Sports From Around The World

Some vacations aren’t as good as they are made out to be; maybe it’s a case of false advertising or maybe the locals just take advantage of you just because you have “tourist” stamped on your forehead. Or maybe your luggage arrived from the airport a day or two after you did? In any case, it’s hard to pinpoint the worst vacation destinations without taking into consideration all the things that can happen. Most disappointing vacations can usually be prevented.

To keep you from making a bad choice twice we are going to give you our list of the top five bad vacations.

1. A lot of popular vacation spots in the United States are suffering from unhealthy smog levels. Ozone smog exposure has a cumulative long term effect on your body especially in the elderly and in children.Believe it or not these popular holiday hot spots have high ozone smog: Cape Cod National Sea Shore, Boston, Maine’s Acadia National Park, Philadelphia, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Washington D.C., Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indianapolis, and Lake Michigan,
Pennsylvania (including the Amish farmland and the city of Lancaster).

2. Orlando looks beautiful when you are looking at brochures like the ones for the Nickelodeon Family Suites, but once you have arrived you have to spend hours standing in line just to check in and to top it off, when you do finally get to the desk clerk your room probably won’t be ready. Now, you get to your room and half the stuff in your
room is dirty and the microwave doesn’t work and the remote for the TV is missing. So you call down to the desk to report the problems which they assure you will be taken care of. While you are waiting you decide you will go down to the pool to distress but when you get there its so crowded you can’t even sit down. I’ve seen better accommodations at a Motel 6.

3. Intercontinental Hotel and Conference Center in
Cleveland, Ohio. Beware: The bed bugs really do bite!

4. New Orleans, Louisiana. Even before the terrible tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has been one of the hottest spots in the country, despite the fact that they have one of the country’s highest crime and murder rates. It will be a long time before it is back in condition to accept visitors, though I think it will be a different city once it is rebuilt.

5. Iraq. Self-explanatory. You can travel to the most wonderful vacation destination in the world and have things go wrong. Get complete details in writing about your vacation arrangements prior to making a payment. These details should include the total cost, including taxes, service fees, surcharges, port charges; including the terms and conditions, restrictions and cancellation penalties.

Gregg Hall is a marketing consultant to many online businesses. See who he recommends luggage and travel accessories

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Frequent flier miles sound great in principle-travel with a certain airline and earn points that you can cash in later, or use a certain credit card to earn points without even traveling. What could be better than free airline ticket? Airlines, unfortunately, aren’t so keen on your sudden desire to fly for free. Their goal is to sell seats not give them away, no matter how much they try to entice you into earning frequent flier miles. By being aware of some simple tricks of the trade, you can not only increase the amount of flight points you earn but also stretch them as far as possible.

First, earn the maximum amount of points every time you fly by choosing a specific program and following all of their rules and regulations. Be aware of their promotions and partner companies. You could earn miles by buying flowers at a specific florist or staying at a particular hotel. Keep updated by reading their websites and newsletters for promotions. Certain techniques can also earn you more miles. Fore example, see if you can earn extra miles for business trips by paying for the flight with your own credit card and having your boss reimburse you. Or if your spouse flies less than you, he or she can use a free frequent-flier mile ticket while the paid ticket goes on your account, earning you more points faster. While you are actively earning miles, stay organized. Save receipts, and watch out for errors in your statements. Know how many miles you have and how many you need to qualify for free trips or other perks that come along with a certain status as a frequent flier. Finally, don’t waste your miles on cheap flights or by cashing them in on other purchases, such as magazine subscriptions or club memberships.

As wonderful as a promotion may seem, frequent flier miles are, essentially, cash, and you can bet that an airline wants to save itself money by having you spend your cash on something other than an airline ticket.

Do you figure that you’ll never fly frequently enough to earn enough miles to be useful? You can actually earn points without even flying by using a credit card that offers frequent flier miles based on the amount you charge every month. While these credit cards sounds like great deals, getting the most out of them can be tricky. Many cards that offer miles also come with a hefty annual fee, so be sure that the cards are worth the fees before you use them. For example, if a card charges fifty dollars annually, and it takes you four years to earn enough miles to purchase a ticket worth less than two hundred dollars, then your investment in the card did not save you any money. If you believe that you can receive worthwhile savings with a mileage credit card, then charge as much as you can-groceries, dinners, even monthly bills-but pay off your bill every month or you’ll be losing money on the interest charged. If you go to a restaurant with friends or family, have them pay you for their meal in cash and charge the bill on your credit card. Some restaurants will give you extra mileage when you pay with a specific mileage earning credit card, and some credit cards will give you extra mileage when you charge groceries and other items. Take advantage of these deals by checking your credit card’s mailings, email newsletters, and website.

Finally, you’ve spent years earning thousands of frequent flier miles on everything from your credit cards to your business trips out of town, and now your ready to cash them in and live the high life. The first way to get the best flight with the nicest upgrades or advantages possible from your frequent flier miles is by purchasing tickets as early as possible-as much as a year in advance. Also, try and schedule your flight for the middle of the week-Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday-rather than on Saturday or Sunday when more people are flying, and try to book midday flights, which are less popular than morning or early evening. Finally, call the airline rather than use the internet to book your flight. All of these methods are more likely to lead to you receiving the awards and deals that you want to get from your hard-earned frequent fliers.

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. Get a great selection of luggage at

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Air transportation has grown from a luxury into a necessity in our modern world. The attitude toward private jet chartering has changed. Once a lavish and expensive privilege for the few, today’s charter flights are practical and beneficial for everyone.

You may have a dozen reasons for chartering your next flight: business or personal, your company is saving money, or you’re celebrating a special occasion. Whether you are concerned about time, flexibility, or safety, privacy, rest assured a private jet meets your needs.

Demonstrate unsurpassed independence. Depart and arrive when it is convenient for you. You’ll be able to leave when you please, not when you can find an available flight.

Reserving a private jet charter is easy, even fun. Pick your own starting point and destinations. Fly alone or bring your associates or family. Plan a round-trip flight or an “empty leg,” or a one-way flight.

The biggest issue in air travel today is safety. Commercial airports rightly implement protective measures for traveling citizens. Though understandable and necessary, they can be inconvenient. Removing shoes, unpacking and repacking your carry-on luggage, and demonstrating the use of your laptop takes up precious time. You may even be required to arrive to the airport hours early. By chartering your next flight, save time with no traveling through airport terminals, losing luggage, or risking late arrival times.

Rest assured that chartered jets take a personal approach to passenger safety. A commercial airliner’s goal is to provide a rapid mass transit solution at a cost to the passenger. But charter flights aim to provide the best customer satisfaction.

While most business people work while flying, a commercial airplane is not an office. You wouldn’t check your private email on the city bus. Companies spend millions of dollars on security; don’t compromise the safety of your private information by working on your laptop within view of half a dozen other people.

Chartering a private flight ensures the confidentiality of your business. You can have peace of mind when working during your private flight. Save even more time by conducting your business meeting onboard. Streamline productivity and allow the charter company to arrange your ground transportation as well.

Plan a personalized trip. Charter a private flight for your family or group. Private chartering works with your destination to ensure you can escape to even the most exotic getaways. Chartering is an ideal choice for private romantic vacations. It’s also practical for traveling with many children, traveling with special medical needs, the handicapped, or the elderly.

Many sizes of luxury jets and helicopters are available for short notice chartering. With such a selection, you are sure to find the perfect match for your flying needs. And with the personal attention to exceptional service, charter flights will gladly accommodate your additional requests.

Achieve the benefits of private jet flights without the responsibility of ownership. You don’t have to own a jet to take advantage of superior air transportation. There are no membership fees, no business investments, no maintenance fees, and no pilots’ license. Jet chartering is the carefree way to enjoy traveling again.

Join the thousands of travelers who have already experienced the benefits of chartering their air travel needs with a private jet. Take advantage of the freedom to plan your own travel schedule while still exceeding your needs for safety. Whether you’re flying for business or pleasure, you are guaranteed the personalized attention that can only be provided by chartering a private jet.

Copyright (c) 2006

Jessica Deets researches the internet and finds information to help people. You can find news and information about chartering your own jet at http://www.jetcharterpros.com

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