Enjoy pristine beaches, larger-than life steaks, ranches, and other things that offer more than just a South American environment. Travel to historic sites and places of cultural importance and learn the Uruguayan’s way of life. Have a luxurious escape into this South American paradise by going in these heavenly places on Earth.
1.) Punta del Diablo
Find a quiet escape from the busy city in this tranquil part of Uruguay. Walk in miles of empty beach coastlines, surf and fish till you drop, and enjoy wooden cabins and trouble-free rural lifestyle. Learn from people whose lives are as nature-oriented and as down-to-earth as the peaceful surrounding.
2.) Punta del Este
Punta del Este is known world-wide as a plush resort with miles of beaches, a string of luxurious hotels and restaurants and never-ending reasons to party. While it’s not as famous as its European and American counterparts, its untamed charm and stunning beauty makes people come every summer. Strut your winning figure in its beaches by engaging in its beach activities or partying in its all-night discos.
3.) Isla de Gorriti
Do you find Punta del Este serving too many people that it spoils the fun you deserve? Then go to Isla Goritti and find more beaches that could satisfy the hydrophilic man in you. Eighteenth-century fortresses also abound this idyllic place.
4.) Montevideo
Travel to the place of Spanish-Italian art deco designs and see for yourself the cultural diversity in this patch of land. While it lost many tourists over to more famous tourist zones, Montevideo has its own beaches and festivities to be proud of. Travel between late February and early March and find yourself in the middle of a dancing spree in the Montevideo streets.
5.) Casa Pueblo
Take a look inside the Uruguay’s Mediterranean villa and art gallery and explore its rooms devoted to Carlos Vilaro’s masterpieces. Located only five minutes off Punta del Este, Casa Pueblo offers breathtaking edifice that serves as a repository for the equally astounding works of art. A bar was conveniently placed for visitors to unwind in a totally different ambience.
6.) Water Sports
Uruguay’s long beach lines give unlimited possibilities when it comes to water-based activities. Find your gear and do some boating, surfing, swimming, and fishing in some of the beautiful waters in the world. With Uruguay’s water, there are simply unlimited opportunities to enjoy.
7.) Colonia del Sacramento
Overlooking Rio de Plata, Uruguay’s Colonia del Sacramento is a place where you can have some of the most cobbled streets, vibrant history and most scenic spots together. Visit the city’s museum, drawbridge, lighthouse, and bullrings. Plan your trip in this place and experience the life with happy Uruguayans, nightspots and other places of amusement.
8.) Plaza de Torros
Plaza de Torros is located outside Real de San Carlos, Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. Let your eyes feast in Plaza de Torros’ grand architecture that characterizes this short-lived bullring. Sneak in with the locals through a broken gate and enter the bull fighter’s arena.
9.) Feria de Tristan Narvaja
Located in Monetevideo, Feria de Tristan is the Uruguay’s center for antiques, records, astesanias, and more. Shop around for secondhand books, pets, fruits, vegetables, and fish in this one-of-a-kind market. Shop during Sundays and treat yourself with a hoard of bohemian goods on display.
10.) Palacio Salvo
Any Uruguayan trip is incomplete without a visit in this spot in Montevideo. Located in the intersection of 18 de Julio Avenue and Plaza Independencia, this building intended for hotel is now a home for a multitude of residential units and office spaces. Treat yourself with some contemporary architecture by visiting this Uruguayan high-rise.
By: Jonathan Williams
Tags: American Counterparts, American Environment, American Paradise, Art Deco Designs, Busy City, Cultural Diversity, Edifice, Eighteenth Century, Fortresses, Heavenly Places, Idyllic Place, Italian Art, Larger Than Life, Mediterranean Villa, Pristine Beaches, Spoils, Stunning Beauty, Tourist Zones, Uruguayan, Wooden Cabins
Travel America | admin August 24, 2009 | 
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In this article, we will explain how anyone can travel at a fraction of the regular price, enjoy perks, benefits and upgrades like you’ve never experienced before, travel tax-deductible anywhere in the world, and even get paid when you travel.
What does it mean to travel as an “insider?” Well, for decades, the travel industry has depended on travel agents to book all travel. Then, in the mid-1990s, two things happened that forever changed the way people book travel. Number one, the airlines stopped paying commissions to agencies. This impacted them greatly since airline commissions were very important to their income stream. At about the same time, the first Internet booking engines like Travelocity came into existence. Over the years as the Internet sites got more user-friendly and offered better prices, less people went to the full service agency, instead booking their own travel online. In a way, the online booking websites trained millions of people to be their own travel agent. Of course, you don’t make a commission, but you do get a great Internet rate.
It’s important to keep in mind that for decades, the travel vendors (cruises, hotels, resorts, etc.) have depended upon the word-of-mouth advertising of travel industry professionals. It’s called free advertising. The travel properties routinely invite travel agents at a deeply reduced rate in exchange for the agents going home to promote their hotel or cruise line. The properties are not going to kick someone out of a hotel room so you can stay there cheaper, but if the room is going to go unused anyway in an off-season or shoulder season, then they will still benefit by having you stay there at a reduced rate and then help to promote their facility. It’s a win-win situation. If the hotel doesn’t rent that room tonight, it’s loss revenue forever.
Tax Benefits
It’s very important to understand the difference between traveling with after-tax dollars as opposed to traveling with pre-tax dollars as a business owner. Let’s look at taxes for a minute: if you are not a business owner, you are missing out on one of the advantages of tax-deductibility. Let’s take a simple example of the difference between an employee and a business owner. Let’s say the average American spends about $3,000 per year on travel and vacations. You may spend more. If you are an employee, you will have to earn about $4,500 down at the job and then net out $3,000 after taxes. You then spend the $3,000 on the vacations. At the end of the vacation, you have great memories, but no money in your pocket.
Contrast this with the travel business owner who also makes $4,500 (maybe even at the same job), but then buys the travel as a business expense. As a business owner, you don’t pay taxes until all business expenses are deducted. In addition, because you are a travel professional, you will probably get the same vacation at a reduced rate, say $1,500. Subtract this from $4,500 and you are left with $3,000. Now you must pay the same rate of taxes (let’s say about 33% or $1,000). You are left with $2,000 in your pocket and the good memories. Which way would you rather travel, as an employee or a travel business owner?
In addition to the travel being tax deductible (consult with your tax advisor), you may have other business expenses such as cell phones, internet connection, car expenses, cameras, etc. As long as you treat your travel business as a real business by documenting your business activities and expenses, you may have additional tax benefits (check with your tax advisor).
Once you learn how to become an insider in the travel insider and travel like the pros, you will not want to travel any other way.
By: Joe Jacobson
Tags: Airline Commissions, Book Travel, Booking Engines, Cruise Line, Free Advertising, Income Stream, Internet Booking, Internet Rate, Mid 1990s, Own Travel, Shoulder Season, Tax Dollars, Travel Agent, Travel Agents, Travel Industry Professionals, Travel Network, Travel Number, Travel Properties, Travel Vendors, Word Of Mouth Advertising
Travel America | admin August 22, 2009 |
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A recent study has shown that car hire prices are continuing to rise as a result of fuel prices increasing and due to the maintenance and overhead charges that most car hire companies have to face.
The survey was published by American Express and showed its 2007 rental rates and focussed on business travellers. It was determined from the research that the price for hiring a car jumped by 4.4 per cent between 2006 and 2007.
This AMEX study is known for being one of the most reliable sources of information on trends in the pricing of travel related services and it is therefore known as the Business Travel Monitor.
American car hire companies were showed to be having difficulty remaining profitable as their operating costs continue to rise. One of the biggest reasons for the companies finding it difficult to make any profit is due to fleet costs. Car hire firms are finding it hard to cope with the 20% increase on the costs of fleets; this increase is due to firms finding it much more difficult to buy new vehicles from the manufacturers for discount prices. This therefore means that it is extremely difficult to recover the extra expenses.
The survey shows a steady rise in car rental rates which goes back to 2001. The average price of hiring a car in 2001 was $63 and in 2007 it had risen steadily to $72. With this trend showing no signs of slowing down, finding cheap car hire when you are away on holiday in the US is not looking hopeful.
By: Gill Critchley
Tags: American Car Hire, American Express, Amex, Business Travel, Business Travellers, Car Hire Companies, Car Rental Rates, Cheap Car, Critchley, Fleet Costs, Fleet Hire, Fleets, Fuel Prices, Hiring A Car, Hopeful, New Vehicles, Overhead Charges, Reliable Sources, Sources Of Information, Travel Related Services
Travel America | admin |
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