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Top Four Budget Travel Destinations In The World

Holidaying abroad can be an expensive business, often leading to many people staying at home rather than splashing out.

However, there are plenty of destinations all over the world where you can visit without breaking the bank.

You can also save plenty of money by avoiding the high season, booking late and travelling in large groups. Make sure you use price comparison websites and sign up for email alerts to get the very best deals from travel companies.

Read on to find out more about our top four budget travel destinations.

Portugal

Many of the main tourist areas in Portugal are expensive, but think outside of the box and you can still enjoy a cheap holiday there.

The old university town of Coimbra and second city, Porto, offer a varied tourist experience and staying away from the larger resorts in Portugal can really help to boost your spending power.

With superb golf courses, lots of water sports and brilliant weather, Portugal is also an excellent choice for a winter sun holiday too.

Mexico

Gorgeous beaches and desert canyons can make for a varied trip, and it all come with the added bonus of being super cheap.

A basic room can cost as little as £15 a night, but using the Bonuses at SugarHouse before travelling can help to boost your spending power during your holiday.

Beach towns like Tulum, Puerto Escondido, Zihuatanejo and Mazatlan offer tremendous value for money, making Mexico a great destination if you only have a limited budget.

Colombia

The Amazon rainforest, the start of the Andes and both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts are close to Colombia, making it the ideal destination for an action-packed holiday.

With exchange rates between the Colombian peso and European currencies now favourable, it is much cheaper to travel there than just a few years ago.

Colombia boasts superb culture, wonderful history and excellent cuisine, making it one of the most interesting places in the world to visit.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua is Central America’s largest country, but its tourism industry is yet to fully develop.

Volcanic landscapes, colonial architecture and sensational beaches offer a stunning backdrop to a holiday that can be a life-changing experience.

The clear waters of the Corn Islands are great for snorkelling, while surfers will love the big barrels of Rivas.

All the best beaches in Nicaragua are free of development, so you can enjoy them just as nature intended.

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Pedal Your Way To Fitness This Summer

Cycling has enjoyed a massive boom in popularity in recent years, with many people inspired to take up the activity after witnessing the exploits of Great Britain’s numerous successful Olympic athletes.

Amateur cyclists are able to access hundreds of sportive events that follow a pre-set route and these are a great way to see Britain at its best.

Read on for our top four recommendations of cycling events worth checking out this summer.

Isle of Wight Randonnee – Sunday, May 6 – Isle of Wight

Ride on the roads that the Lonely Planet called ‘the best place in the world to cycle‘.

This route can be followed all year round thanks to the blue and white signs at key junctions, but the event itself provides checkpoints, feed stations and plenty of other riders.

The event sees riders heading in a clockwise direction around the Isle of Wight.

A choice of two distances ñ 55km and the full 100km ñ should appeal to a wide range of riders, with route variation depending on start location and willingness to take on gravel tracks.

Lincoln Grand Prix Sportive – Saturday, May 12 – Lincoln and the Lincolnshire lanes

A rolling route around the Lincolnshire countryside carries a sharp sting in its tail in the form of Michaelgate.

The cobbled climb, which tops out at over 20 percent, will catch out anyone who hasn’t kept enough in the tank over the rest of the ride.

Stick around to watch the best domestic professional riders take on the Lincoln Grand Prix races. If their efforts inspire you, use the Casino Offer from Virgin to boost your budget to invest in a brand new bicycle.

Wiggle County Durham Dynamo – Sunday, May 13 – Darlington, County Durham

This ride takes cyclists from Darlington into the countryside of County Durham. As the route reaches the North Pennines, riders will be tested by the climbs, but also rewarded with the views.

A recent addition to the calendar, this sportive is ideal for anyone wanting to explore this fantastic part of the country, and is worth the journey for those from further afield.

Sodbury Sportive – Sunday, August 5 – Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire

The Saddleback Sodbury Sportive starts and finishes in Chipping Sodbury, near Yate.

A friendly and welcoming event run by the local Rotary Club and staffed entirely by volunteers, this is a fantastic sportive in a stunning part of the world.

The route is made all the better by marked Strava segments which add a hint of competitiveness to the ride.

With homemade sandwiches at the feed stations and a hot meal for every rider at the finish, this an all-round great sportive.

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How To Stay Mentally And Physically Fit When Working In An Office!

If you’re concerned about staying mentally and physically fit, whilst working a traditional office job, continue reading to discover a few handy tips on how you can stay mentally and physically fit.

How to stay mentally and physically fit when working in an office: 4 Handy tips and tricks

  1. Make sure to use your lunch break to complete quick work out and grab a bite to eat

While you may be tempted to try and work through your lunch breaks, if you want to work on staying mentally and physically fit it’s imperative to take a break from your office chair and work, in order to give yourself a mental break and to take an opportunity to get in a quick work out. If there is a gym located within a 5-minute walk of your office, you may want to consider signing up for a membership.

However, if there is no gym located within a short walk of your office, it’s still worth getting into the routine of packing a bag of workout gear as you’ll be able to go for a 30-40 minute run during your lunch hour.

Just ensure that you leave yourself 10 minutes to enjoy a healthy, balanced lunch. Which will refuel your body after your grueling workout and will ensure that you’ll have energy to focus on your work, for the rest of the working day.

  1. Keep a water bottle next to your work desk at all times

If you want to stay mentally alert throughout your working days, it’s well worth purchasing a reusable water bottle, which you’ll be able to fill up at your office’s water cooler. As you’re far more likely to keep hydrated, if you have fresh water on hand, rather than if you have to walk to a water cooler or an office kitchen, in order to pour yourself a cup of water.

  1. Consider walking or cycling to work, instead of driving or catching public transportation

Another way to remain physically active, whilst working a 9 to 5 office job is to forgo driving to work or catching public transport, in favor of either walking or cycling to work. Depending of course, on how far the commute is from your home to your office. As a bonus, not only will you dramatically increase your fitness by walking or cycling to work but you’ll also eliminate most of your transportation costs!

  1. Take the stairs to your office’s floor instead of catching an elevator

Another easy way to increase your mental alertness and your fitness level is to get into the habit of taking the stairs to get to your office, instead of taking an elevator. As taking the stairs will get your blood pumping, which will help you keep focused and alert and will burn a fair number of calories.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not impossible to stay mentally and physically fit if you work a traditional office job. Simply follow the four health-related work tips listed above in order to get started.

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What An Answering Service Does For Your Business

It’s possible you’ve either used or experienced an answering service at some point in your life. As technology continues to move forward, answering services can benefit your company in many different ways.

Global Resources Consultants present the following five ways that an answering service can benefit your small business.

Collecting Leads

Lead collection is critical to linking potential customers with your product/service. We know how difficult it can be to keep up with the influx of phone calls that small businesses receive on a daily basis. With missed phone calls comes missed leads.

It’s known that nearly nine out of ten people will not call you back if you fail to answer the phone. Think of it this way: if you don’t value their time, why would they care to give you business?

With an answering service, you don’t have to do this all alone. The answering services of today capture information exactly as you need it and hand deliver it right to your inbox. This will for sure increase your success. The other great benefit: answering services are working 24/7, around the clock for you.

Processing Orders

As a small business owner, I’m sure you’ve been obligated to take orders in the evenings or even on the weekends. Rather than using all of your precious time, an answering service can handle those orders for you. Since over-the-phone is generally viewed as the quickest and most efficient way to place an order, sales will constantly be processed.

Answering services have ways of inputting orders using either their own custom software or your sales portal.

Brand Integration

Sure, we know you’ve avoided answering services because you think agents pull customers away from YOUR brand. Well, you’d be surprised at how seamless and effective agents of today sound over the phone. Most people will just assume that he/she is working in-house.

Scheduling Appointments 

With your busy schedule, you likely don’t have enough time to take calls and manage your own calendar. Answering services can handle the back-end logistical work for you, while you focus on scaling your business.

Reporting Calls

An answering service provides call reports that lay out all of the nitty gritty details of incoming calls. This report includes, but is not limited to, number of calls, duration, geographic location and any end result(s).

Recap

Answering services of today will not only save you time and money, they will also help you collect leads, process orders, schedule appointments and provide great caller insights. This time-saving tool will help you scale your business and earn more profits.

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4 Places To Head To With Kids In Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia. Its vibrant culture, mystical temples, exciting cuisine all combine to draw millions of travelers to Bangkok. Bangkok is also the gateway to many exotic islands and beaches of Thailand. The fact that Thailand is a backpacker friendly country only adds to the allure of the destination. Considering the pre-eminence of Bangkok and Thailand as popular tourist destinations there is no dearth of flight connectivity options. Also with the emergence of the budget airlines getting to Bangkok has become more and more easier. One can easily book Mumbai to Bangkok flights at affordable price or fly in from any city at reasonable prices. Though Bangkok is known for massage parlours and nightlife, it is still a city where one can head to with family and kids. Here we take a look at some of the places to head to with kids in tow.

Safari World

‘The world of happiness”. That is what the tagline of Safari World says. And it is indeed true looking at the varied experiences that await the visitors, young and old. The highlight of Safari World is undoubtedly the Safari Park. A drive through the park which lasts about forty five minutes gets one close to wild animals like lions, bears, tigers, zebras, and giraffes. Watching the animals free and in natural environs is a thrilling experience. Marine park is another attraction that will enthrall kids.

The Marine Park is home to many aquatic animals and stages different shows which include shows involving the antics of Sea Lions. The Jungle Cruise is a ride in a boat on a man-made river where the creatures of the jungle come alive, dangerous tribals lurk in the bushes, and explosions in the water shake your. A clever use of animatronics will leave the kids thrilled and asking for more. Kids will also love the opportunity of feeding animals like giraffe and zebras with their own hands.

The badlands of the Wild West come alive in a brilliantly choreographed and staged stunt show which sees extreme action. Horses gallop, cowboys draw their guns, bandits engage in gunfights. In short the Wild West emerges right in front of your eyes. The communication between Man and birds comes alive in spectacular bird shows which leaves one amazed. All these attractions and shows ensure that kids will return tired but laughing after a day well spent.

Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World 

The Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World provides a literal and immersive experience of the fascinating underwater world. It takes the experience of interacting with the creatures of the Sea to an altogether different level with innovative and interactive activities. Walk with the sharks with just a thin sheet of acrylic separating the visitors from the sharks in the Shark Walk. The Coral Reef zone opens up a fascinating world resplendent with corals and rainbow hued beings that will endear themselves to kids and adults alike. Witness the camouflaging abilities of the Giant Pacific Octopus and the Giant Spider Crab in their rocky hideout. The visit to the Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World would not be complete without being fascinated by the cute little penguins in the Ice Adventure zone. For a brief time you will feel as if you are in Antarctica itself. A day at the Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World is guaranteed to bring smiles to the faces of kids and adults.

Lumpini Park

The Lumini park is a large park with open spaces and playgrounds that are spread over One hundred and forty two acres. The Lumpini Park has a lake where one can do paddle boating. The kids can run around freely in the park and play to their heart’s content. The Lumpini Park also has Thai and Western music which entertains visitors. The Lumpini Park is a great open park which is a great place to spend the evening with family and kids.

Siam Park City

The Siam City Park is an amusement and water park in Bangkok which is the favourite of kids. Both locals and tourists head there to have a fun experience. Apart from the normal rides and slides that you find in most amusement parks and water parks around the world, what is of special interest are the different shows that are staged here. These include Ice Skating by performers from England, Magic shows from the United States, Puppetry shows from China, and Circus performances from Russia. The Siam Park City consists of a Water park, X-Zone which has land rides that will thrill the wits out of the kids and adults alike, Family World with different types of roller coasters and trains that promise fun for the entire family. There is also a Fantasy World and a Small World that caters to providing fun experiences to the tiny tots.

So if you thought that Bangkok is not the place to travel to with kids, think again, the experiences described above and many more are waiting to enthrall them.

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5 Top Tips For Opening A Fitness Business

If you’re considering opening your own fitness business there’s a lot of things to think about before taking the plunge.

You’ll have an idea in your mind of what you want, but determining whether the idea makes commercial sense and is sustainable is extremely important.

Read on for our top five tips to help you get your new fitness business off the ground.

Lay the foundations

Start the planning stage by completing a comprehensive budget. Equipment costs are the obvious place to start, but don’t forget other outgoings like marketing, utility bills and insurance.

Speak to owners of similar sized gyms to get their advice about some of the potential pitfalls in the industry.

Boost your budget by taking advantage of Pala Casino offers to generate extra income and seek independent financial advice to make sure your budget stacks up.

Use a design service

A full design service offers customers the opportunity to see full 3D images of what their gym will look like prior to placing an order.

Engineers will attend site, assess your equipment needs and take full measurements. From there, they will prepare you a full 3D Cad designed presentation and a quote for you to approve.

Use a company who can also audit your equipment – this is particularly useful if you expand your business over more than one site.

For a more corporate look, you could consider colour coding your upholstery and incorporating embroidered gym logos.

Don’t skimp on servicing

Regular servicing and maintenance of gym equipment reduces the number of breakdowns and increases the longevity of equipment, preventing costly repair and replacement.

Each item of equipment should be serviced twice a year to meet the strict industry health and safety requirements.

There are different levels of service plans you can utilise. These include ad hoc, annual scheduled service agreements, all-inclusive contracts, audit servicing and full estate management.

Invest in your website

It can be tempting to try and cut corners to keep costs down, but investing resources into a regularly updated website will help you attract new members.

Making a strong first impression is vital in any industry, while ensuring it’s easy for people to find details about your services keeps existing members happy too.

Publishing regular features about what’s happening at your facility builds a sense of community, aids customer retention and boosts your hopes of seeing new members sign up.

Get social

Establishing and maintaining a strong social media presence is crucial to the success of any business.

Facebook and Twitter are now many people’s first port of call when they’re looking for information. Keeping these platforms updated is an easy way to attract new members and engage with existing ones.

Creating social content helps you advertise your business and provides effective targeted marketing as members share your posts with their family and friends.

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The Essential Factors You Should Consider When Choosing A Fruit Juice Supplier

If you have a business dealing with fruit juices, then one of your goals is to find a good supplier. Fruit juice is readily produced by a lot of manufacturers, however, and this is where it can become quite confusing – which fruit juice manufacturer should you choose? If you are having difficulty finding the right supplier and would like to make sure that you choose the best, here are the essential factors you should consider.

Their own processing site – or a good partner

One of the key factors you should look for when looking for a fruit juice supplier is their operations and partners. If they have their own processing site for fruit juice, then you’ve certainly hit the jackpot. This means that they are fully aware and in control of the manufacturing process, and they know where their fruit is sourced. This is a very good sign, and it also means that they may be able to give you a better price because they are the source and not just the middleman. If you can’t find fruit juice manufacturers which have their own processing site, you can at least opt for one which has a long-standing partnership with a producer.

Proper storage and delivery

You should also look for fruit juice manufacturers and suppliers which have a proper storage process and solution. With proper storage, the juice can stay fresh and retain its quality even if it is not immediately sold or delivered. The same is true for the delivery of the fruit juice – the supplier should have a good delivery system in place, one that ensures that the juice stays fresh.

A wide variety

It would also benefit you if the fruit juice manufacturer and supplier can provide you with a wide variety of fruit juices from which to choose. This not only goes for the fruit ingredients themselves, but also for the type of fruit juice which they can supply, such as fruit puree, fruit juice concentrate, not from concentrate fruit juice, and even deionised concentrates and fruit aromas. This will ensure that whatever you need, the fruit juice manufacturer will be able to provide it.

The cost

Of course, the cost of the fruit juice will always be an important factor. Look for a supplier which can provide you with what you need in bulk, as this can mean some good discounts. But whilst the cost is important, it’s also important not to make sacrifices in quality. You may be opting for cheaper fruit juice, but this can have a detrimental effect on your business in the end. There needs to be a balance between cost and quality, and if you have found a good manufacturer, they will most probably give you a good price if you can establish a long-standing partnership with them.

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Is A Personal Loan Right For You?

Let’s be truthful. Life happens. Sometimes, events that are out of our control occur, causing us to have unexpected costs and expenses arise. Many people may feel that taking out a personal loan isn’t in the best option of the person needing it, but sometimes, a personal loan may be the only option. If you find that you are needing to take out a personal loan, it’s important to become educated about the ins and outs of the personal loan that you are seeking. Before you take out that loan, as yourself these questions to see if a personal loan is a right choice for you.

  1. What is the purpose of the personal loan? Are you needing it to pay off a large debt that has high APR, or are you thinking it may be more of a smaller need, such as helping to repair something on your car? Regardless, knowing your purpose of wanting a loan is important because it will help you stay within the limits of the amount of money that you are wanting to borrow.
  2. Become educated about how much you truly need to borrow. If you are wanting to take out a loan for a car repair, you want to make certain that you don’t borrow more than necessary because you will be paying interest for every dollar and cent that you borrow. Get an estimate of the amount that you need, and then seek out the info to see if you can qualify for that amount through a company that specializes in personal loans such as https://aaacreditguide.com/personal-loans/lendingtree/.
  3. How long will it take you to repay the loan? While you may not always get to choose the length of your loan, you need to ask yourself how long you think you will honestly take to be able to pay it back. Some loan companies offer longer terms that they payments can be spread out on, so it’s important to do your research and find out which company will work best with you and for you.
  4. Understand how the loan can impact your credit and payment history. If you fail to pay on time or pay the term of the loan, there are consequences that can occur that can impact you and your credit. Don’t borrow outside of your means of ability to repay, plain and simple.
  5. Shop around to make certain that you are getting the best possible APR for the amount of your loan. Different companies offer different APR’s (annual percentage rates) depending on different factors. Ask the questions that are important to you when speaking to these companies and make your choice based upon facts.

There may be a point in time in your life that you are in need of a personal loan. While there are many options out there to obtain the loan, it’s important that you research and get educated on what is best for you and your financial abilities and goals. Ask the questions, listen and process the answers, and then make the best choice for you.

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Promotional Gifts: The Key To Profitability For A Business

Promotional items are key to achieving the profitability of a business. They are perfect for attracting new clients, rewarding loyalty of current customers, increasing brand awareness, and offering a stable and unified image of a company.

A customer who receives a gift from a company feels valued by it: it is a way to build loyalty. In addition, word of mouth remains the most useful strategy. The most likely thing is that the client speaks well of the company that gave the gift. That is, brand awareness is increased, and it is possible to attract new customers through this form of marketing.

On the other hand, a company that has personalised uniforms, personalised writing materials and stationery, offers a strong and stable external image. It offers a coherent “corporate image”.

Here are just three promotional gifts that you should consider using for your business:

Personalised agendas

Personalised agendas are not just an accessory in which you can note important contact numbers or information. They are much more.

This promotional gift is especially useful but, in addition, it is very accessible for a company. It is an economic and practical gift that is always welcome.

On the other hand, one of the greatest advantages of personalised agendas is that they are not a static object. They usually travel where the owner goes. It is a perfect way for a company’s logo to impact third parties and, in this way, increase brand awareness.

Personalised pens

Personalised pens are a classic, but they are useful and functional. Customising this promotional item is a way to send a message.

One of the biggest advantages of personalised pens is their ability to adapt to a large number of situations, regardless of the client’s profile. That is, it is a gift that will be well received by any type of company or individual because it is always necessary.

On the other hand, it is a way of awakening interest on the part of the client. When making a gift, the receiver feels flattered, so (in many cases) they will want to “return the favour”.

Personalised bags and backpacks

Personalised bags and backpacks can be considered a mobile advertising item. Your company logo will travel wherever your personalised promotional items travel. Of course, it is not the same as an item which travels stored in a suitcase or bag, as a personalized bag or backpack travels in full view of everyone.

Like the bags of clothing stores, electronics stores, etc., the personalised backpack will extend brand awareness wherever it travels, as it is visible at all times.

Promotional merchandise is perfect for increasing the brand awareness of a company, to retain existing customers and attract new ones, but not all promotional items are adapted to any company. In many cases, the choice of the ideal item can be the catapult to achieve certain business objectives.

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6 Essential Things To Organise A Corporate Event

If you are planning to have a meeting with people interested in your company, you should follow the following tips.

Organising a corporate event can be a great challenge, especially if it is a project for a first-time entrepreneur who does not know all the details that should be taken into account. However, experts say that the key to making an event a success (whether it is with your employees, investors, potential clients or associates) is that it should be a great experience.

Beyond the corporate gift bags that you are going to give away, if you are going to use a corporate event to communicate something, you must make sure it is a memorable experience. To achieve this, as in almost everything in the business world, you must pay close attention to the details.

Here are the key elements that you must keep in mind so that those attending your event remember you forever.

  1. Number of participants, age, and gender

It may seem obvious, but beyond knowing only the number of participants to determine the location and quantity of necessary inputs, the fact of taking into account age and gender is essential to adapt the activities to the public. If you take into account the target audience, you will achieve the full attention of your audience.

  1. Objective of the event

This helps you to start planning it. It can be to reward the staff of your company, motivate the team, launch a product, celebrate an anniversary, or end of the year party. All events have an objective and the activities that take place must be aimed at achieving it.

  1. Budget

No matter if you decide to organise the event yourself or hire a specialist company, you must take into account from the beginning the budget for the event to develop a proposal for activities and general development of the event. Always try to do more with less. It is important to have or develop agreements with suppliers to maximise resources.

  1. Define the venue

Once you have defined the above details, you should look for a place to celebrate your event. You must take into account the schedules and ease of arrival to the location, or, if the place is not easily accessible, look for transportation options to offer attendees.

  1. Agenda of the event

Having a schedule of specific activities helps the organisers to keep track of essential elements of the development of the event such as venue rental, catering hire, AV rental and other required services. Having a schedule also allows quick decisions in case, for some reason, one of the presentations or planned elements does not go as planned.

  1. Planning schedule

Finally, it is important to remember that the realisation of a successful event, whatever it may be and with the objective that it is intended to achieve, should begin, if possible, at least three months in advance of the event to allow sufficient time to plan all the necessary elements, and to ensure you will be successful with your business event.