Advertise Your Holiday Home on Ryanair.com

Ryanair, the world’s favourite airline, today (12th Jan) announced a new partnership with Perfect Getaways, the leading holiday home search engine, which will offer self-catering accommodation including villas, cottages, gites, apartments and holiday homes on the Ryanair Rentals page of the Ryanair.com website from 1st February. Ryanair Rentals provides a unique opportunity for holiday homeowners to advertise their properties to Ryanair’s 73million passengers p.a.

Ryanair Rentals is accepting listings from property owners who are keen to maximise the visibility and rental of their foreign property. There are no joining or annual subscription fees and for a limited time only, homeowners can register at www.ryanairrentals.com to take advantage of a special pre-launch offer of just €3.10 per enquiry (signup before 5th Feb - €4.40 after).

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara, said:

‘We are delighted to announce our new partnership with Perfect Getaways. Ryanair passengers already enjoy the guaranteed lowest fares and from February 1st next passengers will be able to access the guaranteed cheapest holiday homes on the web from www.ryanair.com . As a special introductory offer, home owners can advertise their properties to over 73m Ryanair passengers this year from just €3.10 per enquiry, making Ryanair Rentals the most cost-effective advertising site available.’

Perfect Getaways’ David Palmer, said:

‘Over the last few years, Perfect Getaways has become renowned for its high customer service. We went out to the holiday homeowner community and established that owners wanted large volumes of enquiries without paying archaic annual subscriptions with no guarantee of success. We sought the very best-in-class partnerships to deliver a unique offering for holiday homeowners. Ryanair gives owners access to over 73 million passengers looking to purchase holiday accommodation in the area they are flying to.’

I have just finished a thoroughly entertaining book by Jeff Jarvis called ‘What Would Google Do?’ and would recommend this to any holiday homeowner (or any web publisher for that fact) looking to improve their online offering to customers.

The book looks at the way Google, and other like-minded companies, have turned the traditional way of doing business on its head to excel in online marketing. It then goes on to look at various different industries and implements the lessons learnt from Google to show how Google would transform any business sector. Any holiday homeowner that uses their property as an investment or relies on rental income would benefit massively by reading this book and discovering what Google would do when renting out a holiday home.

Holiday homeowners need to constantly be looking for new and unique ways to keep ahead of their neighbours and competitors. This book will show you how to communicate with your customers and be totally transparent in everything you do. Anybody renting out a holiday home is an owner of their own small business and should treat their business as that. I’m not saying that Jeff Jarviss will rent all of your weeks for you, but if you implement some strategies that brings in just one booking, it will be time and money well spent.

I bought the book in Orlando International Airport, Florida, and didn’t put it down for the whole flight back to Manchester. For someone who still gets nervous flying that made it worth the money alone.

The author Jeff Jarvis blogs about news and media through his website buzzmachine.com. Although based in the US, he writes a new media column for the guardian in the UK (I was at their head office yesterday) and is host of its Media Talk USA podcast.

Hello Magazine has reported that famous pop star Beyonce is holidaying in the beautiful city of Dubrovnik in Croatia. She was spotted on the wonderful coastline trying out a ‘banana boat cruise’, which is an inflatable raft pulled along by a speed boat. When the fun was over she joined her husband - ‘Jay Z’ on their rented yacht ‘Va Bene’. She showed off her world famous curves sunbathing on the deck! Beyonce has performed in Zagreb last year and promised herself a holiday in this area after hearing how beautiful it was. They touched down in a private jet at the weekend and have spent their time wandering the streets. They are planning on visiting the islands of Mljet, Hvar and Kornati. Pictures of Beyonce holidaying have been a big hit in the Croatian press.

Croatia is one of Europe’s most beautiful and unspoilt areas offering an amazing range of scenery and landscapes. Located in Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia, Croatia has 6 UNESCO world heritage sites and over 100 blue flag beaches. There is a wonderful history which includes Greek, Roman, French and Venetian which makes the country not only immensely beautiful but interesting too.

You might spot a famous face yourself, either on a yacht gliding up the coast or discreetly trying to buy one of the 1185 islands.

We have some beautiful holiday accommodation in Croatia, all direct from the owner, saving you money! For more information, take a look here!

This year Perfect Getaways will have a stand at ‘A Place in the Sun‘ exhibition on the 2nd October until the 4th October at the NEC in Birmingham. This is very exciting for us and we are hoping to meet lots of our members there as well as promote the Perfect Getaways brand.

We will be giving away free holiday home weeks and on the spot prizes for the full 3 days, so come along and say hello - you might get lucky!!

As the exhibition concentrates on selling overseas property we are hoping to promote our properties as somewhere for the prospective new owners to stay and really get a feel of what it is like to have their own property abroad, whilst looking for their perfect holiday home.

This is the first exhibition that we are attending and so it is all very exciting. We are busy researching the internet for ways of making our stand the best! Any ideas will be gratefully received.

The main stage will be at the heart of the exhibition and will feature interviews with the stars of the show - Amanda Lamb, Jasmine Harman and Jonnie Irwin.  You will be able to meet them and ask them any questions throughout the full three days. You will also be able to attend the Emigration Show and the Fractional Ownership and Investment Seminar Theatre.

So we really hope to see you there - some along and see us - we are on stand P134 which is directly to the right, on entering the main arena. We look forward to meeting you.

The Team at Perfect Getaways

When our web designer Dan informed us that a new movie was being released we were very excited here at Perfect Getaways Towers to hear that it was called - A Perfect Getaway. Already released in the US and starring Chris Hemsworth, Millo Jovovich, Kiele Sanchez and Timothy Olyphant and Steve Zhan and directed by David Twohy is actually a thriller shot in Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

It will be released in the UK on the 12th August and tells the tale of a honeymooning couple caught up in a plot of intrigue and murder all shot in spectacular surroundings. Not to give too much away but apparently there is an amazing twist about a third of the way through the film, which one reviewer said he never saw coming.  After this the movie becomes a fabulous action movie and thoroughly enjoyable! I for one might drag my other half along to see the film, although I will be taking a cushion to hide behind!!

Here’s hoping that you can find your own little Perfect Getaway which will be a little less stressful. We have some amazing new homes for rental direct from the owner, like this one in Protaras, Cyprus which looks the ideal place to relax and recharge those batteries. For something a little closer to home, we have this beautiful cottage located in Snowdonia, North Wales which is the ideal summer or winter retreat!

Perfect Getaways offers a variety of homes worldwide. Take a look at the website to find your ideal holiday home.

Turkey

Famous for its pretty coves and shores, gorgeous green hills and blue sea. This is a holiday maker’s dream. There is a fascinating history, vibrant markets where there is always a bargain to be had, providing you are happy to haggle with the locals (they love it!) There is so much to explore, with great value dining, a lively nightlife and great days out.

Welcome to a land filled with Turkish delight!

Weather

There are considerable differences in climate within Turkey. The coastlands and mountain slopes facing the Black Sea on the north, the Aegean on the west and the Mediterranean on the south all have wetter and milder winters than the interior, which can be extremely cold in the winter. However the summers are very hot with excellent sunshine levels making it an ideal place for a perfect getaway summer holiday!

Average temperatures in degrees celcius

January 13
February 13
March 16
April 19
May 24
June 29
July 32
August 32
September 28
October 23
November 18
December 15

Culture

The rich history in Turkey produces culture which is an immense mixture. It is diverse combining elements derived from Ottoman, European and Middle Easter traditions.

There are also 2 calendars in Turkey – the official one being exactly the same as the ones used elsewhere around the world. This is called the Gregorian. However, religious festivals follow the Hijri calendar – a lunar calendar which is offset from the Gregorian calendar by 11 days every year. This can obviously mean that shops, museums etc are closed on different days throughout the year.

Food and Drink
It is said that travelers in Turkey, “come for the history but stay for the food”. Make sure you carry home a Turkish food item like a Turkish Delight as a souvenir from Turkey. Here are some of their popular dishes:

Kebab – the popular varieties of kebabs are sis and doner. Sis kebabs are grilled pieces of skewered meat. Doner kebabs are made by stacking alternate layers of ground meat and sliced leg of lamb and grilling them over slow fire

Kofte - is ground meat mixed with spices, eggs and onions, shaped into balls and then fried or boiled.

Meze – starters are food served with alcohol. They range from feta cheese served with dread to cold vegetable dishes.

Turkish Delight – Sold in abundance and very cheaply around Turkey – try it, its gorgeous and there are many varieties.

A popular drink in Turkey is ‘Turkish Tea’ which is served in special cups has a very important place in daily life.

Beaches

Turkey is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the south, The Black Sea on the north and the Aegean Sea in the west. There really are some breathtakingly beautiful beaches. These tend to be underrated but with the beach activities available and the pure beauty, they really do give beaches all over the world a run for their money!

Shopping

You can’t go to Turkey and not go shopping – it truly is entertaining. There is a wide range of beautiful and unique crafts there. Amongst the best buys are:

Turkish carpets
Gold or silver jewellery with or without stones
Leather goods
Traditional hand painted ceramics
Also don’t forget all the of the famous markets and don’t forget to haggle – they love it!!

Things to do in Turkey

Paraglide over the dead sea
Scuba dive in Antalya
Rafting in the River Coruh
Yachting in the blue coastal line
Hot air ballooning in Cappadoccia
Mountaineering in Mount Ararat
Play golf on one of the many courses
Explore caves and ski on the mountains
Visit hot spings and spas
Enjoy the many National Parks
Travel the green plateous of Turkey!

Cyprus

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and attracts nearly 2.5 million tourists a year. It is a popular destination for Britons and was a Brittish colony up until 1960, when it gained independence from the UK. The following year it became officially known as The Republic of Cyprus.

In 1974 it was invaded by Turkey who took control of about 1/3 of the island in the North. To this day the north of the island is under military control of the Turks and the country is effectively seperated by a ‘Green Line’ border that cuts through the capital, Nicosia, the only remaining divided capital in the Europe.

Cyprus has a steep history. Legend has it that the goddess of love, Aphrodite, rose out the waters.

Weather

Cyprus has over 300 days of sunshine a year. The hot Mediterranean climate peaks in the summer months with long hot days and warm nights.

Average temperatures in degrees celcius

January 13.6
February 16.0
March 18.4
April 22.8
May 27.2
June 30.5
July 33.3
August 33.6
September 30.8
October 27.3
November 22.9
December 19.2

Culture

The religion in Cyprus is split. Northerners are mostly Sunni Muslim where Southerners are Greek Orthodox. Cypriots are very proud of their 9000 year old cultural heritage, but they do tend to be more concerned by events of the last 20 years!

With a history so long, Cyprus is remarkably rich in culture and nine of the Islands Byzantine mountain churhces and the entire town of Kata Pafos have been honoured by UNESCO in its World Cultural Heritage List. No matter which town or village that you visit, you are reminded of a strong Cyprus tradition that is kept alive from generation to generation through many events which are celebrated. The biggest event which takes place is in Larnaka which involves a joyful procession to the sea where people sprinkle each other with water. No one is sure whether this is in memory of Noah’s survival of the flood, the coming ashore of resurrected St. Lazarus or a celebration of the birth of Aphrodite, but no one can argue that this is not a spirited and uniquely Cypriot Festival.

Food and Drink

The north/south divide is also reflected in the food, with cuisine in the north being typically Turkish and in the republic, Greek. These are however, some of the popular dishes from all over Cyprus:

Kleftiko – Oven baked lamb

Mezedes – Dips, salads and other appetizers (there can be 20-30 dishes included)

Fruit – Cyprus is famous for its fruit (the government bans imported products) which include strawberries, stone fruit, melons, prickly pear, citrus and grapes.

Drinks include:

Brandy Sour – made with Cyprus and brandy and local lemon juice

Greek Coffee – always served with a glass of cold water.

Beaches

The beaches in Cyprus are beautiful with many having white sand and lovely blue sea. You could even find a secluded strech of sand that you can have all to yourself. Water sports are very popular and you won’t be far from a water sports centre where you can have a go at snorkelling, water ski-ing, and many more!

Shopping

There are plenty of shops in Cyprus and if you take a visit to the capital Nicosia, there are are British chain stores such as Woolworths and Marks & Spencer.

Some of the things to look out for are:

Handicrafts (ceramics, basketry, weaving, wood carving, silver and copper products.

Although there is rather less on offer in the North, the visitors can find extensive range of consumer goods and services available here.

Many of the popular imported brand names are readily available and can be found in local supermarkets.

Things to do in Cyprus

Visit the Tombs of the Kings in Paphos

Visit the 10 UNESCO listed Byzantine churches in Troodos mountains - most famous is Agios Nikolas tis Stegis at Kakopetria

Go to Famagusta Gate - Nicosia. One of 3 restored gates of entry through the ancient city walls built by the Venetians

Take a trip to the ghost town of Varosha, Famagusta which was invaded in August 1974, and to this day stands empty with cars still standing in car salesrooms, washing left hanging on the line and breakfast pots still laid on the table.

Swim around Aphrodite’s Rock - between Paphos and Limassol

Attend the summer opera held at Paphos mediaeval fort

Take a boat trip along the Akamas peninsula

Get high! - Visit Mount Olympus at the top of the Troodos mountain: You can’t get to the summit as it is an army restricted zone but the views from just below it are spectacular

Visit the Baths of Aphrodite on the Akamas peninsula

Beaches at Ayia Napa and Protaras - wonderful sandy beaches

France

The beauty of France is its fantastic diversity. France has incredible cities, mountains, coastlines and rural areas. With the golden sands of the Cote d’Azure, the bustle of Paris, skiing in the French Alps and the underground cellars of Champagne, France certainly does have something for everyone.

All of its regions are completely distinctive attracting an amazing 70 million visitors a year – 10 million more than its own population.

We have a fantastic selection of quality apartments and villas in the beautiful French Riviera and throughout the whole of France.

Weather

France has mild winters (apart from in mountain areas). Summers are hot – aprticularly in the South. Brittany and Normandy which are seaboard areas have a high degree of rain in the autumn and winter.

Average temperatures in degrees celcius

January 12
February 13
March 15
April 18
May 20
June 23
July 27
August 28
September 25
October 20
November 15
December 13

Culture

The culture in France is rich and diverse and is known for its art, architecture, music, language and of course fashion.

The population of France has very diverse origins, contributing to the development of a cosmopolitan culture. The people are known for their sophisticated approach towards life, combined with great concern for style and fashion. Today, France contributes greatly to the fashion culture of the world.

The religion in France is predominantly Roman Catholic.

France is renowned for its artists, painters, authors and musicians, starting with the cave paintings of Altamira. In the medieval period, France emerged as an important centre of art and architecture in the world.

Famous artists include Edgar Degas, Francis Picabia, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet. The spanish painter Pablo Picasso settled in France in 1904 contibuted to the progress of art in France. The famous museums in France are The Louvre, Osray Myseum and Picasso museum which all have amazing collections.

The well know Victor Hugo who wrote Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame were also from France.

Food and Drink

France is known for its varieties of food and wine. The cuisine is considered one of the most elegant and refined cuisines in the world. Here are some of its popular foods:

Cheese - France produces over 400 varieties of cheese

Escargot – snails which can be served with butter, garlic, parsley and spices

Foie Gras – the liver of a duck or goose.
Boeuf Bourguignon – very much like a beef stew
Tournedos Rossini – fillet of beef served with foie gras with port, brandy and madeira
France is also known for its many wines (being one of the oldest wine producers in Europe). Other well known drinks are French brandy (cognac, armagnac, calvados) and of course champagne!

Where to go and when
France is a great place to visit on holiday. There are plenty of café’s restaurants, bars, museums and other touristy places!

If you are a skier you will love to go to the mountains between November and May, the Pyrenees mountain is less crowded and expensive than other resorts in winter season. And between May and October you can go to the Mediterranean beaches of France, they are more crowded on July and August, but you will enjoy it, Cannes and Nice have France’s best beaches, they are all surrounded by cafés and restaurants that complete a beautiful sunny day, and don’t forget to visit the Corsica Island the best place to practice water sports. Sandy beaches, water sports, excellent food and reasonable prices are a good option to have the best relaxing vacations.

There are also museums like the Louvre of Paris, open all the year, and other monuments like churches, cathedrals, châteaux, France is an architectural country and you will find a lot to see across all the country, surely a good destination to visit.

Florida

Florida, often referred to as The Sunshine State, is positioned on the South East coast of America bordering Georgia and Alabama. The state is tourist driven and has everything from the large theme parks, recognised to be the biggest and best in the world to the solitude and wilderness of the Everglades, and some of the best beaches in the world.

Many visitors to Florida end up staying or coming back for a second visit quickly. Disney World is the greatest attraction in Florida but there is much more…

Weather

Florida is renowned for it sunshine and long, hot summers. During the winter months it mostly remains warm making it an ideal all-year destination.

Average temperatures in Orland degrees fahrenheit

January 61.2
February 60.9
March 66.5
April 72.7
May 77.7
June 81.1
July 82.8
August 82.6
September 81.0
October 75.3
November 67.0
December 62.3

Travelling around Florida

Most visitors will Fly/Drive as Florida is very compact and easy to navigate by car. Travelling from the East/West coast is only a couple of hours and the interstate, federal and state highways make getting around quite simple. With so much to do and so many places to see, first-time visitors will want to get out and about.

Public transport does link most major towns and cities but prior planning is essential.

Theme Parks

Think about Florida and you think about Theme Parks. It is without doubt the unrivalled Theme Park capital of the world. Tourists flock inland to Orlando and Kissimmee to witness the magical experience of Walt Disney World, with it’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and MGM Studios, as well as Universal Studios and Sea World. It is simply known across the world as the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ for young and old alike.

Beaches

Florida has over 1,200 miles of coastline with some of the finest, pristine, white beaches in the world. It doesn’t matter where you are in Florida, you are never far away form a beach. You are never more than 60 miles away wherever you are and there are beaches for every preference.

Top things to do

1. Visit The Everglades – Everglades National Park consists of over 1.5 Million acres of swamps and jungle. It houses many endangered species and rare sightings that you could not see anywhere else in the United States.
2. Walt Disney World – Of all the quality Theme Parks in Florida (and these are sprouting up all the time) Disney World is still the biggest draw. The site covers nearly 45 square miles and consists of four theme parks: The Magic Kingdom; The Epcot Centre; The Animal Kingdom and Disney-MGM Studios. There is enough here to fill a two week vacation on its own.
3. Get Golfing – Florida has more golf courses than any other state in the US with over 1,000 golf courses. There are many municipal courses which are to exceptionally high standards and provide much more competitive pricing than the privately owned clubs.
4. Kennedy Space Centre – Cape Canaveral is famous as the location that sent Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the moon in July 1969. You don’t have to be a scientist to be encaptulated into becoming an Astronaught Wannabe for the day. Start the countdown.
5. Busch Gardens – Visit Tampa Bay to taste a piece of Africa. Here you will find a 335 acre African theme park with great rides, live shows and exotic terrain.
6. Daytona Beach – This is one of the very few places in the world where you can drive a family saloon onto the beach. It is also the home to the Daytona 500, the great American race. During the Biketoberfest and Bikeweek motorcycle events, the town is busy with thousands of motorbikers.
7. Fishing – Whether it is sea fishing, fly fishing or fresh water fishing, Florida has it all with some of the best catches across the US.
8. Water Parks – If you want to get wet and wild, and cool down from the hot summer sun, a day out at one of Florida’s water parks is a must. You won’t be disappointed – you’ll get the thrills and chills of all the theme parks but in water.

Portugal
Portugal has superb beach resorts, wistful towns and a landscape wreathed in olive groves, vineyards and wheat fields. It is also graced by one of Europe’s most relaxed and attractive capitals.
Positioned on the Atlantic side of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal is a great historic country of immense diversity. From the culture and prosperity of Lisbon, through the beautiful wine regions and the Sun, sea and sand of the Algarve. Modern marinas and spectacular golf courses mean that there are plenty of activities.

Weather

Southern Portugal including the Algarve, has a Mediterranean cimate with hot, dry summers and mild winters whilst the north is wetter particularly in winter with cooler temperatures.

Average temperatures in degrees celcius

January 15
February 16
March 18
April 20
May 22
June 26
July 29
August 29
September 26
October 23
November 20
December 16

Culture

The culture of Portugal is based on a past that dates from a prehistoric era into the times of Roman and Moorish invasion. All have left traces of archaeological remains including prehistoric cave paintings at Escoral, a roman town of Conimbriga, the Temple of Diana in Evora and typical Moorish architecture of southern towns as Olhão and Tavira.

Throughout history, Portugal’s arts have been enriched by foreign influences, including Flemish, French and Italian. The Portuguese discoverers opened the country to Oriental influences and the revelation of Brazil’s wealth of gold and jewels fed the Baroque flame in decoration.

Food and Drink

This is the place to eat, drink and be merry! Many of the dishes are homebaked, healthy and fulfilling. Most regions have their own special dishes, some meals are common to most of the country. Here are some of the specialities:

Sopas (soup) - made with potato puree and very wholesome; try the caldo verde, made from shredded kale.

carne de porco a alentejana - pork with clams

leitao assado - roast sucking pig

arroz de marisco - seafood rice

One thing to note is that the Portugese don’t often eat breakfast but a black coffee will suffice.

The most popular drink in Portugal is wine or you could try a Portugese brandy, the two varieties being Macieiera and Constantino.

Beaches

There are 600 miles of coastline in Portugal, most of which are gorgeous white sandy beaches, making it a beachgoers paradise. Add the gorgeous climate and you can see why it is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. Unlike other countries in Southern Europe whose coast faces into the calm waters of the Mediterranean, Portugal faces the full force of the Atlantic Ocean. This makes for some excellent surfing conditions.

Top things to do

1. Visit one of the watersports centres dotted all along the coast and try your hand at snorkelling, wind-surfing or water-skiing
2. Try out big game fishing which is popular along the Algarve coast
3. Listen to Portugal’s traditional Fado music at the atmospheric bars and clubs
4. Visit the port houses of Porto or Gaia for the country’s best port wine tasting.
5. Absorb the spirituality of the shrine at Fátima, which has been an important centre of Roman Catholic pilgrimage since 1917
6. Cruise along the canals of the wetlands around Rio de Aveiro aboard a traditional Portuguese moliceiros
7. Hike, climb or canoe in the Peneda-Gerês, Portugal’s only national park
8. Play a round of golf on the championship golf courses in the south of the country (there are 19 in the Algarve alone)
9. Attend a car or motorcycle race at the world famous Estoril racetrack, which is located a short distance from Lisbon