holiday accident claim

Most people come back from holiday having had a good time but unfortunately, some will have had a less than enjoyable experience after having their holiday ruined by a holiday accident or illness on holiday.If you had your holiday spoilt because you, or a family member, became ill or suffered an accident caused by the negligence or recklessness of a third party, it is possible that you may be able to make a holiday compensation claim.

Macks Solicitors are a specialist legal firmthat has successfully recovered hundreds of thousands of pounds in holiday compensation for clients who have been involved in a holiday accident or suffered an illness on holiday.

If you suffered a holiday accident or illness on holiday in this country your holiday compensation claim can be handled in much the same way as any other personal injury claim and Macks Solicitors will be happy to advise you in this regard.

Holidays abroad that have been purchased as part of a package are covered by the Package Travel Regulations that were introduced in 1992. These regulations allow a holiday compensation claim to be made in the UK for a holiday accident or illness on holiday abroad.

On a package holiday, the tour operator organises, and is therefore responsible for, all the elements that make up the “package”. This includes transport to and from the holiday destination, the accommodation and any catering that is included, and may also include “extras”, such as excursions. If you are injured in a holiday accident or suffer an illness on holiday you may be able to make a claim against the tour operator or travel company that made the booking.

The types of incident for which compensation may be claimed are:

Holiday Accidents

• Accidents caused by collapsing furniture, faulty fittings and defective flooring.
• Accidents in and around the hotel restaurant or bar
• Accidents in and around swimming pools and the hotel grounds
• Accidents on Cruise ships
• Road traffic accidents on the transfer journeys or on trips organised by the tour company

Illness on holiday

• Food poisoning as a result of poor hygiene standards
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Other illness e.g. Legionnaires disease, NorovirusMacks Solicitors is a specialist personal injury practice. Our skilled solicitors are happy to provide legal advice to anyone who has been injured in a holiday accident or has suffered illness on holiday.

As an independent law firm, Macks Solicitors does not take referrals from claims management companies, tour operators or insurers. Macks clients are therefore confident that the solicitor who is handling their holiday compensation claim is acting in their best interests.

Macks Solicitors work on No Win No Fee terms so that their clients can be guaranteed a quality caring legal service which doesn’t cost them a penny. When clients receive their compensation it is the full amount of compensation without any deductions.

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holiday compensation claims

In the past couple of weeks, I have been contacted by several readers who have come home from holidays disappointed with their accommodation or the level of service. This is not unusual at this time of year; but while this correspondence is hardly a representative survey, it seems to me that travellers in such situations are having a harder time than usual obtaining redress. Where one might have expected a tour operator to offer a goodwill payment, or a hotel to reduce a bill slightly, no such generosity has been forthcoming.

There seem to be several reasons for this. First, the economic climate is making tour operators and property owners less inclined to make generous financial gestures. More worried about surviving the recession than winning back custom for another year, they don't want to pay out any money if they can avoid it.

Second, more and more people are making independent booking arrangements through private owners rather than through an agency or operator – and these travellers find it much harder to extract any kind of refund or compensation. An agent or operator can exert pressure on an owner, because the owner relies on them for future bookings. A one-off client has no such leverage.

Lastly, a couple of cases have shown how people's expectations are necessarily subjective. For example, is it reasonable, when you have paid more than £5,000 for a villa in Greece, to expect to be sleeping in cotton, rather than poly-cotton, sheets? Two readers suffered this disappointment – but their case was strengthened by the fact that there was no storage space in the villa (all the cupboards had been locked), and the pool had been treated with the wrong sort of paint (so that the children ended up with blue arms and legs for much of the holiday).

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spanish holiday home insurance

Many property owners encounter difficulties obtaining suitable overseas home insurance. Consequently they choose the quickest option, often a local policy written in a foreign language that’s not suitable for the special requirements of holiday home owners. This decision may prove costly in the event of a claim when you translate the policy and discover that vital cover is excluded, leaving you to pay the claim.

As your home is hundreds of miles away it is essential that you have adequate foreign property insurance. Why should you worry about a potential theft or water damage claim being invalid because you have left your property unoccupied for an extended period, or that guests might cause damage or injure themselves?

You don’t have to because Schofields have tailored an overseas holiday home insurance policy that covers your house in France, Spain, Portugal or Italy. The insurance does not restrict cover when your property is left unoccupied and includes essential cover for holiday letting.

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static holiday home insurance

A static caravan can be the perfect holiday home, but you’ll always need adequate insurance in place if you want to protect your investment. When you’re looking for static caravan insurance UKthere are a number of things you need to bear in mind, and here are just a few of them to help you prepare.

• Make sure you’ve got the level of cover that you need, including things like year-round cover, debris removal and cover for fixtures and fittings. A comprehensive policy will give you added peace of mind, and always read the small print so you don’t get a nasty surprise.

• Head to a specialist broker for the best deals, because it’s here that you’ll get all the advice you could need to make the right decision. You’ll also get a fantastic selection of quotes and could well find that you save some money, and that’s got to be high on everyone’s list.

• Make sure to compare several quotes if you want to be sure you’re getting the most for your money, and always look carefully at what each company can offer before you make your decision.

• Invest in security measures such as alarms to reduce your premiums. Doing so will deem you as a lower insurance risk, so investing in security devices will always be worth it.

• Find a secure site to house your caravan, ideally one that’s registered by the Caravan Club. Choosing a site that isn’t secure is the equivalent of choosing a bad neighbourhood to live in and not expecting any consequences, but if you choose wisely you can be sure that your caravan will be safe and secure and you could even find that your premiums are reduced.

These are just a few points you need to remember when looking for static caravan insurance UK, and if you bear them in mind you’ll be able to enjoy your caravan while knowing that you’ve got the level of cover that you need at the price to suit.

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holiday accident

Accidents on Holiday, Injuries on Holiday or Illnesses on Holiday

Information about holiday accidents, holiday injuries and holiday illnesses

If you have an accident on holiday, an injury on holiday or develop an illness on holiday, which was not your fault, then you may be entitled to make a personal injury compensation claim.

If your holiday was within the United Kingdom, your holiday injury claim could be dealt with in the same way as any other personal injury compensation claim; however, if you were abroad at the time, certain other rules apply.

For example, a personal injury solicitor in the United Kingdom would only be able to deal with a personal injury compensation claim against a holiday company for an accident, injury or illness which occurred abroad if the holiday was booked as part of a package deal through a travel agent in the United Kingdom. In addition to this, your holiday accident, holiday injury or holiday illness would need to be the fault of the travel agent or their representatives such as the hotel staff.

If your holiday accident or holiday injury was caused due to a badly maintained section of walkway in the hotel grounds you would be entitled to make a holiday injury compensation claim against your travel agent. You would also be able to claim compensation against your travel agent if you contracted a form of food poisoning from the hotel restaurant; however, you would not be able to make a holiday injury compensation claim against your travel agent if your accident was caused due to a badly maintained pavement in a local town centre for example. You may still be able to make a claim for compensation but it will be a slightly more complicated process than claiming against a travel agent.

If you have suffered an injury as a result of an accident abroad and would like to know if you have a valid accident compensation claim, complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.

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cheap hotel insurance

Cheap Hotel Insurance

Wether you run a Small or Large Hotel we at Crown can offer Cheap Hotel Insurance for all sizes of Hotel, Country Club, Guest House, Inn, Pub or Bed & Breakfast. We can find a Cheap Hotel Insurance Policy to suit your particular Hotel Business, including Listed Building or with an Entertainment License.

Our Hotel Insurance and Guest House Insurance policy is tailored to cover your assets, earnings and legal liabilities of the business for both Licensed and Non Licensed Establishments. Our standard Hotel Insurance policy provides cover for a wide range of risks including Public and Employers Liability, Hotel Contents cover and Business Interruption. We also give you the choice of including a number of optional extras.

Wether your Hotel is a Small Private Family run Business or a Large Independent Hotelwe have many Hotel Insurance schemes to choose from. If you run a Bed & BreakfastEstablishment and licensed by your Local Authority your Standard Home Insurance Policy may not allow B&B use. Please check with your current Insurers first.

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hotel procurement software

The keyword phrase hotel procurement software is used to find information on major search engines approximately 42 times each month. There are about 107000 competing web pages that contain a variation of this keyword. The number of searches compared to the amount of web pages containing this keyword is 42 / 107000. This ratio indicates the degree of competitiveness for ad placement and results in a rating of 8/10 with 10 being the most competitive. The competition and search volume for Hotel Procurement Software suggests a bid amount of $17.51 to appear in the sponsored section of search engines. This means you might expect to pay about $17.51 for each new website visitor who arrives by way of your paid search advertisements.

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hotel marketing budgets

A Practical Guide to Hotel Marketing Budget Planning

by Josiah Mackenzie on September 08, 2009 8 Comments

Many hotels are working on their marketing budgets right now. I have received multiple requests for advice on budgeting this week, and wanted to put together this practical, straightforward guide. We will examine the biggest factors to consider when planning your Internet marketing budget, 11 major categories hotels should budget for, and finally 3 basic hotel budgeting approaches.

This advice comes from my own real-world experience as the marketing manager or consultant for dozens of leading organizations around the world — and also as the owner of three companies. When your own company’s money is on the line, you tend to take a very pragmatic approach to marketing, and that’s what I intend to do in this article.

Factors to consider while planning your hotel marketing budget

Many industry professionals recommend you start with the industry average marketing budget. I disagree. Every business success I’ve been involved with has been contrarian. If you spend your resources like everyone else, you’ll get average results. Breakthrough campaigns often require unusual approaches. You decide what works for you.

Be aware of industry standards, but don’t feel bound by them. It can be helpful to know the average prices hotels are paying for individual marketing tactics — if only for a point of reference.

Start with an internet marketing plan for the year. Sounds simple, but true. If you don’t know how you want to spend your money, calculating the amount will be extremely difficult! Some tactics to include are explained below.

A good budget will take into mind past results your company experienced — but will also realize that things change. What worked five years ago may not work over the next five years.

Remember your primary business objective. Do you want more overall sales, to build your brand, or consolidate your profits? Each requires a different approach, which we’ll cover later.

Know your marketing priorities. Separate the “musts” from the “wants.” So many things can happen along the way that cause you to deviate from a plan made months ago. Having priorities ensures the essential gets done.

Identify which marketing strategies you don’t need to implement. There are a seemingly unlimited number of marketing tactics you could try, so identifying the non-essential helps you focus and cut costs. Every hotel doesn’t need to do every tactic out there.

Be aware of trends, and budget appropriately. Some organizations on annual budget cycles approve money for trends way too late — and missed the boat. Make sure the resources that you’re dedicating to a tactic or strategy will be valid 1, 2, 5 years from now. You don’t want to outdate yourself.

I personally recommend most hotels abandon all traditional marketing and advertising in favor of any Internet focused strategy: 75% of budget for web-based communications, 25% for PR. You can discount this advice as someone who has worked in web marketing his entire career, but the numbers don’t lie. In the campaigns that I’ve been involved in, we have achieved phenomenal return on investment… and received media coverage an organization our size shouldn’t normally be entitled to.

Separate your marketing costs into two categories. Initial development costs include research and strategy development, website design, content creation, marketing systems set up. Ongoing expenses and maintenance include e-mail marketing, pay per click advertising, search visibility improvement, website maintenance and development, consulting fees, and analytics and tracking analysis.

Ensure that you are sufficiently capitalized. Many marketing tactics will take several months to show results, and often the best results are obtained by sticking with your marketing plan month after month — for the next 12 months. You may have to adjust your marketing plan to enable this, but make sure your budget is sufficient to accommodate consistent execution.

Be aware that your most important marketing investments may not even be under the traditional ‘marketing’ budget category. For example, introducing a fabulous collection of guest amenities can cause your guests to promote your hotel for you. At the end of the day,your guest experience is the marketing. Money you spend to create an amazing guest experience at your hotel has some of best ROI.

Finally, think of your marketing program as an investment. If you are promoting properly, every dollar that you spend on marketing will come back to you many times over. Good hotel marketing budgets are never an expense, and it’s important we remember this.

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hotel directory new york city

Welcome to HotelGuide.Networks' directory of hotels and hotel reviews for New York, New York!

Always worthy of a juicy bite, the Big Apple -- also known as New York, the City that Never Sleeps -- boasts Broadway shows, exceptional exhibitions and attractions, global cuisine, and unparalleled shopping. In 2008 47 million visitors took a bite, including a record 9.8 million international arrivals, making NYC the nation’s top destination from overseas. Lodging ranges from chic budget, sophisticated boutique, and value-priced hotels to posh spots. Newer hotels include spas, stylish restaurants, rooftop lounges, and pools with skyline views. The expanded Jacob K. Javits Convention Center has a 1,500-room headquarters hotel. New York City's hotel room inventory exceeded 75,000 in 2008, and increases by around 2,000 new or renovated rooms per year, from modest to luxurious.

New York City is not just a destination for leisure travel. Quite a few travelers visit for business purposes. One of the city's most frequent visitors is the entertainment industry. Over 400,000 location shoots, including feature films and documentaries as well as television shows and commercials, are filmed in and around the city annually. In fact, over 250 feature films are shot in New York City each year. Some of these productions even include of New York City's grandest hotels in their story lines. The Plaza Hotel has been featured in Hollywood hits like Arthur,Almost Famous and Home Alone II and the Waldorf Astoria Hotel can be seen in Coming To Americaand Maid In Manhattan.

We have organized our listings of New York's local hotel accommodations into several geographic areas and alphabetically. You can begin browsing for hotels in the Greater New York area by selecting one of the links shown below. To see a map of New York and the surrounding area

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hotel and restaurant management programs

Hotel and Restaurant Management

Running any business requires strong marketing, finance and communication skills, but to be successful in the hospitality industry requires much more.

Whether you're operating a seaside resort or managing a trendy New York City restaurant, you must create an experience for your guests so unique they'll not only want to come back, but they'll also want to bring their friends.

Sound interesting? Then consider a career in hotel and restaurant managemenH

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hotel de region nantes

Park & Suites Saint-Herblain apart-hotel enjoys a great location in a calm, natural environment, only a few kilometres from the centre of Nantes and the surrounding business zones. Take in the charm of St Herblain, a dynamic town whose way of life and preserved natural areas make it a highly sought-after location.

The residence offers 76 fitted and furnished apartment suites in studio, 2-room and 3-room configurations on a rental basis, designed for 1-6 people. Spacious apartments combining comfort and practicality: fitted kitchen, free and unlimited Internet access and corner office. As well as these features, a launderette, reception desk, secure car park and “à la carte” services are all on offer for your comfort.

Come and test our concept that makes this residence a perfect compromise between an hotel and a private apartment!

Reception opening hours : Monday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm ad from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Saturday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and fom 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Closed on Sunday and public holidays.

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lump sum pension payout

You may have thought about taking yourpension plan balance as a lump-sumpayout rather than as an annuity income stream when you retire. Before you make your decision, consider that the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) could result in a drastic reduction of the amount you had anticipated receiving in a lump-sum payment. Furthermore, if you have already taken a lump-sum payment, you may be required to repay a portion of the amount to the pension plan.

Why Take a Lump Sum?
A steady check each month for the rest of your life after you retire sounds good, right? All you would have to do is stroll back and forth from the mailbox or simply watch the funds flow electronically into your bank account … then you can slouch back in your hammock and relax.

However, there are several reasons why plan participants opt to cash out of their pension plans. Consider the following three:

1. Your employer is not financially stable. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is supposed to make sure that you receive your pension benefit if your employer goes belly-up. However, you could end up with a smaller payout than your employer had promised if the plan is taken over by the PBGC. Then you might have to cut back on expenses, such as the cruises you had hoped to take, gifts for the grandchildren or basic living needs. Taking a lump sum could help to ensure that you receive your full pension benefit. (SeeThe Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Rescues Plans for more on the PBGC.)
   
2. Like many soon-to-be retirees, you plan to start a business that will require a large sum of money. If your only source of capital is your pension balance, you may decide to cash out.
   
3. You think you could do a better job of investing the funds than the pension plan money managers do.

Who Is Affected?
Are you among the 44 million employees and retirees who have retirement plan assets in defined-benefit pension plans? If so, it is in your best interest to pay attention to these changes. (It is not in your best interest if the pension plan in which you participate does not offer the option to take your benefits as a lump-sum payment. In this case, the changes will not affect the amount of your annuity payments.)

What's In The New Law?
The PPA includes two significant changes that affect lump-sum distributions. These are as follows:

1. It changes the way companies calculate how much to pay retirees who take their pensions in a lump-sum.
   
2. It puts a cap on the amount you can receive when you convert your pension to a lump-sum payout.

How This Could Affect You
When you're ready to retire, your company will use your pension annuity payments to determine how much your balance is worth as a lump sum in today's dollars. The calculation is based on future investment returns and your life expectancy. A higher investment return will require a smaller lump sum.

For example, let's assume you can get a $3,000 per month pension, and your life expectancy is 20 years. To determine the lump-sum payout, your employer will use the 240 payments and discount its value by the appropriate interest rate. If your employer can get a 5% return over the next 20 years, it would offer you $454,576 today. But if it can get a 6% return, your employer will only have to offer you $418,742.

This is exactly what has happened under the new law.

Perhaps you are retired and took your lump sum before the new regulation became law in August 2006. Consequently, you may think you have nothing to worry about. Think again.
This provision is retroactive to January 1, 2006, so you might have to return some of that lump sum to your employer.

Starting in 2006, the largest annual pension a retiree age 62 to 65 can receive is $175,000. The limit is lower for younger workers and increases within inflation. This means smaller lump-sum payouts.

Of equal importance is a new provision where, starting in 2008, the assumptions used to calculate lump-sum distributions will change over a five-year period from the 30-yearTreasury bond rate to the corporate bond interest rate. Because corporate bonds have greater risks than Treasuries, their yields are historically higher. Consequently, your employer will offer you a smaller lump-sum payout than you may have expected. This change will phase in from 2008 through to 2012.

What You Can Do
Take Annuity Payments
You could, of course, just take your pension in monthly payments over your lifetime. This is often seen as the safer route because it will not expose you to the following two risks:

• You pick lousy investments for your lump sum.
• You run out of money before you die.

On the other hand, if your employer files for bankruptcy and the plan has to be taken over by the PBGC, that may result in your pension payments being reduced.

Contribute More to Other Plans
Still working? There are at least three good reasons to contribute as much as you can to your 401(k) plan and IRAs. The amount you accumulate could:

• Offset the reduction in your lump-sum payout;
• Serve as a cushion in case your company freezes the plan, preventing you from accruing additional benefits under the plan;
• Make up for the possibility of lower payout each month if the PBGC takes over the plan and has to reduce your pension.

If your pension is reduced by the recent law, you might be entitled to recover some of the lost benefit as an annuity in addition to the lump-sum payment. Check your summary plan description agreement, or check with your plan administrator to determine the terms of your plan.

In Conclusion
These recent changes should make you sit up and take notice as you get closer to retirement. Think everything through carefully before you make a decision that you, and possibly your spouse, will have to live with for the rest of your lives.

Furthermore, even if you have always made your own investment decisions and been successful, this might be a good time to get a second opinion from a professional.

by George D. Lambert (Contact Author | Biography)

George D. Lambert is a freelance financial writer with more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked as a Certified Financial Planner, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and an arbitrator for the NASD, NYSE and AAA. George is approved by the Florida Licensing Education Section to instruct life, health and variable annuity courses. To read more about George and his services, visitwww.e-financialWriter.com. Also be sure to check out his latest book, "A Boomer's Guide To Long-Term Care".

If you have questions about George's articles, please check his blog (http://e-financialwriter.blogspot.com/) before emailing him.

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pension life insurance

If you want to pay less tax - and who doesn't? - there is a new way of reducing your overall bill. And it is also a way to get really cheap life insurance. But before you rub your eyes and try to wake up, read on as we investigate whether this is as good as it seems!

Beginning on the 6th of April 2006, if you pay for life insurance cover at the same time as paying into a pension plan, you can use your pension contributions allowance to lower the cost of your life insurance. This works by offering a tax relief rate of 22% for those who pay the standard tax rate, and 40% for those who qualify for the higher rate of tax. Voilà, less tax, cheaper insurance!

Your pension provider will automatically reduce your combined life insurance and pension premium by 22%, but higher rate tax payers will need to claim the balance on their self-assessment tax returns annually, to make sure they get the 40% rate they are entitled to.

By now, you may be bracing for the catch! Here are the three stipulations that your policies must take into account:

o Your life insurance and pension must come from the same company, and must be paid as a combined premium.
o The total value of the two together must not be over £1.5 million.
o The premiums you pay annually for the combined pension and life insurance must not be more than £215,000.

So although there are certainly savings to be made, those for life insurance will not be as great as they might at first seem. The cost of a combined policy will usually be more than a stand-alone policy with the same company, and it's unlikely that you will find the cheapest pension plan to fit your needs offered by the same firm that offers the cheapest life insurance. So your ability to shop around is reduced. Costs are further affected by the fact that to date, no online company offers combined life insurance/pension plans, so the usual online discounts will not be available.

So is it all a dream, after all? Not so. If you're a higher rate tax payer, the savings you make on tax will certainly make your life cover a lot cheaper! Standard tax payers should always check online to see if the separate plans come to less than a combined pension and life insurance package.

There are a few other points to consider. Existing life policies cannot be converted into combined pension and life insurance deals. Tax relief is only given when the two are bought together at the same time. And combined policies can only be taken out for yourself - it isn't possible at this time to take out a joint combined policy for you and a partner.

Another point to consider is that this kind of combined insurance deal cannot include critical illness cover. You can still take it out separately, and in fact this is a good idea as critical illness insurance makes sure that if you are diagnosed with a specified serious illness, you will get a lump sum.

So if the perks of a combined policy have tempted you, consider carefully if you are thinking of cancelling an existing life policy. Since taking out that policy, time has passed and naturally you have aged! So your premium will be higher. And if you have developed any new medical conditions, they will be factored into the new premium cost too. Even a little weight gained with the passing years could adversely affect your premium costs. It may even be that a new provider will not offer you cover if your existing illnesses seem too serious. So you would be well advised to obtain written permission from your pension company, compare the cost after you apply the tax break, and see if you will actually save before committing to a new policy.

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pension life cover

Life Assurance Pension

Mixing life assurance and pension considerations can be a dangerous compromise or a tax benefit.

Life assurance pension scheme can have beneficial tax implications, but it’s only best suited to high net worth individuals; and it can also mean that your level of cover is compromised by the tax benefit. It also means you need to think carefully about whether a change in your work circumstances will affect the pot of money you leave to your descendants.

You’re probably thinking that the idea of a life assurance pension is already sounding a bit complicated. To be brutally honest, using a pension vehicle for life assurance isn’t right for everybody- and here we will see why.

Effectively, a life assurance pension (or pension term assurance) pops a level-term life assurance policy into a pension fund. Because there are tax breaks for pension money (basic and higher level tax holidays depending on your earnings), the premiums you pay after tax relief will be lower than if you just got a normal policy.

However, there are a whole heap of problems with getting a life assurance pension. The Chancellor is pretty canny to this sort of thing, and that’s why there is a total cap on premiums being any more than 5% of your total annual allowance for personal pension premiums. Unless you earn an awful lot this can mean a conflict of interest between cover and tax efficiency.

Additionally, if you stopped working for any reason, the fund would cease (or at least remain static) and the element of the pension that contributed to the life assurance premium could be invalidated.

A life assurance pension is really only to be considered if you are a high net worth earner of secure means and inclined to place tax efficiency near the top of your financial wish-list.

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pension life assurance

The following is a summary of the positions taken by each of the Life Offices in respect of the 'new' 1% Levy on Protection/Pension/Investment/Savings policies, as at 30/07/2009.

Standard Life

The levy will be deducted from any premiums invested into Standard Life savings and investments policies on or after 1 April 2010.

Standard Life will continue to absorb the cost of the levy on premiums paid on protection policies. Updated 30/03/2010

Eagle Star Zurich

Will be collecting the 1% premium levy from 1st August 2009 on all protection and group risk policies.

For new ( Self-employed Pensions(RACs),PRSAs, ARFs, Annuities, Personal Buy-Out-Bonds, Investment and Savings contracts) business transacted after 1st of August, they will meet the cost of the 1% premium levy for premiums paid in August on any new business (including single premium top-ups) that are introduced before 1st September. They will not make any retrospective charge for such payments regardless of how the IIF proposals are received. They will review the situation in the coming weeks and will advise if this interim approach is to continue for September.

The 1% Levy applies to regular contributions to savings plans with effect from 01/07/2010. Levy applies to Single Premium Investments from 01/09/2010. Updated 13/09/2010

For existing ( Self-employed Pensions, PRSAs and Savings) business they intend to defer applying the 1% premium levy on these contracts pending the conclusion of discussions with the Department of Finance. Given the uncertainty as to what changes to the levy might be made as a result of these discussions, they reserve the right to deduct outstanding levies from the contracts when and if it is appropriate to do so.

Quinn Life

As part of Quinn Life's 10th anniversary celebrations, Quinn Life will cover the cost the levy for new and existing investments and savings business for their customers in 2010. Updated 02/03/2010

Caledonian Life

If a client has a Regular Premium protection policy (for example payable monthly or annually) their payment will increase by 1% from 1st August. If a client makes their payment by direct debit their payment will increase automatically. If a client makes their payment by other methods, Caledonian Life we will notify them of the increased payment in their next renewal notice.

The levy does not apply to existing Single Premium Investments. However, the levy will apply to all top-ups to existing policies and all new policies taken out from 1st August. 1% of any single premium received by us from 1st August will be deducted for the levy and paid to Revenue.

Irish Life

Irish Life implemented the Government levy for protection plans on the 01 August 2009.Protection plans include life cover, mortgage protection plans and plans which pay an amount on disability or the diagnosis of a specified illness.

This levy will also be introduced on Savings plans from the 01 February and on new investment plans from 01 March 2010. Updated 30/03/2010

Hibernian Aviva

Hibernian Aviva will apply the levy on all protection policies from August 1.

Pending the outcome of industry discussions with the Department of Finance, Hibernian Aviva will not apply the 1% levy to pension and investment products while the discussions with the Department continue. Hibernian Aviva will review this position when they have greater clarity.

Hibernian Aviva will not apply the 1% levy retrospectively to premiums for pension and investment business received during this period. Therefore, we will not be going back to customers to apply the levy to pension or investment premiums already paid.

Friends First

For Executive Pension, Group Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Schemes no levy will apply.

For Individual Protection, Group Protection and PRSA type contracts; pending outcome from Revenue, the Levy will only be collected from 1st January 2010

For Single Premium Pensions, Investments, ARFs and Buy-Out-Bonds; pending outcome from Revenue, the Levy will only be collected from clarification date. There will be no retrospective collection.

For Regular Premium Pensions, Savings and Life Insurance; pending the outcome from Revenue the Levy will be collected retrospectively to 1st August 2009.

New Ireland

Will collect the additional 1% of the premium from customers on the following policies with effect from 1st of August: life cover policies,mortgage protection policies and policies which pay an amount on a specified illness or on disability.

They are deferring collecting the levy for investment and pension customers pending the outcome of discussions with the Department of Finance.

Canada Life

Protection Business - The levy will be applied with effect from 1st August 2009

Existing Pension & Investment Business - Since August 2009 Canada Life has been applying the levy in arrears on existing savings and investment policies. However, from April 2010 Canada Life will collect the new 1% levy as part of a policyholder's existing payment method by adding it to their premium. In addition, Canada Life will begin to apply the levy on certain policies which it has exempted from the levy up until now.

Letters informing savings and investment policyholders of the changes to their policies, as well as a list of frequently asked questions, have been posted this week. Meanwhile, all new and existing pension clients will receive a letter later in the month to inform them that the 1% levy no longer applies to pensions (as per the Finance Act 2010) and that the levy is no longer being applied to their policies.

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pension almrose

Due to various travel plans we only allocated 4 days in Austria for our first ski-trip and stayed at Almrose Pension. 3 days on the slopes isn't enough time for your first attempts at skiing but our trip was smooth thanks to the hotel owners - Judith and Peter.

Transfers to and from Innsbruck airport (about an hour and 15 mins) were offered and made it easy to get to the hotel. All the ski-hire gear we needed was organised for us as well as lessons and our bill was all handled by the hotel without needing to worry about dealing with everyone directly ourselves. The hotel itself was clean and tidy while the half-board option included a continental breakfast (with fantastic bread rolls) and a filling and tasty 3-course dinner that covered local dishes. Their organisation saved us a lot of time and hassle, and they were extremely accommodating in any requests and changes such as more lessons and swapping snowboards to ski's.

The hotel is about a 10 min walk from the main gondola up the nearest slope which the instructors said was a bit of a walk but actually was great since we needed to walk off the soreness/stiffness in the morning and on the way home.

Overall a fantastic venue for the beginner skiers.

• Date of stay March 2010
• Visit was for Leisure
• Traveled with With Friends
• Member since February 08, 2010

• Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes

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ira pension

Starting in 2010, it is possible to convert all or a portion of your IRA (including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs) to a Roth IRA. Even a 401 (k) plan from your former employer may be eligible for conversion to a Roth IRA.

If you convert, you’ll have to pay taxes on the taxable portion of the conversion up-front, but in exchange, you may eliminate all future taxes on the principal and earnings in your ROTH.

The 10% IRS early distribution penalty tax does not apply to the amount you convert to a Roth IRA, however, you’ll owe taxes —on the taxable portion of the conversion. The taxable portion generally consists of any IRA contributions and IRA’s earnings that have not yet been taxed.

For 2010 Roth conversions only - the taxable conversion amount will automatically be divided equally between 2011 and 2012. For conversions in 2011 and beyond, the taxable conversion amount will be taxed at the year of conversion.

You may be able to withdraw money entirely tax-free if the Roth IRA has been funded for five or more years and you are over age 59½, dead, disabled, or making a first-time home purchase (up to $10,000). If you take money out before then, earnings will be taxable and, before age 59½, may be subject to an additional 10% penalty tax. Also, amounts you contribute to a Roth IRA (including converted amounts that you have already paid taxes on) may be withdrawn tax-free at any time.

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gold coast darters

BUNDABERG'S Shane Tichowitsch is hoping to give it a good shot at the title when he represents Australia at the upcoming World Darts Championships in London.

The 43-year-old, who moved to Bundaberg from Biggenden in August, is Australia’s No.2 player.

He was chosen in the national team with continued excellent performances in the Dart Players Australia Series this year.

“There have been tournaments every second or third week, with only one in Queensland and most in Sydney so it has been one hell of a year travelling,” Tichowitsch said.

“It has also been super expensive especially as I am on a disability pension as I am quite ill with chronic pancreatitis.

“Normally they take only the No.1 player, Simon Whitlock, who made the world final last year and is the Don Bradman of darts.

“The winner of the Oceanic Masters gets automatic entry and Simon beat me but I beat him the next day in the Illawarra Yacht Club Classic, and as he had already qualified, I also got invited.”

Tichowitsch’s impressive list of wins this year include the Coogee Bay Classic, DPA Australian Singles, Gaels Club, Goulburn, Queensland and Revesby Workers Club Open events, and the Russell Stewart Classic on September 26.

But his best result so far was making the last 56 in the World Darts Trophy tournament and making the International Darts league Preliminary in Holland in 2007.

Tichowitsch will leave on December 13, with the event to start three days later and run to January 3.

“I play England’s Andy Smith in the first round – he is ranked No. 27 in the world and they are all professionals over there, and my ranking at the moment is 191,” he said.

“But this year I really had a crack at it and got the results – I think I have won more tournaments than anyone this year, but this is my first world championships.

“I could play up to six or seven matches – once you get beaten, you are out but hopefully that doesn’t happen too early and I get some money – hopefully I am a good chance – he (Smith) is no better than I am.”

Tichowitsch would appreciate of any assistance with the cost of the trip, and anyone who can help should phone him on 0402 910 377.

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coast auto insurance

Coast Auto Insurance Services Inc. was established in June, 1986. The first office was opened in Seaside, California with the vision of offering automobile insurance options to clients who did not qualify for standard markets. Since opening, Coast Auto Insurance Services, Inc. has become one of the largest insurance brokers in the State of California. We currently have 12 locations to serve your insurance needs.

Coast Auto Insurance Services, Inc. represents over 50 insurance Companies. We offer a wide range of insurance products including preferred markets and offer coverage for Personal and Commercial Auto. We also offer Homeowners, Condominiums, Renters, Earthquake, Motorcycle, Recreational Vehicle, Boats, Personal Watercraft and Auto Clubs.

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The success of Coast Auto Insurance Services, Inc. is based on a philosophy of integrity and honesty. We know you have many choices when it comes to purchasing your insurance. Our unique procedures at Coast Auto Insurance Services, Inc. set us apart from all other brokers. Our focus on servicing the clients policy's is our #1 priority and you can be assured that we will work hard to keep our customers happy by providing quality sales and service.

OUR MOTTO SAYS IT BEST, "IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OUR CLIENTS, SOMEONE ELSE WILL !"

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east coast waterproofing

East Coast Waterproofing Solutions LLC takes care of our customer's in a timely manner. We understand the need to get the job done ASAP. Give us a call today for a free estimate. Your wet basement can be a source of stress, expense and, perhaps worst of all, an unhealthy environment throughout your home. You may not even know you have a problem because the dampness its cause and its consequences can remain hidden until it’s too late. If you are looking for someone who is resourceful and knowledgeable enough to go the extra mile to figure out what was wrong and fix it ! East Coast water proofing is your Service Professional! "John was very honest and that really counts!!! (works with your scheduleHighly recommend" "I had a difficult issue of water leakage from a number of sources, and have had several firms out to look at it. Finally I found someone resourceful and knowledgeable enough to go the extra mile to figure out what was wrong and fix it."

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west coast locksmithv

Florida West Coast Locksmiths Association is a group of professionals dedicated to improving the quality of service to the public through continuing education and shared information.

We meet the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:30 pm, except March and December, for a brief meeting and an Educational presentation. We also put on various classes through out the year.

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gold coast semiconductor

Semiconductor Components, Power N Channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MOSFET), Semiconductor Chips, Light Emitting Diode (LED) Semiconductor Diodes, Microwave Semiconductor Diodes, Obsolete Semiconductor Diodes, Discrete Semiconductors, Semiconductors, Semiconductor Recycling or Disposal or Recovery Contractors, Semiconductor Surplus Buyers, Semiconductors, Accessories, Compound Semiconductors, Computational Semiconductors, Conditioning Semiconductors, High Voltage Product Semiconductors, Integrated Circuit (IC) Semiconductors, Interface Semiconductors, Logic Semiconductors, Memory Semiconductors, Military Semiconductors available from Gold Coast Semiconductor based in Locust Valley, NY. Click the links below to visit our website or contact us via our profile page

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east coast dedicated servers

With Managed Hosting from Volico, we take responsibility for deploying and maintaining your servers and other equipment at our datacenter. You still receive the benefit of complete access and confidentiality that comes with a dedicated server.

Forget about having to monitor server health and plan for maintenance! You are free to concentrate on the things that matter, such as exploring new ventures and expanding your presence online.

Managed hosting includes the dedicated server benefits along with administration and support benefits. This frees up valuable time that would be taken up by a networking specialist or entire IT department staff.

We also offer Managed infrastructure for large colocation deployments. Find out more here.

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online travel conference

Online travel company Expedia has removed or significantly downgraded American Airlines’ offerings, in the first fallout from the airline’s decision to stop selling flights through Orbitz Worldwide.

Do new retail concepts work in the interests of hotels?

Published: 24 Dec 2010 (0 comments)

Emerging as a result of the recession, members-only, flash sale and group buying sites have gained traction and paramount growth over the past three years. Although originally associated with limited, discounted, higher-end products, these new retail concepts are now encroaching on all consumer product categories, including travel and hospitality.

Tending to hotel operations when your revenue manager is on vacation

Published: 24 Dec 2010 (0 comments)

It's that time of year again, the holidays are upon us and travellers around the world are hopping on planes and booking hotels as part of their ever-anticipated holiday plans.

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crm for travel agents

The Travel Industry caters to tourism activities, whether for the sake of business or recreation, that take people out of their home environments to other destinations. The Travel Industry provides services that enable and enhance the travel experiences in the form of hospitality and transportation services, facilitation on customs and border issues, insurance, marketing, public health, transport and event options.

Travelers make their way via air, rail, road, water and now, unbelievably, space. They seek activities that satisfy curiosity, culture, adventure, family bonding and boredom. The value relationships in this sector are in travel, trade, media and advertising, attractions, festivals and events.

Many countries, states, provinces, or districts depend on tourist travel to feed their local economies and so the Travel Industry is a significant sector for revenue generation. There are many opportunities for partnering with other service providers to enhance and up-sell activities and services for Travelers.

In order to ensure the success of travel sector services it is necessary to identify customers with the following characteristics : access to discretionary income and access to free time. Additionally it is important to have access to destinations and activities with acceptable infrastructures in the form of good accommodations, facilities, and transportation systems.

Salesboom CRM software delivers integrated and synchronized performance across all travel network channels from call center, administration, sales and marketing, pricing, distribution and dealer networks, financial administration and to name a few.

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travel risk planning system

There are so many people in this world who prefer optical for adventure travel. Most of the time travel adventure is packed with danger and you are always susceptible to injury. People who are opting for general vacationing less susceptible to injury with comparison to the adventurer. These people just want the most adventurous activities during the tour, so they draw more values to add to their lives. Search for adventure is a good thing, but at the same time you must stay out from the injury zone. Injuries during the trip, you can make your days mourning and you need to your trip to the center to cancel can. This is not just good for a traveler perspective.

In this context Travel Risk Planning System, you can get more good results! It will certainly plans to keep your journey safe and truly amazing. Most of the adventure travelers know that they are more susceptible to injury. Well, it's the name and nature of the game! All you need to stay cautious about injuries and may

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motorcycle travel tips

The Achievable Dream
The Motorcycle Adventure Travel Guide

This is the definitive how-to DVD series, presented by Grant and Susan Johnson, the people that brought you www.HorizonsUnlimited.com. We took what we learned from our own travels, and since then, from helping other travellers, to create this new series. We also asked the many veteran travellers who attend Horizons Unlimited meetings to tell us their stories, give us their opinions, and share their hard-earned knowledge from their amazing motorcycle trips to every country on earth!

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atlanta business travelt

To some, it is the thriving capital of the New South and the home of such blue-chip businesses as Coca-Cola and UPS. To others, it is the cradle of the civil rights movement, where the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., lives on in the city's burgeoning black middle class. To the less charitable, it is a case study in urban sprawl as its perimeter edges ever farther into the surrounding Georgia countryside. Atlanta lacks the grandeur of New York or Chicago, the glamour of Los Angeles or Miami, and the beauty of San Francisco or Seattle. While it is unlikely to ever become the truly great international city of its civic boosters' aspirations, it would be equally wrong to dismiss Atlanta as a characterless expanse. The city's yearning for recognition and respect backfired in 1996, when it hosted an uninspiring Olympics that served only to highlight its deficiencies. But for the business traveller expecting little but a big airport and a slew of corporate headquarters, Atlanta can be a surprisingly rewarding place to work and play.

Where to Sleep
Downtown Atlanta, like the centers of many American cities, can be desolate after commuters have left for the suburbs each evening. The local government has tried to regenerate the area by cracking down on crime and panhandling and encouraging the development of new leisure attractions, but the results have been mixed so far. For business travelers attending conventions in Atlanta, a downtown hotel will usually be most convenient. Choices include the Marriott Marquis, the Hyatt Regency, the Westin, and the Omni.

If your destination is Coca-Cola's global headquarters on North Avenue, you can choose between a cluster of hotels in nearby Midtown, including the Four Seasons, the Sheraton, and the Wyndham. Another Midtown option is Twelve, a swank hotel in a lively new commercial and residential development called Atlantic Station. Farther north, the W Atlanta at Perimeter Center is convenient for visitors to UPS's headquarters in Sandy Springs.

Where to Eat
For those staying downtown, the revolving Sun Dial restaurant, on the seventy-second floor of the Westin, offers great views. Most of the best places to eat, however, are outside the city center. Buckhead, an upscale commercial and residential district about six miles north of downtown, is a reliable option for business meals, with the Blue Ridge Grill and Chops among the favorites of local executives. If you're looking for something less formal, try Café Dupri, a small Buckhead bar and restaurant owned by Jermaine Dupri, the rap star and producer. Virginia Highland, a leafy neighborhood near Midtown, caters to a younger crowd of twentysomething professionals with its eclectic mix of cuisines, including Southwestern at Noche and Italian at Sotto Sotto. Atlantic Station is the hottest and hippest new spot in Atlanta dining, with Rosa Mexicano and Dolce—franchises imported from New York and Los Angeles, respectively—offering the highest quality.

Where to See and Be Seen
It used to be Atlanta's version of Bourbon Street, but many of the bars and nightclubs that once lined Buckhead's Peachtree Road have been shuttered in recent years after a clampdown on late-night drinking and crime. Buckhead still offers numerous lively bars clustered around its upscale hotels and shopping malls, but it is not the party zone it once was. Some of the fun has shifted to Atlantic Station, where Twelve and Dolce have become hangouts for the young, hip, and wealthy. Midtown and Virginia Highland offer a more bohemian choice of bars and restaurants, including a thriving gay scene.

Where to Close a Deal
For 124 years, the great and good of Atlanta's business community have been wheeling and dealing in the Capital City Club, the oldest private club in the South. Members have included Asa Candler, founder of Coca-Cola, and John Portman, the renowned real estate developer said to have inspired A Man in Full, Tom Wolfe's biting satire. Non-members need an invitation to gain access. For a more understated setting, try the White House, a traditional Buckhead diner, where the city's business and political elite enjoy breakfast and the morning papers.

Local Codes
For all its attempts to promote itself as diverse and internationally minded, Atlanta remains rooted in the South. Its business culture is clubby and conservative, with a jacket and tie typically worn by men even in the height of summer. Atlanta prides itself on being "the city too busy to hate," having largely avoided the civil rights-era riots encountered elsewhere in the region. The overwhelmingly white business community and black-dominated political leadership have long worked together to ease racial tensions and promote economic growth. As a result, Atlanta has one of the biggest and wealthiest black middle classes in the United States. Race, however, remains a thorny issue. While most workplaces are racially diverse, the rest of Atlanta society is much less well integrated. The city is starkly divided between the largely white north and mostly black south.

Airport Intelligence
Many, perhaps most, business travelers pass through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International without setting foot in the city. The airport is America's busiest hub, with 2,700 takeoffs and landings a day—twice the traffic of London Heathrow. Hartsfield deals surprisingly well with its 86 million annual passengers, and a new fifth runway (opened last year) has further increased capacity. But the two terminals—adjacent to each other in a single building—are severely strained at peak times. A new international terminal is under construction but will not open until 2010 at the earliest. The airport is a 20-minute ride from downtown on MARTA, the city's light-rail system, but a rental car is necessary for most destinations beyond the main business district.

The Three-Hour Tour
Pay homage to Dr. King by visiting his childhood home and final resting place and by peeking inside Ebenezer Baptist Church, where the civil rights leader preached. All three sights can be reached on foot from the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site visitors center, in the Sweet Auburn district, minutes from downtown. MLK's archives—bought by the city government from the King family last year for $32 million—are on display at the Atlanta History Center, in Buckhead, including an early draft of his "I Have a Dream" speech. The papers will form the centerpiece of a planned civil rights museum.

Unlikely as it seems, landlocked Atlanta is home to one of the world's biggest and best aquariums: the Georgia Aquarium, opened in 2005 with a $250 million gift from Bernie Marcus, co-founder of Atlanta-based Home Depot. Buy a ticket in advance, and, if visiting on a weekend, be prepared for long lines for headliners such as the giant whale sharks (the biggest fish on the planet). Across from the aquarium on the south end of Centennial Olympic Park, a pleasant city-center green that represents one of the few visible legacies of the 1996 Games, is CNN Center, where visitors can take a tour of the cable news station's global headquarters.

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business travel newcastle

Within our industry, the reputation attributed to Horncastle is synonymous with two essential criteria – the consistent provision of good service and product delivery at a fair and economic price.

After more than four decades as an independent travel services provider, Horncastle Executive Travel still excels in this field. Marine and offshore , corporate or leisure travel services are delivered by competent professionals attuned to your exact requirements, each and every time.

We have continually engaged in developing our technology and with the provision of superior industry training, through recognised and respected Associations, our consultants possess the commitment and motivation to exceed each customer’s expectations.

HORNCASTLE IS NOW IN ITS 5th DECADE OF EXPERTLY MANAGING TRAVEL

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online tourism degree

Online Hospitality and Culinary Degrees in Hospitality Management

Online degree programs and certificate programs in tourism management, hotel management, tourism administration, food service, hospitality management, travel and tourism.

Online Hospitality Management Degree Programs

Tourism and hospitality are invaluable facets of the global economy. Hotels, resorts, and spas strive to provide world-class service and enjoyment to their clientele. Career training and degree programs in hospitality management can help you start or enhance your management career in the hospitality industry.

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santander tourist office

One of the best ways to get information about any travel destination is to explore it online before even heading there. Santander visitors will find that the website for the local tourist information office, online at www.ayto-santander.es, is helpful but only for travelers who speak the native Spanish language, as there is not a translate-to-English option on the website. [Please note, this link is actually to the Santander council website - there is very little of value on it to tourists.] Travelers seeking to explore the area online will find that the travel guides are far more helpful than the official websites for the city.

Despite this, the physical office of the tourist information center located in Santander is a useful location for visitors seeking to obtain all sorts of information from hotel accommodation information to discounted tickets on tours and attractions. The office has convenient hours to make it especially useful for travelers. During the peak busy season (in July and August) the tourist information office is open Monday through Saturday from nine in the morning until nine at night. During the rest of the year, the office is open weekdays from nine thirty in the morning until seven at night although it closes from one in the afternoon until four in the afternoon. It is also open on Saturday during that time of year but only from nine in the morning until one in the afternoon.

During the summer you can rent a bike from the tourist office, with several drop off points to make it easy.

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