Top Spot Travel

April 27, 2017 by Jeremy

Mapping Out The Future, How Businesses and Users Can Benefit From Modern Mapping

The World of maps has changed dramatically in recent years both in terms of businesses and individuals and since the dawn of the internet and the arrival of the smartphone, mapping services have been making more detailed maps which provide a more accurate and user friendly service. When the smartphone first arrived we had the Apple mapping app and Google maps amongst a few other pretenders to the throne. These applications did what they needed to, but there was always something missing, step forward a company called Visioglobe, a mapping solutions business who wants their business and individual clients to find out where they want to go with ease.

Why?

The essence of the human mind is to continuously seek to change, alter and ultimately improve pre-existing services in order to give users a better experience. This is exactly what Visioglobe have set out to do with their revolutionary mapping service.

Their Mission

This company previously focussed on the outdoor environment, using high-tech GPS and geofencing software to not just give users a map of the great outdoors, but a map that would offer 3D images which would better serve their users. The outdoor maps has helped people navigate ski slopes, golf courses and hiking paths through the use of the software on a PDA device. In 2011, the company decided to focus their efforts on revolutionizing indoor mapping and allow users to access this information via their smartphone. The focus at the moment lies within airports, shopping centers and hospitals in the USA. This shift in focus is what will set them above the competition because as yet, the indoor mapping that we have is very difficult to navigate. If you have ever searched for a store inside a shopping mall then you will know how difficult it is to find, even with an application, this service changes that altogether.

How Can Business’ Benefit?

Business’ can benefit greatly from this mapping solution in a number of different ways which will bring more customers through their doors. Firstly the ability for a user to find you with ease is a great benefit, especially if your business is located in the far end of a shopping mall. Secondly, because the map is smart and informative, users will be able to discover your store whilst browsing their map, they will be able to see information such as opening hours, promotions and other important information. This is more than just a map, this is a shop window which tells customers where to go.

Paper maps went away a long time ago, or at least the ordnance survey-stype maps did, when the smartphone came along and we could access maps from our pockets. The mapping applications on offer are now also looking like relics of the past since this mapping solutions application form Visioglobe has come along. With a user-friendly design, easy to use interface and highly detailed and informative mapping service, this company have changed the face of mapping forever.

April 7, 2017 by Jeremy

Why Vacation Rentals Are Better Than Hotels

I have traveled a lot throughout my life and I always believed that hotels were the best option when it came to accommodation. Many of my friends and regularly extolled the wonders of vacation rentals and I was just never really up for it. The idea of staying somewhere without the service, cleanliness and all-inclusive nature of a hotel just never really seemed like my cup of tea.

A few years ago I toured France vacation rentals hopping and only staying in the odd hotel, much to my displeasure upon being told the news before we went. I hadn’t book the journey, my friend had and I wouldn’t say I was fearful of the rentals, nothing as strong as that, I just couldn’t say that I was honestly looking forward to it, how wrong I was. Since that trip, I have only stayed in hotels on occasion and instead, I always opt to use the likes of Rebl Rentals to find a vacation rental when it is time to take a trip away. If you are anything like I was and unsure as to whether this kind of accommodation is for you then here are some reasons why I believe a vacation rental is far better than a hotel.

Home Touches

Invariably, the person who is renting out the vacation home has bought the place for themselves to pass some of their vacations and for this reason it is decorated in a nice way. Hotels are nice, clean and functional but they can often be very much the same from one to another, with a vacation rental you will find that each and every one has their own character and style and will make you feel far more comfortable in your new setting than a hotel will.

Perfect For Groups

I regularly travel in groups, be it with the family or with friends and when we stay in hotels we must book separate rooms and our time together is also spent with other inhabitants of the hotel. If you find a vacation rental which is big enough for your group then you will have the chance to spend far more time together. You will of course still have your own space when required but from a socializing aspect, this is far more easily done with a rental. The price also comes down when you are renting somewhere as you will not be paying for individual rooms. If you are traveling as part of a group then there really is no alternative in my book.

Perfect Level of Privacy

That level of privacy that is offered by a rental is the same if you are traveling as a small family or a couple. I know that when you stay in a hotel you can close your room door and have all the privacy that you need but when it is time to eat in the restaurant or go to the pool, you will be surrounded by strangers. A vacation rental gives you the best of both worlds, if you wish to mingle then you can head out to a local bar or restaurant and if you want to be alone then you can relax in your rental property and enjoy each other’s company.

Much Cheaper

In terms of what you get for each dollar that you spend, a rental property gives you far better value than a hotel. Not only is the cost of the stay cheaper but you can also save money on restaurants by cooking or making your own meals once or twice during your stay. Away from this, there are no additional charges for things which you may find at a hotel and there is also no need to tip anyone but your waiter in the restaurant.

A Far Wider Range

Even when you throw boutique hotels into the mix, going down the rental route will give you a far greater range of options regarding what kinds of properties you can stay in. As I mentioned before, hotels are very practical and functional and as such, they can often become much the same as one another. You will never get this with a vacation rental property and you can find whatever it is that you are looking for with ease. Perhaps you want a private pool, a terrace, a central location or something arty and a little more hidden away, you will be able to find all of the above far easier when using a vacation rental than if you were searching for the same requirements as a hotel.

I have stayed in some beautiful places since I began using rental properties over hotels and I have met some wonderful and helpful hosts along the way too, some of which I have gone back to more than once. I cannot recommend this way of traveling any more and if you want to experience a more exciting type of accommodation, then a vacation rental is where you should be heading.

March 22, 2017 by Jeremy

Leave the Office Behind When You Vacation

Are you one of those individuals who can never quite seem to leave the workload behind when you go on vacation?

If that sounds like you, you are unfortunately one of many millions of people who can’t separate work and taking some time to relax.

Along with the mental wear and tear that such actions can have on your body, there is of course the physical punishment you can take as a result.

With that being the case, what should you be doing in order to get away from it all for a period of time, allowing you to truly get some deserved R&R?

Preparation and Using the Right Resources

Like many other things in life, getting your work done before you hit the beaches, golf courses, mountains, or wherever your vacation takes you is key.

For instance, unless you are just going to throw a few things in your vehicle and get out of town for the weekend, you will need to prepare for where you are going.

Among the things to look at:

Where are you going?
What mode of transportation will you use to get there?
How long will you be gone?
Approximately what will the trip cost you?

Those (and other things) are all important in terms of leaving you with less stress and more enjoyment when all is said and done.

Whether you are thinking about hitting multiple states across the U.S., jetting off to the Far East, touring South America, or taking in as much of Europe as possible, take your preparation planning time seriously.

For starters, use the Internet to look for savings on adventures in Europe, Ecuador travel packages, group tours of Australia and much more. In doing so, you can get your trip planning done faster, leaving you enough time to get your real work out of the way.

Secondly, doing your trip planning (at least a sizable portion of it) on the Internet during work breaks gives you that vacation to look forward to, making you even more motivated to finish your work before you pack your bags and head out.

Bags Packed and Time to Relax

Once your trip is planned and everything is in place, the time has come to put thoughts of work behind you for however long you will be away.

As an example, are you someone who always has that laptop and/or mobile device by your side when you are supposed to be enjoying time away from the office? If so, there are both mental and physical effects that can become troubling.

On the mental side, the possibilities of burnout become very real, especially if you are either running your own business or are responsible for more than your fair share of work in the office.

As for the physical impact, thinking about work too much while vacationing can lead to fatigue, bad eating habits, lack of exercise and more.

Use these tips before you head out on vacation:

Work done in advance – Get as much of your necessary work done in advance, thereby leaving you with little or nothing to worry about while away.
Seek help from others – If you run your own business with employees, ask them to pick up some of the slack for you while you are gone. One of the great things in working with others is pitching in and helping each other when one is out for a period of time.
Alert others of your plans – In the event you are a one-person show, alert clients far enough in advance that you will be away for vacation. This allows them to reschedule and/or plan out in advance if they need you.

By making sure your deserved vacation runs as smoothly as possible, leave the office behind when you go on a personal trip.

Not only will you have memories of a lifetime, but you will come back to work more relaxed and recharged.

As an employee (for someone else or yourself), how do you leave work behind when you go on a vacation?

January 24, 2017 by Jeremy

7 Ways to Party Like There’s No Tomorrow

A foam party is just one of many Ways to Party Like There's No Tomorrow

Photo by CC user Scott Sandars on Flickr

Party! Party! Party! Who out there doesn’t love a good party? A time when you can forget all of your worries and have a good old fashioned knees up! Well, I guess there are some out there who think the idea of having fun is unsuitable for them, but the majority of people are social animals and enjoy the presence of others, especially when it’s time to party on down. Let’s take a little looky at 7 ways to party like there’s no tomorrow!

1. Think about hosting a masquerade party. Arrange an evening of mystery and magic with a specially themed party. Also more than simply requesting that guests wear masks, you can ask them to bring their favourite dish and bottle of wine or champagne, or focus on drinks from around the world.

2. How about renting out a Moonlight Limo and lording it all around town? Fully decked out in total party mode, nothing could be more fun than being driven around (and maybe with an occasional stop) and having the time of your life. That certainly is novel! Looking for a party Limo to hire? Use the best out there.

3. Organise a game night. You can try to put an adult twist to one of your favourite childhood games, such as putting the tail on the donkey and musical chairs, or even check out new games, to provide plenty of fun options to keep you having fun into the early morning hours Be creative and try adding some delicious food and drinks, and you’re in for a great time.

4. How about going to the extremes? This is definitely not for everybody, but it will be wild! Go with family and friends and try bungee jumping! Have a party afterwards and tell each other about how you felt before, during and after the bungee jump.

5. Rent a boat and go fishing. Boats and fishing are not for everybody, but if all the invited are up for it, give it a go. If people have never fished before, here is a great way for the experienced among you to teach them. And if nobody’s experienced, there’s a good chance that the skipper will be. This is a great experience for children also.

6. Have a beach party with a huge bonfire. Without the bonfire, all you have got is a group of people hanging out on a dark beach. Make sure to build it in a safe place and away from trees, bushes, grass and the likes. You may have to ask your fire department if there are any fire restrictions in your area.

7. A foam party is definitely up there with the alternative rest! With the right venue, this will involve renting a foam machine to cover the venues dance floor with a couple of metres of foam. You can dance the night away, sloshing around in the foam! Nowadays, companies provide foam solutions that are both non-toxic and hypoallergenic. If in W. Australia, are you seeking a party bus in Perth? Check out the experts for that perfect party!

The thing is to have fun! Here are several ways to do it just that little bit different! Enjoy and have a great time!

January 18, 2017 by Jeremy

Stylish Additions to Make to Your Wedding

Your wedding day will be one of the happiest days of your life, all of your friends and family joining you and your partner in celebrating your life together and the promise that you will make to one another. Organizing a wedding can be a stressful affair and there is a great amount of areas to consider, the cake, the venue, the dress, the suits, the invitations and seating arrangements to name just a few. Everyone wants to add some style to their wedding too and you can do exactly that with just a few small additions that won’t take a great deal of planning and won’t cost the earth. Let’s take a look at a few touches which you can add to your wedding day to give it even more style.

Stylish Car Hire

When I married my husband we decided that we would hire a sleek and stylish car to bring us both to the wedding and after first considering a sports car, we instead opted for a limousine. We checked out what wedding limousines Perth had to offer us and eventually settled on a company for our limousine Royalty wedding limousines, a great company with some beautiful limos which delivered us in style to the church.

Sweetie Table

After the wedding is all done and everyone goes to eat some beautiful food and hear the speeches, what better way for them to enjoy the party than to gorge on candy. Sweetie tables are a really cool addition to your wedding and you can make them look like a vintage candy shop. These tables look great at the wedding and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love to eat candy, whatever the occasion!

Live Music

If you can hire a good wedding band for your after-party then you can really add a dash of style to your occasion. DJs are all well and good but to bring your wedding a little bit more character than music being played out of a sound system then you should look into getting a great wedding band.

Interesting Venue

You do not have to stick to the traditional church or hotel wedding for your big day, all you need is someone who is legally allowed to marry you and your partner and you can take the wedding wherever you like. Imagine getting married in a forest or on a boat or even a secluded island, whatever suits you and your partner is exactly how you should get married, not following tradition just for the sake of it.

Cool Food

There are no restrictions when choosing what food you will have for your wedding and you should make this a personal choice. I recently went to a wedding where the after-meal was a big barbecue, not exactly commonplace at a wedding but it worked really well. There is no reason why you should opt for food that you wouldn’t normally eat just for your wedding day, add a personal stamp to your food choices and your guests will love it.