Thursday, 31 January 2013

Sailing Vacations in the United States

Sailing Vacations in the United States


In choosing a destination for you sailing vacations in the US, always make your safety, comfort, and legalities as the main priorities. For those who don’t have any sailing experience in the US or to any other part of the world, it is best to rent a crewed boat wherein everything will be provided to you. The crew will ensure your safety because they are experienced enough to handle all kinds of cases in the middle of the sea.

A crewed boat also ensures that you have everything that you need—from accommodation, food, and even entertainment—are available. Here, all you have to do is lay your back while enjoying the beauty of the surroundings while listening to the relaxing water as it laps to the side of the boat.

If you want more adventure, opt for a bareboat. A "bareboat" is a boat that you can rent filled with all the things and amenities needed for sailing without the crew. If you go on sailing vacations in the US using bareboat, it means that you have—more or less—experience in sailing.

If you think that your knowledge in sailing is not enough despite your experience, you can enroll in various sailing lessons to enrich the information that you have. During lessons, you will be given first hand information on sailing and hands-on experience on it. It is always best to attend sailing lessons before going on sailing vacations in the US to ensure that you would know what and what not to do especially in cases of emergency.

Packing tips for sailing vacation in the US

Aside from educating yourself about your sailing destination, one of the things that you should consider before going on sailing vacations in the US is what are the things to pack. Bringing the things that you need would ensure that you will not miss out on something that is an integral part of your whole trip.

The following are just some of the things that you need to pack for sailing vacations in the US:

1. Travel documents. Since you'll be going in another territory, you will need documents that will support your identity such as passport and the sailing charter paperwork. Upon booking for sailing vacations in the US, you will be given a confirmation packet. (TIP: Bring photocopies of your travel documents in case of emergency or in cases it will be needed during visit to different islands.

2. Storage. This should always be kept in mind because you need to limit it as much as possible. Bear in mind that hard-sided suitcases are not ideal since they are big and bulky. Opt for durable duffel bags because these can be folded when not in use.

3. What to wear. Depending on the average weather condition of your vacation destination, the number of clothes should also be kept to a minimum. It is ideal to keep a pair of shorts, shirts, walking shoes, sandals, swimsuit, underwear sleepwear, toiletries, and towels. The number will depend on the number of days of your stay.

4. Easy to carry bag. This is vital especially if you sailing vacations in the US involve land tour or travel. This easy to carry bag will hold your basic necessities such as wallet with money, a pair of shades, passport, several guide books, bottled water, a bottle of sunscreen for sun protection, powder case, lip balm and other small items you will be needing outside.

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Online Coupons: Saving You Money on Your Next Summer Vacation

Online Coupons: Saving You Money on Your Next Summer Vacation
By:http://northamericabase.com
While shopping for food and other household products, how often do you use coupons? Grocery store coupons are used by a large number of shoppers. Unfortunately, when it comes to coupons, there are many individuals who feel that grocery items are as far as they go. The reality is that you can find a large number of coupons for just about anything you want, including your next summer vacation.

If you are planning on taking a summer vacation, you are encouraged to search for vacation coupons. These coupons can easily be found online. The type of online coupon that you find will all depend on the vacation destination in question. Many vacation destinations allow internet users to print their own coupons. It is also possible that you could request a free coupon booklet. To have these coupons mailed directly to your door, you will have to call a toll free number or fill out an online request form.

As all other coupons, you may be unable to use multiple coupons at one vacation destination. The value of each coupon is likely to vary. Most vacation destinations will develop their own unique offers. If you are obtaining a coupon for a beach resort, you may find that if you stay a week, you may be eligible to receive an additional night free. Online amusement park coupons often allow one member of your family to get in free with another paying member.

The above mentioned vacation destination coupons are just a few of the many. There are an unlimited number of deals and discounts that could be obtained by using an online coupon. If you are interested in searching for online vacation destination coupons, you have a number of options. If you already know your anticipated vacation destination, finding online coupons should be a fairly easy process.

When searching for online vacation destination coupons, you are encouraged to visit the online websites of hotels, restaurants, resorts, and parks that you intend on visiting. If a particular business offers vacation coupons, these coupons will likely be found on their online website. To find the website of a popular restaurant, resort, hotel, or park near your vacation destination, you can perform a standard internet search.

Searching for and viewing the online websites of businesses and attractions located in or around your vacation destination can be a time consuming process. If you still want to find vacation destination coupons, but you don’t want to spend time searching for them, you can examine online coupon websites. Online coupon websites are websites that offer a wide range of free, printable coupons. Not all online coupon websites carry vacation destination coupons, but it is possible that you may find a number of websites that do.

When searching for vacation destination coupons, you will see that many of the destinations and attractions that offer coupons are well-known and often considered vacation “hotspots.” It is important to remember that not all vacation destinations offer online coupons to travelers. Just because coupons may not exist for the destination of your choice, does not mean that you shouldn’t at least look for them. You may end up being surprised with what you find.

Some of the many theme parks and amusement parks offering online vacation destination coupons include, but are not limited to, Six Flags, Disneyland, Disney World, and Sea World. In addition to amusement parks, many large city zoos offer valuable saving for the whole family. Oftentimes, specialty or nationally known hotels and restaurants will also offer online coupons for internet users.

It is amazing what you can find online. With internet access and a little bit of time, you can easily find online coupons that may be able to be used at the vacation destination of your choice.


Monday, 28 January 2013

Caribbean Cruise Vacation

Caribbean Cruise Vacation
By: http://skybluecross.com

 Caribbean cruise vacations are very popular especially during the winter. This is perhaps because people want to feel warm when the weather back home is cold.

But cruise lines sail along the Caribbean waters all year round. If you don t want to go during the peak season, try booking during the summer because this is the best time to go bargain hunting.

There are a lot of cruise lines to choose from. Some of them include the Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Crystal Cruises. For those who find this to be way out of their budget, they can inquire at Seabourn Cruise Lines.

Let’s talk a little bit about these companies.

The Royal Caribbean's fleet offers to the Eastern, Southern and Western Caribbean. You could be away for a few days to a couple of weeks. The Radiance of the Seas for instance sails round trip from Ft. Lauderdale to San Juan, Philipsburg, St. Thomas and Nassau.

Apart from the good food on board, there are activities that you can do once you reach port like snorkeling, nature trekking, scuba diving and Catamaran sailing.

If you happen to book a trip in January, February, November or December, there are festivals that you shouldn’t afford to miss such as the Aruba Carnival Celebration, the Barbados Jazz Festival, Mustique Blues Festival, Bob Marley Week in Jamaica, Valentines Day, Tranquility Jazz Festival, Anguilla, St. Patrick’s Day, Bahamas International Film Festival and St. Nicholas Day in the Dutch Caribbean.

The Norwegian Cruise line offers almost the same itinerary as the Royal Caribbean. You can choose the three day , seven day or fifteen day package to the Western Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean and Southern Caribbean aboard its large ships.

Crystal Cruises only has 1 package and this voyage lasts for 12 days. You depart from New York, then move on to Bermuda/Hamilton, then to St. Maarten/Phillipsburg, Antigua, St. John, Curacao/Willemstad, Grand Cayman/Georgetown before heading home to Miami.

The Seabourn Cruise has only 2 packages. You can choose to go on a Caribbean vacation that could last 7 or 13 days. Apart from Fort Lauderdale, you can also catch a ride in New York City and visit Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas), and Bridgetown, Barbados. The best part about being in a yacht compared to a big ship is that it is not very crowded.

You can find out more about these shipping companies by letting your travel agent do the research or browsing online yourself.

By doing so, you will be able to know when are the scheduled their trips, compare their prices and find out what is inclusive in their packages. Once you have confirmed your trip, all you have to do now is pack your bags and leave.

For those coming from the west coast or mid-west, don’t forget to also plan your air travel so you don’t miss the ship before it leaves port. Some of these companies already have air fare and transfers inclusive so there is nothing to worry about.

The Caribbean cruise vacation is one of the best places to go if you are on your honeymoon, celebrating your anniversary or simply need time away from the real world. Once you come back, you will feel refreshed and ready to continue what you were doing before that.

Saturday, 26 January 2013

Discount Summer Vacations: Do They Exist?

Discount Summer Vacations: Do They Exist?
By: http://northamericabase.com

If you are interested in taking a summer vacation, but you are concerned with the cost, you are not alone. A large number of individuals and families wish to take a summer vacation, but, due to the cost of many, most are unable to do so. What many individuals and families fail to consider is discount summer vacations.

Discount summer vacations do exist, but to many they are only a myth. There are just some individuals who believe that there is no such thing as a discount summer vacation. If they do believe that discount vacations exist, many assume they are only to low-quality destinations. If you are interested in taking a summer vacation, you are encouraged not to believe this popular myth.

To find discounted summer vacations, all you have to do is a little bit of research. Once you start looking, you will likely see that discount summer vacations are obtainable, for even the most popular summer vacation destinations. Discount summer vacations are obtainable thanks to vacation packages, online coupons, and price reductions.

Vacation destination packages are one of the most popular ways that you or your family can save money when taking a summer vacation. These packages are most often available through a resort. Theme park resorts, golf resorts, and beach resorts, all around the world, are likely to offer summer vacation packages. These packages may be considered all-inclusive or they may just cover a number of vacation accommodations. Vacation packages can easily be found online or by speaking to a professional travel agent.

When it comes to discount vacations, most individuals receive a discount in the form of a price reduction. Price reductions are often used as a last attempt to increase the number of vacationers at popular hotels, restaurants, theme parks, or beaches. If you are searching for upfront discounts, in the form of price reductions, they can easily be found online or by directly contacting a hotel, restaurant, or theme park.

In addition to price reductions used to lure in additional vacationers, many popular vacation destinations offer price reductions to vacationing families. Instead of paying full price for your children, you may be able to receive a substantial discount for them. These discounts are often found at vacation resorts, hotels, and theme parks. The cost of a family discount will depend on the destination. However large or small the discount, many families enjoy saving the money.

Online coupons are a great way to obtain a discount on your next summer vacation. A large number of vacation destinations offer online coupons, as well as offline coupons. Most internet users have the option of requesting a coupon booklet or they can obtain printable vacation coupons. The only downside to using coupons is that you must remember to take them with you when you set off to reach your vacation destination. Without them, you may be required to pay full price for all of your used services.

While discount vacations are obtainable, it is important to note that not all destinations can be vacationed at for a low price. Despite what you may believe, many of the most popular vacation destinations offer valuable savings and discounts to travelers. Popular summer vacation destinations that can be visited for a low price include, but should not be limited to, the Caribbean, Mexico, Myrtle Beach, Bush Gardens, Six Flags, Disneyland, or Disney World. Many times, you will end up paying more to vacation at destination that is not as popular.

When searching for a low-cost summer vacation destination, you can search using a number of methods. If you already have a vacation destination in mind, you can search for discounts being offered in or around your intended vacation spot. If you have yet to select a destination, you can examine the discounts available and then make your decision. Whichever method you select, you are sure to find valuable discounts that can be used on your next vacation.

Friday, 25 January 2013

A List of The Things to Bring on Your Sailing Vacation

A List of The Things to Bring on Your Sailing Vacation
By: http://www.northamericabase.com/
You should make a list of things you will bring on your sailing vacation. This will make it easier for you to pack only the essentials even if you will only be away for a few days.

The first thing you have to get is a bag. You must never use hard sided suitcases because of the limited space. Instead, use a duffel bag or back pack. The nice thing about them is that they can be folded when you have transferred your clothes into the closet.

The most important thing you should pack for your sailing vacation is your travel documents. Without the, you will not be able to go anywhere so make sure that these are stored in a secure place. You should also make a few photocopies of these documents so in the event they get lost, you still have something to show.

What is a duffel bag without clothes? Chances are you don’t have to bring much during the trip if most of the time, you will be wearing a swimsuit and have something to cover yourself. But if there are formal events on board or on land, it will be a good idea to bring one dress trouser and jacket for the men and nice dress for the women.

The rule of thumb when it comes to clothes is to find out what will the weather be like when you are at sea. What you bring is different when your sailing vacation takes you to the Carribean or in Alaska. If you will be out in the sun a lot, make sure you have sun protection so your skin is not burned. If it is cold, you should have Chap Stick for your lips.

Passengers who are on medication should not forget to bring their prescription for the voyage. These should be packed in their original containers to avoid any problems when these are inspected by customs. You should also bring some extras in case there are delays when it is time to go home.

It also wouldn’t hurt to bring a first aid kit just in case you get hurt. You can buy these from the supermarket and also a flashlight so you are prepared in the event that there is a power outage.

For those who are going to the Caribbean, it will be a good idea to bring your own water gear. This will save you money because you have to pay a certain amount just to borrow them.

Another important thing you should pack for your sailing vacation is a camera. This will allow you to take pictures so you have something to show the people back home. Since digital cameras are the trend these days, bring an extra memory card and batteries so you don’t miss anything even if you forgot to recharge it the night before. Don’t forget to put this in a waterproof bag like a Zip lock so water or dust does not damage it.

A bag, travel documents, clothes, water gear, first aid kit, medicine and a camera are just some of the things you should put in your list for things to bring on your sailing vacation. If there are others you are thinking of bringing, think about it first before adding it to the list.

Thursday, 24 January 2013

Traveling With Your Electric Scooter


Traveling With Your Electric Scooter
By: http://northamericabase.com

Electric scooters are a great way for people suffering from limited mobility get around. Many people who use the scooters in place of a wheelchair. Motility scooters can be three or four wheeled and are great for going short distances. Some of them are designed to fold up into a compact space if the scooter's owner has to take a long trip.

Travel or portable electric scooters are designed in such a manner that they can easily be paced in cars trucks. Because most people who use them are only capable of walking short distances, getting back into the scooter is not a problem as long as the they have someone else come along to take their scooter out of a car trunk.

Some electric scooters can travel up to 25 miles on a battery charge, but electric scooters are not intended for long trips. Special accommodations may have to be made for a person's electric scooter if a longer trip is planned.

The electric battery and slightly faster than walking pace of electric scooters, makes scooters ideal for short trips around town. If the owner does not plan on going more than one or two miles, electric scooters can easily handle this range. A rider who wishes to take their scooter on the road should check local laws and regulations first. Electric scooters must meet certain requirements to be street legal.
Unlike gasoline powered scooters, which are just a different form of motorcycle, electric scooters travel at speeds only slightly faster than a normal walking pace. (The purpose is not to provide fast transportation, merely to provide transportation to people who cannot walk more than fifty feet or so.)

A person using a electric scooter to do in-town trips does not need to do a lot of planning as long as he or she keeps the scooter's battery charged. Trips of more than two miles require more forethought and a place to store the scooter when it is not in use. If for some reason the scooter cannot travel with its owner to a shopping trip, many malls, department and grocery stores make electric scooters available to their customers.

Portable or electric scooters are specifically designed to fold up and be placed in the trunk of a car, but even basic three wheel scooter designs give some thought for an owner's need to take them farther than a single battery charge can take the scooter. Most car trunks can accommodate larger packages without a problem, but it is best to check with bus, train or airline companies first before buying tickets for a trip to see what policies they have in place for making sure a portable electric scooter arrives at the same destination as a passenger.



Wednesday, 23 January 2013

Spring Beak Bahamas Style

spring break bahamas style
By: http://www.northamericabase.com

For many years, stretching to many decades, spring break was the domain of a few select places in the state of Florida.

First it was Fort Lauderdale, which really began the spring break tradition in the 1960s. Over the ensuing twenty-five years, it became the go-to destination for studens from around the country (as well as Canada, and a few Europeans of course) who wanted to get away from their studies for a week of fun in the sun with a double-helping of debaucher of the carnal nature.

By the late 1980s, however, Fort Lauderdale's residents decided the influx of cash wasn't worth the problems caused by spring breakers and ended up encouraging the police force to impose something akin to martial law on anyone under twenty-one years of age.

Stepping up to fill the gap was Daytona Beach, which had a good fifteen year run as the top spring break destination of them all. But its day, too, came to an end much in the same way as Fort Lauderdale's. Too many assaults, too many rapes, too many deaths, too many underage kids who couldn't handle their booze, and that put the nail in the coffin for Daytona Beach.

Other locales in the United States have filled the gap to a notable extent, but most spring breakers now want to do spring break bahamas style. The Bahamas are a an island nation just a thirty minute plane flight from Miami, have all the amenities you'd want from a resort paradise, and don't have that bothersome "21 and over" drinking law. In other words, spring break bahamas style means you can get properly sauced, and do it legally to boot.

Of course the same dangers and rules apply if you spring break bahamas bound as opposed to staying in the states. Too much alcohol is too much alcohol no matter where you are, and no matter how old you are. Plenty of people who overdo it end up doing themselves permanent damage, not to mention increasing the risk of doing permanent damage to others. That is not the way to roll with spring break bahamas style, nor really with any aspect of your life.

So make sure when you're going on spring break that you keep in mind the dangers of overdoing it, the dangers of being surrounded by drunk, perhaps drugged-up, testosterone-laden strangers of varying temperments. Females, please travel in groups - don't make yourself a target. Males, for god's sake don't act like animals. Yes, it's fun to occasionally have one too many, but that doesn't give you the right to do whatever you want to whoever you want.

Keep that in mind, and keep in mind that, just like in the US they have jails in the Caribbean, and your spring break bahamas style will be a memorable time.

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Wreck Scuba Diving in Florida

Wreck Scuba Diving in Florida

By: http://www.northamericabase.com/

Some of the most enjoyable diving you may ever do is wreck scuba diving. Because travel by ship was the main way of going from continent to continent prior to development of air travel, and because the technology used on ships and in weather forecasting was not advanced at all, many ships sank in waters around the world providing dives that are interesting and fun. There are so many wrecks that only the Florida wreck diving will be covered in this article.

In fact, there are so many Florida wreck scuba diving spots available, you'll have plenty of difficulty choosing which ones to dive. Hurricanes, coral reefs, shoals and pirates all help sink the ships that are often quite near the shores.

During the Spanish colonial period, the Florida Straits were the most frequently used passage for ships to access the Gulf Stream to get the boost of these fast-flowing currents for their trip home across the Atlantic Ocean. Some of these ships were never to return safely home but were trapped into one of the many tragedies that happened to the then ill-equipped vessel when challenging Mother Nature. Many of these unfortunate victims of the sea have been excavated and are awaiting your arrival.

One great wreck scuba diving destination is Pensacola in the Panhandle of Florida. There are lots of ships within a small area. In Pensacola Bay, eleven ships were to become victims of a hurricane during 1500. The colonists that were becoming settles on the shore at what is now known as Pensacola Bay were unloading vessels when the massive storm overtook them. Of course, there were no storm warnings like we have today and they were taken unaware. The result of the loss of the eleven ships was to soon become the demise of the colony which only lasted 60 years.

The Trinite is another great wreck scuba diving spot. This French wreck lies off St. Augustine and went down during a storm in 1565 while the Frenchmen were preparing to attack the Spaniards who had colonized this section of the northeast Florida coastline. After the vessel sank, the attack did not occur. Today you can not only scuba dive the wreck at St. Augustine but you can also see other sights like the nation's oldest school house and oldest drug store, tour the fort as well as get in some fun in the sun.

You can do some wreck scuba diving at the resting place of the Tierra Firme fleet. Two ships from the fleet of 27 vessels, the Atocha and the Santa Margarita, went to their watery graves along with 380 sailors during a hurricane in 1622. The fleet had more than $250 million in cargo among them and the Atocha proved to be quite a profitable salvage job once it was located and now you can see it for yourself along with her sister ship in the Florida Keys.

In 1700 the Henneta Marie, a slave trade vessel that had unloaded slaves in Jamaica and was in the Key West to load sugar from the plantations sank. Today you can visit Key West during your wreck scuba diving vacation and see the oldest know wreck of a slave trading vessel that has been identified by name.

While you are in the Florida Keys for wreck scuba diving, go see the San Pedro which was one of the last vessels from the New Spain fleet to cross to what is now the United States. In 1733, this ship was taken victim by a hurricane along with several other ships traveling with her. There are wrecks covering over 80 miles of the Florida Keys oceanscape from this storm. The Spanish salvaged this ship only to find that she had been burned to the waterline so that pirates could not loot her.

In 1713 a vessel named Urca de Lima owned by the Spanish ran aground on a shoal off Florida's Atlantic coast during a hurricane. There were nine other ships lost during this hurricane but because the Urca de Lima was grounded and did not sink like the others, she was used as a supply ship to provide for the survivors of the other shipwrecks as well as the one remaining French vessel that had been accompanying the Urca de Lima. Over 1,000 men lost their lives in this tragic hurricane.

You can find still dive and find shipwrecks under the waters of the Atlantic Ocean on Florida's eastern coast as well as some in the calmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico which run along the western shore of Florida and the southern edge of the Florida Panhandle.

Florida is a great place to go wreck scuba diving and you will find the waters warm enough to dive even in the winter. In fact, the winter is the peak season in this southern state. You can obtain discount rates if you choose to travel to Florida during the off-season which is May through November. You'll also enjoy less crowded areas and beaches with fewer visitors.

As you plan your wreck scuba diving in Florida, be sure to have all your dive equipment checked by a professional so that you won't experience any problems while visiting a wreck. If you do not want to take your own dive gear, there are many dive shops located along the coastlines of Florida ready to provide for your every need.

If you want to ensure that finding the wrecks, scuba diving with a charter boat that specialized in wreck diving is practical. These captains know exactly where to visit quickly and easily locate the wrecks you want to visit. These locals can also point out other places of interest to see and things to do in the area during your holiday.

While wreck scuba diving, remember that safety must always come first when in the water. Don't take unnecessary chances. Be sure to stay with your dive party and your trip will be a great success.



Monday, 21 January 2013

Don't Rent A Vehicle Until Your Read This

Don't Rent A Vehicle Until Your Read This

By:http://www.northamericabase.com



If you are renting a car or other vehicle, the process will be the easiest and smoothest if you have a credit card to use for the transaction. Some car rental companies won’t even rent you a vehicle if you don’t have a credit card for payment. If the car rental company does allow you to rent without a credit card, you may have to pay a large cash deposit to cover any potential damage to the vehicle you are renting. If you are using a travel agent and do not have a credit card, ask your agent about using pre-paid vouchers to pay for your vehicle rental. A voucher is typically easier to use than cash when renting a vehicle.

Be aware that a large part of your credit line on your credit card may be tied up while the rental vehicle is in your possession. The car rental company may place a certain amount of money on hold on your credit card for possible additional charges such as late return fees and damage fees. The charge won’t be processed unless you incur those additional expenses. But because that money is on hold you won’t have it available to you for other purchases so you may want to use for other purchases such as your hotel.

Your driving record may be a factor when you rent a vehicle. Not all car rental companies check driving records but some do. If your driving record doesn’t meet the car rental company’s standards they will not let you rent from them. To prevent this from happening check with the car rental agency to see if they check driving records and what their standards are.

Twenty five is the magic age when renting a vehicle. If you are at least twenty five years of age you will not incur additional fees to rent a vehicle. If you are between the ages of eighteen and twenty five you will likely be required to pay more money for renting your car than a twenty five or older driver. If you are under 18 years of age you will not be able to rent a vehicle in the US. Although those rules may not seem fair, it is just the way it is in the car rental industry

Rental car companies will offer you various optional insurance and waiver options, but you may already be covered. Before you go to rent a vehicle, check with both your personal auto insurance agent and with your credit card company. You may already have protection if you have an accident, lose, or damage your rental vehicle. If you do have protection, you shouldn’t need to purchase the collision damage waiver or CDW offered by the car rental company because it will be a duplication of coverage you already have.

If you do purchase a CDW, keep in mind that it is not insurance but an agreement between you and the car rental company stating that you will not be liable for loss or damage to the rental vehicle as long as you comply with conditions stated in the agreement. Those conditions are common sense ones such as not driving while under the influence of alcohol, not driving the vehicle off-road, and not allowing an unauthorized person to drive the vehicle. A CDW will almost always not cover you though for personal injuries or damage to personal property sustained while using the rental vehicle. If you are renting overseas though, you may not have a choice of whether or not or purchase a CDW. Some countries require you to purchase it.

If you are renting a vehicle overseas you may need to obtain an international driving permit. Check on this before you show up at the overseas rental car counter.

After you get to your rental vehicle walk around the outside of it and inspect it for any possible damage. If you notice damage such as a dent or noticeable scratch report it to the lot attendant right away and get it noted on your rental agreement so you won’t be liable for that damage. I learned this lesson the hard way. On one of my first rentals I noticed a dent in the vehicle, told the lot attendant about it who told me not to worry about it. I didn’t insist he write anything on my rental agreement stating the damage was already on the vehicle when I picked it up. When I returned the vehicle the rental car company wanted to charge me for that dent. I eventually got my money back but it took time me quite a bit of time and frustration to get those charges reversed.

If you find you are going to return your rental vehicle more than 4 hours late, call the rental company and arrange for an additional day’s rental. Although most companies allow you a one hour grace period before they start to charge you additional money, the hourly rates can quickly add up to more than the cost of an entire day’s rental. Usually when you get to the 4 hour mark, renting the vehicle for an additional day is cheaper than paying the hourly late fees.



Saturday, 19 January 2013

Easy Application for Travel Insurance Online

Easy Application for Travel Insurance Online
Byhttp://northamericabase.com
So you've finally decided to go for a trip abroad. Perhaps you have already packed all your things but you may be forgetting one thing – your travel insurance policy. Do you have it already or you still haven’t got one?

Well, if you forgot to secure travel insurance, there is no need to panic because you can easily purchase one online. There are many internet facilities that you can make use which allows you to purchase a policy in seconds.

Communications nowadays is far better through the internet. It is fast and easy; aside from that, it can also be used to obtain different information that you may need. The internet is a necessity and not just a luxury. You see, now you can book airline tickets, shop for groceries online, and many others.

At present, it is now possible to purchase travel insurance through the use of the internet. Simply type the words 'travel insurance' on the search box of your favorite search engine and you can access multiple sites that can cater to your needs. The profiles and company names will be displayed on the search results. All you have to do is check each of the insurance providers to determine the best one that can meet most, if not all of your needs.

You have to choose from different kinds of policies in travel insurance. You can find backpacker, business, medical, multi trip, and single trip insurance policies. To identify the policy that suits you, you must first identify your insurance needs first as well as your financial standing.

There are several advantages when you apply for travel insurance through the internet. It can include –

• No lengthy paperwork
• You can get a discount by purchasing a policy online
• You can save time and energy because you don’t have to travel to and from the physical offices of the insurance providers
• You can get several quotes in one sitting at home or in the office
• All you need is a good working computer and a fast internet connection

Now that you know the advantages in purchasing travel insurance online, you will never think of shopping for it offline.

Packing your things can take time so you don’t need to waste time in buying travel insurance offline because now there is an easier and faster way. Thanks to the internet and the modern technology of today's times.

Don’t get too excited yet because choosing good travel insurance can get complicated especially if this is your first time. It would be best to ask someone who already has travel insurance to help you out in your search. Start by making a list of your traveling needs and then your budget at the moment.

Remember that you have to spend on other things other than the travel insurance. You have to make hotel reservations, some petty cash on hand, purchase airline tickets, and many others. Find a travel insurance policy that you can afford but at the same meets most of your needs. The insurance provider should also have excellent records in serving their clients.

Log on to the internet now and conduct a search on travel insurance online. All the information you need is already there. All you have to do is to familiarize yourself with the different information provided. Apply now and get ready to travel abroad without worries.

Friday, 18 January 2013

Introduction to Northwest Coast Native American Art

Introduction to Northwest Coast Native American Art
http://www.northamericabase.com

Introduction to the striking art style of the Northwest Coast Native American Indians.
I had lived in Vancouver very briefly as a child and it was during that time when I was first exposed to the art of the Northwest Coast Native American Indians. It was the towering colorful totem poles out in Stanley Park that everyone gazed at with wonder and appreciation. It took about 30 years later during a return trip to Vancouver when Northwest Coast Native American art caught my eyes again.

I was in Vancouver for business and landed at the city's new airport terminal. One could not help but notice the huge native carvings near the arrivals area. Later on during my stay, I decided to wander around in the Gastown district. It was in these shops and galleries in Gastown where I fell in love with Northwest Coast Native American art. I saw many wonderful wooden plaques representing different animals. There were also art prints, paintings, masks, wooden bowls and even furnature with these animals either painted or carved right into the pieces.

The colors and designs, which might be considered a bit exaggerated to non-native eyes, were striking as well as bold. I knew at that time that I wanted to include some of this magnificent artwork on my walls back at home. So I bought two plaque carvings and carried them home like newly found treasure.

Historically, the native Indians who lived along the river valleys and coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest were all hunters and gatherers. The region was blessed with abundant resources from both the seas and forests. These people captured in their artwork the animals they hunted and observed. These included bears, killer whales, eagles, ravens, salmons, wolves, hummingbirds and even frogs. Chiefs and mythical characters important in their legends such as thunderbirds were also included as art subjects.

Northwest Coast Native American art is just only recently gaining some major attention in some galleries and museums around the world. Compared to other native arts such as Inuit (Eskimo), exposure of Northwest Coast Native American art is still rather limited to the northwest coast of Canada and the United States. This form of artwork is virtually unknown to most parts of the world including many regions of North America. This will hopefully change as more people from around the world travel to Vancouver. The future winter Olympics in 2010 up in Whistler, BC will also have a positive impact on the region's Native Indian art. I personally believe that Northwest Coast Native American art has a lot of potential to be internationally recognized and accepted.



Thursday, 17 January 2013

How to Choose the Perfect Fashion Store

How to Choose the Perfect Fashion Store
By: http://www.northamericabase.com/
Are you interested in revamping your wardrobe? If you are looking to update the clothing or clothing accessories that you own, you may be interested in incorporating some of the latest fashion trends into your wardrobe. If you are, you will need to find a fashion store to shop at.

When it comes to finding a fashion store to shop at, you have a number of different options. Before examining those options, you need to remember that fashion stores are operated in both storefront locations and online. If you are looking for an online fashion store, you may want to think about performing a standard internet search. If you are looking for a storefront store to shop at, you may want to think about visiting your local shopping mall, using your local phone book, or using online business directories.

Although the above mentioned searching methods are all great ways to go about finding a fashion store and a good number of them at that, you never really know what type of stores you will come across. That is why you will actually want to do more than just find a fashion store to shop at; you will want to choose one to shop at. When it comes to choosing the perfect fashion store to update your wardrobe, there are a number of important factors that you may want to take into consideration.

One of the many factors that you may want to take into consideration is the stores in question. Fashion stores come in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles. For instance, there are clothing stores that are designed for plus sized women, teenagers, athletic men and women, and so forth. In addition to examining your gender and your size, you may also want to take the type of clothing fashions that you would like to buy into consideration. Are you mostly just looking for work clothes or do you want a combination of work clothes and causal clothes? Knowing what type of clothing and fashion accessories you would like to buy is very helpful when it comes to finding the perfect fashion store for you and your needs.

Cost is another factor that should be taken into consideration when choosing a fashion store to shop at. A large number of the fashion stores that carry the latest and greatest fashion trends are likely to be fairly costly. If you have an unlimited amount of money to spend on a new wardrobe, this may not necessarily be a problem for you. However, if you are on a budget, you may want to examine the fashion stores that you are interested in shopping at and their average sale prices. If you are able to do a little bit of research online, even for storefront store, you may be able to save yourself a considerable amount of time.

Another factor that you may want to take into consideration is location. Fashion stores are located all across the county and even some are located in small cities and towns. However, if you are looking for some of the clothing pieces and fashion accessories that may be found on the runways of New York and Paris, you may not be able to find those items in your local fashion stores. For that reason, it is important that you examine the location of the fashion store or stores that you would like to shop at. Of course, you will likely want to stay locally, but if you are serious about updating your wardrobe to include the latest trends in fashion, you may want to make arrangements to travel to a well-known fashion store, even if it is a few hours away.

The above mentioned factors are just a few of the many ways that you can go about finding the perfect fashion store. If you are not pressed for time or if you would like to make a fun adventure out of buying a new wardrobe for yourself, you may want to start hitting up as many fashion stores as you can find. Somewhere along the way, you are sure to find the perfect one, if not more.


Wednesday, 16 January 2013

New York, New York and New York travel

New York, New York and New York Travel!
By: http://northamericabase.com
The sentiments behind the words "I love New York" is one you’d certainly feel the moment you step out of the plane and see for yourself what the Big Apple has in store for you. With a population of over eight million people, thousands of high rise buildings dominating the scene and blinking lights all over, sometimes it’s hard not to be overwhelmed when you first set your eyes on the city that never sleeps.

Although a lot of people believe that New York is one of those big bad cities with crime rates that would make your heart palpitate in fear, official reports actually claim that New York is one of the safest places to be these days, with crime rates reaching an all time low since the 1960’s.
If it’s your first time to travel to New York, here are a few tips for you to make your visit in New York safer, cheaper and more memorable.

Where To Stay : If you don’t have some friends with pads in New York that you could bunk in for a night or two then there are a wide range of hotels for you to choose from. Most of the hotels in New York are concentrated in Manhattan but if you’re flying for business purposes then maybe you’d prefer to stay somewhere near Wall Street. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for something quirky and fun, then maybe Chelsea and Greenwhich are good places to start.

Where To Eat : One good thing about New York: the food is a fusion of a bit of everything from the four corners of the globe. If you desire lasagna, then Italian eateries are just around the corner. If you desire some good old fashioned beef stew and yangchow rice then there are a lot of Chinese delis that are willing to deliver food right on your doorstep. From ultra-posh, exorbitantly expensive first class restaurants to bohemian dining to fixed rates for eat all you can buffets, New York will have no problems in satisfying your gastronomical inclinations.

Where to Go : New York has a lot of points of interest to boast of and the list just keeps getting longer and longer. Remember the animation movie, Madagascar? Well, that’s Central Park in drawing but wait till you see the real one and all eight hundred acres of it. And then there’s Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum. They say that a visit to New York isn’t complete until you check out the lifelike "creatures" in that particular museum. And who can forget the Empire State Building, once the tallest among them all high rise buildings? And of course there’s the Statue of Liberty, the very symbol of American welcome. Then there’s the Rockefeller Center, with its famous Christmas tree right in the middle of all the action.

How to Stay Safe : Although New York is considered as "safe", it wouldn’t hurt to take the necessary precautions and avoid the attention of pickpockets on the lookout for out-of-towners. Don’t make a fuss when going to the ATM and always go out in groups.

How Not to Get Lost : New York is a very busy city so the bustling city may end up overwhelming first time visitors. Hence, it’s advisable that you always carry your map and cellphone with you. If unsure of the destination, don’t just board the subway but instead, spend extra cash for a cab ride.
Lastly, enjoy your New York tour!




Tuesday, 15 January 2013

New York Night Life: Deliriously Delicious

New York Night Life: Deliriously Delicious
By: http://www.northamericabase.com/
 If you want uninhibited high energy night partying and don't mind taking a bit of dangerous risk until the wee hours of the morning, New York is definitely the place for you.

Despite its reputation for being one of the most dangerous places to be in at night, New York still does not fail to seduce tourists from all over the world to celebrate and party all night in the myriad of bars and hubs to choose from.

New York has everything any tourist would wish to see in a pla...


Keywords:
things to do, fun things to do, Los Angeles, things to do when bored, nightlife, date ideas, New Yor


Article Body:
If you want uninhibited high energy night partying and don't mind taking a bit of dangerous risk until the wee hours of the morning, New York is definitely the place for you.

Despite its reputation for being one of the most dangerous places to be in at night, New York still does not fail to seduce tourists from all over the world to celebrate and party all night in the myriad of bars and hubs to choose from.

New York has everything any tourist would wish to see in a place. People with varied interests will find themselves able to meet halfway with the night haunts that are available for the New York traveler.

For starters, one could visit the famous McSorley's Ale House, a city landmark that is known for its quaint features and for serving its own ale. Their own beer has only two types: light or dark. While the rest of New York City evolved into cutting edge technology and neon designs, McSorley's was able to preserve the very same look it had since it opened in 1854. Historical and homey in nature, this is definitely one place you would not want to miss visiting while you're there.

If you wish to party with Latin beat, Copacabana is the way to go. This is miniature Havana in the midst of the multi-cultural and sinfully delicious New York nightlife. This is one of the best places to meet the most exciting people in New York. Salsa aficionados will find this to be a little paradise, with live bands and music to boot. If you're lucky, there are even professional dancers who will offer you their services to learn the hottest salsa moves.

Most movies that shoot on New York feature the Brooklyn Bridge and with good reason. At night, this can be one of the best places for relaxation and bonding sessions with your friends. An evening walk is most perfect, especially if you have your trusty digital camera to capture those precious moments.

If you are not too claustrophobic and intend to maximize your adventure in New York, Cafe Wha is also one nightspot you may want to visit. Here is where various types of people and music go together. The atmosphere is friendly, and it is impossible for you not to meet new and interesting people when you go there. Best of all, you could come as you are because there is no dress code to keep you from dancing there all night.



Monday, 14 January 2013

Enjoying Hawaii Sailing Vacations

Enjoying Hawaii Sailing Vacations
http://northamericabase.com
Although some people say that a Hawaii sailing vacation is expensive, it is worth it when it comes to ultimate comfort especially if you decided to get a crewed boat. This is because the crewed boat will ensure that everything will be handled by the charter that you have chosen unlike when you go on all by yourself through a bareboat.

The happy weather

People who have been into Hawaii sailing vacations would agree that the most enjoyable part of the whole trip is the tropical weather offered by Hawaii. The place is considered to be one of the America people's greatest natural treasures—both for tourists and locals. Here, majority of the guests are foreigners that flock the islands and sands to escape the busy city life.

Hawaii is composed of eight major islands and a network of more than 100 islands and islets located all around the island chain that is located in the Pacific Ocean. Being in a chain that is home to some of the most unpredictable waters on Earth, the islands of Hawaii are most sought after to visit because they are truly unique.

Because of its subtropical climate, Hawaii enjoys the best of both worlds—the good and the worst of it. The tropical islands are home to some of the world’s best white sand beaches, because of the mild temperate weather almost all throughout the year revelers can enjoy the sun, sand and surf. But since it is part of the Pacific's unpredictable waters, storms can hit it’s hardest every now and then. Still on a good day, the sun shines almost all day long so there's no need for jackets and heavy coats.

For people looking who are planning the perfect vacation, weather is the number one factor to take into account. Aside from nice weather, Hawaii is also synonymous to a place where people could enjoy water sports of all kinds like snorkeling, wreck diving, underwater scuba, surfing, or just basking in the sun. This gives the feeling of relaxation to the tired mind and rejuvenation to the burdened body. And because water has natural healing properties and the most common healing agent, people do more than flock the islands of Hawaii to fill their need to get away.

The Hawaiian weather is also good for those who want a good tan because the sun shines here just enough to cook but not enough to burn. If you are on a Hawaii sailing vacation, it is the best time to get the greatest tan of your life without worrying that you will get sunburns. Just make sure that before you get exposed, apply a considerable amount of sunscreen to protect your skin from too much UV rays due to prolonged exposure.

The best option

If you are planning to indulge into Hawaii sailing vacations, yacht charters are the best options for you. Through a yacht charter, you can enjoy sailing vacation in a tropical paradise. Through a yacht charter, you can sail around the most gorgeous coastlines out there.

Opting for Hawaii sailing vacations would ensure that you would enjoy that balmy breeze of the tropical island by lying barely dressed on the deck of the yacht. From here, you can watch great surfers as they do their signature and acrobat moves. You can also get a good view of the huge waves as they go back and forth across the dock.

Aside from great sea view, you can also get a good view of some majestic sceneries and landscapes along the way.

Saturday, 12 January 2013

New York Travel


New York Travel
http://www.northamericabase.com/
If you want to see the state of New York, you will not be disappointed in all that there is to see and do. Many people think about visiting New York City, but there is so much more to the state than just that wonderful city. There are many great regions with the state, each that has something different for you to enjoy. New York travel options are wide open, and you can make a whole vacation on visiting just a few different parts of the state. The City is great, but the rest of the state has a lot to offer as well.

Many start New York travel in the Big Apple. New York City certainly has a lot to offer and many vacation there without going anywhere else. The City is a great place to go if you want to see many different cultures with many different types of liberal entertainment. As you know, NYC is famous for Broadway, which is where you can see many great productions. There are also great eateries, clubs, and other types of attractions that would take years to see. You should definitely make NYC a part of your New York travel package when visiting.

On the other side of the state, some like to include the Buffalo area as part of their New York travel plans. This is a blue collar town with a lot of personality. If you love Buffalo wings, this is a great time to visit the city in which they were born. You can also find great attractions in and outside of Buffalo and travel to Niagara Falls if you wish. Don't forget the nearby city of Rochester, NY, Lake Erie, and the Erie canal. There are museums, outdoor activities, and other great family adventures to be had in this northwestern corner of New York State.

There are many people today that like to include the Finger Lakes region in their New York travel plans. The Finger Lakes and the Southern Tier of New York have a lot of things to offer. There are water sports and some of the most sought after lakeside property in the country there. Vineyards are very popular with wine tours that you can take. Corning, NY is a great town to see and experience the arts, and Elmira, NY was once home to Mark Twain and anchorman Brain Williams of NBC news. Dansville, NY hosts a balloon festival every year that features hundreds of hot air balloons that take off and roam the countryside.

Do not forget about what is called upstate New York when you plan your visit. The Catskill Mountains are full of amazing scenery and a lot of legend. You can find great fall and winter activities like apple orchards that make their own cider, great skiing, and trails that wander throughout the magnificent mountains during the summer and fall. This is a great area to include in your New York travel when you want to unwind on your vacation. There is most definitely something for everyone in New York State.

Thursday, 10 January 2013

Golf Carts: Not Just For Golfers Anymore

Golf Carts: Not Just For Golfers Anymore

By:  http://www.NorthAmericaBase.com
According to new research, more than 60% of cars in the USA North America travel less than 15 miles per day and nearly half of drivers travel less than five miles away from home. With gas prices climbing higher every day and air being polluted with gas emissions, a golf car is the most environmentally friendly vehicle out there. With all the golf cart accessories available, golf carts can become the most stylish and eco-friendly vehicle on the road.

Golf carts are widely used in university campuses where they transport people, goods and equipment, and are even used in cases of medical emergencies. They are also used in quiet neighborhoods, at large sports events by the personnel, and of course, on golf courses by golfers. Many golf carts are purchased by disabled people who appreciate the higher speed and safety of golf carts compared to those of power wheelchairs.

Driving a golf cart is extremely economic. It costs around one cent per ten miles to operate an electric golf cart. It’s also ten times cheaper to maintain and repair a golf cart than a car. However, not many automotive giants readily leap into the golf cart market, claiming that there is currently no demand for golf carts.

Still, more and more neighborhoods, especially in resort areas or those surrounded by golf courses, switch to golf carts to access malls, movie theaters, schools and restaurants without having to ride on the highway. In university campuses golf carts can be used only on designated streets and paths. Golf carts, as neighborhood electric vehicles with a proper license can travel on roads with posted speed limit of 35 mph.

Golf carts were introduced in the 1950s and later became popular thanks to golf visionaries such as Billy Dolan. With golf carts, golf greatly evolved as a game. Smaller, more efficient and nicely designed golf carts with cute stylish accessories such as custom wheels and seats, lift kits and even programmable speed controls, golf carts are becoming safer each year.

As a vehicle, golf carts can have three or four wheels. They can be powered by electric or internal combustion motors. The most famous golf carts manufacturers include Cushman, Club Car, Daihatsu, and many more.

Among the most popular golf cart accessories today are lift kits that add clearance to the golf cart which help with accessing rocky places and bumpy roads. Many lift kits include off-road tires that can be used on the golf cart making it a rough little off-road beast.

Another popular golf cart accessory that is in huge demand in colder seasons is a rain curtain. These curtains can be snapped to the car frame to sit permanently on the car body, or they can be clipped to the car with hooks and removed in warmer seasons.

Many golf cart accessories basically do nothing except add some flare. Racing-style aluminum pedal kits, graphic and even 3D camouflage, custom steering wheels will add a stylish touch to any golf cart.

Golf carts are slowly spreading beyond student campuses, golf resorts and retirement communities. Well-designed and safe golf carts may soon be as common on city streets as scooters and bikes.


ard.com. This is a very informative website with lots of travel tips and advice as well as lists of handy phone numbers for embassies and other aid for Americans traveling abroad.

Wednesday, 9 January 2013

Vintage Aircraft – The Major Attractions Of Air Festivals

Vintage Aircraft – The Major Attractions Of Air Festivals
By: http://northamericabase.com/
You can't imagine the feeling of wonder, viewing a vintage aircraft and watching a vintage aircraft flying. It’s really awesome to watch the flying machines of our predecessors. Watching vintage aircraft flying is like going through the pages of history of flying machines scripted by some of the yore flying geniuses.

Vintage flying machines of past times are often exhibited at airshows and static airshows. Vintage airshows brings together people from around the world to share their knowledge and interest in the aircraft of yesteryears. These airshows help keeping aviation history alive. They help flying enthusiasts to get together and share their views on flying. Furthermore, these shows are helpful in educating people about aircraft.

Often, the term vintage is used to define old things. Vintage cars are commonly defined as the cars built between the start of 1919 and the end of 1930. However, there are different opinions on the exact vintage period. According to some, the period starting with the end of the World War I and ending with the start of World War II is vintage era.
So, the aircraft belonging to old times or vintage period may be called vintage aircraft. Vintage aircraft include Aeronca 7AC Champ, Beech 18, Beech E17B Staggerwing, Bellanca 14-13 Cruisair, Bellanca 14-19 Cruisemaster, Bücker BU-131 Jungmann, Cessna 120, Cessna 140, Cessna 170, Cessna 190, Cessna 195, Commonwealth 185 Skyranger, De Havilland Chipmunk, Fairchild 24W, Fairchild PT-19, Fairchild PT-26, Fleet 7, Globe GC-1B Swift, Howard DGA-15, Luscombe 8A Silvaire, Monocoupe 110, Naval Aircraft Factory N3N, North American NA-50, Piper J-3 Cub, Piper PA-22 Tri-pacer, Rearwin 9000 Sportster, Ryan PT-22, Ryan STA, Stearman C3-R Business Speedster, Stearman PT-17, Stinson SR-10 Reliant, Stinson V-77, Taylorcraft BC-12D, Travel Air 4-D, Waco ASO, and Waco YKS-7.

Vintage aircraft are beauty to watch. These aircraft are the major attractions of air festivals. Oftentimes vintage aircraft are exhibited and flown at air festivals. Lots of people come to air festivals just to watch the shows of vintage aircraft. These airplanes are usually flown for the pleasure.

You can enjoy watching these vintage aircraft flying. You can watch them closely at static airshows. Most of the airshows allow you go closer and photograph these vintage flying machines. You can know a lot about your favorite vintage airplane, and can even have a chat with the pilots of vintage aircraft at air festivals.

So, if you are fond of vintage flying machines, what are you waiting for? Just rush and grab your tickets for vintage airshow and air festival that is scheduled on November 10th and 11th at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, FL. You can buy your tickets online.



Tuesday, 8 January 2013

Healthcare In Canada

Healthcare In Canada
By: http://northamericabase.com/
 Healthcare in Canada is a vital subject for anyone moving to or residing in Canada. The Federal Government does provide some funding from the taxpayer for the health system, however, each Province is individually responsible for its own Healthcare system.

There is a basic free system (Alberta, BC and Ontario charge the residents a healthcare tax or premium to pay for this!) that every legal resident and citizen of Canada is entitled to which includes access to a family doc...



There is a basic free system (Alberta, BC and Ontario charge the residents a healthcare tax or premium to pay for this!) that every legal resident and citizen of Canada is entitled to which includes access to a family doctor and most hospital treatment (definitely emergency care). This is governed by the Canada Health Act (1984) which lays down the basic entitlements of free coverage. Prescription drugs and supplies are provided in the hospitals in most cases as long as you remain an in patient.

The costs start to mount up for prescription drugs and medical supplies when you are not in hospital. Drugs are bought from the pharmacy at the standard cost which for specialist drugs can run into hundreds of dollars for one course of treatment. Other medical services will probably not be covered such as Physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment and massage therapy. Custom made medical supplies such as knee braces or orthotics can cost over a thousand dollars to purchase in some instances.

The amount of coverage and standard of Healthcare in Canada is described in detail on the main Government site but does vary between Provinces however.

Each Province also has its own regulations for the practitioner’s qualifications and even nurses will have to recertify if they move between Provinces. This does cause confusion to new migrants to Canada as most foreign qualifications just may not be enough and will most likely result in some level of retraining. Dental treatment is normally NOT included in the healthcare system and you will have to pay for treatment.

Many Canadian employers offer fairly comprehensive benefits packages that include coverage for Prescription drugs and other services such as physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment though this is most often only up to 80% of the cost. As each Province has different rules for qualifying times to gain access for the free service ensure you thoroughly research your Province of choice via the links above.

If your employment doesn't come with coverage or you wish to improve it you will need to take out a private policy

If you require short term coverage for when you first arrive in Canada, make sure you have a proper policy (travel insurance may not be sufficient) and CHECK you are covered.

For detailed information please visit http://www.onestopimmigration-canada.com/healthcare.html



Monday, 7 January 2013

Lake Cowichan Hotel - Cathy Youlden - Daryl Youlden - CQ enterprises Ltd

Lake Cowichan Hotel - Cathy Youlden - Daryl Youlden - CQ enterprises Ltd

By: http://northamericabase.com/
 Lake Cowichan BC riverfront accommodations. SCAMMER ALERT. Cathy Youlden and Daryl Youlden accommodations on lake cowichan riverfront. SCAMMER ALERT.
If you are considering staying in beautiful Lake Cowichan in British Columbia avoid Accomodations on Lake Cowichan Riverfront. Myself and a travel companion just returned from a 3 day stay and were basically mortified at our experience. Firstly, let me explain that we chose Accomodations on Lake Cowichan Riverfront primarily because they are pet friendly and we have one medium sized dog we travel with. Although the pictures on the website look fantastic the accomodations are anything but.

At first blush our room was extremely tiny and terribly filthy. There was a large iron burn on the rug and sheetrock dust everywhere, and oh, did I mention the overbearing smell of fresh latex paint! It was very apparent that the workers who had just renovated this unit were anything but qualified craftsmen.

Accomodations on Lake Cowichan Riverfront is located right in the heart of downtown Lake Cowichan and run by a baby toting hippie woman and her creepy boyfriend that is evidently stoned on something through out the entire waking hours.

When we first arrived to check in we were greeted by a poorly dressed hippy woman breast feeding a 3 year old child at the front desk, not that there is anything wrong with a woman breast feeding her child in public. But have some class! The grounds are poorly kept and there is no way you are going to relax on the 'wharf' as they call it. The river is very cold and the current is amazingly fast, swimming is definately a huge risk. The caretaker and her boyfriend can be located amidst wofting marijuana smoke clouds in a tent out back if you should require any assistance, but beware of their rotwiler / pitbull cross companion as he is very mean and running freely on the property. In fact he attacked our dog and others on more than one ocassion.

We also had the displeasure of meeting 'Cathy' the owner of the complex during our stay. All I can say is that the accomodations reflect her compulsive, extremely odd behavior. Avoid talking with her unless you want to spend an hour listening to someone tell you how great they are and how they know everything about anything.

I could go on and on but I am sure by now you get the point. There are many very nice bed and breakfasts within walking distance that we discovered through another family staying at the hotel that are pet friendly also. Accomodations on Lake Cowichan Riverfront doesn't even deserve a star rating and certainly isn't worth your time or money. If you are planning a stay in Lake Cowichan avoid Accomodations on Lake Cowichan Riverfront like the plauge.



Saturday, 5 January 2013

Costal Cottage Rentals: Your Own, Private Summer Vacation Destination

Costal Cottage Rentals:  Your Own, Private Summer Vacation Destination
By: http://northamericabase.com/
Every year, a large number of tourists flock to coastal beaches.  In fact, you may be one of those individuals.  Vacationing at the beach is nice, but many beaches are overcrowded and limited on privacy.  Do you ever wish that you could just rent your own private coastal cottage?  Many only dream of renting a costal cottage, but that dream can easily become a reality.

Costal beaches are not a well-kept secret.  They are one the of most popular summer vacation destinations in the world.  However, costal cottage rentals can easily be considered a well-kept secret.  Many individuals and families do not even know they exist.  If this existence is known, there are many who believe the cost will exceed their vacation budget.  In many cases, this is simply not true. 

Throughout the world, including the United States and Europe, there are a number of popular vacation destinations that offer costal cottage rentals.  If you are interested in renting a costal cottage, you may be wondering how a popular vacation destination can offer you privacy.  The level of privacy you receive will all depend on where you choose to vacation. 

In the United States and much of Europe, costal cottage rentals are located near a popular vacation destination. They do not have to be right in the middle of the excitement to be considered a popular vacation “hot spot.”  You may find that number of costal cottage rentals that are within a short drive or walking distance to many public facilities and activities. These activities may include, but are not limited to, swimming on a public beach, fishing, or sightseeing. 

When selecting a location to rent a costal cottage, there are a number of important factors that you may want to consider.  One of those factors is the price of renting a cottage.  In the Untied States and much of the world, cottage rentals are available up and down the coasts. Each of these locations are likely to charge different rental fees. You will find that in most areas pricing is competitive.

In addition to the cost of a costal cottage rental, you will also want to examine who owns the cottage.  A large number of private landowners are beginning to notice the profits that they can receive from rentals.  Other costal cottage rentals are often owned by vacation resorts.  When selecting a cottage rental, it is important to ensure that you doing business with a trustworthy company or individual.

Before booking a reservation, you are encouraged to request pictures.  These pictures should come from the specific cottage that you are interested in renting.  Cottage pictures may be able to determine the exact cottage location, when compared to the coast.  They may also enable you to determine which rooms and services can be found onsite.  Determining whether or not the cottage has a kitchen, dining room, or laundry room is important, especially when preparing for your vacation.

In addition to costal cottage conditions, you way want to consider researching nearby activities.  These activities may be important if you don’t plan on spending your whole vacation at the cottage.  In many popular summer vacation destinations, you should be able to find a large number of restaurants, theme parks, ocean boat tours, and guided fishing expeditions.  The closer your cottage rental is to a popular summer vacation destination, the more access you will have to offsite activities, services, and facilities.

Once you have made the decision to rent a costal cottage and you have selected a destination, you are encouraged to schedule your reservations as soon as possible.  All around the world, costal cottage rentals are increasing in popularity.  This popularity may make it difficult or impossible for you to obtain last minute cottage rentals.  As with all other vacations, you are encouraged to plan ahead. 

Costal Cottage Rentals: Your Own, Private Summer Vacation Destination

 Costal Cottage Rentals:  Your Own, Private Summer Vacation Destination
By: http://northamericabase.com/

Every year, a large number of tourists flock to coastal beaches.  In fact, you may be one of those individuals.  Vacationing at the beach is nice, but many beaches are overcrowded and limited on privacy.  Do you ever wish that you could just rent your own private coastal cottage?  Many only dream of renting a costal cottage, but that dream can easily become a reality.

Costal beaches are not a well-kept secret.  They are one the of most popular summer vacation destinations in the world.  However, costal cottage rentals can easily be considered a well-kept secret.  Many individuals and families do not even know they exist.  If this existence is known, there are many who believe the cost will exceed their vacation budget.  In many cases, this is simply not true. 

Throughout the world, including the United States and Europe, there are a number of popular vacation destinations that offer costal cottage rentals.  If you are interested in renting a costal cottage, you may be wondering how a popular vacation destination can offer you privacy.  The level of privacy you receive will all depend on where you choose to vacation. 

In the United States and much of Europe, costal cottage rentals are located near a popular vacation destination. They do not have to be right in the middle of the excitement to be considered a popular vacation “hot spot.”  You may find that number of costal cottage rentals that are within a short drive or walking distance to many public facilities and activities. These activities may include, but are not limited to, swimming on a public beach, fishing, or sightseeing. 

When selecting a location to rent a costal cottage, there are a number of important factors that you may want to consider.  One of those factors is the price of renting a cottage.  In the Untied States and much of the world, cottage rentals are available up and down the coasts. Each of these locations are likely to charge different rental fees. You will find that in most areas pricing is competitive.

In addition to the cost of a costal cottage rental, you will also want to examine who owns the cottage.  A large number of private landowners are beginning to notice the profits that they can receive from rentals.  Other costal cottage rentals are often owned by vacation resorts.  When selecting a cottage rental, it is important to ensure that you doing business with a trustworthy company or individual.

Before booking a reservation, you are encouraged to request pictures.  These pictures should come from the specific cottage that you are interested in renting.  Cottage pictures may be able to determine the exact cottage location, when compared to the coast.  They may also enable you to determine which rooms and services can be found onsite.  Determining whether or not the cottage has a kitchen, dining room, or laundry room is important, especially when preparing for your vacation.

In addition to costal cottage conditions, you way want to consider researching nearby activities.  These activities may be important if you don’t plan on spending your whole vacation at the cottage.  In many popular summer vacation destinations, you should be able to find a large number of restaurants, theme parks, ocean boat tours, and guided fishing expeditions.  The closer your cottage rental is to a popular summer vacation destination, the more access you will have to offsite activities, services, and facilities.

Once you have made the decision to rent a costal cottage and you have selected a destination, you are encouraged to schedule your reservations as soon as possible.  All around the world, costal cottage rentals are increasing in popularity.  This popularity may make it difficult or impossible for you to obtain last minute cottage rentals.  As with all other vacations, you are encouraged to plan ahead. 

Friday, 4 January 2013

Booking Your Summer Vacation: What Are Your Options

Booking Your Summer Vacation: What Are Your Options
http://northamericabase.com/

This year a large number of couples and families intend to take a summer vacation. Summer vacations are popular. In fact, they are so popular that it is likely that you are interested in taking one. When it comes to booking a summer vacation, there are a number of ways that you can make your reservations.

Before making summer vacation reservations, you will have to select a summer vacation destination. Without a destination in mind, it is impossible to make reservations. When selecting a summer vacation destination, it is important that you consider a number of factors. These factors should include whether you are traveling with children, the age of your children, and the cost of travel. Keeping these factors in mind will enable you to select the summer vacation destination that will best fit your needs.

After you have selected a summer vacation destination, you can begin to make reservations. A large number of amusement parks, campgrounds, and hotels in the United States do not require reservations. Despite the fact that reservations may not be required, it is still advised that you make them. Popular summer vacation “hotspots,” quickly fill up with vacationing tourists. Without the proper reservations, you may be left without the necessary accommodations.

When it comes to booking a summer vacation, a large number of travelers use the assistance of a travel agent. Travel agents are individuals who specialize in researching and arranging vacations for their clients. Travel agents are popular because they allow clients to spend more time completing their daily activities, instead of having to research and plan a summer vacation.

If given the opportunity most families would prefer to use the services of a travel agent. Unfortunately, services of a travel agent do not come free. If you are interested in planning a summer vacation, on a budget, you may want to consider making your own reservations. In a few simple minutes, you could easily make reservations online or over the phone. Not only should your reservations include hotel accommodations, but travel accommodations as well.

Aside from car travel, air travel is one of the most preferred methods of travel for arriving at summer vacation destinations. If you are interested in booking your airline reservations online, you need to find the online website of the airline you wish to fly with. Popular airlines include, but are not limited to, Delta, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Northwest Airlines. Each of these airlines has an online website that should allow the online booking of reservations.

Unless you are camping outdoors, it is likely that you will need to reserve a hotel room. Unless you plan on staying at smaller resort, you should be able to make online reservations. Most of the well known hotel chains, including Holiday Inn, Hampton Inns, Super 8, and Motel 6, have online websites. Specialty resorts that are located in popular summer vacation destinations, including California or Florida, are likely to also allow online booking.

When it comes to overnight stays, most individuals would prefer to stay at a hotel, but not everyone. A large number of families enjoy vacations that are centered on the outdoors. These vacations often involve camping outdoors. Even if you plan on vacationing at a state park or a public campground, you are still urged to make a reservation. Public campgrounds and state parks are often limited on the amount of camping space they have. Making a reservation will ensure that you are guaranteed a place to set up your tent or park your RV trailer.

To book a popular vacation destination, but at a discount, you may want to looking the services offered by online travel websites. These websites tend to offer discounts on popular hotels, airlines, and restaurants all around the world. The only downside to using the services offered by an online discount travel website is that they tend to focus only on popular summer vacation destinations. If you are looking to vacation at an unknown resort, you may be unable to use the services of a discount travel website.

Whether you choose to use the services of a discount travel website, a professional travel agent, or you intend you make your own vacation reservations, you are encouraged to take the appropriate steps. Anticipating room at the hottest summer vacation destinations is a costly mistake that could possibly ruin your vacation. Don’t make that mistake; book your reservations ahead of time.

Thursday, 3 January 2013

Guidelines To Choose The Right Airlines Credit Card

Guidelines To Choose The Right Airlines Credit Card

By: http://northamericabase.com/
An airlines card earns credits or points whenever the card is used. Choosing an airline card will not be difficult, if you travel frequently with a certain airline. If you use various airlines, then it is wise to select from airline cards that provide more flexibility in their redemption and reward systems. An airlines credit card is usually best suited for business travelers.

Selecting the right airline card could be a major task so you need to ask yourself some preliminary questions before considering any airline credit card.

1. Which is the airline you frequently fly or prefer to fly? The first question is to determine your most frequented airline. If you prefer to travel by a selected carrier, it is better to check whether they have their own airline credit card. Since most of the airlines today have partnered with credit card companies, the chances are that they will have their own card. However, if you tend to fly by the cheapest or the easiest available carrier at the time of your travel, you will have to consider an airline card that offers greater flexibility. Some cards have alliance partnerships with various airlines, offering greater flexibility to you.

2. What is the frequency of your air travel per year? These cards are based on point accumulation system with the accumulated points expiring after a certain period. If you are not a frequent flyer, then you may not benefit from these cards, as you will not be accumulating enough points to avail the reduced or free travel. Conversely, if you are a frequent flyer, then ensure that the card you have chosen has favorable blackout dates and preferably no cap or maximum allowable points that can be earned. In most cases, however, there are restrictions on the number of points that you can earn and blackout dates when you will not be able to redeem your reduced or free travel privileges.

3. What are the benefits versus fees on the card? In general, airline cards have high interest rates and annual fees. It is important to evaluate the annual fees paid versus the reduced or free mile travel earned per year. An airline card will not be attractive if the annual fee is more than what you will earn as free or reduced travel. In addition, you could be paying hefty finance charges, if you are not able to pay the balance on the card in full every month. In which case, it is better to choose a credit card with a low interest rate and no frills attached than the rewards program.

It is important to research the number of points required to accumulate in order to qualify for free air travel. To get maximum benefits from your airlines card, consider these additional factors prior to making your choice:

Flexibility of the Card: Your card has to be flexible to be used in many places including restaurants and shopping malls. Points are added every time you make a purchase using the card but sometimes certain purchases add more points. It is essential to use airline cards in such cases to avoid accumulating large balances.

Cap on Accumulated Points: Most cards have a cap on the number of points that can be accumulated. If you are a frequent flyer, it is better to read this fine print. Most of these cards have rewards based on predetermined level of points.

Redemption Criteria: Mostly during high season, airlines and hotels do not encourage redemption of miles or use of free or reduced travel privileges as they already have a built in level of demand at that period of time. It is critical to check for the redemption criteria and blackout dates if any prior to application for the card.

Annual Fees: It is essential to do a cost benefit analysis on the various available airline credit cards before selecting one. If you do not travel a great deal, it is better to go for a card with a low or no annual fee and a decent set of rewards. If you are a frequent flyer, you can choose one with higher annual fees and excellent rewards that should more than offset the additional cost.

Terms and Conditions: It is important to read the terms and conditions as well, otherwise known as the fine print regarding such things as balance transfer details, upgrading to higher limit cards, interest rates, debt consolidation using your airline credit card so that you may secure maximum benefit from the use of the card.

Other Services: Certain cards provide travel insurance and discounts on car rental and hotels. Some also provide cash advances in emergencies. Obviously, you have to compare various cards on these to get the best one suited to your lifestyle.

Competition in the market forces credit card and airline companies to frequently change their airlines card product offering to remain competitive in the marketplace. However, it is recommended that once you choose the most suitable airline card for you that you do not change cards unless there are huge benefits in doing so. If you consider signing up for an airlines credit card, it is better to make an informed decision based on long-term benefit, rather than be carried away by the marketing and short-term promotional gimmicks of these companies.



Wednesday, 2 January 2013

Bus Travel


Bus Travel
By: http://northamericabase.com/
 Bus travel is one of the most underrated ways to get somewhere. Although a lot of people prefer to travel by plane, I have always liked traveling by bus. When you traveled by bus, you get a chance to take it slow. You see the scenes and sites around the country, talk to the people around you, and relax and let the driver do the work. You don't have to deal with the hassle of airport security, and you certainly don't have to pay airport prices.

I like to travel by bus and train because I like to not worry about getting there quickly. Sometimes, you miss the connection or your bus breaks down and you have to take a little bit longer. It doesn't matter, however, because there are always people to talk to and the prices are low enough that you can afford to be a little bit late. Anyway, bus travel is a lot more reliable than it used to be. Out of a good 50 bus trips in the past two years, I have only run into two breakdowns that cost a serious amount of time.

One of the things that you have to keep in mind about bus travel is that your bags are your responsibility. It isn't like the airlines at all. When you buy airline tickets, you check your bags at the gate and pick them up when you leave. The airline make sure that they get there safely with a reasonably high rate of success. With bus travel, however, you might want to keep an eye on your bags when you change buses. When there is a change, the bus drivers will load and unload bags that are scheduled to be moved. It is easy for them to miss yours if you don't keep an eye open. I've had it happen to me more than once, and it can be a big hassle. Nonetheless, it is easy to avoid as long as you make sure to get out of the bus and watch what the driver is doing.

Greyhound bus travel is by far the most popular kind. In most of the country, they run the majority of the buses. Part of it is quality and part of it is brand name recognition. When people think about cross-country bus travel, they automatically picture a Greyhound bus. I've been in more of their buses than American Coachways or any of the other companies

Tuesday, 1 January 2013

Airline Travel Tips to Costa Rica

Airline Travel Tips to Costa Rica
http://www.northamericabase.com

There are several ways to get to Costa Rica and you need to know a few things before you start out. First things first, you need to get your passport in order. This sounds rudimentary and not worth mentioning but you would be surprised how many people that I know personally that have planned and paid for their trip to Costa Rica and show up at the airport without a passport. Airline travel to Costa Rica and most other foreign countries by U.S. residents requires that the traveler hold a valid passport. You can get a passport at any U.S. Post Office in about three to six weeks. If you need it faster there are agencies that you can go to that will process it in as little as two days, but it will cost considerably more.

When contemplating airline travel to Costa Rica, it will depend on what airport you are leaving from. Delta flies the most planes there but you need to fly to the Atlanta airport and I personally dislike this place. It is so big you have to take a little subway train from one terminal to the other. It is noisy and unless you have a pass to the Admiralty Club, you will find yourself waiting many hours on hard plastic chairs surrounded by screaming infants and self important yahoos trying to impress you by talking as loud as they can into their cell phones about giant business deals they are supposedly putting together. So if you live on the West Coast, you may want to consider Continental Airlines. They also do not travel direct to Costa Rica, but their pit stop is at Houston International Airport, which is not only closer (three hours from the West Coast as opposed to six and a half hours to Atlanta) but also, in my opinion, much more comfortable and far less crowded and noisy.

Also, another requirement of airline travel to a foreign country is that after the flight back home you will be subjected to having to pass through U.S. Customs. In Atlanta chances are you will end up in a gigantic line of tourists and citizens and have to wait for over an hour just to get cleared (hopefully) and sent through to baggage. There you will have to pick up your bags and then redirect them to your final destination. You will also undergo another rigor of modern airline travel which is the Security line and again, at Atlanta, this is huge and snakes around for what seems to be several city blocks. Once again, Houston is much easier in regards to these two aspects and you will be glad you chose Continental. While airline travel to Costa Rica can be rigorous and even downright tedious for some, these tips can help you to make your flight more enjoyable.