WORLD'S WEIRDEST DRIVING REGULATIONS

If you thought the idea of driving on the other side of the road in a different country was scary you might want to consider some of these weird regulations from around the world first before you set off!

- If you have to wear glasses to drive you must carry a spare pair with you (Spain)
- Headlights are to be kept on at all times including the day in built in areas (Italy)
- No drinking inside your car whilst driving (Cyprus)
- Driving a dirty car is against the law (Romania & Russia)
- Before you set off you must check for people under your car! (Denmark)
- Pedestrians have right of way and some will expect you to stop! (Switzerland)
- Women are not to wear dressing gowns when driving (California)
- Cars must be parked on the side of the road where the houses have uneven numbers on uneven days of the month and vice versa (Several cities in Spain)
- No horn honking (Viena)

These are just some of the regulations you need to look out for. Avis have recently published a series of driving guides targeted at the British public holidaying abroad that you can download from their website. So might be worth a look to swot up a bit before you decide on that car hire.

FIND YOUR PERFECT AIRCRAFT, BASE & PRODUCTS

Aeroplanes are not always used to take you on your holidays and business trips. In fact a lot of people like to fly as a hobby or to run their own businesses.

You always see a lot of classified advertisements for road vehicles in newspapers and websites so it was only right to have a site on aeroplanes and helicopters for sale too.

There is a website (see link above) where you can advertise and search for aircraft, aircraft parts and even residential, commercial vacation homes, bare land and other property types that have been designed especially for air crafts to land and take off.

You can find air crafts for specific purposes such as acrobatic, light sports, agricultural or maybe you are a collector of aeroplanes and helicopters and are looking for an antique or classic vehicle for show?

As well as the listings you can also check out aircraft value trends, calculate the value of your own aircraft, see what the aviation weather is currently like or search for companies who supply air crafts and their parts.

It's a great site for owners new, current and retired to browse through and register with to keep up with the latest news and use the online features like the Performance Database.

BEST KEPT SECRET AWARDS 2011 - Vote For Your Favourite Hotel

It's nearly time for Laterooms.com The Best Kept Secrets Awards 2011. And with just 2 more days to go before nominations close they still need your help in selecting the best hotels in the Britain for these categories:

- Best breakfast
- Comfiest bed
- Best view
- Best Eco-credentials
- Best gardens
- Best spa
- Best services
- Best for dining
- Best for dining
- Best interiors

Perhaps you know of a little gem yourself that you go to time after time that is not really a well known place to others? Its not all about the 5 star hotels here its about recognising hotels that give that something extra special most of the time unnoticed. So its up to you to put them in the spotlight!
And for your efforts in voting you will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a one night stay for two including breakfast at the luxury Kilham Hall, Driffield (above).

You need to be fast though as the nominations close on 21st August, 2011. The results and prize winners will be announced early September, 2011.

You can cast your vote from here: bestkeptsecretawards.com

HISTORIC POST OFFICE TRANSFORMED INTO A HOME

Before

This beautiful building known as Fishergate Post Office based in York, United Kingdom was specifically built for the said purpose back in the 1930's. Then about 70 years later sadly it was closed down in 2004. But the owners were not going to let the building stand empty and deteriorate so decided to retire and make it into an actual home they could live in.
This is how everything looked from behind the counter. The ceiling has some original plasterwork on it which you can briefly see here and has been kept intact. A lot of the customers were shocked to find out it had always been a part of the building but of course you never generally look up do you!?

After

Imagine the counter being where the the dining table is situated.

Owners Michael and Susanne Breene.

The original arched windows were also kept in place.

The oak door is the original one that customers used to enter. Before the remodel a wall was just in front of the door and you would have turned left to go into the shop. The hallway here is a recent addition.

This was the corridor that separated the post office from the other rooms in the building. Again the original oak doors have remained. The corridor led to offices including a telegraph room with eight wires coming into the telephone exchange.

Its lovely isn't it how old parts of the building were able to be made of part of the home to keep the memories alive? And it's great it didn't turn into an eyesore and knocked down like many old buildings and landmarks these days.

WHEN SEARCHING FOR YOUR HOME BECAME EASIER

In the olden days (well my olden days!) if we wanted to buy a home we would have to drive around in the hope that we might see a For Sale board outside the house or flat we wanted. That or phone around numerous real estate agents.

Although some of us still may use that method thank goodness for the invention of the Internet! Many if not all real estate agents will have their own website that we can browse around ourselves and find out who the best ones are. And more importantly search for homes that you're looking for in a particular area with pictures of the rooms and gardens.

So you could be looking for a Broomfield Real Estate agent or Boulder real estate homes say and your search would be far less complicated and hassle free. I remember when I was looking for our house (many many years ago!) and we spotted an ideal home in the perfect location. I was so excited - until we got inside that is. Everything was really old fashioned and falling apart and could have done with a few thousand spending on it refurbishing it. That kinda cash is not something you have really as a first time buyer is it? I wish that I had had the ability to look at inside pictures back then as it wouldn't have got my hopes up and wasted my time!

Its the same with the people who are looking to sell their home. I bet quite a few have had a lot of irrelevant people not looking for their type of home from the lack of information provided.

Do you remember when you first bought your home before the days of the Internet? Or were you one of the lucky ones that had the convenience of being able to browse at your own leisure online?

THE WONDER OF COSTA RICA

When you think of luxury destinations its usually ones like the Caribbean or the Bahamas that spring to mind. But sometimes even the smallest countries are just as good in what they offer - if not more.

Like Costa Rica in Central America for instance. This is beautiful countryside destination with its stunning surroundings, vast amount of wildlife, an array of flowers and Costa Rica beaches are just a few of the things that will draw you in to say the least.

It's a perfect retreat for couples, families or even singletons looking for a peaceful relaxing retreat. And a fisherman's dream too I might add with Professionally outfitted charter boats ready to tour you across the scenic coastline full of Snapper, Tuna, Marlin, Snook and more.

You can take to time to explore historic caves, see what a volcano looks like, dip in the hot springs and take a stroll in the cloud forests and butterfly gardens. For the more adventurous you can always try out scuba diving in warm waters, river rafting, kayaking or have a go at horseback riding.

Food is a speciality here too with chicken, beef and fish Caribbean and International dishes freshly prepared by local chefs. So already it makes a refreshing change from the usual processed drive by foods you get in a lot of countries.

It all sounds so intriguing doesn't it? I can see myself wondering around here in fascination all day. And those are the best type of breaks.

Specialist travel Provider Costa Rica Sunsets can arrange all this for you at fantastic year round discounted prices.

ARIZONA'S UPCOMING PREMIER ENTERTAINMENT RESORT

Who needs the Las Vegas strip when you can just go to Arizona Hotels Near Mexico at a Tuscan premier resort and get it all in one location?

A new place based in Arizona will be opening up in the next few months and it's set to attract a vast amount of tourists, holiday makers, honey mooners, business trippers and maybe even a few of the locals too!

The resort offers all the luxuries anyone could ask for and being brand one all the rooms, furnishings and facilities will be at their best.
You can try your luck at the slot machines, table games, bingo and poker then take a refreshing break in one of the several bars and restaurants including a Tequila Factory offering 120 flavours and a fine dining steakhouse.

There is also entertainment rooms with live music and various spa packages to choose from too.

It all sounds great doesn't it? Not somewhere you would ever get bored anyway. But if you do fancy a change of scenery in the surrounding area you can golf at one of the world class courses, get a taste of the past with the wild west at Old Tuscan studios or just take in the sights of the Sonoran Desert on a hiking adventure.

Just can click on the link above to find out more.

THRIVING TOWNS FLOODED TO MAKE WAY FOR RESERVOIR

The Quabbin reservoir in Massachusetts, USA once housed four towns until they were flooded out to the bottom of the water to make way for this new system.

The plans for this came onto place because in the 1920's residents of Boston didn't have their own water supply for them to be able to grow stock. It was seen that the shape of the valley would make a perfect place to build a reservoir so the towns were bought out and two thousand residents were forced to evacuate after an order was made in 1939 for the flood to take place.

An old road sited at Gate 52 disapears into the water

The towns known as Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, Prescott, and parts of New Salem were torn up, trees pulled down and buildings demolished or relocated with only several disused remains left behind that are there today. Many bodies were dug up from cemeteries too with the exception of some Native Americans and moved to other locations. The rest of the structures were lost underwater when the land was filled in 1946.

A couple of the remains left behind - A chimney breast, cellar hole and cemetery vault

Some of the intriguing remains that were left behind are roads that lead into the water area, cellar holes and other parts of buildings to remind us of the towns that once were. You can still see the peaks of the mountains and hill tops that once stood proudly in the area -now giving us a beautiful interesting view of nature.

A diver explores the underwater remains

FIVE CITIES FOR FOOD LOVERS

Five Cities for Food Lovers

When people think of great holiday spots and authentic foods, few would automatically think of such cities as Tenerife, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Stockholm or Budapest. Yet each of these notable cities has their own culinary charms to offer adventurous food lovers.

Affordable flights to Tenerife can take travellers to sunny sites where they can sample fresh-caught seafood such as crab, lobster, and octopus, and delectable tropical fruits like mangoes, papayas, and guava. Why venture half-way around the world to the Caribbean, when flights to Tenerife can offer sunny beaches and authentic island cuisine? It’s the perfect solution for a completely new experience.

Lisbon, in Portugal, is also a fantastic place for seafood and coastal fare. Even sting ray has its special place on the menu. From the traditional cozido (a beef, pork, and sausage stew with vegetables) to its special port wine, the flavours and earthy regionalism of Lisbon’s dishes continue to please. Surprisingly, it’s also where tempura comes from – it was actually brought to Japan by missionaries from Portugal.

Another often overlooked food-happy destination is Amsterdam. Flights to Amsterdam can be had at excellent rates, and the sheer variety of its offerings gratifies gourmands and foodies alike. The variety of its cheeses and delightfully sweet stroopwafels can accompany any typically hearty meal, such as draadjesvlees (slow-braised beef) or rookwurst (smoked sausage). Whether it’s street food or fine dining at an elegant restaurant, Amsterdam has much to commend it.

Stockholm sneaks up behind you with its regional variety. Famous Swedish meatballs share the table alongside gravlax and fishballs, as well as unique game dishes such as stewed reindeer. A wide variety of breads is also a national feature, while fruit soups (which may be served hot or cold) add to the smörgåsbord. The Swedish table is one at which you’re sure to feel right at home.

While not one of the usual suspects, Budapest also has much to offer the intrepid traveller. With seasoning techniques that go back hundreds of years, Hungarians relish strong, rich flavours and delicate desserts. Goulash, as it is typically known, is a far cry from the complex mix of stuffed meats and vegetables that can be found in Budapest. The wide variety of spices they use also adds depth to their dishes.

So the next time you’re planning a holiday with food in mind, consider these five diverse options. Not only will you be able to travel off the culinary beaten path and avoid the popular cuisine-influenced clichés of the majority, but the discoveries you make will enrich both your taste buds and your gourmet credibility.

This is a guest post by Sergio Santos, a travel writer that has reviewed many destinations around the world.