Condo Hotels Appeal to Baby Boomers Seeking a Vacation Home

Baby boomers interested in buying vacation homes are now considering one of the latest trends in second home ownership: the condo hotel.

Condo hotels are a type of vacation home. They are typically located in resorts operated by some of the top luxury hotel chains, such as Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Hilton, and Trump International, to name a few.

These upscale second homes made their debut in Miami, but the condo hotel trend has now spread across the country to markets like Orlando, Las Vegas, Chicago, and to various cities in California, Colorado and New York. They are also quite popular in exotic locales such as Mexico, Panama, the Caribbean and Dubai.

Condo hotels are a perfect fit for the lifestyle baby boomers enjoy, providing luxurious, hassle-free second homes, without all the worries of maintenance. They offer baby boomers the opportunity for easy, relaxed family vacations in desirable locations without time spent researching, planning and booking travel accommodations.

Unlike traditional vacation homes, condo hotels are furnished condominium suites located within some of the country’s most famous hotels and resorts. Owners of these suites are entitled to use all of the luxury amenities and services offered by the property, such as fine dining restaurants, fitness centers, spas, and concierge services.

Furthermore, the headaches of maintenance, guest services and housekeeping are assumed by the on-site hotel management company.

But what really sets condo hotels apart are that the individual owners can place their unit in the hotel’s rental program when they’re not there. The hotel management takes on the responsibility of finding and dealing directly with renters, leaving the owners free from these duties. The rent revenue the condo hotel unit generates helps offset the costs of ownership.

Many baby boomers looking for investment alternatives see condo hotels as a smart choice, a means to diversify into something other than stock market holdings. Because of a limited supply of land in many choice locales, the likelihood of capital appreciation on condo hotel units is increased.

Condo hotel units come in a variety of sizes and prices, typically ranging from $300,000 to over $1 million for prime properties.

Unlike a timeshare, which usually provides only a week or two per year of use, condo hotel owners are fully deeded property owners who can generally use their condo suites when and how they please. Baby boomers want vacation homes that are available when their busy schedules allow them time off.

Also, whereas traditional timeshares can be difficult to resell, condo hotels, with their luxury amenities, prime locations, limited inventory, and potential for appreciation, can be resold more readily.

For all these reasons, the condo hotel product, and the lifestyle if offers, appeals to the baby boomer generation. Look for more condo hotels to come on the market in coming years to meet this burgeoning demand.

Where to Find Food Safety Jobs

For people interested in food safety jobs, there are several great places to start looking for employment. First of all, the national and local government employs many people each year to work in the field of food safety. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is one of such top employers. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is another great place to look for food safety jobs. These positions often involve laboratory work to be sure that a food product is safe to go on the market. The USDA and FDA employees may also evaluate new proposals for food products to make sure that they are safe for the general public to consume.

Along with the USDA and the FDA, local government administrations also offer many jobs in safety for trained professionals. This includes the local health department or other regulatory agency. These types of jobs primarily require that inspectors visit local restaurants and food suppliers to make sure that they are following protocol correctly. Prospective employees at these offices must know the rules of food storage, heating and cooling procedures, proper food preparation methods, and anything else that would affect the quality and safety of a food product.

Aside from regulatory agencies, many businesses will offer jobs in safety as well. They do so in order to avoid promoting the sale of improperly made food items. By hiring food safety professionals to work for the company, rather than only serving as regulators, these companies are able to review the quality of their products before pitching the item for sale. This helps them not only save money, but also to avoid costly fines and fees related to product recall.

Restaurants are another excellent option for prospective employees in the field of food safety. Like the food production companies mentioned above, many restaurants will hire food safety professionals to help them keep up with the rules and regulations regarding food safety. This helps them ensure the quality of their product and to maintain consistency. It is also a great safety precaution for the restaurant owners and employees because it guarantees the quality of their product and provides them an essential tool for success in the restaurant industry.

Walking Holidays – Why You Should Choose Cyprus As Your Next Destination

Why is Cyprus overlooked as a walking destination?
The answer probably lies in the fact that 90% of visitors to the island have come with one goal in mind – to get a suntan!

It is true that Cyprus is a wonderful destination for sunseekers and watersports enthusiasts; but the island has as much, if not more, to offer those visitors looking to escape from it all through the beauty of nature, not to mention the healthy benefits of exploring a new country on your own two feet.

Here are ten reasons why you should consider Cyprus for your next walking holiday:

  • Away from the tourist ridden coast, the landscape is wild, rugged and unspoilt – A third of the west of the island is covered with dense pine forest – the perfect haven for wildlife and a way to escape even in the heat of summer
  • Cyprus has a wealth of indigenous flora and fauna to excite keen botanists, bird watchers and the more casual walker alike
  • The Akamas peninsula on the west of the island is a true haven of natural beauty with a selection of nature trails to suit all abilities
  • A further 50 nature trails are dotted around the island. These are well sign-posted and include useful markers on the various flora lining the trail
  • Cyprus is a perfect walking holiday destination for most of the year with Spring and Autumn being especially good times to explore the island on two feet – the mild climate and almost constant sunshine is the perfect antidote to cold, wet winters in the most of northern Europe!
  • You will rarely see other people out on the trail particularly if you use a guide to take you on trails you could not find in any guide book
  • Cyprus is awash with gorgeous gorges, the result of tens of thousands of years of natural erosion – these spectacular gorges are paradise for any walker keen on scrambling
  • The best inland trails usually lead to a pretty mountain village taverna, the perfect place to re-fuel and get to know the friendly locals
  • There are now specialist companies on the island offering guided walking holidays and, as they are island based, are up to date with any recent changes to trails due to building development.
  • And the last reason – quite simply, Cyprus is one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean and its people are probably the friendliest

The Cultural Heart of London – Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury is one of the most culturally-rich areas of central London and a hive of activity for central London estate agents. Bloomsbury Theatre is well known for its relaxed atmosphere and dedication to performance arts. Bloomsbury Square is just one of several that make this area particularly suited to family living. Other keen selling points for Bloomsbury estate agents are the Bloomsbury museums, which include the world famous British Museum.

Few other areas of London offer the diversity that Bloomsbury residents take for granted. For instance, in addition to being within walking distance of the greatest museums in the world, Bloomsbury dwellers are also in a hub of educational excellence with such notable institutions as The Royal Veterinary College, University College London and the School of Pharmacy to name a few. Then there is the easy access to the best medical centres in the UK, such as the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College Hospital and Royal London Homeopathic Hospital.

If you prefer to spend your time outdoors, you’ll be spoilt for choice with the number of parks and squares in Bloomsbury. The most obvious example is Bloomsbury Square. It was one of the first squares to appear in London and was developed in the late 17th century by the 4th Earl of Southampton (it started life as the Southampton Square before its name was changed to reflect its location). Bloomsbury Square was immortalised by J.M. Barrie when he chose it to House the Darling family, whose children flew to Never Land with Peter Pan. Russell Square, near the British Museum in Bloomsbury, is a focus of tourist attention because of its memorial to the people who lost their lives in the July 2005 bombings. Mecklenburgh Square has a strong floral focus with lawns, ornamental trees and a garden dedicated specifically to flora from New Zealand.

Kids will love Coram’s Fields, where 7 acres have designed with children in mind. More of a park than a square, Coram’s Fields has been given over to the children of Bloomsbury with a playground, four half-sized football pitches, a pet’s corner, duck pond, basketball court and nursery; adults, i.e. anyone over 16 years old, are only allowed if they are accompanied by children, i.e. anyone younger than 16.

The Royal Academy of Dramatic ART (RADA) is one of the oldest drama schools in the UK, and joins the Bloomsbury Theatre in revving up Bloomsbury’s cultural vibe. The Academy enjoys the patronage of some of the finest actors of stage and screen that the UK has even produced. Lord Attenborough is President of the Academy and Alan Rickman is one of the Vice-Chairmen. And it doesn’t end there; associate members include Sir Michael Gambon, Kenneth Branagh, Ralph Fiennes (thus contributing hugely to the cast of Harry Potter), Sir Anthony Hopkins and Sir Roger Moore.

The British Museum is joined by the Dickens Museum, Petrie Museum and the Grant Museum of Zoology, all of which put Bloomsbury firmly on London’s famous Museum Mile. Culture enthusiasts can also bask in Bloomsbury’s rich literary heritage. The Bloomsbury Group, composed of some of the most noted and forward-thinking writers and artists of the 20th century lived in Bloomsbury. Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell (Woolf’s sister and a famous artist in her own right), E.M. Forster and John Maynard Keynes met regularly to discuss their views on feminism, literature, art and sexuality, which was still considered risqué and taboo.

Those embedded in modern pop culture may be interested to know that Ricky Gervais (of The Office) once called Bloomsbury home, and makes semi-regular appearances at the Bloomsbury Theatre. Charles Darwin was also a Bloomsbury resident and would no doubt make excellent use of the Bloomsbury museums of today. Even Bob Marley briefly called Bloomsbury Square home. What other reasons do you need to need to stop by Bloomsbury to see the sights for yourself?