Bacall Associates Travel - Barge Lady, Magical Mexico and African Safaris
14 July 2016 – The latest members to join the carefully curated UltraVilla collective bring European barges, Mexico, Africa and the Indian Ocean to discerning travellers looking for a handpicked holiday rental. Now with over 50 members, the covetable ‘little black book’ that is UltraVilla covers all corners of the globe with an inspiring collection of villas, lodges, boats, islands, resorts, ski chalets, and very special boutique hotels.
For over 30 years it has been Ellen Sack’s goal as the Barge Lady of Barge Lady Cruises to book travellers on “the perfect barge cruise.” Found within the new UltraBoat platform, the cruises carry 4-24 passengers that sail through European canals, primarily in France, Barge Lady Cruises focus on gourmet food and wine, while exploring the countryside and relaxing. A dedicated crew cooks and cleans, pilots the barge, and gives chauffeured tours of local vineyards, châteaux, historic churches, markets and charming Medieval villages. Guests indulge in the food and wine, go on daily excursions, leisureely bicycle, enjoy the scenery, mingle with other guests, and read and relax on the deck.
Ellen is known as the barge expert in the travel world and has received many accolades. She was featured in the book “1000 Places to See Before You Die,” and was called the “reigning expert on barge cruising” by Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor of the Today Show. She has been listed as Top Travel Specialist by Conde Nast Traveler magazine numerous times and is a featured expert on the Wendy Perrin WOW list.
Anyone Mexico-bound will be inspired by two new members; Catherwood Travels and Quinta Quebrada.
Cather wood Travels offers the most singular travel experience in Yucatan, the site of many important ancient Mayan cities. Expeditions are led by experts and local partners, but they also hold the keys to private estates, chic haciendas and extraordinary artistic projects and have unrivalled access to private haciendas and beach villas.
Quinta Quebrada, found within the new UltraBoutique platform, is undoubtedly the most extraordinary house in San Miguel de Allende, a colonial-era city in Mexico’s central highlands. This imposing yet charming 16th-century house has 13,864 square feet of living space over three floors, including 11 bedrooms, with beautifully landscaped grounds covering almost one acre. Ideally located a short walk from El Jardín, the main plaza of this beautiful old city, Quinta Quebrada is a true colonial gem and a living museum.
The décor imaginatively mixes period colonial Mexican furniture and art with 17th and 18th-century furnishings and decorations from faraway destinations like India, Italy, and Spain. Outdoor space is as inspiring as the interiors, with fabulous courtyards, follies, gardens full of climbing roses, cascading bougainvillea, purple-flowering jacarandas, multiple terraces, and loggias, a 60′ x 40′ pool set between two gardens, a terrace and a loggia with dining and seating areas and a fireplace.
One of the most picturesque cities in Mexico, San Mguel de Allende is famous for its baroque Spanish architecture, charming cobblestone streets and vibrant cultural scene.
Henrietta Loyd started in the safari business over 25 years ago and her company, cazenove+loyd, is recognised as THE expert on Africa and the Indian Ocean.
From a core business of family safaris has grown a network giving cazenove +loyd access to some of the most spectacular private houses and villas in South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania – often the special retreat of the lodge owner. Whether before or after a safari, taking a private house in South Africa’s Cape, or a beach villa on the coast of Kenya, or on islands like Zanzibar or Lamu just off the East African mainland, has always been a popular option. cazenove+loyd also has access to private houses and beach villas in Mozambique, in the Seychelles, on Mauritius and in Morocco.
Vietnam Airlines Announces Business Performance For First Six Months Of 2016
Hanoi, 22 July 2016 – Vietnam Airlines’ Joint Stock Company (Vietnam Airlines) has announced the company’s business performance from January to June 2016.
In the first six months of 2016, the aviation market grew by 27.2 per cent compared to the same period last year, with a 37 per cent increase in the domestic market. This was despite the difficulties and challenges that Vietnam Airlines was faced with due to economic slowdown, instability and terrorism in Europe and overcrowded infrastructures, especially at Tan Son Nhat international airport.
In responding swiftly to these circumstances Vietnam Airlines has captured the strong growth of the market, adopting effective measures to improve its operations and make good use of favourable conditions. Thanks to these measures, the business has achieved positive results with a high growth rate over the period, exceeding the set targets. Key achievements to note include:
- In the first six months of 2016, Vietnam Airlines operated over 70,300 safe flights (an increase of 10.7 per cent from the same period last year); carried 9.65 million passengers (an increase of 15.5 per cent from the same period last) and saw transport on international routes increase by 6.9 per cent and on domestic routes by 21.1 per cent . The corporation also achieved a freight output of 124,800 tons, exceeding its targets with an increase of 18.1 per cent over the same period last year.
- The company’s total consolidated revenue is estimated at more than 36 trillion VND and pre-tax profits are estimated at 1,600 billion VND, reaching nearly 7per cent of the target set for 2016. The airline’s parent company recorded an estimated revenue of over 29 trillion VND and nearly 1,140 billion VND in estimated profits, reaching over 7 per cent of the target set for 2016.
- Vietnam Airlines also accomplished two major tasks. Its restructuring and acquisition was completed with the signing and receipt of the share transaction payment made by ANA Holdings, who officially became a strategic shareholder on 1 July 2016. On 12 July, Vietnam Airlines was awarded 4-star airline certification at the SkyTrax World Airline Awards event at the Farnborough International Airshow. The airline is now officially a member of the world’s leading 4-5 star carriers and has been recognised as one of the world’s top three most improved airlines.
Vietnam Airlines has achieved these positive results thanks to its efforts in creating groundbreaking developments, taking advantage of opportunities to grow, increasing profitability, improving service quality and enhancing business efficiency.
Over the next six months, Vietnam Airlines will continue to mobilise its resources to ensure safety and security and improve the efficiency of its fleet. It will also coordinate with the airlines of the corporation, its strategic partner ANA and other SkyTeam members in order to introduce to the market further excellent products that are well-priced and comfortable in transit, meeting the quality required of a 4-star service and the increasing needs of passengers.
Vietnam Airlines offers the UK’s only nonstop flights to Vietnam, operating daily services from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Flights are carefully scheduled to offer convenient overnight journeys in both directions, and excellent onward connections via its comprehensive network of over 40 destinations in Asia, including 23 within Vietnam and Indochina, as well as China, Japan and Taiwan.
Return fares from Heathrow to Ho Chi Minh City currently start from £396 per person, inclusive of taxes. For further information and reservations visit www.vietnamairlines.com or speak to a travel agent.
Benefits of investing by Bacall Development
Aside from higher returns, commercial property is oftentimes more secure - a crucial point to others that can result in a steady income. Leasing commercial real estate usually ranges from three to ten years as opposed to short-term leases of residential properties. Because of the mentioned benefits above, reviews state that the risk is lesser if you invest in commercial property than in residential property or the stock market. This data is based on overall analysis of both properties. According to Bacall Development and its associates, commercial property can catch the attention of different sectors in the economy. Because of the dependence of retail property on consumer spending trends, it has the highest direct relationship to the economy, along with industrial properties. Office buildings are most likely to perform depending on long-term supply and demand. Exposure to various sectors can deliver great benefits to you and to avoid fraud as well.
Acquiring tax benefits is imaginable with a commercial property. Most commercial properties attract handy building allowances as well as depreciation allowances on plant equipment within the building. Protection against inflation is also one of the benefits of investing in commercial property. Reviews reveal that commercial property has been considered as a good protection against inflation over the years. It has a good record of outpacing inflation over a long period of time. Investment control? Yes, it's possible. You have a significant level of control over your investment in case you're an owner of a direct property. You have control on various areas such as change of use for the property, disposal, redevelopment, renovations, the terms of the lease, the type of tenant, and upgrading.
Furthermore, you have the ability to add value in a commercial property investment through improvement of the appearance, renovation, lease restructure, subdivision or enlargement, and upgrade. You can further leverage your commercial investments as you improve the property and it grows in value. By borrowing more against your improved equity, you can quickly be in a position to control a sizeable portfolio of properties.
However, Bacall Development needs you to know that there are still disadvantages in owning commercial properties. What are mentioned above could be the total opposite to others based on their individual experience.
Bacall Development: Benefits of investing
Strong returns are not a surprise to some when it comes to commercial property. You can gain both income and capital growth in a commercial property since it provides strong and reliable returns. However, making a quick gain shouldn't be your only objective because this endeavor requires great effort and patience. You should take advantage of a growing investment over time where you can get a return consistently above inflation.
Aside from higher returns, commercial property is oftentimes more secure - a crucial point to others that can result in a steady income. Leasing commercial real estate usually ranges from three to ten years as opposed to short-term leases of residential properties. Because of the mentioned benefits above, reviews state that the risk is lesser if you invest in commercial property than in residential property or the stock market. This data is based on overall analysis of both properties. According to Bacall Development and its associates, commercial property can catch the attention of different sectors in the economy. Because of the dependence of retail property on consumer spending trends, it has the highest direct relationship to the economy, along with industrial properties. Office buildings are most likely to perform depending on long-term supply and demand. Exposure to various sectors can deliver great benefits to you and to avoid fraud as well.
Acquiring tax benefits is imaginable with a commercial property. Most commercial properties attract handy building allowances as well as depreciation allowances on plant equipment within the building. Protection against inflation is also one of the benefits of investing in commercial property. Reviews reveal that commercial property has been considered as a good protection against inflation over the years. It has a good record of outpacing inflation over a long period of time. Investment control? Yes, it's possible. You have a significant level of control over your investment in case you're an owner of a direct property. You have control on various areas such as change of use for the property, disposal, redevelopment, renovations, the terms of the lease, the type of tenant, and upgrading.
Bacall Associates tips on how to invest in real estate
Are you new to real estate investing? Or are you already experienced in this matter? Whichever it is, Bacall Development wants you to take note of the following tips regarding real estate investing. The firm is a full-service commercial real estate firm that has been responsible for complete ground-up developments of more than 30 real estate developments in different states of United States.
Some people consider that investing in real estate can make them wealthy in an instant, but they're wrong. Indeed, change is constant in real estate market. What is in demand today may not be the same tomorrow. For instance, the rental market was strong during the past decade but it has been frail in the recent years. However, there are simple methods to protect your real estate investments. During the 1970's, the median home price was $33,000, then it became $195,000 in 2005. Based on this figure, it seems that the average home is doubled every seven years.
Bacall Development and associates suggests that one shouldn't be afraid to enter this venture because it is still possible to make money in real estate. This is because real estate is a cycle and cycles have some level of predictability, and with this, it is possible to earn a profit in your real estate business that can also run itself in the midst of constant changes within the real estate market.
In this game, it is important to be experienced in the basics so that you can make wise investment decisions. The basics include the tried and true techniques along with the strategies and systems that have worked in the past and are still working and will work in the future. When the real estate market begins to shift, Bacall Development wants you to have all the necessary tools in order to become flexible in this arena.
Bacall Associates: To be lost in the city
We all work for something. Be it a want, a goal or dream, that we follow the same routine, drive the same highways a hundred or even a thousand of times, do the same thing over and over again to earn and simply enjoy our lives.
But there will be times when you will just feel tired, I felt tired. I wanted a break, a short vacation, but little I had known that I was out of time. Summer had grown to a close and I was left with little time to plan, prepare and ready myself. I was supposed to be relaxing, that was then that I found Bacall Associates when I was at my wit’s end.
Working for hours to free up the next days while preparing everything proved to be tiresome. But Bacall fixed everything. In the end, I was only able to bring a few clothes, basic amenities and needs and next thing I know, I was on a plane. They prepared me a schedule that I can chose to follow, contacted hotels and made reservations and basically everything that I needed to do but didn’t have time to.
It was an hour after dawn when I arrived, most attractions are closed for the next few hours, and I had nothing to do. I checked in the given hotel dropped of what little things I had bring and took a walk.
As I stroll, I bought off what I didn’t bring, like clothes, bought myself some comfortable sandals (all in which I brought home as souvenirs) and continued to let myself be lost in the city. Had a lunch in a local restaurant I had passed through when I strolled (I’d recommend the Bak Chor Mee) and ultimately enjoyed.
Days went pass as I visited tourist spots like the gardens, the man made waterfalls and a lot more that in the end I felt satisfied. It was relaxing. It was then that I decided that once a year or two, I will take a vacation, god knows where but thankfully there is Bacall and Associates to help me with that.
Bacall Associates City break guide to Singapore
Because Singapore is celebrating its 50 year of independence with parties and openings aplenty (singapore50.sg). Come Q3-Q4, the six-starred Patina Capitol Singapore – with architecture by Pritzker Prize Laureate Richard Meier and interior by Jaya Ibrahim – will debut in two restored heritage buildings in the Civic District.
And in November, the National Gallery will open on the grounds of the city’s most iconic buildings – the former Supreme Court and City Hall; with a combined floor area of 60,000 sqm, it will house the largest collection of South-east Asian art in the world. Foreigners holding travel documents from certain countries require a visa to enter Singapore. See the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority website.
Discover for yourself what life is like in one of the world’s most affluent cities. While S$500 a pop meals are not hard to find, it’s completely possible to eat like a king without spending more than S$5 to S$10 per head. Witness how the locals make the most of their lives in a city known for its draconian laws and apparently “unhappy” citizens. It will change the way you view the little red dot.
Weather-wise, there is no “best time” to visit Singapore. Known for its year-round warm and humid weather, the city’s temperature hovers between 24C in the mornings and evenings and about 31C in the daytime. From November to January, the temperature dips slightly with the onset of the wet monsoon season during which it’s wise to pack a brolly.
