Are you interested in planning a trip to Hawaii? If you are, the travel plans that you have to make may seem overwhelming, especially at first glance. The good news, however, is that planning your dream trip to Hawaii is actually a lot easier than it originally sounds.
The first step in making your Hawaii travel plans is to decide on a location. Hawaii is filled with a number of beautiful islands, all of which make great vacation destinations. Maui is one of the most popular choices for travelers, like yourself. However, it is important to remember that you do have other options. These options include Oahu, Kauai, Big Island, Molokai, and Lanai.
Once you have decided on a location, you will want to start examining your overnight accommodations. This is important, as it may open up a world of opportunities for you, as well as save you money. Hawaii hotels are popular. If you choose to stay at one, you may be able to find affordable, moneysaving vacation packages. These vacation packages, although they do come in a number of different formats, may allow you to book your hotel, flight, and car rental all at the same time and for one affordable price.
In keeping with your overnight accommodation options, Hawaii hotels are nice, but you should know that they aren’t your only options. You should also examine Hawaii vacation rentals. What is nice about Hawaii vacation rentals is that they include so many different property types. These properties include homes, cottages, condos, villas, and apartment rentals. When making your choice, be sure to examine and compare rental fees, features, and convenience.
Whether you choose to stay at a Hawaii vacation rental or a Hawaii hotel, it is important to make your reservations well in advance of your trip. Hawaii is a popular vacation destination. This means that you will likely face some competition. Early reservations help to ensure that you get your first choice accommodations and that your Hawaii vacation is just how you imagined it would be.
As previously stated, if you book your Hawaii vacation in the form of a package, you often get to make your flight arrangements and car rental reservations all at the same time. If you opt for a private Hawaii vacation rental, you may need to make your reservations separately. The good news is that most online travel websites will let you do so.
Speaking of your other Hawaii travel arrangements, it is important to decide if you would like to get a Hawaii car rental. When making this decision, examine your overnight accommodations. Hawaii vacation rentals are often centrally located, but they may not be on the route of public transportation. That is why you should also examine Hawaii car rental companies. For a reasonable and affordable rate, you should have the ability to come and go as you please.
Your airline reservations also need to be made and well in advance of your trip. If you would like to book a stay at a private Hawaii vacation rental, it is a wise idea to make your airline reservations later. This is important, as some vacation rentals have limited availability dates. You do not want your flight to arrive in Hawaii two days before your vacation rental is available for you. To help you save money, be sure to price compare. There are a number of airlines that service Hawaii; therefore, you will want to take the time to find the best deals.
It is also a good idea to preplan your Hawaii vacation activities. Do you already know what you want to do and see when in Hawaii? If so, you are at an advantage. In all honesty, there is so much for you to do and see while vacationing on a Hawaii Island that you may not have time to do it all. That is why you should first create a list. What Hawaii attractions are must visits for you? Which Hawaii activities have you always dreamed of participating in, like learning how to surf?
As a reminder, an important part of planning the perfect Hawaii vacation involves making your travel arrangements well in advance of your trip. Whether you are interested in booking a private Hawaii vacation rental or staying at a hotel, visit HawaiianBeachRentals.com to start making your travel plans today.

When it is time to take the family on vacation, most of us think only about getting a hotel room. Sure, we might also consider a tent campground, a RV or travel trailer, and possibly even a beach condo, but how many of us realize that we have more choices for a place to sleep while on vacation?
To be honest, I am a pretty smart guy and I have been doing the vacation thing, first with my parents and then with my wife and kids, but until a few years ago, I never knew there was such a thing as a bed and breakfast or vacation home rental. I only become aware of these alternate types of vacation accommodations when I was in my early thirties – a decade ago.The Campground Experience
My dad knew about hotels of course, but he would never consider spending money in such a wasteful manner. Until I was twelve, we only stayed in a tent when we went on vacation. Three years in a row, we got caught out in massive downpours while we were camping. Our tent – although pretty nice – leaked when it rained. Three vacations in a row, we had to pack up and leave in the middle of the night, after we woke to find ourselves in an inch of water inside our tent.
My mother had a great deal of influence over my dad… in a weird kind of way. After three years of ruined vacations, she put her foot down. She told him that we would never spend our vacations in a tent again. She got her way, but not in the way she expected. She won her argument; we never again spent our vacation in a tent. But dad got his way too; we never did spend money on a hotel room, instead, we spent his vacation in our own house. After I was twelve, we never again took a family vacation.
Well, that is almost true. When I was sixteen, dad bought one of those pop-up campers. When I was sixteen, we took a family vacation and stayed in the pop-up camper travel trailer. But wouldn’t you know… it rained and the camper leaked too. So that was the final end of our family vacations.The Hotel Experience
As an adult, I did not have the same kind of qualms my father had about hotels. When my wife and I went to Las Vegas for our honeymoon, we stayed at the Stratosphere hotel. From our overpriced hotel room, we were able to look out our window and see… the concrete wall at the base of the tower. It was awesome.
After our kids were born, we took two vacations to San Antonio, where we stayed with my wife’s aunt and uncle. But the drive down was pretty lengthy, so we caught hotel rooms in transit. We would catch a hotel room for one night on the way to San Antonio, and we would catch a room on the way home.
We got on well with hotels in our travels, up until we stayed at the Best Western one night. Everything went well, until we went to check out. Imagine our shock and anger, when we realized that the hotel had supplied a PlayStation in our room, and our four- and six-year-old children got up in the middle of the night to play video games. Our $45 hotel room ended up costing us $120!! OMG I was pissed!The Vacation Rental Experience
I have to say that when I finally discovered vacation home rentals, I was pleased to no end. If I am going to spend $120 per night, you simply cannot beat the vacation rental experience.
Especially when you are doing several nights at your vacation destination, the vacation rental makes a whole lot of sense. If you are yet aware of it, the vacation home rental is exactly what it sounds like. It is a home that you can rent, in the same way that you rent a hotel room, with a major exception. That exception is that the rental has seperate bedrooms for the guests, a full kitchen, a fenced backyard for the kids to play in, sometimes a swimming pool to swim in, and a comfortable living area, frequently with a big screen HDTV in it.
Think about the homes of your friends, and then think about the nicest home that you have been to. A vacation rental is generally even nicer than the homes of all of my friends and family.
Vacation home rental prices vary considerably, depending on location, size and features. But I have managed to rent a number of vacation rentals for as little as $125 per night. What was exceptional about that is that the vacation home rentals had a full kitchen in the house, with a complete set of dishes for cooking and eating. Although we were in some far off destination, we did not have to take every meal at a restaurant. That one advantage more than compensated for the additional cost of renting the vacation home. In the end, we found that our vacation home ended up saving us so much money on food, that we made a profit against what we would have spent on the hotel and restaurant food.The Bed And Breakfast Experience
The bed and breakfasts (B&B) are an ideal solution for living the good life, but they are not always suited to bringing the kids along on your vacation.
A friend of my wife had told us about a bed and breakfast establishment that she had visited with her husband. She spoke of the experience of having someone cook for you and pamper you to no end. My wife’s friend enjoys the B&B experience so much that her and her husband visit one as often as possible, even if it is just across town.
My wife’s friend had talked up the experience so highly that my wife insisted that we must find a babysitter for our kids for the weekend, so that we could indulge ourselves in the Bed And Breakfast experience. We did, and it was truly enjoyable, relaxing, and memorable.
We checked into the B&B on Friday night and spent the weekend there. Friday night, we slipped into the hot tub for an evening of refreshing bubbles. Along with the hot tub bubbles, we enjoyed champagne bubbles in our drinks.
Saturday morning, we arose early to go horseback riding. Unlike the first time I rode a horse, it was an enjoyable outing. The first time I had rode a horse, the horse would just stop along the beach and snack on grass, ignoring me when I told him to go. After the horse guy came back and got my horse moving on two separate occasions, he finally broke down and switched horses with me. The change of horses did not fix the problem. Somehow, both horses had known that I had never been on a horse before, and they took advantage of me.
But when my wife and I did the B&B weekend, we rode horses on Saturday morning, and my horse cooperated and did what he was supposed to do… Thank God.
For lunch, we were treated to a special meal – one of the best I have eaten in my life. Then we took a dip in the pool during the afternoon, and then took a short nap. At dinner, we were treated to a candlelight dinner in our room. We returned to the hot tub on Saturday night, then to our room for a night we will never forget.
We spent a leisurely Sunday morning in bed, before checking out in the afternoon. After leaving the B&B, we took a relaxed and slow drive home, and then picked up the children from the babysitters’ house.
It was a nice change from the ordinary.The Overall Vacation Experience
I have learned a few very important lessons in the last ten years:
* I have learned that we don’t have to do the tent or camper experience and experience the frustration that my parents experienced on a family vacation.
* I have learned that hotels really are not all that they are cracked up to be and can provide many ugly surprises.
* After having taken the chance on a vacation home rental, I learned that if I was going to spend more than a night away from home with the kids, then a vacation rental would make our vacation time much more pleasant and enjoyable.
* After having taken the chance on renting a Bed and Breakfast suite for the weekend, I learned that if my wife and I get a chance to get away from the kids for a weekend, we would be fools to pass on the opportunity to spend our weekend at the B&B of our choice.
In the constant struggle to find holiday accommodations, many people see the best and worst of what can happen while on a family vacation. My parents struggled for years trying to create a memorable family vacation, and they were successful in all the wrong ways.
Unfortunately, vacations more often create abnormally high stress levels, when one is supposed to be trying to relax. As a result, many families frequently prefer to stay home when vacation time comes. But the good news is that there are better options available to anyone looking to experience a family vacation to remember – a vacation that is memorable for all of the right reasons.
It is my hope that you were able to laugh with me as I shared some of my personal vacation experiences. It is also my hope that I have opened your eyes to alternate vacation ideas that you can use to lower the stress and increase the enjoyment of your next family vacation, in the same way that I have been able to do for myself and my family.

If you’re going on holiday this year then there may be a temptation to skimp on cheap travel insurance in a bid to cut corners and save money. With the worsening economic situation, it is understandable that travellers want to make cutbacks and not shell out on unnecessary extras.

Cheap travel insurance is one thing you cannot afford to skimp on however, especially with as many as one in three Brits claiming on their travel insurance after going on holiday. If you are prepared to shop around then there are some excellent deals to be found and quality cover on the cheap. Travel insurance is needed on most holidays abroad, but for these three holidays it is absolutely essential:

Prague, Czech Republic

Tourism to Eastern Europe has been growing in popularity steadily for a while now but the Czech Republic has probably got more of a boost in tourism than other surrounding countries. The capital Prague offers some stunning gothic architecture at the Prague castle which includes the St Vitus Cathedral.

Unfortunately, the darker side of Prague is notorious for petty crime, particularly pick-pocketing. Cheap travel insurance is an essential for a holiday in the Czech Republic but in Prague in particular, in case your wallet is stolen. Holidaymakers are also advised to take travellers’ cheques with them instead of large sums of money.

Colorado, USA

If you’re worried about the depreciating value of the pound against the euro but can’t give up on the adrenaline rush of skiing, then Colorado is about as good as it gets. Your cheap travel insurance is well warranted here though, as is a crash helmet.

The Crested Butte resort was voted one of the most dangerous mountains in the US, and with extreme runs such as Body Bag it’s not difficult to see why. For extreme winter sports like skiing and snowboarding cheap travel insurance is a pre-requisite.

Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand is the back-packers country of choice and for those travellers on a budget provides an excellent snapshot of Asia. Bangkok is an unusual blend of simple elegance and awe-inspiring extravagance. The Grand Palace is about as opulent a marvel as you will ever see but it’s set against a backdrop of vendors selling succulent street food.

Thailand also dominates the travel insurance claims in the UK: from illness, to injury, to missing luggage or traffic accidents. Bangkok itself is responsible for some of the most numerous and varied travel claims on the planet, making cheap travel insurance a necessity for travellers visiting the Thai capital.

Just like the Internet, travelling has become a must for people in the twenty-first century, be it for leisure or for business. The popularity of traveling and the widespread of the Internet combined result in a new business – online travel. Using the Internet for traveling purposes has become so common that thousands of websites have sprung up to respond to the demand. And what’s a better persuasion than – surprise, surprise – price?

Today’s tourism is not only about “high-yield” markets tailored for luxury travelers. The new generation prefers not to travel as royalties but rather as backpackers or adventurers trekking the world on shoestring budgets. In fact, a fifth of all the tourism journeys in the world in 2003 were made by youngsters traveling on small budgets, and the number is rising gradually.

And without a doubt, the @ generation turns to the Internet for help. More and more travelers rely on the World Wide Web for researching and making travel plans. Online travel agencies promise cheaper accommodations, car-rental rates and air tickets, and special discounts.

Cheap travel deals are what travelers look for. Other than the airlines’ official websites, the big-shot online travel agencies enable users to book flights and offer discounts on car-rental and hotels as well. Booking online is a preferred option for businesses because it costs less and is easier, so much so that they try to entice users by giving special discounts for those booking on the Internet.

Booking in a hotel online is cheaper too, because the chain of middlemen is shortened. Many may think that walk-in rates or phone reservations can be as cheap, but it is important to consider what one can expect from a hotel. By booking online, you will see images of hotel lobby, guest room, restaurant and other amenities.

Pricing strategy is how agencies compete, and one popular method is the “zero dollar” tours – meaning tour operators make very cheap package deals with very little or no profit from the price but steer tourists to businesses such as jewelry shops or souvenir shops that give back commissions. The deal might be temptingly cheap, but not many are satisfied with this type of traveling because they get pushed to buy things from the businesses.

Another cheap travel deal is “last minute” tours because operators would rather sell a space for a discount than let it go unfilled. Unfortunately, last minute tours are not guaranteed, so they are not suitable for those who have to make plans in advance because air tickets and hotel rooms are booked up so quickly and so far in advance in high seasons.

In such a competitive market, consumers do not only look for the cheapest option – they look for the best and most cost-effective option. There is, however, no definite “best” option because one man’s food is another’s poison. There are travelers who look for cheapest deals, and there are those who want to fly business class with airlines that provide the best basic travel service and amenities.

Cheap is the keyword for most businesses and when everyone competes to offer the cheapest deals, offering cheap deals alone is not enough to win the battle. Online travel agencies hold 51 percent of the online bookings, despite aggressive marketing and development efforts by suppliers. This shows that there are many agencies out there who want to attract customers, and often times their bait is the word “cheap”. Customers should be aware of the fact that it is common for travel agencies not to list hidden charges such as taxes and port fees. The price you see might not include some hidden cost which will make the total price much higher than you would like to pay.

HAWAII EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATE:  HAWAII EMPLOYERS WISE TO USE CAUTION WHEN INCORPORATING NEW FMLA RULES INTO LEAVE POLICIES

I.BACKGROUND

The federal Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) applies to all private employers who have 50 or more employees for each working day of 20 or more (not necessarily consecutive) calendar workweeks in the current or preceding calendar year.  FMLA requires covered employers to allow eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, to care for a child, parent, or spouse who suffers from a “serious health condition,” if the employee’s own serious health condition makes them unable to perform one or more essential functions of the job, or for certain qualifying exigencies.  An eligible employee under FMLA has been employed by the employer for 12 months and has worked 1,250 hours during the preceding 12 months.

            Under the Hawaii Family Leave Law (“HFLL”), employers with more than 100 employees (determined in a manner similar to FMLA) must comply with both FMLA and HFLL.  Generally, HFLL does not cover eligible employees that take leave for their own serious health condition, but only leave taken for an employee’s in-laws, grandparents and reciprocal beneficiaries.  HFLL provides only four weeks of leave instead of FMLA’s 12 weeks.  An employee eligible for leave under HFLL need only to have been employed for six months for the covered employer, regardless of the number of hours worked.

II.FMAL REVISIONS ARE EXTENSIVE

            The changes to FMLA effective January 16, 2009, were extensive and designed to reflect revisions, clarifications, and general reorganization of the regulations. 

Generally, Hawaii employers required to comply with both FMLA and HFLL need to use caution when deciding whether to implement federal law in connection with HFLL.  HFLL regulations make clear that HFLL incorporates federal definitions and interpretation of leave law, unless federal law is less favorable to the employee.  Some regulations may be adopted by Hawaii employers, because they would be viewed as a reasonable interpretation of Hawaii law.   Unfortunately, there are many unresolved issues that will need to be addressed by statutory and regulatory amendments.  

III.REVISIONS, CLARIFICATIONS AND IMPACT

            The more significant FMLA revisions include the following:

A.  Eligibility:  The new FMLA regulations state that the 12 months of employment need not be consecutive, but employers need not count a break-in-service of seven years or more in determining whether an employee has been employed for at least 12 months.

Impact on Hawaii Employers:  HFLL regulations explicitly state that the six-month period of employment must be consecutive.  Accordingly, Hawaii employers covered by HFLL are not required to implement the eligibility provision to their HFLL practices.

B.  Incapacitation:  The new regulations state that the employee must be incapacitated for more than three full calendar days and show “continuing treatment” by a health care provider as defined by FMLA in order to be eligible for leave under the “absence plus treatment” definition of “serious health condition.”  In addition, in order to qualify for leave under the “continuing treatment” definition, the employee must have been treated within the first 30 days of incapacity, must also have seen a health care provider within the first seven days of incapacity, and such “visits” to the health care provider must be in person.

Impact on Hawaii Employers:  This clarification will in many cases result in uncertainty whether leave taken by an employee in connection with continuing treatment of a family member is FMLA-protected leave during the first 30 days of incapacity. 

The Hawaii Department of Industrial Relations (“DLIR”) has expressed its intent to follow FMLA regulations with respect to definitions related to the term “serious health condition.”  In the absence of clarification of the term “continuing treatment” under HFLL by DLIR, the new FMLA definition will also likely apply to Hawaii employers required to comply with both FMLA and HFLL.  Also, despite advances in the area of telemedicine on-line consultations, under the new FMLA regulations only in-person visits to health care providers constitutes treatment.

            C.  Pregnancy:  The FMLA regulations now clarify that only a spouse may receive FMLA leave to care for a pregnant woman.  Thus, a boyfriend, fiancé or even the father (if not also a spouse of the expectant mother) of the unborn child is not eligible to take such leave.

            Impact on Hawaii Employers:  Hawaii regulations explicitly state that an employee may care “for the employee’s child, spouse or reciprocal beneficiary, or parent with a serious health condition.” The provision appears consistent with FMLA’s requirement that the father must be the spouse of a pregnant woman in order to qualify for protected leave.  HFLL regulations, however, do permit family leave to be taken where the unmarried mother and father are “reciprocal beneficiaries.”

            D.  Birth of Child:  The FMLA regulations now clarify that both mother and father may take up to 12 weeks of leave to care for a newborn child with a serious health condition even if both are employed by the same employer.  However, they are limited to 12 weeks total for a health newborn.  Also, intermittent leave is permitted under FMLA only as agreed to by both employee and employer.

            Impact on Hawaii Employers:  HFLL regulations permit intermittent leave under all circumstances and four weeks to be taken by both the mother and father.  Since the FMLA regulations directly contradict Hawaii law and the Hawaii DLIR will interpret HFLL in a manner most favorable to the employee, HFLL will likely continue to permit eligible employees to take intermittent leave under all circumstances.

            E.  Intermittent Leave/Reduced Schedule:  The new regulations state that employees must make a “reasonable effort” to schedule treatment so as not to disrupt unduly an employer’s operations.  Also, an employer may transfer an employee where leave is foreseeable based on planned medical treatment.

            Impact on Hawaii Employers:  The revision to FMLA is significant insofar as the “reasonable effort” standard replaced the word “attempt.”  HFLL is silent on the issue.  Therefore, Hawaii employers that are required to comply with HFLL should approach the issue of an employee scheduling treatments cautiously.  This is one of many significant new FMLA regulations that need to be addressed by the Hawaii legislature and/or DLIR.

 As to the new transfer provision, the DOL balked at permitting a transfer where leave is “unforeseeable.”  The DOL viewed such transfers as potentially retaliatory.  HFLL permits the employer to only “offer” modification of an employee’s job and duties and only where the employee requires intermittent leave.  In addition, HFLL explicitly states that an employee must agree to the transfer proposed by the employer.  Finally, the “alternative transfer or modified position” must have “equivalent pay and benefits of the employee’s regular job, even if the employer must increase the pay and benefits.”

            F.  Substitution of Paid Leave:  An employee who elects to use paid leave with covered FMLA leave must now follow the employer’s policy for that paid leave.   However, the employer must have a written policy with respect to the paid leave issue before it can take any action related to the employee’s failure to follow such policy.

Accordingly, under the new FMLA regulations an employer may require an employee to take a full vacation day under its written vacation policy to the extent all employees are treated consistently, even though the employee wishes to use paid vacation time for two hours of treatment.

            Impact on Hawaii Employers:    HFLL is currently silent on the issue and it is uncertain whether the Hawaii DLIR will adopt the same position as FMLA.  Employers covered by both HFLL should of course use caution in applying the new provision to HFLL leave.   Hawaii employers should note that HFLL expressly permits employees’ use of paid sick leave, up to ten days per year, to the extent paid sick leave is offered as a benefit by the employer. 

            G.  Rights and Responsibilities:  There are significant changes to the substantive content and timing of notices required by FMLA and the new regulations added an entirely new third form called a “Designation Notice.”  Discussion of the content of each of the three notices/forms is beyond the scope of this article.  Nevertheless, it is critical that employers covered by FMLA immediately print the forms from the DOL’s website and incorporate them into their FMLA policies, procedures and employee handbook. 

            Impact on Hawaii Employers:  It is unclear the extent to which DLIR will adopt, either formally or informally, the FMLA forms or form-related regulations regarding the timing and content of notices.  This is an area that will be difficult for Hawaii employers with 100 or more employees to navigate given the current lack of guidance in HFLL regulations.  Unfortunately, there is no indication that DLIR intends to update HFLL regulations in the near future.

            This should be an area of great concern for employers covered by both FMLA and HFLL.  For example, the new FMLA regulations state that an employer may require notice of the need for unforeseeable leave “as soon as practicable.”  HFLL currently requires an employee to give “at least verbal notice to the employer within two working days,” a significant difference which will make it difficult for Hawaii employers with over 100 employees to navigate between the two sets of laws.

            Both FMLA and HFLL permit a covered employer to require certification of the serious health condition at issue.  However, FMLA now requires the employer to provide a Notice of Eligibility and Rights within five business days after receiving notice of the need for protected leave, and a Certification of Health Care Provider. 

Under the new regulations the employee requesting family leave must return the Certification of Health Care Provider (there are now separate forms for the employee and family member) within 15 calendar days after receiving it.  On the other hand, HFLL regulations state that an employee may be required to return a completed certification within two days after commencement of leave. 

            H.  Employee’s Failure to Provide Notice:  One of the more controversial new FMLA provisions states that an employer may now delay or even deny covered leave for an employee’s failure to provide notice consistent with the employer’s written notice rule or procedure.

Under the new FMLA regulations, in theory the employer is permitted to better plan for staffing and operational needs by requiring an employee eligible for protected leave to comply with notice procedures.  Employees will be encouraged to comply with notice requirements knowing that the failure to do so could result in denial of protected leave.

            Impact on Hawaii Employers:    Hawaii law contradicts the new FMLA provision insofar as employers under HFLL are permitted to only “delay” and not deny covered leave for noncompliance.  Thus, Hawaii employers cannot “deny” HFLL leave under these circumstances.

I.  Certification Contents:  Under FMLA, the covered employer has unprecedented rights to obtain medical information related to the leave request.  For example, the employer may now request the diagnosis of the medical condition requiring protected leave.

Impact on Hawaii Employers:  Under HFLL the employer is prohibited from seeking the type of information employers under FMLA are now permitted to obtain.  While the employee seeking protected leave to care for a spouse, for example, arguably waives rights to maintain the medical diagnosis private under the new FMLA regulations, the fact is Hawaii law still limits to a large degree the information the employer is entitled to receive.  Under HFLL, there is no explicit right for the employer to know the diagnosis of the serious health condition of a covered employee’s spouse when such employee requests leave under HFLL.

J.  Incomplete Certification:  Under the new FMLA regulations an employer may deny or delay protected leave where the employee fails to provide a complete certification after the employer gives written notice that the initial certification was incomplete or insufficient.  

            Impact on Hawaii Employers:  As stated previously, under HFLL an employer may only “delay” giving protected leave for an employee’s failure to comply with notice requirements.  In addition, for incomplete and insufficient certifications, an employer must “provide the employee a reasonable opportunity to remedy such deficiency.”

            K.  Bonuses:  The new FMLA regulations allow for the denial of a “perfect attendance” bonus/award to employees who take leave under FMLA.

Impact on Hawaii Employers:  HFLL regulations do not allow this.  Thus, unless and until HFLL regulations are amended or clarified, Hawaii employers covered by both HFLL and FMLA should use caution in denying perfect attendance and other awards to employees who take leave under HFLL.

IV.CONCLUSION

While DLIR regulations state that its regulations and interpretation of law applies where a specific state regulation provides more protection to the employee than federal law, there is still a great deal of uncertainty how FMLA regulations are to be interpreted vis a vis HFLL given the relative dearth of guidance in the DLIR’s own regulations.

Roman Amaguin, Esq.; romanamaguin@yahoo.com; www.amaguinlaw.com

“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

Would you like to take a vacation in the near future? If you would and if you have yet to choose a vacation destination, you will want to take the time to examine Hawaii. Hawaii is known as a popular vacation destination. One of the many reasons for that is because all that you can do and see while on a Hawaii trip. Although you do have a number of different options, you will want to take a close look at Hawaii tours.
Before focusing on a few of the many Hawaii tours that you can take on your next Hawaii trip it is first important to focus on your overnight accommodations. As important as it is to plan out what you want to do and see while in Hawaii, it is extremely important that you first make your travel plans. These plans should include your airline reservations, overnight accommodation reservations, and possibly car rental reservations.
In addition to having a number of different options, in terms of Hawaii activities and attractions, Hawaii is also popular among tourists as there are so many places for you to stay. When vacationing in Hawaii, your overnight accommodation options include hotels, vacation resorts, Hawaii vacation homes, vacation condos, vacation villas, and vacation apartment rentals. When choosing a Hawaii vacation home or another Hawaii vacation rental to book a stay at, you may want to take a look at your wants. For example, if you are interested in enjoying the beautiful Hawaii beaches, a beachfront Hawaii vacation home or a rental with an ocean view may be your best option.
Once you have made all of your Hawaii travel arrangements, including your Hawaii vacation rental reservations, you will then want to start focusing on what you want to do and see while on vacation. That is what is nice about Hawaii tours. They not only allow you to participate in fun activities, but they also give you the opportunity to explore a number of popular Hawaii attractions. For example, if you choose to rent a Hawaii vacation home on Big Island, you can enjoy a nice hiking adventure, while exploring the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at the same time!
Speaking of hiking, hiking is one type of Hawaii tour that you will want to examine. What is nice about hiking is that it is activity that many already enjoy and find peaceful. Depending on which Hawaiian Island you choose to visit, you may find a wide array of landscape and scenery. As previously stated, Big Island is famous for the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Additional views that you may enjoy on foot include scenic gardens and waterfalls.
All Hawaii tourists are encouraged to take a Hawaii helicopter tour. Hawaii helicopter tours come highly rated and recommended. Although you are able to explore many parts of the Hawaiian Islands by car, foot, bike, or even ATV, some of the most beautiful areas are only accessible by air. Whether your next trip to Hawaii is intended to be a family vacation, a fun adventure with friends, or a romantic getaway, a Hawaii helicopter tour should be on your list of things to do in Hawaii.
Hawaii boat tours are another Hawaii activity that you will want to examine. Many Hawaii boat tours are offered as one day chartered voyages or you can even take a dinner cruise off the coast! If you are interested in enjoying a fishing adventure or if you would like to sightsee in the waters, a charter boat tour may be your best option. When it comes to boating on the Hawaiian Islands, you will find that your options are virtually unlimited.
The above mentioned Hawaii tours are just a few of the many that you will find available. Additional tours that may be of interest to you and your traveling party include Hawaii ATV tours, Hawaii bus tours, Hawaii submarine tours, and Hawaii horseback riding tours. As a reminder, if you have already booked a stay at a Hawaii vacation home or another Hawaiian vacation rental, be sure to examine Hawaii tours that are located near your Hawaii vacation rental, like your Hawaii vacation home. Doing so may be able to save you both time and money.

In today’s fast-paced, modern world, the importance of taking a holiday becomes imperative. Getting away from your daily routine helps you gain some much needed rest and relaxation. Taking a peaceful holiday can also aid in your long-term happiness, in both your work and your personal life. However, as people start to take holidays more frequently, it also becomes necessary that the holidays are less expensive.

In the last decade, the rise of the budget airline has made travel all the more affordable for a wide cross-section of potential holiday-goers. These airlines have increased the number of flights made from a variety of destinations across the UK to a range of locations in both Europe and beyond, from Paris to Istanbul and Stockholm to the Costa del Sol. As a result, many more people are able to travel to their dream holiday destinations, whether that means lounging on a stunning beach for a week or taking a weekend city break in a intriguing foreign capital.

What’s more, the advent of the internet has made it possible for travellers to find cheap holiday packages and inexpensive accommodation for their getaway with ease. Many leading travel sites offer a variety of cheap package holidays, from theatre breaks in London to discounts on cruises up the River Nile. Often, the earlier you book your holiday online, the easier it is to find an inexpensive holiday deal; however, with many travel sites, cheaper deals are available much closer to the departure date. So if you’re facing a long weekend with no plans ahead of you, you might be able to book a cheap weekend break away as late as the day before you plan to leave!

And if the plethora of cheap holiday deals available online or on the high street means that you’re spoilt for choice, you’re now able to turn to a range of holiday review sites for comprehensive advice straight from the horse’s mouth. Travel blogs and travel review sites offer thousands of reviews of holiday locations and resort destinations; so, when it comes to making a decision about where to take your holiday, you’ll be equipped with all the information you need.

And don’t forget, while flights and accommodation are the bare essentials of travel, it’s important not to skimp on important travel products, like travel insurance, in the interest of saving money on your cheap holiday. It’s perfectly possible to find cheap travel insurance online or with high street insurers. By taking out cheap travel insurance on your cheap holiday, you’ll obtain peace of mind in knowing that you’re covered for any medical costs you might incur, as well as any baggage mishandling or personal loss that arises. Moreover, many cheap travel insurance providers let you add on to your basic coverage, so you can take out extra cover if you expect to participate in any winter sports or extreme activities, like bungee jumping or sky-diving. This way, you’ll gain the freedom to enjoy your holiday the way you want to, without any worry or hassle.

Seaside Vacations – www.OuterBanksVacations.com

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Kitty Hawk, NC – (February 8, 2010) – With a TV commercial highlighting vacation rentals having aired in Sunday’s big game, the demand for vacation rental homes on the Outer Banks has soared.  Football fans are discovering why renting vacation homes, condos, villas and cabins is a favorite choice for many versus hotels. Beyond the experiences families and friends build by staying in a home-away-from-home on the Outer Banks, there are numerous benefits to choosing vacation rentals – sometimes in ways you’d least expect.  Don’t miss out on your chance to enjoy an affordable vacation in an Outer Banks vacation rental.

Whether trying vacation rentals for the first time or if you’re one of the nearly nine in 10 travelers who plan to rent again, Seaside Vacations Marketing Director, Adam Norko, offers the following planning tips and insights as a post-game update for visiting the Outer Banks:

Vacation Rental Listings – The Good, The Bad and the Outright Scams

Advertising vacation rentals across the nation has changed to the property owner’s advantage. Five years ago, property owners depended on their local newspaper to advertise their vacation rentals. Newspapers charged anywhere from $50.00 to $100.00 to run a three-line cram-it-in ad for 30 days as a classified listing ($1200 per year). The reach was limited to the amount of papers that were printed and read on any particular day. Compare that to today’s global reach and on-demand access to rental listings on the World Wide Web.

This is great news for owners wishing to advertise to the far corners of the earth. Travelers from around the world now have the ability to view listings on thousands of advertising sites with relative ease. There are risks, though: RENTER BEWARE! That vacation rental you have selected in New York, Utah or Lake Tahoe may be an empty lot upon your family’s arrival at 9:30 pm after a day of traveling.

Travelers are beginning to become keen to the fact vacation rentals are a popular choice when traveling with the family, but checking to see if that perfect getaway is verified is an often overlooked step. Anyone from Hong Kong to the Idaho can post a listing for a vacation rental on the internet. Simply log on to the internet, pay your $100.00 to post your listing on a popular rental site, and field the inquiries as they arrive in your inbox. Not getting enough inquiries? Lower the price and add a few more pictures. Owners know this all too well and unfortunately so to the scammers.

98% of all the vacation rental websites do not verify their listings. It is up to the consumer to assume the risk and do their own due diligence. Scammers are good at what they do and here is why: They spend hours scouring these properties on these listing sites to learn how to create a good attractive listing, often simply cutting and pasting from other ads to create a great presentation of a non-existent property.

Just looking at some these listings, even the most experienced agents would have no clue whether or not the home, condo, chalet or cottage is legitimate until it’s too late. The renter has mailed the check or used an online means for payment and the money is transferred to a corner of the world we did not know existed. The email account is closed and the chase across the border will end right there.

As the vacation rental market expands by leaps and bounds, so are vacation rental listing scams. Without some due diligence and research, your perfect family vacation could end before it even starts.

How do you protect yourself from scammers? Obviously, be very careful before you send your hard-earned money to a listing on a vacation rentals website. Be patient, plan ahead – it might take some time and some communication exchanges before you find the place you’re looking for. Find out who the listing belongs to! If it sounds too good to be true, or if you just have a feeling that something isn’t right – stop right there and ask for proof of ownership and that the house you’re viewing on your computer screen actually exists.

To learn more about renting verified vacation rentals from real owners with real proof that the home exists visit http://www.reservemyhome.com for vacation renal listings that are carefully verified for your next family vacation.