As if the weather didn’t offer enough appeal, Cyprus boasts excellent nightlife and the locals are known for being incredibly welcoming which makes both going on holiday and living there an appealing prospect for many British people who are tired of the unpredictable weather and high speed lifestyle back home. Friendly and welcoming, the people of Cyprus are used to living life in a far more laid back and relaxed manner and this can really take the weight off the shoulders of those who are usually busy office workers or on their feet at work all day.

Leisure facilities are hugely popular in Cyprus thanks to the wonderful climate, and lovers of golf and water sports will be spoiled for choice when visiting the country – there are countless golf courses and the beaches are well suited for swimming as well as more intense aquatic activities. For those who just want to forget their worries and relax completely, there are spas to pamper clients or perhaps simply relaxing on the sandy beaches is enough to clear the mind of those used to tight schedules and stressful situations.

Another advantage of owning a Cyprus property is that one doesn’t really feel alienated in the country – English is widely spoken, the facilities are generally up to par with those in England, drinking water is clean and fresh.  Education needn’t be a problem as schools and universities cater to the young, and there are countless shops and bars where a British holidaymaker will feel right at home.

There are countless advantages to owning a Cyprus property – no more overpriced hotel rooms, a private space to call your own and the luxury of having a home away from home. Moving permanently is also always an option and for those looking to retire could be an ideal choice. Even in the current economic climate holidaymakers will always look out for accommodation and renting your villa out while it is not in use could be a great way to subsidise your income as well. If there is anywhere it is wise to invest in the property market right now, it’s definitely abroad.

When looking for properties in Cyprus for purchase, consider what you want carefully – do you want only a small apartment to visit one a year for a couple of weeks , or do you want a family sized home to spend whole summers in or rent out to bigger groups? These properties can even be built to the customer’s request, creating a bespoke property in the sun at prices that one would pay for an inferior property back home in the UK – smaller, in a less favourable location or simply old and not looked after, the home you would get in the UK for a similar sum would be far less impressive. Many properties on the market are brand new or only a couple of years old and so the overall condition of these homes is very impressive, often saving you a small fortune in unforeseeable repair and maintenance fees, making investing in Cyprus property a viable option even for those who may not want to invest in a new and very expensive property on the volatile British real estate market.

Without a doubt the sun and sea is what attracts many holidaymakers so there are solid profits to be made by renting properties out, too – there is nothing unusual about purchasing a property simply to rent it out later and provide more income back home. The buyer may never use the property themselves or may rent for some months of the year while keeping the property empty for their own use at other times. A villa could pay for a good portion of its price while providing the buyer with a holiday home, too. For those looking for a larger family home, there are villas with large, private pools available on the market, an option those of us living in Britain often wouldn’t find worth investing in.

The advantages of owning Cyprus property are countless, and with much more agreeable weather and lower costs of living overall, some buyers are even considering moving there permanently.

Investing in the stock market is easy, but far more dangerous when compared to the property market. Unless you are a seasoned stock broker, it is very difficult to make it big in the stock market. Property usually grows at a slower rate than the stock market, but property prices are always on the increase, and it rarely ever decreases in price. Real estate agents will often tell you that “Buy land, they aren’t making any more”. Nothing could be truer. Also stock markets are known to be quite volatile, where as property markets are known to be quite stable, and a safe alternative. Many investment funds are now investing in property to make their profits, even though there are no guarantees that the property will actually increase in value in the near future.

This is perhaps the best time to consider investing in Turkey for property, because Turkey has a vibrant economy which is all set to take off when Turkey joins the EU. Joining the EU will imply that the economy will take off in a big way with a lot of foreign investments coming in. Turkey also has a fast growing tourism industry which will enable the economy to grow faster, generating a greater demand for property, which will in turn drive up prices for property, increasing its valuation.

Turkey is also an excellent holiday destination with beautiful beaches and superb climatic conditions, far superior to most of the popular European holiday hotspots. This makes investing in Turkey all the more lucrative.

Turkish property is also priced very competitively and there are indications that the Turkish property market will appreciate considerably as flights to and from European destinations increase, along with mortgages and EU investments. However, Turkish property is not wholly reliant on foreign investment and it will continue to face growth based on internal demand as well which will see a spurt, once Turkey joins the EU.

To sum up the strongest arguments for Turkish property investment:

    * Potential for strong economic growth, leading to high returns on property. It is highly regarded by the WTO.
    * Natural beauty along with an excellent climate resulting in a popular holiday destination.
    * Turkish summers are longer with more daytime, thus having more productive hours than other European countries.
    * A large population helps to keep the economy strong, and does not make it reliant on foreign investment.
    * The population grows at approximately 2% per annum, and 70% of the population is younger than 30, which gives it a capable workforce and a strong local economy.
    * A popular tourist destination allows possibilities of buying and letting out.
    * Long summers, a healthy climate and a low cost of living make it a popular place to retire in for Europeans.

However, there are more than just the aesthetic benefits of living in a country like Cyprus because there are many financial advantages too. The island enjoys a higher standard of living than the UK yet this is still as a lower cost. This means that anyone looking into property investment in Cyprus is going to get a lot more for their money than they would get if they were to buy a second home in the UK.

Another reason why Cyprus is a popular destination for those looking into property investment is because there is so much to do there. Those who love adventure are bound to enjoy hiking or mountain biking in the Cyprus Mountains. Alternatively, there are water – sports, tennis, golf, surfing and all other activities you would expect from a popular tourist destination. With so much to do anywhere around the island this means that tourists are always going to want to go there on holiday so there will always be demand for property there. This means that any holiday home that you invest in is likely to make a substantial amount of profit when it comes to selling it on.

Cyprus is also located close to the UK and it is very easy to get there and back. With more and more competition between budget airlines you can find cheaper flights to Cyprus than you can pay for train tickets to some destinations within the UK. This means that it is very easy for yourself, friends, family or anyone renting out your property to go there. Again, this helps to add to the value of the property because people are more likely to go on holiday somewhere or buy a house somewhere if it’s cheap and easy to get there.

Another great thing about Cyprus property is the fact that it attracts such a large variety of people. You get the clubbers heading to the resorts which are designed for partying, to families and couples and friends who want a relaxing holiday. This means that again, there is likely to always be a demand for investment property in Cyprus.

The study also noticed that there has been an increase in the number of people under 40 who are getting into property investment. Traditionally the market has been dominated by retirees who want a holiday home or to move abroad after giving up work. Although they will always make up a large segment of the market, it is now no longer unusual for someone under the age of 40 to own property abroad.

The reason for the increase in the number of younger investors is because people are wising up to the benefits of property investment as they realise this is a great way of securing their future. The top five destinations are all well – known cities where people are pretty much guaranteed a return on their investment.

Buying property in up and coming holiday hot spots is a sure fire way to make a large amount of profit when it comes to property investment. Chances are that house prices are currently still reasonably priced in the area but once more and more people buy homes and holiday there, house prices are going to shoot up. This means that those who were lucky enough to get in there before the prices increased are going to make a significant amount of money out of their investment.

It is not hard to see why Europe is such a popular destination for those looking into property investment. The most popular choices such as Cyprus, Italy and Spain all enjoy warm climates throughout the year, are significantly cheaper than the UK and offer plenty to do in the form of entertainment. This is further fuelled by the fact that flights within Europe seem to be getting cheaper and cheaper as more budget airlines fight to compete with each other. This means that anyone with property abroad doesn’t have to spend an absolute fortune in air travel going back and forth.

Property investment can also make a great second income for those who don’t choose to live in the apartment, house or villa. Renting the property out is the perfect way of getting your foot on the property ladder in a foreign country. The money made from doing this may even pay off the costs of the entire property which means when it comes to selling it on the money you get for it will be entirely profit.

Most passengers never pay much attention to the safety demonstrations before their flights, but most of these unlucky travellers certainly will if they have any desire to fly again; the cabin lost pressure and all on board had to wear oxygen masks as the plane made a rapid (and undoubtedly frightening) emergency landing. The aircraft landed safely, and it was found that the problem was a huge hole in the baggage compartment of the aircraft (almost 3 meters in width). News sources say passengers were, unsurprisingly, terrified and many were ill after seeing the damage done to the aircraft outside.

Of course this isn’t a regular event, but it’s a reminder that there is always a worse scenario when it comes to air travel.

Many people who enjoy travelling eventually end up moving to a different part of the world – whether this is because they prefer the climate there, or perhaps the political system, more and more people are considering emigrating.

At the Cyprus coast in the southwestern region lies a beautiful chunk of land that is known as Paphos. According to history, Paphos was the commercial and information center of Cyprus. The local people believe that the town was built at the birthplace of the Greek legend goddess of love, Aphrodite. The old Paphos has not been entirely mixed up and disappeared with the new civilization and the city still has numerous landmarks and relics that show its ancient civilization and connections to the first beginnings of Christianity. However, 21st century civilization is also evident in the town in infrastructure like airports, roads and dams. This has been enabled by the government in conjunction with the local authority as a way to boot tourism in Paphos. There has been development of beautiful seaside villas, hotels and resorts in the town.

A majority of the residents of Paphos stay in Ktima where there are many apartments and shopping places. Most visitors and tourists stay in Kato where the hotels and resorts are many. Kato is built next to the old port and contains many entertainment spots and tourist activities like skiing.

For visitors and tourists, Paphos offers many exciting attraction sites to see. One of the major attractions is the Acropolis, an ancient landmark that is found near the town’s lighthouse. There are also the catacombs which date back centuries ago that tourists and visitors alike find attractive. At the entrance of the underground catacombs of Agia Solomon, a large pistachio tree welcomes visitors into the ancient history of Paphos. The Paphos Castle, Odeon Theater, Byzantine Museum and the District Archeological Museum are other landmarks that contribute to the exciting history of the town.

More tourist attractions include the Ayiois Neophytos monastery, church of Emba, Great Wall of Lemba, and the M/V Demetrois II wreckage.

Investors who are contemplating buying property in Paphos have good gaining opportunities because the choice to own Cyprus property offers high returns in investment. The town is a big tourist attraction site and is among the world’s cultural heritage sites that were designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). As the government steps up efforts to lure more visitors to Paphos, property value is expected to significantly rise as the demand for land to build hotels and other accommodation for tourists increases. At the moment, investors have a chance to grab this opportunity before property becomes too expensive or out of reach.
]]> http://itstravel.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/why-buy-property-in-paphos/feed/ 1 wrsblog http://itstravel.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/holidays-could-improve-with-new-findings/ http://itstravel.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/holidays-could-improve-with-new-findings/#comments Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:23:36 +0000 wrsblog http://itstravel.wordpress.com/?p=206 Continue reading →]]> As if both business travellers and those heading off on holidays didn’t have enough on their plate dealing with long waits at the airport, flight delays and cancellations, jet lag is simply another added misery that can really make or break a trip. Especially on short business trips, travellers often don’t even get a chance to recover from jetlag and are already sitting on the plane back home before their body clock adjusts to the new time zone, causing disruption to work and seemingly unavoidable stress for those affected.

But there’s good news for travellers who have grown weary of dealing with the unpleasant experience a long haul flight can bring. Recent findings seem to point to a simple way of dealing with the problem of jet lag – simply don’t eat the food offered on the flight. This is because it seems that the body has more than one clock working to manage sleep cycles. One, of course, responds to the time of day and natural light levels. The other, surprisingly, is managed by what one eats.

So by avoiding food until the last minute, preferably after you have left the plane and have retrieved your bags, perhaps even until you reach your hotel, your body will have a far easier time adjusting to the considerable time difference. This second clock was studied in mice, and seemed to override the other, keeping the animals awake until they could find food.  While this knowledge may come in handy for anyone travelling on long haul flights, there is no way to combat the problem completely.

Methods such as using sleeping tablets are discouraged these days because with the swelling of limbs associated with long haul flights these can cause serious circulation problems which could even prove deadly in the most severe cases as these pills cause an almost comatose state of sleep which means less movement, something which is vitally important before, during, and after a flight.

A few other tried and tested methods to help travellers avoid the draining and unpleasant effects of jetlag include shifting their sleeping and eating patterns at least a few days before even jetting off to their destination, but this isn’t always possible as most people have a schedule to stick to, a job and other commitments which mean that any major changes are unfortunately not possible, so this new discovery could give those who are severely affected by jet lag a new hope for reducing the discomfort associated with a swift move through different time zones instead of spending the first few days of their holiday feeling stressed and uncomfortable.

Travellers cheques are a much better option than cash when you are on your holidays because if they get lost or stolen they can easily be replaced. This means that you won’t have lost all that money that you worked so hard for. Although it will still be a bit of a downer on your trip it won’t be the end of the world and you won’t lose any money.

Travellers cheques are a much safer way of carrying money around and it won’t be the end of the world if you lose them or they get stolen.  With the majority of travellers cheques you can get free replacements for them if they get lost or stolen within 24 hours. This is much better than simply losing all of your money because this could completely ruin your holidays and you may even have to come home early.

There was a time when you could only exchange travellers cheques for cash in banks whilst on your holidays. However, as they are now being used more and more by holiday makers, most shops and restaurants accept them as a form of payment and will give you your change in cash. This means that not only can you have the peace of mind that if they get lost they can be replaced, but you also know that they are nearly as easy to use as it would be to pay in cash.

Another advantage of using travellers cheques whilst you are on your holidays is that you can get a better exchange rate from them. Travellers cheques benefit from a better exchange rate than the banknote rate for foreign currencies when you make a purchase.

With so many advantages of using travellers cheques, it would be silly to take cash with you on your holidays. Not only are they easy to use but you can get them replaced should they get lost or stolen. This means that once you have got them back you can go back to enjoying your holidays like you should be.

It’s very easy to think that you can get away with not buying travel insurance and most of the time this probably is the case. However, it simply isn’t worth it if something does go wrong because you can be left with a bill for thousands of pounds and in some countries you won’t even get medical aid without any insurance.

You may not even get a chance to get on the aeroplane before you find yourself needing your travel insurance. Sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances flights can get cancelled. This means that you lose money on your accommodation, car rental and chances are you are going to need to stay in a hotel until you can get on another flight. This doesn’t just make a bad start to your holiday because it is very frustrating, but you also stand to lose a lot of money. Whereas it won’t make up for lost time at least you know if you have travel insurance that you can claim back the money you lost which is a bit of compensation.

People tend to be a lot more relaxed on holiday and do things that they normally wouldn’t do. For example, water sports are very common on holiday but it is unlikely that you would do something like that at home. This means that the chances of you getting injured are a lot higher and if you need to go to hospital for any reason you can be left with a large bill if you haven’t got travel insurance.

You can find some great deals for travel insurance nowadays because there are so many different companies competing against each other for customers. This means that you don’t have to spend an absolute fortune on it so even if you don’t end up using it it’s not a major loss. Unfortunately there are lots of things that can go wrong while you are away on holiday or are travelling. It is definitely worth paying a little extra money for the security of knowing that you will be covered if something does happen.