Dubai is one of the most progressive nations in the world. This desert city is known for its grandiose structures and extravagant hotels and malls. It is the perfect blend of modern innovation and age old traditions. The city has a huge influx of immigrant population and while Arabic is the official national language, English is spoken extensively. If you are travelling to Dubai for the first time, the following tips will greatly help you.

Dress in a modest way:
This is one of the most important tips to consider if you are visiting the Dubai city. You must know that Dubai is a Muslim country and just any other Islamic countries in the Middle East you need to dress modestly as a mark of respect to the local culture and customs. Although, you can sport bikinis and swimsuits while you are on the beach, you must not wear revealing clothes in public places. Men should avoid walking without shirts on the road. Although, unlike other Arab countries, Dubai doesnt have stringent laws about dressing while travelling to Dubai it is best advised to dress in a modest way to avoid any problems.

Avoid consuming alcohol in public places:
Dubai is a dry state and alcohol is completely banned in the city except that it sold only in few duty free shops, however, as per the law, tourists cannot have more 4 bottles of alcohol in hand at any point of time. The travelling agents in Dubai strictly advise the foreign tourists to avoid drinking at public place and avoid drinking and driving. While as tourists you can purchase drinks in bars and restaurants, you may not be able to buy alcohol from the local liquor shop since the locals required liquor license. Drink and drive a serious punishable offense here and if you are caught, you may spend a lot of time behind bars and/or pay hefty amount of fine.

Avoid public display of affection:
This is another important tip to remember for all tourists visiting Dubai. Indulging in affectionate activities with your partner like kissing or hugging is considered a serious offense in entire UAE. The city follow Sharia laws and public display of affection is considered immoral and against the law. Some travel agents in Dubai would even suggest the unwed couples to book separate hotel rooms.

Driving in Dubai:
Dubai has one of the best networks of public transport system in UAE, but if you wish to drive your own vehicle, you need to have a valid international driving license. If you plan to settle down in Dubai, you would need to obtain a permanent Dubai driving license.

Be careful while clicking pictures:
During your stay in Dubai it is advisable that you avoid taking photographs with people who are not part of your travelling group without asking for their permission. It is also advised that you avoid taking pictures of government buildings, docks, airports and more importantly you must strictly avoid clicking a picture of a local woman without her permission.

Thus, following the above-mentioned etiquettes would greatly help you have an enjoyable and safe time while travelling to Dubai.

We have vacationed in Northwest Florida, Walton County in particular, for twenty years – and love it! The best, uncrowded beaches in the country – reasonable cost – great restaurants – terrific beach properties to lease! So we are very enthusiastic about the area – but what about the economic realities of investing in Florida — at this time?

Northwest Florida has a vibrant and steady tourist business, with low unemployment. The brand new Panama City International Airport, projected to open in January 2010, will make the area quickly accessible from virtually anywhere in the United States and Europe. It is expected to provide a major boost to the areas economy, and should increase demand for real estate.

We believe the Florida panhandle is a solid place to buy real estate, and that real estate values, though flat right now (January 2008) are likely to move sharply upward, especially for oceanfront and Gulf view properties. But thats our view! Here are some other folks opinions on the area.

CNN Money.com (Feb. 12, 2007) highlighted Panama City, Florida as the #1 place to buy real estate in the United States.

American Express says that the Florida panhandle is one of its Top Ten tourist destinations in the United States. The Florida panhandle is second only to the Orlando area in Florida tourism. Northwest Florida beaches are among the best in the world, attracting over seven million visitors annually – more than any other East Coast beach area.

Real estate professionals in Walton County say that prices are less than during the peak year of 2005. But they are expecting closings to increase, as more deals become available. Many residences are priced below the cost to build. “If you are looking for a property to hold on to for the next five years, the time to purchase is now. We are still very undervalued compared to other regions of Florida.”

The St. Joe Company (NYSE:JOE), whose corporate headquarters are in Jacksonville, FL, is the largest landowner in the Florida panhandle, owning some 718,000 acres of development land – half of it less than ten miles of the coast. St. Joe has been a big player in the area for a long time, beginning as a timber company but realizing in recent decades that the value of its holdings was far greater as investment property. So now theyre in the vacation home development business, with a great deal of activity centered on Walton County.

According to St. Joe’s Investor Relations Department the long term outlook for Florida panhandle real estate is particularly upbeat.

Long-term economic and population trends continue to favor Florida, whose economy is fundamentally solid and diversified. The state’s population is forecasted to increase by three-fourths (to 28.6 million) by 2030. Its demographic growth rate regularly outperforms that of the rest of the United States: since 1970, the State’s yearly rate of growth has outpaced the national average by 100%. By 2010 Florida will pass New York to take its place as the nation’s third most populous state.

Florida’s solid, diversified economy regularly outperforms the U.S. mean, with a burgeoning tourism industry, plenty of high-tech jobs and a strong high-tech manufacturing sector. A large military presence with a number of active and expanding bases provides stability to the region’s economy. Within the Florida panhandle, Walton County has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Florida and the U.S.

Florida is the commercial center of the Americas. Geographic location, as well as economic and political stability, places Florida at the heart of trade and business throughout the region. Vacation property sales to retirees remain robust, and Florida is a favorite spot for retirement relocation.

Northwest Floridas beaches are the states second favorite tourist destination, behind only Orlando. They draw over seven million visitors each year, more than any other stretch of beach in the eastern United States.

Beaches in the Florida panhandle rate as some of the most beautiful in the country and the world. Beaches in Walton, Bay and Gulf Counties have been selected for the number one ranking by Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, an authority on beach quality and author of America’s Best Beaches.

Northwest Florida enjoys a very favorable climate, with mild winters, lots of sunshine and clear days. Northwest Florida is located in U.S. Climate Zone 8, the same climate zone as renowned vacation areas such as Hilton Head (SC), Amelia Island (FL), Kiawah Island (SC) and St. Simons and Sea Island (GA). Floridas beauty and variety of landscape is well-known. The Emerald Coast has a distinct geography, culture and cuisine that is very different from Miami or Orlando.

Northwest Florida entertains approximately seven million visitors annually. According to Visit Florida, the states tourism and visitor agency, 33 percent of these visitors are from households with incomes over $75,000 and 16 percent are from households with incomes over $100,000.

The number of private resort developments in the Florida panhandle is increasing. At communities like Seaside, Rosemary Beach, WaterColor and WaterSound Beach, oceanfront lots have sold for $40,000 per linear beachfront foot to prosperous families who have chosen Northwest Florida.

The new Panama City airport now under construction is expected to be in operation by February 2010. It will be a major international airport, thus opening the Emerald Coast to easy access from both coasts, the Midwest, Canada and Europe. Previously, access to the area by air was limited to regional airports.

Economists expect that the new airport will become a strong economic development engine for the area. Throughout history airports have a powerful track record for increasing economic development activity.

The new Panama City airport will be the first major airport built in the United States in almost fifteen years. As a large-scale greenfield airport location, it offers unique opportunities and unmatched flexibility for companies dependent on air transport and logistics infrastructure.
Examples of how airport construction stimulates local economies may be seen in Huntsville, AL, Savannah, GA, Jacksonville, FL, Fort Myers, FL and Northwest Arkansas. All of these airports have stimulated significant adjacent development.

The State of Florida projects that over its first decade, the new airport is likely to create 8,000 new jobs and at completion a total of 13,000 jobs. An important comparison is the construction of the new Southwest Regional Airport in the Ft. Myers/Naples area in 1983, which had a tremendous impact on real estate values. Since the airport opened in 1983, total residential real estate values in the region have increased an average of 11 percent annually.

Fortune Magazine (October 14, 2007) highlighted the St. Joe Company as one of the Ten Best stocks for 2008, citing the long-term potential of the company and its development business situated in the Florida panhandle. The article says: “When Florida real estate does rebound, investors will be kicking themselves for not recognizing today’s $28 stock price for St. Joe Co (JOE) — Florida’s largest private landowner — as a rare opportunity.”

In the quickly shifting economic climate, it is important to research and ask questions before making any investment choice. Yet the truth is that the Florida panhandle is a rarity, with a delightful climate and stunningly beautiful, mostly empty beaches. As you sit on the pristine, white sand with your feet in the emerald clear Gulf water, with pelicans and gulls flying overhead and dolphins cruising by you can see that there are some very important intangibles here. Northwest Florida is a very special place – and they’re not creating any more beach property!

So, you’ve decided to go on vacation?

But you aren’t sure how you’re going to make it! After all, vacations are super expensive and you aren’t entirely sure how you’re going to have enough to go where you would like to. Not to mention that you also have to make sure that you have enough for food, getting there, getting back, emergency money, and maybe if you have any spare money at all a souvenir or two. With such tough standards to follow, it can be difficult to decide what to do and also where to go.

However, sometimes even the best thought out vacations don’t work out. The main thing that comes to mind in these cases is that lovely group of people called college kids. College kids are nice and everything, but they have the added problem of being energetic and loud-in short, something you don’t want when you are trying to take a vacation. You don’t want to get off a plane only to find out that everyone is yelling and screaming at your hotel you want to relax, sit back, maybe take a nice nap. You can’t do that if it’s super duper loud! So, what can you do?

Well, you can look into luxury vacation homes. But, just by reading the words luxury vacation homes, you probably cringed. However, there’s really no need for cringing or panicking. As a matter of fact, with the right budgeting, you can get pretty much any luxury vacation home that you have in mind. It’s all a matter of having the right timing, the right budgeting mindset, and lots of planning.

First of all, before you do anything, figure out where you want to go. You never know if you’re going to end up somewhere weird for your vacation, so try and decide now. Even if summer is still a year away, you still need to know how much you’re going to have to save.

Next, keep an open mind. You may not realize it, but quite a few places offer discounts if you book early or if you go off season. You only have to ask. And remember you don’t have to go on vacation during the summer. Some people may find that the fall is better suited to their vacationing needs! Or perhaps spring! Or maybe you want to go somewhere hot during the winter instead! The point is you don’t have to have your vacation during the summer!

Lastly, you need to start budgeting, which is the most important part when you really come down to it.

First of all, see what extra money you have. If you have a certain amount extra that you are wasting each month-well, start putting it up! Try to get a rough estimate of how much this might be before but also keep in mind that you probably won’t save quite half of that.

Next, cut what you don’t need. Do you really need that super duper keychain polish? Chances are no. Do you really need that fourteen dollar cleaner? You could probably get the same thing cheaper and better smelling at the dollar tree. The point is to cut out the wants and keep it to the necessities. However, don’t lose your stress relievers.