What to Expect – My First Cruise Experience
at 10:26 am on Saturday, 28 February 2009
Some years ago my wife and I decided to take a cruise. We headed for Southampton to join our cruise ship, weighed down with luggage. (Why do women take twice as much as men?) Not knowing what to expect, we arrived at the terminal whereupon our cases were taken from us and firmly assured that they would be sent to our cabin. We checked in with one of the many assistants, boarded the ship and that would be it.
As this was our first cruise, we had been advised to choose an outside cabin which had natural light coming through the 2 portholes in our cabin. (See inside or outside). Once we boarded, we were escorted to our cabin by one of the many cabin stewards. Our luggage had not yet arrived so we decided to wander around the ship to get our bearings. This is always well worth doing as this also helps to get a feeling for the ship and its luxurious surroundings. We had also been advised that we would have to attend a lifeboat drill just after departure that was mandatory.
We wandered back to our cabin to find our luggage had arrived and proceeded to unpack. Yet again my wife managed to take most of the wardrobe space, although space in cabins has increased significantly since our first cruise. The cabin also had a TV, and private facilities that were more than adequate.
The ships alarm sounded and we made our way with life jacket to our muster station, generally shown on the rear of your cabin door. Once finished, we could sit back and totally relax.
The ship had lots to offer with two swimming pools, a casino with Black Jack and Roulette, a card room, show lounge which also doubled up to give advice on forthcoming ports of call and the excursions available, plus a well stocked library.
A misconception of cruising is that it is solely for the elderly. This is far from the truth with many younger couples and even families on board. There are also clubs and meetings for single travelers.
Our first port of call was La Corunna and we arrived one and a half days after departure. We arrived early in the morning which gave us the whole day to explore the Atlantic City. Others had taken the full or half day excursion that are bookable on board. (Prices vary according to content but as a guide £25 for a half day and £45 for a full day excursion.) Our cruise took us on to a number of ports including Lisbon, Cadiz, Casablanca, Tenerife and Madeira.
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1st Cruise Holiday Tip
Once you have decided on your excursions try and book these as early as possible as many are on a limited basis and it is easy to miss out on the best excursions.
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Food on board is a major plus and what you would expect from a floating hotel. Breakfast and lunch can either be taken in one of the ships main restaurants or in the open air around the outdoor swimming pool .On board our 3 star ship, the dress code alternated between, formal with dinner jackets and cocktail dresses to informal and casual, although no dress code is compulsory. (If you do not possess a dinner suit, these can be hired on board most ships, although a suit and tie will suffice in most cases.) The food is varied from vegetarian dishes to roast sirloin of beef, from sticky toffee pudding to passion fruit salad. The problem is, not knowing when to stop. If at the end of the day you are still hungry, you can always participate in the midnight buffet, before you wake up and it starts all over again. There was also a range of good wines to suit all tastes, and all drinks are very reasonably priced. (The house red was of a high standard and very good value.)
Life on board is so relaxed and you can either join in all the activity or sit back and watch the world go by. Information came via a daily bulletin with a full timetable of events, weather forecasts and special offers in the many shops on board.
The captain and officers are regularly seen throughout the ship and this commences early in the cruise with The Captain’s welcome cocktail party. This generally happens on the first formal night where you are introduced to the captain, and have the pleasure of having your photo taken with him. This ceremony happens again all too soon at the captains farewell party. (If you are lucky you may be invited to dine with the captain one evening.)
Our cruise holiday had gone all too soon when we pulled back in to Southampton. The previous 14 days had been the perfect antidote to the dull grey weather of Good Old England. Some of the passengers on our 14 day adventure became friends who to this day remain in touch. It is certainly a most wonderful way to relax and it transformed my life completely.
I entered the cruise business shortly afterwards and since my first cruise with Fred.Olsen, I have had the pleasure of cruising with P & O, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Festival, Star Clippers, Holland America, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Orient Lines. In addition I have visited ships from Thomson, Island Cruise Line, Cunard, Discovery Cruises and Costa Cruises.
Our team at 1st Cruise Holidays have a wealth of knowledge and like myself will help where possible to ensure that the cruise you choose is right for you and will I am sure, like many others become a frequent cruiser.
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Oahu – The Heart of Hawaii
at 5:05 am on Saturday, 28 February 2009
If you haven’t been back to O`ahu in a while, it’s time to visit again! If you have never been, now’s the time to go to this beautiful and fun island! Not only does O`ahu offer you the best value for your vacation funds, but there is truly something for everyone! Waikiki is still a busy happening place, but the O`ahu Visitor’s Bureau and the county of O`ahu have done an amazing job of revitalizing this sizzling beachfront area. The walk along Waikiki Beach is beautiful, enjoyable and relaxing. Bronze statues of Duke, surfers connecting with sea life, and waterfalls dot the beachfront. In the evenings you can hear music playing as you enjoy a spectacular sunset! O`ahu offers you numerous resort properties to suit any style or budget! This island offers you a diverse landscape, along with activities that focus on active lifestyles, health and wellness, spiritual rejuvenation, culture and art, or just plain relaxing and chilling at the famous Duke’s located in the Outrigger Waikiki. The Outrigger Waikiki is one of our favorite Waikiki resorts. Sunset at Duke’s? You just can’t get any better than that! We now have 2 – Level II O`ahu Destination Specialists on our staff. We are extremely proud of this certification! If you think this was just a course we took in the wee hours of the morning one day, think again! The O`ahu Visitor’s Bureau shows the rest of the islands how to do it properly, so that we become experts! Being certified means that we have traveled to the island, no less than 1 week each time, taken part in intensive training, immersing ourselves in the various regions of the island, cultures of the land, and meeting with various service suppliers to give you a well rounded, unique itinerary custom made to suit your travel needs!
Plus we have been so thoroughly trained that we know all the cool local spots! During your visit, be sure to try local cuisine favorites, such as Huli Huli Chicken, and Malasadas. Oahu has a diverse range of food tastes offered everywhere on island! Of course, we also had to taste some local favorites! We know the best places for those too! Let’s talk for a moment about the myths surrounding this spectacularly beautiful island. It isn’t the island of Waikiki, but the island of O`ahu, phonetically pronounced Long O-pause-Ah-who. Not O-WAH-Who! Say it slowly, and you will get a sense of the meaning of O`ahu. You stop to breathe in the warm aroma of the sea, (and maybe some Huli Huli chicken if you’re lucky), your body starts to relax, and yes…you’re on vacation! How many other places can instantly make you feel that way? There are so many beautiful beaches on O`ahu that there is a beach for every taste. We can tell you the perfect choices for romantic, quiet spots, sunbathing, surfing, boogie boarding, body surfing, snorkeling, whatever your pleasure! We’ve checked them all out! I must say that one of my favorite locations, if not THE favorite spot on the island, is the Turtle Bay Resort, located on the North Shore. If you want a resort property to get some peace and quiet time to relax, this is the resort for you! Of course, Turtle Bay also offers a wide variety of activities so it really is the best of all worlds. Restaurant choices range from the comfortable and casual setting of the Ocean Terrace, and Hang Ten poolside bar, to gourmet elegant dining at 21 Degrees North. All dining experiences are excellent not only in choices of food served, but also in the level of service from the dining staff, especially at 21 Degrees North. Every interaction with a staff member at this property is warm, friendly and welcoming. Turtle Bay is set on 880 ocean front acres, has five miles of pristine beaches, 12 miles of oceanfront trails, spa and fitness facilities, surfing lessons right off the shoreline, horseback riding, and more. Need I say more? Yes? Okay! Championship golf courses, a wedding and event chapel, great for any special event, are among the many other amenities of this spectacular property! Even a vegetarian on an extremely strict diet, can enjoy mouthwatering entrees and desserts at 21 Degrees North. Oh the desserts! And yes I have a picture of that too! It’s an escape from the every day hustle and bustle. An extraordinary experience. We plan on putting together golf groups as well as Health & Wellness groups at this property! If you are interested in being part of those groups, please do let me know. We so love this island! So much O`ahu, so little time! Something for everyone!
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Caribbean Travel – Choosing the Perfect Vacation Spot
at 4:33 am on Saturday, 28 February 2009
Close your eyes and imagine a Caribbean vacation. Done? The images you called to mind probably contained pristine white beaches, aquamarine waters, and plenty of palm trees. Fortunately, the Caribbean is full of enough beautiful beaches to satisfy every traveler, but there’s much more to the islands than just beaches – which is good news for travelers who want their trip to be more than just a day at the beach.
While some islands are, indeed, known for their beaches, others, like Saba, hardly have any. There’s a whole world of activities in the Caribbean; it’s just a matter of knowing where to look. Learning a bit about some of the islands can help you get a feel for the many differences you’ll find here.
Basic Island Differences
Surprisingly, weather can be quite different from island to island, as mountains, the trade winds, and even geographic location can cause some subtle and not-so-subtle differences. Islands such as Aruba are seemingly an anomaly – cacti and aloe grow more readily than fragrant hibiscus in its desert climate. Meanwhile, islands like Puerto Rico offer mountain hikes to adventure seekers, as well as cooler temperatures high in its ranges.
Culture can be another important difference among islands. If you’re looking for a taste of Paris alongside a bit of tropical sunshine, turn to Martinique and the other French West Indies. Travelers can also enjoy islands where Dutch colonial style still reigns in the Netherlands Antilles, or take tea in the British West Indies. Some islands have been territories of many nations throughout their history, and the cultural mix can be delightful.
Activities, though, can make or break a vacation. There are plenty of natural sights to see, both above and below the waves; mountainous peaks rise high into the sky, and historic buildings attract many visitors. Cultural festivals like the famous Carnival are also popular draws to these islands. However, when you’re looking for activities, it’s important to make the right choices.
Place-by-Place
Jamaica attracts many visitors each year to its popular resort towns and beaches. Whether you’re heading to Negril, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Kingston, or somewhere else entirely, Jamaica has plenty of culture to offer. Golf on the grounds of a former plantation or explore its famous Blue Mountains. There’s plenty to see and do on land. And, of course, who can forget the food and crafts? Still, avid snorkelers and divers may leave this island feeling a little disappointed.
A popular spot for cruising as much as any other kind of travel, The Bahamas has plenty of popular ports and beaches, but crowds in the cities can be too much for some travelers. The Out Islands, however, are some of the most popular areas for vacationers looking to escape the crowds. Whether you’re off to see Ernest Hemingway’s Bimini, enjoying the hustle and bustle of popular cities like Freeport, or sailing and fishing between any of the islands, The Bahamas a great spot for a unique vacation not far from the Florida coast.
Cancn is the ubiquitous spring break vacation spot for most college students. But many people don’t know that the surrounding areas have plenty to offer as well. Cancn may have gorgeous beaches and plenty of nightlife, but Cozumel offers incredible underwater sights to dazzle intrepid divers. The area known as the Mayan Riviera includes secluded spots like Playa del Carmen, which many families love, while Tulum hosts larger than life Mayan ruins.
Puerto Rico has plenty of advocates as well, since it offers travelers everything from mountain vistas to a bit of diving and snorkeling. It’s best known for its history and its rainforest. While Old San Juan is popular, visit Ponce on the southern coast for something a little different. El Yunque, the only rainforest in the U.S. National Parks system, is a good stop for nature lovers. Shopping, casinos, and nightlife are all important aspects of San Juan’s popularity, and don’t forget to spend a bit of time at one of the beaches as well.
Island Groups
Get ready to sail when visiting the Virgin Islands. Whether you’re planning to stop in at the U.S. or the British islands, you’ll find crystal clear waters and plenty of sites. St. Thomas offers shopping; St. Croix features historic Dutch buildings; and St. John is home to a wildlife preserve. Snorkelers and divers will find beautiful sites in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The British Virgin Islands are much more secluded, and locals welcome vacationers with their warm smiles and British hospitality.
Travelers who want another taste of something British can stop in at Barbados and have afternoon tea with the Bajan locals. Visitors to Bermuda can explore some of the cultural heritage this island retains, and stick around for a game of golf. Despite Bermuda’s distinctly non-Caribbean location, it is still considered a popular tropical location and is often grouped with other Caribbean islands. The sister islands of Antigua and Barbuda are also known for beautiful beaches and rich British history, as well as incredible sailing.
Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaao, known as the ABC Islands, are three of the Netherlands Antilles islands, located just north of Venezuela’s coast. With the added distinction of being outside the Caribbean’s “Hurricane Belt,” this trio of islands offers some unusual desert climates, fascinating history, and nature unlike anything you’ll find in the rest of the Caribbean.
Other Isles
The Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, Saba, Belize, and Dominica are known for their natural beauty. With mountains, rivers, tropical forests, and underwater scenes to explore, these relatively untouched locales provide ecologically-oriented travelers an especially rich and diverse set of Caribbean spots to explore. Each of these islands has a different culture and intriguing aspects. Whether you’re curious about The Dominican Republic’s popular surfing beaches or St. Lucia’s famous volcanic peaks, you’re sure to find something interesting to explore.
While it may be easy to visualize what some would consider a typical Caribbean island, it may take a little more effort to really pick one that is perfect for your stay. Every traveler has his or her own idea of what makes a great getaway, and building that trip is easy in the Caribbean. With just a bit of discernment, everyone can be satisfied on their vacation to the Caribbean.
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Cancun and Cozemel Cleanup Curtailed by Tropical Storm Gamma
at 7:39 am on Friday, 27 February 2009
Hurricane Wilma was a Catastrophe for the resort regions of the Yucatan, but now Cancun and Cozemel are being cleaned up for hopefully a late season tourist rebound. Unfortunately that clean-up effort is going to be seriously curtailed by Tropical Storm Gamma, which will drop heavy rain on the area.
Wilma waged war on the region as she broke Western World Weather records, some say the area may never be the same. Many people who had scheduled vacations there this winter are finding themselves re-routing to other Caribbean destinations, but the 2005 Tropical Hurricane Season is still not over yet. Meanwhile last week Puerto Rico was pummeled by a tropical depression number 27, which some say should have been called a Tropical Storm Gamma. But instead now we have Tropical Storm Gamma formed in a similar place as Hurricane Wilma.
It will take the resort areas until next year to get back to anything that appears to be normal and Mexico will have lost Billions in their tourist trade by then. Still worse is the threat that Tropical Storm Gamma may drop as much as 10 inches on the already ruined resort region. This will only hamper the reconstruction efforts as roads are flooded, power is still out in many places and most of the buidlings were damaged. Think on this.
“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
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Buenos Aires Travel: Revolutionary Buenos Aires
at 7:42 am on Thursday, 26 February 2009
The proposal starts with your arrival to the charming city of Buenos Aires which you’ll be able to sightsee and explore in depth during your whole stay. To begin with the activities, there’s the classical Buenos Aires city tour that goes around the main interest spots in Buenos Aires following its historical evolution and discovering the most traditional and picturesque neighborhoods.
The tour intends to go along distinguishing the footprints left by immigration, tango, folklore, livestock farm culture, soccer football and the popular culture as the main component of the Buenos Aires idiosyncrasy. The path begins in Plaza de Mayo (May Square) and covers Casa Rosada (Pink House), the Cathedral, Cabildo, San Telmo, the antique’s shops, La Boca, the mythical Caminito Street, Retiro, Recoleta, Palermo with its parks and lakes, Monserrat and Puerto Madero.
You’ll also get to experience you own tango scene along with the performing artists of the tango house Sabor a Tango that will delight you with an impressive show. This is a performance accompanied by first class gastronomy in an intimate space that remembers the origins of tango. A memorable Buenos Aires tango show night.
A truly autochthonous and very entertaining activity is a visit to one of the best Argentina Estancias where participants may watch the farm chores, horse-man skills and regional dances shows, do some horse-back riding and sporting activities. The tour includes tasting of Argentine culinary delicatessen: empanadas (savory pastries stuffed with meat), wine, a typical asado (barbecue) and pastries for the afternoon tea.
The outings to Tigre represent a possibility to experience nature very close to Buenos Aires. This wonderful Argentina travel offer begins with a trip in the picturesque Tren de la Costa (Riverside Train) with an itinerary along the northern zone of Buenos Aires outskirts. Once in Tigre, the passengers enjoy a boat ride along small rivers and canals surrounded by the Delta’s exuberant vegetation.
The promotion includes lodging for 7 days in a furnished apartment (double occupancy), transfer airport/ hotel/ airport, city tour, dinner tango show, countryside day in an Argentine Estancia and a tour to Tigre. The package may be extended with a theme tour (museum tours, tango tours, etc.) and with a futbol game with guide. Accommodation in Buenos Aires apartments offers more intimacy and convenience for those seeking a different vacation. We welcome inquiries at info@alojargentina.com. For more details on this package click HERE.
Alojargentina is an Argentina tourism agency that offers Buenos Aires apartments for rent plusArgentina travel
Alternatives and servies. The website features useful information for those interested in visiting Argentina.
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PM Gordon Brown Unveils Revised Bailout Idea, Is This Going To Save Britains Economy
at 10:50 pm on Wednesday, 25 February 2009
The UK Prime Minister has published the final rescue project to support the economy, and to increase confidence in the market. The bailout has an insurance scheme to protect the banking system from another a new banking crisis. Banks will have to pay for the insurance policy, in cash. However all this presages the value of life will crash, deflation encourages saving and this can slow down the British financial situation. Money exchange are a great way to make money – find out how with Foreign Currency Direct.
UK property assets are supposed to descend drastically, with the country’s largest mortgage lender, Halifax, stating, more than 16 per cent year per year decline in during last year. House prices have already fallen 0.2 from their 2007 peak and more price drops are possible as approvals for home mortgages have hit a record low, as reported by banks.
The number jobless people surged past 1 million in in 2008, climbing at a fast rate since last recession. The crisis has created thousands of occupations losses in several different markets, with some forecasts of 3m+ unemployed by the end of 2010. Some retails went out of business recently. Stores have been dropping prices to cover the total amount of loans.
The pecuniary policy decisions of British PM are mainly concentrated on pushing the market and not the currency. This means the pound is most likely keep to go down. We will witness the pound being stable around one euro however forecasts for pound is negative.
Rumours amongst financial analysts confirm the idea that the Monetary Committee will reduce interest rates to 1.25 points from today’s 2 points, dragging the central bank rate to the lowest since it was founded in 1694.
This means a lower return for the investors who then invest abroad, because of the decline of the pound.
Policymakers have stated the central bank will have to cut the rates to nearly zero and opt the last solution, basically producing more money to help the economic crisis. This would seem to go well with the governments policy of trying their way out of the recession crisis, the exact opposite of majority of European nations approach, hence a possible explanation for the big fall in Pound compared to the and US$ Dollar.
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Superb Snow across Europe
There has been almost 1.5 metres snowfall in the last week. It has been so prolonged that chairlifts have been closed, the train has been finishing at Chamonix and not heading up to Les Grands Montets. Several roads have been blocked past our chalet holiday accommodation and avalanche warnings issued.
Compare this to 2 winter seasons ago, when there was the unbelievably mild Jan conditions, mud showing on ski slopes, and warnings that global warming would mean the death of skiing in the French Alps. Highlighting this the OECDs study from 2006 predicted that climate change would make ski holidays far too expensive for a lot of holiday makers, with one third of skiing resorts closing with the receding of alpine glaciers. Scientists say that it’s impossible to assign the yearly deviations in the weather patterns to the effects of global warming.
We might have the longest downturn in almost 30 yrs, and the Sterling has plummeted to record levels compared to the Euro, but the snowboarding is superior, and the recent bookings prove that snowboarders are keen to enjoy the excellent skiing conditions. This season is undoubtedly the greatest in ten winters, and many people are saying its the finest skiing conditions in at least ten yrs.
All the same recall that snow like this means big avalanches risks.
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Why do I need a webmaster?
at 1:43 pm on Monday, 23 February 2009
Being involved in an Internet business for quite sometime, I have had many instances where I need to explain to a client why exactly it is that they require a webmaster or web maintenance and I’d like to put it into simple terms which are easy to understand.
I get this question so often, “Why do I need a webmaster?”
If you are running an online business there are a few things you need to understand. Once you begin to add functionality to a website, it becomes more of a responsibility and a worry than your ordinary website in HTML. As soon as you start adding programming to your site in php, asp, etc, you begin to create what I like to call “doors”. Once these doors are installed you must always make sure that these doors remain locked. People will try to unlock these doors, or “break in”. In most cases they do this to access your server to send spam email. Sometimes they just do it for fun. They are “hackers” and they really just want to break your things. These programming systems which are sometimes classifieds, forums, shopping carts, etc, become a problem only because of hackers…. Each manufacturer must update their versions of software when new hacks or vulnerabilities are discovered…. Sometimes vulnerability requires an upgrade. Sometimes your modifications need to be done over. It’s never a put it there and it’s there forever deal. Once you add functionality to a website, you must pay more attention to what is happening on the servers and always making sure no-one is opening the doors.
Another point that seems to be misunderstood is the fact that data is valuable. One of my clients whom I built a shopping cart for didn’t realize that it was important to have a webmaster keeping an eye on things. This particular client thought that a web site was similar to the digital voice recorder he bought at RadioShack a few months back. He thought that whenever he needed his website, that it would be right there where he left it months ago. “Why do I need to watch it?” He thought, “I bought it and put it on the shelf so I can use it next time I need it?”
Well this client in particular thought he did not need a webmaster. “I’ll just send the orders out when they come in.” He said. So one day the orders stop coming. This sparks a phone call to my office. “I’m not getting any orders and I looked for my website and it isn’t there.” A little checking into things and I discovered that his credit card was expired, he wasn’t checking his email, and his entire website including his database was gone! The hosting account was past 60 days and the MySql database was erased.
Here is where we begin to understand the value of data.
Every order that was placed, email that was saved, and product that was photographed, was gone. Now you may be thinking that surely he had backups, where are the backups? If he had a webmaster, more than likely they would have been saving hard copy backups periodically, just in case, but no, all he had was what was backed up at the hosting company and after 60 days of not paying your bill or answering your emails you can kiss them good-bye.
The point that I would really like to make here is that once you decide to go into business on the Internet, it is important to take it seriously. Like anything else, what you put into the business, is what you will get out.
I had to explain to him again, why it is that he needs a webmaster. This time he listened with a bit more understanding.
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Mergers and Acquisitions – The Current MO
at 6:39 am on Monday, 23 February 2009
“Mergers and Acquisitions – The Current MO
Stocks are yo-yoing, jobless rates are still climbing, and the word “”recession”" is getting thrown around more than a ball at a Beach Boys’ concert. Despite the spurts of hard times in the technology industry, it remains imperative for companies to plan for the future; and judging from recent news, the future is now.
HostIndex.com has spoken to several people in the know who have said the amalgamation of hosting companies will be the norm; in order to survive, hosting companies will need to pair up or be left alone to suffer for example one that has succeeded is http://www.weblinkhosting.com.
Software, professional services and managed service provider, divine inc. announced it will acquire Data Return, a leading managed hosting services provider. The stock-for-stock deal is valued at about $33 million dollars. Chicago, IL-based divine said the deal means it will achieve profitability by the second quarter of 2002.
And that’s just one of the examples.
Express Technology, which already operates two hosting brands, announced it had purchased “”certain assets of Digital Chainsaw”", and will be bringing the company and its 6000 customers into the Express Technology family. Express currently parents HalfPriceHosting, a Windows-only hosting company, as well as CFXHosting, which deals strictly with those wishing to use ColdFusion applications.
In these tough economic times, companies can be purchased for bargain prices compared to the inflated markets of yesteryear. For hosting companies looking to expand into markets they currently do not serve, acquisitions are a very viable alternative to starting from scratch.
In late October, Interland announced it had acquired the small business-focused shared and unmanaged dedicated retail Web hosting business of Interliant. Though the terms of the deal were never disclosed, it does solidify the onward-focus that while today, hosting companies seem to be a dime a dozen, tomorrow, they could be pairing up in an effort to stay alive, and profitable. In 2002, Interland also picked up several more companies including CommuniTech.Net and Dialtone Internet.
“”On October 29, Interland announced that we would acquire the small-business focused shared and unmanaged dedicated customer accounts of Interliant, Inc.,”" Joel J. Kocher, Interland’s chairman and CEO, said.
“”The transaction includes only the purchase of accounts and does not include the purchase of data center infrastructure. This is a critical point. I’ll explain why.
The Web hosting industry currently is undergoing a major shakeout and consolidation. This can be attributed to the unnatural level of capital infusion during the Internet boom, which resulted in too many players and an overcapacity of infrastructure and data center space. Many Web hosts now are saddled with debt at a time when funds are no longer flowing from the capital markets.
Now, Interland is seizing this opportunity. We have an efficiency-driven business plan and we can leverage our strong cash position to acquire customer accounts as other players exit the business. And, by acquiring only customer accounts and the associated revenue, we can more rapidly achieve the scale and operating efficiencies needed to accelerate our drive to cash flow profitability. The acquisition should be immediately accretive to our gross margins as we quickly integrate these customers into our existing operations.”"”
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Part 2: Web Hosting Fine Print Exposed:
at 6:35 am on Monday, 23 February 2009
Welcome back to Part 2 of Web Hosting Fine Print Exposed.
This series of articles reveals 14 points about web hosting fine print–things you should know and be aware of when looking for a web host.
The entire guide with comment forms is available at the home of the best web hosting provider scorecards.
We continue with another 4 points:
Web Host Who?
What’s the registered business name, address, phone number of the webhost?
Why do you want these? Obviously, you want to know who you’re going to do business with. If the info is available–good; if not–not good.
If the info is available you may want to check that’s it’s accurate. It never hurts to be cautious. You may want to get a credit report even though that depends on how critical your web site is.
The Web Host Support System
There are 3 points to discuss here:
1. How many ways are there to access the support department? Instant Messaging, email, phone? The more the better, though you probably only need one or two.
Phone support is great–you can actually talk to someone. It’s best if you’re new or have a complex site. Of course, phone support comes with its own price tag.
Make sure you know whether there are any extra fees for phone support, or limited amount of support calls per month.
2. Do they have an on-site forum? Most good web hosts maintain a forum where anyone can post a question. Take a careful look at the forums. How many posts are there? If you find just a few posts you know that the web host is probably new (though it can also mean that the forum is new — check the dates of the posts).
3. Service speed. None of the above matters if it takes two days to answer your emails or return your phone calls.
Most web hosts offer 24/7 customer care. Better than this is if the web host guarantees a response within a specific time frame.
Find out this crucial information and write the answers down on your evaluation sheet.
Your Neighbors: Adult Sites and Proxies?
Find out if your web host allows adult sites & proxies.
Adult sites. These sites create a particular environment that may not suitable for other sites. So, unless you want to run an adult site, you better find one that does not offer adult hosting.
Proxies. These are little scripts run on the server that allow other computers connect to the server and through it to the Internet. From the Internet’s side it appears as if though the server is accessing it and not the computer behind the proxy.
These scripts are of a security risk to the server and, therefore, most web hosts have banned them. Again, unless you want to offer a proxy service, you better find one that does not allow proxies.
Is your Web Host Used for Spam?
Check if the webhost’s servers are black listed in the spam directory.
You need to find out about all the IP addresses that the web host uses and check each one individually against the spam directory.
By the way, one reason why web hosts have banned proxies is for the fear of being used for spam. The proxy is used for sending spam e-mail, the server getsblacklisted in the spam IP directories.
This creates a lot of headaches for the host and you. Imagine that you’re emails are not delivered anymore because the recipients computers think you’re sending spam. Not good.
Web Host Uptime Explained
What is Uptime?
Uptime refers to how long the server (and you’re website) keeps running before it needs to restart for whatever reason.
So, what should you look for? Anything over 99.5% is good.
Servers do need to restart now and then: this could be part of regular maintenance or in some other unexpected cases.
The bottom line is: Downtime happens, the question is how it’s handled. And by that we mean: are you notified of scheduled downtimes and alerted in other cases?
How does the standard 99.5% uptime guarantee translate into hours?
First multiply the percentage of uptime promised by the number of hours in a day to find out the amount of uptime per day.
For example if a provider is promising 99.5% uptime
then 99.5 per cent = 0.995 0.995 * 24 hours = 23.88 hours
There are 23.88 hours of uptime guaranteed in a 24 hours day or 0.12 hrs not guaranteed.
0.12 hrs = 7.2 min. 0.12 * 60min = 7.2min
This means that the host approximately guarantees 23 hours and 52 minutes and 48 seconds of service per day.
That means that the maximum downtime tolerable in a week is approximately 50 minutes and 24 seconds.
This means 1.6 days in a year are not guaranteed, and your website is offline.
I hope these points will be useful!
In the Part 3 we will cover these topics:
Refund Guarantee
Set-up Fee Scam
Help Moving Your Site
Resource Allocation
Shared vs. Reseller
Crowded Servers
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