Blog |
05-17-2013 - Why Renting a Condo or House is Better Than a Hotel
When vacation time comes around every year, people are often given two weeks to spend wherever they want. However, when the destination is chosen the next big decision to make is where to stay. Many people begin to seek out hotels in the city they are going to be spending their time in, but is a hotel really the best place to stay? Though hotels offer many amenities to their guests, they do not cover everything a family needs to make their duration as comfortable as possible. The newest trend in travel is to rent a condo, and here is more information on why renting a condo is the new and preferred way to stay while vacationing.
Space. Hotel rooms can be great places to spend a vacation, but if you have more than two people that rented room can suddenly seem very tiny. Even if a family has two rooms that are linked together, there still may not be enough space for everyone to feel comfortable. By choosing to rent a condo, a family can have all the space they need and more.
What you get for your money. A place that is a popular tourist destination may have many hotels to choose from, but what are the conditions of these places? That great hotel you saw on the website might not be what the place actually looks like now thanks to thousands of tourists that rent the room every year. Often times condos are under property management, which means that they have to be constantly kept up to date and looking their best so the property is not losing its value.
Amenities. If a family is going to spending up to two weeks at a certain place, what happens when the clean clothes start to run out? Though a hotel may offer a laundry service, the rate for having those clothes laundered may be extremely expensive. The property management that takes care of condos makes sure they are clean and all their appliances are functioning properly. Renting a condo will ensure that the family will not have to worry about spending a lot of money for clean clothes because the condo will have a washer and dryer that the family is free to use.
What's best? Hotel rooms are what families rent whenever they go somewhere for vacation. However, as convenient as a hotel room is, there is an even better option. A more economical way for a group of people to spend their holiday may be to consider renting a condominium instead. Condos are a better choice for a vacation destination because they offer great features that a hotel room cannot compete with. The idea of a vacation is to relax and have fun, and renting a condo for that trip will give a family everything that need at a much better price.
| |
12-27-2012 - A simplified TripAngle....
Over the hectic holidays we at TripAngle have been working hard to get TripAngle launched and become the best travel site out there. Over the past couple months we have implemented new features and, overall, made TA much simpler to use. What this means to you is that we are one step closer to launching fully and taking the industry by storm. For now stay tuned and check out some of our new FAQ videos by clicking the link above or follow us on our YouTube channel .
Most of all we want to wish you and yours happy holidays! -TripAngle Team | |
11-13-2012 - Top 5 Winter Travel Destinations
Travel & tourism is never restricted to a specific state, country or even a continent. It is not only impossible to pick only 5 winter travel destinations in the world but also almost impossible to pick the top 5 in the US or in the UK. Hence, here are the top 5 winter travel destinations on a broader scale. The five names on the list are the best according to travelers, travel magazines and from the perspective of winter holidays and vacation rentals. It is imperative to consider all perspectives while consolidating such a list and that is exactly what we have done here.
Quebec in Winter.
Canada
Canada is the place to be in during winters. Now, Canada winters can be extremely harsh and brutal but that is what makes the country a haven for winter sports. Most people who like to travel to winter destinations would want to indulge in skiing or sledging and a number of other winter sports. Canada has one of the longest winter seasons in the world. This implies that you are likely to get the snow capped terrains for the longest period of time, in North America. Furthermore, it is the infrastructure of the country that makes it an ideal choice. You would get the best vacation rentals as well as affordable ones. It is highly unlikely that your holiday would get snowed in when you head to Canada.
Swiss Alps.
Switzerland
The Swiss Alps is anyone's favorite. If you do not spend at least one winter holiday in Switzerland then you are going to miss one of the biggest treats you can have in life. There is really no need to illustrate why Switzerland makes the list when most people around the world would expect it to be at number one.
Breckenridge, Co. Rental House.
Colorado
Colorado is home to some of the finest vacation rentals and ski resorts in the US. Home to the Rocky Mountains, Colorado should be the on top of the must do winter vacations for Americans as well as for foreign tourists.
Sydney Opera House Winter Lights.
Australia
Australia is your haven as a winter travel destination if you choose to do without the chill and snow that is associated with the northern hemisphere or if you wish to have a winter vacation during summers in the north. With its topography and unique settings, Australia is anyway one of the most popular holiday destinations of the world.
Tavern in Dublin, Ireland.
Ireland
Entire Ireland comes to life during winters. The pubs, festivities, warm camaraderie and everything about Ireland makes it a paradise during winters. | |
10-02-2012 - 10 Tips for Traveling Abroad
Although the summer has officially come to a close, many people are still gearing up for travel in the fall and winter. Sometimes the best way to see many parts of the world is during the slow times that affords a great trip and meaningful adventures. Today we have compiled some of the top 10 things to consider when traveling abroad. Wherever your travels take you be sure to pack this list and take TripAngle with you!
Bring and Leave your Passport. It is always a good idea to make copies of your passport and leave a few copies at home as well as take them with you. If something happens or your passport gets misplaced your will go through a lot of hassle to get back into the country.
Currency Transactions. Although most places in the world do accept the USD, it is not always preferred and you may pay a higher price for an item. Check exchange rates online before traveling so there are no surprises when you arrive. You will see currency exchange terminals before you exit customs, don't exchange here! The companies that are inside customs pay a premium to be there and that will be passed on to you! Another high premium for exchange is in your hotel.
Charger Adaptor. We are so used to traveling with electronics we don't think about where that power comes from. If you are traveling in many places in Europe and South America be sure to bring the appropriate power adapter to fit in the plug. Retailers in foreign countries can charge a premium for these since many people forget them!
Diversify your clothes. We have all heard the horror stories about a family losing their luggage on a 10-day vacation. Although this is rare it does happen. It is best to pack half of your clothes in a suitcase if you are traveling with someone. Another option is to pack a few pair of clothes in a carry on.
Travel Insurance. When you are spending thousands of dollars on a trip it is well worth the 5-10% fee travel insurance costs. TripAngle offers travel insurance and we recommend using Travel Guard .
Travel Advice-Country Specific. Wherever your travel take you be sure to research the country and know local specifics. A great resource that tailors travel tips to the specific region/country you are traveling in is the Foreign & Commonwealth Office .
"Travel Light for your Flight." The best thing about traveling is the ease of transport. It is better to travel as light as possible than to be weighed down with 5 bags, 50 lbs. each. Let's be honest: we have all seen that person with many bags fighting their way through customs and being, well, a hassle.
Native Language. Make it your priority to learn 10 common phrases in the language your host country speaks. Simple phrases like hello, goodbye, bar, and (god forbid) help! can go a long way.
Be aware of time zones. Many times when people fly it is easy to get jet lagged or lose track of time. When you are flying across multiple time zones be sure to invest in a watch (or smartphone) to help you keep track of the local time. You don't want to be the person running to your flight gate because you though it was 2:00pm when really it was 6:00pm.
Finally....
Don't be a "tourist." It is always hilarious to see tourists in various countries stumbling around and standing out from the crowd. Most American's that travel to Europe (or most places in the world) leave us with a bad name. This primarily because when we travel we wear what we do in the U.S: cut-off jeans, boots, and other "American" styles. Research the local dress and blend in...no one likes a soar thumb!
Keywords: International Travel, Top 10 Tips to travel, International, airplane, tripangle, tourist, TripAngle Blog, Travel Abroad. | |
09-19-2012 - TripAngle Infographic
| |
08-27-2012 - Choose a Property Management Company or TripAngle?
Typically the largest purchase most consumers will make in their lives involves some sort of real estate transaction. Whether it is a primary residence, investment, or rental property (both) it can be one of the largest decisions that you may make.
If you have, or are thinking about buying a rental property for investment purposes it is essential that you have someone as concerned with it as you are. Many owners decide to take up the management side of renting their property, because who cares more about your money then you do?
Deciding Factors
Management companies bring obvious advantages to the table: organization, man-power, cleaning crews, and advertising. And allow owners to own a rental property (most of the time) with peace of mind that their investment is being well managed. This, of course, all comes at a cost: management fee. Management have to make their money somehow and typically this involves a fee based on percentage or revenue generated. This leaves the owner in a conundrum; should we forgo the lost revenue (paid to the management company) or time.
Everything is Give and Take
The decision must be made to pay for a management company or devote time to curating (in a sense) your property. Your guest wants to feel like they are being taken care of in all aspects: professionally, cleanliness, and responsiveness. All of these things take time, but there are ways owners can forgo management fees and lessen time on their property while still providing the qualities I mentioned above.
When Should you Consider a Management Company
As I begin this section of the blog I want to do a simple compare/contrast of scenarios I encounter with owners everyday. I will put the opposite (non-traditional/TripAngle approach) in bold.
1. You don’t think you have time. A management company has time, they also have your money. TripAngle automizes nearly everything needed to manage your property. In fact most owners that use our system spend less than 1 hr. per week managing their property.
2. You don’t live near your rental/investment. So you hire a management company in town to handle business, and pay them royally for it. The world is “flat,” this is a globalized world we live in that revolves around the internet. So, you use TripAngle, whether 50 miles or 5,000 you are in full control of pictures, descriptions, responses and guest satisfaction. YOU ensure your investment pays for itself (and then some). Your “eyes on the ground” is the cleaning company you hire (see my blog below this entitled “Who are your "Eyes on the Ground?".
3. You can afford the cost. Management companies charge anywhere from 15-50% and I see it everyday in my line of work. Many owners don’t mind, or can afford, this cost. Why? Any smart investor will tell you: limit your costs and increase your profits. Reinvest some of that revenue you would be giving up to make your property the best on the block...and watch your rental rates increase. This is TripAngle.
Ultimately the choice is yours...it is your investment and no one can tell you what to do with your money. I do know in an uncertain economy it is smarter to limit your costs and maximize your profits because lord knows not many people are getting great ROI (return on investment) nowadays.
If you have had any experience (good/bad) with management companies contact me: dgisriel@tripangle.com
Keywords: Management company, TripAngle, Automated Booking Software, Automated Real Estate, Save Money on Real Estate, Increase Investment Profits, Save Money, Waste Money, Rent Condo, Automated Property Management. | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
