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Posts Tagged ‘Great’

The Holiday Scene. Jack Black and Kate Winslet

Right now, the credit crunch has left the British Pound weak against the Euro. This means that anyone going on holiday in Europe and exchanging their pounds for Euros will get much less than they used to. However, there are some currencies that are fairing better against Euro. One of these is the Turkish Lira used in Northern Cyprus. But what does this mean for those looking to take a holiday in Cyprus? It means that they can enjoy a Euro-free holiday that is great value for money.

Of course, travelers have to make certain they are on the North side of the Green Line. This is the area of Cyprus that uses the Lira, and the place to go for a Euro-Free holiday. Northern Cyprus is, in fact, the only Euro-Med destination that hasn’t actually officially adopted the Euro currency, making it the only choice for a truly great holiday that won’t cost you a lot.

But why Northern Cyprus? Why not, is the better question. Northern Cyprus is one of Europe’s most beautiful places. In addition to being a great value Euro-free holiday, Northern Cyprus offers a lot to offer for the entire family. Kyrenia has its beautiful horse-shoe venetian harbour and great shopping opportunities, plus a Byzantine Castle overlooking the entire town and is a great place for history buffs to visit. The town also has many great resorts like the Acapulco Spa and Pia Bella, two amazing places where you’ll feel like royalty. The Acapulco’s beach in particular is spectacular.

Another popular destination in Northern Cyprus is Famagusta. This old Egyptian city offers a lot of historical sites for those who really want to know about the ancient history of Cyprus. Of course, it has many great beaches too, probably the best on the entire island; including the Majestic Beach and Salamis Bay. Famagusta makes a great place to base your Karpas Peninsula holiday since it is centrally located and provides access to just about everything the Peninsula has to offer.

But there are more places to visit than just Kyrenia and Famagusta. You can head out to Nicosia, a larger city that was once the home to the kings of Cyprus. This large city is the capital of North Cyprus, and you’ll find many modern conveniences here. While the smaller towns and cities often offer sleepy, traditional atmospheres, Nicosia is the opposite. It makes a nice change of pace from the towns you may be visiting as part of your Euro-free holiday. Just be sure to stay on the north side of the Green Line, the east-west boundary that divides the city into Greek and Turkish sectors. Only the northern side is Euro-free.

“The Good Life”

The Outer Banks of North Carolina has become the prime east coast destination for vacationers to escape to the beach and relax. The OBX offers unique local appeal with historic relevance like the legends of Blackbeard the Pirate or the birth of aviation.

The east coast is covered with resort towns that have become heavily populated, and most beach towns on the east coast are covered with shopping, high rise developments, parks and  huge condo units.   The Outer Banks has preserved its quaint charm throughout the years, and its unique feel attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Starting at the Virginia Border, the Outer Banks spans three counties and runs south along the North Carolina coast for about 130 miles.   One reason for underdevelopment on the OBX is the thinness of the islands.   Most homes are either oceanfront or within short walking distance to the ocean.   Towns such as Duck and Corolla have become very popular for vacation home owners because these are popular rental markets.

In a recent USA Today article the Outer Banks was classified into three different areas.   They are as follows:

• Northern beaches: This area includes the towns of Duck, Corolla, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills. “Favorites include Duck and Corolla, and it’s mostly single-family homes, though at the low end you can get a one-bedroom waterfront condo for under $200,000. Most homes are in the $400,000-$800,000 range, though Corolla is known for larger oceanfront homes up to $5 million,” a local Outer Banks realtor notes. North of Corolla, where Highway 12 ends, nearly 15 miles of dunes stretch to the Virginia border, dotted with vacation homes accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicles: “That’s a whole different buyer seeking remote privacy. “

• Southern beaches: Hatteras Island is even less developed than the Northern beaches, and it is well-known for its excellent fishing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, and surfing. It is also at least another 30 minutes farther from the mainland bridges and includes more protected lands. Avon, Hatteras Village and Rodanthe, where the Richard Gere romance Nights in Rodanthe was set, are the most popular towns, and prices are lower than farther north. “Low-end one-bedroom condos start around $100,000, and the high end would be a seven-bedroom oceanfront home for about $2. 5 million,” a local Outer Banks realtor notes.

• Mainland: The main bridge from the Outer Banks connects to a peninsula jutting into Albemarle Sound, including the town of Powell’s Point 4 miles from the bridge. “We consider it part of the Outer Banks even though it’s on the mainland,” notes a local Outer Banks realtor, who mentions that the Kilmarlic Club is popular with second-home owners. A master planned golf community with amenities like tennis and health club “started less than 10 years ago. All are single-family homes, from the mid-$300,000s to the $600,000s. “

Continually increasing in popularity, there is enormous opportunity in these rental markets.   If you are interested in owning a second home on the Outer Bank