Technology Educates The Tourist

With January almost upon us, it's interesting to reflect on how much the travel industry has changed over the last fifteen years - and the change has come about mainly because the power the consumer has today is infinitely more than in the past.

And it's not because the economic situation has meant that holiday companies have to compete harder to get a good share of the market, although this is true.

The tourist today has more power because he or she is better informed than ever before.

No longer is it a cse of hoping that a member of staff at the High Street travel agent has been to the same destination you have been considering, to advise of the best resort and accommodation.

Today before booking for example a holiday in Tenerife, people are able to check online reviews from (mainly) real people who have been there recently, and by reading a few of the travel reviews you are able to get a picture of whether a hotel is up to the standard you would expect.

And now it's going a stage further. While in the past you have been able to see a conventional Tenerife map, now Google has Street View where you can check the surrounding streets to see what it's really like in the neighbourhood.

To read more about how technology is changing the travel industry, and the shift in power to the consumer, visit this blog which has an article about it and more Tenerife information

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Are Tax Havens Just For The Wealthiest 1%?

There's been a lot in the news this year about how much wealth the top 1% in society own, and with the economy doing well there have been calls for them to be taxed more.

But often they aren't taxed at all, they have accountants who advise and many live in tax havens such as Monaco and Andorra.

But do you have to be classed as among the wealthiest to consider moving to a tax haven?

According to one Andorra blog, moderately wealthy people can and do move there, and take Andorra residency, and have no income to pay on their worldwide earnings.

Stopping The Holiday Blues

Surprising news from a weather blog which has written about how quite a few people who went on holiday last year returned home with more depression than before they jetted off!

One in five tourists apparently wished they had stayed at home in the UK despite the miserable weather compared to for example the Tenerife weather.

Most of the people surveyed who hadn't enjoyed their week or two away had travelled with young children, and the blog helpfully goes through how to prepare for a family holiday in advance to make sure all the family enjoys it - and the suggestions don't include ditching an overseas holiday in favour of one at home - it can be just as expensive and no less stressful if you don't plan ahead.

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