Aug 19, 2009

Tickets to shows in Las Vegas for the best prices ever

Even considering the fact that it is extremely difficult for any businesswoman to take some time to enjoy some relaxing moments in the most glamorous cities, the truth is that I do my best in order to take 2-3 days off every month to see the most famous shows in Las Vegas, simply because they make it possible for us to regain some energy by providing us with memorable moments.

Keeping this in mind, it is vital that we always find the best deals on Tickets to Shows in Las Vegas if we really want to save some extra money for our summer holidays. As a matter of fact, if you take a moment to visit the website to which I have linked above, you could easily witness that it is possible for us to easily order tickets to shows in Las Vegas without leaving home for the best prices that we could possibly find! So, why don’t you also take some days off and head to Las Vegas to watch some of those memorable shows?

Traveling to Europe


Europe is probably one of the most expensive areas to where we may decide to travel this summer but it is also probably one of the most interesting zones too! Keeping this in mind, it is vital that we avoid all the hidden fees and other similar fees that airlines and other associated companies tend to make us pay. In fact, by reading the msnbc.com article just below, I am more than sure that you could learn how to avoid some of them:

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By Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

On my last trip to Europe, I didn't bring my usual $200 cash reserve. With just a few bucks in my wallet, I landed in Madrid, relying entirely on two ATM cards and no cash safety net. It turned out OK. At the airport, I withdrew some euros from an ATM, and tucked the bills into my money belt.

After decades of traveling to Europe, I have found that the cheapest, safest way to go is to pay with cash for most items, and withdraw money as I zip from one place to the next. The reason? To cut down on fees and fraud.

I realize fees aren't an exciting topic ... at least not until you get your bank statement after your trip. Over the last few years, banks have dramatically increased the fees they charge for overseas transactions involving credit and debit cards.

While these fees are legal — and some are even understandable — many are contrived simply to wring a few more dollars out of tourists. But by traveling smart and doing a little research up front, you can cut back on these extra expenses.

There are different types of fees. Banks may levy a flat $2 to $5 transaction fee each time you use your ATM card, plus an additional 1 percent to 3 percent for currency conversion. The machine you use might charge you, too. Visa and MasterCard impose a 1 percent fee on international transactions, and the issuing banks may tack on an additional currency conversion or foreign transaction fee of 1 percent to 2 percent.

Before your trip, call your bank or credit card company to find out what you'll pay when using their card overseas. If they charge exorbitant fees, either ditch them, or consider getting a card just for your trip.

Bankrate has a helpful comparison chart of major credit cards and their fees. Most credit unions have low-to-no international fees. Capital One has a good reputation for no-fee international transactions on both its credit cards and its ATM-accessible money market accounts.

If your bank charges a flat fee per transaction, cut down on ATM visits in Europe by withdrawing larger amounts. If the machine refuses your request, try again and select a smaller amount (some cash machines limit the amount you can withdraw — don't take it personally). If that doesn't work, try a different machine. Be sure to stow your cash safely in a money belt; it's a pouch on a belt worn around your waist tucked under your clothes.

Because businesses must also pay fees to credit card companies, some merchants and hoteliers — particularly in southern Europe — may give you a better deal if you offer to pay cash with their currency (which also allows them to avoid reporting — and being taxed on — all of their income).

When you're paying for hotels, meals or that Prada bag, some merchants will ask if you want to be charged in dollars (a service called dynamic currency conversion, or DCC). Politely refuse. Usually the dollar price is based on a lousy exchange rate, plus your credit card issuer may still impose a foreign transaction fee. The result: You could pay up to a 6 percent premium for the "convenience."

Anytime you use a debit or credit card, beware of scammers. When entering your PIN, cover the keypad so that thieves can't see what you're typing. Shoulder surfing is a common problem. Also, use your credit card sparingly. Restaurant servers and shop clerks might try to steal your information, sometimes by swiping your card through a special machine that reads it (a technique called "skimming") or by surreptitiously snapping a photo of it with their cell phone.

In order to protect against fraud, some European countries, including Britain, France, the Netherlands, and those in Scandinavia, have started using chip and PIN technology for their credit and debit cards. These smartcards come with an embedded microchip, and cardholders must enter a personal identification number (PIN) instead of signing a receipt. Though most merchants should be able to run transactions without a PIN, some might insist on one. For this reason, it's smart to know the PIN for your credit card; ask your credit card company before you go.

When traveling, I only use my credit card for booking hotel reservations by phone, making major purchases (such as car rentals and plane tickets), and paying for things near the end of my trip to avoid another visit to the ATM. A dependence on plastic reshapes the Europe you experience. Pedro's Pension, the friendly guide at the cathedral, and most merchants in the market don't take credit cards. Going through the back door requires cold, hard local cash.

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The best chat rooms for us

As you probably know from your own experience, finding the most suitable chat room for us may often be extremely difficult because of our preferences or any other discriminatory reason, meaning that we should do our best to find a chat room that makes us feel as if we were at home!

In fact, if you love to chat with Asian women or if you simply love to chat with other Asian persons, then you definitely need to take some time to visit these 100% free asian chat rooms, where users are also given the chance to chat with Asian women on webcams that you can watch for free in the Asian video chat line.

Amazing bargains on the local market


Even considering the fact that you may not be a great fan of local markets, the truth is that you can really find some amazing bargains in most of them, making it possible for you to save a lot of money for your holidays. In fact, you may read the msnbc.com article just below to discover how incredibly easy it may be for you to find them:

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By Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

Market days are an especially big deal throughout France. No single event better symbolizes the French preoccupation with fresh products and their strong ties to the farmer than the weekly market. And in no other region is it more celebrated than in Provence.

You can find an endless array of products at Provencal markets, from clothing to crafts, art to antiques, pates to picnic fare (produce, meats, cheeses, crusty golden baguettes, and pastries). The best of all market worlds may rest in the picturesque town of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, where, on Sunday mornings, a brilliant food marche tangles with an active flea market and a good selection of antiques. I like to sip a coffee at a sidewalk table at Cafe de France and enjoy the carnival-like scene.

Arles stands out among Provencal market towns. Here the ring road erupts twice a week into an open-air market of fish, flowers, ready-for-ratatouille baskets of produce, everything but car traffic. Join in. Try the olives, sniff the lavender, and sample the wine. The beauty of Arles' market is its international flavor, reflecting how Provence remains a crossroads of Mediterranean cultures. In addition to local items, you may find spices from Morocco and Tunisia, paella and saffron from Spain, and fresh pasta from Italy.

Markets typically begin at about eight in the morning and end by one in the afternoon. Set-up commences in the pre-dawn hours — a good reason not to stay in a main-square hotel the night before market day. Bigger towns may have two weekly markets, one a bit larger than the other, with more nonperishable goods. The biggest market days are usually on weekends, so that everyone can partake.

Perishable items are sold directly from the producers — no middlemen, no Visa cards — just really delicious, fresh produce. Samples are usually free, including small cups of locally produced wines or ciders. You'll find different items throughout the season. In April and May, shop for asparagus (green, purple, or the prized white — after being cooked, these are hand-dipped in vinegar or homemade mayonnaise).

In late spring, find strawberries, cherries and stone fruits. From July through September, eggplant, tomatoes, zucchinis and peppers come straight from the open fields. In the fall, stands sell game birds, other beasts of the hunt, and a glorious array of wild mushrooms. After November and throughout the winter, look for little (or big, depending on your wallet size) black truffles.

At the root of every good market experience is a sturdy shopping basket or bag. Most baskets are inexpensive, make for fun and colorful souvenirs, and come in handy for odd-shaped or breakable carry-ons for the plane trip home. With basket in hand, shop for your heaviest items first. You don't want to put a kilo of fresh apples on top of your bread.

Most vendors typically follow a weekly circuit of markets they feel works best for them, showing up in the same spot every week, year in and year out — though sometimes, you'll meet the occasional widow selling a dozen eggs, two rabbits and a wad of herbs tied with string. At a favorite market, my family has done business with the same olive merchant and "cookie man" for 18 years.

Merchants take pride in their wares. Generally the rule is "don't touch" — instead, point and let them serve you. Many vendors speak enough English to assist you in your selection. Your total price will be hand-tallied on small scraps of paper and given to you. If you're struggling to find the correct change, just hold out your hand and they will take only what is needed. Vendors are normally honest — still, you're wise to double-check the amount you just paid for that olive tree.

It's bad form to be in a hurry — allow the crowd to set your pace. For locals, market day is as important socially as it is commercially — a weekly chance to resume friendships and get the current gossip. Neighbors can catch up on Henri's barn renovation, see photos of Jacqueline's new grandchild and relax over coffee. Dogs are tethered to cafe tables while friends exchange kisses. Listen carefully and you might hear the Provencal language being spoken between some vendors and buyers. Observe the interaction between them, and notice the joy they find in chatting each other up.

Provencal life is rooted in its countryside, small towns and lively markets. To enjoy any small French town at its vibrant best, it's worth being there on its market day.

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How massage chairs may change our lives

As a businesswoman who tends to spend too many hours working in my office, I know that it is often difficult to make sure that we can feel comfortable in our office because our chairs are normally uncomfortable.

Keeping this in mind, I recently decided that I would be buying a new massage chair to place in my own office and after asking my friends for advice on the best deals on Massage Chairs, I discovered Human Touch®, which is a company that plays a lot of attention to our comfort while we are sitting on the chairs that we may buy from them. Moreover, as these chairs are not only extremely comfortable but also fashionable, you may buy some new massage chairs to place in the various rooms that you have at home! What else could we really ask for?

Increasing number of visitors in many National Parks


National Parks may not be the perfect place for an honeymoon but the truth is that they can be a great destination if we take into consideration that kids tend to love nature and the great landscapes, then we may want to make sure that this summer we take some time to go to the nearest National Park. In fact, the number of visitors on these parks seems to be growing as you may discover by reading the msnbc.com article just below:

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WASHINGTON - It could be the upside of the economic downturn: The Obama administration says visits to national parks are up nearly 4 percent this year.

The National Park Service said Monday that 127.7 million visits were made to national parks in the first six months of the year, an increase of about 4.5 million over the same period in 2008. In June alone, visits to national parks increased by more than 700,000 compared to June of last year.

"America's national parks and public lands provide affordable and accessible recreational opportunities from coast to coast," said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. "It is great to see so many Americans, including the first family, take advantage of the incredible natural, cultural and historic resources that we have here at home. Especially when times are tough, our parks and public lands refuel the spirit and help energize local economies."

President Barack Obama and his family visited Yellowstone National Park on Saturday and Grand Canyon National Park on Sunday. The visits came during the last of three summer weekends when the administration waived entrance fees at 147 national parks and monuments to spur tourism and boost local economies.

Officials credit the "free weekends" for part of the spike in park visits, but say visits were up even before the fee waivers began in June. The economic slowdown may have forced people to stay close to home for their vacations, officials said, noting that visits to parks near urban areas including Virginia's Shenandoah National Park, Acadia National Park in Maine and Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania were all up this year compared to last.

Visits also were up at Yellowstone, which spans Montana, Idaho and Wyoming and is among the top five most-visited national parks. The park is known for Old Faithful and other geysers as well as hot springs and spectacular scenery.

More than 900,000 people visited Yellowstone in July, an all-time record for monthly visits and a jump of 94,000 visits over 2008.

Al Nash, a spokesman for Yellowstone, said the free weekends promotion likely played a role in the increase, but said a bigger factor was a dramatic drop in gas prices from a year ago.

"Frankly you're not likely to plan a trip halfway across the country or halfway across the world to save $25," Nash said, referring to the park's entrance fee. But visitors were enticed by gas prices that dropped from about $4 a gallon last year to just over $2.50 a gallon this year.

"If you compare the cost of visiting a national park to any other type of tourism or entertainment it just reflects what a great value we are," Nash said.

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