destination Archives - Foreign policy

How to list your property on Airbnb

Published on June 3, 2021

For hosts, Airbnb provides a brilliant opportunity to earn real cash by leasing out their spare properties to travelers who come to the city and need a comfortable space to stay in for a while. As for guests, Airbnb allows them to find proper lodging in a place of destination with all the modern comforts and amenities, yet much cheaper compared to a hotel room. Perfect win-win.

So, if you have a cozy nook to rent out, you can capitalize on the accommodation needs of globe-trotters who come to explore your hometown. You just need to list your property on Airbnb and let the international community of tourists know about your existence. This is where the challenge begins.

The matter is that you are not the only entrepreneur in your town willing to make money from a short-term vacation rental business. There are hundreds, thousands, or even millions of such opportunists in your city, each wanting to beat the rivals and lure customers. To outstand against the dense competition, your property should be well-visible in Airbnb search results. We will teach you how to do so.

Register with Airbnb

Your entrepreneurial journey to the world of big bucks starts with creating an account on Airbnb. The procedure is free and intuitive. The platform even offers a convenient calculator to let you estimate how much you are going to earn on your proposal. Embellish your listing with enough details, catchy descriptions, and bright, quality photos. Do not worry – the platform will prompt you throughout the process. Remember that barren listings with scarce information do not inspire trust as surely as the lack of the owner’s photo. Fill out your host’s profile and verify your identity (the platform will require you to provide some ID document, not publicly available), provide a clear image of yourself – guests shall know whom they are going to deal with.

Tune your listing

You will not have to calculate your rate – the platform will do it automatically based on the number of rooms, offered amenities, location, seasonality, competition, and other factors. Surely, you can set your own price per night that seems to you adequate. You can adjust your rates at any time as surely as you can block certain dates from reservations. The system will give you a handy calendar to manage your bookable/non-bookable dates.

Generously describe your amenities and accommodation

Try to portray your offering in every detail – guests want to have a clear presentation of where they are going to live. Your descriptions should encourage prospects to make a booking, so provide exhaustive information. Do you have a coffee machine? Mention it. A lovely balcony overlooking wonderful cityscapes? Let your listing reflect it! Do you provide free little bounties like candies or souvenirs for your tenants? Great, put it in your description, too. Be accurate, honest, and do not include in your listing description what is not available in your home. Frustration can lead to docked stars as guest reviews have incredible power on Airbnb. Still, if your descriptions match reality, your guests should not be disappointed.

Cater to guest needs

People arriving at your place expect to feel at home, so arrange it. Internet, kitchen appliances, serving pieces, tea/coffee/sugar, toiletries and towels, main domestic machines like a stove, a fridge, a washing machine, an iron, a hair-dryer – these are the must-haves for many travelers used to everyday comfort, but you should seriously consider going above and beyond these standard provisions.

Highlight nearby attractions and important places

Your guests want to know how they can entertain in your neighborhood. So, make sure you list all the places of interest and sights in your advertisement, including parks, shopping centers, tourist attractions, restaurants, cafes, public transportation, the remoteness from the city center, etc.

Great photos stir curiosity

Nice pictures can speak louder than a long description, so post good photos of your listing on Airbnb. Showcase your home, and do not forget to add short descriptions to them. Capture the whole property, including a couple of photos of the neighborhood and street. If you are not good at photographing, you can hire a professional directly through the Airbnb platform – it is free! A photographer will receive a portion of your commission automatically once you conclude your first deal on the platform.

What can affect your reputation on Airbnb?

Your listing will be booked if only it is visible to Airbnb’s huge audience. But your listing can drop out from ranking. Lots of factors determine the appearance of your proposal in Airbnb search results, including:

Overall rating – those magic five stars…
Response rate – the quicker you reply to inquiries, the more the Airbnb platform loves you.
Reject/cancellation rate – if you often decline reservations without a good reason, your listing will fall out of favor.
Competitive pricing – surprisingly, but cheaper offers rank higher than the pricey ones.
Quality photos and detailed listing descriptions – never misleading your guests is a wise move to the peak of popularity on Airbnb.
Positive reviews – unhappy clients can ruin your Airbnb business.

In fact, Airbnb applies nearly a hundred factors to determine the position of your listing in search results. Observing all these factors is quite a rocket science, and if you fear that you will not be able to handle all the requirements of the platform, you may turn to powerful Airbnb listing management software to boost your ranking and do more business on the platform. Click here to know more. Through comprehensive automation of repetitive, daily tasks, Airbnb management tools give you peace of mind that you consistently deliver an excellent guest experience while your property remains fully managed, well cared for, and highly appealing to potential clients.

8 Important Things to Know Before Traveling to Sri Lanka

Published on November 5, 2020

Travel

If you want to have a once-in-a-lifetime vacation experience, Sri Lanka may be the best choice for you, especially if you prefer visiting distant places, and discover a lot of new things you didn’t know before. This country offers beautiful and exotic places, no matter what type of vacation you want – parties all day and all night, or having a nice and calm time with your partner or close friends. But, is there anything you need to know before traveling there? Do you need special documents, or a visa to enter the country? You can click here to inform yourself about what you need to go to Sri Lanka and check if your country has a visa regime with it.

Your personal and travel documents are the first thing you need to have with you when you go to another country. Check the validity of your passport, book the flight, and of course, the accommodation there, and also if you have your payment cards with you because you don’t want to get lost in some foreign country where you don’t know anyone.

But, once you arrive in Sri Lanka, you will see great and highly developed cities, but also some pieces of their beautiful nature, you will catch the sunny days, live together with the locals, and be a part of their culture and tradition. Also, there are just a few things you should be careful about, and you will have a great vacation there. These are just a few of them:

1. It’s more affordable compared to the popular destinations

Sri Lanka offers beautiful sandy beaches, bars, great restaurants, and everything there is exactly what you need, so you can have the time of your life. If you compare it to some similar-looking destinations, you will realize that it’s more affordable than Thailand or Maldives for example, but it still offers breathtaking landscapes and crystal clear sea.

2. People there are very friendly, but…

Locals enjoy that new tourists come every year. They are very generous and polite, but at the same time, you need to be careful and try not to fall for street scammers, especially those who are getting physically very close to you or even touch you, no matter how friendly approach they have. Also, it’s always better to take your suitcase by yourself, and not let anyone take photos with your camera. There are really nice and kind locals, who will do everything to make your stay there more comfortable, but scammers are present in almost every commercial destination, and you must be careful with them.

3. Don’t mention politics when you talk to some of the locals

Sri Lanka had a difficult past when it comes to war and politics. That was one of the reasons that stopped the country from developing fast enough, so there are still parts of it that should be developed. Locals absolutely want to talk about their job, the kids, and everyday problems, but politics is still a topic that is better to be avoided when it comes to conversation.

4. All the places around are easy to reach

Sri Lanka is not just a beautiful coastline and sandy beaches. You can also travel around the country by train or bus, and reach some of the popular natural beauties, tea fields, and breathtaking views. You can always find a way to travel around, but we recommend you to use the train because the railway passes through really beautiful spots everyone should see them at least once in a lifetime.

5. Exchange the money for their local currency

People there are using rupees, even though they are not the main currency there. Also, Sri Lanka rupees are different than Indian and Pakistani, and you will need to exchange them at the border. It’s better to use American dollars and get the rupees when you get inside the country, because of the exchange offices odder better rates. Don’t give your money to street strangers who say they want to give you a better rate – they are again, probably the same street scammers we already talked about.

6. Don’t forget to try tea

You’ve maybe heard about Ceylon tea and cinnamon. Do you know that the previous name of Sri Lanka was Ceylon? Once you arrive there, you are in the center of the most beautiful tea in the world. People there still refer to most of their home products as Ceylon, and while you are there, you can enjoy the authentic taste of their traditional tea.

7. Local food is very delicious

If you want to try special and exotic recipes and combine unusual ingredients, local cuisine is what you need. You will rarely find pizza and burgers there, so be ready to try new things, especially if you are a fan of fish and seafood. Also, be aware that most of the population is Hindu, and you won’t find beef there, and it’s even better not to ask or order anything that contains this ingredient.

8. It develops very fast

As we already said, this country has a painful past because of the civil war that ended not so long ago. Tourists still find it as a risk to travel there, but the truth is that right at this moment, there is no risk for them to choose it as their next vacation destination. Since the country is developing and getting better as time goes by, it will become more expensive, and less affordable than it’s right now – so you need to travel there the sooner you can.

Just like every popular destination, Sri Lanka was also affected by the current pandemic, and the situation with tourism is very bad right now. But, there is always hope that things will be better soon, and we will be able to travel again, and plan our next summer vacation, starting from now. This country is worth visiting, and you need to put it on your planning map right now.

How to Organise a Successful Stag Party Abroad

Published on October 29, 2020

Entertainment

Organising a Stag Party Abroad isn’t easy! Check our advice on how to begin and what to pay attention to.

The organization of a good stag party especially abroad is a complicated and tiring business for a best man. It can involve him in writing literally hundreds of mails if a group is on the large side. There is also a good chance that he will never even have met some of the group members but will still have to organize a whole stag weekend’s entertainment for them. This can be a pretty thankless task. People will express praise and gratitude of things fall into place but will roundly condemn you if they don’t. We’re here to take the stress out of the job of organizing your stag weekend abroad and allow you to party in peace.

Here is some advice:

Look Ahead

Encourage members to book their flights well in advance of the party date. There’s not a lot that’s more frustrating than negotiating a deal for a group and then having to start again because some of them left it too late and couldn’t find or afford flights and tell you this a week before you are supposed to leave.

Save time and money

Give yourself plenty of time. 2 or 3 months sounds a long time but it simply flies by. Last minute bookings can also mean that certain services are unavailable or more expensive- remember that most popular central hotels and apartments usually sell really well and fast. The same applies to most popular stag activities- they have to be booked in advance or otherwise you may find yourself in a situation where your preferred stag do activity is already taken at the requested time and date or at least convenient hours are already booked by the other groups.

Finish the formalities in time

Whether you are using a dedicated stag do company to take care of the reservations for you, or you prefer to contact all suppliers directly (which takes a lot more hassle) make sure you confirm things in advance and pay for the reserved services in time. There is nothing more frustrating for companies dealing with reservations for you, than lack of contact from the client who confirmed, but hasn’t paid the deposit or made the final payment in time, and is not answering. Delayed payments may result in cancellation of initially booked services- in the worst case you might even lose your deposit and date of the activity might not be able to be re-booked.

Also make sure you send all the requested info to a stag company in advance- meaning your preferred times of the activities, contact numbers, updates on the group size, accommodation address (if you have booked it on your own). This allows them to prepare the itinerary for your group.

Also try to keep the list of activities simple otherwise your job will become open ended. Have a word with your co-organiser or best mate, choose 2 or 3 activities or packages maximum and then send this off the rest of the group. Some best men spend weeks trying to get a common decision from people that they’ve never met just because a couple of them prefer one activity that the rest don’t like.

Keep things simple

The bigger the group size, the more difficult you as the organiser will find it to match everyone’s tastes, preferences and budgets. First agree on the most important stuff – the budget. Once done, choose your destination and secure your flight dates. Then decide whether you prefer to leave reservations to a professional company, or if you prefer to act as one dealing with all the bookings on your own. If you go for the latter, start with booking your accommodation first and then move into booking airport transfers and activities. Problems which you might encounter will often be:

foreign suppliers (bus companies, activity suppliers) might speak little English,
should something go wrong you might find it difficult to get a proper compensation (different countries- different laws)

If you opted to have your weekend organised by a pro company, this will make your life a lot easier, but it might also cost you more. A tip which might save you a lot of money is to use stag companies which are based in the destination you’re going to. Local organisers book things directly with suppliers or are direct services providers in many cases. To give you an example – let’s say you want to have a Krakow stag do. You can choose to book directly with a locally based stag company such as e.g.: PartyKrakow, or can go for big UK based brands. The UK brands use local companies to deal with the local activity suppliers. Therefore they put their margin on top of the agent’s invoice. Hitting the agent’s web directly makes the whole chain shorter, and leaves more money in your pocket. Multiply this saving by your group size and this can go into hundreds of Euros or Pounds.

Make sure you book some daytime activities.

Get the boys to do some sporting activities on your 2^nd day in the late morning or early afternoon. Thanks will freshen them up and allow to continue to party in the evening again, rather than getting silly drink and ending up sleeping at the apartment.

Stay fit

It’s a good idea to recommend all members private travel insurance. Failing this, getting an E111 or EU EHIC card is a great idea since it gives you access to the Polish health system (very good too). It can be obtained online.

Deliver the details. When applying for a quote, it’s a good idea to remember the following:
– include the number of travellers
– include the dates
– include a phone number
Once you safely arrive to the destination of your choice, advise all members to leave passports and valuables in safety at their accommodation. A lost passport means a lot of trouble and the loss of a lot of time.

10 Most Popular Destinations For Travel Bloggers

Published on July 22, 2020

Travel

You don’t have to think hard about where to spend an unforgettable vacation with your family, partner, or friends. There are many options for fantastic and often very affordable holidays in Europe and around the world. Travel bloggers claim that with a little planning you can be on your way to some unforgettable beach or some other destination that perfectly suits your taste but also your budget. It all depends on which destination and type of travel you prefer. Therefore, we present to you the 10 most popular destinations that have attracted the attention of travel bloggers. Maybe one of these places will become your next destination.

Travels That Will Change Your View Of The World

If you are a fan of unusual experiences and interesting activities, the most famous tourist destinations will not be enough to satisfy your desire. If you want to create memories that you will remember for a lifetime and experience unique ways to enjoy, you should choose a slightly different place, say, world-famous travel bloggers. In these ten destinations, you will feel like nowhere else, and the photos you take on them will explode on your social media profiles.

10 Most Popular Destinations For Travel Bloggers

1. Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora is an island of 30.5 square kilometers and is located in the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the leading tourist destinations known for its luxury apartments on the water. Many come here for their honeymoon, and everyone is talking about the coral reef that is located near it and the unique lagoon. If you visit this island, you can watch whales and dolphins, go diving or cruising, or visit the canyons of World War II.

2. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, the largest city in Portugal and its capital, was the ninth most visited destination in southern Europe in 2017, with 3.3 million visitors. This city, located on the hills around the Tahoe River, is very picturesque and is known for its world-class museums and historical monuments and castles. If you visit it, be sure to visit the Lisbon Oceanarium.

3. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, also called the Northern Venice, is one of the most visited destinations in Europe. More than five million visitors pass through it every year. With its academies, universities, research institutes, theaters, and over 40 museums – Amsterdam is the cultural center of the Netherlands. During the visit, you can also ride through its canals, which are almost 100 kilometers long – and this city is compared to Venice because of its 90 islands, which are connected by 1,200 pictorial bridges. Amsterdam is also known for its festivals and rich nightlife.

4. Queenstown, New Zealand

If you, like travel blogger Bashar Ibrahim, are fans of the Lord of the Rings by the famous director Peter Jackson – then New Zealand will be a real treat when it comes to distant destinations. This place offers you very picturesque locations where many movies have been made. You can read more about all this and get a better impression when travel bloggers share their experiences with you. Exploring New Zealand means enjoying the enchanting landscapes – and experiencing this country from north to south. Rowing, hiking, diving, here you have countless adventurous activities – and the one you should try is the adrenaline jump, bungee jump which is a must in this island country.

Queenstown is the most visited location in New Zealand and also a place that is especially popular for jumping from the Kawarau Bridge from a height of 131 meters. If adrenaline drives you – bungee jumping is just one of the activities you must try in Queenstown. You will experience the complete experience of this place if you take a ride on the Skyline Gondola, which offers a view of the most beautiful landscapes.

5. Rome, Italy

Rome, the heart of Italy, a city on seven hills, where, as is well known, all roads lead – has always been a challenge for tourists from all over the world. The modern life of the city intertwines history and architecture that is over three thousand years old. Therefore, it is unique, unrepeatable, and does not look like any other capital in the world. The history of the city was created by emperors, popes, kings, and consuls – and it was shaped by architects and great artists. Rome enchants with magnificent ancient monuments, famous castles, squares, pillars, facades, and fountains – and you can be sure that you will enjoy it as many travel bloggers did before.

6. Cappadocia, Turkey

Cappadocia is a historic place in Anatolia, Turkey. Here you can learn a lot about Turkish culture and the history of the Ottoman Empire. The most important destinations and cities in this region are the monastery of Zelve, the valley of Ihler, Gorman, and Urgup. Cappadocia is known for its fairy-tale chimneys, geological formations that were formed during erosion, and which ancient cultures used to make traps and underground cities.

7. Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

Denpasar is a city where you can find a combination of traditional beauty and modern lifestyle. It is best known for its sandy beaches. Sanur beach is perfect for sunbathing as it has waterier waters than those surrounding Serangan and which are good for surfing. Also, there is the best diving center on the planet, Atlantis International, and there are museums worth visiting.

8. Aspen, Colorado, USA

Aspen is a remote region in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. This is one of the favorite destinations of American tourists, which enables many activities in nature. There are four ski resorts in it, and this became one of the favorite places of celebrities during the 20th century.

9. Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is a city located on the hills around the River Liffey near the Dublin Mountains. One of the biggest attractions in the city is the Guinness beer factory, in whose bar you can try the drinks that are made in it – and there is also one of the most famous bars in this country, the Temple Bar. This city has a very lively nightlife and is known as the youngest city in Europe with 50 percent of the population under the age of 25.

10. Saint Lucia

This island country is one of the most beautiful Caribbean islands. It is most visited from January to April, during the dry season, and is popular because of its magnificent beaches and landscapes and tropical climate. Some of the attractions include the Piton Mountains, botanical gardens, sulfur springs, Pigeon Island National Park, and rainforests.

Conclusion

If you choose one of these destinations, try to capture your experiences in photos like a true blogger. Followers on social networks always like to see something different from the standard landscapes in brochures. Photos or video evidence is that someone has experienced what they are talking about. World statistics show that when planning a trip, travelers turn to online travel reviews and holiday videos and videos posted on social networks. So let’s go on an adventure, share our experiences, and experience life.

The Advantages of Car Hire During your Holidays

Published on June 6, 2019August 11, 2020

Cars/Travel

When the holiday season arrives, the question of whether to hire or not to hire a car arises in more minds than one. Should we use public transport in the area when traveling or do it is better to rent? Will it be cheaper for me? Will I have problems collecting the car or delivering it? Well, there are many advantages to car hire when we go on holidays, but not in any circumstance. The most important thing is to take into account what is the destination of your vacation and what alternative means of transportation to the car exists in the place. Here are a few advantages that you will experience if you go with car hire, and what to do and what not to do when you have finally decided to go for it.

You decide what, when and how

Car hire gives you total freedom over schedules, unlike the bus or organized tours. It is very frequent to visit a place and want to spend more time there but not be able to because the last bus departs within 10 min. or the organized guided tour that you are attending to does not have a flexible schedule. Having your own car allows you to decide the time you want to spend in each place and change plans last minute because of the wheather or just because there is an event or place that causes you special interest.

It is cheaper than other means of transportation

According to sprinterrentalsusa.com either if you are only visiting a city for a few days or you are going to be there for a few months, having your own car is always going to be useful. Public transport within a big city is usually very cheap, so if you’re not going to leave the city it can be profitable. On the other hand, if your route forces you to travel to other towns or cities and you will need to take buses or trains between several locations anyway, the best option is to rent a car because it will be cheaper.

Car hire is also ideal for those people who travel to other countries for months, since the transportation of their own cars would be more expensive than hiring one when they arrive. But there are also problems with long periods. Some companies try to prevent the same person from driving a car for more than a month due to the fact that they renew their fleet every year, and try to keep the accumulated mileage for each vehicle below a specific number (often agreed in advance with the brands of cars that buy them back), so as not to devalue the value of the car. So, if you are spending a long vacation in Costa del Sol -like plenty of German and British citizens who go there to spend the coldest months of the year- and you need Malaga car hire services to have a vehicle available during your stay, you have to relay companies like Marbesol, which allows car hire services up to 89 days.

The reservation and collection process are easy

Car hire is very simple: all you need is a valid driving licence, your identity card or passport and a credit card. There are different key aspects that you must take into account at the time of booking such as fuel policies, mileage, types of insurance, etc. You can book the car online prior to your arrival, but you can also wait until you get to the airport and do it at the counter of the company of your choice.

You can choose the car that suits you best

Depending on the type of trip you make, you will have to choose one type of car or another, since travelling with friends or with your partner is not the same as travelling with kids or in a large group. For example, if you are traveling with a single partner or one or two friends, a Fiat 500 Cabrio might be a good option. On the other hand, if you are travelling with the whole family, a Volkswagen Caddy may come in handy. Similarly, if you’re going to visit a nice mountain pass with don’t choose a 70 HP urban car because you probably won’t enjoy the ride. It’s better to invest a little more money and time and select a car with a stronger engine for those circumstances.

You can enjoy the views… And the drive

Not everyone enjoys the act of driving itself, but if you’re a car lover, you should consider whether the place you’re traveling to has a specific route that’s worth taking on the road. Not only because of how enjoyable the drive is going to be for you, but also because of the beautiful landscapes that your fellow travelers might see.

Get ready for your next trip

Published on March 7, 2019August 20, 2019

Travel

There is not a single person in the world that doesn’t enjoy travelling. Some prefer summer vacations, other ski trips and some just want to get familiar with different corners of this beautiful world. One may enjoy travelling alone, for others, it’s an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends while visiting charming sights.

We all have a prepared answer to the question “What city do you want to visit next?” There’s always that one city or countryside you have always wanted to visit but never got a chance, and when that time finally comes, you have to be prepared. Planning a journey can take a lot of your time, but you can make it fun and relaxing, researching all the interesting things about the city you chose to visit.

All you have to do is the plan. Some people are interested in architecture and history; they want to know everything there is to know about that particular city or region. They want to visit museum, monuments and talk with historians, walk the streets some important people had walk centuries ago, grab a meal at some restaurant while enjoying the view. Others will choose some remote place far from the city crowd, people and most of all mobile phones and the Internet. These people enjoy exploring nature, walking through remote parts of woods, swimming in some lakes surrounded by animals, hiking or just sitting in silence watching waterfalls. On the other hand, millennials want to experience the nightlife. They want to visit a city with a number of different night clubs, concerts or festival where they can meet people their own age.

Putting aside all those fun and interesting things you will experience on your vacation, there are some more practical aspects you have to be informed of. One of the most important things you have to be informed of when travelling to an unknown country is money and currency. You need as much information as you can get. What the currency rate is, where you can exchange your money for that local currency and get the best deal. Yes, you can always ask some local you bump into on the street, but if you want to check everything yourself, you can use online currency converter. This way all the information will be available to you at any time or place, and you can compare different currencies in real time. If you are planning to visit different countries and have a little time to prepare for your trip, using this converter is the best way you can stay informed all the time.

After choosing your destination, booking a place to stay and learning all those practical things you have to know about the country you’re visiting, comes the planning of the trip. Nowadays, all the information you need when planning that long-awaited vacation is available online. All you have to do is google your ideal destination, and all the information you need will be at your disposal. You can choose in advance all the historic monuments and different museums you want to visit and buy the tickets. You can find restaurants with breathtaking views where you want to take a break from sightseeing and have a delicious lunch or explore some small traditional cafés where can you taste the best coffee in the world.

No matter how old you are and what type of trips you prefer, there is always some place that is perfect for your vacation. All you have to do is chose your destination, explore it, plan the trip and you will most certainly have the time of your life.