Found in the Indian Ocean some kilometers off the east coast of Madagascar, Mauritius has a warm climate all year long though it can get very sticky in December and January. Compounding sun, sea, sand and a rich ethnic culture, Mauritius offers exactly what sun worshippers and culture lovers are looking for, for their perfect holidays.
Tourists will find the island quite an interesting place as regards to its sights, sounds and cuisine all based on the multi ethnicity of the island and its mixed population of Creole, Indians, Chinese and Europeans.
Being relatively large in size for an island, Mauritius is divided into specific districts each offering different attractions. Port Louis is the capital and offers all the hustle and bustle of city life and is even home to a china town. Mauritius attractions should not be missed!
Grand bay found in the north of the island is very common amongst tourists for its beaches, nightlife, clubs and restaurants.
If you are looking for idyllic places to enjoy the sun and warm splashes, you can go to Pereybere, Belle Mare, Tamarin, Blue Bay or Le Morne; if you are into water sports, you can check out Blue Bay for sailing and windsurfing or Tamarin and Le Morne for surfing.
Still regarding water sports, fishing can be done all around the island as well as diving or submarine safaris to enjoy the wonderful marine life of Mauritius. Those into golfing will not be disappointed in a visit to Mauritius as the island holds a number of golf courses, with one set in a stunning environment on a smaller islet off the east of the mainland.
Those who want to get involved in some green hikes will be delighted by the Black River Georges National Park which harbors patches of the remaining virgin forests of the island and is home to a number of endemic plants and birds.
For whatever reason people may want to visit Mauritius, be it for a romantic escape, honeymoon, family vacation, Mauritius will be up to each and everyone’s expectations.
The dangers of drinking and driving should be cleared spelled out to teenagers as it has been found out that drunk driving is the number one cause of deaths among youngsters aged between 15 and 24 years and so disseminating this information to them is crucial not only for their own benefit but for other drivers and pedestrians as well.
Most parents make the mistake of thinking that the subject should be discussed only when their own children start to drive. Just like everything else in life, the earlier you are taught lessons, the deeper they get into the minds and you learn to abide by them; there is no need to actually drive to realize the consequences of drunk driving.
Teenagers have to realize just what are the consequences of driving whilst drunk and the huge repercussions that these may entail upon the families and friends of someone killed in such a way. Many people focus on how drink drive insurance will become expensive but they also have to realize what it is like for families and friends to deal with someone injured in such an accident and the aftermath of living with someone in such a state. Though it may not be easy for a teenager to understand this concept, they have to be warned about real life situations.
Also, teenagers have to realize what being caught drunk whilst driving exactly means. It is essential to check out the appropriate laws regarding drunk driving and what such acts lead to. Teenagers have to be told that this irresponsibility will lead to prison if not to more devastating consequences like ruining their careers or even in getting a respectable job.
It can also happen that your teenager finds himself in such a situation that he has been out with friends and had a drink too much and has to get the car back home but unfortunately gets caught, or even calls you as he is unfit to drive and risk being chewed out by you even though you have stressed out the dangers of drunk driving. This is also an aspect that should not be forgotten and be emphasized upon before it actually happens.
When we are young, we all do stupid things but the important thing is to be always safe, understand the lesson and try to rectify our mistakes and do better the next time the same situation crops up. Your child has to realize that no matter what happens, he can count on you wherever he is, in whatever situation he is and at any time for you to help him out.
It does not however mean that you are encouraging irresponsible activities or that the mistake will go unpunished. The crucial thing to you is for him to be safe and sound and to make him realize that he made the right choice in asking for your help.
As it goes, you have to set the example for your child to follow through and hence not drive whilst drunk. Leave your keys at home and take a taxi instead when you have to go to a party which involves drinking and your child will do the same.
With more and more people turning to the internet to make purchases there are many things you need to look out for to make sure it is safe. I have been shopping online to make the majority of my purchases for the last 8 years but internet security has improved a lot in the last three alone.
How to stay safe with online shopping?
Most people shop online for convenience, now you can order and have items sent to your workplace, a long time ago you couldn’t set up an address book with different addresses so you could choose someone who would be home to sign for your delivery. You also needed to pay additional charges if you were not home when a courier came to deliver your goods, now most places try to re-deliver up to 3 more times for free, then they charge you if they are unsuccessful.
Some people shop because they find a reputable website that sells goods for a competitive price so instead of driving to a store to buy what you need without any guarantee its in stock you can order it online for home delivery or check stock and reserve it for in-store collection. Those who have commitments such as childcare or are carers also find it useful to be able to order anything they want online and have it delivered.
PayPal is also a safe way to pay with many online retailers signing up to use this as a method of payment. If you were to have any problems with a company you can get your money back quicker than if you used a debit card.
There are so many personal blogs on the web with people writing firsthand what they experienced, there are also other websites that are for reviews only and are unbiased and written by those who are happy or unhappy and want to share their view with other potential customers.
As April approaches prescription charges are bound to increase again as they have done every year. As the rest of England are penalised and have to continue to pay for life saving prescriptions Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish residents do not need to pay a penny. Scotland has just announced that they plan to scrap the prescription charges so that all their residents will be entitled to free NHS drugs regardless of age, status and employment.
The rest of England will have to continue paying for prescriptions that cost £7.20 for each item dispensed. There are some people who are not usually ill and don’t have to worry about the cost of medicines as they rarely visit the doctor. In some cases if the doctor finds that it will cost too much money for the patient they advise buying over the counter instead as most items are usually available both on and off prescription.
Save money with a pre-payment certificate?
If you find that you need NHS drugs on a regular basis and cannot buy them over the counter where it is sometimes cheaper you may have heard of a pre-payment certificate. Available for 3 or 12 months you are covered for the duration the certificate is valid for, no matter how many times you need a prescription.
A 3 month certificate costs £28.25 and will only benefit you if you need four or more items within three months. A 12 month certificate costs £104.00 and will only benefit you if you need more than 14 items in 12 months. I personally need 4 inhalers a month at a cost of £28.80 by purchasing a PPC I will save as much as £58.15 for a 3 month PPC alone or £241.60 for a 12 month PPC.
If you find that you become ill all of a sudden and require medicines on a regular basis you can pay for your medicines but ask for a receipt and refund form FP57 you must do this at the time the medicines are being dispensed and not a later date. You then have up to 3 months to claim the money back if you go on to purchase a PPC, just be sure to back date it to the date you had to pay for prescriptions so you can obtain a refund.
There are exemptions such as if you are under 18 and in full time education, over 60, have a low income, are pregnant and certain other medical conditions. If you fall into these categories then you do not need to pay, you can get help if you think you need it by contacting the NHS or asking your GP for advice.
As it stands the cheapest wedding package in the UK is around £20,000 the wedding dress, grooms outfit, bridesmaid’s clothes and venue costs can add to the cost of even an average small wedding. As there are many places such as Asda, Tesco and even Marks and Spencer’s who cater for weddings you would think that they would be cheaper but every bride wants to look their best on their big day. No wedding is complete without a honeymoon and unfortunately exotic locations such as Maldives, Thailand and the Caribbean may be out of many newly married couples budget so they are forced to honeymoon in Europe in places such as France, Spain and Portugal.
Weddings abroad have become increasingly popular within the last 5 years, as many couples try to save money for a deposit on a house as well as the soaring costs of getting married going abroad and combining it with your honeymoon may seem like a better deal. Travel agents such as Thomas Cook and Thompson have been catering for holidays for years with expert knowledge and attention to detail all for less than what you get in the UK. So what happens when it all goes wrong?
Getting married abroad will mean you will need a wedding planner or organiser especially if it is abroad in a foreign country where language may cause communication problems. You tell them exactly what you need and the food, cake, venue and photographer are all arrange for you hassle free. But as marrying abroad becomes increasingly popular many travel agents are struggling to cope with these demands and many weddings have destroyed as a result of this.
If you were to marry here in the UK and your wedding planner let you down you could ask your friends and family to rally round and help you organise it, but in a foreign country where communication is a problem and lack of information is hard to find who do you turn to? You can take out wedding insurance that will also cover your wedding abroad but be sure to read all the small print as you may find that some things such as accommodation is not covered abroad.
So yes in theory you can get married abroad for less than what you pay in the UK but the standards we have compared to abroad may not be the same and you may be left disappointed in the service provided for your wedding. You may also be the unlucky few who have their wedding day completely destroyed.
What is bait and switch?
This is when a service or product is advertised at a low price to draw in customers but then swapped for a higher price service instead. A common one circulating is leaflets advertising carpet cleaning at a price too good to be true. Usually under £15 for an average sized living room, when the cleaner comes over they advise a deeper clean that will cost as much £150 more. Unfortunately people who are most likely to be taken in by this scam are the elderly and those who live alone with no support or guidance from family and friends.
Bait and switch is illegal under the 1998 consumers act; companies are not allowed to advertise a service or product at a low price with no intention of honouring or even swapping it for a higher priced deal instead.
It is illegal in most countries as it is so easy to persuade customers to go for a better package at a higher price, what’s worst is some companies who offer products at a low price do not even have the intention of selling them. It is merely a ploy to get customers in so they can persuade them to spend more.
Examples of bait and switch
Advertising a car with no intention to sell – there have been many classic examples of car dealers that advertise cars and vans at low prices that seem too good to be true. When you do get to the showroom you are told that another vehicle is available at a much better deal or price. Some places even have the car still being advertised months later when it was sold long ago.
Retailers offering bargain discounts – if you are waiting for a specific product to be reduced so you can buy it like a barbeque, sofa or other electrical appliance but when you go to the store or look online it is out of stock. Some places will never have had this stock in the first place; it was a ploy to get customers in the door, once in they are bound to find something else to buy instead.
Travel companies advertising cheap holidays – some places will state a starting from price whereas some do not. Some places will advertise cheap holiday deals but when you call they are sold out or there are other ‘better’ deals available.
If you feel you have been a victim of swoop and bait contact the Trading standards with details of what happened and the details of the company you feel tricked you. It helps if you have evidence such as a leaflet where the service was advertised or even a newspaper advert.
The defamation laws are clear; you should not say publicly (on television for example) anything about another person that could injure his/her reputation unless you can prove that what you say is true. Having said this, you are entitled to your opinion, but have to careful in the way that you express it if you are speaking or writing negatively. You have to be able to justify that opinion with hard facts. In Europe the European Convention of Human Rights defends our right to free speech. We can say or write what we like as long as it is not defamatory and cannot be proved. If you think about John Donne’s line “No man is an island” you have the problem in a nutshell. Or perhaps you would like to consider R.D Laing’s statement “My freedom ends where yours begins.”
The defamation laws seek to protect an individual against unfair slander and libel. (Slander is spoken defamation, and libel is written or spoken in public and reaches a wide audience.)
Now let’s take a look at negative reviews. You may be asked for example, to review a book written by your arch-enemy. The obvious thing to do in this case would be to decline the invitation to write the review, explaining your antipathy to the author. While it is perfectly fine for you to write a negative review of the work, as long as you can justify this and the review is written objectively, then you have not broken the law as contained in the Defamation Act of 1996. If you concentrate on why the book is not very good and can use passages from it to back up your opinion, all well and good. The problem arises if you review the author in a negative light, which is not what you were asked to do. Obviously in some cases reviewers refer to an author in reviews, but usually this is done to explain the similarities between the work of fiction and the author’s personal experiences.
Similarly you can write a negative review of a restaurant as long as it is justified by actual experiences of your and is not just a way of getting back at the owner who you happen not to have liked for a number of years.
Reviews of any kind must be written objectively, and whatever your personal feelings, you have to remove yourself from them and concentrate on what you are reviewing. Your personality should not come into it, and if you harbour negative feeling about the author or owner of a work, these should not colour your review.
A rule of thumb is not to be tempted to write a review if you feel that you cannot be absolutely objective. You don’t want to be involved in a law suit which will do nothing to enhance your reputation.
Having a child should not stop you from enjoying the wonderful joy of travelling and enjoying some well deserved relaxation time abroad with your family. The biggest factor that affects many families deciding whether or not to go abroad is the expense of bringing a small child on holiday. A recent report has found that bring an infant under the age of two can sometimes cost more than the adult fare. Ryanair for example charges £20 each way for a child whilst it costs just £12 for an adult fare, if you book a child it costs less than the fare for an infant.
How much does it cost for a baby to go on holiday?
This is the most common question for families that have young children under the age of two. When you come to book a flight ticket you have two options for children infant under two years and Children under 16 years. The prices will vary greatly for the two, in most cases having an infant travel can cost more than the price of an adult fare, a child’s fare is usually the best option. If you book an infant (under two) on a flight then you must remember to check if they are entitled to any luggage allowance as many do not. A stroller or buggy in most cases will be allowed by a car seat may be an extra £20.
There is a way to get cheaper fares for infants with the first being to look out for promotions and to book early if possible. Another possibility is to book a child fare so they qualify for luggage allowance but then they will not be able to use the seat and you will have to place the child on your lap. Some airlines do allow you to get away with this whereas some will not so always call up and speak to a representative before booking your tickets.
It seems very unfair that young infants that are not allowed a seat of their own or any luggage allowance have to pay more than an adult fare whereas a child who no longer requires nappies or bottles gets free luggage allowance. There are a few baby friendly airlines around that will let you pay 10-25% of an adult plus let you take on a small luggage allowance to cover the needs of a young child, others will make you pay for pretty much everything.
As you may have noticed the number of working mothers is decreasing more and more each year, but since flexible working conditions were brought into place it still hasn’t increased the number of women who choose to keep working after having a child. In the UK all women as entitled to paid, maternity leave but the amount allowed to take varies from company to company. On average a women will take 26 weeks maternity leave and an extra 26 are allowed to be taken if paid unpaid. Son on average a working mum will return to work when their new baby is just 6 months old, with a small minority who will return when the child is one.
The average weekly childcare cost in the UK is around £160 a week for a place in a nursery, the costs rise significantly higher if it’s based in central London. This means the average cost for putting a child into a nursery is £640 a month. Many women who go back to work are forced to go back part time as looking after a young child can be demanding so charging from £640 a month for a nursery place is an insult.
Child nursery places in central London can be as much as £345 a week in some places amounting to £1,380 a month. Babies are often more expensive to pay for as the level of care is greater, they need feeding and changing regularly as most toddlers can feed themselves and are in the process of being potty trained.
The UK has the highest cost of childcare in the world, the cheapest place to find childcare is Portugal as it costs as little as 4% of monthly wages compared to 33% in the UK. Childminders also charge as much as £152 a week or £400 in some parts of London. The only way to save on childcare costs on the UK is if you have parents that have stopped working and are able to look after your children for you. As the majority of people are having children later the chances of having free childcare is really slim as most grandparents will not be able to care for a small child as they are frail already.
Unfortunately unless you are on a low income there is no support for you, you have to bear the inflated costs of childcare or be a stay at home mum and let your partner bring home the money. In most cases women cannot afford to stay at home and need to contribute to the monthly expenses even if it means working for a paltry sum with most going on childcare.
There was a time when people used pawn jewellery and other things of value to get quick cash before payday. As the recession has hit many people have been forced to sell most of their valuable possessions and having nothing else left to pawn but then came payday loans.
What are payday loans?
Pay day loans are loans that are taken out for a short period of time such as a few weeks to a month. It’s a way of having a small loan that doesn’t mean having to repay it back over a long period of time; most people take out a payday loan when they have a very tight month where essentials like bills cannot be paid. Payday loans are usually paid back after the end of the month but you can defer the outstanding payment for up to six months if you find it really hard.
Are payday loans better than a bank loan?
Yes and no, banks usually give you loans of thousands of pounds that are repaid over a minimum of 3 years, payday loans are for smaller amounts such as £100 till the end of the month. The interest you have to pay on your payday loan is ridiculous, you can pay as much as £30 for every £100 you borrow, the rates are higher if you defer payment for another few months as the amount payable can be a few hundred pounds more than you borrowed.
It has been estimated that 1.2million people have taken payday loans and many have fallen into the trap of not being able to pay it back. If you keep deferring payment your loan will only get bigger and bigger and this is how many people have now fallen into debt. Payday loans are very similar to loans you get from loan sharks they have a shorter deadline for repayment and sky high interest rates.
Some online payday loan companies are even charging people as much as £100 interest for each £100 loan they take so if you borrow £400 you will owe £800 at the end of the month. Payday loans should only be used as a last desperate resort as the trap and convenience of money on demand can become and easy solution for some. If you must take a payday loan shop around and find the best deal not the company that offers the most money, budget and pay back the money as soon as you can.