Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Vladimir Raitz shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Vladimir Raitz offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Vladimir Raitz at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Vladimir Raitz? Wrong! If the Vladimir Raitz is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Vladimir Raitz then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Vladimir Raitz? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Vladimir Raitz and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Vladimir Raitz wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Vladimir Raitz then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Vladimir Raitz site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Vladimir Raitz, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Vladimir Raitz, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

Vladimir Gavrilovich Raitz (born May 23 1922) is the co-founder of the Horizon Holiday Group, who pioneered the first mass package holidays abroad. His family left the Soviet Union when he was 6, and variously passed through Berlin and Warsaw, before they settled in London. He attended Mill Hill School, London and studied Economics at London School of Economics. After graduating in 1942, he started work as a journalist, first for United Press International and then for Reuters between 1943 and 1949.

Entrepreneur On holiday in Calvi, Haute-Corse on Corsica in 1949, he was asked by a socialite with local connections, Nicholas Steinheid, to encourage British holiday-makers to come the following year. Having calculated he could charter an aircraft and provide an all-in two-week holiday in Corsica for less than £305, he set up Horizon Holidays on 12 October 1949, and initiated the package holiday industry. The name was chosen to reflect the blue horizon that passengers would see from a plane window. With inheritance money he chartered aircraft and made the relevant local connections with the airport at Calvi. However, after considerable delay, it was only in March 1950 that the Department for Transport permitted the flights on the stipulation that they would only be for "students and teachers". A brief advertising campaign in teaching and nursing magazines offered the opportunity for a flight, sleep under canvas, sample local wines and eat a meal containing meat twice a day - this was especially attractive due to the continuing Rationing in the United Kingdom during and after World War II in post-war United Kingdom. The all inclusive price was £32.10s.-, or roughly half the cost of the return flight to Côte d'Azur International Airport, the closest airport served by British European Airways.

First Flight The first charter flight between London Gatwick Airport and Corsica was on 20 May 1950. After arranging to pick up passengers from King's Cross railway station, eleven "teachers" (paying passengers) and 21 "friends" (guests who returned immediately) were taken by C-47 Skytrain. After a refuelling stop in Saint-Exupéry International Airport, the passengers arrived at Calvi St Catherine airport 6 hours later. The holiday makers were taken to the camping grounds of Club Franco-Britannique. Much of the canvas used in the camping were remainders from the Seabee who had constructed the airport in 1943. Although, Raitz did not make his target of 350 paying customers in the first summer, he learnt valuable lessons for the profitable expansion of Horizon Holidays and the package holiday industry.

Mass Tourism started 1950 Corsica 1952 Palma de Mallorca 1953 Lourdes 1954 Costa Brava and Sardinia 1955 Minorca 1956 Porto 1957 Costa Blanca - renamed from Costa Azul 1959 Costa del Sol 1962 Ibiza 1963 Bulgaria 1965 Algarve 1970 Crete

Retirement He left Horizon in 1974 after it was taken over by Clarkson's and became a travel consultant. He was inducted into the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame.

Personal Life Raitz is married, and has 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren.

Vladimir Gavrilovich Raitz (born May 23 1922) is the co-founder of the Horizon Holiday Group, who pioneered the first mass package holidays abroad. His family left the Soviet Union when he was 6, and variously passed through Berlin and Warsaw, before they settled in London. He attended Mill Hill School, London and studied Economics at London School of Economics. After graduating in 1942, he started work as a journalist, first for United Press International and then for Reuters between 1943 and 1949.

Entrepreneur On holiday in Calvi, Haute-Corse on Corsica in 1949, he was asked by a socialite with local connections, Nicholas Steinheid, to encourage British holiday-makers to come the following year. Having calculated he could charter an aircraft and provide an all-in two-week holiday in Corsica for less than £305, he set up Horizon Holidays on 12 October 1949, and initiated the package holiday industry. The name was chosen to reflect the blue horizon that passengers would see from a plane window. With inheritance money he chartered aircraft and made the relevant local connections with the airport at Calvi. However, after considerable delay, it was only in March 1950 that the Department for Transport permitted the flights on the stipulation that they would only be for "students and teachers". A brief advertising campaign in teaching and nursing magazines offered the opportunity for a flight, sleep under canvas, sample local wines and eat a meal containing meat twice a day - this was especially attractive due to the continuing Rationing in the United Kingdom during and after World War II in post-war United Kingdom. The all inclusive price was £32.10s.-, or roughly half the cost of the return flight to Côte d'Azur International Airport, the closest airport served by British European Airways.

First Flight The first charter flight between London Gatwick Airport and Corsica was on 20 May 1950. After arranging to pick up passengers from King's Cross railway station, eleven "teachers" (paying passengers) and 21 "friends" (guests who returned immediately) were taken by C-47 Skytrain. After a refuelling stop in Saint-Exupéry International Airport, the passengers arrived at Calvi St Catherine airport 6 hours later. The holiday makers were taken to the camping grounds of Club Franco-Britannique. Much of the canvas used in the camping were remainders from the Seabee who had constructed the airport in 1943. Although, Raitz did not make his target of 350 paying customers in the first summer, he learnt valuable lessons for the profitable expansion of Horizon Holidays and the package holiday industry.

Mass Tourism started 1950 Corsica 1952 Palma de Mallorca 1953 Lourdes 1954 Costa Brava and Sardinia 1955 Minorca 1956 Porto 1957 Costa Blanca - renamed from Costa Azul 1959 Costa del Sol 1962 Ibiza 1963 Bulgaria 1965 Algarve 1970 Crete

Retirement He left Horizon in 1974 after it was taken over by Clarkson's and became a travel consultant. He was inducted into the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame.

Personal Life Raitz is married, and has 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren.