Winn-ing Vacations: Travel & Entertainment Resource

Travel Tip Tuesday - Kids Traveling Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Wed, 16 May 2007 02:31:00 +0000

What should I bring along on the trip?

* Pediatrician's name, regular and emergency phone numbers.

* Extra eyeglasses or contacts if you have them.

* Medications and prescriptions. Be sure to carry the generic names of medicines with you since the brand names of many medications may vary by region.

* An address book with your child's friends' names and addresses so they can send out postcards.

* A nightlight to help light up an unfamiliar room.

* If your child uses a step up to see the bathroom mirror in your house, you might bring it along.
* Items to childproof a room, such as outlet plugs and pipe cleaners. Use pipe cleaners to hold up curtain cords or close cabinets.

* If you are traveling with an infant, don't forget to bring a bottle brush and some dish soap.

* Baby wipes are good to bring in the car, as well as little bottles of water.

* If it's small enough, bring along your child's favorite toy.

* Their blanket, if they are still of the age where a blanket is a close personal friend.

* Updated pictures of your children in case they wander off. You'll need recent pictures so others can help you look for them.

How should I pack for my children?

* Consider packing each complete outfit in separate clear bags. Keeping an entire outfit in a bag will allow them to pick out one complete outfit so they'll have everything they need to get ready in one place. This will help you to organize your packing for them, and also save them time getting ready on the trip. The plastic bags will help with wrinkling. Since all their items will be together, it will help keep them from digging through all your clothes looking for parts of their outfits. They can then use the plastic bags to collect their dirty clothes.

* Use freezer bags with a seal for all their little stuff so it doesn't end up mixed in all your clothes.

* Put some of your items in their luggage and put some of their items in your luggage. This will give you both something to fall back on in case either of your bags goes missing.

* Just as you should with your own, make sure you completely label the inside and outside of their luggage with complete contact and itinerary information.

* Extra shoes and an extra swimsuit.

Tips provided by YTB.

Travel Tip Tuesday - Business Travel

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Wed, 09 May 2007 03:53:00 +0000

When traveling for business...

Make sure you have all of your electrical necessities charged. (i.e. cell phone, laptop, palm pilot) You may want to pack these types of items in your carry on luggage to avoid any delays with the airport security. You will also want to make sure you have an additional copy of any presentation or paperwork that you plan to present for your trip. (i.e. PowerPoint presentation, contracts, charts, or research.)

Tips provided by YTB.

Travel Tip Tuesday - Foreign Car Rental

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Tue, 01 May 2007 12:45:00 +0000

How are car rentals outside the United States different from those here?

Every country has its own rules, but here's a list of some items you may want to consider:

*You may need an international driver's license or permit in addition to your U.S. driver's license.

*Some countries charge a fee for a permit that allows you to drive on their roads.

*The rental contract may not be in English. See if they have rental contracts or at least an explanation of contract terms available in English. Also, see if they will have any English speaking counter personnel available to assist you when you arrive.

*Your personal insurance or credit card coverage may not be valid or acceptable to the rental company, so you may need to purchase extra coverage.

*Most rental car fleets outside the U.S. are made up of much smaller cars.

*Many foreign rental fleets will have a large percentage of manual transmission automobiles.

*A car with air-conditioning may be considered an upgrade in some foreign fleets.

*Road signage may be in unfamiliar languages and the colors and shapes of those signs may be different than those in the U.S.

*The direction of the lanes may be opposite of those in the U.S.

*Road conditions may be considerably worse than those found in the U.S.

*Gauges may only read in the metric system, 100 kilometers = 60 miles.

*Gasoline is usually considerably more expensive and is often sold by the liter,
3.78 liters = 1 gallon.

*Many countries have even higher taxes on rental cars than those in the U.S.

*Fuel prices are often considerably higher than those found in the U.S.

*Some countries have both a minimum and a maximum rental age.

Tips provided by YTB.

Travel Tip Tuesday - Car Rentals

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:32:00 +0000

When you rent a car, don't accept the insurance options the company wants you to buy. Check with your own auto insurance agent to see if you're covered under your policy, or use a premium credit card that offers travel insurance.

Check the rental car carefully before you leave the rental lot. If you see any damage, have an official of the company note it on the rental contract before you leave.

If you're renting for five days or more, a weekly rental will provide a large discount.

Tips provided by YTB.

Travel Tip Tuesday - Kids Travelling Alone

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:38:00 +0000

What will my child need to carry if they are traveling alone?

* A valid ticket, identification and any other paperwork the airline requires.

* Written contact names, phone numbers, and address at home.

* Written contact names, phone number and address at their destination.

* Complete written itineraries with flight numbers, flight times and gate information if available.

* Include information on whom, when and where they are meeting at their destination.

* Some cash.

* A calling card or instructions on how to call collect.

* On-plane entertainment.

Tips provided by YTB.

Travel Tip Tuesday - Researching Travel

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 02:56:00 +0000

What type of research should I do before I travel?

If you are traveling abroad here are the top 10 tips you need to make your trip easier:

1. Do some research, learn as much as you can about your destination.

2. Check to see what type of weather the area has so you can plan accordingly.

3. Check to see what type of paperwork and documentation you will need to travel.

4. Find out what type of diseases are common to the area you'll be visiting and take actions to prevent your exposure to those diseases.

5. Check your own medical coverage to see what type of coverage you'll have when away from home. Consider purchasing trip insurance.

6. If you plan on driving, get your car ready and investigate the local road conditions, laws and other driving requirements.

7. Do some research about the costs of local items so you can set your budget. Don't forget to budget for taxes and tipping. Many governments charge high taxes for travel related services.

8.Check the dates of local major holidays or festivals, since services may be limited on those dates.

Tips provided by YTB.

Travel Tip Tuesday - Shopping Abroad

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 02:27:00 +0000

What should I know about shopping abroad?

* In many countries of the world, negotiation on the price of an item is appropriate and often expected.
* Satisfaction guaranteed is much more widely practiced in the United States. Make sure you are familiar with their return and exchange policies.
* Many countries do not enforce copyright laws, the logo you see may have nothing to do with the company it represents to you. Check to see if the item is a fake.
* Some items for sale may need a special license for export. This is especially true for antiques, works of art or other items of cultural significance.
* Taxes can make up an even larger percentage of the purchase price than you will find in the United States.
* Duty free may only mean the items are free from duty where they are sold. U.S. Customs have their own guidelines for taxation when you return.

What does Caveat Emptor mean?

* It means the buyer beware. Remember that merchants know that putting up a duty free sign often means bargain to many. There are some great buys to be had, but make sure your purchases are good values. Stick with brand names you know and make sure those brand names are spelled right on the product. In other words, make sure it's not a fake. Also, duty free may just mean it is duty free where you are buying it. U.S. Customs have their own guidelines for taxation when you return.

Tips provided by YTB.

Travel Tip Tuesday - Packing For Your Cruise

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 02:29:00 +0000

What do I need to pack?

* Everything you would need, if you were staying at a resort hotel in the same geographic area of your cruise.
* Avoid overpacking by reading the recommended dress section of the cruise literature that will be mailed to you after you book.
* Check to see if they have a theme night or talent show where you might need some special outfits. Even in the warm Caribbean, you might need a sweater on the decks at night. The air conditioning can also be icy.
* Pack some comfortable rubber soled shoes to get around on the decks.
* Bring a pocket calculator to help you figure your ports of call exchange rates.
* Bring a white T-shirt if you plan on going snorkeling or you may have a burned back when you are done.
* You might also pack some drinking straws to use while at port. This will help you to avoid touching your lips to a can's top. The top might be covered with contaminants that will make you sick.

Aren't cruise ships really formal?

* No, cruising isn't just for the stuffed shirt crowd anymore. Casual attire is appropriate for almost all of your cruise.

Will I need any formal clothes?

* No, you'll also be able to find a great variety of types of cruises in many areas of the globe. Yes, cruises still have dinners where more formal clothes are appropriate. The last night of a cruise is usually a formal night, and a seven-day cruise will usually have two formal nights. These are the meals that used to require tuxedos or cocktail dresses. They are now optional but, if you have them dust them off and bring them along. Many Cruise Lines will rent tuxedos, so you can check into this option before you go. Fewer passengers are taking this option and a dark suit and dresses are perfectly appropriate and will probably be the most common passenger attire for the formal nights. On the other nights a sport coat and tie or pants suit are appropriate. Some Cruise Lines are recommending even more casual attire such as sport shirt and pants on all but the formal night. Read your cruise packet or check out the Line's web page for your particular ship's recommendation.

What should I pack in my carry-on bags?

* Items of value that should never go in your checked luggage such as cash, jewelry, medication, travel documents and a list of everything in your checked baggage.
* Since luggage is often not delivered to your cabin until after your first dinner, be prepared and pack a change of clothes.
* You might also consider one-day items, in other words all the items you would need to make it through a 24-hour day, just in case your luggage goes missing.
* Keep lots of crisp one-dollar bills wherever you keep your money. This will come in handy when dealing with all the skycaps and porters.

Tips provided by YTB.

Travel Tip Tuesday - Things To Do the Day You Leave - Road Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:44:00 +0000

1. Check out the route, know what roads you are planning on taking and find out if you need to avoid any road construction so you can avoid unnecessary delays.

2. Find some areas to take breaks along the way so your trip is less tiresome.

3. Play games in the car to help shorten the trip. Hunt for different license plate numbers, see who can add up license plate numbers of the cars that pass you the quickest. Kids get a head start since they are in the backseat. Play "I spy". See who can find the most out of state license plates. See who can find the most models of cars.

4. Bring along games or toys to help shorten the ride. Avoid items with lots of small pieces.

5. You might also consider small prizes or presents at regular intervals along the trip. New toys often receive the most interest and will help keep your child occupied.

6. If your children are old enough, give them a map of their own. Have them keep track of your progress by making them the navigator.

7. Schedule a quiet time for everyone in the car to enjoy. But, enforce the rules so adults are included and must also obey this rule.

8. Buy some new interesting audio books for a story time while on the trip.

9. If your music interests are vastly different than your children's, you might consider getting them a portable CD or tape player and bring lots of batteries. But, agree in advance about its usage times.

10. Take advantage of this time together and talk to your kids.

11. Wake up sleepers a few minutes before you arrive at stops. This will give them time to adjust and be ready to get out as soon as the car stops.

Tips provided by YTB.

Travel Tip Tuesday - Traveling Abroad

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 03:23:00 +0000

If you are traveling abroad here are the top 10 tips you need to make your trip easier:

1. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport!

2. Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit.

3. Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, the U.S. Constitution does not follow you! While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.

4. Make 2 copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport.

5. Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

6. Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers.

7. Prior to your departure, you should register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate through the State Department's travel registration website . Registration will make your presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an emergency. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts may not be released without your express authorization. Remember to leave a detailed itinerary and the numbers or copies of your passport or other citizenship documents with a friend or relative in the United States.

8. To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards.

9. In order to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques.

10. If you get into trouble, contact the nearest U.S. embassy.

Tips provided by YTB.

How can I pick the best cruise for my children?

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 15:18:00 +0000

Just like with adults, you want to find the best match in a cruise for the kids. Some Cruise Lines specialize in programs for children to draw lots of families. Other lines are better for the adult crowd. You'll have to do some research to find the best Cruise Line for your kids. Some Cruise Lines will have more for small children, while others will cover the full range of ages. Use the questions below as a guide to help you find the best cruise for your children.

* Do the Cruise Lines brochures and web pages look as if they were designed to attract families?
* Do you see items on the ship's menu your child will enjoy eating?
* Do they have a children's menu available at each meal?
* What types of activities do they have planned for children?
* Will the special services and events for children be available whenever I wish to cruise or are they only limited to a certain time of the year?
* Does the ship have a pool just for children?
* Will they show any movies or have special entertainment appropriate for children?
* Will you visit any ports of call your children will find interesting?
* Do they have any shore excursions designed to be fun for kids?
* What types of discount programs are available for children?
* How old can my children be and still be eligible for the children�s discount?
* Are discounts available for the 3rd and 4th passengers in my cabin?
* Are cots or cribs available?
* Can I book adjoining cabins?
* What is the minimum age limit for a passenger?
* Does the ship have a dedicated child care center or playroom?
* Does the ship have a dedicated teen center?

Tips provided by YTB.

Travel Tips Tuesday - Carrying ATM and Credit Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:55:00 +0000

Should I use my credit card when I travel?

*Take your major credit cards, such as, Visa, Master Card and American Express. Make sure they are really credit cards and not just debit cards with a credit card company's logo on them. Many locations require a credit card and will not accept a debit card, so they may have limited use on your travel. Leave all your local store credit cards in a secure location at home; there will be no need to carry them with you.

*Yes, using your credit card can be more valuable than using cash, so use it when you can. You'll probably be able to get a better exchange rate than changing money to spend yourself. You'll be in a stronger position; the credit card company can often charge back disputed charges. Many times your credit card will offer an extra guarantee or warranty when you purchase items with your card, but you'll want to read the fine print for exceptions. You won�t have to risk your safety by carrying and displaying large amounts of cash. If you lose your card, most credit cards have a low maximum liability limit if you quickly report the card as lost.

Should I use my ATM card while traveling?

Yes, with the ability to draw out small amounts of cash as needed, you can avoid the risk of traveling with large amounts of cash. Using your ATM card can also be a good way to get cash in foreign countries. The ATM will issue money in local currency. Don't wait until you're out of money to go to an ATM, the machines can run out of money or break down. Call your bank to make sure your PIN number will work in foreign countries. Find out your daily limits and plan ahead. You may need to take out money little by little or ask to have your daily limit increased. Use your ATM card before you go, to make sure it is still good. If you go through many airport security checks, remember that the security scans can demagnetize your cards. You might want to ask for a visual inspection.

Tips provided by YTB

Travel Tip Tuesday - Car Rental

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 13:58:00 +0000

Rent a Car in Europe, Rent a Limo or RV . Please visit my booking engine for all of your car rental needs. Just click on the Cars button.

*When you rent a car, don't accept the insurance options the company wants you to buy. Check with your own auto insurance agent to see if you're covered under your policy, or use a premium credit card that offers travel insurance.

*Check the rental car carefully before you leave the rental lot. If you see any damage, have an official of the company note it on the rental contract before you leave.

*If you're renting for five days or more, a weekly rental will provide a large discount.

Update to travel with liquids in UK

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 04:24:00 +0000

Starting Monday 6 November, passengers may now carry a limited quantity of liquids, ie. gels, lotions, pastes, liquid cosmetics, foams and foodstuffs in their hand baggage when going through UK airport security checkpoints.

To avoid any unnecessary delays to your journey Department of Transport advises all passengers to continue to pack permitted liquid items in their checked in baggage. If you need to carry liquid items on board, please read the following requirements with care to ensure you arrive at the airport prepared.

• All liquids must be in individual containers not greater than 100ml capacity.
• All containers must be placed in one transparent re-sealable bag (such as 'ziplock' bags or bags with pressable seals), no larger than 20cm x 20cm (8" x 8") in size and not larger that one litre in capacity. The containers must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be fastened closed.
• Only one transparent re-sealable bag per passenger is allowed. Larger bags or bags that are non-sealable, such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed
• The one transparent re-sealable bag must fit into your single piece of hand luggage.
• Each passenger must remove their clear plastic bag from their hand baggage and place it in on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening.
• Liquids in containers of more than 100ml capacity must be packed in your checked in baggage.

Remember that 'liquids' include;
• all drinks, including water, soup and syrups
• creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara etc
• sprays and pressurized containers including shaving foam and spray deodorants
• pastes, including toothpastes
• gels, including hair, shower gel and lip gloss
• any other solutions and items of similar consistency.

Essential medicines and baby food may be permitted in larger quantities above the 100ml limit, but will be subject to the authentication that is already currently required.

Cabin baggage size remains unchanged - You are restricted to carrying only one item (in addition to the re-sealable liquids bag) through the airport search point. Cabin baggage must not exceed a maximum length of 56 cm, width of 36 cm and depth of 23 cm including wheels, handles, side pockets etc.

DUTY FREE

• You may take on board liquid items of any size that are purchased after the security check in the Departure lounge (sometimes referred to as 'Airside') at any EU airport.
• Most duty free or similar purchases will be given to you in a special sealed bag. Do not open this bag until you have reached your final destination. You should also retain your proof of purchase throughout your journey. You will be required to show it at all transfer points.
• Please note restrictions apply to duty free purchases made on return journeys where passengers change flights at an EU airport. These are explained in detail in the next section.

SPECIAL INFORMATION FOR TRANSIT PASSENGERS

If your journey involves changing flights at any EU airport, special restrictions apply. You may only take liquid duty free purchases above 100ml through the security check point at your connecting airport if they have been purchased at another EU airport or in Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, or on board an aircraft operated by an EU carrier or a carrier of Iceland, Norway or Switzerland. You will need to show proof of purchase to demonstrate this. Liquid purchases of more than 100ml bought from other airports or on board other airlines may only be carried as checked in baggage on the connecting flight.

The member states of the European Union are:

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

Info from virgin-atlantic

Using the Web to Jump-Start Your Business

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 16:05:00 +0000

When was the last time you went surfing? While surfing is a popular water sport, it's also a term for online browsing. Clients surfing the Internet could be looking for your Web site. Maybe it's time to make the most out of the information superhighway.

A Web site might be the first introduction potential customers have to your business. Here are some tips to help you create a Web site that will give them the best first impression and encourage them to use your products or services:

Know Your Audience
A common online marketing mistake is to try to target too many audiences. There are 938 million users on the Internet. Marketing to all of those eyeballs is simply not effective and can be very costly. If your target customer group is women ages 14-27, it does you no good to spend time and money marketing your site to men ages 55-90. Take the time to find your customer, and customize your approach to people who actually search for and therefore want to buy your product or service.

Build a Second Site
A second common mistake is to have just one e-commerce Web site. Instead, you should build several sites that appropriately customize your sales approach to different audiences. This allows you to effectively sell the same product to different target groups using unique messaging, design and tone. One way to do this is by building a second site in a different language that can be more easily searched by customers according to their language-specific search terms, which can help increase your revenue

Get Specific
Try to avoid marketing dissimilar products on the same site. This will let you take advantage of the way Web users tend to search. People shop on the Internet by looking for specific items or categories of items. Selling tools and bedspreads on the same site will lower your search engine rankings and cause you to lose sales. Instead, start off selling one type of product and sell it well. You can always branch out in the future.

When considering the appearance of your online business, be sure to:
• Create clean, structured pages.
• Make navigation user friendly and accessible.
• Incorporate both pictures and text.
• Choose colors and fonts wisely.
• Check your site carefully before going live.
• Keep information current.

If you don't have the skills needed to create the site yourself or don't have time to commit to the project, hire someone. Even if you're on a limited budget, chances are you can find a Web master in your price range

Article by K. Shelby Skrhak from Success From Home Magazine Jan 2007

Top 10 Haunted Hotels

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 03:51:00 +0000

Top 10: haunted hotels from TripAdvisor

1. Farnsworth House Inn, Gettysburg, Pa.
2. St. James Hotel, Cimarron, N.M.
3. Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast, Fall River, Mass.
4. The Menger Hotel, San Antonio, Texas
5. Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colo.
6. Lemp Mansion Restaurant & Inn, St. Louis, Mo.
7. Rosario Resort and Spa, Orcas Island, Wash.
8. Buxton Inn, Granville, Ohio
9. Crescent Hotel & Spa, Eureka Springs, Ark.
10. Wyndham Bourbon Orleans Hotel

Top 10 Fall Escapes

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 03:04:00 +0000

Top 10: fall's finest escapes
When the chill creeps into the air, new pleasures await travelers: brilliant fall foliage, hot apple cider on cool evenings, smaller crowds at popular destinations. These are TripAdvisor's favorite fall getaways.

1. Munich, Germany
2. Napa Valley, Calif.
3. Montreal, Quebec
4. Asheville, N.C.
5. Woodstock, Vt.
6. Vancouver, Canada
7. Lake Placid, N.Y.
8. Camden, Maine
9. Mystic, Conn.
10. Aberdeen, Scotland

Favorite Fall Destinations

Is it the leaf peeping? Oktoberfest? Or the relaxing feeling of a glass of wine on a cool autumn evening? Whatever it is, in a recent TripAdvisor survey of more than 2,400 travelers, 83 percent will take a vacation this fall. If you're one of these folks, we've got the destinations for you!

Wine Getaways
Napa Valley, Calif.
Tuscany, Italy
Bordeaux, France

New England Foliage
Woodstock, Vt.
Camden, Maine
Lenox, Mass.

Beer Destinations
Munich, Germany
Dublin, Ireland
Brussels, Belgium

Travel Tip Tuesday - Packing

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 14:56:00 +0000

Packing Suggestions For a Smooth Trip

*Place undeveloped film and cameras with film in carry-on luggage ONLY.

*Place valuables such as jewelry, laptop computers and cash in carry-on luggage ONLY.

*Keep all medication and pre-printed prescription containers in carry-on luggage.

*If you are carrying sporting goods, pack them in checked baggage ONLY: baseball and cricket bats, bows and arrows, golf clubs, hockey sticks, hunting and scuba knives, martial arts devices, pool cues, ski poles. For a complete listing of prohibited items go to http://www.tsa.gov/ and refer to Travelers and Consumers Permitted and Prohibited Items.

*Limit your belongings to one carry-on bag plus one personal item such as a laptop computer, purse, briefcase, small backpack or camera case.

*Check with your airline for checked baggage weight and size restrictions.

To find a wide selection of travel size products, check out minimus.biz. If you type the word "ZIPLOCK" in the "special instructions" section during checkout, they will include a free quart size ziplock bag, and pack your travel size items into the bag for you!

Halloween Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 12:21:00 +0000

It's Friday the 13th which means only 18 more days until Halloween.

Halloween is such a fun holiday. You get to dress up AND eat lots of candy. Another great thing? It's in autumn when the weather becomes cooler, the colors of the leaves become more vibrant and there's lots of Halloween activities to do.

2006: Halloween Haunted Happenings from About.com Travel with Kids

Enter your zip code at googhoul.com to find Halloween events in your area. Select advanced search to specify the type of event you are interested in. You can also submit your own events to the database.

Everything Halloween

World's Creepiest Destinations - The Travel Channel picks the top ten with short descriptions of the histories that have lead to their reputations... then you get to cast your vote for the top horror spot.

Top Ten Haunted Locations & Places to See a Ghost - Two top ten lists here give you a world tour of terror followed by the top ten spookiest sites in Wales.

Haunted Inns - Tales of Spectral Guests - Rent a room for the night and get some good sleep - unless you've booked at one of these Haunted Inns. Actually, Joe Nickell at the Metareligion site is not very impressed by the ghosts who fail to appear night after night... but his account of the places will not put you to sleep.

Haunted Places - The site has a "Paranormal Travel Guide" that gives state-by-state listings of locations reported to be supernaturally ... challenged.

Spooky Spots of the World

A Whole New Halloween at Disneyland

Travel Tip Tuesday - For Women

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:39:00 +0000

For Women Traveling Alone

*Make sure you have two copies of everything you need concerning your trip. Reservations, travel vendor's phone numbers, itinerary numbers, and destination information. This way you can leave one set for a family member or friend at home and have the other set with you on your trip.

*Take one credit card but do not pack all of your methods of payment in one spot.

*Learn as much about your destination before you go as possible.

*When you arrive at the hotel, get to know the staff or at least make yourself acquainted with them.

*Pack lightly if possible in order to avoid having to carry too many bags or too heavy of a bag by yourself. This is also important to avoid being a target for pickpockets.

More travel tips for women travelers
Women Travel Tips
Journey Woman
Women's Travel Club

Becoming an Entrepreneur

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:10:00 +0000

Before You Quit Your Job: Real-life lessons every entrepreneur should know

My rich dad said, "In midair the entrepreneur begins building a parachute and hopes it opens before hitting the ground." He also said, "If the entrepreneur hits the ground before building a parachute, it is very tough climbing back into the plane and trying again."

For those of you familiar with the Rich Dad books, you know that I have jumped out of the plane many times and failed to build the parachute. The good news is that I hit the ground and bounced.

Many of my failures and successes were small ones, so the bounce was not that painful - that is, until I started my nylon-and-Velcro wallet business. The success of that business was sky high and so was the fall. The good news is that it was the best business experience of my life. I learned much about business and about myself through the process of rebuilding.

One of the reasons I fell so hard in the nylon surfer wallet business was that I did not pay attention to the little things. My business grew so fast that it was bigger than the capabilities of the three entrepreneurs who created it. In other words, our sudden success was accelerating our failures. The real problem was we did not know we were failing. When the dam finally broke, our parachute did not open.

Plan for Success
When I was growing up, my poor dad often said, "Go to school and get good grades, so you can find a good job with good benefits." He was encouraging me to become an employee.

My rich dad often said, "Learn to build your own business and hire good people." He was encouraging me to become an entrepreneur.

One day, I asked my rich dad what the difference was between an employee and an entrepreneur. His reply was, "Employees look for a job after the business is built. An entrepreneur's work begins before there is a business."

All over the world, entrepreneurs kiss their families good-bye and head off to their own businesses, their pieces of the rock. Many of them go to work thinking that working harder and longer will solve their business problems - problems such as not enough sales, not enough free cash flow to grow the business, rising prices and expenses, changing government regulations, increasing taxes, unhappy customers and nonpaying customers.

Many entrepreneurs do not realize that many of the problems their businesses face today began yesterday, long before there was a business. The world is filled with millions of small-business entrepreneurs who keep their leaky businesses afloat with hard work, sheer willpower, duct tape and baling wire. The problem is, if they stop working, the business breaks apart and sinks.

One of the primary reasons for the high failure rate of small businesses is sheer exhaustion. It's tough to make money and to keep going when so much of your time is tied up in activities that do not make you any money or that cost you money without offsetting income. If you are thinking about starting your own business, before you quit your job, you might want to talk to an entrepreneur about how much time he or she spends on non-income-producing activities to run his or her business. Also, ask how he or she handles this challenge.

As a friend of mine once said, "I'm so busy taking care of my business I don't have time to make any money."

Continue with The Entrepreneurial Dream:

The Entrepreneurial Dream
A friend of mine quit his high-paying job with a large bank in Honolulu and opened a tiny lunch shop in the industrial part of town. As a loan officer, he saw that the richest customers of the bank were entrepreneurs, so he quit his job and went for his dreams. Every morning, he and his mom would get up at 4 o'clock to begin preparing for the lunch crowd. The two of them worked hard, scrimping and cutting corners, in order to serve great-tasting lunches at low prices. For years, I would stop by, have lunch, and find out how they were doing. "Someday we'll expand," said my friend. "Someday we'll hire people to do the hard work for us." Someday never came. His mom passed away, the business closed, and my friend took a job as a manager of a fast-food franchise restaurant. "The pay isn't great but at least the hours are better," he told me, the last time I saw him.

In his case, his parachute did not open. He hit the ground before he built a business. My friend and his mom were happy, yet they never got ahead despite their hard work. I only relate this story to make the same point. The business began to fail before there was a business. It was poorly conceived before he quit his job.

The Job of an Entrepreneur
The most important job of the entrepreneur begins before there is a business or employees. The job of an entrepreneur is to design a business that can grow, employ many people, add value to its customers, be a responsible corporate citizen, bring prosperity to all who work on the business, be charitable and eventually no longer need the entrepreneur.

Before there is a business, a successful entrepreneur is designing this type of business in his or her mind's eye. According to my rich dad, this is the job of a true entrepreneur.

After one of my demoralizing business failures, I went to rich dad and asked, "So what did I do wrong? I thought I designed it well."
"Obviously you didn't," rich dad said with a smirk.
"How many times do I have to do this? I'm the biggest failure I know."

Rich dad said, "Losers quit when they fail. Winners fail until they succeed." Shuffling the papers at his desk for a moment, he then looked up at me and said, "The world is filled with want-to-be entrepreneurs. They sit behind desks, have important sounding titles like vice president, branch manager or supervisor, and some even take home a decent paycheck. These want-to-be entrepreneurs dream of someday starting their own business empire and maybe someday some of them will. Yet I believe most will never make the leap. Most will have some excuse, some rationalization, such as, 'When the kids are grown.' Or, 'I'll go back to school first.' Or, 'When I have enough money saved.'"

"But they never jump from the plane," I said, finishing his thoughts.

At What Level Do You Want to Play the Game?
Rich dad went on to explain that the world was filled with different types of entrepreneurs. There are entrepreneurs who are big and small, rich and poor, honest and crooked, for-profit and not-for-profit, saint and sinner, small town and international, and successes and failures.

He said, "The word entrepreneur is a big word and it means different things to different people."

Rich dad wanted us to understand that anyone could be an entrepreneur. The neighborhood babysitter is an entrepreneur. So was Henry Ford. "Your job is to decide which entrepreneur you most want to be like - the babysitter or Henry Ford?" he said. "Both are important to their customers. It's like the difference between sandlot football, high school football, college football and professional football."

With that example, I understood. When I was in college in New York, playing college football, our team had the opportunity to practice with a few players from a professional football team, the New York Jets. It was soon obvious to the college football players that while we played the same game as the pro players, we were playing it at a completely different level.

As a linebacker, my first rude awakening was trying to tackle a New York Jets running back coming through the line. I doubt he even knew I hit him. It felt like I was trying to tackle a charging rhino. That running back and I were about the same size. But after trying to tackle him, I realized the difference was not physical. It was spiritual. He had the heart, the desire and the gift of natural talent to be a great player.

Today, older and wiser, I do not have illusions that I would ever be as great an entrepreneur as Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Steven Jobs or Walt Disney. Yet I can still learn from them and use them as mentors.

And that is rich dad's entrepreneurial lesson No. 1: "A successful business is created before there is a business."

Network Marketing Business
The network marketing and direct sales industry is recognized by many to be the fastest growing business model in the world today. It is also the most controversial. Many people still have a negative reaction, claiming that many network marketing organizations are pyramid schemes. Yet in reality, the biggest pyramid scheme in the world is the traditional business corporation, with one person at the top and all the workers below.

We are not members of any one network marketing or direct marketing business, but we do speak favorably of the industry. People who want to be entrepreneurs should consider joining one of these businesses before they quit their jobs. Why? Many of these companies provide essential sales, business-building, and leadership skills not found anywhere else. One of the most valuable benefits from associating with a reputable organization is that it teaches the mind-set as well as the courage required to become an entrepreneur. You will also become more familiar with the systems required to build a successful business. The entry fee is typically quite reasonable and the education can be priceless.

If I were starting my entrepreneurial career all over again, I would start with a network marketing or direct sales business, not for the money but for the real-world business training I could receive.

Article by Robert Kiyosaki for Success From Home Jan 2007

Travel Gear for Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 02:17:00 +0000

Top 9 Travel Gear Items for Travel with Babies
From portable cribs to deluxe infant carriers-- the right gear can make your trip with baby easier for all of you.

1) Portable Cribs
Portable cribs can be useful even at home: they can double as a playpen in the backyard. Somewhat like an umbrella stroller, portable cribs unfold in a jiffy, and are made out of nylon and sturdy plastic parts. My family used one on many trips: it did indeed set up in one minute (after the first time!) Some models have an attachable change table or bassinet.

2) Evenflo Cross Terrain Frame Baby Carrier
Shade canopy on top, multiple storage compartments, you're good to go, whether it's hiking in a National Park or up and down the hundreds of tiny bridges in Venice.

3) Front-carrying Infant Carrier
Babies know that facing forward is a sporty way to get around. And Baby Bjorn makes this front-facing carrier with extra lumbar support for mom or dad.

4) Stroller - Backpack Combo
Quite the concept: converts from stroller to backpack "in seconds", and you even get booties for the wheels, so you don't get dirt on your clothes.

5) Stroller - Carseats Travel Systems
Graco, Cosco, Eddie Bauer and others make these brilliant hybrids. A "travel system" usually has three pieces: an infant carrier/carseat attaches to a stroller and to a carseat base.

6) Bugaboo Frog Sand Stroller
Deluxe stroller for a child (newborn to four) to ride with pride however uneven the surface and even on the beach.

7) Samsonite Baby Travel Bed
You can sling this over your shoulder, as a shoulder bag: then, voila, it's a little bed, with protective sides so baby won't roll; zippered fitted terry sheet; snap-on mosquito netting cover; insulated compartment.

8) Beach Tents
Bring along your own shade, at the beach.

10) Sun Stop'r Kwik Cabana
A cute cabana, like a little tent just for baby.

Top 8 Baby Swim Wear and other Pool & Beach Gear
It's a paradox: babies are so small, yet they need so much stuff! At least these items are small and easily portable. Click below for baby swim wear that keeps babies and toddlers afloat; swim diapers; water wings; and more.

1) Pool Baby Seat with Shade
Babies love these floating seats --kind of like a lifesaver, with a seat in the middle-- and this one has an umbrella that attaches, for shade. (See also Inflatable Baby Float, below.) Note: if no image is available on the Compare Prices page, just click through to the seller's site.

2) Baby Swim Wear: Swim diapers
Indispensable for the resort pool!

3) Baby Swim Wear: Aqua Learn Swimsuit
Terrific invention: these swimsuits have "polyfloats" inside that keep your child afloat in the water.

4) Water Gear Water Wings
These heavy-gauge vinyl waterwings come in three sizes: small, for ages 1-3; medium, for ages 3 to 7; and there's even a large size, for ages 7-11.

5) Beach Tents
Bring along your own shade, to protect that tender skin.

6) Sun Stop'r Kwik Cabana
A cute cabana, like a little tent just for baby.

7) Baby Floats
Many different kinds of inflatable floats, so that baby can bob happily in the pool.

8) Aqua Leisure Deluxe Tot Trainer Inflatable Rubber Tube Swimaid with Pants
Picture a bright yellow maillot-type suit, with an inner tube around it: a cute way to keep a tot afloat. For ages 2 to 7.

Top 10 Diaper bags for travelers
Have baby, have diaper bag; and when you're hopping on a plane, or otherwise traveling, you'll want to make the best possible use of that essential item, to tote along all the extras you'll need.

1) Baby Bjorn Backpack Diaper Bag
Keep both hands free, when you're on the go. Comes with many pockets: big ones for diapers, velcro for odds'n'ends, insulated pockets for baby bottles... Also comes with a changing pad.

2) McKenzie Sling Diaper Bag
Padded shoulder strap, with a money and card holder right on the sling strap; four inside pockets, and insulated bottom compartment; two zippered external insulated pockets for bottles; changing pad... Plus a Tote-Away Pouch, a separate bag that attaches directly to the main Sling bag.

3) McKenzie Kids The Highland Satchel Diaper Bag
Another dynamic duo bag set: the Highland Satchel has pouches, insulated bottom compartment, "dirty duds" zippered pocket, backpack-style padded shoulder straps, and other nifty features; and a Tote-Away Pouch that attaches directly to the Satchel, or your belt as a hip pack.

4) SKIPHOP - Duo Diaper Bag
Un-diaper-bag looking, and designed to look good on both moms and dads; wear over-the-shoulder, or hang it on a stroller (adjustable stroller bar strap large rear pocket holds changing pad; bottle/organizer pockets; side mesh pocket, and more.)

5) MV Graco Day Tripper Diaper Bag
Traditional-looking diaper bag, with lots of outside compartments, changing pad, Dirty Duds bag, baby wipes case, and dinner set with fork, spoon, and bowl.

6) Jeep Diaper Bag Combo
Low cost, and looks like more like a travel bag than a diaper bag, with double handles and detachable shoulder strap; side bottle pocket; changing pad, detachable accessory pouch, built-in bottle holders.

7) Baby Sherpa Diaper Bag for Dad
.. or Mom, and very much the look of a traveler. High-tech back-pack style, with storage for food, diapers, medicine, keys, wallets, cell phone, sunglasses, and bulky items such as toys, blankets and clothing.

8) Samsonite "Euro Traveler" Tote Diaper Bag
Hinged, Zippered, Compartment folds completely open; three exterior pockets, cell phone pocket, insulated bottle pocket, changing pad and storage bag. (Note: most of the models described here have easy cell phone access.)

9) Maclaren - Tote Bag
If you want something simple that doesn't look like a diaper bag, check this out. Shoulder straps, leather trim, spacious, internal and external pockets, changing pad, bag to store wet items.

10) Fleurville Orange Corduroy Alpha 7 Diaper Bag
Deluxe corduroy bag that can be worn over the shoulder, messenger bag-style, or as a backpack; shoulder strap has a non-skid pad, and can be slung over stroller handles too; insulated beverage holders; sleeve for the changing pad; pockets for cell phone and sunglasses, more.

Baby travel gear lists provided by Teresa Plowright for About.com, Your Guide to Travel with Kids.

Travel Tip Tuesday - Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 14:20:00 +0000

How early can baby fly?
Generally, it's best to wait until your baby is at least 2 weeks old before you consider traveling by air. This is not because flying poses a greater danger for a younger baby, but because by 2 weeks both you and he will have recovered sufficiently from the birth and have overcome any early difficulties, such as problems with breastfeeding.

Before you go - Contact your airline

When planning air travel with baby, telephone your airline or visit their website to find out what facilities they offer for parents of young children.

*See if you can pre-book a sky cot/bassinet and the maximum age/weight that it will accommodate. Some airlines will not allow you to pre-book and you may not know whether or not one is available until you check in.

*If possible, see if you can fly on a larger aircraft, which will have better facilities for baby.

*Consider booking an extra seat for air travel with baby - if not, you will be expected to sit with an infant under 2 years of age on your lap. Depending on the length of your flight, this can be very hard work, particularly with an older baby.

*If you do book an extra seat, think about taking a car seat on board for your baby to sit in. Certain car seats are FAA approved for air travel with baby, so this is something to check when buying one.

*If possible, choose where on the aircraft you would like to sit. Opinions vary on the ideal seating position when flying with baby - some parents prefer to be at the rear of the aircraft, nearer to the changing facilities, whereas others prefer the bulkhead position. This is where the sky cots are situated and there is generally more leg-room.

*The sky cot is usually attached to the screen - bear in mind that this can be very noisy. I attempted to use a sky cot for one of my children - because it was bolted to the screen, he was constantly disturbed by thuds and bangs from the other side. Also, a light was situated right above it - needless to say, he didn't get much sleep!

*Make sure you pre-book your seats to ensure that you are seated next to whoever you are traveling with. If not, you may find yourself at the opposite end of the plane to your partner!

*Make sure you are adequately insured

*Air travel with baby can be unpredictable and certain conditions may prevent him flying - ear infections and notifiable diseases such as measles, for example.

*Assemble and pack your baby first aid kit (many items, such as scissors and tweezers, will not be allowed in the cabin of the plane and should not be packed in your hand luggage). See the main traveling with baby page for more travel essentials!

*Carefully check your baggage allowance - air travel with baby obviously requires extra luggage and you don't want any nasty surprises at the airport!

Travel tips provided by Homemade Baby Food Recipes
Visit the site for more tips such as Air Travel With Baby - At The Airport and Air Travel With Baby - On Board The Airplane

Wikitravel

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 02:24:00 +0000

I read a great write-up about Wikitravel on Webbys World. Wikitravel provides travel guides created by folks like us: travelers! Anyone can log in and create or update information about a location, provide honest feedback on restaurants and hotels, helpful travel hints and info on activities.

"Wikitravel is built with the spirit of sharing knowledge that makes travel so enjoyable. Whenever travelers meet each other on the road, they swap info about the places they came from and ask questions about places they're going. We want to make it easy to share that knowledge and let others share it; our copyleft license means that the facts you know can spread far and wide.

To create Wikitravel we use a tool (or a process, or a technology) called Wiki which lets any Internet reader create, update, edit, and illustrate any article on the Web site. We all share our pieces of knowledge, edit them, distill them, and assemble them into a pleasing and cohesive whole. The more people that use the Edit link, the better Wikitravel becomes." (Wikitravel:About)

Wikitravel index
Wikitravel:Goals and non-goals

Travel Tip Tuesday - Road Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Winn) — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 01:19:00 +0000

Road Trip Tips

Check your car's conditions:
*Get an oil change before your trip
*Make sure all the fluids are full
*Engine fluid, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid
*Make sure all of the filters, belts and windshield wipers are in good shape
*Measure the tire pressure
*Check the front, back and blinker lights and ensure they work
*Clean your car out. This way you will have plenty of space for you and your belongings

Research where you will be going:
*Get a road map as well as a current map from an internet site
*Research any construction or possible obstacles that be a time delay
*Check the weather to see if you need to have any items or your car prepared for different driving conditions
*Pack your car inside of your garage to ensure your travel isn't publicly known

Things to bring:
*Travel itinerary and information on desired stops
*Clothes for the current type of climate you are going to: comfortable shoes, neutral clothing, light jacket if needed
*Entertainment: CDs, games, audio books, books, magazines
*Food: breakfast bars, healthy snacks, munchies, bottled water or juice (avoid too much caffeine). This will avoid spending a ton at convenience stores and less stops along the way.
*First aid kit: Band-Aids, Neosporin, aspirin, allergy medicine