Although our focus is on short breaks, it is nice to consider more substantial trips, such as an overseas holiday. If you're into animals and wildlife, one of the best continents to visit is Africa. With their exciting native animals such as elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs to name a few, they really do make for an interesting adventure.

To make the most of your holiday to Africa, you need to join a tour group. Organised tour packages are the best way to ensure you see the African safari at its most action-packed. African safari tours offer a variety of activities and you can move from camp to camp. If you're considering an African holiday and want to get up close and personal with the animals, check out My African Safari.

When planning an interstate trip where you will be travelling via plane, one of the most important questions is how do I get to the airport. Is it better to leave the car at home and take a taxi or should you drive to the airport and organise airport parking there. There are pros and cons for both choices.

Leaving the car at home can be a risky thing if you do not have a lock up garage. Most people have to park their car in a driveway, or even the street which can make the car susceptible to break-ins or general damage. Many houses located in the inner cities do not have driveways and their streets have parking restrictions. So if you're going away for any length of time, it means leaving your car at home might be impossible. Furthermore, organising the taxi and rushing around can be quite a headache.

Because if this, it might be better to simply drive to the airport and leave your car securely there. If you're leaving from Victoria and heading interstate, then airport parking melbourne with Commercial Drive will ensure your car is looked after safely and securely. They will shuttle you to and from the airport free of charge, and you can enjoy your holiday without worrying about your vehicle. You can also get it tuned up or detailed, so when you return from that short break your car will be like new!

We all know the saying "home is where the heart is". But a lot less has been said about the value of the holiday house. In this busy hectic world, we are geting less time to ourselves, and less time to relax. This means making the most of your break from work is all the more important.

If you are lucky enough to own a holiday house, then making sure it is an ideal 'home away from home' is a necessity. Being in an environment that you're comfortable in is half the task in helping you relax.

Furthermore, if you own a holiday house and want to use it as a rental income, then having it of a high standard will help your chances of finding occupants, and increase the likelihood that they will return in future years.

Here are some renovation tips to help you spruce up your holiday house.

Insulating your holiday house
This is a tip that will help you save big on electrity. Most people don't realise that insulation requires some maintenance to keep its effectiveness of keeping us cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold weather. Insulation is a very effective energy saving strategy which can be used together with indoor plants to help maintain proper oxygen and moister levels.

Reuse Plastic
Throwing out plastic is very bad for the environment, but on the flip side, re-using plastic around your holiday house is both healthy and can jazz up the place! Plastic can be used in the creation of rugs, mats and other home decorations and as well as being cost effective your your renovations, also contributes to the local waste management.

Install High Quality Kitchen Cabinets
A holiday house should look attractive and one of the most highly used rooms in such a house is the kitchen. Therefore the appearance of the kitchen is of utmost importance. Selecting high quality kitchen cabinets will look pleasing to the eye and provide much needed strength and durability, especially if the tenants are a family with kids. The cabinets should have good quality hinges, drawer runners and fittings to ensure they last.

Put In A Skylight
Skylights are a great way to bring natural light and fresh air into a room. You can have them opened and ventilated or choose to install one that is fixed and always closed. Using solar heat control glazing instead of plastic glazing conserves more energy.

Clean Your Carpets
This may sound simple, but having clean carpets is very important for a holiday house. People go on holiday to relax and escape from reality so the place they are staying in should be clean and attractive. Employing a carpet cleaning Melbourne business will ensure your carpets are in top shape, and reduce any chance of bacteria and odours building up in the carpet fibres. This should be done once a year for your holiday house to ensure the carpets stay in the best possible condition.

Research Your Contractors
When having renovations done to your holiday house that require the work of professional contractors, it is important to choose them not on price and experience alone. All contractors have references and you are well within your realm to contact these people and ask questions about the service they received. If the previous customers were happy with the work done on their house, they will be only too happy to tell you about it. Furthermore if a building expert did a shoddy job, the past client will be passionate about letting you know that too!

Focus On Where The Water Is
One of the best ways to maximise the valuation of your holiday house is to spend your money "where the water is". This means putting a lot of effort into the kitchen and bathrooms. Getting a good carpenter to install fine crown molding can really make the house look nicer too, increasing its resale value. If you have a beach front holiday house, needless to say you are surrounded by water. But a number of holiday houses near the beach still have a swimming pool. This can be wasteful. You may want to use the space in your garden for other things, giving the holiday makers more room to relax around the place. Hiring a remove pool service can fill in your existing swimming pool and convert it into a beautiful garden, lawn or paved area. What's more, Reverse Pools can install an underground water storage tank to allow the independent watering of your garden.

Victoria: De Bortoli, Yarra Valley

This is a family-run winery which focuses on good food, good wine and good times with family and friends. Steve Webber, the 2007 Wine Magazine's 'winemaker of the year' works at De Bortoli, and produces his famous chardonnay, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc and caberner sauvignon. The winery features an Italian resaurant and a playground keeps the younger ones happy all day long.

New South Wales: Lerida Estate, Canberra

This winery has a very rustic feel with cement brick foundations with corrugated tin, and a fireside cafe to relax in. The courtyard terrace has magnificent views of the Lake George valley and their speciality is the shiraz viognier. Delicious foods are also on offer including homemade soups, scones, cakes and quiches.

Queensland: Sirromet, Mt Cotton

Located on the outskirts of Brisbane, this winery has amazing views over the islands in the bay. They regularly feature live jazz and the bluestone restaurant on site is well known for its seafood.

South Australia: Coriole, McLaren Vale

Set around an 1860s farmhouse, this oldstyle winery is based on an Italian region and its sangiovese is among the country's best. The views are breathless, and the olives and cheeses are ideal for a picnic platter under the mulberrry trees.

Western Australia: Vasse Felix, Margaret River

Well known for their classy food, Vasse Felix also combines this with amazing wines including their chardonnay, carbernet merlot and shiraz. The winery also features a performing arts facility and gallery to give you a bit more culture...if you need it!