Money

Britain’s economy may be in recession but its currency is flying high. The Pound has strengthened against a basket of international currencies, according to figures compiled by foreign exchange specialists, Moneycorp, meaning British buyers of overseas property can get much more bang for their buck. Well, Pound anyway.

Sterling’s solid performance against the Euro has grabbed most of the headlines – it’s up 8.6% on this time last year. But that’s small beer compared to the Pound’s extraordinary 18% appreciation against the Indian Rupee, or its 17.7% increase against the Brazilian Real.

Other countries are also offering substantially better value thanks to the soaring Pound. Anyone relocating to South Africa will see their Pounds go 14.1% further against the Rand, while Brits buying in Sri Lanka can enjoy an exchange rate that’s 15.1% better than it was in May 2011.

Meanwhile, anyone looking for a pied-à-terre in Poland or Prague will see their Pound buy 15.9% more Polish Zloty and 12.6% more Czech Koruna respectively than it did this time last year.

The following table shows the top countries where your Pound will currently stretch further compared to 12 months ago:

* 2012 rate taken at 9.50am on 8/5/2012

** 2011 currency rate – taken as average during period 9/5/11 to 14/5/11

But it’s not all one-way traffic. Moneycorp data shows that the Pound has weakened 4% against the Chinese Yuan and 3.8% against the Kenyan Shilling relative to this time last year. And for anyone buying in the US, the Pound is worth 1.2% less against the US Dollar than May 2011.

Alex Lawson, senior broker at Moneycorp, commented: ”Everyone’s talking about how the Pound is soaring against the Euro and that’s understandable given the continuing question marks over the single currency’s future.

“While the EU is by far the most popular place for Brits to buy a second home, Sterling’s strength has made a purchase far more attractive in other countries, too.

“17.7% on the Brazilian Real and just over 14% on the Rand gives anyone buying in those countries significantly more purchasing power.”

The show is returning for the 14th year, to Sandown Park Surrey from 30 June – 1 July 2012 with newer, bigger and better ways to inspire visitors

Planning is an integral part of building or renovating your own home and it can make or break your project.  For the first time, The Southern Homebuilding & Renovating Show, has a dedicated Planning Clinic where visitors can get free, impartial advice from planning expert and Chartered Town Planner, Sally Tagg on applications and appeals to help you avoid unnecessary delays with your planned projects.

This year, will also see Paul Puccioni join as a new guest expert. He is the current Master Builder on Channel 4′s home makeover series ‘The Renovation Game’.  With a keen interest in self-build designs and over 25 years experience of working in the building trade, Paul’s master classes at the show will enable visitors to discover what each trade does, how they work together and how each different trade prices up jobs.

With over 200 exhibitors from the UK’s leading self-build and renovating companies, thousands of new products and services, visitors can be assured that they’ll find everything for their projects –  and all under one roof!

This year, there will be 16 free seminars and 24 master classes offering visitors a fantastic opportunity to enjoy advice from the country’s leading experts covering topics such as finding a plot, keeping build costs down, how to make your home more sustainable and extension ideas

Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine experts will be joined by leading professional bodies at the ‘Ask the Experts’ stand to help guide your project from start to finish. Bring along your drawings for a one-to-one consultation and receive helpful advice on how to enhance your project.

Share the real life experiences of our experts and hear how to avoid common pitfalls of self-build and renovating projects. The panel includes Michael Holmes (editor-in-chief of Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine and home improvement expert); Jason Orme (editor of Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine and home improvement expert); David Snell (consultant at the BBC and the Daily Telegraph’s bricks and mortar and self-build expert); Mark Brinkley (Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine contributing editor, home improvement expert and author of the House Builder’s Bible); Tim Pullen (eco expert at Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine); Sally Tagg (planning expert at Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine) and Paul Puccioni (co-writer and founder of The Building Sheriff and current Master Builder on Channel 4’s ‘The Renovation Game’).

For more information and tickets, visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk or call the ticket hotline on 0845 581 1377. Tickets are £5 in advance or £8 on the door (children under 16 go free).

 Free tickets

In collaboration with the Southern Homebuilding & Renovating Show (which is taking place at Sandown Park, Surrey from 30 June – 1 July 2012), www.homesandtravel.co.uk has 50 pairs of free  tickets (worth £16 per pair) available for readers who fill in the Comment Form at the bottom of this article.

There is far more to Portugal than the golden sandy beaches of the Algarve.  The country also has a fascinating culture, many heritage cities and towns and delightfully welcoming people. It has so much to offer, from great gastronomy to beautiful countryside and many outdoor activities for the whole family, all of which can be found no further than a two hours’ drive from an international airport – whether it be Faro in the south, Lisbon in the centre or Porto in the north.

The fourth edition of this informative magazine is now available

Published on line at www.portugal-life.net (just subscribe for free to see the full issue) and distributed in the UK through Foremost’s 185 golf clubs around the country, the magazine brings to life all that is good about Portugal and Madeira.  In this edition there are features about bird watching in the Alentejo, boating on Lake Alqueva, walking the Madeiran levadas or find out all about the delicious Vinho Verde wines.

Property and golf

The issue also includes an interview with Dra. Cecilia Meireles, the young and energetic new Secretary of State for Tourism, in which she describes her vision for tourism in Portugal in the years to come, Michael Blandy explains his family’s long involvement for Madeira, and there is plenty to absorb on property and golf.

If you are thinking of visiting Madeira, then take the chance to join the Madeira Country Club. Membership, which costs only €36 a year, entitles you to discounts off a variety of hotels, restaurants, car hire, leisure activities and more. The list is growing daily.

Go to www.themadeiracountryclub.com and become a member today. The Portugal Country Club will be launched later this year and you’ll be able to read all about it on the www.homesandtravel.co.uk website.

The Alila Villas Bintan resort will be constructed to strict Earthcheck environmental standards

Alila Hotels & Resorts is to open two new properties in Indonesia in 2014 – Alila Villas Bintan and Alila Seminyak in Bali. Ground breaking ceremonies have been held at both properties as work gets underway with both scheduled to launch in 2014.

Set in a beautiful hillside location on the idyllic Lagoi Bay on Pulau Bintan only 45 minutes by ferry from Singapore, Alila Villas Bintan will become the third addition to the Alila Villas brand, which has established itself as a leader in design and style at award-winning sister properties Alila Villas Soori and Alila Villas Uluwatu in Bali.

Developed by Bukit Uluwatu Villa and designed by architectural firm WOHA, which gained international acclaim for the design of Alila Villas Uluwatu, Alila Villas Bintan will also be constructed to strict Earthcheck environmental standards, merging with the island’s natural landscape of palm fringed beaches, pristine forest, secluded coves and the South China sea.

The 14.4 hectare gated development will comprise 12, three-bedroom beachfront residences and a luxury boutique resort with 52, one- and two-bedroom guest villas and state-of-the-art resort facilities.

Key to the development will be ‘The Village’ an additional four-hectare hub for arts, culture, culinary and wellness activities for guests and visitors alike.

World class resorts

The resort pool at Alila Villas Bintan

Two- and three-bedroom villas at Alila Villas Bintan are now available for purchase from US$ 1,800,000. Attractive ownership options are also available including revenue sharing and the possibility to the sell the unit back to the developer at the original purchase price.

Alila Hotels & Resorts’ second project, Alila Seminyak, will become the fifth Alila managed property on the island, will be set in the hippest hub of Bali and is planned to be a prime beach frontage resort comprising of 72 suites, 69 residences, extensive events space, a Spa Alila and restaurants. The resort will be distinguished by its innovative design and architecture based on a rice paddy field concept, with green spaces dominating the interiors and exteriors to create both a natural and stylish oasis.

Mark Edleson, President of Alila Hotels & Resorts commented: “We are delighted to have made these first important steps in adding two new world-class resorts to our portfolio. Our growth is centred around finding interesting environments and cultures in which to sensitively develop properties that are in tune with the physical environments and both our expansion in Bali and first foray onto Bintan suit this perfectly.”

For further information visit http://www.alilavillasbintan.com and www.alilahotels.com

Lifestyle Collection

The exterior of a two bedroom property at Alila Villas Bintan

Alila Hotels and Resorts offer stylish, relaxing environments with different lifestyle concepts and guest experiences that are continuously redefined by the latest developments in design and living. The name Alila is derived from Sanskrit meaning ‘surprise’.

Alila Villas represent Alila’s new generation of luxurious yet sustainable developments in some of the most spectacular locations offering an unprecedented level of private space, design and architecture, personalised hospitality and destination experiences that set it apart.

Designed by award-winning teams of architects, interior designers and artisans, an Alila Villas project is the only brand that is designed, built and operated to Earth Check standards – integrating the natural, physical and cultural elements of its environment.

Currently, Alila is continuing to develop new hotels and resorts in China, India, Indonesia, Indochina, Oman, Vietnam and Portugal.

Prince Harry with the Chairman of Baha Mar, Sarkis Izmirlian

Baha Mar, the largest single-phase, luxury resort development in the history of the Caribbean rolled out the red carpet to welcome HRH Prince Henry of Wales during his visit to Nassau for the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, commemorating the 60^th anniversary of her coronation.

Prince Harry was attending the luncheon hosted by the Minister for Youth at Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort after a youth rally and cultural show at the newly developed Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. Prince Harry is visiting Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas on official business of the throne.

As a leader in the revitalization of the area, Sarkis Izmirlian, Chairman and CEO of Baha Mar was pleased to showcase the construction progress surrounding the mega resort, emphasizing Baha Mar’s vision for transforming the Cable Beach area into the new Bahamian Riviera.

“As Baha Mar helps to breathe new life into this great country, we are proud to showcase the developments that have occurred on the island within a very short time,” said Izmirlian. “We are honored Prince Harry will be paying witness to these great achievements while visiting the Commonwealth in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee.”

Within a short nine months, vital road works and infrastructure projects have been completed, making way for the unprecedented Baha Mar project, including the transformation of the entire Cable Beach area of Nassau with a new public roadway bordering 2.5 hectares of beautiful natural wetlands, lakes and parks, featuring walking trails, gazebos and boardwalks open for public enjoyment.

Other projects completed include the new Baha Mar Commercial Village with three financial institutions, a state-of-the-art Police and Fire Station and a highly successful Pompey Market straw and crafts marketplace.

In addition to the youth rally at the new national stadium, the Bahamian government prepared a full schedule of events for Prince Harry’s visit to Nassau, including a visit to Spanish Wells, North Eluthera and Harbour Island.

For more information, visit www.bahamar.com

About Baha Mar

An aerial image Baha Mar

Baha Mar, the 400-hectare, $3.5 billion resort, gaming and entertainment complex slated to open in late 2014, will comprise some of the world’s most famous luxury hotel brands, including Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Mondrian and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, as well as a Casino Hotel, creating more than 2,200 new rooms.

Within the hotels, Baha Mar plans to develop 300 highly exclusive, ultra-luxurious residential condominiums and villas, available for private ownership. Baha Mar’s stunning, new 9,000 square metre casino will be the largest in the Caribbean, and one of the most exciting gaming experiences in North America, comparable only to the best in Las Vegas.

Baha Mar will also feature the most advanced and versatile convention facilities in The Bahamas, with a combined 19,000 square metres of space, portions of which can also double as an entertainment and sports venue. Other amenities will include retail and entertainment, combining upscale shopping boutiques with Bahamian arts and crafts galleries, chef-branded restaurants and exciting nightclub and entertainment offerings.

An Eco Water Park, and three unique spas, including the most complete spa experience in the Caribbean, will be set along one kilometre of a pristine beach. The planned 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course will be one of a few such top-tier Nicklaus courses in the world, bringing a new, true championship course to The Bahamas.

Quercy is the region between The Lot and Tarn rivers and is one of the oldest wine producing regions in France. This is a landscape of buzzards, red squirrels, nightingales, butterflies, wild flowers and orchids

Zoe Scott and her family treasured their visit to France every year, discovering yet another part of the country. In the summer of 1988 they rented a holiday home and it was then that the idea of moving to France permanently really took hold. Nothing in the Dordogne matched up to their ideas, so one day they drove south to Cahors in the Lot Valley to see the magnificent Pont Valentre (medieval bridge over the river Lot).

The Lot is known as the gateway to the south and they were captivated by the champagne-coloured houses, hilltop mediaeval villages and their first taste of superb Cahors wine.

One minute they were sipping coffee in a square opposite an estate agency and the next they were in a car being driven by a chic Frenchwoman to view three properties – and then down the lane, through the farmyard to Mondounet….

Zoe takes up the story: “Mondounet was located in an idyllic setting for the 17th century farmhouse and outbuildings, set on the hill and overlooking two valleys. There was nearly a hectare of land (about two acres) – a large stone barn, bread oven and stable. It was really peaceful and somehow we knew that we had found our dream. The very next day we signed on the dotted line and moved in later that year – October 1988. Restoration and conversions were carried out and the following year we were able to open our doors to our first holiday guests.”

"Now, after all those years, we still believe that moving to this beautiful part of south-west France was the best decision we ever made'"

In the Quercy region, it’s well worth visiting the markets (our local village of Montcuq has one of the best Sunday markets around); drinks and lunches in the pavement cafés; village fêtes; visiting the chateaux and caves; music – blues, jazz and classical concerts. “We have some of the most beautiful countryside, vineyards around the corner for wine-tasting, superb country cooking and Michelin-star restaurants. In addition, there’s always a warm welcome from the locals.”

Quercy Blanc

“This is a landscape of buzzards, red squirrels, nightingales, butterflies, wild flowers and orchids. There are rural properties that have become vacant and in this beautiful countryside, with unused roads winding up through woods and vineyards it’s not unusual to come across the distinctive profile of an old Quercynoise limestone farmhouse with its Roman tiles and pigeonnier (dovecote).”

Getting here:

The region is easily accessible by road, rail and plane:

Airports:

Toulouse and Bergerac airports are just 60-75 minutes drive. Bordeaux & Rodez are two hours drive and Carcasonne 2½ hours drive.

Ferry:

From the U.K. – The ferry ports: St. Malo and Le Havre are 8-9 hours driving time and there is a local airport at Cahors for light aircraft.

Trains:

The Pyrenees and Spain are about three hours drive away, as are the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Paris and Barcelona are five hours drive. Montcuq is just 25 kilometres from Cahors and the new A20 motorway

Paris is five hours by train to Cahors and faster by TGV to Agen, and under an hour by plane. With the enormous investment in road and rail in France it’s now possible to still be in touch with the world while enjoying the peace of the beautiful countryside.

About Mondounet Holidays and Homes:

Bed and breakfast is from €60 per night for two people, inclusive of breakfast – or self-catering in the 17th century farmhouse with lovely views over the peaceful Lot countryside, from 200 euros per week.

Established in 1963, Quercy Gascogne Immobilier is a family-run estate agency. The office is situated in the heart of the bastide town of Montcuq, the base of choice when property hunting in this beautiful part of the Lot.

For more information go online at www.mondounetholidaysandhomes.com

(Associated with Agence Quercy Gascogne)

The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show is planning an even bigger event to attract self-builders and renovators on 29 March – 1 April 2012. Picture credit: Darren Chung

The Homebuilding & Renovating Show takes place for four days from 29 March – 1 April 2012 at the NEC, Birmingham. Homes&Travel has 30 pairs of free tickets to the show worth a total of £900 (each pair is worth £30).

This year, Britain’s biggest self-build and renovation event, The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show, is celebrating 21 years of inspiring generations of home owners to build their dream home. In its long history the show has helped hundreds of aspiring self-builders and renovators to achieve their vision and in March it expects to welcome the millionth visitor through the doors.

Whether you’re planning a renovation or embarking on a self-build journey, The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show provides the widest range of groundbreaking, different and exciting solutions under one roof no matter what stage your project is at.

For four days from 29 March – 1 April 2012, the show returns to the NEC, Birmingham, bringing more self-build and renovation ideas, DIY advice and interior inspiration to make every aspect of your home perfect. The show is brimming with great ideas and innovative techniques from over 450 specialist exhibitors who are offering an unrivalled range of products, practical workshops and hands on demonstrations – all under one roof!

For the first time, the show features a dedicated Eco Home Zone with its very own Eco Home Theatre providing visitors access to specialists in sustainable energy solutions. With rising energy prices, visitors can use this opportunity to explore ways to keep their energy bills low by adopting different energy solutions.

In addition, the show is increasing the amount of in-depth seminar and master class theatres to four (including the Eco Home Theatre where eco home experts, including Tim Pullen, will be presenting several seminars), providing the widest and most detailed range of advice and expertise to be found in the UK.

One of the newest construction options – full size, structurally insulated panels (SIPs) – will be on display for visitors to examine first hand and discuss with experts whether the structure is right for their self-build. Don’t miss out on live demonstrations at the Carpenter Oak Traditional Skills Showcase where you will learn a variety of skills including dry walling, lime rendering, thatching and many more.

If you’re happy to get your hands dirty, visit the ‘Try it Yourself’ area, which will provide free interactive training sessions on skills such as tiling, bricklaying and plastering.

To transform your garden this spring, why not visit the Landscaping Zone, created by Buildbase for an insight into how to make the most of your outdoor space? Whether you’re planning to grow your own vegetables in the city or create a family friendly entertaining space, this zone will continue to provide you with all the latest, new ideas you’re looking for.

Make sure you stop by ‘The Advice Centre’ stand where the Homebuilding & Renovating magazine experts will be joined by leading professional bodies to help guide your project from start to finish. Take this opportunity to bring your drawings along for a one to one consultation where you will receive useful tips to enhance your project.

Homebuilding & Renovating magazine will help guide your project in every field including design, finance, renewable, sustainability, restoration and legal issues Picture credit: Darren Chung

For visitors requiring more specialist advice, there are 48 free Masterclass programmes to address your specific problems and issues. Presented by leading exhibitors, these classes offer a great opportunity to talk one-on-one with principal companies in the industry. Topics range from smart homes, finance, construction systems, renewable energy, basements, build costs, heating, design, renovating, roofing and DIY.

Share the passions of our experts including Michael Holmes (editor-in-chief of Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine and presenter of ‘I Own Britain’s Best Home’), David Snell (consultant at the BBC and the Daily Telegraph’s bricks and mortar expert), Mark Brinkley (author of the House Builder’s Bible), Tim Pullen (eco expert at Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine) and Sally Tagg (planning expert at Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine).

For more information and tickets, visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk or call the ticket hotline on 0844 581 1375. Tickets are £10 in advance or £15 on the door (children under 16 go free).

Vista Villa, Santa Monica Beach Resort, Cape Verde,

While the Cape Verde economy has little to complain about, (according to the IMF, GDP growth is expected to rise to 7.1% by 2013), news of a fresh aid injection by a leading US Aid Agency has given the African nation a welcome boost. The $66.2 million agreement will reform water, sanitation and land-management to foster further economic growth – in particular in real estate and tourism.

Adam Cornwell, Managing Director of Feltrim International promoting real estate on the Islands, comments: “Cape Verde is a nation on a rapid upward path. It has halved its 1990 poverty level and in 2008 officially graduated from Least Developed to Middle Income Country status. Much of this positivity stems from one of the fastest growing tourism industries in the world and active encouragement of substantial foreign investment.

Real estate development

“However, with scant natural resources and little rainfall, further aid flows have been needed to make the necessary improvements to cope with the influx of tourists. The five-year agreement with the US Millennium Challenge Corporation announced this week will focus on specific projects to help Cape Verde sustain its growing tourism industry.”

The bulk of the aid, $41.1 million, will help make Cape Verde’s national regularity institutions financially sound and transparent and transform utilities into high-performing commercial organisations. The Islands’ households and businesses will benefit from better quality water and sanitation services.

“A further 17.3 million US dollars will refine Cape Verde’s legal and institutional environment to make a more attractive climate for large and small investors. Land information will become more reliable, land rights strengthened and land transactions made more efficient. Real estate development and tourism will increase as a direct result and around 13,000 jobs created.

Official statistics

New on the island of Boa Vista is the 1,140 unit Santa Mónica Beach Resort & Spa which combines a five star hotel with luxury one and two bedroom apartments and two to five bedroom villas each with private pool. A championship standard golf course is planned alongside the Resort.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation completed its first successful multi-year agreement with Cape Verde in 2010 and helped the Islands turn their reliance on foreign aid to an economy led by private sector growth – in particular tourism.

According to the latest official statistics, tourist arrivals continue growing at a rate of 20% per annum with 219,000 arriving in the first half of 2011, a percentage growth of 27.5% against the same period in 2010. It is projected that Cape Verde will reach half a million tourists annually by 2015 and one million by 2020.

The number of hotel beds is also increasing year-on-year. Spanish chain Riu has no less than five hotels across the Islands (four of them five star) and rival Spanish company Melia recently opened its five star hotel on the island of Sal in 2011. Cape Verde ranked third on Skyscanner’s list of emerging destinations in 2011 proving there is now a strong winter sun rival to the Canaries in the mid-haul market from the UK.

New on the island of Boa Vista is the 1,140 unit Santa Mónica Beach Resort & Spa which combines a five star hotel with luxury one and two bedroom apartments and two to five bedroom villas each with private pool. A championship standard golf course is planned for alongside the Resort.

Some heavyweights have put their name to Santa Mónica Beach Resort & Spa including Wyndham, the largest hotel operator in the world, to handle guest services and rental management alongside ESPA, a global award-winning Spa operator, to provide blissfully relaxing treatments and products.

Boa Vista International Airport

The beach at Santa Mónica is well known as one of the world’s key turtle nesting sites as well as being a breeding ground for humpback whales and home to many native and migrating bird species.

Finance options of up to 90% are available making ownership of a one bedroom apartment achievable from just an €11,900 deposit.

Boa Vista’s International Airport now takes direct 5.5 hour flights from Glasgow, Gatwick and Manchester and flights from Bristol and Stansted are to be added giving UK visitors greater flexibility. Direct flights to Cape Verde are also in place from Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Frankfurt, Brussels, Boston and beyond which again helps boost rental yields. Passenger traffic across the Islands’ seven airports rose 11.2% year on year in 2011, from 1.6 million to 1.78 million.

For a limited time early investor discounts of 30% for cash buyers mean prices start from just €83,300 for a one bedroom apartment and €325,500 for a detached three bedroom villa. Finance options of up to 90% are available making ownership of a one bedroom apartment achievable from just an €11,900 deposit.

There are also rental and leaseback plans offering up to 7% fixed income with allowances for personal use. Santa Mónica Beach Resort & Spa also qualifies for SSAS and SIPP purchase via fully managed hotel suites from €85,000 (official valuation €162,000) with ten-year guaranteed 7% rental income.

Licenses and planning permission have been granted and construction is underway on site with phase one scheduled for completion mid 2013. Santa Mónica Beach Resort & Spa offers a unique chance to purchase top-quality property in a prime location – while prices remain low.

For more information visit: www.feltriminternational.com.

Travellers should make sure they have plenty of time to apply for visas when they are journeying outside the EU

Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com), the long-stay airport parking specialist, is helping UK holidaymakers plan ahead by compiling a comprehensive guide highlighting the requirements and costs of tourist visas for the major holiday destinations outside the EU. The research is available in the Know Before You Go section of the website at www.aph.com/visaregulations.

It compares visa regulations for UK nationals, including how to apply, the cost to process the application and the period of cover for the visa. The table also details how long travellers will have to wait for documents and visas to be processed, thereby helping travellers plan how far in advance visas should be applied for.

Of the 18 countries featured in the research, nine were found to require visitors to obtain a visa (or the necessary documents such as the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, ESTA) before travelling to destinations including Australia, Cambodia, China, Russia and Turkey. Countries such as Kenya and Mauritius, however, allow visitors to obtain visas upon entry into the country.

With regards to the processing of visas, holidaymakers looking to travel to Russia, Australia, China will need to plan far in advance with the processing time taking up to 10 working days, 14 working days and one month accordingly.

Not many of the destinations were found to offer online applications which enable travellers to complete and receive confirmation almost immediately. Cambodia and the USA are the only two countries allowing online submissions.

For Single Entry Visas valid for under 30 days, there is no cost when travelling to Madagascar and Thailand but a charge of £20 when travelling to Nepal.

The cost of visas was found to vary greatly, with Cambodia charging £13 for the E-Visa when purchased with a credit card and Australia offering the eVisitor visa for free. When travelling to China, the Single Entry Tourist Visa and Multiple Entry Tourist Visa cost £30 and £150 but for the same visas to Egypt, travellers will pay £15 and £18.

Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is the UK’s award-winning airport parking operator and booking agency. APH offers parking at all major UK airports as well as airport hotels packaged with parking and airport lounges. Furthermore, APH is also a carbon-balanced company and has, through support of the World Land Trust, helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of endangered rainforest.

For further information on Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) visit: www.aph.com

Jabbakam keeps an eye on your home when you're not there

This is a concern for many of those who own a home abroad. It’s a quick way to lose friends if you’re forever asking them to pop in every other day to check on the security of your new home. Until recently, homeowners would have to wait until they got off the plane and opened their front door to find out how things really were.

It was when James Wickes woke up at 4am to find four men trying to break into his house that things started to change. He looked into the CCTV market, thought it was expensive, complicated and technologically past it and he invented something that wasn’t.

If you want to make sure your home’s safe and secure while you’re away or simply playing a round of golf, a Jabbakam can act as your eyes and ears. It’s a simple plug and play IP security camera, which works hand-in-hand with a social networking site, much like Facebook.

This may be his first, and last, screen appearance

• Jabbakam is an online system, much like Facebook, for managing camera networks – a social network for community safety and a natural progression from neighbourhood watch.
• Jabbakam allows users to view recorded footage remotely, on Internet-connected PCs, laptops, smartphones or PDAs, with a secure platform that ensures only authorised network members can view the footage they have been given permission to view.
• Community-installed cameras aren’t as though Big Brother and the State are watching you. Rather, it’s the community itself making the environment safe by deterring unwanted activity.
• The uses for Jabbakam are endless. Imagine you set up a network for your exotic car lovers group on Facebook. You could organise a ‘follow the sun’ security watch on your, and other people’s cars, which would be entirely run over the Internet. A guy in Mumbai could watch things for you during the night, and you could do the same for someone else in Michigan during the day.

Jabbakam has a wide range of uses but above all, it’s one piece of technology that really gives you peace of mind.

To find out more go to www.jabbakam.com. The unit costs £59.95

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