Don't be too upset - book a holiday

England may be out of the World Cup but why not visit some of the countries who didn't even make it to the last 16 teams or failed in the first knock out stage. The Holiday Letting Shop has some great offers for the next few months so while you are drowning your sorrows why not book your next trip and have something good to look forward to?

Italy - The Borgo di Colleoli is set in the heart of Tuscany just 30 minutes from Pisa International. The estate offers superb, luxury suite accommodation in the main Palazzo villa and well equipped, self catering apartments in the recently converted farm buildings. Facilities include two swimming pools (one heated), restaurant and bar and music room with free wi-fi.

The Borgo is the ideal base for those wanting to enjoy all the cultural delights that this areas has to offer. Visits to Florence, Pisa, Siena, Lucca, San Gimignano and many other town and villages are a must during your stay. Or take advantage of some great shopping bargains at the outlets located near Florence.

Special Offer  - enjoy three nights at the Borgo di Colleoli in November in a luxury studio suite for two people for just £378. Click here for further information.

Greece - Rebecca's Village in Corfu is the ideal family destination and offers good quality, self catering accommodation and leisure facilities. Located in the north of the island, near Sidari, Rebecca's Village is the ideal resort for families looking for a relaxing and fun holiday destination. The apartments have been recently refurbished to a high standard and have either swimming pool or countryside views.

Facilities at the resort include a large swimming pool, tennis court, bar, snack bar, restaurant and games room. The beaches of Sidari are a ten minute walk away. While the accommodation is self catering, guests can enjoy the bars, restaurants and tavernas of Sidari or enjoy the restaurant at the resort.

Special Offer - enjoy seven nights at Rebecca's Village in August in a two bedroom two bathroom apartment for six people for just £789. Click here for further information

USA - Bahama Bay is located just ten minutes from Disney World and is situated on 70 lush tropical acres by Lake Davenport. The resort is convenient to numerous shopping centres, restaurants, entertainment venues and championship golf. It is the perfect location for a great family holiday.

Facilities on site include four pools, children's pool, play area, spa, tennis courts, volleyball, fitness centre, restaurants and bars.

The two and three bedroom apartments, sleeping six and eight respectively, are very comfortable and include fully equipped kitchens and superb bathrooms.

Special Offer - enjoy seven nights at Bahama Bay in July in a three bedroom aparment for eight people for just £595. Click here for further information

To find out more about the Holiday Letting Shop, click here

Ten tips for a great summer holiday

Whether you are a regular overseas traveller or if you're taking your first holiday abroad this year, here are some great tips which will make your summer holiday great.

1 Drinking water - it is recommended in most countries that you drink and clean your teeth with bottled water rather than tap water. Before purchasing bottled water abroad however, turn the bottle upside down. If it leaks it may have been filled with untreated water which could carry diseases that may ruin your holiday.

2 Luggage - One suitcase can look a lot like another, so adding a distinguishing feature to yours makes it easier to spot. A label holder is good, or a bright strap. Don't put your name and address on your luggage label. Thieves based at airports look out for these details and know that you are away from your home.

3 Pack the right items - How many of us have forgotten to pack a crucial item, and only realised it's missing after arriving at the resort? Here are three items you should always carry. 1) Even if you are not sporty take a pair of trainers as you can wear them for horse-riding, walking and boating. 2) Take a least one smart outfit and shoes for evenings out and unexpected events. 3) Pack a scarf as it can be used as headwear and shawl especially in countries where women are expected to dress conservatively.

4 Be prepared - If you are travelling within Europe make sure you have your EHIC card with you. The EHIC card replaces the E111 form and ensures that resident UK nationals are entitled to free or reduced-cost medical treatment in certain EEA destinations plus Switzerland. This does not replace insurance but in an emergency could just save your life. Remember to take the card with you and that children have their own.

5 Enjoy the sun safely - We all want to come back with a tan but overdoing the sun bathing can ruin your holiday. If you're desperate for a good tan, get a head start before your holiday. Try natural methods such as medically approved tanning pills and creams.

6 Money matters - Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Take a small amount of local currency with you, a larger sum in travellers' cheques, and a debit card for ATM withdrawals, if possible. It's usually cheaper to withdraw cash abroad from ATMs using a debit card - withdrawing cash on a credit card can be costly.

7 Do your research - No matter where you are going spending a little time researching your holiday destination will pay dividends. Knowing what trips you want to take, places you want to visit and even restaurants you want to try will save time and reduce stress. Read guide books, travel magazines and check out the area on the internet. 

8 Use the internet - The internet can be used for more than just booking your holiday. Whenever possible check in on line and print your boarding passes in advance. Do this at home before you leave and look out for the service at your resort or check in kiosks placed in tourist areas for the trip home.

9 Know your numbers - Take the telephone numbers of your resort, airline, car hire company, kennel/cattery and insurance provider with you. In an emergency you'll be glad to have these close to hand.

10 Relax! - Don't forget that you are on holiday so make the most of your time away from everyday stresses. Chill out, unwind, take in the culture, the food, but more importantly, do what you enjoy.

Go WILD in South Africa

With England's third World Cup match due to take place tomorrow, it's not just the fans who will go wild if we get through to the last sixteen teams.

You too can enjoy a taste of the wild with a holiday to the Kruger Park area of South Africa - and the Holiday Letting Shop has three great resorts for those who are a more than a little "wild at heart". 

The Kruger National Park is the primary destination in South Africa for many tourists with over half a million visitors each year. Opened in 1898 after hunters had decimated the game stock, all the land between the Sabie and the Crocodile Rivers was put under the protection of Nature Conservation to ensure the survival of the remaining animals. Today the Park is 350 km long, 65 km wide and comprises an area of about 20,000sq km.

Everyone who visits the Park dreams of seeing the "big five" but Kruger is also home to over 147 mammal, 114 reptile and 507 bird species. I have been fortunate enough to see lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo from my car window - just the leopard escaped me!

The best time for observing the animals is the dry winter season when the grass is low and there are few leaves on the bushes and trees. If you think an elephant or a giraffe can't hide - believe me you can be a few metres away from a herd and never know it! At this time of year, the animals come to the waterholes to drink in the mornings and evenings and can easily be watched from the car.

So where can you stay during your trip?

Waterberry Hill Resort adjoins the Illanga Game Reserve and is just twenty minutes from the Numbi gate of Kruger Park. The resort offers luxurious colonial style self catering chalets surrounded by birdlife, small game and nature walks. Guests can enjoy tennis, mini golf, table tennis and the large outdoor swimming pool. Nearby attractions include God's Window, Bourkes Luck Potholes and the Blyde River Canyon. Hazyview with its shops and crafts is just 4km away.

Lowveld Lodge is another ideal base from which to enjoy not only Kruger Park but also the wonderful sites of the Mpumalanga region. The resort offers fully equipped chalets, pool, sauna and outdoor spa. There is also a braai area, games room and playground. The resort is centrally located and has a cooler climate than the Lowveld itself.

For those who want wild life on their doorstep then Gethlane Lodge is the answer. The comfortable chalets are set amongst 179 hectares of indigenous forest with birdlife and game such as giraffe, leopard, baboon and kudu. Kruger Park and other game farms are just 20 kms away. On site, guests can enjoy the five pools, Jacuzzi, sauna, tennis, crazy golf and children's playground.

For further information about holiday in South Africa with Holiday Letting Shop, click here.

Your timeshare - to sell or not to sell?

This is indeed a question facing many timeshare owners at the moment, especially those who are due to receive their management fee bills this month. As a point of interest, UK based resorts and developers will probably delay their invoicing until next month due to speculation that the VAT rate is going to be increased. We'll know more tomorrow.

So when is it the right time to sell your timeshare? It is most definitely not the right time when a company telephones you out of the blue to say they have a buyer for your exact week/apartment and they are going to pay you more than you bought it for. Ask yourself this. Where did they get your details from? RCI, II, your management company, your resort do not give out your details so the origins of the call have to suspicious. As for the super offer, be very wary and don't get carried away. Timeshare re-sales weeks normally sell for considerably less than the price you paid, so it is very doubtful that your week is going to buck the trend and make you a profit.

It is also not the right time if you haven't looked at other options available to you. Renting out your timeshare week is an easy way to contribute to the annual costs of ownership while still maintaining links with your resort. So if your circumstances change in the future, you can still enjoy the ownership and go on holiday. If you would like to know the income you could receive from renting your week with Holiday Letting Shop, click here.

Do you know why you want to sell? Is it because of the costs, are you tired of your resort or is it simply because you can't get the exchanges you want? If you are not sure of your motivation and haven't looked into possible solutions such as changing exchange company or converting to Points, then it is not the right time to sell.

If you don't have the time to do your homework, then it is not the right time to sell. There is a huge number of re-sales agencies to choose from but it is essential that you shop around for the best prices and service. Don't just pick the first one you come across. Look around, read testimonials, take advice. Find out if your resort or management company provide a re-sales service. Visit sites such as http://www.timeshareassociation.org/ or http://www.gotimeshare.org/ for the latest news about re-sale organisations.

Finally, it is not the right time if you haven't asked your family/friends/co-workers if they would like to use your timeshare week/s and contribute to the costs involved. A simple advertisement on a notice board or e-mail could mean the difference between selling up or keeping the ownership going.

Remember the re-sales process is neither fast nor easy. Some timeshare weeks take years to sell. So renting out your week/s could be the best interim solution. To find out more about renting your timeshare, read "A guide to renting your timeshare" here.

Timeshare Rental

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Head to Cape Town with HLS

If the World Cup in South Africa has caught your imagination, then there is no better place to start your South African experience with a holiday in Cape Town. And the Holiday Letting Shop has some superb city centre destinations which will definitely grab your attention.

The Peninsula - This is a sophisticated, well equipped, self catering apartment complex set in one of the finest parts of Cape Town with Sea Point a mere 1km from the resort and the new Cape Town soccer stadium at Green Point close by. Due to its central location, close to cosmopolitan Cape Town and the famous wine routes of this fair area, this resort is an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding attractions including the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and Table Mountain. A host of on site facilities are here to be enjoyed such as a swimming pool, fine restaurant and a gym for the sports enthusiasts. A stay at this resort is an outstanding way to experience the sites and sounds of the Cape in luxury accommodation. (Picture is of the pool at the resort). Find out more here

Mount Sierra - Situated in the vibrant suburb of Tamboerskloof, Mount Sierra boasts the most fabulous views of Table Mountain, Devil´s Peak and Lions Head. From here you have easy access to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront for some unique shopping and browsing and it is only 15 minutes drive from some of the most beautiful beaches in the area for some glorious fun in the sun and sand. Take a drive along one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world, winding your way up Chapman´s peak from Hout Bay , along to Constantia, for some of the most breathtaking vistas. For the more active, one can hike to the summit of the peak for magnificent 360° views of the entire Cape Peninsula. The well equipped, self catering apartments of this complex building are conveniently located for guests to enjoy all the sights and sounds of exciting Cape Town, as well as explore the wine farms of the Stellenbosch and Franschoek area which are a scenic drive inland from the resort. (Picture is a view of the Waterfront in Cape Town). Find out more here

To find out the latest availability at these resorts, other resorts in South Africa and across Europe, visit our site at: http://www.holidaylettingshop.com/

And just as an aside - "Come on England and good luck" for tonight in lovely Cape Town.














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Holiday Letting Shop launched

Holiday Letting Shop is delighted to announce that it is now "open for business".

So if you are looking for some great holiday accommodation why not check out what we have to offer?

We have some great weeks in Florida at Caribe Cove and Bahama Bay from just £11pppn throughout July and August in a three bedroom apartment. You can read more about the resort here.

We also have accommodation in Scotland at Macdonald Lochanhully Resort from just £14pppn in September in a two bedroom lodge. You can read more about the resort here.

If you are an owner of holiday accommodation and are looking for a service to undertake the rental of that property, why not contact us to find out more. Whether you own just one week or represent a resort with considerable stock to rent, the Holiday Letting Shop is the place to go.

Welcome to the Holiday Letting Shop blog

We are now in the final countdown to the launch of the Holiday Letting Shop website - THE place for holiday owners to rent their accommodation directly to those looking for resort-based holidays.

Whether you own just one week or represent a resort with considerable amounts of stock that you wish to rent out, contact the HLS team now to see how we can help.

And don't worry - we do all the work for you and load the accommodation onto our site.

If you represent a resort, contact Sharon Jackson now at sharonj@holidaylettingshop.com

Alternatively, for those with less than four weeks to rent, visit the site and complete a valuation form. We will get back to you within 48 hours with a rental value for your week/s.