Travel Ideas

Why You Never Have To Pay Retail Prices For Anything - Ever Again

by: Tukshad Engineer

I step into my local mall, and into a leading top brand clothes store. I see a jumper I like and while feeling the soft material casually lift up the price tag - and I almost feint with disbelief. How much??? That’s more than I make in 2 days! I quickly stop caressing the fabric and head toward Big Als Unbranded Clothes Discount Centre for a sweater within my budget range (which unfortunately will no doubt look as if it were knitted by my 5 year old Niece.)
Sounds familiar? Well it really need not be this way. It actually amazes me how many people do not use wholesalers and government auctions to save money on just about anything they could ever wish to purchase. It’s possible to get regular discounts of 50% and more on top brand items just by knowing WHERE to shop.
Let us begin by looking at Government Auctions. While this article will focus on the USA and UK it’s worth noting that government auctions are held in many other countries too. A government auction is held to auction off various items (often at rock bottom prices) that the government has legal ownership of. The type of items auctioned by various government agencies include vehicles, electronics, real estate, computers, jewellery and a lot more.
In the UK, the types of government agencies that will offer up bargain goods and properties include the police and C&E - there are also private liquidation’s due to corporate bankruptcies. Many hundreds of auctions are held yearly and there are scores of bargains to be had in most of them. It’s not unusual to pickup a brand new widescreen TV at ?30 or top spec PCs and laptops from a mere ?200. It’s possible to learn more here:
http://www.global-ebooks.com/UKGovAuctions.htm
In the USA there are also similar bargains to be had, and the government agencies often auction off cheap land and properties in addition to the usual range of electronics, vehicles and household goods. Just some of the bargains in recent times include assorted jewellery $600 in value being sold for just $20 and an actual house being sold at 50% below its market value. More information on government auctions in the USA is available here:
http://www.global-ebooks.com/US_GOVERNMENT_AUCTIONS.htm
So are there any catches? Surely not anyone can just turn up and help themselves to all the bargains that they can carry home? Well actually, that’s just the way it is. Anyone can attend, you just need to know where and these auctions take place.
Not a lot of people realise it, but it’s also possible to pick up massive wholesale bargains, just by ordering goods from a good wholesaler. There is a lot of apprehension with a lot of people when it comes to buying from wholesalers - many people are afraid that they will get turned away, that wholesalers will only sell to huge retail stores with many thousands of dollars to spend. While some wholesalers do have minimum orders, many do not at all and will gladly accept orders from you and me. You can check out some really good wholesalers here:
UK http://www.global-ebooks.com/UKWHOLESALEPAGES.htm
USA http://www.global-ebooks.com/US_WHOLESALE_PAGES.htm
So there you have it - a way to save a lot of money on just about anything that you want to buy. The best thing is that you can just as easily use this information to actually make money. How? eBay is the worlds biggest auction site by far, enjoying billions of page impressions per month (and this number is growing!). People will buy and sell almost anything on eBay, and some sellers have actually made selling on eBay their full time jobs. Many of them use the government and wholesale sources to buy stock cheap before reselling on eBay at good profit margins.
Whether you’re looking to save money or make money on top brand goods, wholesalers and government auctions are the way forward. Find out a list of auctions and wholesalers that you can visit and then just DO IT! You may well be pleasantly surprised with what you come home with.

About The Author

To discover hundreds of more top money saving ideas along with the best wholesalers, government auctions & discount sites visit: http://www.my-online-powerpack.com. To subscribe to my newsletter, packed with money saving suggestions & the biggest internet discounts send me a mail - mailto:tukshad@global-ebooks.com.

tukshad@global-ebooks.com

The Witches’ Market

by: Thomas Carroll

“Son para dinero y trabajo,” the plump little witch raises the talismans to eye level. “Con estos tu tendras buena suerte.”
Magic talismans for money and jobs? Do they work? Of course not, but I need all the luck I can get, so I purchase the talismans for five Bolivianos. Darn cheap if they’ll do as claimed. Depositing the new toys in my leather shoulder bag I continue down the street, with my wife teasing me to the tune of “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” She says that I have the hat, jacket and bag similar to Indiana Jones’, but lack the bullwhip and gun. I left those in the States. The cobbled street of Calle Linares hosts a crowded line of unusual stores collectively known as El Mercado de las Brujas, The Witches’ Market, located in downtown La Paz, and it sums up Bolivia’s strangeness quite well. Bolivia is where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and revolutionary Che Guevara all met their fate. This is where the British ambassador to Bolivia was strapped naked to a donkey, paraded around the capital, and forced to eat a huge quantity of chocolate after declining the local drink ‘chicha.’ This is where the original Garden of Eden is located (or so the locals colorfully exclaim). This is where the Salt Palace sits, a hotel made entirely of, well — salt. And this is where a young girl in Aymara dress, sitting amidst an array of several curiosities, offers my wife and I a dried llama foetus to protect our house against evil spirits. I nod my approvement, Veronica makes a face and shakes her head.
“Por favor entren,” with a slight bow the girl opens her hands to the store’s entrance. “Hay muchas mas cosas adentro.”
The untidy place looks like something out of a horror movie. Mounted animal heads glare at me with unseeing eyes, feathers and potions adorn the tables, herbs spill from their dirty bags onto the wooden floor as a dog sniffs the powerful smells. I examine the items in no particular order as the girl offers them. For luck with a new business enterprise I can buy a llama foetus burnt on a plate of sweets and herbs — too big to pack. The love amulet is to get married — don’t need that one. An amulet of a naked couple embracing to improve the sex life — hhhmmmmm. Dried frogs for more money, armadillos to prevent thieves from entering the house, love potions, magic charms, animal skins, medicines and remedies used in Aymara traditions are all for sale — what should I choose?
I notice a large collection of different colored candles. Intent upon making several sales the girl provides me with an explanation of their powers. They are made of animal wax and when burned release their magical properties. The blue candle is for good luck with work, yellow - health, green - money, purple - happiness, black wards off evil spirits, only to be used in a cemetary covered by night, white - protection… With reverence I pull the black candle off its shelf . “Look at this Vero! This is what we need.” “Hey Indiana,” she looks up from the naked couple amulet. “I don’t think so.”
Where did I leave my bullwhip?
If the black candle is going to cause problems a few talismans will have to do. I load up ten more in my shoulder bag, making sure that I include the toad talisman for good luck with money, and the deity talisman for buena suerte with jobs.
But do they actually work? Well, you’re reading this article.

SIDEBAR

Name: El Mercado de las Brujas/Mercado de Hechiceria (Witches’ Market)

Street Location: Calle Linares, between Calle Sagarnaga and Santa Cruz

City: La Paz

Country: Bolivia

The Witches’ Market is only a couple of blocks from Plaza San Fransisco, behind the Iglesia San Fransisco, and near the Museo de la Coca. From the centre of La Paz, Plaza Murillo, a taxi ride to the market will cost about 8 - 10 Bolivianos for one or two people, and about four more Bolivianos for each additional person. A vast array of unique and highly unusual items are for sale at the Market, many of which are used in Aymara traditions and to honor the earth goddess Patchamama. Bargain with the vendors and shop around to purchase merchandise at a lesser price.

About The Author

Thomas Carroll shows you how to get paid to travel the world with travel and adventure jobs, how to travel on $25 a day, and how to travel for free. Subscribe to his free newsletter at: http://www.lonewolfadventure.com

This article may be freely published and distributed as long as the resource box is included at the end and nothing is changed. Copyright 2002 Thomas Carroll.

lonewolfadventure@excite.com

by: James Klee

WWW.roadjunky.com gives you all the expert tips and advice that you need to travel around the world on almost no money at all.
I recently stumbled upon the interactive satellite-photo maps on Google Earth and came to the conclusion that the days of original discovery are long, long dead. Intrepid souls, Captain Cook and Richard Burton, fearlessly left their own cultures to make contact with utterly different ones for the first time. Although you won’t be making first contact anymore, you can still find yourself face-to-face with a crowd of curious people in a strange land asking you why your own culture does inconceivable things like sunbathe and, if you are in France, shower daily. Do you fancy being an adventurer, gathering stories and fighting off exotic men and women who find you irresistible? Roadjunky.com tells you how.
If you ask a bunch of people what they would do with the money if they won the lottery many would say, travel around the world. Why wait? Buy airfare and hit the road now, with or without money. Need somewhere to stay? Sleep in a cemetary for free. Hungry? Play a guitar for tips or get your food from a dumpster. Need to get somewhere? Stick out a thumb and get a lift. Okay, I admit this all might be a little too much for most people. No worries - Roadjunky.com tells you how to get around, find cheap places to stay, delicious cheap market food and find work abroad to support longer journies.

About The Author

Jim Klee is editor of Roadjunky.com and has traveled dozens of countries living on next to nothing other than the kindness of strangers. He gives a lot to charity.
jim_klee@yahoo.com

by: Ieuan Dolby

A failed or neglected city springs to mind when walking around Macau during the day time. Around the outskirts of the Islands the doors of modern buildings never seem to open. Hotel restaurants tend to sole customers with reluctance: public gardens remain empty except for the lone tramp rooting around in the bins, roads remain unsullied with tyre tracks and the silence is loud all around. Inside and up the hill cracked and uneven pathways run along to meet the next, weeds compliment the falling cement on graying walls. Unpainted fences balance precariously around crazy paved basketball pitches whilst graffiti gives color to an otherwise drab setting.
The Portuguese gave the place some amazing buildings when they ruled and controlled, in fact Macau was the first European Settlement in the Far East. The Portuguese beat the Dutch and the British by a hairs breadth with their establishment of this well positioned and soon to be rich trading post. Hong Kong, Singapore and .Malacca followed many years later as the British, Dutch and other nations established a presence in Far East Asia but at the beginning Macau ruled the roost. The Dutch tried many times to get hold of the Islands as did the Spanish and the British once or twice. A prize jewel had Macau become and Portugal managed to retain control throughout, only really giving it up in 1999 when they handed it back to mainland China.
China now rules Macau under what has become known as a SAR. This stands for a Special Administration Region and basically comes under the Mainland Chinese Policy of ?one rule, two systems?. A status-quo in which Macau governs itself for the most part, and it makes and lives under its own laws, but it belongs to China however it is run or seen to be run.
Today it is a little paradise steeped in history and culture. Large imposing, century old structures now vie for space amongst the tattered remnants of shoddily built 20 century brick houses and classily built modern glass offices that reach to the sky. Massive and squat stone offices of a colonial era sit regally and steadfastly among haphazard and leaning towers of steel girders: gray stone snubs orange brick and the slate roofs still keep out the water were the tin cladding has long since failed.
New roads lead around the coast in smooth patterns, over long and impressive bridges they flow before swooping gracefully in arcs around flashing advertisements and over reclaimed land that oozes intent. Newly built high speed, two-lane, motorways pass futuristic glass structures and cloud hitting spirals, they zoom over decorated spanned bridges that are a feat to modern engineering, they whiz past glittering hotels that invite money to be spent and all before lowering themselves in stature to greet and pass over to times gone by.
Working inwards and upwards modern tarmac meets old cobbles as the flat ground turns into the steep climb. Little lanes hobble through culture that crowds-in upon itself. Houses of times past squash and bulge against each other and hang precariously over paths that defy the eyes to follow. Hanging baskets swing delicately from balconies that threaten to pull down the houses that they belong to, whilst open windows give glimpses to the crowded life beyond.
The modern steels and glass facades of hotels and office blocks, the colonial stone museums and Portuguese Officialdom of yesteryear that grace the flatlands around the coast are left behind when walking inland. The hilly centers of the Islands house the main population: looking at houses from many years ago the place strikes chords of a fishing village in Portugal when looking one way and China Town the next. These small houses built along old cobbled streets crowd in upon each other and bring life and activity all around.
But all is not as it seems. From the heat of the day, when cool drinks and light foods go together with a swimming pool and air conditioning, the evening brings change. From the dull and fading brick work and overgrown flowerbeds, from the graffiti and flaking paint on shop walls springs lights of dazzling proportions. From a forgotten City lying to waste in its own decay grows a glittering display of neon power, one that transforms the place and everything within. As the sun sets on the horizon people come out to play, tourists put aside their bathing towels and no longer think of cold air, workers get ready for the night ahead and hotel lobbies transform from desolate halls to crowded and bustling bee hives filled with action and intent.
Public Gardens become noisy meeting points for those going out on the town, overloaded buses groan along roads that are a mass of spinning wheels and alert taxi drivers fight for the needy customers with skill and adeptness. Policemen wipe the sleep from their eyes and come out of their cubby holes, ready and watchful for the evening ahead. Bars stock up with large muscled men who hang around the doorways with folded arms silently saying, ?make trouble and you will have me to deal with?. Hopeful jewelers open their doors and invitingly offer tourists the once in a lifetime chance to buy gold at the cheapest prices in Asia, the Indian on the corner suggests that he can measure and make a suit in a day and the electronics stores beckon where they had not during the day.
But what is really going on? Aside from the tourist scene, apart from the night life and the activity that springs up after the sun hides away, what is really going on. What makes Macau what is today and why do most people prefer to sleep during the day, workers and tourists alike and what changes the city from a neglected and desolate place under the sun to a fun filled bundle of activity in the night?
Gambling.
It is all about Gambling. The Macau government makes seventy percent of its revenue from Gambling. Most Hotels are built with gambling in mind and thus they boast many a casino and gambling dens on its premises. Limousines carry the rich gambler to his seat for the evening, the one who has not yet sniffed defeat. Hotels lay on special packages for those with money to loose and girls lie in wait to help spend money that prospectors may have had thoughts of keeping. Bars keep drinks flowing to loosen punters stiff fingers, fast food flows to produce contentment and security in the high rollers and the large muscled men act positively when throwing out the losers.
Banks close down and turn over their business to rows upon rows of fast acting machines that spout out money like it is going out of fashion. Urgent and edgy punters queue at these machines, itching to get into the action, worried that they have no money left. Security guards watch metal detectors closely and search handbags with vigor, hidden cameras turn circles as unaware gamblers throw their money on luck and doormen?s arms ache as they ceaselessly open doors for the excited newcomers and help the defeated out. Receptionists check-in new arrivals by the hundreds as tours from Mainland China pour off trains like ants from a mole hill. Airport-staff sweat freely, as planes land in quick succession to throw out more determined miners from Taiwan, the Philippines, from Singapore and other corners of the world.
Newly arrived punters race against time to grab their bags, get through immigration and to catch a cab for their hotel and the casinos next door, above or beneath. Time is precious and time is money ? money that will be spent despite dreams that suggest otherwise.
Not all arrivals and visitors to Macau are gamblers on a mission. Some visitors are genuine tourists who wonder why the city is so bare and drab during the day, those that have no idea as to the other face of Macau. And from Taiwan and other expensive Asian economies comes another bunch of visitors, the group or package tour and should one see the tour as it engorges itself from the plane, one will notice that it is all men. These men are on a mission, they will also be all over the age of fifty and the average age will probably be about seventy. This is a specially arranged tour that may for example start off from Taiwan and fly to Macau for a three day visit. And it is special in that it is for men only, that they are going to Macau to get a woman, to have three days of sex and romp and then to climb back onto their plane alone and back to Taiwan: maybe to repeat the process in a years time, if they can afford it or their wives don?t find out. Yes, another side of Macau; the availability of prostitutes who service the Taiwanese or overseas visitor or who relieve punters and gamblers of any change that they may still have jangling in their pockets after the gambling halls have shut for the night.
Prostitutes hang around doorways and exits from casinos, they balance precariously on high heels that defy gravity and they are covered in layers of make-up that gives competition to a skilled plasterer. Skimpy skirts ride high on slim legs and breasts push eagerly against tight tops that are all but not present. Little purses swing invitingly from hands that wander fleetingly as males pass by, smiles are issued freely to those that look and glares are given as those looked walk on.
Innuendos are made and promises of a new life are given as punters exit casinos for new ground or with nearly empty pockets. New entrants are given the choice of female company as they prepare to spend and while away the night and whatever one can think of it is there. Slim girls with long legs, short girls with big busts, tall girls with big busts and short girls with long legs are all around leaning against doorways and offering hope and suggestion in husky voices. Slim waists peek out as hips thrust invitingly, nipples protrude as tongues are run along lips and eyes smile to all who see. Men dressed as woman, large woman with massive breasts and large men with even bigger breasts stand in the background for those inclined and little girls with spirit and enjoyment run around touching bottoms and kissing cheeks like they are in love.
A neglected city it may be during day light hours, but prostitutes, bouncers, gamblers, airport staff, taxi-drivers, croupiers, fast food hall owners, barkeepers, bus drivers, doormen, receptionists, bankers, service engineers, thieves and security guards need to sleep during the day so that when the sunsets they will be ready for a new night of action.
And the only daylight customers are the tourists who never knew the other face of Macau and the cleaners who must make the city ready for the next plane load of enthusiastic passengers and the next train full of excited amateurs with their pockets full of cash and dreams of a rich and enjoyable future ahead of them.

About The Author

Ieuan Dolby, from Scotland is an Engineering Officer in the Merchant Navy. He has been travelling the world for 15yrs on an endless tour of cultural diversification. Currently based in Singapore he writes various articles for magazines and newspapers and is working on a marine glossary.

ieuandolby@lycos.com

Top Ten Secrets to Saving Big Money in the Airline Flights

by: Alex Fir

Do you know that some people travel around the country and abroad, for both business and pleasure, and save bundles of money in the process?
They do that by using little known ways of really taking advantage of the most popular form of transportation - airline flights.
They don’t rely on the ever-famous ?airfare price-wars?. They don’t rely on their travel agents to save money while flying.
Certainly, you should not dismiss these two methods. The price-wars can work to your advantage. But depending on them too much is a big mistake.
1. Call the airlines.
Call the airlines between midnight and 1 a.m. Monday through Friday to get cheaper tickets.
Most people never realize that at midnight, airline agents revise and load new fares into their computers. The best fares are just after they have done the updating!
2. Check into other airports other than the main one you use.
Many major cities have two airports. Check into surrounding towns and cities so you can compare airfares. You may save hundreds of dollars on your flights.
3. The early bird catches the plane.
The earlier you book your flight the more you save. Most special fares have restrictions of 7 to 30 day advance purchase. Usually non-refundable but they can offer deep discounts.
On the other hand, there are ?last minute? deals too. Visit www.smartliving.com to get emails for last minute deals.
4. Get out of town on Wednesday.
Mid-week travel is usually less expensive. If you leave on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and stay over a Saturday night, you can garner terrific savings compared to Friday through Monday when most people fly.
Start taking your vacations Wednesday-to-Wednesday or Tuesday-to-Tuesday. You?ll save a lot by choosing your departure and arrival dates this way!
5. Buying a one way or split ticket.
Let?s say you travel from Boston to Dallas. It may be cheaper to get two separate tickets. You could buy one ticket from Boston to Nashville and one from Nashville to Dallas.
It all depends on the connecting cities and your airlines hubs. Just tell your agent you are willing to travel out of other airports and connect using regional airports to save money.
6. Open wide.
You should look into what is called an ?Open-Jaw? ticket. These are used when a traveler is arriving and departing from different cities.
One ticket is purchased to cover both cities. Check with your travel agent or airline representative to see if this trick is available instead of two one-way tickets. Compare the price of each.
7. An excellent online service www.sidestep.com
You enter destinations and dates and SideStep quickly searches a couple of dozen affiliated regional and international airlines to find the best rates.
8. ?Code share?.
Ask your agent if this flight is a ?code-share? flight. That means the same flight is offered by two different airlines. Just copy down the name of the other airline and check into what they are charging.
Only one of the airlines is actually operating the flight. The actual operator always offers this flight for less, so book with them.
9. Sign up for the airline newsletters.
From weekend getaways to international flight packages the newsletter saves you money on travel and doesn?t require that you constantly visit the airline website for the latest offering.
10. The airlines often slash their fares during sluggish travel times.
Scan your travel sections in the newspapers and talk to your agent about these low fares.

About The Author

Is Your Travel Experience Limited by Your Credit Card? Alex Fir is providing 250+ pages of insider tips and tricks that teach you how to travel cheap and sometimes free. Click Here => http://www.webpillar.com/cheaptravel
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by: Elvis Preston King

Whoops someone already has this title his name is William Jefferson Clinton, Bill Clinton. Also a man to be admired! Obviously a man driven by women, although misguided.
1000 One Night Stands!
My life is a candid look at the life of Elvis Preston King the man who has more girlfriends than any man on the planet.
Well it?s true I always wanted to be a Rock Star and the truth is I am one hell of a drummer. Why did I want to be a rock star, I love rock and I love girls! Money for nothing and chicks for free! That?s why! I just didn?t follow through. I never even put a band together. How sad? I went into business and made a few million dollars in a couple of years and retired at a young age. I just don?t like working all the time. What? Are the Billionaires going to take it with them? They think so. I work very hard and then kick back. I like the Margaritaville lifestyle, beaches and girls.
Why do you want to know about my life anyway? If you are a man who does not love women don?t read another word.
I also I have a talent for acting and I wanted to be a movie star. Why? To pick up girls, of course. However, after I saw that Charlie Sheen had to pay prostitutes and I realized that I get more girls than any actor living or dead. I decided for what do I want to be an actor!
Am I immature, insecure and do I have low self-esteem? Probably. This low esteem helped me make my money. I had to show the world I was great. I got paid 15,000 dollars a day as a sales trainer. I hate sales. But I was great at it. What I like is girls, and nothing more. You would think I would grow up. I am 55 years old already.
Unlike the other gurus of girls who discovered their talent late in life I have always had girls, girls, girls! I remember when I was 15 I went to a future farmers event out of town and I came back holding hands with a little Filipino doll with long black hair. My classmates still talk about me today. Mind you I was a poor boy from the other side of the tracks but with the charm and looks of Leonardo DiCaprio.
When I was 18 I use to cruise around in my old 55 Chevy convertible picking up girls form city to city and town to town. You remember Ricky Nelson?s ?I am a traveling Man? I forgot to plate my 55 Chevy and the police through me in jail for illegal plates. I had 15 of my teenage girlfriends send me money to bail the handsome poor boy out of jail!
Luckily I lived in the hippy era. I went to San Francisco and tasted California free love. Oh the life. We had Jimmy Hendrix and we still had Elvis too. Those were the times.
I love cars so when I made my fast Millions I bought a Rolls Royce stretch limo and a Ferrari and a big Mercedes and several other exotic cars. I rented an airline hanger to park them all because I lived in a Penthouse on the beach in a place they called the Millionaire Mile. Proceeded to pick up the girls, but low and behold I began to age and I noticed that 18 year old girls weren?t paying any attention to me any more. Saddened by my aging face I contemplated surgery, but felt the risk of death was too great. So I went to the library and checked out books on the subject of places where girls love the older man. I parked the limo and the Ferrari in storage and went on a global search to find the girls. I found them. I now have more beautiful girls than any man on the planet.
Unfortunately I made a bad investment that dropped me to my knees financially, but I still have the girls. So now what? Well I can write a book, but that doesn?t turn me on. Bill already did that! I can sell my sales training again, I can put on How to Have 1000 One Night Stands Seminars, The King of Seduction Seminars etc. or I can offer my one on one picking up girls services to a rich man who loves girls. I decided on the latter,
Rumor has it that when Bill Clinton gets well he plans on looking me up. I have several other multi-millionaires and one billionaire trying to decide if they want girls and to hang out with Elvis or if they prefer to keep working and be buried with their money. So far no one has taken me up on my offer 100%.
To me my girls are like Forrest Gump?s box of chocolates. And they taste good!!!
So you ask ?Can you teach me to be a great Guru of women? Please! Please! My answer, ?Probably not. You are born with it or you are not. That?s why I refuse to take these poor fools money in trying to teach them how to pick up girls with a worthless book or worthless seminars, but I am taking some poor girl loving soul under my wing, Look for me and my buddy in the French Riviera floating around on his yacht with a boat load of girls!
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. I also ask that you activate any html links found in the article and in the byline. You may make minor editorial corrections only. A copy would be appreciated at seniorplayboy1@yahoo.com

About The Author

Elvis Preston King was born in Mississippi and grew up in Memphis. Not to be confused with the other great King, Elvis Presley. Elvis has always had an eye for girls since he first saw one as a baby. Elvis is a 55 year old senior who doesn?t want to let go of being 18. He has over 1000 sexy girlfriends 18 to 22 years old. He is now looking for just ONE gentleman sidekick to share in his good fortune. His office is based out of Los Angeles, Ca. You can email him at loverboybachelor@yahoo.com or visit bachelortours.blogspot.com/ and http://www.msnusers.com/BachelorDreamTours

How To Save Money Buying Travel Online And Get The Best Deal

by: Jolana Klobouk

Want to save some money when booking your travel online? Here are some tips to help you do just that. You at home have access to thousands of travel deals with the click of a mouse.
1. Sign up for travel e-newsletters
Many airlines, tour operators, online travel agencies and travel sites have newsletters that they will send you via email; these usually include their latest travel deals.
2. Shop around
Check various travel sites and make sure you are comparing apples to apples, know what is included. That great cruise deal may not include airfare to the port! Also check in with a travel agent to compare prices. They may in fact have a better travel deal for you.
3. Consider all possible discounts
Do you have Air Miles or frequent flyer miles you can cash in? AAA/CAA membership or other affiliations? Ask about child or senior discounts. Do they have family rates or group rates? Don’t be afraid to ask.
4. Make the travel web sites do the work
Some of them will let you specify the dates of travel and vacation you are looking for and will send you an email when the price reaches your limit.
5. Travel in off-season.
Off-season will vary depending on where you are travelling so do your research and find out when that is. Off-season includes winter for Europe, summer and fall for the Caribbean, and when the kids are in school for theme parks like Disney and so on.
6. Traveling during the week can save you money
Saturday and flights during the week are less crowded and therfore more likely to have last minute discounting. Some companies charge a bit less for vacation package that leave mid-week. Many business hotels may also charge less on weekends.
7. Read your newspaper?s travel section
The Saturday travel sections in most newspapers are still a good source for travel news, tips and last minute travel deals, departing from your city. Read them religiously.
8. Do some negotiating of your own.
Just ask for a deal or a better price! This will usually work if you are dealing with a hotel or car rental company directly. It may also work with some travel agents.
9. Book last minute
When looking for a last minute travel deal, start shopping around about 6 weeks prior to your departure to get a good idea for prices and availability. Narrow down where you want to go and compare some prices. About 3 weeks prior to departure is probably your best time to book. When you notice packages begin to sell out, you want to book before you miss out on that travel deal. The prices only go so low and sometimes sell out before they really drop in price.
10. Book early
Some of the best deals may be had booking early. Most tour operators and cruise companies offer discounts for early booking. If there is a specific date you want to travel and or you have a specific resort or destination in mind, you are better off to book early and secure your vacation than to risk waiting for a last minute travel deal that may or may not happen.
Keep in mind the cheaper is not always better. If you save a few hundred dollars by adding lots of stops to your flight or staying in a hotel you are not happy with, it won’t be worth it. Save some money but don’t compromise too much with what you really want and need.

About The Author

Jolana Klobouk is the webmaster of http://www.best-family-beach-vacations.com. A parent and former travel agent, she has travelled extensively for work and vacations with her family.

by: Elvis King

A carribean paradise or a haven for corruption.
White sandy shore lines and beautiful reasonably priced all-inclusive beach resorts.The Dominican Republic can offer you the best vacation of your life.
If you plan to get outside of your hotel room a good tour guide can be worth the money.
For a retirement destination it can be risky because the economy is very unstable and the dollars yo yo has left American products at about 10 times the their prices in the United States.When the dollar started going up from about 19 to 1 to 57 to 1 you could see the merchants in the stores and supermarkets raising there prices every five minutes. But when the dollar dropped from 57 back to 27 to 1 the stores owners didn?t notice and just sat in there offices and forgot to lower the prices. The Dominican people are close to starving to death because of the prices of food in the stores. Which also equates to extremely high prices for a person vacationing in dollars or living in dollars in the Dominican Republic. The tourist can get around the gastly prices by simply staying in an all-inclusive resourt. I had a stomach ache after eating my favorite peanut butter and fried banana sandwhich and went to buy a bottle of Pepto Bismol that cost $1.98 back home and I had to pay $15 dollars. That gives you an idea of how prices are set.
For a bachelor looking for a girlfriend or wife, there is no place better. The Dominican Republic has many available beautiful women. And I don?t say beautiful lightly. The Dominican Republic holds the crown for Miss Universe. Amelia Vega was crowned Miss Universe in 2003. To avoid the wrong girl again the bachelor looking for that special girl needs that special tour guide who is also a professional matchmaker. These beautiful girls are readily available but you have to know how and where to look for them. Again you have to have the right professional guide for the job. See the resource box listed below.
Getting around . You will need the military version of the Humvee. I couldn?t imagine any worse roads in the world. You can go into the most exquisite areas in the Dominican Republic where their wealthy live and you will find mud roads with deep holes in the roads. The wealthy have no respect for their communities. Trash , Dominicans aren?t happy if they don?t have some trash in the street. Even in the most exclusive areas.
The people. The nicest people in the world. They are kind, friendly and beautiful people. They seem to love Americans.They have an American raised and educated President. He was born in the Dominican Republic but raised and educated in New York.
Safety, In my opinion one of the safest countries on earth. Less violence against their own people and tourists than most places you might want to vacation or retire.
Theft issues. They will steal your shirt off your back if your not looking. However, very little armed robbery. Again it?s a very safe country if you use common sense as to where you go.
Bank safety. The government seems to be more honorable than most countries. When A local banker stole 2.5 billion dollars from a local bank the government stood behind the bank and paid back the money, but in pesos. You wouldn?t get your money back if a U.S or Western Country banker stole that much money.
Corruption. The banker stole 2.5 billion and walked away as free as a bird. He is flying around in his helicopters and cruising in one of his private yahts in the French Riviera right now. While the poor people can?t even buy a green banana to eat. Why? That?s the Dominican system. If your going to steal? steal big. You can walk away as free as a bird. Steal a Papaya and you could be gunned down in the street. Both events actually happened in the Dominican Republic. Moral of the story. Steal 2.5 billion dallars and you walk. Steal a papaya and you can be shot dead. You can buy your way out of anything in the Dominican Republic with 2.5 billion dollars. But if you don?t have 100 pesos for the papaya you could be in trouble.
Not to worry, the International Monitary Fund is repacing all of the money, no questions asked. They swept the whole scandel under the rug and have committed to return all the stolen money. You decide if the IMF is promoting corruption. The American Embassy screamed about the scandel. But the IMF is standing behind there decision to replace the stolen money and they are not demanding that the banker be held accountable for the crime.
But lets look at the over all picture. Would I recommend the Dominican Republic for retirement or a vacation . You bet your life I would. I love it. I am a 56 year old bachelor and the young women think I am Elvis Presley come back to life. Admittedly I have a stong resemblence and my name is Elvis and I was born in Mississippi and I later lived in Menphis. However, if you bachelors don?t know how and where to look for the nice girls you can and will go home empty handed without your Miss Universe. I couldn?t possibly pick one wife out of all these beautiful women so I decicided to keep just keep them all for myself. But one day my vacation will come to an end and I will take my Miss Universe bride home to live in Graceland. I?m coming home. The King. Elvis King. Since I can?t write songs any more I decided to write articles. Elvis.
Elvis King specializes in finding that special dream girl or girls for the lonely, older man. His one on one Bachelor Dream Tours are becoming so popular that soon only the wealthiest will be able to go on the Bachelor Dream Tour do to the waiting list and popular demand. Email him at loverboybachelor@yahoo.com or join the group at http://www.msnusers.com/BachelorDreamTours.
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at loverboybachelor@yahoo.com

About The Author

Elvis King was born in Mississippi and grew up in Menphis, Tennesse. He is a retired actor and singer. Not to be confused with the other Elvis. Elvis Presley.
loverboybachelor@yahoo.com

Afraid to Leave the House? Find a House Sitter!

by: Ian L White

It’s true, people need to escape the burdens of daily life for a while–from things like mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, painting, gardening, remodeling, home repairs, pet care, checking the mail, and paying their bills. Even a break from nosy neighbors is reason enough to get away for a while.
But weeds don’t pull themselves. Bills don’t pay themselves. Most pets won’t feed themselves. Yet, the grass keeps growing beneath their feet. Ironically, people become tied to their homes by the same responsibilities that they are trying to escape. And, since the families that play together, stay together; people are not likely to leave a sibling or spouse at home to keep up on these tasks. It’s a really discouraging circle.
For homeowners, the solution seems clear: find somebody to stay at their house, and take care of everything while they’re gone. The challenge, however, is finding somebody they can trust. Friends? Perhaps but most people feel uncomfortable asking their friends to shoulder such a tremendous burden. Relatives? Possibly, but many homeowners don’t like the thought of leaving their homes in the care of their crazy cousin, Eddie. Or worse.
What homeowners need are honest people to occupy their homes. People who desire a change of scenery, for example, or save for homes of their own. People who wish to be closer to their own families; writers seeking peace, quiet, and inspiration. And they definitely need people who understand their specific requirements, and someone they can trust. Enter www.housecarers.com, an online search and screen database for house sitters and homeowners toshare information. The introduction of Housecarers.com allows people to leave their troubles behind. Literally.
At Housecarers.com, a unique search utility allows users to screen thousands of registered house sitters according to age, location, occupation, and just about any other requirements that they select. From short to long term, and from yard to garden, people can find a perfect match, including a house sitter who will manage all lawn and garden needs, pet care (no boarding fees), mail collection, bill payment, utilities, and any other issues that may arise.
And the service is very easy to use. For instance, when a homeowner registers with the system (a free service), they will be notified by e-mail any time a new house sitter matching their criteria signs up with the program. House sitters, in turn, are motivated to register because of the fast and reliable way in which they can find free accommodations in exchange for housesitting.
According to Jim Hale, who used HouseCarers.com to find a house sitter, the system works remarkably well. Says Hale, “I looked on the Internet, found the HouseCarers web site, and registered our information. Within a couple of days, we had many responses — some as far away as New Zealand! We got in touch with a couple in their 50s, and they turned out to be some of the nicest people we’ve ever met! The whole thing worked out very well — they stayed with us a few days before our trip, they did a great job of watching over our house and our pets, and they even emailed us every day to let us know everything was ok! The amazing thing is that we didn’t have to spend a penny to have these great people take care of things!”

About The Author

Ian found himself out of work one day after a long career as an IT professional, he decided that rather than go back to working for someone else, he would go into business for himself on the Web. And his decision has paid off handsomely! Access2000.com.au has grown into a directory site offering matching services to five distinct and profitable niche markets. Housecarers.com is the first and most visited of the matching directories.