Have New Technologies Improved Solo Business Travels?

?by: Stephane Vergnaud

In the last 10 to 20 years, advance in technology has transformed many aspects of business travel; from the way we book our hotel rooms to staying in touch with relatives left at home.

However it seems that it has not changed one aspect of it: the feeling of loneliness faced by a majority of business people while travelling and in particular, while dining and drinking in the evening at hotels.

The latest Barclaycard Business Travel Survey (www.barclaycard.co.uk) shows that, whereas 95% of businessmen and women travel solo, 45% of them have felt lonely during their business trips.

Technology has only help to reduce the time spent travelling. The survey tells us that nights way from home have decreased to 4.1 nights per month from 4.4 last year. Technology such as video-conferencing has reduced the need for face-to-face meetings. It has not made it easier staying alone in far away cities.

Women seem to be even more affected by the negative aspects of solo travel. Up to 61% of women have stated feeling uncomfortable drinking at bars on their own and 34% didnt like dining on their own.

So are business travellers doomed to feel lonely, depressed or uncomfortable when away from home? Well, there are some tips one can follow to try improve this situation:

Try to talk to people who are waiting to be seated at the restaurant. If they are alone, they’ll probably be very happy to share their table with you, and enjoy a much more relaxed evening.

Try to arrange to meet with somebody you know in town, or somebody you’ve met the same day at work or elsewhere.

Ask for a table near a people-watching window. If you eat alone, at least you can look at what is going on outside.

Go to the restaurant early. Very often, restaurants have a more romantic setting at later times, something you want to avoid if you are alone!

Finally use networking clubs to contact other people who live locally. You might then meet with them (important: always do so in a public place)

New technologies have improved the way we can plan and organise business travels. However, when it comes to it, only old-fashioned tips will make your solo journeys a superior experience.

About The Author Stephane Vergnaud is the Founder and MD of Nomad Business Club, the first business club to offer you the possibility to meet and network with other members, wherever and whenever you travel at www.nomadbusinessclub.net. admin@nomadbusinessclub.net

Home Travel Agent: Will I Be Able To Live On My Home-Based Travel Agent Salary?

?by: Tim Bruxvoort

Does travel to places like Fiji, Rome, Italy, Hong Kong, Bora Bora, Paris, London, and Australia sound like something you want to do? Would you like to stroll on secluded beaches, dine in quaint tiny restaurants, or wander around in ancient castles? If so, becoming a travel agent may be a good choice for you.

But can you really make decent money being a travel agent? Is there a future in it?

According to the United Says Department of Labor, “Industry consolidation and increasing use of the World wide web to book travel will result in a decline in the employment of travel agents. The World wide web increasingly grants people to access travel information from their personal computers, enabling them to research and plan their own trips, make their own reservations and travel arrangements, and buy their own tickets.”

So as the need for travel agents declines, so too will their salaries. And salaries of travel agents are already low. The United Says Department of Labor, states that the “Median annual earnings of travel agents were $26,630 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $20,800 and $33,580. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $16,530, while the top 10 percent earned more than $41,660.”

So if you had years worth of experience the best you would do is around $40,000 U.S. a year, which is very well prone to decline. And more likely you would only be earning $25K or less as a travel agent. That’s not a very attractive salary for most people.

So if you become a travel agent you will have the benefits of large discounts on travel, but you will not likely be making money enough to afford to travel. In fact, you will barely have enough to cover living expenses.

So does that mean you should look for another more profitable occupation?

There is a solution so you can still become a travel agent. The best way is to become a travel agent is with one of the new travel-based network marketing organizations. You become a travel agent of one of these travel companies and you get all the benefits of being a travel agent.

You still make money on travel commissions, but you also make money by helping other people become their own travel agents. This enables you to make way more than you could as an ordinary travel agent. In fact, if you do it right, you can make as much in a month as many travel agents make in a year.

With the trend moving towards people making their own travel plans, you are just helping them do what they’re going to do anyway. Everyone wins! And you get to see the world in style!

About The Author Tim Bruxvoort is the Internets Foremost Home-Based Business and Success Coach who helps people create successful and profitable lives in their own home-based businesses. You can visit his website at www.homebasedriches.com. If you’re interested in becoming a travel agent, go to www.times10travel.com for a free report. timbrux@homebasedriches.com

Hilton Head Rental

?by: Jeff Palmer

There are lots of vacation rental options available on Hilton Head Island. Villas and condos, homes and timeshares are all available in varying price ranges.Most vacation villa rentals range from $500 per week for a one bedroom accomodation up to $3000 per week for a 3 bedroom rental. Of course location and ameneties play a part in the price of these rentals. Rentals located on the ocean with private beach acesss fetch a higher price than those without. Another factor which effects the price of Hilton Head rentals is the month that reservations are made. The tourist season on Hilton Head begins in April and continues until about August. Villa rental prices during these months are at a premium. With about a million vacationers to Hilton Head each year, it’s simple to comprehend why rentals during these peak months are in such high demand.

Vacation home rentals on Hilton Head can range in price from $1000 to $8000 per week for some luxury oceanfront homes and condos. The number of bedrooms,amenities,location and season affect the rental prices of these homes.

Long and short term rentals are both readily available. Weekend vacations or rental arrangements lasting several weeks are commonly found. Most vacation rentals on Hilton Head Island include the standard amenities such as air conditioning, washer and dryerand cable television. Many villa rental choices include luxury features such as jacuzzis, indoor pools, ocean views, private beach access, tennis courts and golf facilities.

The vacation rental business on Hilton Head Island is highly competitive and many bargains can be found on the internet. To save money, try to book your reservation in the off season months.Many times a villa or vacation rental can be purchased for at least half of what’s charged during the peak tourist months.

There are a huge number of hotels to selected from on Hilton Head Island. In general, prices range from$50 per night for basic accomodations to $200 per night for some of the more upscale lodgings.

Hilton Head Island is divided into plantations or communities. The various plantations offer differingcharacteristics and amenities. Before choosing your Hilton Head vacation it may be wise to consider the differences in plantations.

On the South West end of the island is Seapines plantation. Seapines was theisland’s first developed area. Seapines is a mixture of residential and resort areas with 3 public golf courses,several tennis courts, beach, two marinas and the very popular Harbour Town shopping district.

Shipyard Plantation is ideal known for it’s beautiful beach. Shipyard is a mixture of resorts and private residences. Bicycle and walking paths wind through the plantation’s 800 acres. Several golf course call Shipyard home,including the Galleon, Brigantine and the Clipper.

Long Cove is a stricly residential area, with about 570 private homes.

Wexford Plantation is a private community of about 500 acres.

Palmetto Dunes is a mixture of resort and residential communities. Boasting over 3 miles of shoreline, Palmetto Dunes is a popluar renatl area. Shelter Cove harbour and marina is l ocated adjacent to this plantation and is host to numerous fesivals, celebrations and other island events.

Port Royal Plantation features several historical sites. The Island’s namesake Captain Willian Hilton first landed here in 1663. The Port Royal resort features a convention center, entertainment and restuarant.

Palmetto Hall Plantation, the newest of the island’s residential developments features two outstanding golf courses.

Located on the northern edge of the island is Hilton Head Plantation is home to golf course and country clubs. Miles of nature walks and bicycle trails cover the plantation which is also home to two nature preserves.

Indigo Run is a resdential plantation located in the central area of the island.

Spanish Wells is one the island’s original developments and is a private community.

Windmill Harbour is home to the South carolina Yacht Club.

About The Author Jeff Palmer is an world wide web marketing consultant and search engine optimization specialist. Currently residing in Hilton Head Island, SC., Mr. Palmer is the author of numerous ebooks and articles concerning on the web advertising and marketing. http://www.hiltonheadislander.com Info@hiltonheadislander.com

Fish Creek House - Making Montana Memories and a Dream Come True

?by: Cid and Dan Busarow

WHITEHALL Cindy Buscarow fulfilled a childhood dream when she moved to Montana last Might. Another dream was reached two weeks ago when she and her husband, Dan, opened Fish Creek House, a bed and breakfast just outside of Whitehall.

“When I was young I always told my parents I wanted to live in Montana,” stated Cindy, known as Cid. Living in New York and later California, Cid didn’t know how that would quite happen.

Dan, a partner in a personal business and gunsmith, and Cid, a bi-athlete, came to Bohart Ranch near Bozeman to compete in the running and shooting competition and fell in love with the area. The search was on for property in Montana. For Dan, he was returning to his roots. He lived in Malta until he was five.

The couple found a beautiful log home located on forty acres with gorgeous views of the mountains and a stone’s throw from Fish Creek.

The house was bought and a massive renovation started.

“We’d drive up from California each month to see how the progress was going,” stated Cid.

During one of their trips, they took a hike down to the creek and when Cid looked up at the log home nestled in the hills, the name Fish Creek Home came to her.

With the renovation complete and the licenses involved with a bed and breakfast approved, Fish Creek Home is officially open for business.

The couple looks forward to sharing their home with guests, and those with horses as well. A new barn and round pen have been built for the couple’s horses and even though they’re not offering trail rides, guests are welcome to bring their own horses and board them in the new facilities.

“We want accommodate people who arenature loving. We’ll make you feel like part of the family while you’re here,” said Cid.

One of Dan and Cid’s specialties is shooting and plan to host shooting clinics for enthusiasts.

Another specialty of Fish Creek Home will be the food. They offer a gourmet breakfast for their guests and with their own personal greenhouse, the vegetables will be organically grown on site.

The inn offers two guests suites, each with a private bath, a huge living room with a stone fireplace, a library and a sitting room, complete with a microwave and a fridge. Fish Creek Home is also a place where the active businessperson can stay in touch. They offer wireless world wide web in each of the rooms and are considered a “wifi hotspot.” The Buscarow’s have swiftly introduced themselves to the local Chamber of Commerce. They have offered their services to build a website for the Chamber and are in the process of doing so. They are also community minded business people and have used custom made Montana pieces in their guest rooms.

“The beds were made by the Amish,” said Dan. The couple also uses local artwork to adorn the rooms.

About The Author Dan and Cid are anxious to help their guests plan their ultimate vacation and can be found on the web at www.fishcreekhouse.com. They can be e-mailed at info@fishcreekhouse.com Cid has varied experiences from careers in custom software programming, marketing, farming and horticulture. Cid has also worked in business development and with her twin sister formerly owned a catering company, Sibling Revelry. An avid hunter and fisherman,husband Dan is a certified NRA teacher developing shooting programs for 4-H clubs and is a gunsmith.