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Fly Last-Minute
- luxeTravel |
Fly Last-Minute & Travel Cheap
You've got a million places you want to go, but not a million dollars to do it with. Relax. You don't need a million dollars to travel the globe. You can buy well in advance and get a decent rate.
Another economical way to travel these days is to fly last-minute and take advantage of the absolute best deals. Here are some tips to help you save big on last minute travel.
Who books at the last minute?The ideal last-minute traveler:
Is flexible with his schedule;
Has a sense of adventure;
Is willing to gamble;
Is willing to travel alone (arranging to fly last-minute for a large group is near impossible).
where to find cheap ticketsThere are a number of places to turn to for last-minute travel deals.
OnlineSome sites allow you to tailor your trip around a budget. PriceLine.com and SkyAuction.com operate on a bidding structure that allows you to name your ideal price (the risk is that you can end up overpaying). Expedia.com works by showing a comparison chart of all the rates for different carriers.
Some sites offer promotions that they advertise as "last-minute," but they in fact repeat the same deals over and over with little actual savings. The prices aren't bad, but they're just not true last-minute deals. Before booking through a site that you know little about, monitor its prices for a few weeks. If the same deals crop up over and over again, you know you're dealing with a shoddy resource.
The airlineThe competition between airlines is fierce and the cost to stay competitive is high. All major airlines offer internet fares at a discount to drive customers online where booking is cheaper for them. Take advantage of this policy.
A travel agentA travel agent adds a fee when you book with them, but that needn't prevent you from saving money. Agents have access to discounted tickets that might not be available to the general public. Furthermore, they do all the time-consuming legwork required to find the best price.
E-mail listsLooking through websites day after day can be a tedious process. If you're going to get serious about how to save money while traveling, you should subscribe to an e-mail list that will inform you of the best deals on a daily or weekly basis. TravelZoo.com provides a good one, as does Last-Minute-Vacation-Guide.com. The more e-mail lists you belong to, the more deals you'll see.
A courierYou can save considerably by traveling on a courier's schedule and delivering a package for them. Courier travel has its pros and cons. On the upside, your ticket will be cheap or even free. On the downside, you get very little notice, you seldom get your luggage allowance (they buy your ticket to use your cargo space) and you don't always get a round-trip flight. If you want to be a courier, all you have to do is register with an appropriate company and be ready to go at a moment's notice. The International Association of Air Travel Couriers' website, Courier.org, is a good place to start your journey.
when to find cheap tickets
Finding last-minute deals is as much a question of when as of where.
Look in advance
Options come and go, so the sooner you start looking, the better off you'll be -- you don't want to be rash in booking. Be flexible and spend your time checking prices. Be aware that, depending on where you look, you may not be able to book the day of or 24 hours in advance. If you are on a website, check their policy section to make sure.
Buy off-peak
People tend to travel on weekends and holidays. If you can travel mid-week, you'll save as airlines, hotels and car rental companies suffer from decreased demand at those times. It may also pay to take an early morning flight for the same reason.
Travel deals aren't restricted to the airlines. A little legwork can save you cash on hotels and car rentals.
find hotel discounts
Call the hotel
If you didn't have time to book a hotel online or if you just couldn't find a good price, a phone call will get you a better rate than walking in will. Why? When a clerk sees you walk in with your bags, he knows that he's got you. More than a few people who were traveling alone have saved money by calling from a phone booth in the lobby of a nice hotel rather than walking up to the front desk.
find car rental discounts
Book with a wholesaler
While you'll still ultimately be renting from a national chain, if you book with a wholesaler, you'll save considerably. Going to a chain directly is like shopping retail. Try CarRentals.com and other sites that allow you to compare rates for all the major rental companies at once.
Book early
Unlike plane tickets, car prices tend to increase as you get closer to the rental date. So once you've locked down your tickets, your next step should be to book the car. Don't wait for a deal that probably won't come.
plan to save
Last-minute travel is an up and down game. One minute you could be going to the Swiss Alps for a ski vacation and the next you'll find a better deal to lay on a beach in Jamaica.
Deals come and go, but one thing's certain: There's always another deal around the corner. So if you miss one opportunity, just get back in there and find something else.
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Cell Phone Speakers...
- luxeTechnology |
Cell Phone Speakers...
Though the idea of tiny cell phone speakers may seem a bit strange to you, we advise you to reconsider. As far as we're concerned, they're some of the coolest cell phone accessories around. Just pair them with a snazzy music phone and you can share your tunes with the world. Cell phone speakers are perfect for a trip to the park, a weekend getaway or an impromptu dance party. Keep in mind that the sound quality won't compare to your living room's sound system, but it will rival even the nicest pair of headphones. We've chosen some of our favorite cell phone speakers models here.
The Sony Ericsson MPS-70 cell phone speakers bring true stereo sound in a compact design, while the Sony Ericsson MPS-75 cell phone speakers offer a more compact solution. Both models include antennas for using FM radios. The LG MSP-200 portable speakers offer good sound quality, but the design is relatively dull for cell phone speakers. Nokia offers a high-end solution with its MD-7W Bluetooth stereo speakers. These beauties offer an easy-to-use design and quality performance without a pesky wired connection. If these cell phone speakers are too rich for your blood, Nokia offers a budget option as well; the MD-6 cell phone speakers won't win any performance awards, but they offer a compact design at an affordable price.
Cell Phone Speakers
The good: The Sony Ericsson MPS-70 portable speakers deliver excellent sound quality for tiny cell phone speakers. They also have a compact, stylish and user-friendly design.
The bad: The Sony Ericsson MPS-70 portable speakers offer few features and work only with certain Sony Ericsson phones.
The bottom line: The Sony Ericsson MPS-70 portable speakers are an ideal accessory for the music-loving Walkman phone owner. Check Prices
The good: The Sony Ericsson MPS-75 cell phone speakers have a simple, functional design and good audio quality.
The bad: The Sony Ericsson MPS-75 cell phone speakers work only with certain Sony Ericsson phones. Also, the FM antenna wire can be difficult to secure.
The bottom line: The Sony Ericsson MPS-75 cell phone speakers offer good sound quality in a minimalist design Check Prices
The good: The LG MSP-200 cell phone speakers have decent sound quality, and they offer a volume control and a choice of connecting cables.
The bad: The LG MSP-200 speakers have a dull design, and the twin speakers are close together.
The bottom line: The LG MSP-200 cell phone speakers are an ideal accessory for the music lover with an LG phone. Check Prices
The good: The Nokia Bluetooth Speakers MD-7W are easy to use and they offer quality audio performance.
The bad: The Nokia Bluetooth Speakers MD-7W are expensive and their design is somewhat unstable.
The bottom line: If you have the phone and the cash, the Nokia Bluetooth Speakers MD-7W make an ideal accessory to maximize your music handset. Check Prices
The good: The Nokia Mini-Speakers MD-6 offer an easy to use, compact design and respectable performance.
The bad: The Nokia Mini-Speakers MD-6 suffer from static at the highest volume levels. Also, the hinge construction is rather loose.
The bottom line: The Nokia Mini-Speakers MD-6 are far from perfect, but they offer decent performance for what they are. Check Prices
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Transform Your Diet in 2011...
- luxeHealth |
Transform Your Diet in 2011
Want to change how you eat?
You've got to do it one piece of food at a time.
Reducing your waist size doesn't take a miracle. It takes a lot of little steps. Wondering about the foods you should get rid of in order to transform your health and your weight through small dietary transformations? Keep reading.
Buttered Toast: It's relatively light tasting and seems innocent, but buttered toast could be adding unnecessary calories to your diet. Wave goodbye to the buttered side of life and welcome in a little honey, jam, or jelly on a piece of whole-wheat toast. It'll burst with flavor - not extra calories.
French Fries: Like most every other fried food, French fries are unhealthy by nature. If you've got a hankering for something potato-based, opt for mashed potatoes or a baked potato. To get that French fry flavor, squirt a little ketchup on your baked potato or mashed potatoes and enjoy.
Having trouble trading out all your favorite foods for healthier alternatives?
Go for one at a time! It takes lots of little steps to make big progress with your health.
Fried Chicken: It may be finger-licking good, but the grease on your fingers makes it clear that fried chicken doesn't do the body good. Instead of frying your chicken, go for the grill or bake your chicken. Doing this will instantly cut down the amount of calories and fat you consume at dinnertime.
Fudge Sauce. Heated up and dripped on a brownie or a pile of ice cream, fudge sauce is the epitome of delectable dessert topping. Shave off some calories without losing that sought-after chocolate flavor by trading your beloved fudge sauce for chocolate syrup.
Hamburgers or Cheeseburgers: Don't worry - you don't have to give up the magnificent flavor and savor of burgers. But you will need to change the kind of meat you use to make your burger. Instead of the traditional beef burger, go for a turkey burger or a veggie burger. The meat (or lack of meat) is leaner than beef and has just as much flavor!
Macaroni and Cheese: It tastes amazing, satisfied children of all ages and stages, and only takes a few minutes to make. Unfortunately, macaroni and cheese is not the healthiest option for you or your children. For an equally easy option, cook some pasta and add some light and healthy marinara sauce. You may never want macaroni and cheese again.
Potato Chips: One of the most commonly criticized snack foods, potato chips beg to be substituted with a healthy alternative. In comes popcorn. But not the buttery, fattening stuff you find in movie theaters. Instead, make it low-fat popcorn that is lightly salted. It tastes great and helps you avoid the long-term consequences of potato chips.
Traditional Desserts: For the most part, there is nothing wrong with a little cake or ice cream. However, the traditional view of dessert is that more is better. To ward off weight gain from taking this traditional view of dessert, swap out your extra large portion of chocolate cake for a cup of fresh fruit or half a serving of your favorite dessert. Either way, you'll get the sweet you crave without going overboard on calories.
White Bread: No matter what is between the two pieces of bread, a sandwich will never be its healthiest with white bread. An easy way to boost your health on a regular basis is to toss out the white bread and go with healthy, whole-wheat bread. You can also trade out your regular pasta for wheat pasta to get another boost to your good health.
Whole Milk: It may be hard for you to drink any milk except whole milk, but going with low-fat, reduced-fat, or fat-free milk will instantly reduce the amount of fat you consume each day. So if you drink milk or use it in recipes, do your health a favor by swapping out whole milk with a healthier alternative.
# # # Pam Adams
Coming Soon…A-Team Web Fitness
Certified Personal Trainer
Nutrition Specialist
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My Sunny Day
- luxeGifts |
My Sunny Day
by Trinene Davis
It is a beautiful, sunny day, and Pucca must decide what to do. Should she go to the park, the beach or the zoo? Join her in My Sunny Day to find out what fun-filled adventures she'll have!
About the Author
Trinene Davis is a retired youth service officer who worked at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School. She lives with her daughter in CT, where she is an active member of the community, having served on the board of the City of New Britain School Readiness Program as well as the Parent Advisory Committee at the local YWCA.
http://MySunnyDaybook.com
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Style Icon
- luxeFashion |
Style Icon: Nat King Cole
- Nat King Cole had a natural, casual sense of detail.
- Wear the clothes; don't let them wear you.
- To add your own sense of style, play around with accessories.
Why He’s A Style IconDeriving the nickname “King” from the nursery rhyme Old King Cole, Nathaniel Adams Cole began his musical career as an accomplished jazz pianist. In fact, so great was Nat King Cole’s gift on the piano that it eliminated the need for a drummer in his jazz trio, thus revolutionizing the big band and jazz genres. What ultimately caught the attention of millions of fans worldwide and the key ingredient that fueled Cole’s rise to pop music fame, however, was his seductive, velvety-smooth baritone voice.
Cole went on to be recognized as one of the most important musical influences in American history, releasing a whopping 30 studio albums over the course of his career, acting as one of the first black variety show hosts and being inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame as well as honored with a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement award.
In addition to his immense musical talent and charming stage presence, part of Nat King Cole’s widespread appeal was his sophisticated sense of style. A class act through and through, Cole dressed like a gentleman and had a knack for paying attention to detail without appearing as though he was overly fastidious about his appearance.
Always elegantly attired, this style icon understood the art of fine masculine dressing, but he also knew how to carry himself so that he wore his clothes rather than the other way around. In short, what makes Nat King Cole a true style icon is that his personal style was as “Unforgettable” as the man himself.
Dress the Cole WayBack in his heyday, Nat King Cole’s flair for looking as though he had just stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine solidified his status as a cosmopolitan style-setter. These days, in reviewing photos of the music legend, what’s most striking is not how on-trend Cole was in his era, but how timelessly stylish his ensembles remain.
Largely opting for dressy attire rather than casual clothing, particularly when performing, Nat King Cole favored suits over all else. What’s more, apart from the odd occasion, the singer preferred neutral hues, such as blue, gray, black, and white, as well as preferring classic patterns such as tweed and stripes to more unorthodox combinations.
To pull off Cole’s look, try this suit from John Varvatos, adding a crisp white dress shirt, matching pocket square, fashion-forward tie, and polished leather shoes. Don’t forget about grooming, either, as the soulful crooner’s penchant for polished looks included cropped haircuts and clean shaves. Also, as the most stylish of men, including Cole, tend to do, play around in the accessories department when you want to be experimental with fashion. Vary your ties widely in width and punchy patterns without being overly dramatic, and seek out a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses that would make the geek-chic crowd drool with envy. But don’t fuss too much -- just think suave and refined and you’ll nail Nat King Cole’s look every time.
(Courtesy of AM) |
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More Than Just A World Class Off-Roader
- luxeCars |
More Than Just A World Class Off-Roader
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
By Phillip Hall
Those aware of the automotive industry know these past couples of years haven’t been easy for America’s top 3 auto makers, especially Chrysler, LLC. With changes in ownership and assistance from the government, a lot has changed within the organization. That being said, while they have been taking care of “business” they have also made great improvements to their products, with the first example of this being their Jeep brand’s Grand Cherokee.
Chrysler’s iconic Jeep brand is known the world over as a maker of true off-road vehicles, capable of going places most vehicles can’t. The Grand Cherokee itself is actually known by some industry insiders as the first luxury SUV. Jeep has continued to innovate and improve their capabilities with many advancements of their 4X4 system. The Grand Cherokee is available in 3 choices of 4X4 systems: Quadra-Trac I and their “Trail Rated” Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II, giving consumers the option of choosing what level of capabilities they want and need. The Trail Rated models boast the brand’s “Selec-Terrain System.” This system features a toggle switch near the transmission shifter with 5 modes: Auto, Mud/Sand, Rock, Snow, and Sport; all calibrated to deliver the best results in those specific environments. In addiction, Jeep offers its “Quadra-Lift” air suspension which at its highest features the most ground clearance in its class at 10.7”. All these features result in the off-road capability Jeep buyers have grown to love and expect, but this new Grand Cherokee is more than that.
Now in its 4th generation, the Grand Cherokee offers more to the average SUV buyer than it ever has before. Styling is iconic Jeep with its 7 slot grill and trapezoidal wheel wells. And quality and fit and finish have been vastly improved with the use of high quality materials, also resulting in improved NVH. The interior features premium soft touch material at all driver touch points and the high level Overland trim gets Nappa leather seats and real wood on the steering wheel. Passengers can enjoy cool gadgets like the new Garmin Navigation system, standard SIRIUS Satellite Radio, and Jeep’s available “Uconnect,” which provides the flexibility to play a variety of media. Those passengers are protected by a class leading 45 safety features ranging from a plethora of standard airbags to new technology like an available Blind Spot Monitoring system, among others. That’s enough to make a Volvo blush. Width and wheelbase have been increased resulting in more room inside for passengers and a nice masculine stance outside.
Powering the new Grand Cherokee is Chrysler’s new 3.6L Pentastar V6 with 290hp and 260lbft of torque, a major improvement over the last generation’s base engine. On my drive, the power felt adequate for most drivers and the engine worked well with the 5-speed automatic transmission. The mill is capable of returning 23mpg on the highway in the 4X2 model and has a driving distance of 500 miles on one tank of gas. For those wanting more power, Jeep also offers a 5.7L V8 with 360hp and 390lbft of torque and features the company’s fuel saving MDS technology, which operates on 4 cylinders when not accelerating. The drive has been improved by a stiffer body and new independent front and rear suspension benefitting in a whole new feel on road. The SUV is planted and smooth, almost German like.
My experience and research of this new SUV made me appreciate it more than before, for more than its off-road prowess. This is a good all around vehicle. With the many enhancements made for the new model, the Grand Cherokee can appeal to a wider audience than ever before. The refinement of the feature laden interior, 500 mile driving range, and improved on road handling prove that the Grand Cherokee is more than the utilitarian rock climber the marquee is known for producing. In addition, the many advances in the company’s 4X4 technology has made the system more than an off-roading tool, but also a safety feature to benefit to compliment the many safety features available on the SUV.
The best part is that all of this comes at a price lower than the out going model and that’s with more standard content to boot. That added value should help get much needed shoppers into showrooms this year. If this is a sign of what to expect from the new Chrysler I see great things in the company’s future. Let’s just hope they continue the momentum.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Price: $30,215 (base)
Bodystyle(s): 4dr Midsize SUV
Engine(s): 290hp 3.6L DOHC V6, 360hp 5.7L V8
Fuel Mileage: 16mpg city/23mpg hwy (V6)
Available Now |
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