Have you heard what happening at Holiday Letting Shop ?

Holiday Letting Shop owner, Sharon Jackson, has introduced a new retail travel partnership between the Holiday Letting Shop and her newly acquired retail travel agency RubyBlue Travel Limited.




Sharon added, "After acquiring the retail travel agency, it made sense to form a partnership with the two products and offer our Holiday letting Shop customers an even greater service as part of the RubyBlue Group".

Holiday Letting Shop Customers will also benefit with discounts and special offers from the travel agency when they deposit or rent their accommodation through Holiday Letting Shop.



Sharon also added "I have decided to take the business in a new direction and expand our whole travel services package; I believe that both products enhance each other perfectly and this is a natural progression for the group".



"We have a team of designers working on our new website at the moment as part of the whole development plan, and I am very excited about the re-launch of the new and improved Holiday Letting Shop".

10 top things to do in Tenerife



Tenerife - the island of eternal sunshine

Located 200 km off the north west African coast, (though a Spanish Autonomous region), Tenerife is the largest of the seven main Canary Islands. Known for its diversity, Tenerife is several worlds rolled into one. The sunny tourist orientated south of the island boasts the majority of the beaches and virtually continuous sunshine. Daily temperatures range from typically 24 C in the winter to 34 C in the height of the summer.
Nowadays, this island of eternal sunshine is better known as a destination of world-class beaches, unbeatable nightlife, luxurious spas, fabulous trekking, jaw-dropping scenery, year-round golfing and yes, believe it or not – a thriving cultural scene, especially at the eye-popping Tenerife Auditorium!



Mount Teide Summit by PeterNijenhuis.

The main resorts in the sunnier south are Playa de Las Americas, Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje. In the more verdant north, Puerto de la Cruz rules the roost, with the fishing village of Garachico drawing in day-trippers and holidaymakers keen to experience the world-renowned and chic Hotel San Roque. In the northwest Los Gigantes still lures those seeking seaside solitude.
Wherever you’re based though, don’t miss a trip into the interior where you’ll discover tiny whitewashed hamlets hiding beneath a fringe of pines and the surreal landscape surrounding Mount Teide, the third largest volcano in the world.

 

So once you have arrived on the island and are looking for something to do other than sun bathing, what is available? Here is our top ten of the best things to do while you are on holiday in Tenerife.  

1. Mount Teide & National Park - No visit to Tenerife is complete without at least a drive through the pine forests to the bizarre lunar landscape of one of Spain's most popular national parks. And of course, once there, you can't miss the volcano. Not just any volcano though. Mount Teide is the world's third largest standing at a towering 3718m above sea level. This dormant volcano last errupted 1909. The National Park is the most visited in Spain. A cable car can be taken to within a 200 metres of the top, access can be gained for free by visiting the Park office in Santa Cruz in person.




Siam Water Park


2. Siam Park - The owners of Loro Parque outdid themselves with this amazing Thai themed waterpark which blew it's competitor Aqualand, quite literally, out of the water. Named as one of the best 10 water parks in the world, if you like your thrills and spills wet, you have just got to go to this water park with loads of scream-inducing rides and slides, a gigantic wave pool complete with gold sand beach, and a mini-aquatic park just for kids.

3. Loro Parque - Home to over 700 parrots, Loro Parque is a superb day trip destination. Here you'll find, dophins, tigers, whales, gorillas, sharks, sea lions - and the largest population of penguins outside the Arctic. Wander through the jungle walkways in the free flight aviary of Katandra Treetops. In Katandra Treetops you can meet emus, cockatoos, kookaburras and many other exotic birds.This is one of Tenerife's top attractions and a day out you'll never forget. Located in Puerto De La Cruz in the north of Tenerife. Buy your tickets in advance here and you will save on the entry price.

4. Whale & Dolphin Safari - The waters between Tenerife and La Gomera are one of the few places in the world where you are pretty much guaranteed to spot the resident population of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins. There are many boats from either Los Cristianos or Puerto Colon harbour who will take you a few miles off the coast of Tenerife where you can see whales and dolphins close up.




Masca


5. Masca - Tenerife's very own Shangri-la. This picturesque village cligns precariously to the side of the mountains in the north-west of Tenerife, hidden from the rest of civilisation and looking very much like it did centuries ago. A switchback road corksrews up and down to the the village from Santiago del Teide, so if you're of a nervous disposition you might want to close your eyes (not if you're the driver obviously).
6. Island Tour - Take a day tour of the island to see the diversity of the island for yourself. Most tours take in Candelaria and the basilica in the church, Puerto De La Cruz & Icod De Los Vinos, Buenavista, Los Gigantes & Masca the lost village.

7. Golf - If you're a fan of golf, then Golf del Sur is where you should head. Of the courses available, one of the best is Playa Del Americas, with Golf del Sur getting a special mention for its tranquil feel. Within easy reach you'll also find Amirilla and Adeje - both of which offer an entertaining round of golf. If the sport's your thing, feel free to ignore the other things to do in Tenerife and make this your sole focus!
8. Shopping - In Tenerife's larger towns you will find lots of mainstream shops, but there are also plenty of opportunities to buy locally made crafts and produce. Hand-rolled cigars made from island tobacco are available including novelty half-metre long ones. In the past one of Tenerife's main industries was wine-making but today these wines are hard to find abroad; head to Casa del Vino La Baranda at El Sauzal to pick up a bottle or two. You can buy traditional Canarian outfits from shops such as Artenerife at the port in Puerto de la Cruz and several shops in the town sell quality contemporary fashion. Embroidery is an island speciality, with detailed tablecloths and cushion covers sold from a number of outlets. Pearl Jewellery is another traditional craft; Tenerife Pearl at Armenime has a range of pearl on sale and an exhibition showing their finest examples. There are markets on every Sunday down at the promenade in Los Christianos. They sell everything from fake bags, perfume, jewelry and anything else that the tourist will buy and bring home as presents. They have markets every Thursday and Saturday in Torviscas which are the same as Los Chistianos so If you miss the Sunday market you can go there. The markets on a  Sunday start at about 9-10am and finish up at about 2pm.




Tenerife Carnival


9. Carnival - The pre-Lent carnival is the biggest festival on the island, with Latin American-style festivities filling Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz. If you are lucky to be on the island at this time, there are two weeks of flamboyant fancy dress parties, parades and firework displays culminating on Shrove Tuesday with a grand parade. Outrageous costumes, singing and dancing are the order of the day at a carnival that is probably the best outside of Rio de Janeiro. The party draws to a close on Ash Wednesday with El Entierro de la Sardina, the burial of the sardine, a comedy funeral with silly costumes and pretend mourning.




La Gomera


10. Day trip to La Gomera - Try to fit in a trip over to the small island of Gomera, to the south west of Tenerife. Take the ferry or hydrofoil from Los Christianos and lose yourself in the natural wonders of the Parque Nacional de Garajonay. An ancient laurel forest lies at the heart of this 10,000-acre national park where a magical mist is created by the cool Atlantic trade winds clashing with warmer breezes. Little light penetrates the canopy of this dense forest where the trees are swathed in moss and lichen.

Holiday Letting Shop has some superb, luxury holiday accommodation in Tenerife available for 2011. Hollywood Mirage and Regency Country Club are two of the leading resorts on the island and we have some great offers available. Click here for further information.

Your holiday money - be prepared and shop around is good advice

New research from the Office of National Statistics has revealed that UK holidaymakers spent ten per cent less while overseas over the past year. The research calculated that UK travellers' spending while on breaks abroad has declined to £31bn over the past 12 months.

As UK travellers may be watching their spending on holidays abroad, businesses like the Post Office and Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis are reminding them that they can make their foreign currency go further by avoiding foreign exchange commission charges or uncompetitive foreign currency exchange rates. Both advise UK holidaymakers to research the best deals on travel money before heading to the airport to find the best deals on their foreign currency.

The higher costs of foreign currency exchange at airports and poor foreign currency exchange rates in resort hotels or foreign currency kiosks overseas recently ranked as two of the top five holiday 'rip offs' in research from the Post Office. However, many people still wait until reaching the airport before changing their travel money, where less favourable rates of foreign exchange and commission fees are typically levied by bureaux de change.

Research from the Post Office also shows that while spending is down, UK holidaymakers are set to spend £3bn on their credit cards while abroad before the end of 2010. However, the research found that some 4.8 million travel credit card users are likely to face extra charges imposed by credit card companies for using travel credit cards overseas.

Of all UK holidaymakers who plan to use their travel credit cards abroad, almost half (42 per cent) admitted to being unaware as to what it would cost them. When asked why they would be using their travel credit cards while on holiday the research found that 300,000 people claim to use their card abroad because they will have no extra money left after paying for the holiday itself. A quarter of those planning to spend on a travel credit card while abroad will do so in order to top up their spending money after they have used all their cash, and 15 per cent will use their travel credit card to spend more while they are away and then pay it off at a later date.

The Post Office reminds UK holidaymakers that using travel credit cards for spending overseas can sometimes prove expensive as many providers typically charge additional fees for both purchases and cash withdrawals when using travel credit cards abroad.

In order to avoid these charges, the Post Office is advising travellers to shop around for the best deal on their travel credit cards before they depart. Unlike many other providers who charge travel credit card fees, the Post Office offers its travel credit card holders 0% commission on overseas purchases.

Martin Lewis’ top five travel money tips are:

1. Use the right credit card: Most cards add a 3% cost to the exchange rates banks themselves get, yet a few specialist cards don't add this 'load', meaning you get perfect exchange rates beating even the best bureau. Pocket one just for spending overseas, though always repay in full to avoid interest. Take a look at prepaid cards if you don’t have a decent credit score.
2. Never change money at the airport: Airports and ferry terminals tend to give the worst rates, as you’re a captive customer. If you must get it from the airport, pre-order for pick-up to get a better rate (usually possible until four hours beforehand). Better still useLewis’ TravelMoneyMax.com comparison site to find the best possible deal including all fees and any commission.
3. Debit cards can be the worst way to spend: While specialist credit cards give good rates, most don't. And while any card which charges you interest is a bad deal, some debit cards (bank account cards) actually have the worst fees – as they add up to £1.50 every time you spend. These include Lloyds TSB, Halifax, RBS, Intelligent Finance, Santander & NatWest. Don’t spend on these abroad.
4. If they ask ‘Want to pay in Pounds or Euros?’, say ‘Euros’: If you’re paying on a credit or debit card and an overseas retailer offers to let you pay in pounds, reject it. It's called dynamic currency exchange and means the shop does the conversion, usually at a worse rate than your own card.
5. Beware how you pay for foreign exchange: While Lewis’ TravelMoneyMax.com comparison site will give you the best rates, there’s another possible hidden charge at bureau de change. All credit cards and some debit cards, including Barclays, Lloyds TSB, Natwest, Santander & RBS, charge a cash withdrawal fee. Use a different card if possible or withdraw pounds on your debit card and pay with that.

And if you are looking for low cost travel insurance, this is our latest find which might interest you with insurance from just £2 per day.

Timeshare - it's all in the timing

When it comes to timeshare ownership, time really is of the essence.

As many timeshare owners now know, getting the most from their ownership requires effort, persistance and time. Whether you are exchanging, renting or even requesting an annual floating time allocation, owners need to plan in advance and take the time to look in to all the options. Holidays are important and timeshare owners have paid considerable sums of money to enjoy quality holidays every year. Yet without committing some time to make it work, timeshare holidays are not going to provide owners with what they are looking for.

Remember, just because it is about holidays doesn't mean you don't have to work at getting it right for you.

Exchanging your timeshare

When it comes to getting the best exchange for your week, there is one simple rule to follow. You need to deposit it early. RCI recommends, for example, that whenever possible you bank your week with them two years in advance. This might mean having to pay the management fee in advance, or maybe a contribution to it, but at least you will enjoy the maximum trading power for your ownership. The longer you leave it to bank your week, the lower the trading power allocated to it and the harder it will be to get the exchanges you want.

Simply explained, if you leave it to six months before the start date of your week to deposit, you are only gettting a fraction of the trading power possible. This means that when you want to take a week out of the system, you are only offered accommodation that is of a similar trading value - which is why you may have to choose a lower standard resort or even take a smaller unit. You might even hear the dreaded phrase "sorry, it's not available". That doesn't mean that it is not in the system, it might just not be available to you because your trading power is not high enough to book it.

When it comes to making your exchange, again timing is important. Wherever possible go online for the latest information and do this well in advance. If you leave until three months before you want to holiday, you are going to have a much harder time finding what you want. Another tip is to make time to call your exchange company directly. If you can't find what you are looking for, then call them. You might need to spennd some time waiting on the phone, but nothing beats speaking with the agents directly.

So time is definitely important when it comes to getting the very best exchange. Plan in advance, know what you are going to do and bank the week/s as early as possible. This will give you the best chance to get the accommodation you want.

Renting out your timeshare

If you are not planning on using your timeshare week or are simply looking for a contribution to the management fee, then renting your timeshare out could be the best option. While there are many companies that offer this service, Holiday Letting Shop (HLS) is the only company that specialises in timeshare rental using weeks provided by timeshare owners. They do not offer a re-sale service or exchange - they just help timeshare owners rent out their weeks.

One of their best tips for successful timeshare rental is registering the week as early as possible. "By giving us your week at least nine months before the start date of the week, you will be given a fixed valuation which we will honour whatever our final rental price. This valuation is based on your resort, the week number, unit size and demand for the area. We call this valuation band A and it acknowledges and rewards timeshare owners who give us their accommodation in plenty of time for us to rent it out" explained director Sharon Jackson. For owners who cannot give HLS their week so early there is a sliding scale of rental valuations. Further details can be found here.

Yet again, time has proved to be important in ensuring the very best valuation for your timeshare when you choose to rent it out.

Floating time allocations

The rules relating to floating time allocations are different from resort to resort. But the tip remains the same. Check your constitution and make sure you are aware exactly when you can request your annual allocation, check if and when you have to pay the management fee and make sure that you are on the phone or online as soon as you possibly can. Leave it too late and all your fellow owners will have got the best weeks.

There is much more to timeshare than simply sharing your accommodation. Getting the timing right and spending time making sure you get the very best exchange, rental valuation or allocation means you will have plenty of time to lie back, relax and enjoy your purchase.

Give a holiday in Wales a go with HLS

With more Britains holidaying in the UK this year (read the news story here), there is a wealth of attractions and places to visit to keep everyone occupied, rested and happy.

If mid Wales is your destination of choice then here are a few ideas of what is available. Mid Wales has a great variety of amazing places to visit, all set in a unique landscape. National parkland, areas of outstanding natural beauty, breathtaking heritage coastline and world famous castles are all here to discover. To find out more about mid wales and the attractiions in the area go to http://www.midwalesattractions.co.uk/

Using Macdonald Plas Talgarth as your base you can explore the Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons National Parks, the Ceredigion Heritage Coast along Cardigan Bay, the Cambrian Mountains and not forgetting the lakes, small towns and villages, picturesque resorts and harbours.

CENTRE FOR ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY

April - Nov:

Adult: £8.50 / £6.50

Child (5 to 15): £4

Concessions: £7.50 / £5.50

Child (under 5): free

Family ticket available

Tel: 01654 705952 / 01654 705952

Email: events@cat.org.uk

Website: www.cat.org.uk/events

KING ARTHUR'S LABYRINTH

March - November

Open daily 10am - 5pm

Last trip departs at 5pm

Admission to Labyrinth

Adult £7.50

Child £5

Senior £6.75

Tel: 01654 761584 / 01654 761584

Email: info@kingarthurslabyrinth.co.uk

Website: www.kingarthurslabyrinth.co.uk

TALYLLYN RAILWAY

Museum open (free entry) February to December

Train Service March to November & Christmas - New Year

Open 9am

Adult £12

Child £3

Family, group & concession rates available.

Tel: 01654 710472 / 01654 710472

Email: enquries@talyllyn.co.uk

Website: www.talyllyn.co.uk

PORTMEIRION

Open all year. Daily 09.30 to 17.30

Adult £8

Child £4 (under 4 free)

Family, group & concession rates available.

Tel: 01766 772 311 / 01766 772 311

Email: toll@portmeirion-village.com

Website: www.portmeirion-village.com

WALKING IN THE RHEIDOL VALLEY

A pack of 25 walks in the beautiful countryside in the area of Aberystwyth and Rheidol Valley with detailed maps, estimated times and informative guidance notes. For further information contact:

Ceredigion Tourist Information Centre

Tel: 01974 612125 / 01974 612125

FOREST WALKS IN CEREDIGION

The following Forest Walks are waymarked with a picnic site near each car park .

1. Nant Yr Arian, Ponterwyd, 1.5 or 5.5 miles moderate trails, SN718813

2. Gogerddan, Penrhyncoch, 1.5 mile moderate trail, SN 634837

3. Black Covert, Trawscoed, 1.25 mile easy and 2 mile moderate trails, 667729

4. Tyn Bedw, Llanafon, 0.75 and 2.5 mile moderate trails, SN 694 717.

5. The Arch, 2 miles E of Devil's Bridge, 0.5 mile easy, 1 mile moderate, 1.5 miles strenuous trails SN 765756

Forest Enterprise

Tel: 01970 890500 / 01970 890500

Website: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/

Holiday Letting Shop has some superb offers at Macdonald Plas Talgarth if you are looking of superb accommodation and great on-site facilities. Click here for the latest deals.

Protect your holiday - and have peace of mind

Your holidays are too important to risk so protect yourself against the financial failure of the different parts of your trip.

In light of recent tour operator and flight company failures, and in addition to your travel insurance, there is now the opportunity to protect yourself against the insolvency of suppliers such as:

* Airline

* Car hire company
* Hotel
* Other accommodation provider

* Excursion provider

* Theme Parks

While I cannot provide advice about the suitability of products for your individual needs there are specialist companies that provide cover of this nature.

Holiday Letting Shop recently announced its affiliation to one of these specialist providers. The company, Protectmyholiday.com, can arrange protection from as little as £5.

The decision to join the plan was made in view of over 65 airlines collapsing since the start of the recession and record losses continuing in 2010 highlighted by the recent collapse of Globespan. Added to this is the General Public’s confusion as to what is covered under the CAA’s ATOL scheme and use of credit cards reducing due to low cost airlines charging for their use.

Under the FSA regulations, Holiday Letting Shop will not be issuing the policy but merely highlighting that specialist cover is available from companies such as Protectmyholiday.com

Prices start at only £5 per person and policies are provided by the world-wide leaders in supplying financial failure insurances to the travel industry, International Passenger Protection Ltd (www.ipplondon.co.uk). Importantly, security is provided by A rated Insurers (Standard and Poors) with a combined net worth in €100 billion.

‘The cover protects travellers against the liquidation of un-bonded end suppliers and is a quick, simple and effective method of adding the protection missing from many retail travel insurance products. If the failure occurs prior to travel then the Insurance will refund the lost monies. If the failure occurs during the trip then the insurance covers an equivalent return ticket, which usually costs much more then the original ticket price’ stated Michael Ward, Sales ad Marketing Manger at International Passenger Protection Ltd (the parent company of Protectmyholiday.com).

On-line policy issuing takes 5 minutes, and the applicant simply selects the cover they need for their airline, car hire company, excursion providers, etc, until they have all the component end suppliers covered.

For further information please click here

HLS provides much needed rental support to owner committees

Choosing to be an elected member of a timeshare committee is not for the feint hearted. For many owners who volunteer it is the first time they have every been involved with the supply side of the travel and tourism industry - and it must be a bit of a shock. After a sharp learning curve they have to get to grips with legislation, resort management, business strategy, budgets, inventory control, timeshare sales and marketing. And they are just volunteers!

An important part of a committee's budgetary responsibility is to generate rental income from the weeks that have been repossessed or are unsold. Many committees are successful in renting these weeks out to their current members and promote them on their websites and in newsletters. However, marketing weeks through third party rental websites can be expensive and resource-heavy especially if all enquiries are being sent back to the resort to handle.

This is where the services of an agent such as the Holiday Letting Shop can help.

Holiday Letting Shop (HLS) has been developed to work with owner committees who need to rent out their timeshare weeks and need an easy, cost effective, web-based service to help them distribute this stock to a wider market place.

The team behind HLS has considerable experience in both the timeshare and tour operating industries and the rental service has been created to make it easy to add inventory and distribute it to customers.

So how can Holiday Letting Shop help?

Here are the five main reasons why you should use the services of HLS.

1. The HLS team will work with you to analyse the inventory that you have available to rent.
2. Together you will determine the best wholesale rate for your inventory.
3. HLS staff will then load your inventory on to the HLS website - this is not a DIY rental site and they do this for you.
4. HLS will ensure that their advertised rates do not undercut your management fees to maintain the integrity of your product
5. Through the search-engine optimised HLS website and our distribution channels HLS will promote your inventory across the internet and bring in new customers.

HLS is not unique but it is the only service in the UK working with committee members that is focused on rentals - they do not offer re-sales or exchange. And from their wide experience, they have distribution channels that many other rental services simply cannot offer. Therir activities have also been approved by TATOC, the Timeshare Association who are always supportive of businesses that can reduce the pressure on committees and improve the profitablity of resorts.

In these difficult times, committee members have enough challenges as resorts struggle to survive. Why not let Holiday Letting Shop look after your holiday rental programme and remove one of those challenges for you?

To find out more about Holiday Letting Shop contact Sharon Jackson at sharonj@holidaylettingshop.com or visit the site for further details at: http://www.holidaylettingshop.com/

Orlando, Florida the self catering sunshine state

If ever there was an example of a marriage between the consumer and the self catering holiday concept, it can certainly be found in the fun capital of the world – Orlando, Florida.

Even during the most significant financial crisis of the last 75 years, holidaymakers still come in their droves to the sunshine state to stay in high quality self catering accommodation and enjoy the often spectacular facilities that these apartments have to offer.

Although there are signs that the overseas market (there are some great bargains to be found) has slowed down in recent years the overall market place is still thriving. And why would it not be I hear you all ask - with Walt Disney World, the Universal Theme Parks, Seaworld all close by to many self catering properties the appeal to all ages is certainly still there.

If you are a shopper-holic then Orlando is certainly for you with all major brand names featuring at the now famous Premium Outlets shopping facility just off International Drive. For those who want to do the local thing, the Mall at Millennia or indeed the Florida Mall are just the ticket and only a short drive away from most properties.

Eating out is part of the Orlando experience and you can certainly do this on the smallest or largest of budgets. From the local McDonald's, KFC, Chick Fil A, Wendy's that seem to be on every street corner, families can experience the ever popular buffet “eat as much as you like” type concept that seems to be sweeping the scene. Names to look out for include the Golden Coral and Ponderosa offering breakfast, lunch and dinner services. If it is up market you want then try Charley's Steakhouse or Vito's Chop House both famous for their quality meat offerings. Whatever your taste, or preferential cuisine type there is sure to be one of them in town

The quality of accommodation is first class, offering spacious living quarters and large on suite bedrooms. The option to have self catering accommodation so close to all the major attractions is something that normally prices most people out of the market. But not in Orlando! Holiday Letting Shop has several summer and winter offers that can be found at Orlando Deals. Note that these prices are on a per apartment basis for one week and are not per person prices, so if you are looking for some great family fun and fantastic value, then these are for you 

Additional information and useful links

Quality Accommodation Providers with the latest offers in Orlando, Florida

Holiday Letting Shop

Useful UK Flight Information

Fly schedule to Orlando International Airport with Virgin Atlantic & British Airways

Fly charter to Sanford International Airport with Thomas Cook Airlines, First Choice Airways and Monarch Airlines from most UK airports.

Valuing your timeshare week - how to get the best rental

We are often asked by timeshare owners how we value the timeshare weeks they want us to rent out for them. As with everything involved with timeshare, timing is of the essence. When it comes to exchange, owners know that depositing early is one way to improve their trading power. Renting out your timeshare is no different and planning is essential.

Once you have decided that you would prefer to rent your timeshare out rather than use it or exchange it, then contact the Holiday Letting Shop immediately. You can complete our on line valuation forms and within 48 hours we will come back to you with a valuation. This is based on our understanding of the rental market in the area where your resort is based, the week number, the rating of your resort and the size of the unit.  

If you own less than four weeks - click here for your valuation form

If you own more than four weeks - click here for your valuation form

And this is when timing is essential. The earlier that you give your week/s to the Holiday Letting Shop, the better the rental return. Why do we do this? Well, the longer that we have access to the week/s for rental, the easier it is for us to rent it out - and we want to reward those owners with a great rental rate.

As such we have two rental bands - band A and band B.

All owners registering their timeshare week/s for rental nine months before the scheduled arrival date of the week/s, will be entitled to band A income return if the apartment is let for 7 nights. HLS will inform you of the band A income that you will receive by email at the point of you applying for a rental valuation.

Owners registering their accommodation for rental within nine months of the scheduled arrival date of their week/s will receive the band B amounts as listed below:

* 9 months - 6 months before arrival date - 60% of the net income received by HLS for letting the unit

* 6 months - 4 months before arrival date - 50% of the net income received by HLS for letting the unit

* Under 4 months - 40% of the net income received by HLS for letting the unit

We will inform you of band B income by email at the point of you applying for a rental valuation and this will be based on market conditions. HLS operates a policy where rental rates vary on a daily basis to reflect consumer demand. This could mean that those on band B could receive a greater or less amount than the guide price given at the point of registration.

Our aim is to rent your week/s - and to do this we need to be competitive in the market place. This will mean putting together special offers and last minute deals using your week/s. If you need a fixed return, then it is essential that you give us your week/s as soon as possible so you can enjoy band A rates. If you can't do this or are happy with a contribution to the costs of your week, then band B values are still going to help you.

But you have to act - and act as soon as possible. For further information about the rental services of Holiday Letting Shop, contact sales@holidaylettingshop.com - NOW!

5 things you have to do in Tuscany

Tuscany has long been a popular destination for holidaymakers looking for that special blend of culture, fine food and beautiful, inspiring vistas. But if you only have a few days to enjoy all these delights, what should you include to ensure you enjoy the real taste of Tuscany.

Here is our essential guide to the five things you must do when you are in Tuscany:

1 Climb up the 294 spiral steps of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and then treat yourself to an espresso and a pastry at " Salza" the best pasticceria in Pisa.

The Tower, known locally as the Torre Pendente di Pisa, took two centuires to build and was finally completed in 1372. Since the completion of the restoration work in 2001, the Tower now tilts at an angle of 3.99 degrees (previously it had been measured at 5.5 degrees) - and once inside you can really notice the tilt. You will definitely welcome that espresso!

2 Take a trip to the Piazza Michelangelo and get a real "room with a view" look over the stunning city of Florence. Built in 1869 in the Oltrarno district by the architect Giuesppe Poggi, the Piazza is popular tourist observation point providing amazing views of the entire city of Florence. The square takes its name from the great bronze group that Poggi placed in its centre - a "pastiche" of the work of Michelangelo, composed of copies of his David (now in the Academy Museum) and the four allegorical figures commissioned by Pope Clement VII for the Medici tombs in the New Sacristy in San Lorenzo. You'll recognise the view. It has been reproduced on postcards time and again. The panorama encompasses the centre of Florence from Forte Belvedere to Santa Croce Lungarni, includes the bridges crossing the Arno such as the famous Ponte Vecchio, and then on to the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, the Bargello and the octagonal bell tower of the Badia Fiorentina and finally to the hills north of the city with the Settignano Fiesole.

3 Enjoy an apertivo drink on the Piazza del Campo in Siena. Regarded as one of the finest medieval squares in Europe, the Campo is renowned for its beauty and architecture. It is also famous for the twice yearly Palio horse races that take place around the edge of the Piazza.

Not sure what aperitivo to choose? Try a traditional campari or aperol based drink such as the Americano, the Spritz or the Negroni which combines gin, vermouth and Campari and is garnished with an orange peel. Yum!

4 Hire a bike and cycle around the walls of the beautiful city of Lucca probably one of Italy's best kept secrets. This is the only medieval city in Tuscany where the original defensive walls are still complete. Built in the 16th century the thick walls surround wonderful renaisance and medieval architecture and are wide enough to cycle around. They are shaded on each of the four principal sides by a different tree species planted in the 19th century. There is much to see in Lucca from the Torre Guinigi - the 130 ft. tower which has has an ancient oak tree on top to the ruins of a roman amphitheatre. It is an ideal city to wander, shop and just sit back and watch the Italians about their daily business.

5 Indulge in real Italian ice cream in the wonderful , small town of San Gimignano.  Also known as the Manhattan of Italy due to medieval towers that fill the skyline as you approach and which can be seen from miles around, the town has fourteen towers of varying height which have become its international symbol. At the heart of the town are four squares - the Piazza della Cisterna, the Piazza Duomo where the Collegiata is located, the Piazza Pecori and the Piazza delle Erbe. The main streets are Via San Matteo and Via San Giovanni.  Today the town is famous for the local Vernaccia wine, produced exclusively in the town, San Gimignano olive oil and the highly prized spice, saffron used widely throughout Italian cuisine and farmed locally.

The Borgo di Colleoli is the ideal base for you to enjoy all these wonderful places and the Holiday Letting Shop has some exclusive special offers. Travel in November when the weather is cooler and the tourist destinations are not as busy and you can enjoy three nights in a luxurious studio suite sleeping two in the main Palazzo villa at the Borgo for just £378. For further information on the Borgo di Colleoli, click here

For all our other latest offers including Spain, Lanzarote, Corfu and the US, please click here

Enjoy the Costa del Sol in September

September is a great time to holiday in Spain. Once the little ones are back at their desks those that are not tied to annual school holidays can enjoy superb accommodation, weather and the local tourist sites without falling over prams or listening to the screams of children wanting an ice-cream - ah bless the little angels.

The weather in September is wonderful. Wtih an average daily temeperature of 28 degrees, falling to 23 degrees by the end of the month,  it is not as uncomfortable as temperatures in July and August which regularly hit over 30 degrees. Evenings are still warm so you can walk about without a jacket or shawl. With tempersatures such as these, and without the daily rush to bag a sunbed, visitors can virtually guarantee that they will have plenty of opprtunities to swim in the pool and relax in the sun, topping up their tans.

For those that want to break away from the delights of their resort destination, the good news is that many of the tourist destinations are still open and not as busy. Tivoli World for example is open in the first half of September from 6pm to 2am. Located in Arroyo da le Miel, 2 km inland from Benalmadena Costa, it can be reached by the train which runs from Malaga to Fuengirola or by bus from most resorts along the coast. It is the biggest amusement park on the Costa del Sol and offers both rides and a varied programme of shows including Flamenco and Wild West shows.

Aqualand aqua park, just 10 minutes from the centre of Torremolinos, is the largest water park on the Costa del Sol, Aqualand covers more than 70,000 square metres and has rides such as the Boomerang, the  exciting Kamikazee Twister, Rapids and the Black Hole. The park is open until 18th September from 10am to 6pm.

For those looking for a unique attraction, then Selwo Adventure Park is located just off the main road along the Costa del Sol near Estepona at Kilometre 162.5. It is a mix of nature park, safari and adventure park and has a huge wilderness area with more than 2,000 animals from all over the world such as elephants, lions, and tigers living in semi-freedom.  You can explore this either in 4x4 jeeps or on foot using the overhead walkways. You can slide on a flying fox over a huge lake, try out archery and ride on the back of camels. There is a large aviary with more than 1000 birds and there are exhibitions of birds of prey. Selwo Adventure is open every day from January to October. In September opening times are 10am to 8pm.

If you are on a budget there are also a number of destinations that you can visit free of charge. Why not visit the Donkey Sanctuary just 40  minutes from Malaga. Entry to the Sanctuary and the nearby Flamingo Lake is free of charge. Situated in the centre of Benalmadena Paloma Park provides a relaxing day out for the entire family. It is packed with restaurants and picnic quarters and at the centre you'll find a lake. Other free destinations include the traditional white village of Casares, a day trip to Gibraltar just 25 minutes away and a visit to Puerto de la Dequesa, the best kept secret of the Costa del Sol.

With the Holiday Letting Shop your holiday accommodation is taken care of. We have accommodation  at three Macdonald resorts in the Costa del Sol area including Dona Lola, Leila Playa and Villacana and at the Alanda Club in Marbella. All the resorts offer superb self catering apartments with balconies or terraces, a wide range of leisure facilties and great on-site service to make your holidays pass without a hitch.

This week's Special Deal from the Holiday Letting Shop is great for those who are either holidaying with friends or who are looking for a little more space in their holiday accommodation.  From both 11th and 18th September, we have a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment at Macdonald Dona Lola that sleeps six people and has great views for just £550 per week. For further information on Macdonald Dona Lola and to check availablility click here.