Top 10 Tourist Spots in Toronto

1. CN Tower - it is today's world's tallest free-standing structure, and the most recognizable icon of Toronto. The view on top is breathtaking, overlooking Toronto and beyond. Walking across the glass floor 113 stories above the ground is thrilling-scary. Dare to walk on air experience, with only 2 inches of glass holding you 342m in the air. The Sky Pod brings you another 33 storeys above ground!

2. Centerville/ Center Island - This island has everything! An amusement park, a petting farm, a maze of bushes, a beach, and picnic places overlooking downtown Toronto at the other side of the lake! It doesn't even cost a lot to get there. It's free - although you have to pay for the ferry ride which is a fun bonus for kids!

3. Ontario Place - Ontario Place is an internationally acclaimed cultural, leisure and entertainment parkland. The complex extends throughout three man-made islands along the Lake Ontario waterfront. Here, you will find pedal boats, a marina, restaurants and the world's first permanent IMAX theatre, the Cinesphere. The kids will love the rides and many attractions strewn over the islands - and the water park is great!

4. Royal Ontario Museum - The ROM boasts state-of-the-art galleries It is a major museum for world culture and natural history in Toronto and the fifth-largest museum in North America , containing millions of artifacts, a collection of dinosaurs, Near Eastern and African art, East Asian art, European history, and Canadian history. The kids will love the stuffed animals and the wonders of nature exhibited in interesting ways.

5. Toronto Zoo - the Toronto Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the world with over 5,000 animals within 460 species. The Toronto Zoo is absolutely spectacular, and any animal lover will be enthralled at the surroundings.

6. Ontario Science Center - a science museum built down the side of a wooded ravine formed by one branch of the Don River. There are interactive and passive exhibits throughout the buildings. They feature everything in science and nature - geology, the science of nature (in the west wing), Astronomical science, how to play music and technology in the south wing, and artifacts of science. The exhibits are presented in an engaging and entertaining way that makes kids really appreciate science! The IMAX theater is awesome!

7. Skydome - The SkyDome is hailed as one of the worlds greatest entertainment centers. It is famous worldwide for its retractable roof.

8. The Historic Distillery District - Toronto's newest arts and cultural community and a home to restaurants, cafes and art galleries. The Victorian buildings are well preserved and are a joy to tour!

9. The Historic Fort York - the location of the Battle of York during the War of 1812 is the 1793 birthplace of modern Toronto. It is home to Canada's largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings and is designated as a National Historic site. Open year-round, Historic Fort York offers seasonal guided tours, musket, drill and music demonstrations. Explore the fort and learn about its military history.

10. Casa Loma -a majestic castle full of European elegance and splendour - with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, stables, and beautiful 5-acre estate gardens (open May through October).

You can find this and other personal favorite, best and top list of music, movies, books, and places at http://www.mylistpad.com

Renault Tumbokon has lived in Toronto for 5 years, and have scoured Toronto for the best and cheapest places to enjoy especially in Summer. You can see his and other people's collection of favorite, best and top list of music, movies, books and places at http://www.mylistpad.com.Randa Blog10087
Rhianon Blog27679

Forty Days of Fear and Failure

Copyright 2006 Rob Marshall

In his book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill says, "One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat." He goes on to tell the story of R. U. Darby who stopped three feet short of finding gold.

Darby, like many others, was caught up in "gold fever." He went out west in search of gold and after digging in a mine with a pick and shovel, he found it. He quietly covered up the mine and went back east to raise money to buy the equipment he needed to bring the ore to the surface.

His hopes were high as he began dreaming of paying off his debts and making a killing selling gold. But then something happened, the vein of gold disappeared. He continued drilling, but the gold was gone. He finally quit and sold the equipment to a junk dealer for a few hundred dollars and went back home.

The junk dealer decided to hire a mining engineer to take a look at the mine. After doing some calculations the engineer told him that whoever had done the drilling didn't understand fault lines. He also told him that the vein was just three feet from where Darby had stopped. The junk dealer found the gold and made millions.

We often fail because we stop short of success. When I looked at my life, I realized that I'd never really failed at anything. When I took a good hard look at my "failures" I realized that in every case, I had simply quit.

Have you taken the time to look at your failures in life? How's your track record when it comes to facing difficulty and disappointment? Have you developed the habit of quitting?

The Old Testament story of David and Goliath is familiar to just about everyone. We all know that the "little guy" defeats the "big giant" with just a sling and some faith. But what we often don't think about is God's army and what they experienced.

When we read the story we learn that the army got up every morning, prepared for battle, did their "battle cry," and then something went terribly wrong. The giant Goliath came out and challenged them to send out their champion.

It was at that point that every man's heart failed and fear overtook them. This process was repeated day after day for forty days. For forty days they hoped and prepared only to have to face failure again and again. No one had the courage to face Goliath until a young shepherd boy named David came along and said, "I'll fight him!"

I don't know how those soldiers felt for those forty days, but I know that I've had many times in my life when a giant problem seemed too hard to overcome, and my fear led to a decision to quit, a decision to fail.

But what can we do when faced with defeats and setbacks?

The first thing to do is to think about R. U. Darby who stopped three feet short of gold, and those soldiers who let fear cause them to fail for forty days. And then remember that we can't give up, there's too much to lose. After all, our dreams are at stake.

Reaching our dreams will require that we face our fears and overcome our failures. Success may be right around the corner and it will probably come in a way that we don't expect. Darby didn't know that all he needed was someone with mining experience and the soldiers didn't know that a young boy would kill the giant.

Hold on to your hope, continue to pursue your dreams, and know that the answer will come when you least expect it.

Rob Marshall is the author of "Taking On Goliath - How to Unleash the David in All of Us." Learn how you can unleash your faith and overcome any "Goliath" that may stand between you and your dreams. http://www.TakingOnGoliath.com.Renata Blog99925
Pepita Blog25515

LPG Car Performance Issues

It is believed by many car owners and consumers that if they decide to convert their car to run on LPG fuel this will lower the cars performance this is untrue and in fact if there is any change in performance it will be negligible and most drivers would be unlikely to detect the difference.

If car owners decide to convert their vehicles to run on LPG they will find that power outputs from their cars engine will be slightly reduced than when the car is running on petrol. This slight decrease in power output from the cars engine will mean that top speeds and acceleration times will be reduced but the reduction will be of such a slight margin that as stated before it is unlikely that drivers will be able to notice any drop in their cars performance.

Car owners should be aware that to make sure their vehicles performance is not affected by the conversion process, LPG kits should only be installed by qualified mechanics in approved installation centres that can be found all across the country.

This Article was written by Stephen Rodger for Fuelture Ltd. Fuelture Ltd is a UK based alternative fuel company with a national LPG conversion service. Fuelture Ltd aspires to build a unique network of state-of-the-art LPG Stations and to launch a unique LPG fuel card. Fuelture Ltd. works closely with performance engine specialists Nicholson McLaren Engines Ltd. Visit http://www.fuelture.com for more information about automotive LPG in the UK. Pearle Blog10714
Remy Blog92836

Check It? Or Carry It On? - A Review Of Travel Restrictions Affecting Your Vacation To Aruba

After you have planned your vacation to Aruba, you may be wondering what to pack. To ensure that you dont experience any unwelcome surprises at either your departing airport or the Aruba Airport, make note of the guidelines in this article. The following is a convenient outline of what you can and cannot pack when traveling to Aruba and some added travel tips to make your vacation as enjoyable as possible.

First, make sure you pack all your important personal belongings such as travel documents, personal identification and medications in your carry-on luggage. Do not place locks on your carry-on baggage, as this could cause unnecessary delays when passing through screening.

Try to arrive at your departing airport three hours before the scheduled flight time. When you are ready to fly home, you must also allot approximately three hours for check-in and screening at the Aruba Airport, especially if your return flight is between 11 AM and 3 PM.

Due to recent concerns, liquids, gels and aerosols are no longer allowed in the carry-on baggage of all travelers on flights arriving to, traveling within or departing from the United States. Effective August 11, 2006, the following items must be placed in your checked baggage when traveling to Aruba, until further notice from the U.S. government:

All beverages and liquid food items such as yogurt

Skin lotions, creams or balms including suntan lotion and hand sanitizing products

Tooth Paste

Mouthwash

Shampoo

Hair gels and pomades

Hair spray or any other type of aerosol products

Liquid cosmetics such as lip gloss and mascara

Obviously, there are some exceptions to the restriction on liquids and gels. The following items are allowed in carry-on baggage when traveling to Aruba, but make note of the documentation and packaging that some items may require:

Prescription medicine - medication or dispenser must be properly marked with a professionally printed label or pharmaceutical label identifying the medication or the manufacturer's name. If for some reason you don't have a professionally printed label, you must obtain a doctor's note.

Non-prescription saline solution and eye care products (under 4 ounces per container)

Liquid insulin and dispensing products for diabetic passengers (under 5 ounces per container) must be properly marked with a professionally printed or pharmaceutical label identifying the medication or the manufacturer's name

Solid cosmetics and personal hygiene items including lipstick in a tube, solid deodorant and lip balm

Baby formula, milk and food - only allowed if a baby or small child is traveling with you

Gels, saline solutions or other liquids worn as detachable items used to augment portions of the body for medical or cosmetic reasons includes gel bras.

Duty free liquor, perfume and cosmetics items purchased within the airport terminal areas will given to you by the duty free operator after reclaiming your checked luggage.

If you are concerned about any item packed in your carry-on baggage, contact your travel agent or airline before arriving at the airport or simply ask personnel at the time of check-in. You can still place the above-mentioned restricted items in your checked baggage before proceeding to security screening.

It is also suggested that you try to minimize the amount of metal you wear. Large belt buckles, clothing with metal buttons, some jewelry and metal toed or heeled footwear can set off security checkpoint metal detectors. This will require additional searches, slowing you and other travelers down. Therefore, while you are waiting in line, it is recommended that place your keys, jewelry or watches, coins, belts and any other metal items in your carry-on baggage until you clear security. You will also be asked to remove your shoes at the checkpoint and place them in a tray to be x-rayed.

As was the case before the new regulations in August, electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, cameras, CD and MP3 players are still allowed in carry-on luggage. However, be prepared to remove your laptop computer from its case and place it on the x-ray belt by itself. It is generally recommended to attach a name and contact information label to the bottom of your laptop in case any confusion arises passing through security. Also, it is still advised that you pack all film in your carry-on luggage. If you have any concerns about your film going through the x-ray system, you can request that it be hand-inspected by a security screener.

When planning your vacation to Aruba, it is also very important to note that effective January 8, 2007, the U.S. Government will require passports for all air and sea travel to and/or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Bermuda and The Bahamas. It is advised to allow six to eight weeks to process passport applications before your vacation to Aruba.

This article was written by Justin Burch. Justin writes select pieces about travel in Aruba for the Aruba Renaissance Resort (http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/AUABR).Reyna Blog17332
Orelee Blog79541

Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 4) DVD Review

Nominated for 20 Emmys and winner of a Golden Globe for Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy), Curb Your Enthusiasm is one of the more clever and hilarious shows on TV. The HBO original series is the brainchild of Seinfeld co-creator and writer Larry David, whose life maintains a peculiar resemblance to the quasi-fictional George Costanza. And just like George Costanza and his neurotically-low self-esteem (i.e. "God doesn't want me to be successful), Curb Your Enthusiasm propagates a Murphy's Law theme of "what can go wrong will go wrong". It's a true-to-life reality show about nothing in which every episode is certain to cause comedy connoisseurs everywhere to tremble in enthusiastic anticipation

Curb Your Enthusiasm centers around the actual life of Larry David - post-Seinfeld and living the high life in Los Angeles. Just like Larry's other successful TV venture, the show doesn't focus entirely on plot, instead following the mundane and routine adventures of a famous Hollywood insider. And just like his alter-ego George Constanza, Larry often witnesses simple acts and gestures on his part snowball into a series of misunderstandings and embarrassing situations. Accompanying Larry on his daily adventures are his wife Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) and his manager Jeff Greene (Jeff Garlin) as well as a host of Hollywood and Broadway celebrities who make regular guest appearances... Blurring the line between fiction and reality, Curb Your Enthusiasm is the perfect sequel to Seinfeld. In a nutshell, it's a glimpse of what would've been had Jerry and George's pilot been picked up by NBC (which ultimately raises the question - who wouldn't love a show about a man sentenced to be another man's butler?)

The Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 4) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere "Mel's Offer" in which Larry goes to a karaoke bar where Mel Brooks is hanging out. When Larry sings, Mel is so thoroughly impressed that he asks Larry to star in his next Broadway musical production Other notable episodes from Season 4 include "Ben's Birthday Party" in which Larry gets into a fight with Ben Stiller when he refuses to sing 'Happy Birthday' to him, and "Opening Night" in which Larry and the show travel to New York City for his opening night as the star of The Producers

Below is a list of episodes included on the Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 4) DVD:

Episode 31 (Mel's Offer) Air Date: 01-04-2004
Episode 32 (Ben's Birthday Party) Air Date: 01-11-2004
Episode 33 (The Blind Date) Air Date: 01-18-2004
Episode 34 (The Weatherman) Air Date: 01-25-2004
Episode 35 (The Five Wood) Air Date: 02-01-2004
Episode 36 (The Car Pool Lane) Air Date: 02-08-2004
Episode 37 (The Surrogate) Air Date: 02-22-2004
Episode 38 (Wandering Bear) Air Date: 02-29-2004
Episode 39 (The Survivor) Air Date: 03-07-2004
Episode 40 (Opening Night) Air Date: 03-14-2004

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find where you can find more reviews of movies and TV series. Source: http://thedvdreport.blogspot.com/2006/02/curb-your-enthusiasm-season-4-dvd.htmlPeggie Blog90428
Rene Blog2399

Hurricane Window Protection If the windows go, the house goes!

Hurricane window protection is a must for home and business owners who live in coastal cities and states.

If you live in Florida, or more specifically the South Florida area, hurricane window protection is on just about every home owners mind.

During a hurricane, things can get pretty rough, with high speed winds small everyday items like traffic signs and what not can be thrown around at speeds of 130 miles per hour. Also not to mention the fact that water will come pouring in the second a window breaks during a hurricane.

This is why hurricane window protection is a must for home and business owners who live in a hurricane prone area.

Hurricane Window Protection Methods

There are many different ways to protect your windows on your home or business. Let's discuss them, and the pros and cons of each.

Impact Glass

One of the most popular ways to protect your windows and keep them from breaking in a hurricane is to use impact glass for windows.

Click Here for a Free Estimate on Impact Glass for your South Florida Home or Business!

Impact glass is a simple and great way to make sure that your home is truly protected. Other methods like a protective film, which I will discuss below, only protect it on the outer layer and are still not as strong as impact glass.

Hurricane Window Protection Film

Another way to protect your windows is to cover the inside part with a security protection film. Security window films are actually crystal clear, and can protect your windows from hurricanes, but also protect your home from the sun's ultraviolet rays.

The security film actually adheres to the inside of the window, and it allows glass to shatter, but the film holds it in position for the rest of the storm.

This keeps flying debris, water and the glass itself from coming into your home or business. The main benefit of security film is its lower cost and quicker installation time.

A main drawback to this of course is the fact that you have to replace the window, and film, after the storm is over.

Hurricane Storm Shutters

Storm shutters provide great protection for your home or business, while also keeping the appearance looking good, and all your windows safe. Storm shutters come in a variety of types, and below we have listed them.

- Accordion Storm Shutters
- Rolling Storm Shutters
- Storm Panels
- Bahama/Colonial Storm Shutters

The best thing though about storm shutters, is that they double as protection from burglary and theft.

They also can be equipped with an electric motor that can open and close them at your command.

Michael CottierReine Blog92250
Rafaela Blog33755

Why Will You Choose Florida Vacation Rental Home?

Accommodation plays a major role during vacation. If you have planned to spend your next vacation in Florida, then you will have to start finding accommodation over there. Suddenly, if you come to know about vacation rental homes wherein you can stay while holidaying in Florida, then the immediate question will come in your mind that why I will choose vacation rental abode in Florida. What additional advantages can I get there? To explain these questions, the following points are appropriate.

Suitable to cope up with purposes and persons:

You can go to Florida for honeymoon purpose, or for making a family holiday. The vacation rental homes in Florida are available in various sizes. Some are appropriate for romantic couple; some are made for larger group. But, this facility is not all time available in hotels. Furthermore, for obtaining these condos, you will have to spend as much as hotels generally charge.

An opportunity of holidaying in seclusion and own way.

Your craving for holidaying in seclusion and comfort can be fulfilled at the Florida vacation rental home. Accented on travelers privacy and coziness, all vacation condos will enable you to enjoy vacation in your own way. Whether you want to observe the dark beauty of sea from terrace or want to walk through the beaches late at the night, all you can do here without any restriction.

After traveling whole day, relax at a homely atmosphere:

This unmatched facility is only obtainable at Vacation rental condos. After enjoying the day on seashore, or sight seeing, you need some relaxation at night. Unlike hotels, here you can avail more space, choose a cozy place and unwind yourself by listening to music, watching TV, enjoying movies in CD players or reading books. And if you feel hungry, cook your desired dishes at the well-equipped kitchen. All together, at the vacation rental condos, you wont miss your home at all.

More Facilities More Fun:

Have you ever thought that after holidaying, you will come back your home with fresh clothes? It is unbelievable! But, at Florida vacation rental abodes, it is possible. Here you can access washer and dryer. So do not worry about cleaning clothes. Besides, other amenities, like swimming pool, indoor games, Telephone and at some Florida vacation rental home, you can avail the internet accessing facility as well.

Start searchingOpt for the best one:

Are you interested in staying at vacation rental home during Florida vacation? Start searching for that. On the internet, you can get various sites, where you will avail information about Florida vacation rental home. Availing combo package that includes plane fare, accommodation and car rental together can be profitable for you too. Besides, you can opt for vacation rental home directly from property owner.

Sylvestor Johnson is offering loan and rental advice for quite some time. He is working as financial consultant for ThinkRentals. To find Apartment rentals, Florida vacation rental home , Condo rentals, Rental homes, Vacation rentals, Beach house vacation rentals at cheap rates that best suits your needs visit http://www.thinkrentals.comRemy Blog92836
Orelee Blog79541

A Brief History of The Vibrator

Sometimes, misunderstood and revered, but secretly loved by its supporters, the Vibrator has as colourful a history as the modern day models that sit proudly on the store shelves or the pages of websites, waiting patiently and offering the promise of pleasure to an eager purchaser.

Some are not too different in form and function from the earliest ones found, much to the embarrassment of archaeologists earlier this century.

Excavations of ancient civilizations unearthed stone objects that were clearly sculptures of penises. Probably used in fertility or religious rituals, these objects played an important role in their communities.

The ancient Greeks with their olive oil and phallic objects understood a little better than most and realised that if they went to war and they wouldn't be around to satisfy their women, that they would develop a wandering uterus, so they would leave their wives with phallic shaped objects made of wood or leather to pleasure themselves until they returned. Naturally the olive oil came in handy as a natural and healthy lubricant for such devices.

These days Vibrators are far more developed and their usage is certainly different to that prescribed in their unusual beginnings..or is it?

The historical documentation of their development is certainly an interesting story to note.

The first mechanical vibrator was invented in the late 1800's by a British physician as a way to more efficiently perform a type of therapeutic massage on female patients.

First we must set the scene in the 1800's with a society of well dressed gents and ladies in flowing gowns who carried parasols and certainly didn't discuss pleasures of the flesh.

Imagine for a moment all these ladies parading around in their finery but hiding a deep mysterious affliction.

What was this affliction?

Apparently it was called "hysteria" a sinister type of madness. Hysteria was originally perceived as a disease, but what it basically boiled down to was sexually frustrated women suffering from an intense need or longing for an orgasm.

This forced repression began early on in the schools for young women where the matrons would glove the hands of their pupils at night in their dormitories to prevent them from their carnal desires to masturbate, anyone caught would have the further embarrassment of having their hands strapped to their beds while they slept.

To cure this affliction or Hysteria, doctors would manually massage women to orgasm in the hope of relieving them of this mysterious illness. No doubt it came as a huge relief when the first steam powered device was invented. Doctors all over Britain, suffering from repetitive strain injury, no doubt breathed a sigh of relief as now they would just have to stoke the small steam contraption and let it do the work for them.

Can you imagine how busy those doctors were!

One wonders how many women feigned hysteria simply to get to the doctors for some hands on relief!

Fortunately in the 1950's this idea of hysteria was replaced by the theory that it was simply a revolt of the womans need for sexual liberation following periods of sexual deprivation. How many husbands were suddenly jolted by the realisation that the local GP had been masturbating their wives for them for years.

I would imagine there were a few doctors a little disappointed by the downgrading of this 'disease' as well!

Today, gone are the crude stone, wood and steam powered models. They come in different lengths, sizes, shapes and textures to more adequately replicate that which they are representing. Some have collections to perform different functions while couples may use them as an enhancement to their sexual lives.

Owning a vibrator is a sign that you are comfortable with your sexuality and that as a woman you don't need to rely solely on another man to give you satisfaction. How could we compete as men with these battery operated or rechargeable wonders anyway. As hard as we try we have some stiff competition.

http://www.mrbuzzie.com

Martin Hunt is a writer who promotes womens sexual health and is the creator of http://www.mrbuzzie.com.Rachael Blog31758
Pammy Blog81669

Askedweb.com. About The Dog Training

Dogs are an integral part of our lives. They have the capacity to provide us with companionship and a devotion that is difficult to match in any other animal. And in return they ask for little: a good meal, exercise, a warm place to sleep and above all attention from its owner.

Today I've been trying to say out more about the dog training. Many dog owners, knowingly or unknowingly, use the psychological principles of operant conditioning to train their dogs. Operant conditioning is an analytical response to a given situation. If a dog owner reinforces behavior, it will persist.

Giving a dog a treat for sitting, lying down or staying is reinforcing positive behavior. The dog knows that if he obeys his owner's command, he'll receive a treat. His behavior is analytical: predictable, planned and deliberate. "If I sit, I'll get a treat." Any behavior, reinforced in any way, is bound to continue. The key is to be aware: reinforce positive behaviors and eliminate the negative ones.

Dog basic training experts agree that several basic points should be kept in mind when introducing Rover to the ways of your household. These tips will help both you and your new dog avoid misunderstandings:

1. Keep training sessions short (no more than 15 minutes). As soon as the dog appears to lose interest, stop.

2. Start training as soon as your new dog arrives home. Don't let him get settled into bad habits.

3. Invest in a decent training book. You'll refer to it often.

4. Correct poor behavior and praise good behavior immediately. Small treats are effective in reinforcing your training message. 5. Be prepared with the proper equipment and treats.

If you wish to involve your children in the training of a new pet, be sure to supervise carefully. Watch for consistency and for mixed messages.

A dog may feel confused if too many people participate in his training. One adult should be in charge of initial training, while other family members enforce the rules you've established for your dog. If children are unable to follow the rules you set down, you should put off letting them walk the dog on their own until your dog is fully trained and obedient.

Teaching your dog to obey you isn't as difficult as many people think. A combination of verbal commands, hand signals, and rewards is usually the most effective way to communicate with your dog. Once you've opened the doors to communication, you'll find that training Rex or Lady is much easier.

Before you try teaching your dog a command, look over the following guidelines for your own behavior:

1. Be consistent. Don't tell your dog to "sit" and follow through only occasionally. It's not okay for your dog to listen to you only some of the time. A well-behaved dog obeys commands consistently. 2. Speak in a confident tone. Don't ask, "Heel?" You're in charge. Tell him what to do. 3. Initially, feel free to reward with food and praise. Dole out treats less frequently after your dog knows the command. 4. Use the leash as an aid to help you maintain your position as leader.

5. Avoid confusion by saying one thing ("No!"), but communicating the opposite meaning (patting your dog's head).

6. End all training sessions on a good note. Finish with a command your dog knows, and praise him liberally when he obeys.

Dog training may require some effort on your part but in the end it will definitely be worth it. You will have a pet that you will be proud to own.

My name is Jason Homan. I was born in Detroit Michigan and moved to Denver at an early age. I have always been an avid animal lover for as long as I can remember. My webpage can be visited at http://www.askedweb.com/. Choosing a dog breed, finding dog breeders, shelters or rescues with puppies for sale or dogs for adoption is made easier with http://Askedweb.com.Peria Blog85422
Phyllis Blog56296

How To Find Cheap Travel

This article will uncover the market of cheap travel, suggest ways of finding cheap travel and pay attention to the problem issues that may arise in budget travel.

Student travel has come a long way in the past few decades. It is no longer considered a rarity. Gap years, student electives abroad and cheap summer holidays in distant places, have become part of the generally life-enriching experience that is now considered synonymous with the student status. (Frost F et al., 1999)

The current financial climate, with many students having to rely on student loans, parental support, holiday jobs or personal savings for their financial fluidity, largely dictates and limits just what can be achieved in this regard and there are a number of ploys and strategies that are commonly used to make the money go further or, to look at it another way, to allow the same money let the student go further! (Reisinger Y et al., 2004)

We can start by taking an overview of the situation and dividing up the travel costs into those that are necessary to arrive at a destination and those that are necessarily incurred to move around once the student has arrived. Generally speaking, the preferred way to travel is by flying. It is often the quickest way to travel long distances and in these days of competitive pricing strategies, many of the no-frills and budget airlines are offering very cheap flights across mainland Europe. The unwary student should note that the eye-catching prices quoted are invariably exclusive of taxes and fuel surcharges which can add between 30-200 onto the quoted cost (depending on destination and distance).

As a general rule, the cheaper the flight, the greater the sacrifice of both flexibility and conditions. A flight that arrives or leaves in the early hours of the morning, does not supply food, has minimal in-flight entertainment and a strict baggage allowance, is clearly going to cost less than one that has additional amenities. A word of caution also for these flights as there are generally strict terms and conditions, limited changeability and minimal prospect of refund if there's a problem.

Cheap flights are at the other end of the spectrum from cheap holidays. With holidays the greatest savings are made by those who are willing to book at the last minute. With flights, the converse is true. As flights get booked up, the prices tend to rise. (Bernstein J et al., 1999)

Two of the most commonly used mechanisms for obtaining cheap flights are flight-brokers and screen scrapers. The flight brokers make their money by selling you a flight that gives them a commission. There is therefore a balance between the amount of commission that an airline pays them to fill their seats and the requirements of the student. The screen scrapers are web-based tools such as TravelSupermarket, TravelJungle, and SkyScanner. You effectively enter your requirements and these sites send the details to dozens of airlines (and some brokers) and display their findings with the cheapest first. (Sheth A et al., 2002)

There are variations on this process with sites like Expedia and Travelocity specialising in long-haul flights and Expedia and Opodo allowing flights to one airport then leaving from another. Flights Direct will specifically examine the charter market for occasional bargains.

If you intend to fly on certain dates a few months in the future, it is well worth signing up to the e-mail lists of the appropriate airlines. They will send out details of short-term sales so that you can snap them up at the right moment if they come up. British Airways, Opodo, American Airlines and KLM are particularly good for this type of approach.

Once at the destination, the student has to consider the best way of travelling around. Rather like the airlines, one pays for convenience, accessibility and comfort the cheapest forms of travel generally being the slowest and least luxurious. It is clearly impossible to generalise throughout the world, but hitch-hiking, which might have once been considered the cheapest way to travel, has a distinct risk element of personal safety and clearly is inappropriate for the lone female traveller. Many of the commercially available insurance policies specifically forbid such practices. (Cullinane S, 2002)

Public transport is often the most reliable of the cheaper options. Either the local busses, the long-haul coaches or the train services being generally safe and reliable. Many of the more developed countries offer student travel cards (or a variant) to reduce the costs of repeated journeys and some bus companies (Australia travel being a notable example) will sell an open ticket between two specified destinations which can be used with different segments of the journey being undertaken over a period of several weeks.

There are other considerations relating to travel such as how best to deal with money. The time-honoured way of carrying travellers cheques may no longer be popular, with many students electing for the convenience of "plastic" money and credit cards. One should note that Mastercard will generally convert foreign exchange transactions at about the best commercially available rate, but will then add about 2.75%. This does vary between cards and therefore should be individually checked. Overseas cash withdrawals are also usually subject to a 2% additional fee (minimum charge 2) on both credit and debit cards. In addition to all of this, some credit card companies will also add a transaction fee on foreign transactions. (Halifax is currently the worst, levying 1.75 on each transaction.) For the student, the Post Office or Nationwide credit cards appear to be the best option. They have no levy on overseas purchases but they do charge interest on all cash withdrawals.

As with all travel, insurance is not essential, but only the most foolhardy student would travel without it. The annual multi-trip insurance is seldom competitive except for the USA where it may work out cheaper than individual trip cover (mainly because of the medical expense element applicable to the USA). Most will require you to be staying at pre-booked venues which may not be appropriate for the student traveller.

Decide what cover you need, what excess you need (the first part of each claim that you have to pay yourself) and then shop around. The classic insurance selling line is "why not upgrade to our platinum policy, with 30 million worth of medical cover etc." In real terms, the chances of you ever needing more than 2 million of medical cover or repatriation to the UK is virtually negligible and therefore perhaps best avoided. A good plan is to include a personal liability cover of 1 million and also cover for "cancellations and curtailments" together with cover for lost or delayed baggage and cash.

You should note that Europe-only cover is cheaper than further afield and therefore only select wider cover if it is appropriate. Lastly, ensure that the company you are dealing with is covered by FSA regulated underwriters.

Bear in mind also that the new EHIC card (free from www.dh.gov.uk/travellers) will provide free or discounted health care costs in the EU, but does not cover any repatriation costs.

Useful sites for comparisons and costs are Travel-Insurance-Web for Europe-only travel and Insure For for world-wide travel.

References

Judith Bernstein, Susan C. Awe (1999) "Wired travellers : travel and tourism", Reference Services Review ISSN: 0090-7324 Dec 1999 Vol 27 (4) 364 - 375

Cullinane S (2002) "The relationship between car ownership and public transport provision: a case study of Hong Kong" Transport policy Vol 9, (1), January 2002, pp. 29-39(11)

Frost F, T Shanka (1999) "Asian Australian student travel preferences: An empirical study", Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 1999

REISINGER Y, F MAVONDO (2004) "Determinants of youth travel market's perceptions of tourism destinations" Page 1. Tourism Analysis, Vol. 7 pp. 5566 1083-5423/02 2004

Sheth, A. Bertram, C. Avant, D. Hammond, B. Kochut, K. Warke, Y. (2002) "Managing semantic content for the Web", Internet Computing IEEE Jul/Aug 2002 Vol: 6, (4) 80- 87

This article was written by Verena Veneeva professional writer working for http://www.coursework4you.co.uk.Phyllis Blog56296
Rina Blog42813

Car Safety Ratings: What Do They Mean?

Every car commercial tells you that their car has a five-star safety rating. Does this score really mean anything? What tests are being performed and who does the measuring?

The Organizations

In the United States, there are two organizations that score cars on safety ratings, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The NHTSA is run by the Department of Transportation and is sometimes called the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) or the government five star rating.

Frontal Collision Ratings

The NHTSA gets its data by running a car directly into a wall at 35 mph. The IIHS does a different test, where the impact is offset, and not directly in the middle. The IIHS test does a better job of mimicking real-life accidents. While most cars do well in directly head-on collisions, most real-life collisions are offset.

The NHTSA scores with five stars. Five stars means that there is ten percent or less chance of injury. Injury is defined as something life-threatening or for which you will need immediate hospitalization. Four stars is between eleven and twenty percent chance of injury. Three stars is between twenty-one and thirty-five percent chance.

The IIHS score is not in a five star format. They rate a vehicle as Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor.

The NHTSA and the IIHS scores should be looked at in conjunction with one another. Remember, both these scores only rate what would happen if you collide with another vehicle the same size as yours. However, many crashes involve only one-vehicle, so these tests are useful.

Side-Impact Ratings

Again, the NHTSA and IIHS uses different side-impact tests. The NTSA crashes a giant beam into the side of a car and measures the shock on two male-sized dummies. They then make a star rating based on the chance of chest injury to the dummies. Five stars means less than 5% chance of injury, four stars is 6%-10%, and 3 stars is 11%-20%. They dont gage the damage to the head in this star rating, but if they think that it is excessively dangerous, they will add a safety note to their report.

The IIHS uses dummies that represent adolescents or small-statured women. This helps assess the safety of people other than men in the car. They also use a larger beam. They score their rating based on injury to the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and femur. This is arguably a more comprehensive test than the NHTSA test.

Rollover Ratings

The NHTSA is the only company that does Rollover ratings. Rollovers are often the most fatal type of accident. The NHTSA measures the chance of a car rolling with no external catalyst, and the chance of it happening for a reason (hitting a shallow ditch, hitting the curb, going onto the shoulder). 95% of rollovers are tripped, and have some external element.

Recent NHTSA testing has proven what we know about SUVs being much more likely to rollover than sedans or other cars.

Low-Impact Bumper Test

The IIHS performs a low-impact bumper test to see how much repairs would cost you if you gently hit something by accident. They rate the cars accordingly. Although this is not necessarily a safety rating, it will tell you what you can expect for possible repairs for your car and is something to keep in mind while purchasing a car.

When you shop

Considering the safety ratings of cars is important. But it is also important to know how these ratings are measured so that you can make the most informed decision about your purchase. Maybe you want your car to be cool, or to be functional, but most of all you want it to be safe.

Andrew Dillan is the editor of http://www.theguideto-carloans.com, The Guide to Car Loans. If you are looking for a new car, find the best way to finance your purchase by checking out this informative site!Paula Blog85807
Paule Blog12808

Unsecured Loans UK: Avail At Short Notice

Gone are the days when borrowers used to place some valuable asset and have to wait for days to get the loan amount approve. But with the unsecured loans, today UK borrowers feels happy and relax as unsecured loans UK demands no collateral with that borrower enjoys fast cash approval.

Unsecured loans meet the needs of the borrower who dont possess or dont want to place collateral in favor of the loan amount. Therefore, it can be said that unsecured loan is unsecured in nature which dont require any collateral for the loan approval.

Borrowers like tenant or homeowners can meet their various personal or business needs like buying a home or car, home improvement, consolidating debts, meeting wedding expenses, going for exotic holidays, up-grading the business etc. with the amount that is offered to them.

The loan amount that is offered to unsecured loan UK depends upon the borrowers financial situation, credit score, etc. Generally, borrower can fetch the loan amount ranging from 1 000- 25,000 for the easy repayment period of 6 months 10years.

With the unsecured loan UK borrower enjoy the easy monthly repayment; is made so feasible that borrower doesnt have to face any problem to access from his monthly income or limits his expenses.

While opting for the unsecured loan, UK borrower must know that they are charged higher interest rate for the loan amount. But with the tough competition in the loan market borrower can search for the competitive rates.

Today, unsecured loans are getting popular because of its distinct feature i.e. fast and quick cash approval as no time is utilized in the collateral evaluation. Therefore, borrower can avail the unsecured loan at the shortest possible time.

Moreover, borrowers with bad credit history like defaults, bankruptcy, arrears, CCJs can also seek for the unsecured loans.

Unsecured loans UK help the borrowers to meet the need without placing the collateral against the loan amount.

Peter Taylor is a senior financial analyst at Fast Cash Loan Tenant with an acumen for finance and insurance. In recent years he has taken up to provide independent financial advice through his informative articles. To find Unsecured Loans UK, Unsecured tenant loan , Unsecured loan tenant UK, Unsecured loan, Fast cash loan tenant visit http://www.fastcashloantenant.co.uk/ Priscella Blog53647
Ramona Blog96071

Steps To Prevent Dvt Or Economy Class Syndrome On A Long Haul Flight

There are simple safety precautions to be taken during long haul air travel.

1. Avoid sleeping pills before or during the flight

2. Avoid long periods of sleep during the flight

3. Do seat exercises, such as ankle rolls and toe pointing. Exercise the calf, and thigh muscles by contracting and relaxing them, as well as rotating the ankles!!

4. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration

5. Get up and move about periodically, but at least every hour.

6. Limit carry on luggage so there is plenty of leg room

7. Obtain a seat with as much leg room as possible, such as in the first class cabin, on an aisle, or in back of a bulkhead

8. Talk with your doctor about taking aspirin for its blood-thinning properties. An aspirin tablet can be taken unless you are under 16, or have a history of gastric ulcers, high blood pressure, or a history of sensitivity to aspirin

9. Walk around the airport before and between flights.

10. Wear loose, comfortable clothing for all air travel.

11. Alcohol should be taken in moderation

12. A combination of two glasses of red wine, aspirin and a lot of soft drinks is a perfectly acceptable way to stay healthy as well as helping a long air travel journey to pass!!

IF YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF THROMBOSIS wearing compression stockings is an essential precaution.

How do Gradient Compression Socks and Stockings help prevent dvt during air travel?

Gradient compression stockings help prevent the veins in your legs from becoming over filled with blood (congested).

Veins that are congested with blood make your legs feel heavy.

They may ache and fatigue easily.

These stockings act to prevent leg swelling by counteracting pressures inside the leg and promoting blood flow back to the heart rather than allowing blood to pool in the legs.

Compression squeezes the legs. Gradient compression hosiery (often called elastic stockings) are recommended to control leg swelling and leg discomfort and to prevent skin changes.

What is "Gradient Compression?"

Socks and stockings that are made tightest at the ankle and gradually decrease in tightness as they go up the leg are called gradient stockings.

Please note it is now possible to be screened to identify if genetically you have an increased chance of a dvt.

For example a man having hormonal treatment for cancer of the prostate and has a genetically identifiable clotting factor problem has a dramatically increased chance of developing a dvt.

The same would hold true for a lady taking HRT with the same genetic profile.

If you are anxious about your susceptibility to dvt during air travel then you can get yourself screened

Lucy Tucker is a nurse and has concerns about DVT, and Holiday Health, check out her articles on http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/categories/Travel-Advice/Orelle Blog88959
Pacifica Blog80793

Sweets and Savouries for Diwali

Entertaining family and friends is a large part of Diwali, so every home needs to be prepared to provide tasty nibbles for guests at a moment's notice.

Diwali is a time of celebration and apart from the oil lights and candles which decorate homes, the puja and the prayers, special sweets, savouries and snacks are central to the festival.

Sweets mithai, of which the Indians are inordinately fond, are given as presents. These sweets are made with a combination of any of paneer (similar to cottage cheese), semolina, chickpea flour, thickened milk, wheat flour, coconut, grated carrots and spiced with any of cardamom, nutmeg or cinnamon with nuts and raisins added for texture. Heres a favourite.

Kalakand

Ingredients:

500g paneer
1 tin condensed milk
2 heaped tbsp full cream milk powder
Flavourings to taste
1 silver leaf (optional)

Mash the paneer coarsely with a fork and add the milk powder and condensed milk. Mix well.
Heat the mixture in a thick bottomed pan. Cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens.
Remove from the heat and spread onto a greased baking tray. Sprinkle cardamom powder or slivers of almonds or pistachio nuts on the top.
Top with the silver leaf if using. Cool and cut into squares.
Makes: 15-20 pieces
Preparation time: 20 minutes

Sweet and savoury snacks are consumed at home and might include pooris (deep fried bread, which puffs up almost to a sphere, made with cumin and green chillies or with sugar and cardamom), samosas (pastry triangles stuffed with spicy peas and potato), half-moon shaped pastries, filled with coconut, nuts, raisins and spices. Heres a taste of both sweet and savoury.

Besan Laddus

Ingredients

250g Gram flour (besan)
300g Powdered sugar
400g Ghee or butter
3tsp Cardamom powder
2tsp Almonds, chopped
2tsp Pistachio nuts, chopped

Method

Heat the ghee or butter in a frying pan. Add the gram flour and stir well to mix. Fry on a low heat until it is pale brown and the flour is cooked. Allow to cool.
Add the powdered sugar, cardamom powder, chopped almonds and pistachios to the flour mixture and form into small balls with your hands.

Murukku

Ingredients

90g rice flour
120g cup white gram flour
1 tsp Sesame seeds
tsp Cumin seeds
tsp Chilli powder
tsp Asafoetida
3 tbsp Oil
Salt
Oil for frying

Method

Mix the flours together and add the spices, seeds and salt. Rub in the oil and add water to make a thick dough. Twist the dough into circular shapes.

Heat the oil until a pinch of the dough dropped in, rises to the top with bubbles around it.

Fry until golden brown, turning occasionally and drain on kitchen paper.

Cool and store in an airtight container.

Another favourite snack, which is quick and easy to prepare for guests is Masala Cashew Nuts

Just deep fry large cashew nuts in ghee or oil, drain on absorbent paper and sprinkle with a mixture of salt, red chilli powder and garam masala. Be sure not to try to fry too many at a time or the ghee may initially bubble up too fiercely then cool too quickly, leaving the nuts very greasy.

Liz Canham: Philippe Blog99560
Peg Blog23783

25 MPG in a Jeep Wrangler

25 MPG possible in a Jeep Wrangler, using just common sense? I've done it still had a completely functional Jeep without any gimmicky devices.

==About this Jeep==

1999 Jeep Wrangler SE
2.5L inline four cylinder engine
31" BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires
Stock height
Hardtop

==What I did to get 25 miles per gallon out of it==

- Accelerate SLOWLY. You'd be surprised how quickly most people get on the gas from a stop.

- Shift at around 2000 RPM. Seems to be the optimal range for maximum mileage.

- Use the cruise control on flat roads. The computer can keep an even pressure on the gas petal better than you can. Do NOT use cruise control on hills.

- Drive SLOWLY. On county roads I drive 45 MPH, on state highways I kick it up to around 50-55 MPH. The primary reason Jeep Wranglers get low mileage is due to the extremely poor aerodynamics of the body. It's like driving a brick down the road. Driving 60 MPH+ significantly increases wind speed and lowers mileage tremendously.

- Use synthetic oil such as Amsoil. Not only is this better for your engine and transmission but it lowers friction allowing an extra mile or so per gallon.

- Remove any extra weight from your Jeep. Storing that 50 lbs. bag of dog food in your back seat isn't helping things.

- Keep your fuel system clean. Dump a can of ChemTool in your tank every so often to clean out your injectors.

- Don't purchase fuel that is cut with ethanol! You will get noticeably worse gas mileage at the same cost!

- If you have lockers for your axles that you have to get out and physically turn, turning them off will net you 2-3 MPG.

Sure these methods won't make everyone on the road with you happy, but for most of us it's perfectly legal to drive 45 MPH everywhere we go. Not only do you save big on gas, but you also save on tickets and insurance. You will be able to avoid animals and various accidents much easier than before as well. Another thing I noticed is that driving slower is more enjoyable. You realize just how quickly the world goes by!

I also experiented with 3 ounces of acetone per 10 gallons of fuel. At first I noticed a jump from 20 MPG to 23 MPG, however after trying a few tanks of fuel without acetone my mileage was maintained. That leads me to believe something was clogged up a bit and the acetone just cleaned it out. It's certainly worth a try in your Jeep, especially if you've never used a fuel system cleaner before.

So there you have it. No "tornado fuel savers" or wierd chemicals, just some common sense (and a bit of experimenting). I believe I could push 26-27 MPG if I still had the stock tires as the BFG Mud Terrains are built for off-road use. If you have a six cylinder Jeep Wrangler using the above methods should net you around 18-19 MPG (if you are mostly stock).

Have fun and good luck!

Article (c)2006 Chris Goff. More articles available at http://outerheaven.c-reality.com.Renie Blog58862
Renae Blog36904

Car Purchase Loans: A Dream Comes True

In the past decades, purchasing a car of own was like building castles in the air, but not today. In present period, the emerging loan schemes have transformed it into reality to drive a car of own. Car purchase loans are now easily available and can be obtained by persons from every financial category. To obtain the loan more easily, it is designed in a lucrative manner and classified into secured and unsecured forms. The forms are like the two sides of the same coin, which concentrates to aid financially the individuals to purchase cars.

Car purchase loans can be obtained by pledging property as collateral (this option is a secured form of loan); without pledging any sort of collateral (for persons who do not have property to pledge) which makes it easier to borrow amount according to ones ability to borrow. But pledging of collateral empowers borrowers to obtain more loan amount as lenders becomes ascertain of borrowers repayments. With the coming up of numerous lenders, car purchase loans are now available at reasonable and low rate of interest. The interest rates vary from one lender to another due to the cutthroat competition among them and individuals should take the advantage of this fierce competition. While carrying out such a job, taking the assistance of online is a wise decision because the sophisticated technology makes it possible to reach numerous lenders in less time saving individual efforts.

The main advantage of car purchase loans is that persons can finance expensive and branded cars. But if individuals cannot afford to have the expensive car, they can least finance for the used car and carry out the purposes or make the daily commute easy. The car purchase loans can also be regarded as a good option to finance commercial vehicles and add boost to expand the business empire. To reach the lenders or to gather information about car loans, individuals need not have to visit lenders individually and click for the high-end application process.

All the advantages and proposals of car purchase loans are also offered to persons having bad credit score like default, arrears, late-payments, bankruptcy and such. The bad credit while applying for car loans should produce precise data concerning to [personal and credit score in order to avoid delay and for a smooth approval.

Martin Andrews is offering loan and financial advice on Car Purchase Loans for quite a long time. He is working as the senior financial consultant with Car Purchase Loans, bad credit car purchase loan, car purchase loan UK, car purchase plan loan, car auto loan private purchase, loans for car purchase visit http://www.carpurchaseloan.net/Ree Blog18390
Penny Blog68097

Changes In Weather Make Cool/Heat Seats Sales Go Up

According to a company that produces seats for vehicles, Cool or Heat, LLC, the current weather conditions has given them a huge amount of sales for their newest product. The company goes on to claim that the rising amount of sales has been caused mainly by the heat wave that has hit the United States this summer. And because of this, their new Cool-or-Heat Seat became a favorite in the market.

Some people opt to purchase odds and ends for their vehicle. Maybe some Saab auto parts. But there are some who opted to purchase add-ons like this new cool (or even hot) seat to give the passengers comfort during rides in various types of weather.

The Cool-or-Heat Seat is already patented by Cool or Heat, LLC. Installing this product is quite easy for you just need to put it right on top of your car seat. With thermoelectric technology, the Cool-or-Heat Seat would cool down or heat up the liquid inside it so as to give you a comfortable ride.

“Extremely hot temperatures this summer had many people across the country scrambling to get their hands on a Cool-or-Heat Seat. We initially launched the product in our own local market and were anticipating good sales in the southern states. However, the prolonged nationwide heat wave really caught us all by surprise and created strong sales and demand for our product from all across the country. We were completely sold out for almost an entire month but we are now filling all of our orders again,” says Krista Walker, one of the main officers for the company that produces the seats. She continues, “When set on the cooling function, the Cool-or-Heat Seat is the perfect solution for burning hot car seats, a sweaty back and bottom, and all-day summer driving comfort. And, since the heating function will keep everyone warm throughout the cold winter months, we are now ramping up extra production for the upcoming holiday sales season.”

You can purchase this product for around $120. It may be considered quite a luxurious item and an expensive item at that, however, many people still choose comfort over the price.

Jennifer Dylan is a 35-year-old gal who hails from San Francisco. She has a habit of updating herself on new car trends and models. She spends most of her time reading up on cars and hopes to test drive them. She works for one of the topnotch car parts dealer in the U.S. Remy Blog58867
Querida Blog53099

Hialeah Park

Hialeah is a unique city in many respects. For starters, the city ranks number one on the list of American cities where Spanish is most spoken as a matter of fact, 92% of the residents of Hialeah speak Spanish as a first language (so if you want to practice your Spanish, it isnt a bad place to go). The high Hispanic population means there are a lot of activities and attractions that wont be found, for example, in the middle of Minnesota. Opportunities to watch and play Jai-Alai abound, and you can regularly see Quinceanera celebrations as you pass by restaurants and community celebrations. In addition to the unique cultural make-up, Hialeah has some interesting history: a disproportionate number of pro-athletes and astronauts hail from Hialeah, famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart made her final farewells from Hialeah before departing, and in 1925, one of the most famous horse-racing tracks in the world opened in the form of Hialeah Park.

Hialeah Park is the oldest and widest continually used turf-racing track in the United States, and since 1925 has been patronized by Winston Churchill, the Kennedy family, and J.P. Morgan. Though the last race was run in 2001 (Cheeky Miss captured the 10th to end the tracks racing career), the park is on the national register of historic places, and now stands like a phantom. The flamingos that have lived nearby for years have made it possible for the track to also be recognized as an Audubon Bird Sanctuary. Going to the park now is like visiting a ghost town. For an idea of what it looks like, check out this site: http://icuban.com/hialeah_park.html. The park can be very interesting to explore, especially for a racing fan.

If you are in the mood for some slightly eerie racing history, head over to Hialeah Park to take a look. The vines stretching up the Mediterranean architecture and disused voting booths are oddly fascinating. For those who really enjoy this kind of thing, consider renting a Millenium limousine to take you there. If youre going to explore old architecture, I find its best to get there in the comfort and luxury of a limousine.

Nick Jurkowski is a senior editor for http://www.MilleniumLimo.com. The essays above can be found on his night life blog, The Urban Adventure Blog, which is updated daily.Pauli Blog63212
Peggi Blog7500

12 Hair Care Tips For Any Length and Style

Regardless of its length or style, we all want one thing: a healthy, great looking head of hair. But the first step to having healthy, luxurious hair is to know its exact type. Is it oily, dry or normal? It your hair naturally curly or straight? Are you troubled by dandruff? Has your hair been processed in some way? Is it brittle or strong? Knowing your true starting point will allow you to better care for your hair and keep it looking its absolute best.

With short hairstyles, its important to protect your hair and your scalp every time you are in the sun. Look for protective styling products, and be sure to wear a hat to avoid sunburn. If your hair is short and curly, you should know that curly hair tends to break easier and needs more moisture than other types of hair.

The key to keeping medium-length to long hair beautiful and healthy looking is to protect it from split ends and becoming brittle. The longer hair is, the heavier it is, and as a result, more prone to breakage. If you have long or medium-length hair, never use a rubber band to pull your hair back into a ponytail as they can pull and damage hair. Instead, use a something elastic that is covered in a soft cloth to avoid breaking the delicate hair shafts.

Here are a few simple dos and donts to remember for every length and style of hair :

6 Essential Hair Care Dos :

- Do gently brush your hair each night before going to bed as it will stimulate blood flow to your scalp and promote healthy hair growth.

- Do be sure to hold the hair dryer at least six to eight inches away from your hair and keep it moving at all times to avoid scorching the hair.

- Do gently wash your hair using a mild shampoo suitable for your type of hair with lukewarm water.

- Do use a conditioner to keep your hair manageable, healthy, and free of tangles.

- Do be sure to drink plenty of water and follow a balanced diet. Many people arent aware of the important role that proper nutrition plays regarding healthy hair care. Water is essential to keep your body and hair properly hydrated.

- Do try to avoid touching your hair unnecessarily as the oils from your hands can cause your hair to lose its luster and become dirtier faster.

6 Essential Hair Care Donts :

- Dont brush wet hair, use a comb instead to avoid pulling and risking breakage.

- Dont blow-dry your hair every day, the constant heat will cause it to become brittle and prone to breakage. Likewise, use your curling iron on the lowest possible setting.

- Dont over process your hair using strong dyes and chemicals. If you do relax your hair or have it permanently waved, be sure to wait as long as possible in between treatments to avoid over processing and damage.

- Dont change your hair color to more than three shades, in either direction, lighter or darker, to avoid excessive damage.

- Dont wash your hair in extra hot water, instead use warm, and use cool water for the final rinse.

- Dont allow stress to adversely affect your health, including your hair.

David Yu - Writes about fashion. Find more fashion information on http://www.idolafashion.com.Penny Blog25528
Pamelina Blog4781

Improving Communication in Your Relationships: Learning How to Listen

As a couples therapist, I don't always give relationship advice. In fact, at its core therapy is a practice of listening and presence." Often, just the understanding ear of a psychotherapist can be soothing to clients who are experiencing stress. As a result, learning how to listen is a requirement for any effective psychotherapist. Ever cry your heart out to a good friend, and afterwards felt much better even though they may have said very little or anything at all? The reason you felt relieved is because it works wonders.

Unfortunately, we live in a society of "rugged individualism" where many like to be the center of attention, to publicly and unashamedly speak of their problems but rarely caring about the needs of others. (Conflict-driven Reality television and TV talk shows are perfect examples of this.) As a long-time couples and marriage therapist I've seen how a basic inability to listen to ones' partner can spell doom for a relationship. Indeed, learning how to listen to your mate is a fundamental part of any successful union.

The good news is that learning to listen is easy! First, pay attention to your partner. When communicating with someone, directly face them in order to show interest. In fact, by showering your undivided attention upon your partner you show that you value them in a way that few others have.

Maintain eye contact. Your body posture should indicate that not only is your partner important to you, but that they are, at that moment, the only person in the world that matters. Sit down next to them if they're sitting, don't stand.

In addition, remain cognizant of non-verbal behavior. In fact, 90% of communication is non-verbal, so be aware of changing facial expressions such as frowns, a raised eyebrow, or oncoming tears. Importantly, if you don't bother to notice any of those things then you are missing what is TRULY being said! Remember, take it slow. Don't rush through conversations just to get back to doing something else. Turn off all distractions such as the television or radio. Try helping your partner to further elaborate by asking open-ended questions in order to gain more information, and closed-ended questions to increase clarification.

Finally, one important piece of relationship advice: Don't become defensive. If your knee jerk reaction is to get defensive when someone criticizes you, this will greatly hinder your ability to truly hear what your partner is saying.

In conclusion, you have been equipped with some tools and techniques that will enable you to better communicate with your partner. Learning to listen is a skill that takes a little time to master, but try it and I promise you'll see positive results!

Emily Kensington is a psychotherapist specializing in couples and marital therapy. Her website is http://www.hearts-and-kisses.com. Penny Blog25528
Patrica Blog34990

New Auto Purchase: Lease Vs. Buy

Essentially, Leasing is just an alternative way to finance a new vehicle. We know that when purchasing a new vehicle the down payment, sales tax and license fees are required to be paid up front. However when leasing a new vehicle you are required to pay only the first monthly payment, a security deposit (usually same as monthly payment), and the license fees. The sales tax (which is based on the capitalized value of the vehicle) is actually amortized over the term of the lease in most states. In other words, the taxes are included in the monthly payments.

Capitalized Cost

Essentially the capitalized cost of a new vehicle is the actual price you have agreed to pay for the vehicle.

Gross Capitalized Cost

The gross capitalized cost of a new vehicle includes the selling price of the vehicle (which is the capitalized cost plus acquisition fees, extended warranty, accident & health insurance, dealer title fee, payoff on your trade-in, credit life insurance, gap insurance and any other fees the dealer decides to charge you). Buyer beware; that most people really don't ever know what their capitalized cost is because it is buried within the gross capitalized cost and the dealer doesn't actually reveal this number unless he has to. Most car deals made at auto dealerships are negotiated on the basis of payment rather than price. This applies to both leasing and purchasing. Don't get caught in this trap! Make the dealer reveal the selling price for every payment offer he makes you!

Adjusted Capitalized Cost

The adjusted capitalized cost of a new vehicle is the gross capitalized cost minus (-) your down payment, net trade-in amount, rebates, license fees and taxes along with any other deductions given.

Depreciation/Residual

When purchasing a new vehicle your payments are based on the full value or selling price, plus extended warranty, tax & license, minus (-) rebate, down payment and net trade-in value. However, when you lease a vehicle your payments are based only on the "depreciation or your use" of the vehicle during the entire term of the lease. The depreciation is actually only a portion of the capitalized cost of the vehicle and is determined by the term of the lease, number of miles driven and condition of the vehicle at the end of the lease. The payments on a lease are based on the deprecation money factor (which is a form of interest rate) and the amortized taxes. Therefore, you can actually drive a more expensive vehicle with a lower payment if you lease. Please note that the depreciation is actually estimated and set at the inception of the lease.

The residual is the portion or balance of the adjusted capitalized cost after the deprecation has been deducted. The residual is just put aside in limbo until the end of the lease. The higher the residual - the lower your monthly payment. At the end of the lease you have two options. You can either turn the vehicle back into the bank or leasing company, or you can buy the vehicle outright for the residual balance. You can even refinance the residual. But keep in mind if you turn in the vehicle with more mileage than allowed on your contract, you will be charged any where from .12 to .25 for each extra mile. In an auto lease you are limited to a specific number of miles in your lease contact. The average would be from 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year. You may drive any number of miles in any given year but you cannot exceed the number of allotted miles or you will be penalized. If you purchase the vehicle the charge for the extra mileage will normally be waved. Most banks and finance companies will allow you to add an extra 15,000 to 20,000 miles to your lease contract depending on the term of the lease. However, the cost of the extra miles will be added to your gross capitalization cost and your monthly payment will be increased accordingly.

Ownership

When you have entered into a lease contract you cannot terminate the lease or turn-in your vehicle prior to the ending date of the contract. If you do this the bank will report this as a voluntary repossession on your credit record. On an auto lease the vehicle is actually registered and titled to the bank or leasing company. Therefore you do not own the vehicle, the bank does. You get to use the vehicle and are legally responsible for the upkeep and maintenance. Please note, if you don't maintain the vehicle during the lease you will be penalized for all excessive wear-and-tear when you turn it in. Also, if you really needed to get out of your lease you can buy out of the lease if you can get the financing or you can get someone to take over your lease. Of course, they will have to qualify.

Vehicle Warranties

The average new car warranty is 36 months or 36000 miles, which ever comes first. It is not recommended that you enter into a 4, 5 or 6 year lease contract because they are not economical. Even with a four-year lease it is common for the residual to be higher than the actual value of the vehicle at the end of the lease which makes it very hard to refinance. If you are like a lot of people you can lease a new vehicle every 2 to 3 years and never have to buy an extended warranty. The only time it would be beneficial to buy an extended warranty is if you knew you were going to buy the vehicle outright at the end of the lease.

Gap Insurance

Gap Insurance is basically insurance coverage on the difference between the actual value of your vehicle and the balance you owe on the lease including the residual. This kind of protection is needed in case your vehicle is involved in an accident and is declared a total loss. Gap Insurance is important especially for people who lease vehicles. The lease on a vehicle is actually designed for the balance owed to be upside-down in relation to the actual value of the vehicle until approximately the end date of the lease term. At this time the residual should fall in line or be equal to the vehicle's actual value. Gap Insurance is good for purchase financing as well. The gap is not as large as in leasing, but you still stand the chance of having to put out a great deal of money.

Final Advice

Remember, there are two main factors you must consider when you are thinking about leasing an automobile. The first is how long you intend to keep the vehicle and the second is how many miles you travel annually. If you intend to keep the vehicle a maximum of three years and you only average 15,000 miles a year, then you should definitely consider leasing. If you want to keep the new vehicle for more than three years, you should consider purchasing.

When you lease a vehicle, you very rarely have to put any money down, so lease a new vehicle every two to three years and you won't owe any money on the old vehicle, plus you'll never have to buy an extended warranty. Also, you will have spent a ton of money less for each vehicle than if you had purchased them. If you want to keep a vehicle longer just buy it at the end of the lease.

Remember, don't let the dealer try to sell you on the basis of payments. Negotiate on the price only and when you have agreed on the price then tell them you have a trade-in. When you have agreed to your trade-in value then tell them you want to lease the new vehicle. Now you know what to do from here. Also, dealerships have a tendency to quote lease payments without the monthly tax. This makes a big difference in the monthly payments. If you don't control this you will be sadly surprised when you go into the finance manager to sign the paperwork. One more thing - when you are signing the lease contract, be sure to verify that the trade-in value you have agreed upon is actually deducted from the capitalized cost. Otherwise the dealer could wind up purchasing your trade for pennies and you would never know.

Visit My site http://autopurchasesecrets.com for more free information on the secrets the dealerships don't want you to know.

Brad Upshaw spent thirteen years in the Automobile business, specifically auto sales and worked for several Dealerships. He held positions from Retail Salesman up through New Car Manager and Fleet Manager. During this period Brad received an excellent education on what goes on inside the Automobile Dealerships. You can visit and communicate with Brad at his website http://autopurchasesecrets.com.Olly Blog69329
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Some Famous Zimbabwe Safaris

Although many places and creatures in Africa are the best in their own kinds, some still assert that Zimbabwe offers some of the bests.

Be stunned by the waters of the Victoria Falls, be amazed by the rolling hills, experience the circle of life with the enormous elephants and buffalo and never forget, go back in time with the rock arts that were created even before civilizations sprouted.

Although Zimbabwe safaris are only some of the seemingly endless offerings of Africa, wonders of nature can still be found in here that may not be found anywhere else. In this article, we have collected some of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries that cover Zimbabwe safaris.

Chimanimani National Park, situated at the eastern region of Zimbabwe, this park is the only one that allows hikers and trailers to travel without guides. It is a botanist's paradise since it boasts hundreds of plant species.

Chizarira National Park, famous for its panoramic views, Chizarira is not for the faint hearted. It has difficult access that very remote. Nonetheless, it offers its guests amazing sites of natural wonders.

Gonarezhou National Park, at one point in time the elephants dwelled in here thus the name Gonarezhou which literally meant as "abode of elephants". But people are now trying to recover its past but the elephants never forget. They tend to become nasty to visitors.

Hwange National Park, being the premier game viewing area of Zimbabwe, Hwange is the largest national park. It never gets crowded though. The driest months are the peak season for the visits. This is when game viewing is most excellent since animals congregate within water holes. This park also harbors the largest and most diverse animal species in the region, some 400 birds species and the combination of plain animals and the predators.

Lake Kariba, a man-made water reserve, Lake Kariba now serves as the haven for water adventure lovers. It features water skiing, fishing and sailing. Swimming is not allowed since it is also the haven for crocodiles and other reptiles.

Matopos National Park, this is where history seemed to centralized. Packed with many cave men drawings that depict the existence of life in the soil of Zimbabwe even before it was discovered. It also harbors thick population of wild animals including the rare black rhino.

Matusadona National Park, featuring wild mountains and flat plains, Matusadona is truly a land of rising and falling altitudes. It is also known for nursing large herds of both fish eagles and buffalo.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on safari & other useful information, please visit http://safari.articlekeep.com.Priscilla Blog26055
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Jeff Gordon NASCAR Profile

Jeff Gordon is a famous American race car driver who was born in 1971 in Vallejo, California. He has won the Nascar Winston Cup four times, and he drives car #24 for Hendrick Motorsports. As of this writing, one of his most prominent sponsors is DuPont. Jeff Gordon began racing when he was only five years of age. He loved to race cars, and his family was supportive of him. His family actually relocated primarily because they wanted Jeff to be in a location where he could better harness his racing skills. While he was still a minor, Jeff had already won a number of races and was given the USAC Midget Car Racing Rookie of the Year award.

After this, Gordon went on to win the USAC Midget title, and by 1991, he had gained the USAC Silver Crown. He broke a record by being the youngest person to ever capture the title. He went to the Busch Series after this, and had a large number of victories. Gordon crashed his car during the the Hooters 500 race in Atlanta in 1992, and this caused him to be placed in the 31st position. Jeff Gordon was one of many young racers who would be placed on high quality teams early in their careers. The success of Jeff Gordon allowed a younger generation of racers to begin competing in Nascar.

Many critics felt that Gordon was not ready to compete at the professional level because of his habit of racing cars so hard that he crashed them. However, Gordon proved them all wrong during the 1994 season, were he emerged victorious in the Lowe's Motor Speedway, which was a long and difficult race. Gordon would also go on to win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400. In 1995 he won what would become the first of four Winston Cup Championships. Jeff Gordon is also famous for rising up against the legendary Dale Earnhardt, and he has become a fan favorite.

Many people consider Jeff Gordon to be one of the greatest drivers in Nascar because he achieved so much at a very young age. Even at 35 years of age, Jeff Gordon has successfully won 75 races, which is just one victory behind Dale Earnhardt. Jeff Gordon is also notable for making Nascar a popular sport with mainstream audiences. For a long time, the sport was only regulated to the south, but Jeff Gordon has allowed it to reach a high level of popularity due to advertising and his skills with the media.

Jason Martin is a contributer for an auto racing blog at http://AutoRacingReporter.com. Find more auto racing websites at http://SportsWebsiteDirectory.com. Purchase sports website marketing at http://SportsWebsiteMarketing.com.Rafaela Blog33755
Petronille Blog91828

Acapulco All Inclusive Packages

Summary: For your Acapulco vacation, forget about fretting on expenditures. Just pay a one-time Acapulco All Inclusive Packages

When you are on a vacation in Acapulco youd want to forget worrying about numbers. And surprisingly, scores of situations call for you to be worried since numbers can ruin anyones vacation, more than ever in Acapulco where prices can get exceedingly high. Overspending is everyones nightmare but you need not to worry every time you face a bill. Prevent such from happening because all inclusive packages are designed to meet these situations. For those who want no constant fretting of the amount they have spent, these all inclusive packages are worthwhile.

So lets forget about worrying numbers. Lets see and compare the overall bargain these Acapulco all inclusive packages bring.

The Avalon Excalibur Acapulco Package

The 4-star Avalon Excalibur offers this Acapulco all inclusive packages for only $58. It is 10% off and only $55 for each person per night. This package has no blackout dates and is valid on travel made on 8/20 12/22.

This hotel is just 30 minutes from the Acapulco International Airport; meaning it is that close to the historical old Acapulco. Only a 3 minutes ride can take you to the famous Hornos Beach where Acapulco nightlife usually starts. But that doesnt mean Avalon Excalibur cant deliver enough fun. With numerous amenities, pools and kids playground, you can be sure to have fun still without leaving the premises of Avalon Excalibur.

For your bookings, just log on their website at: www.avalonvacations.com

The Ritz Hotel

Offering the best Acapulco all inclusive packages, The Ritz Hotel is surely a winning choice. Located just 25 minutes ride from the International Airport and 10 minutes from downtown, you can be sure you wont be far from all the Acapulco action. Enjoy indoors with the Ritz amenities or take a tour in the countryside.

The Ritz Acapulco all inclusive packages includes a deluxe room facing a panoramic ocean view and all square meals including buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. Snacks, unlimited recreational activities, non-water sports, gym and aerobics, evening shows and disco, all are available in The Ritz. Meaning you hardly have to leave in order to have fun!

For your bookings, just log on their website at: www.ritzacapulco.com

Acapulco is known for nightlife and high living. Gay couples, honeymooners, and college groups often head to this part of Mexico to have fun. Thats why these Acapulco All Inclusive Packages are exclusively for adults only. Choose from the selection of Couples Resort, Las Palmas, Blue Bay Getaway Club, El Dorado Seaside Suites and Villa Vera Hotel Spa & Racquet Club.

Perry-James, Cole is the webmaster for http://www.something4u.com, an upcoming web-site that provides information on Health, Laws, Money, Religion, and many other topics. Rahel Blog10702
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How Do you Find a Good Auto Insurance Quote in Michigan?

Have you ever wondered how much money is spent on traffic accidents and car theft each day, month or year? What if each driver had to pay the money out of their own pocket? How many do you thin were able to pay? Fortunately we have invented a smart tool just to avoid such mean circumstances and this tool is called car or auto insurance.

Auto insurance is one of those things we all complain about until we need it - then we sure are glad we paid those premiums on time. However, like any other product, the price you pay for your auto insurance can vary widely by company. Getting an auto insurance quote from many companies can help you find out who offers the best deals in automobile coverage as well as let you examine the specific benefits the company offers to Michigan drivers. Every company has different packages and you should examine closely each quotation to see what benefits the company is offering for your dollar.

In Michigan automobile owners pay some of the highest auto insurance rates in the industry for a non-major metropolitan area because of the harsh winters and sometimes hazardous driving conditions that come with those winters. Because of the wide variations in rates many drivers re-evaluate their coverage needs each year to see how rates have risen and fallen and which company is now offering the better deal.

Remember, all insurers must offer the same types of basic coverage. It is usually the discounts, extra riders and other benefits that an insurer offers that is the deal breaker when it comes to purchasing coverage. Some companies will offer free rental-car reimbursement if your car is in the shop for an accident, others will cover emergency roadside service for insured motorists. All these perks should be evaluated in relation to the total price you are paying for coverage. After all, ERS service is nice, but if you are already a member of AAA or another automobile club then it really isn't a value to you.

Terry Bolton is a web publisher who likes to write about car and automotive issues. You can read more at his news and in depth information website http://www.cheap-used-cars.w-eland.com.Petronia Blog68230
Rachel Blog61120

Your Guide To Low-Cost Online Airfare To Florida

There used to be a time when vacationers picked up the phone, called their travel agent and kept their fingers crossed, hoping for a great deal on a flight. If you were lucky enough to get a discounted rate, that was wonderful. If you had to pay full fare, well, you weren't going to cancel your vacation over it. Just as computers have changed the way the world operates, they've also turned Joe Traveler into an armchair travel agent. Today it's possible to check flight availability, search for the best fare, book your own flight and in some cases, even choose your seat on the plane - all at the click of a mouse.

The advantage, of course, is the ability to compare air fares offered by several different companies within a very short time span. There's no phoning around, no automated messages to contend with and the information is right in front of your eyes.

There's no waiting for the travel agency to open at 9 a.m. and no cursing when you realize they closed at 5. When you wake up at 2 a.m. with an urge to fly to Orlando, you simply fire up the computer and book your flight online. Thanks to easy-to-follow instructions, the Internet helps you access virtually the same airline timetables, ticket prices, routing, seating information and restrictions details as a professional travel agent.

But anyone who's ever surfed the 'Net knows that it can be a time-consuming process - unless you know exactly what you're searching for. That's why we've come up with this handy, concise list of Web sites that promise low airfares to many popular destinations. Though a computer isn't a substitute for a knowledgeable travel professional, it can give you - the consumer - the inside track on where to find some really great prices.

Keep in mind that a well-designed online travel site should let you access the same information you'd receive from a travel agent. This includes finding and booking flights; comparing prices, seats and routings; researching destinations; tracking flights in progress; offering information about discounts and incentives; and keeping consumers updated on travel news and events.

Jacky Uy writes for http://www.cheapairfareguide.info where you can find out more about cheap airfare guides and other topics.Orelle Blog13992
Peggie Blog84672

A Review of the 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Not long ago I bought a used 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee quite cheap. I was hoping that it will be nice and cool, but it was a real disaster. Still there are some good things in it, first of all it is big and the body is in perfect shape, and also the seating feels comfortable, however as a whole my 1994 Grand Cherokee jeep is awful. Now I am sure that I would have been better off with a sensible Honda Civic or anything of the kind, instead of buying the Jeep that I now consider as the worst ever purchase I've made.

The thing I want to begin with is the monstrous gas consumption of this SUV. I knew it will not be as for a Ford Fiesta, but getting only 13 miles per gallon is a bit too much for me, and it only makes me think about a shot engine. What comes next it the unsafe rolling of this totally unbalanced clumsy Jeep, along with its impossible shocks. With this 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee you are actually putting your life to the risk of turning over with every turn you make at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour. What I can say for sure is that I should not have rushed into that without having a detailed check on SUVs, which would have showed me what the possible and most common problems might be. And the only reason I skipped that part for was the thrilling price they gave me for the car

There are good things to be considered also in the 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It is very spacious at the back and offers plenty of room, a plus that makes it a great road trip vehicle. Thinking about storage room no one can deny that it is awesome too, and this once again confirms the statement that this is a road trip machine. What is more, I have a killer sound system in the SUV. It was actually decked out by the previous owner who just left it in the car. This sound system not only delivers great bass, but also keeps unbelievably crisp hi-fi sound in the treble scale. Even having that, though, is not at all enough to compensate for the faults it has, and hen I think about t eventually all the money I saved by getting it cheap will soon be wasted for repairs of the shocks, engine, etc. or even only for gas to get it going

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning cars. Learn more at http://www.carsanddrivinginfo.com/cars--driving-information/cars--driving/a-review-of-the-1994-jeep-grand-cherokee.htmlRebecka Blog95860
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Using Your Health Savings Account to Pay for International Travel

Thousands of U.S. citizens are taking advantage of the low cost and high quality of foreign hospitals by traveling abroad for medical treatment. The savings are often 75 percent or more, and the entire cost of treatment may even be payable with tax-free money from a Health Savings Account.

Medical tourism first began to get popular in the 1990's, when people began traveling in large numbers to Brazil for cosmetic surgery. But as costs have continued to rise, thousands of Americans have been traveling overseas for real medical conditions, such as knee replacements, by-pass operations, heart valve replacements, and other serious issues. Many countries are seeing medical tourism as a good way to bring in foreign money.

In many cases the quality of medicine available overseas is equal to the top hospitals in the U.S. Patients are showing up at places like the Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad, India, part of a 36-hospital chain founded by a cardiologist from Massachusetts General. A heart valve replacement may cost $50,000 to $100,000 in the U.S., and only $12,000 in India, including travel costs.

Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center, in Delhi, India, is another popular medical tourist destination. It was founded by Dr. Naresh Trehan, an authority on robotic cardiac surgery formerly based at New York University.

Blue Cross Blue Shield has just announced that they will pay for treatment at Bumrungrad International Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand for individuals from South Carolina. Over 80,000 Americans received treatment there last year. The hospital boasts that over 200 of its doctors are board-certified in the U.S, and will perform a knee replacement operation for 20 percent of what it would cost in the U.S.

Who Does This?

Dodie Gilmore is a 60 year-old rodeo barrel-racing champ from Oklahoma. She runs a 180 acre ranch, but could no longer ride a horse because she needed a hip replacement. Her health insurance plan had an exclusion that wouldn't cover her operation, and she really didn't feel like paying the $35,000 it would cost her. Instead she and her partner flew to India where she had the surgery at the Max Institute of Orthopedics and Joint Replacement.

Her physician was Dr. S.K.S. Marya, who averages one American hip-replacement patient every week. Dodie's total coast, including travel, was only $11,000. She even managed to take in a tour of the Taj Mahal.

Forty to Sixty percent of those surveyed say they would consider surgery abroad if it could save them $5,000 or more. Going out of the U.S. (perhaps even just to Mexico), could be a worthwhile strategy if you have an exclusionary waiver on your policy, if you'll be having elective surgery not covered by your health insurance policy, or if you have a high deductible plan.

What is the Risk?

According to the Institute of Medicine, over 100,000 accidental deaths occur in hospitals every year. And that's here in the U.S. Hospitals are a dangerous place to be, and you want to spend as little of your life in one as possible. So there are risks everywhere, and probably greater risks outside the U.S.

But the magic of the free-market does give you some protection. There is a lot of money flowing to countries and international hospitals that practice high-quality medicine. If a hospital does not provide quality service, you can bet its customers will go elsewhere, particularly if they are choosing among anywhere in the world.

The influx of foreign patients (and money) is enticing more western-trained doctors to return home, so the choices are actually increasing, and the quality and prices continue to improve. I believe that if you use care in choosing your provider and structuring your treatment, the risks are no greater than having surgery here in the U.S.

How to Research Your Options

Keep in mind that most health insurance plans still will not cover for treatment outside the U.S., particularly if you are traveling specifically to receive medical care. So check with your insurer if the cost of the treatment is going to exceed your deductible.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations certifies hospitals here in the U.S. Their international division, Joint Commission International, certifies hospitals throughout the rest of the world. Make sure the facility that you are considering has been certified by them.

Then check out your doctor. Confirm that he or she is English speaking, and was trained in the U.S., U.K., Australia, or Germany.

Finally, consider hiring a consultant to help you choose the best hospital and surgeon for your needs. A good service will not only set up the treatment, but can also arrange all travel plans, meet you at the airport, and act as your liaison while you are being treated.

If you spend money from your Health Savings Account to pay for international medical care, the amount you withdraw is tax-free. Health Savings Account regulations also allow you to cover the cost of your travel if the reason you are traveling to get medical care is not "for purely personal reasons."

When choosing how to manage your health, you should carefully consider all your options. International travel is a great option for people with Health Savings Accounts.

Wiley Long - President, HSA for America (http://www.health--savings--accounts.com) - The nation's leading independent health insurance firm specializing in individual and family coverage that work with Health Savings Accounts.Orelle Blog88959
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