Why You Should Choose a Romantic Honeymoon Vacation in Mexico

By Andrew Bicknell

Mexico is home to some of the most beautiful beaches and resorts in the world as well as having a rich cultural flavor all its own. If you are looking for a romantic honeymoon vacation then Mexico is hard to beat. There are all manner of beach side resorts that cater to newlyweds and make your honeymoon a truly memorable experience.

The next question when considering a Mexican honeymoon is where to go and which package will work best for you. You have two choices as far as beaches to choose from. The west or pacific coast resorts such as Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta or Cabo all offer romantic vacation choices. The east coast features the Mayan Riviera along the Yucatan Peninsula. Here you will find the resort cities of Cancun, Cozumel, and Tulum, each with it distinct features and attractions.

If your idea of a relaxing honeymoon vacation includes long stretches of sandy beaches, warm turquoise waters, and warm ocean breezes then any of the resorts along either coast will fit the bill. There are also many water sports activities to be found, from snorkeling or scuba diving along the Great Mayan Reef, to jet skiing, sailing, deep sea fishing, or even swimming with the dolphins there is not shortage of fun and adventure to be found.

For those who are interested in ancient cultures and want a chance to visit some of the Mayan ruins then the east coast resorts are where you want to go. It\'s easy to take day trips to some of the bigger archaeological sites such as Chichen Itza, Tulum, Uxmal, and Coba from Cancun and Cozumel.

If you are looking to visit Mexico for your post wedding vacation then you should seriously consider finding a package that is all inclusive. One of the best reasons for doing it this way is it takes the stress out of your honeymoon plans. After you pay for your all inclusive Mexican honeymoon you really don\'t have to worry about anything else besides traveling to you destination.

Everything you need is included in your package including meals, drinks, activities at the resort you choose, shuttles to and from the airport, and entertainment. You will need some extra cash if you decide to leave the confines of the resort and do some sight seeing, but for most people an all inclusive honeymoon is definitely the way to go after the stress and craziness of their wedding.

For a truly memorable experience a romantic honeymoon vacation in Mexico is the way to go. Spending relaxing days relaxing on white sand beaches, taking a day to explore ancient Mayan ruins, and vibrant nights dining and dancing are just a few of the many exciting activities newlyweds can enjoy while creating a lifetime of memories.

To learn more about planning an all inclusive honeymoon vacation please visit the website Honeymoon Destinations.

The Importance of an Exclusive Buyer's Agent in Mexico

By Jim Scherrer

By: Jim Scherrer

As we all approach retirement, we often dream of someday owning a piece of Paradise, somewhere in Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, or even Puerto Vallarta; someplace with a climate conducive to kicking back and enjoying life to its fullest, year round.

To more than 50,000 retirees, Puerto Vallarta, located on the Mexican Riviera along the Pacific Ocean at the same latitude as Hawaii but six hours closer and with a lower cost of living, has been selected as their primary or part time retirement destination. Unlike the arid zones of Arizona, magnificent ocean views are available everywhere in Vallarta. Unlike the flat land and low elevations throughout Florida, the Sierra Madres provide the back drop to all of the Vallarta area providing a beautiful array of tropical flora and fauna.

The city of Puerto Vallarta lies on the innermost part of the 25 mile diameter Banderas Bay. The total land perimeter of the bay is approximately 60 miles, however only about 40 miles of shoreline is available for foreign ownership. This available land extends from Mismaloya, 10 miles south of Vallarta, to 25 miles north of Vallarta near Punta Mita in the state of Nayarit. An additional stretch of Pacific Ocean shoreline extends about 15 miles north of Punta Mita with certain portions available for foreign ownership, thus providing the total Greater Puerto Vallarta area roughly 55 miles of beachfront property.

With Greater Vallartaยดs large area of magnificent land, its climate similar to that of Hawaii, and a pro-growth Mexican government with many new investment incentives, the area has virtually exploded with new residential construction and consequently, with new real estate agencies. Aside from re-sales, these listing agencies are currently marketing in excess of 100 new condominium complexes containing more than 7,000 new condominiums under various phases of construction. An additional 20,000 condominiums are in the conceptual or planning stages and are scheduled for construction during the next 15 years.

In order to promote these properties, there are currently over 80 listing agencies serving the area with approximately 500 agents, all having a fiduciary duty to the developers and property sellers. That being said, in order to avoid a conflict of interest, they must pay their dedication and loyalty to those with whom they have contractual agreements and represent; the developers and sellers. Of course, these agents will do everything within their power to sell one of their own listings first, prior to considering the listings of others, in order to satisfy their clients as well as double their own commissions.

Now that we have established that the area in and around Paradise is huge, the quantity of new villas and condos is overwhelming, and 500 listing agents are putting forth their best effort to please their clients, the sellers; certain questions arise. How in the world do visitors to the area go about locating their retirement destination without searching through 80 agencies? What assurances do the prospective buyers have that they are getting exactly what they want, in the location that best suits their objectives, and at the best price available? How, in Mexico where all legal contracts are in Spanish and the laws are somewhat different, can the prospective buyers be assured that they are being treated fairly when the listing agent is representing the developer or seller?

To answer those questions and for numerous other reasons, the use of a buyer's agent is a prerequisite for any foreigner considering the purchase of real estate in Puerto Vallarta. There are a few agencies in the Greater Vallarta area that claim to be buyer's representatives; however most of them also have listings within their agencies. In order for prospective buyers to be absolutely confident that they are receiving 100% loyalty and dedication, they should attempt to employ the services of an agency with absolutely no listings, no biases, and no ulterior motives; one who knows the area well, that has access to all listings, and that has the legal team, property inspectors, appraisers, mortgage bankers, escrow agents, etc. working on the buyer's behalf.

Agents that exclusively represent buyers are quite common in the US and Canada, however they are few and far between in Mexico. Such agents do request signed contracts with the buyers stating that they are acting on the buyer's behalf, however there is generally no charge to the buyer since commissions are shared by the listing agent.

Listed below are some of the benefits associated with using an Exclusive Buyer's Agent in Mexico:

โ�ข EBA Represents no sellers and has no listings
โ�ข EBA Avoids dual agency and conflicts of interest
โ�ข EBA Owes complete fiduciary duty and loyalty to buyer
โ�ข EBA Maintains buyer information as strictly confidential
โ�ข EBA Has access to all properties on the market
โ�ข EBA Is unbiased in showing all properties available
โ�ข EBA Conducts an objective comparative market analysis
โ�ข EBA Thoroughly researches property pros and cons
โ�ข EBA Obtains appropriate inspection reports and appraisals
โ�ข EBA Strives ethically to gain bargaining advantage for buyer
โ�ข EBA Negotiates for buyer to optimize purchase agreement
โ�ข EBA Obtains most favorable legal and financial professionals
โ�ข EBA Prepares contracts in Spanish with accurate English translations
โ�ข EBA Works with 100% buyer dedication throughout entire process
โ�ข EBA Charges the buyer no fees for representation services
โ�ข EBA Often saves the buyer time, money, and provides peace of mind

In summarizing, the prudent buyer will always locate and use an Exclusive Buyer's Agent when searching for his/her retirement residence in Mexico; where caveat emptor, or buyer beware, is the rule to follow. In so doing, the retiree will be assured a stress free and enjoyable first retirement experience in Paradise.

Jim Scherrer has owned property in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for 24 years and resided there for the past ten years. The mission of his series of 40 articles pertaining to retirement in Puerto Vallarta is to reveal the recent changes that have occurred in Vallarta while dispelling the misconceptions about living conditions in Mexico. For the full series of articles regarding travel to and retirement in Vallarta as well as pertinent Puerto Vallarta links, please visit us at Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyersโ�� Agents and click on ARTICLES.

IRS Levies and Community Property States

By Jack Manhire

An Anonymous poster recently wrote me worried about her husband's assets. They live in California (a community property state). They file "Married Filing Separately." She owes for three years of back taxes. He owes nothing. Everything is in his name, including the home they both live in.

Anonymous wants to know:

"Will the IRS put a lien on [the] house since we are married? Can the IRS directly effect my husband (ie. garnish his paycheck, hit his credit, seize his assets)?"

The answer, unfortunately, is: Yes. The IRS can place a Federal Tax Lien on the home and actually seize the assets of the husband in this case even though he has absolutely nothing to do with the federal tax liability itself.

You see in a normal situation (non-community property case), the person owes the debt if their name is on the tax return. So if you file "Married Filing Jointly" then you both owe the IRS taxes, even if one of you worked and the other stayed home to take care of the kids because both of your names are on the return. And the same rule applies if you file "Married Filing Separately" in that only the person whose name is on the return with the debt owes the money. The other spouse (if they don't owe for their return), owes nothing and therefore the IRS cannot come after this non-liable spouse.

However, in community property states it's a little different. Actually, it's the same in the sense that the non-liable spouse still does not owe the taxes in question. The difference is regarding the collection of that tax and the property laws of the individual state.

In community property states, all assets are viewed as belonging to BOTH the husband and the wife. So in Anonymous's case, even though her husband owns the home in his name only on the mortgage and title, she owns it also under the community property laws. Therefore, the IRS can place a lien on the house and even seize it if they want, not because her husband now owes the tax debt (he still doesn't owe the IRS anything), but because that house is considered Anonymous's house as much as her husband's under California state law.

It's usually the same with other assets including wages. The bottom line is that you do NOT want to be in a community property state if you have one spouse who owes the tax and the other who does not, because in the end BOTH of you are equally effected by the ability of the IRS to collect the one debt from marital property.

You can request certain relief for your husband under IRS rules similar to Innocent Spouse relief. While this is a good solution to your problem on paper, actually getting that relief can sometimes be more trouble than it's worth.

My advice Anonymous is to get your missing returns filed as quickly as possible (the IRS cannot set up even a pay plan if there are missing returns) and get yourself into an Installment Agreement or Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status right away. That's the only way in this case to safeguard your husband's assets short of paying the entire debt off.

SIDE NOTE: There are nine community property states in the Unites States. They are: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin. In Alaska you can "opt-in" to be considered as having community property status.

Jack Manhire is an 11-year veteran tax attorney who specializes in IRS tax problems. You can find out other ways of getting your IRS problem behind you by visiting his blog for free help at http://taxhelpirs.blogspot.com/

Hedging Foreign Exchange Risks

By Sam Vaknin

Free Government Business Grants And Loan

By Lori

Business Grant:Government Grants For Women Owned Small Business
What are free small business grants? These are grants given by the home state when you need money to start a business or to improve it. All states do not provide free small business grants. The ones that do are Nebraska, New Hampshire, Kansas, New Mexico and Utah. The others usually give you loans or incentives and financial assistance. Some even offer technical training and financing to those who want to start their own small business venture. All it takes to get a free small business grant is a bit of legwork and a little effort.. Usually grants are given only for specific groups or specific industries of business. More exactly you need to have at least 51% in order to be eligible for such a business grant program. There are grants for equipment rental expenses there are even some grants that can help to pay employee expenses such as for benefits or can help you with your living expenses if you are a single employee business. It is also important to maintain all records pertaining to the grant until the state makes the final payment.

Grants For Small Business Owners In Financial Trouble:
Any issues may arise in the business like paying the labor getting a new contract transport of goods buying raw materials renting a new site marketing etc. The government has left it up to each state to designate funds by way of state grants to help small businesses to develop and flourish. The government also allows for individuals to apply but a very small number of them actually have the ingenuity to sail through the lengthy procedure and actually get their government grant. See government grants start up business Individual grants though available are not as widespread as some would have you believe.

Government Grants For Small Business In Canada:
Never leave it to the last second - grants can sometimes take months before they are approved. If you're thinking that's me then I think you need to continue reading this article!. When you're in this situation false hopes can be especially cruel. Visit obtain business government grants There are certain steps that must be followed but most agencies spell them out clearly for you before you ever start filling out the paperwork.

Small Business Loans Grants:
They are given according to the financial requirements of the student. Under a cash credit arrangement a predetermined limit for borrowing is specified by the bank.Many believe that the government just wants to throw away those billions of dollars in small business grants and all you have to do is fill out an application and you'll get your piece of the pie. More review at http://www.businessgrantusa.org/business-grant-loans/small-business-government-loans-grants.php They explain that grants and scholarships are by far the wisest way to go if you are interested in money for school because you don't have to repay the funds.

Wallace is an expert in new business startup grants for over
20 years. More sources at http://www.usacitizengrantsgov.info/small-business-grants/business-goverment-grants-for-women.php

Mexicoโ��s International Tourism Revenues Reach Historic High

By Erick Laseca

Despite slight dip in international tourism arrivals, international tourism revenues reach historic high, pointing to full recovery of the industry after Hurricane Wilma

Despite Hurricane Wilmaโ��s lingering effect on room supply in the Mexican Caribbean in early 2006, Mexico closed the year with historically high international tourism revenues, pointing to a full recovery of the industry.

According to statistics recently released by Mexicoโ��s Tourism Secretariat (Sectur), Mexico received 21.35 million international visitors in 2006, a 2.6 percent dip in comparison with 2005, due in part to reduced room availability in the Mexican Caribbean stemming from damages sustained by several hotels during Hurricane Wilma in late 2005. Despite this, from April to December 2006, international tourism arrivals for 2006 were above figures posted the year before in all but two months.

Thanks to more aggressive marketing to the affluent traveler in particular, however, revenue generated by these tourists reached a record high of US$12.18 billion, 3.2 percent higher than 2005โ��s revenue of US$11.80 billion. In 2004, Mexicoโ��s international tourism revenues had totaled US$10.84 billion.

International visitors (excluding border tourists) to Mexico were reported to have spent an average of US$710.30 per person per visit in 2006, representing a 4.7 percent increase from 2005โ��s US$678.40 average spend.

Historically high international tourism revenues helped enable the tourism industryโ��s trade balance to post an impressive US$4.07 billion surplus in 2006.

Cruise ship passenger arrivals in 2006 posted strong numbers as well, with 6.52 million cruise passengers disembarking in Mexican ports, down only 2.8 percent from 2005 despite damage sustained from Hurricane Wilma to such leading cruise ports as Cozumel.
These passengers spent 458.3 million dollars in Mexico, compared with 452.6 million the previous year.

Some 1.95 million people were employed in the tourism sector by the end of 2006, a significant increase from the 1.83 million people employed by the end of 2005.

โ��The figures posted in 2006 demonstrate that within a year of a devastating hurricane, Mexicoโ��s tourism industry was already back to normal,โ�� said Mexico Tourism Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo. โ��This attests to a level of government commitment and degree of coordination with private sector partners rarely seen in areas elsewhere in the world affected by similar tragedies. We expect 2007 to be yet another successful year for our tourism industry, with increased growth across all segments, particularly among upscale travelers,โ�� he added.

About the Mexico Tourism Board
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico's tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexicoโ��s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico, please contact the MTBโ��s North American Press Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at northamericanpress@visitmexico.com, or visit our press Web site at www.visitmexicopress.com. To access an online warehouse of free, downloadable b-roll, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/visitmexicopress.

# # #

Erick Laseca
Mexico Tourism Board
312-228-0517 ext14
erick.laseca@bm.com
http://www.visitmexicopress.com

The Hidden Jewels of Turkey

By Alvin Yakatori

Cappadocia in Turkey is rapidly becoming on of must visit places when on holiday in Turkey. Located in the Cappadocia region in the center of Turkey, you can easily take off and explore the region's elaborate underground cities, hidden cavernous churches and enchanting rock terrain.

If you are looking to visit the area you should choose a familiar name chain hotel, or one of Turkey's local chains. Then delve underground to experience Cappadocia's subterranean secret cities. Staying in such accommodations can leave you with plenty of cash to sample all that Turkey offers to her visitors. Local agents know of great places that are under-visited, new hotels that offer specials and ways to make connections that will save you time and money.

Those looking to relax will enjoy cruising the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts on a luxurious Turkish yacht, taking time to explore caves and coves along the way. Sleep overnight, or choose a longer itinerary where you can be lulled to sleep by the movement of the ocean and cooled by the sea breezes. A beach resort is perfect for a family vacation. Get up early one morning and watch the sunrise on the huge stone carved heads of past kings, (an earthquake shook the heads off the colossal statues centuries ago).

Hotels can be five star luxury retreats complete with spa treatments available, or you can opt to stay in a more budget minded hotel which allows you to save more money to spend on fun. If you opt to travel around Turkey during your vacation you really should try to use the public pransport system where possible. Coffee, tea, cakes, clean rest stops, and lemon cologne put Turkey's bus system in a league of its own. Cappadocia is a marvel to behold with its rooms and labyrinths carved into the huge cliff faces. Here you can make like Fred and Wilma Flintstone in a cave room that was carved into the mountainside back in the 5th or 6th century. You will be pleasantly surprised the price and comfort level.Turkey isn't home to just hotels; there are many other options you can choose from to give you an authentic Turkish experience

If you are looking for somewhere a little more off the beaten track than Bodrum and Marmaris then you should head for Nemrut. Nemrut sees lower numbers of tourists than the beach regions. As for the setting, well that's just pure tropical beach-style paradise.

For more info on Cappadocia cave hotels please visit our site - http://www.cappadocia-cave-hotels.info

Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our site

Alvin Yakatori.