From 2008 to 2009, the travel industry in Italy experienced a ten percent decline as tourism receipts fell by four billion pounds. What was the problem? The obvious explanation was the global recession. But unlike most European nations, Italy did not record a decline in the total number of arrivals. In fact, international guests actually increased. The only problem was that they didn't spend nearly as much on their trips.

How did they accomplish this awesome feat? Because of their many exclusive restaurants and hotels, visiting metropolitan areas in Italy can be quite expensive. Fortunately, many hotels were compelled to reduce their rates in the midst and in the wake of the global recession.

On average, hotel rates are up to ten percent less, even in the Eternal City, Rome. As you may know, Rome remains the most visited city in all of Italy. Each year, over three million tourists, eighty percent of them from Europe, come to Rome. How can you find cheap properties? (more...)

After France and Spain, Italy is the most visited country in all of Europe. Each year, more than forty million guests tour its most famous cities. These tourists spend around thirty billion pounds per year, which makes them vital to the Italian economy.

Unfortunately, like most nations that rely on revenue from tourism, Italy has suffered mightily during the global recession. From 2008 to 2009, for example, the tourism industry in Italy fell by nearly four billion pounds, or ten percent. Will the numbers improve? That's hard to say.

Around eighty percent of the tourists that come to Italy are from Europe. And though most of these countries have emerged from the recession, they are still battling record levels of debt and unemployment. The UK, for example, has seen a decrease in foreign tourism of twelve percent. The same trend seems to extend to vacation rental apartments (more...)

If you own or work in a hotel which has an international clientele, then you will know that English is the language which most people of different countries will use to communicate in. As this is the case, it is important that the people that work in the hotel also speak English to some level.

Hotel English for staff and owners is essential if you wish to give your customers the best possible experience whilst they stay at your hotel. Fortunately, this need not be expensive, and there are now innovative ways to learn English which are surprisingly affordable.

One of the best ways, is for English teachers to stay at your hotel for a period of a week or more. Whilst there, they will assess the staff, and either teach English specific for use in hotels, or suggest ways in which the English that the staff already speak can be refined. (more...)

Kenya is fast becoming a thriving tourist destination. Famed for its beautiful stretches of coastline, and for its magnificent national parks, people from all over Europe and America come to the country to experience some of Africa's finest natural landscapes.

Visitors to Kenya find themselves, as in any holiday destination, faced with a choice of accommodation styles. They can stay in hotels in the city, in game reserve accommodation or in apartments in Nairobi Each of these has its own set of pros and cons, and each will suit a different set of priorities.

While Kenya's cities are not usually the first sight tourists come to the country to see, they are thriving and lively centres of contemporary urban activity. There are hotels in Nairobi which meet world class standards, and the available apartments are, perhaps, even better. (more...)

Despite our differences, France is a popular holiday destination for visitors from the UK. Perhaps this is because of its closeness, but also, should we dare to admit it, that the French are in fact quite similar to us.

Whilst the south of France is always a major draw, so are the elegant and charming cities. In particular, locally owned apartments are extremely popular, whether for a long, romantic weekend or for a week.

Paris has a lot to offer, and of course, a wide range of hotels to choose from when staying there as well. From small boutique hotels, up to the grand five star establishments, there is something for everyone's taste and budget. (more...)

If you’ve managed to grab a great holiday to Rutland Water, then the chances are that you’re going to be looking for different things to do in this beautiful area of Britain rather than just munch your way through a few sandwiches as part of a nice picnic, then the chances are that you’re going to be looking for different things to do in this beautiful area of Britain. Luckily for you, we’ve come up with this guide on the wide variety of potential activities available to any Rutland holidaymakers!

If you’re someone who really loves to get involved with trains and other locomotives, then you might well want to check into the Rutland Railway Museum, which is a veritable treasure trove of wagons, vans, drag lines and other steam and diesel trains. As well as this, they also have a variety of different special days.

Any green-fingered members of the population should certainly take a look at the home gardens of the legendary BBC2 gardener Geoff Hamilton, based at the Barnsdale gardens. Comprising of 37 smaller individual gardens and blended together by the linking borders, it’s a wonderful place to see. As well as this, it also has a café, a gift shop and a nursery for the little ones. (more...)

Paris is commonly known as the city of love which explains why so many people choose Paris as the perfect holiday destination. There are many attractions in Paris such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. Paris is also known for its many museums. One of the most famous museums of the city is surely the Louvre. Paris is also known for its many eateries and shopping outlets.

All in all, a visit to Paris is definitely worth every penny spent on it but you need to make sure that you have the right place to stay. There is a common misconception that there are only expensive Paris hotels . There are expensive as well as cheap hotels in Paris. The choice of hotels in Paris is huge, so it can be useful to think in advance where you would want to stay. Some of the things to take into consideration when choosing the perfect hotel are: your budget, the location and transportation.

The location of a hotel normally determines how expensive or cheap it is. Hotels in the more popular places are more expensive that hotels in the remote places. It is understandable that many would want to stay around the more popular sites but in Paris, you do not need to stay in or around the more popular places. Paris has a good subway system that is not too expensive. As long as there is a metro station near your hotel, you can get everywhere with ease. Apart from the metro station, you can also travel to wherever you want to by bus, tram and train. You can also rent bikes for a small cost. (more...)

Going on holiday can be a serious expense and we all need to save money where ever we can so we can spend it on things that we'll like - like sightseeing and eating out, right? Apart from the cost of travelling to a particular destination (especially if you are flying) your biggest expense will be accommodation.

Hotels can be ridiculously expensive, especially in peak season when they push their rates up even more. While people without children are lucky enough to be able to apply for leave when they please, the rest of the population has to deal with hiked rates. Bed and Breakfasts are a popular alternative to hotels and offer more intimacy than generic hotels. Unfortunately they don't often work for groups or families travelling together. Holiday rentals on the other hand, and they seem to offer the perfect, value for money alternative to hotels.

The question about whether they offer better value than hotels has to be answered, however obvious it may seem. Especially if you plan on travelling to neighbouring France. (more...)