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Archive for the ‘Amsterdam’

Pre Employment Criminal Background Screen

January 11, 2008 By: Mr Vacation Category: Amsterdam, Vacations Comments Off

Doing background checks is becoming more and more important these days. Businesses are slowly realizing the importance of doing background checks on prospective people they hire. Theyknow that it is a lot better to spend money on checking for a person’s credibility and criminal background than to spend much more on resulting lawsuits and other unfortunate incidents. A whole lot of security issues have arisen especially after the September 11 terrorist attacks so most likely, if you’ve applied for a job, your company your applying for will conduct a criminal record check on you.

Larger corporations are especially eager to know more about their people they hire because some people they hire give an exaggerated or falsified account of their experiences and translate these onto a faulty application. Still, other corporations are forced to do instant background check because the state level and federal agencies require background checks for particular jobs, especially those companies that deal with younger children, the disabled or the elderly.

It is important to be aware however, that your employer must get your consent to conduct a background check on you. It is illegal for an employer to just randomly conduct a background check on you without your permission. If he wants to have access to your medical records, or if an agency wishes to see a report of your financial status, they must ask for your permission first. Even if the employer just wants to talk to your neighbors, associates, former colleagues or friends, you must still give your consent for him to do so. You must give your consent by signing a form separate from your application form and prepared especially for this purpose.

Once you do give your consent, your employer now has free reign to inquire on certain areas. According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, areas of inquiry might include credit records, criminal records, medical records, drug test records, past employers, vehicle registration, social security number, property ownership records.

Most free background checks just focus on the educational background, financial or credit history, criminal history if any, motor vehicle history and of course, employment history. It is essential therefore, to be as honest in your resume as you possibly can because your employer will be able to verify the information you have written there. Companies or employers can find out the information on their own or hire what’s known as consumer reporting agencies. There are plenty of reputable agencies out there but there are some which are also bogus so employers should also investigate the agencies who will also do the investigating.

Additionally, employees are also encouraged to perform a background check on the companies they wish to join. This is so they can get a better idea of the status of the company they are applying for.

How to Start a Home Based Travel Business

December 28, 2007 By: Mr Vacation Category: Amsterdam, Vacations Comments Off

You are probably considering the travel industry as a home based career choice because travel is fun and always in demand. If that is the way you think, you are absolutely right! Starting your own home based travel business requires a little research.

The research is actually pretty simple, and I will tell you exactly what I did to get started; I asked a friend a few questions, and then I went to a timeshare presentation. That’s it! End of research. Now here are the details.

A friend of mine has five kids and he travels to the same beach each year with the whole family. So I asked him, “How much does your resort cost each year?” He did not mind telling me at all that it was around $3,500 for a one week stay each year, plus their travel costs, which were relatively low since they always drove.

I then told him how his family could stay at a higher quality luxury resort for $3,500 this year, and for only $300 to $800 per week each year thereafter, and in a wide variety of higher quality international resorts. That was a real eye opener for him.

Now remember, this was research, and for research reasons alone, the fact that my friend was recently unemployed was a plus, as I knew that he was not in a position to buy a membership right now. He had already booked the family vacation for this year, but was more than glad to know about my discount luxury resort membership, and that he could travel during any week of the year, or even multiple times each year at the same weekly rate.

My conclusion for this research was that I was in the right business. Since this conversation put such a big smile on my friend’s face, I knew that I could help dozens of families with the luxury resort membership that I was selling from my small computer table and extra telephone line at my home office.

Here is research scenario two: I went to a timeshare presentation. I have avoided these for years, because everyone knows that the high pressure sales techniques of the timeshare sales force have turned many a No into a Yes.

True to form, those very nice timeshare sales professionals turned into pit bulls during the course of the presentation. I went through four managers on account of my unyielding No, and they even employed the good cop/bad cop technique on me.

Their last offer was substantially better than the initial offer (from $55,000 down to $14,000), but they mentioned the word ‘upgrade’ way to frequently. There was no getting over the math; timeshare ownership was a substantially inferior investment when compared to the timeshare alternative I was selling from my humble home office.

This was exceptionally valuable information for me. I have never owned a timeshare, but the condo and maintenance fees associated with ownership, compounded by blackout weeks, exchange fees and upgrade charges, really helped me to understand why so many people I know that love to travel have negative feelings toward timeshare ownership.

So there it is. Your research may be a little different, but you get the idea; ask questions and talk to people about their travel habits.

Go to places that may enhance your understanding of the travel industry, such as golf, ski, wilderness or beach resorts, or maybe even a tour of a cruise ship if that is available.

Count the costs, see what customers see, get educated, and then start your own home based travel business.
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Antony Mosley runs a home based travel business on a part time basis. Click on conference calls to attend the company’s next call, and take your time to enjoy the audios and videos on the rest of the website. Bookmark www.YourHomeBasedTravelBusiness.com

Vacationing in Amsterdam

September 21, 2006 By: Vacation Traveler Category: Amsterdam Comments Off

Amsterdam is lovely and very unique.  In Amsterdam the people, the streets and the atmosphere are all attractions that people come to see and enjoy.

Amsterdam is also teeming with culture with all of their libraries and museums.  There is so much to see in Amsterdam that you will have to make plans for your excursions so you don’t miss anything.

Another fine attraction of Amsterdam is their many wonderful restaurants.  As you walk down the Damrak, which is the street facing Central Station you can see the old familiar neon signs yelling pizza!  Or you can experience the local cuisine by window shopping the sandwich boards sitting out front of the local eateries to see what you are in the mood for.

The city of Amsterdam has long he herald for it’s 17th century architecture.  It is everywhere and simply gorgeous.  It is also famous for all of it’s canals and waterways as well as it’s lively nightlife and numerous charming bed and breakfasts.

Amsterdam Bed and Breakfast travelers can take advantage of seeing all the must see sights and enjoying relaxing accommodations that make you feel as if you are home.  Some of the must see sights include: Van Gogh Museum, the 250-room Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House, the Artis  Zoo, the Royal Palace, the world-wide known Dam Square, local theatres, local restaurants, and eclectic shopping in the Jordaan neighborhood.   

Amsterdam began as a tiny fishing village around 1200 AD.  Today it is the capital of the Netherlands.  Many tourists today still make the mistake of calling Amsterdam “Holland.”  They do not realize that Holland is actually a geographical area in the Netherlands.

For those who are budget conscious and like to travel off the peak season when everything is usually about 50 percent off you can do that in Amsterdam as well.  You would book your trip from October to March.  When you go in March a lot of times the flowers are starting to bloom and the weather is getting a little warmer.

When you arrive it is a good idea to visit one of Amsterdam’s Tourism & Convention Board offices. You will find several information centers and kiosks located in and around the city center where tourists can find up to date information about Amsterdam’s many happenings like museums, events, festivals, sightseeing and more.

Amsterdam’s many accommodation choices range from any imaginable budget all the way to state-of-the-art hotels.  Or you can stay in a canal front apartment.  All the accommodations are just an easy walk to the city central where you will find it busting with restaurants, coffee houses and shops.

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. Your learning process should be ongoing–the more you understand about any subject, the more you will be able to share with others.

Hostels in Amsterdam - Cheap Places to Stay

August 17, 2006 By: Vacation Traveler Category: Amsterdam, Vacations Comments Off

I guess you all know that the great planned city of Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most famous cities because of is alternative lifestyle and relaxed attitudes to drugs and sex. However, there is much more to Amsterdam other than sex and drugs. The city is in fact the center of some of the great museums of Netherlands, and with a quarter of the city’s territory where canals, waterways and lakes can be found, it’s no wonder that Amsterdam is now known throughout the world as the “Venice of the North”.

Aside from drugs, sex, museums, canals, lakes and waterways, the great city of Amsterdam is also peppered with restaurants and hostels. You may probably find neon lights and boards with the mark “hostels” or “pizzas” in many of the city’s streets. Speaking of hostels, it is interesting to know that most of the Amsterdam hostels provide the best accommodation and service available, the reason that many tourists from across the globe return to visit Amsterdam.

Find a list of Amsterdam Hostels here.

Finding an Apartment in Amsterdam

July 09, 2006 By: Vacation Traveler Category: Amsterdam Comments Off

Amsterdam as we all know is the capital city of Netherlands. It is also the country’s largest city and the most visited, with more than 3.5 million foreign visitors who prefer to stay in the city every year. Well, with all the great things that Amsterdam has to offer, it’s no wonder that many people from across the globe visit the place for different purposes. It is in fact where the past, the present and the future meet.

In the city of Amsterdam, there are a lot of things to enjoy, such as the cozy environment, great dining, a memorable night out, and of course, comfortable accommodation. Many Amsterdam apartments are out there to give you the comfort and fun you want most. And, if you are now thinking for escaping to Amsterdam for just a few days, then it makes sense to base yourself at an Amsterdam apartment right in the heart of this exciting and bustling city.
Read entire Amsterdam Apartment Article here.