well meaning “friend”) and she was getting $8.00 less an hour.

I decided then and there that not only did I feel sorry for her, but also they actually did me a favor.

What favor you ask? Well, before I started with this company I knew bare minimum when it came to computers. I knew email. They paid for training to teach me basically how to set up programs, how to surf the net for information, how to work with a computer. On top of the computer training I also learned a lot about marketing. I was the General Managers assistant for all the advertising for this company. He had a degree in Marketing, and he taught me a lot.

My husband insisted I not go back to work. Quite frankly, the way I was let go soured me for working outside the home. I knew from the experiences at that job that I had the knowledge and the determination to start my own business. I only needed a direction.

That direction came when I was looking for Work At Home on the Internet one evening. I chose several work at home and signed up. I have worked with them now for almost three years, and have watched my income steadily increase with each month. My husband and I no longer worry about our “senior years”. We actually look forward to them.

So why work from home. Why Not?! You have children; you need to be there for them. You are retired? Why not use the brain that you have been using for years for someone else to get rich and put it to work for you! It makes sense…there are plenty of programs on the Internet that are free to join as affiliates. With SFI you can be an affiliate, have people under you on your team, and still make money selling the over 600 products.

The world of data entry predates internet itself, however, the advent of the internet which has been stretching its powerful antennas by capturing and widening potentials every aspect of human endeavor to reach every part of the globe. This phenomenal growth brought forth by the Internet, fortunately has not left the data entry field behind. In fact, it has been enjoying gracious increase in the last 5 years or so.

However, before then most people used to believe that only those with high techie brains or Harvard trained can successfully dabble into this area. Actually it could be considered true, say about 10, 20 or so years ago. But not anymore! I am sure that in recent times, you must have been swarmed with offers pouring into your email box to join one data entry program or another. It is even possible that you had carried out series of independent researches on search engines; asked questions on forums and probably purchased one of such programs.

Are you satisfied with the data entry programs?

I discovered that most fellows, even those who previously bought a data entry programs continue to ask more questions than they could get answers to. For example, deceptive and totally ambiguous promises are cleverly used to cover scams which you get to discover after you've paid for them. So you find yourself at the cross roads of endless confusion and always asking: "How do I avoid scams, clear away the myths and see the light of success?"

In actual fact, you want credible answers provided to your sane questions. Isn't it? Now, in this article, you'll not only get answers, but will be shown how to avoid LIARS and genuinely-proven sources to land dollar-paying work-at-home data entry jobs will be paced on your lap. However, before I discuss this, it's also imperative that I warn you here and now.

Beware of scammers!

Do you remember there are millions and millions of people looking to advance their financial fortunes using the internet? Unfortunately, there are equally many, but indecent cyber crooks masquerading as your leading lights to point you in glowing success platform. But such fellows end up giving you useless programs and e-books. And everyday thousands of innocent people like you continue to get swindled.

The data entry industry is the worst hit in recent times. What do I mean? Scammers have infested the data entry opportunity so that it's now near impossible for the inexperience to decipher the fake from original. In fact, in the last few months some gentle cyber felons bombarded the cyber space with fake "data entry programs" that turned out to be PPC - pay per click campaigns for the over 100 companies on clickbank.com databases.

And if you've been online for at least 6 months, you would have realized that making it via PPC such as Google AdWords is not a walk in the park. But those guys deceptively collected people's money, raise their hope high but eventually broke their hearts and possibly dashed their hopes. Anyway, clickbank and google have banned them from their list. Notwithstanding, you and I don't know what other dangerous schemes they will fashion out tomorrow.

Proven routes to avoid scammers and make money with data entry jobs

For the remaining part of this article I will walk you through a verified path devoid of those fake elements to reach success arena. Before the exact method I'm going to discuss, I want you to visit the following websites for better understanding.

forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=177054 forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=173935 forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=168177 sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=417382 sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348661 sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=349765

Got it? You can notice that everyday lot of webmasters want to hire individuals for data entry kind jobs. There is a hidden treasure unrevealed for you.

Here is what to do to apply for these data entry jobs.

Join popular but highly respected online forums such as Digital Point. Most of these forums are free to join and 100% devoted to the needs of webmasters in diverse forms; from content, to programming, scripting languages, website, to marketing related issues, data entry and so on. But learn these valued tips to guide you on forums:

- Register as a member of few webmaster forums

Don't go there with the aim of merely lurking around. In your registration, use a signature that define your primary job and if you have a website, link directly to it.

- Read the regulations and policy of the forum

Every forum has policy guiding how member should do things. Please read it up and if not clear contact the moderator and/or post your questions on the board.

- Learn for one or two weeks

Don't rush into raising your hand for job yet. Instead read posts by both webmasters requesting for data entry workers and watch how people respond. Then ask questions you don't understand and allow reply. You can even send PM - private message - to anyone you feel can help you with better information such links and resources. But please, don't abuse this privilege. Within this time, you will definitely gain valuable insight into what an average webmaster need and hate on such forum. For example, try to verify if it's ideal to post fees on the thread or not.

- Go for jobs now

Be meaningful and avoid "quarreling" and pride talk like some do. Focus on your mission to land data entry jobs. With valid experience gained during the first one or two weeks' observation and friendly communication, you're now fully set to grab jobs. Once any webmaster post a thread for data entry worker or assistance, read it carefully and if you can do it, then without hesitation, reply first to PM and on the thread. Always lurk around the board so that you can be the first person to spot available opportunity and lick it up, fast!

- Don't spam the board

This may sound obvious but many people constantly fall into this error by posting shabby texts just to increase post count. This is against the rules and regulations of forums and will cause your post get deleted. And if care is not taken you may get banned out rightly. I'm sure that is not your intention, so do things rightly!

How to know great forums?

This may be difficult for others, but not for you! Here are few great forums where you can start earning money if you apply the above ideas. Please see yourself more as a member there than an opportunity seeker; participate in the discussions actively.

* Digital Point Forums (forums.digitalpoint.com) - Visit here and register yourself as a member. Then visit the "Sell, Buy or Trade" forum and bookmark both the "content" and "service" sub-forums.
* SitePoint Forums (sitepoint.com/forums) - It is another popular webmaster forum. "Looking to Hire" is the place you can find data entry type jobs.

Note: I advice that you register in all above forums to take full advantage of every opportunity therein.

In conclusion, can you now see a powerful scenario being played before you?

Hotels * B&Bs * Homestays * Apartments

The following is a listing of some of the hotels, B&Bs, etc., in which ITN readers have stayed over the past year or so plus restaurants or sights nearby. Prices are those paid at the time of the visit and conversion rates are approximate.

When writing to ITN about accommodations, always include the PRICES and addresses/locations, along with the date (month/year) of your visit. Also, please state whether the price is per person or per room and, if it is per room, whether it’s for a double or single room.

Lastly, we welcome pictures with your write-up, whether they are interior or exterior shots of the hotel or just sights in the area. Color or B&W prints or slides are fine. Thank you.

A few ITN readers have admitted to some reluctance in revealing a particularly attractive establishment. We, too, have experienced these feelings, but we have found the two hotels referred to below to be so deserving of praise that we’ve been able to overcome our reluctance.

* First, in Bellagio on Italy’s Lake Como is the Hotel Excelsior Splendide (Lungolago Manzoni, 22021 Bellagio, Como, ITALY; phone [031] 950.225 or fax [031] 951 224).

Lake Como is truly one of the world’s great beauty spots, but one need not stay in the famous and very expensive Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni to enjoy its beauty. For something less than $100 a day, the Excelsior Splendide will provide room and bath with a “splendide” view of the lake and mountains, only a few steps from the ferry landing. It cost 170,000 lire ($79) in 1999. For very little more, demipension was available.

Their Continental breakfast is a bountiful buffet. In the evening, an equally generous buffet is always available before the dinner is served.

What makes all this even better is the warmth and skill of the management, all of whom speak English. We enjoy the Splendide so much, we have stayed there a few days in May almost every year since 1995.

* In Paris we were very pleased with the Hotel Residence Monge (55 rue Monge, 75005 Paris, FRANCE; phone 01 43 26 87 90 or fax 01 43 54 47 25) in May ‘00. A nice, large-by-Paris-standards, air-conditioned room costs less than $100.

The hotel on rue Monge is on the Left Bank about halfway between the Cardinal Lemoine and Place Monge Metro stops. A stroll down rue Monge will bring you to the riverbank opposite Notre Dame. With a somewhat shorter stroll, you will reach the bustling, restaurant-lined rue Mouffetard.

The tiny Greek island of Paxos, with its groves of olive trees, secluded beaches and coves, and pretty coastal villages, has become a favourite destination for music lovers during its annual jazz and classical music festivals.

In June, the Paxos Jazz Festival attracts talented and well-known musicians from far and wide to perform in open-air, idyllic locations with perfect summer weather. And from 2–13 September 2006 the renowned Paxos International Music Festival features classical music concerts in Loggos.

Since 1986, this Festival has established a tradition of excellence in performance, and has developed a loyal following of visitors and locals. As well as presenting major works from the chamber music repertoire, the Festival has commissioned new pieces especially for the Island. These included We Shall be Here, for a thousand and a thousand more years, a cantata tracing the history of Paxos from its mythological beginnings to the present day and Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf translated into Greek. Now directed by the UK’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the 2006 Festival will present major works by composers who have anniversaries this year, including Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet; Schumann’s Piano Quintet; a Bartok String Quartet and a Shostakovich piano trio. And Guildhall students and teachers will give five special concerts. For the first time in Paxos, singers will present a repertoire of songs and arias.

The cosmopolitan capital of the Island, Gaios, bustles with life at festival time and its harbour is packed with yachts and cruisers. Cafe bars and restaurants line the waterfront, nestled between charming villas with their Venetian architecture, and the island’s nightlife includes late-night music bars overlooking the harbour. At the waterfront terrace of Bar Taxidi, in picture-postcard Loggos, you might even find Spiros, the owner, making traditional music.

Some of the best accommodation on Paxos is to be found in the lovely little fishing harbour of Loggos but, be warned, with limited accommodation Paxos villas are in high demand at the time of the music festival so be sure to make your booking way in advance.

Most people cannot say they know London well which makes planning a business trip quite daunting. To know London completely is impossible. Home to inhabitants for over 2,000 years now London has grown to a sprawling metropolis, the ideal platform for constant illustrious activity and business meetings.

If you are travelling at the weekend a five star hotel in the middle of the city is available for less than one hundred pounds a night, and can be very quiet. During the week however it’s quite another matter. City hotels are notorious for being completely empty on weekends, hence the great rates. Tourists pay over the odds to stay at trendy hotels when they could stay at other places for a much better price.

They key points to remember when planning a business trip are to make a schedule so you can plan your stay and to book into a hotel with all the amenities that you may require. It’s very important to book your hotel in a central location so you can reach your meetings and clients quickly and without too much trouble.

Make sure you have a guide book so you can find the best restaurants and bars to entertain clients and so you sound knowledgeable about the city and its heritage. You will be trying to make a good impression and planning is very important in meeting your client’s expectations.

Firstly you should find out exactly where and when you are conducting your meetings. If you need to book function or meeting rooms then now is the time to do it. Book a meeting in an upmarket central hotel and your client’s will be impressed.

Once you know your schedule you can book your accommodation in the best possible location. Make sure you visit the hotels website to see if they offer the best facilities your expense account can afford. Check the hotel has internet and fax facilities as well.

After you have booked the hotel it’s a good idea to look at some local bars and restaurants to entertain you during your stay. Maybe visit some restaurant review websites and book a table at a couple of the local eateries to entertain your clients and business contacts.

Travelling to London is quite easy but it needs planning. Whether you are getting there by car, train or plane you need to use the underground so visit the website and buy a tube map to help you.

In summary when you are visiting London you need to make sure you know where you are going and make good plans. Make sure you book a good hotel with the facilities you will require.

Looking for a paradise hotel for your wedding night? Maui Hotels are renowned for their high level of excellence and value in one of the world’s premier vacation destinations.

From enormous deluxe rooms to championship golf courses, each hotel offers something out of the ordinary.

Here we have selected five quality, five star hotels which are perfect places to create a heavenly marriage or unforgettable vacation.

Each fabulous hotel is highlighted below for its main service strengths and exquisite locations.

The Fairmont- Kea Lani, Maui

The Fairmont Kea Lani hotel is has the only luxury all-suite and villa oceanfront resort on Polo Beach with 22 acres of tropical landscaping and lagoon-style pools. It was rated number 23 on the World’s Best Hotels List by Travel & Leisure Magazine.

It is beyond description as is truly superb. It is a top resort for honeymoon couples, and also boasts one, two and three bedroom oceanfront villas and good value sunny breakfast packages.

The hotel has 413 one-bedroom suites, each comprising of a spacious living room, separate bedroom, and over-sized European-style marble bathroom, plus 37 one, two and three-bedroom oceanfront villas with full kitchens and private plunge pools connected by a 140-foot water slide and swim-up bar, plus an adult lap pool. Other facilities include a fitness center, games room, salon, business center, and concierge.

Four Seasons Resort- Wailea, Maui

Four Seasons is also one of the top resorts in Hawaii and the world. It is located on Maui’s southwestern shore, and enjoys the island’s finest beaches and driest, sunny weather.

The Four Seasons Resort is exceptionally grand in concept, but gracefully executed, with great attention made to its unique ocean-front setting.

Breath-taking ocean views are there to be savored, with light meals, and entertainment. The 14 court Wailea Tennis Center is nearby, and at there are two floodlit courts for night-time play.

There are also six outstanding golf courses here, which make Wailea an absolute golfer’s paradise. A championship course, the Wailea Golf Club, home of the LPGA Kemper Open, is actually directly across the street from the resort.

The Four Seasons offers an endless choice of activities, with pleasure trips performed on their own sixty foot catamaran to Haleakala National park. Helicopter rides, shopping, whale watching, and horseback riding are just a few of the activities not to be missed.

Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa-Maui

The Grand Wailea Resort is one of Maui’s finest, which also offers something for everyone. It has an unparalleled pool system, which actually has the world’s only water elevator.

The hotel complex includes the Napua Tower and five independent guest room wings, all offering a very high level of quality accommodation.

It also has the largest spa in Hawaii, and has been rated as is one of the Top Ten American Spas by Conde Nast

Guest rooms are extremely spacious and for a top of the range room size of 5,500 square feet for the Grand Suite is quite remarkable, guests of any type are however equally and comfortably welcomed

All over sized rooms come with either a king or two double beds. The room amenities include a private patio, separate bath and shower area, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, very large color TV with cable, in-room movies, three direct-dial telephones, in-room mini-bar, complimentary safe, coffee-maker, bathrobes, and foot slippers.

Sheraton- Maui

The Sheraton Maui Hotel is synonymous with quality accommodation and this luxurious resort is located on the beach at famous Black Rock. It has landscaped grounds have an open and quiet ambience.

The majority of its rooms overlook the ocean, each with its own private balcony, which makes for a truly outstanding position. Its cliff side location also boasts to have one of best areas in Maui’s for snorkeling.

The moment you arrive at Sheraton Maui, the elevated grand entrance presents you with the majestic Pu’u Keka’a rising above a panorama of the blue Pacific and neighboring islands crowned in clouds.

Amongst the 23 acres of lush tropical surrounds, an immense oceanfront swimming lagoon meanders at great length, with lava-rock waterways, enchanting bridges, and a mind relaxing open-air spa.

The facilities on offer are tennis, a fitness Center, and two championship golf courses nearby. For indulgences, the three restaurants exhibit the gastronomic delights of the islands, perfect for lunch or an intimate evening.

Westin Maui Hotel Resort And Spa- Maui

A favorite hotel, famed for its guest room bedding and fabulously large pool, area and waterslide.
Located on Ka’anapali Beach, one of the world’s most romantic stretches of sand, this spectacular triple ‘A’, four-diamond resort inspires you to indulge in all that Maui has to offer.

Romance, snorkeling, scuba diving, five waterfalls, championship golf and tennis, casual and a la carte dining, the only limit is your appetite for adventure. This resort has it all.

There are many activities to do for all guests, from the action packed Westin Kids Club, to shopping, sports and unlimited sun. A breathtaking sunset with oceanfront dining at Ka’anapali’s premier restaurant, Tropica is there to be savoured or enjoy the exceptional cuisine of OnO’s Surf Bar and Grill. Six restaurants and lounges plus exciting evening nightlife, there’s plenty to keep anyone occupied

There are priceless art treasures to be discovered in the resort and beautifully maintained grounds to enjoy.

Each spacious guest room features a private terrace or ‘lanai’, coffee maker, private bar and a host of other useful amenities. All rooms fresh, modern décor and feature the trademarked “Heavenly Beds.”

Recently a $5 million dollar expansion of this Resort and Spa has created a new spa, which is expected to be the prototype for all future Westin spas around the world.

You’ve finally decided to take the family on the long awaited trip to DisneyWorld. Now you have to decide where to stay while you’re there. The options may seem limited, but there really are more choices than you might think.

Important Points to Consider When Choosing Accommodations

Before you make your final decision regarding your accommodations, there are a few factors that should be taken into consideration. First and formost is your budget. Obviously, the larger your budget the more options that are available to you.

You also need to consider number of people in your party. A family of 4 can usually fit into an average room at one of the many Disney Resort properties or an off-site hotel quite comfortably. However, if your party is larger than 4, or includes several families or a large group travelling together you will need more space and you may want to consider an off-site vacation home or resort condo. Another option for large families is to book 2 or more adjoining rooms at a hotel.

What type of amenities are important to you and your family? Is privacy and seclusion a high priority for you? Or are you more concerned with the type of amenities available to you during your stay? Will you have a car, either your own or a rental? Or will you need transportation to and from the parks? Do you plan on spending the majority of your vacation on Disney property, or are you interested in spending some time away from the theme parks and exploring the many other attractions central Florida has to offer?

The answers to all of these questions will help to make your choice of accommodations much easier.

The Pros and Cons of On-Site Accommodations

Most first time visitors to the Orlando area choose to stay at one of the many Walt Disney World Resort Properties. These properties have long had a reputation for being clean, well maintained, and very family friendly. The excellent service provided by the Disney staff is also a big plus. Other advantages of staying on-site at one of the resort properties is the use of the resort’s transportation system. There is no need to rent a car if you plan on spending your entire stay at the Disney theme parks. There is an extensive transportation system available to guests that will take you anywhere you want to go within the resort. However, if you think you may want to venture off-site to some of the other attractions, restaurants, or shows in the Orlando area then you will need to find your own transportation.

Your vacation budget should also be carefully considered if you are planning on staying on-site. The resort accommodations tend to be more expensive than off-site alternatives, and rooms are limited. It may be difficult to find availability if you are planning your trip at the last minute.

The Pros and Cons of Off-Site Accommodations

Many visitors to the Orlando area, especially first time visitors, are not aware of the many off-site accommodation options available to them. There are hotels, motels, resorts, and privately owned condos and vacation pool homes all within a 10 - 15 minute drive of the parks. All of these are viable alternatives to staying within the Walt Disney World Resort.

Choosing an off-site hotel or motel can be a good alternative to on-site accoommodations. Many offer free shuttles to and from the theme parks and other popular area attractions. This can be very convenient and can also save you from paying daily parking fees. However, shuttle times can be limiting and may not fit your party’s schedule. On the plus side, many guests enjoy being able to “escape” the Disney atmosphere at the end of a long day. On the other hand, the quality of off-site hotels and motels can vary greatly and is often inconsistant, unlike the resort properties with their high standards of excellence.

Another accommodation option that has been growing steadily in popularity, especially among U.S. visitors to the Orlando area are privately owned vacation homes. These homes can be booked through one of the many management companies in the Orlando area, or even through a travel agent.

A vacation home offers guests comfort, convenience, and privacy. Often, large families or groups find it more cost effective to rent a larger vacation home rather than book 2 or more hotels rooms. Vacation homes also offer the opportunity to save money on dining out, as each home comes with a fully equipped kitchen that allows guests to prepare some, or all of their own meals during their stay. Many guests also appreciate the privacy that a vacation home provides.

Some vacation homes are located in resort communities and offer guests the use of all the resort amenities such as swimming pools, fitness centers, tennis courts, and game rooms. If these amenities are important to you, be sure to confirm that the home you are reserving is located in one of these resort communities. If it is not, you will still have the use of your own private swimming pool but will miss out on the other amenities.

Hostels have been around in one form or another for a long time. They are oriented towards young travelers and anyone else seeking cheap accommodations. The United States version was originally more complicated, with guests helping with chores, etc. It is much simpler now: you rent a bed instead of a room, sharing the bathroom, living room and kitchen. You have less privacy, but cheaper accomodations, and you get to socialize.

My first time in Quito, Ecuador I stayed at Centro Del Mundo, a hostel near the center of town. $4 per night included breakfast. I shared a room and bathroom with 4 others, and a T.V. room with guests from 14 countries, and channels in three languages. 80 cents got me a rum-and-coke to drink while I played chess with a flower-buyer from Holland. The manager could arrange anything from tours of the snow-covered volcano Cotapaxi, to $2/hour Spanish lessons.

Is A Hostel For You?

I love hostels, but most of you won’t. I like mingling with travelers from around the world. You’re more isolated in a hotel. “Mingling,” of course, could mean sleeping next to a snorer. I’m sure the idea of sharing a room is too much for some people, as is waiting to use the shower. It’s a different experience from staying in a hotel.

Are Hostels Cheap Accomodations?

Even if they were the same price, I’d prefer a hostel to a hotel, but one of the biggest reasons people stay in hostels is to save money. For this, they’re a good option when you’re traveling alone. Since my wife and I travel together now, we don’t stay in hostels often. You pay for two beds, after all, which makes hotels more competitve.

Hostels are not as common in the U.S. as in other countries, unless you include “bed-and-breakfast” places. Theses are, after all, somewhat like high-priced hostels. There are still cheap hostels in almost every state, though. Search Google for hostels, and you’ll find all the information you need.

Other Cheap Accommdations

For cheap accomodations other than hostels, you can try websites, such as Cheap Tickets.com. Remember though, that they only give you rates for the hotels and motels in their system. I just did a search for Tucson, Arizona. Cheap Tickets.com was the easiest to use, and found the best rates. However, I could show you several nice motels here in Tucson that are $15 cheaper than the cheapest rate they found.

Try picking up those coupon books at gas stations along the highways. We’ve almost always found good deals using these. It’s rare that a manager won’t honor the coupon. Generally, only if they’re absolutely full will they refuse. Read the fine print, though, since they often charge more for certain dates, weekends, or for two people.

Another way to get a cheap room is by negotiating. Unfortunately, for some reason, most owners here in the U.S. would rather watch you drive away than knock five bucks off the room rate. This isn’t true in most other countries. My wife and I were in Banos, Ecuador recently, and were told the room would be $12. The room was clean, with cable T.V. and lots of hot water. We paid just $6 per night, paying four nights in advance. The owner understood we were ready to walk away.