My travel

If you love living where you are now, then there is probably no need for you to move.

However, after reading this chapter, you may start to develop itchy feet. The grass sometimes IS greener on the other side.

What are the advantages of moving? Basically that depends on where you live now and on how you want to live. Moving to another country can reduce or eliminate income, corporate and capital gains taxes. Now I’ve got your attention. Here is the BUT If you live in the USA you are taxed by your government on your world-wide income regardless of where you live in the world. That’s rude. It may still be tax advantageous to move however. You won’t get taxed twice. If you move to a tax haven where there are no or minimal taxes you will still have to pay the IRS but you won’t have any paperwork to do in your new home. If you move to a non-tax haven with a double taxation treaty with the USA there are many options open to you usually for reducing your taxable income. Talk to an advisor who specializes in international taxation. I’m not an accountant. I’m not even American so the US taxation system is not something I am well versed in. However, I do know that significant tax savings are possible when properly structured.

If you are a citizen of a country with a residency based taxation system, and most are, then your tax saving opportunities are much easier. Just move. Once you reside outside these countries the tax departments no longer have any interest in taxing you. You only need to pay tax in the country you move to, if that country requires it.

Tax reasons are not the only reason to move overseas. It isn’t even the most important reason, saving tax is just a bonus.

The real reason, and only important reason to move is to increase your standard of living. What you need to ask yourself is this. What do you want? Does the place you live in now provide that for you? Do you want a more laid back lifestyle? Do you want to be exposed to less crime? Do you want a less expensive lifestyle, but with more luxury? Do you want a warmer or cooler climate? Do you want cheaper real estate and no capital gains taxes? etc. Only you know what you want. Below we will explore some of the best places in the world and why. Perhaps one of these places will suit what you are looking for.

We will also look at the issue of economic citizenship. Economic citizenship programs are made available by 2 countries presently. They are St.Kitts & Nevis and Dominica. These countries, in exchange for varying amounts of money, will give you instant legal citizenship including a passport. You are not required to live in any of these countries, but as a citizen you can if you want to. The main advantage of these programs is the gaining of the second passport. This is essential for world travel if your original passport is from a country that has developed many enemies. For example, if your aircraft or cruise ship is hijacked by terrorists you may survive if you have a St Kitts & Nevis or Dominican passport because nobody has an argument with these countries. If you are carrying a passport from the US, UK or Australia you are screwed. Also another example is this, if you travel to Arab countries and also Israel you will experience fewer problems with the custom officials in these countries if you use separate passports with separate visas for entry into each of these countries. Another important advantage of these passports is that they allow visa free travel to a huge number of countries making travel easier than it may be on your current passport. One of the most important advantages of a passport from these countries, however, is the investment opportunities that it opens up. Some investments are not open to the citizens of some countries. The 2nd passports discussed here can be used to identify yourself to banks and investment companies and so allow you to invest in these lucrative investments. These economic citizenship programs will be discussed further under the appropriate country listing.

Peruse the following country listings and see if any of these options fit your goals. My argument regarding residency is this. To live a luxury lifestyle you need to earn more and spend less whilst improving your standard of living. Moving to a tax haven, I believe, is essential. Reduce your tax and buy what you want cheaper. There are many fantastic places in the world you can move to and even save tax in, but many are expensive. Examples of these are Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, Bermuda, Ireland, the UK, Andorra, Campione and in fact most places in Europe are a nice place to live. You have to be quite wealthy to live the luxury lifestyle in these places. If you are quite wealthy check them out. If you are moderately well off then you can leverage what you have and acquire a luxury lifestyle by moving to the countries I have highlighted below. Almost all of these countries have first world products and services at reasonable prices.

Here we go.

1. Vanuatu

Vanuatu - is a group of islands north of New Caledonia, southeast of the Solomon Islands and west of the Fijian Islands in the South Pacific.

It is a beautiful, peaceful country and has been independent since 1980. If you would like to move there you are required to make a positive contribution to the economy. This means investing US$50,000 in an approved investment and also lodge an immigration bond to pay for your repatriation should you make a nuisance of yourself. You can opt to invest the US$50,000 in real estate, however, you cannot own land there. You instead purchase a 55 year lease that is renewable.

The people of Vanuatu speak Pidgin, English and French. The country is democratic and there is no income tax.

2. The Bahamas

The Bahamas - are a group of many islands south-east of the US and north-west of Cuba in the Caribbean.

This is a democratic, income and company tax free country renowned for its tropical beauty. It is also one of the few countries in the world where you can buy your own tropical island.

If you wish to reside here, permanent and temporary residency permits require the payment of approximately B$1,000 for the head of the family plus B$20 for each family member. Also required if you want permanent residency is an investment of B$250,000 in a registered group investment or B$500,000 in another investment. Temporary permits are valid for 1 year. Tourist visas allow you to stay for up to 8 months of the year.

The only worry I have with the Bahamas is global warming. The country is low lying and if the sea levels rise most of this country may become Atlantis. The official language of this country is English.

3. The Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks & Caicos Islands - lie south east of the Bahamas.

This country is a dependency of the UK. There is no income or company tax, gift tax, inheritance, property or sales taxes.

Living and residency here is easy. It costs approximately US$2,000 for a permit to work or reside here. Don’t even think about looking for a job here, however.

The country is democratic and the official language is English.

4. The Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic - ( not to be confused with the Commonwealth of Dominica) is one of the poorest countries in the Caribbean. It is located east of Haiti and west of Puerto Rico.

This country is democratic and the official language is Spanish.

All foreign earned income is tax free here and you can live like a king because everything is so cheap.

If you are American, European, Canadian, British or Australian and have an external income your residency is virtually guaranteed. After 2 years you can apply for citizenship.

5. St Kitts and Nevis

St Kitts & Nevis - is a small island group in the Caribbean north of Montserrat and west of Antigua & Barbuda.

It is independent, democratic and English speaking.

There is no income tax or tax for offshore companies.

St Kitts & Nevis has a very good economic citizenship program, but it is expensive. This is the Rolls Royce option. It will cost you US$250,000 minimum investment in real estate, US$35,000 government fee for the main applicant, US$15,000 government fee per dependent, US$2,500 due diligence fees per adult and US$15,000 in application fees. This will give you full citizenship and a passport within approximately 3 months. This passport gives visa free travel to many countries as it is a British Commonwealth passport.

6. The Commonwealth of Dominica

The Commonwealth of Dominica - ( not to be confused with the Dominican Republic) is an English speaking, democratic country. It has been independent since 1978. Dominica is located south of Guedeloupe and north of Martinique in the Caribbean.

There are no income taxes or company taxes. Dominica is also a nature lovers dream. Dominica has a very good economic citizenship program. It will cost you US$75,000 government fee for a single applicant or US$100,000 government fee for a family of up to 4 people. Due diligence fees range from US$15,000 plus US$700 per person. This will get you full citizenship and a British Commonwealth passport within 4 months.

7. The Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands - consists of 3 islands in the Caribbean north west of Jamacia and south of Cuba.

There are no income, inheritence or capital gains taxes.

You can immigrate here if you have a spotless reputation and at least US$150,000. You must be financially independent and not have to depend on the local ecomony for an income.

8. Belize

Belize - is paradise on earth. Belize is democratic, peaceful and there are no taxes. It is English speaking. Belize is located in Central America bordered by Mexico and Guatemala.

Becoming a resident is relatively simple. If you stay for a year you are granted permanent residency. You just need to have your tourist visa renewed every 3 months for a year. You must deposit at least US$2,200 into a local bank. After 5 years as a permanent resident you are eligibile for citizenship.

You can easily live a luxury lifestyle in this country without a lot of money.

9. Costa Rica

Costa Rica - is located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama. Costa Rica has has its problems over the years but things are improving and it remains a popular retirement destination for many people.

All income earned outside Costa Rica is tax free.

To gain residency you must be able to prove you have an income of more than US$1,000 per month. You just need to have this income exchanged into local currency at a local bank and present the receipts to the Tourisn Institute every 2 years to renew your permit.

This is another country where you can live like royalty with little money. Costa Rica is a Spanish speaking democracy. English is widely understood though.

10. Panama

Panama - is located in Central America between Costa Rica and Columbia. Panams is a well established international financial centre with very attractive residency possibilities.

Panama is a Spanish speaking country where English is well known.

Income earned from outside Panama is tax free. This democracy is a first world country and Panama city could be mistaken for Miami.

Panama has three residency options:

The Panama Investor Immigration Program requires an investment of at least US$100,000 in a new company or business or in any business in the country employing at least 3 Panamanian citizens. The investors must be directors & officers of the company. OR, you can invest US$40,000 in a reforestation project. After 5 years with this residency permit you can apply for Panamanian citizenship and passport.

The Pamana Retiree Residence Program requires you to invest enough money in a term deposit at the Banco Nacional de Panama to generate at least US$750 per month in interest for a minimum of 5 years. You can also receive a non-citizens passport that is good for travel. This program does not lead to citizenship.

The Panama Pensionado Residence Program requires you to prove that you receive a pension of US$500 per month minimum from any government or private source outside of Panama. This program does not lead to citizenship. It does however, entitle you to many discounts country wide.

Dr Gregory Lipke is the CEO of Cyber Publishing Ltd. He has a Doctorate of Business Administration & a Bachelor of Science as well as years of experience in Private Investigation, Personal Protection & Security. He is the author of Your Luxury Guide .

Although Kilauea has been erupting almost continually since 1983, Hawaii visitor interest in hiking out to see the flowing lava is rapidly increasing since the active flow is now much more accessible. While most lava-viewing trips are fairly safe adventures, there are a few things the visitor need to keep in mind when venturing into the Goddess Pele’s home.

Visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park right now are being treated to a rare event. Kilauea Volcano is erupting in two places simultaneously! Up in the summit caldera, in Hale ma’uma’u Crater, a vent exploded open last March that has continued to thrill visitors with its billowing steam cloud and night-time glow. If this were the only volcano you were ever going to see, this would plenty spectacular. Current eruption activity updates are available from the National Park at 808.985.6000. 

But hold on! The real action is down at the coast where lava from the East Rift Zone has broken out of lava tubes, flows across the open ground and into the sea. From the air, one can see the spectacular glow of a small lava lake in Pu’u O’o crater and from several breakouts along the 2007 Thanksgiving Eve Breakout tube system above the pali and near the top of Royal Gardens subdivision. Lava is currently flowing down the pali and entering the ocean at the Waikupanaha ocean entry where there are spectacular littoral explosions. Although this activity is usually quite vigorous, including a 10-15-m-high lava fountains, it can be sporadic on a day-to day basis. 

Over the years, lava has mostly entered the ocean within the National Park boundaries. Park policy has been to allow tourists to approach flowing lava as closely as the visitor himself deemed safe. Surprisingly, a relatively small percentage of visitors were killed or maimed in this process and unparallel access to one of the great wonders of the world, the spectacle of the Earth remaking herself through volcanic eruption, was available on a very intimate basis to anyone who came to Hawaii. Every six or so years, for a period of several months, eruption flows go outside the park boundaries, as it is doing now.

The County of Hawaii, whose Civil Defense Department is responsible for visitor safety in these cases, is not so liberal in granting access to the lava flow. The county maintains a viewing area several hundred meters back from the actual flow and ocean entry areas and visitors are not allowed any closer. As of this writing, to see the lava flow one must find the County of Hawaii volcano viewing area. From the Hawaii Belt Road at Kea’au, proceed south on Highway 130 through Pahoa and toward the now-buried town of Kalapana. At the 20 mile marker the road splits; the right branch (helpfully marked “end of road”) leads to a dirt-and-lava road a couple miles long at the end of which is the parking area for the County of Hawaii volcano viewing area. One really cannot miss the way during daylight hours, as the enormous explosion plume is clearly visible from miles away. The viewing area is open from 2 in the afternoon until 10 at night; no cars are allowed in after 8 p.m. Lava viewing and road information is available from the County of Hawaii at 808.961.8093.

A carnival atmosphere hovers over the parking lot, where several vendors hawk jewelry, t-shirts, drinks and snacks…port-a-potties are also available. The trail leading to the viewing area is largely flat but traverses a broken lava field. It is well marked with reflectors and reflective paint strips along the surface and is just a 15 to 20 minute stroll. The quality of viewing varies from week to week as the lava stream shifts nearer or farther from the viewing area, but seeing the orange glow of flowing lava, or the fiery red explosions, is one of the most amazing experiences a person can have, no matter how far from the flow one is.

It is hard to overstate the power, mystery and magic of this eruption, but upon occasion, transient local atmospheric phenomena such as waterspouts and lightning add even more spice to this already awe-inspiring spectacle. Other wonders abound here, too, if you look closely. The hardened lava over which you are walking contains numerous casts of logs, trees, coconuts and pandanas fruit. Lava viewing is best done at dusk and later, however, parking spaces fill up quickly on nice afternoons. I usually plan to arrive at the parking lot at about 3:30 or four then walk into the viewing area, spending the hours until dark reading, having a picnic and chatting with visitors who have come from all over the world to see this wonder. You should wear sturdy, close-toed walking shoes and a hat to shed rain and sun. The lava surface is sharp, so I recommend long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and a stout walking stick as well. Bring at least 2 liters of drinking water, snacks and perhaps a couple Band-Aids; definitely bring sun block. Because you are right on the ocean, short rain squalls should be expected; an umbrella and rain coat or poncho is suggested, as well as protective covering for camera gear.

If the wind shifts the explosion plume in your direction, discretion is the better part of valor; you should evacuate immediately. Those fume clouds are toxic, containing various gaseous sulphur compounds including sulphuric acid, as well as hydrochloric acid and fine particulate material. On this same topic, electronic and camera gear, as well as glasses, binoculars and other optics, will be exposed to a certain amount of these toxic gases and you should wipe them down thoroughly after your trip. Most people plan to stay on after dark and so you should bring a flashlight for each person in your group; be sure to check the batteries and bulb before you leave on the trip. Remember that food and gas are not always available after dark outside the immediate Hilo or Kailua Kona areas, so be sure to fill up your gas tank BEFORE you park, and to bring plenty to eat and drink along with you.

Viewing the lava is one of the most amazing, wondrous, moving experiences you can have, anywhere on earth. People stand in awe, openly weeping at the site of Mother Earth going through her rebirth. Each fiery explosion is met with a loud chorus of “OOOOOHS!” and “AHHHHHHS!” in a display that will make every subsequent Fourth of July fireworks spectacular seem pale by comparison. If you are coming to Hawaii, you must not miss this once-of-a-lifetime show…if you have never thought of Hawaii as a potential vacation spot, you should consider it simply for this rare, unique and entirely awe-inspiring, mystical, wondrous opportunity.

Time spent in the home of the Goddess Pele is always amazing and I have had a life-long connection with volcanoes all over the world. I grew up in the shadow of mighty Mount Rainier in Washington, spending my youth teaching and guiding climbers on its slopes..When I was a college student back in the mid 1970’s, one morning my Intro Geology prof burst in late and said “You guys have GOT to see this film-my friend in Hawaii just sent it to me…this is happening right now!” That film changed my life. I declared myself a Geosciences major on the spot and even went on to earn a PhD. in Geochemistry. Later, I spent considerable time climbing and guiding on the enormous volcanoes of Mexico, Ecuador and Columbia. Although ultimately I did not pursue Volcanology as a discipline, my love affair with volcanoes as an avocation, and my spiritual connection to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, has never waned. You should come and see these wonders for yourself.

http://www.tourguidehawaii.com

http://www.tourguidehawaii.blogspot.com

Lighthouses in Oregon

The rugged coast of Oregon offers visitors a chance to view and tour some of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world. In all, Oregon boasts eleven lighthouses along its shorelines. Many of these lighthouses have been restored and are a great way to learn about the history of the state. In the next section each of the eleven lighthouses will be explored in detail, starting from the north of Oregon and down the coast.

Tillamook Rock - located at Cannon Beach

Located about one mile from the coastline, Tillamook Rock Lighthouse can be seen from the shores of Ecola State Park. The construction of this particular lighthouse was completed on January 21, 1881, after two years of extremely grueling and challenging work. The lighthouse was continuously manned by five men, four on duty and one on “liberty” on the mainland. Harsh conditions and violent storms accompanied by large waves sometimes left the men stranded on the rock for extended periods of time without a way to restock their provisions and supplies. Because of the extreme weather constantly bombarding the lighthouse on Tillamook Rock, its costs for upkeep and operations were the most expensive in the nation. On September 10, 1957, owing to the increasingly large price to maintain, the light was shut off and the lighthouse left empty.

Today, the lighthouse is privately owned and has been turned into a site dedicated to housing over a half-million urns of human ashes. It could aptly be called a “cemetery at sea”. To view the lighthouse, visit Ecola State Park. The lighthouse is best seen with binoculars as it is quite a distance from the shore.

Cape Meares Lighthouse

With a history much less exciting than other lighthouses, Cape Meares sits 200 feet above the Pacific Coast in Oceanside, Oregon. Its light was first illuminated on January 1, 1890 and could be seen from twenty-one miles away. Cared for by numerous families throughout the years, the last keepers left the lighthouse in 1963 when it was outfitted with a flashing light. There was no longer a need for a human being to physically turn the light off in the morning and on at night. Several years later the lighthouse was taken over by the Oregon State Parks and can now be visited by stopping in to Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint at Cape Meares State Park.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

This amazing lighthouse, illuminated for the first time on August 20, 1873, rises up 93 feet into the air. Boasting the only marble floor of any lighthouse in Oregon, Yaquina Head Lighthouse receives hundreds of thousands of guests per year making it one of the most visited lighthouses in the United States. Ships can see the tower from nineteen miles away as it stands 162 feet above sea level.

The view from the top of this lighthouse is incredible and is worth the large number of spiraling stairs that must be climbed to reach the top. The lighthouse is now a part of the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area.

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse

The lighthouse at Newport, Yaquina Bay, was actually only used for a total of three years after being completed on November 3, 1871. This lighthouse was built before Yaquina Head Lighthouse, also found in Newport. As it was left empty for so many years, it was not in good shape when the Oregon State Park Group came in to restore and reopen it in 1974. It is now open to the public at no cost and contains many artifacts and memorabilia from Oregon’s maritime history.

Cleft of the Rock Lighthouse

Jim Gibbs, a former keeper of Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, was the builder of Cleft of the Rock Lighthouse. He had the lighthouse constructed to resemble the 1898 Fiddle Reef Lighthouse in Vancouver Island. The lighthouse, completed in 1976, was an addition onto Mr. Gibb’s private home. It can be seen, towering 110 feet above the Pacific Ocean, from mile post 166 on Oregon’s Highway 101, just south of Yachats. Since it is privately owned, there is no public access to the tower.

Heceta Head Lighthouse

The name of this 1894 lighthouse comes from the Spanish explorer Don Bruno de Heceta. It rises 205 feet above the Pacific Ocean and offers spectacular views to visitors from the top. It is located about 12 miles north of Florence right off Highway 101.

Umpqua River Lighthouse

Located in South Reedsport, the Umpqua River Lighthouse light was first illuminated on October 10, 1857. The lighthouse was originally designed and built for the large amount of trade that was expected for this area of Oregon. As luck would have it, the weather destroyed the lighthouse over a period of six years. In 1894, a second lighthouse was built, this time its location was placed well away from the harsh forces of nature and can still be visited today. To view it, take a trip to Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, about three miles off of Highway 101, six miles south of Reedsport.

Cape Arago

The lighthouse at Cape Arago cannot be viewed by the public; it is behind the guarded gates of the United States Coast Guard. To view the lighthouse, a high powered camera or binoculars will do the trick. This lighthouse was first lit on November 1, 1866. It was followed by a second and third lighthouse in 1909 and 1934, respectively. Today, only the third tower remains.

Coquille River Lighthouse

Although construction on this beautifully located lighthouse first began in 1891, it wasn’t complete and fully lit until February 29, 1896, due to a number of delays in building. In 1939, the automated beacon abolished the need for a keeper at the lighthouse and the house was left empty. The lighthouse was renovated in 1976 by the US Army Corps and the Oregon State Parks after being vacant for 40 years with no care. To see the outside of this lighthouse, the inside is not available for public viewing, visit Bullards Beach State Park, north of Bandon.

Capo Blanco Lighthouse

Sitting high above on a 200 foot cliff, the Capo Blanco Lighthouse towers over the rocky cliffs below. December 20, 1870 marks the day the lighthouse was first lit. Since then it has helped warn ships and their crews of the treacherous coastline on which it sits. The lighthouse is located four miles north of Port Orford and is open to the public.

Port of Brookings Lighthouse

Only the second lighthouse in Oregon to be privately owned, the Port of Brookings Lighthouse was first lit on July 4th, 1997 with the approval of the federal government. Bill Cady had the lighthouse built in 1990 as an addition to his private home. In 1997, the entire structure was relocated to where it is today. Although a private structure, the lighthouse can be viewed from Brookings Harbor.

Barbara Pfieffer lives in Oregon and loves it. She shares her information about things to do on an Oregon vacation. Visit her website, Vacation-In-Oregon.com for more information.

Here are some tips to help protect you from theft while staying at a hotel:

Hotel security, even at expensive hotels, is not failsafe. In some hotels and motels, it’s practically nonexistent. This does not mean that you should assume the worst or become paranoid, but simply exercise common sense and take some precautions, especially if you are travelling alone.
Ideally, your hotel will have closed-circuited cameras, 24-hour security guards (in the parking garage as well as in the hotel), and peepholes in all room doors. Here are some other safety tips:

1. If an unexpected delivery or service person knocks on your door, call the desk to make sure the person is legitimate.
2. Don’t leave valuables in your room when you aren’t there; even when you’re there; don’t leave cash and jewelry sitting around on counter tops. Most hotels have safe-deposit boxes in the reception area; some have them in every room.
3. Try to get maid service to clean your room early, and then put out the do-not-disturb sign.
4. If you don’t mind a little noise, book a room close to a heavily trafficked area, like an elevator, lobby, reception desk.
5. Turn on the lights in the room when you leave. When you return, you will not have to fumble around, looking for the light switch.
6. When talking to strangers in the hotel - people you meet in the lobby, at the bar or swimming pool - be careful about giving out personal information.
7. Take along a rubber door jam. When you go to sleep at night, use it to provide absolute security from the inside.

KiyaSama is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/

which is a site for Writers.

Here it is the chance that chance of a life time you have been waiting for. Your lucky number is up and you’ve won that whole world travel trip. It’s all yours to choose and it’s all paid for. Suddenly you can put all those dreams into reality. The choice is yours. Where do you start, where will you go. Argentina to Amritsar, Bengal to Bolivia, Uruguay to Ulam Bator. Your mind is washed with the possibilities and its amazing how big the world seems when you really can go wherever you want.

Take a map or spin a globe. It is amazing how many fascinating places there are to see when the whole world travel choices are laid out before you. So how will you get to all those fascinating destinations you have always wanted to see? Maybe you will cruise for a year and a day perhaps, or have your own personal sailing boat complete with crew. What about an overland adventure by Jeep Safari or across the desert to Petra and ancient Thebes by camel train. Sailing on the ship of the desert, accompanied by black garbed nomadic tribesmen and spending your nights in the brightly coloured tents under the glow of the desert stars. Perhaps train travel is your thing and you’re the Orient Express type.

Do you yearn for fine food and white evening dress suits; enjoy mingling with the other elite guests as the luxury train speeds onwards across the continent to the great cities of Christendom and beyond? Or do you see yourself mixing with stars and the glitterati on the luxury liner the QE 2 as she glides across the oceans of the world to the choicest destinations? Forget aeroplanes: see the world from above. A flight of a different sort in a hot air balloon trip across the wastes of Antarctica to the Southern Hemisphere and Australasia, the beauty of the New Zealand islands and the white-fringed beaches and coral reefs of Polynesia.

Why settle for something that’s been done by tourists many times before. Strike out, go for the unique. Are you the adventurous type, brave enough to take on new frontiers, to boldly go where few have gone before? What if you could crew a space shuttle or space station. That’s really travelling the whole world and seeing what few have ever seen. Surrounded by stars in the silent darkness of outer space. Cutting the earthly umbilical cord and floating high above the beautiful blue green planet seeing the whole world as one shining orb.

This is the time to dig out your bucket list. Fulfill those must do, must go choices that have passed time quicker on that dreary journey or helped you through a boring task. It’s all out there for you the whole world travel destinations that you will never forget.

Once in a life time may mean just that so go experience life and enjoy.

Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about travel visit Global Travel Live for current articles and discussions.

Did you know that you’re most vulnerable to identity theft while on vacation? However, a portable lock can secure your laptop, hotel room, or car. Information that could ruin your credit can often be found in any of those locations.

When I planned a recent trip, I wanted a way to keep my laptop safe. Of course, I realize that an excellent thief could probably pick a lock, but I figure most thefts are opportunistic. A lock offers protection and makes robbing someone more difficult, if not impossible.

I researched different kinds of locks that could be used for my laptop and on my hotel room door. At night, every noise wakes me up and makes me wonder if someone is breaking into my hotel room. With a portable lock, I now have better peace of mind.

This article shares the research I did and will hopefully help you plan for safety during your next trip:

1. Laptop Lock: The one I like best offers a heavy-duty kevlar-coated steel wire that lets your secure your laptop to a table or another heavy piece of furniture.

2. Portable Door Lock: Made small — yet strong — for travel, this lock offers an easy way to secure your hotel room door. Be sure to look for one that does not require tools for installation. Before you go on your trip, practice installing the new lock and make sure you can do it. If it’s too complicated, return it and get another. You don’t want to find out you can’t do it when you’re on the road.

3. USB Lock: I’d never heard of these until I researched the above locks. A USB lock secures your USB drive from nosy people and unfriendly eyes with a password. The ones I like best let you set your own password, so you can come up with a series of numbers that’s easy to remember.

Remember to keep your valuables with you on your trip at all times and make photocopies of important papers to leave with a trusted friend at home. If your information gets stolen, it’ll help to have someone at home with copies of your important documents.

Hopefully, a travel-sized lock will bring you peace of mind so you can fully relax and enjoy your next trip.

Deborah Nelson writes about portable locks and offers ideas on staying safe at home and on the road. Visit her site to learn about USB locks, notebook locks, and more.

One of the greatest benefits of owning a luxury waterfront condominium in Virginia beach is its dual functionality as a vacation home. Virginia Beach is a premier tourist destination, generating millions in revenue during the summer tourist season. If you’re wary over your Virginia Beach luxury waterfront condominium investment, consider renting it out during the summer season if you intend to vacation yourself.

Transforming the Virginia Beach luxury condominium you own yourself into a vacation home for guests is a relatively easy task. All you need to do is pair up with a realty firm to generate interest in your condominium as a vacation home. Cover all of your bases when considering rental fees and pricing. What if they use your phone to call long distance relatives? What if something breaks? Consider the utilities they will use during their stay. Remember that this condominium also functions as your home, so don’t feel bad for upping the price for additional insurance measures.

Remove any personal objects from the condominium. Do you have photos of you and your family on your fireplace mantle? Remove them and any other notable personal objects and store them in a safe place. A person renting your home wants to feel as though they are on a vacation, not just staying at someone’s house. You don’t want your renter to wonder more about you than what they’re going to do while on vacation. Leave out items such as DVDs or CDs that you wouldn’t mind a total stranger using in your absence. Generate an inventory of anything available for public use in case something is lost, stolen, or broken.

These are just a couple tips on how to transform your Virginia Beach condominium into a vacation home. Renting your condominium can help you to generate income to help pay your rent or ownership fees while you’re away from home for the summer.

Sarah Reece writes for Ciniva Systems, an award winning Virginia web design company. Ciniva specializes in web design and SEO. Sarah Reece is an SEO Specialist with Ciniva. Ciniva Systems is in charge of SEO for Tanners Landing.

Be sure to consider all options before buying a vacation home.

This article makes it easier to understand the positives and negatives of condo hotel ownership as a possible, really-makes-sense substitute for owning either an outright vacation home or a limited use timeshare.

Vacationers generally require a clean, comfortable place to sleep and a central meeting place for friends and family. The real action and fun, however, generally takes place outside the home during vacation activities. So larger living spaces do not always equate to greater vacation ownership benefits.

Condo hotels (often referred to as a “condotel”) are usually smaller sized suites located in popular resort area such as seaside, mountain side, and desert playground communities such as Las Vegas. Some condotels are also situated in downtown and University settings. Although a condotel appears to visitors to be a typical hotel, individuals have the opportunity to purchase single suites, or even a room, within the hotel. There are both new, purpose-built Condotels and conversions.

For example, in Orlando a new Condotel could be purchased at The Blue Rose or The Palms Hotel and Villas. Both are near major theme parks and both offer comfort and convenience. The differences are price, size, hotel star rating, feel of luxury, amenities, and ongoing operating expenses. The price today will range from about $339,000 to millions in The Blue Rose, to about $139,000 to $189,000 at The Palms Hotel and Villas. The Blue Rose is under development, will be larger and more luxurious, have a five-star rating, and have much higher operating costs related to ownership. The Palms Hotel and Villas condotel is a conversion from a Hilton brand hotel, smaller in size, three-star rated, comfortable but not luxurious, and has lower operating expenses related to ownership.

In a fixed-weeks or points based timeshare, buyers purchase very limited use of a resort. Buyers of a condotel or outright vacation home own their residence outright. In both cases an owner can usually stay in it, rent it, or sell it. In some cases, however, the owners unit use may also be somewhat limited.

In condotels, in-house hotel management companies rent out the individually owned units on behalf of their owners. For this service they receive a portion of the rental income for that specific unit. Condotel owners and their renters have use of the resort’s amenities while staying there. Whether an owner can use the amenities while a renting guest is staying in their unit depends on particular condotel association rules and the condo filing documents in that state.

Owning a condotel differs from buying and managing a traditional condo or vacation home in several other respects.

Whereas typical condos are built by housing developers, condo hotels are often developed by hotel and resort companies such as The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts or Four Seasons Hotels. Condotel prices are usually substantially higher per square foot than a traditional resort condo.

The extra cost of purchase, howevr, yields some benefits. The owner has access to the in-house management company services. Management will market and rent your unit by the night or for long or short periods of time. The management company charges owners a portion of rental income (typically 40% to 60%), and handles the maintenance, room get-ready after a guest departure, grounds keeping and accounting. Management also oversees hotel amenities such as pools, sport courts, golf courses, exercise rooms, and so forth.

When buying a traditional vacation condo or single family home, an owner must hire an outside management company to market and lease the property. There may be far less flexibility in placing the vacation property in and out of a rental program. Finally, the management company may not be able to effectively market the property nationally. Hotel management companies almost always have access to Global Distribution Systems (GDS) with many important internet in-bound reservations programs from Pegasus, Sabre, and the newer Secure-Res.

Many condo hotel buyers have had past success with condotels in Florida. Florida destinations often offer high-demand tourist activities and many past buyers bought at a time when real-estate prices were appreciating. Today, appreciation appears likely in the long-term but not as rapid as the early 2000s.

A prospective condotel buyer should ask: “Does the resort area in which the hotel is located really attract tourists and result in hotel guests?”. In checking with the Orange County Visitors and Convention Bureau, the answer to this question in the Orlando area market is a big “yes”. Annual occupancy at all Orlando hotels averages over 60% and many resort properties near major attractions have even higher occupancy.

Ask the management company about the condotel’s REVpar, an acronym for REVenue Per Available Room. This dollar figure is the most widely used hospitality industry benchmark for judging a hotel’s gross revenue potential.

The bottom line is always about “the numbers”. Whether your budget enables the purchase of a five-star luxury condotel or a more modest three star property, check all the numbers and cross-verify information whenever possible

Condo hotels today account for less than 10% of all vacation homes in the U.S., according to the National Association of Realtors. But you may find that this form of vacation ownership between a single family vacation home and a resort timeshare is the overall best deal.

E. Lee Reid is a hospitality, travel and leisure, vacation real estate, and construction industry expert. He and his companies have successfully managed thousands of vacation resort condos at multiple resorts in North Carolina and Florida. In recent years he converted several hotels to condo hotels in the Disney World area of Central Florida. He is a widely quoted author and speaker. Reid holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Memphis which he completed while working in Memphis for Holiday Inns of America and its founder Kemmons Wilson. Reid will complete Cornell University’s Master of Essential Hospitality Management in 2007. This rigorous hospitality management program is offered through Cornell’s world-renowned School of Hotel Administration, the only Ivy League University devoted to hospitality education excellence. After completion, Reid becomes eligible for Cornell Hotel Society membership. Reid is also a certified General Contractor, Realtor, and Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) candidate. Visit E. Lee Reid at http://www.eleereid.com