Luggage Idea

I can see the cops coming! Theyre a good thousand feet away. I can clearly make out their uniforms and swinging nightsticks. How can I be seeing this

I didnt dare mention it to my fellow underage drinking mates lounging with me on the grassy knoll in the park. Am I making this up Projecting it somehow into my vision Forcefully, I shook my head back and forth in an effort to free my mind of its strange perception.

But the view of the two police officers remained in my sight, as they sauntered closer and closer to our drinking den. In fact, to my further astonishment, I saw a much wider perspective as I swiveled my gaze within the picture before me. I can see myself!

Frantically blinking my eyes open and shut trying to erase this impossibility, I still found myself staring at my own physical body on the ground next to my beer buddies. The place from which I was viewing was about forty feet in the air! As I shifted my attention to look at the looker, I saw an airborne body in the form of a luminous shimmer, much like a ghost is portrayed in a movie. Then, with the ease of a mere thought, I discovered I could shift my point of view from my physical body on the ground back to my ethereal light body in the air. Using my eyes in my subtle body, I surveyed the scene again from my perch in the air.

Am I making all this up Do I want to impress my pals so much, Im concocting an extrasensory perception to allow me to warn them of an oncoming bust My frenetic self-questioning came to an abrupt halt as I heard one of the officers whisper to his colleague, "Do you hear that noise There are some kids in the park."

Whether I was conjuring my supernormal sight and hearing to court favor with my friends or not, I needed to act-and quickly. "Hey, guys, dont ask me how I know, but there are some cops right up the street and theyre on to us. Lets split." My three inebriated friends and I quietly sneaked down the hill and out of the park under the helpful cloak of darkness. By a nanosecond, we successfully evaded detection as we heard the policemen slashing at the bushes with their billyclubs right behind us A close call!

"Hey, howd ya know the fuzz was there" my buddy pressed me as we arrived safely back at our car.

"Uh, I just knew somehow. A guess, I guess," I muttered, covering for myself as best I could under the circumstances.

"Well, a pretty good one, man. Wed be up the creek if they caught us. Thanks. Youre all right. We should have you around every time we go drinking."

Ah, music to my ears. And so my young career as a drinking guard began!

My friends, at sixteen, were older than I but still under the legal drinking age of eighteen in New York State. I was fifteen and considered myself really lucky to be included in this older gang at a time of life when acceptance and belonging was paramount. And to have access to liquor through their connections was heaven for me.

I would do almost anything to please these guys and stay tight with them. I mused to myself, My newfound super-vision is coming in real handy. If we got busted for underage drinking, wed all get grounded by our parents, not to mention getting in trouble with the law. Ive got to keep this good thing going!

On that fateful night, my need for approval prompted me to keep expanding this burgeoning, new skill that I stumbled across in the line of necessity and opportunity.

As I played with my prowess as a night watchman for the gang, I realized I was doing more than clairvoyance, "clear seeing." Each time I playfully sent myself out to scan the scene for police, I was having a bona fide out-of-body experience. I didnt have a name for it then, but I sure knew I was doing it! I was right on the mark every time I called a cop alert. My skill was valued by the friends I valued. Literally, I was flying high!

Since my teenage discovery, Ive continued to explore out-of-body adventures. And I always laugh in admiration when I look back on how God tricked me into developing my first natural spiritual ability.

c 2004, Keith Varnum. All rights in all media reserved.

About The Author

Drawing from the wisdom of native and ancient spiritual traditions, Keith Varnum shares his 30 years of practical success as an author, personal coach, acupuncturist, filmmaker, radio host, restaurateur, vision quest guide and international seminar leader with "The Dream Workshops." Keith helps people get the love, money and health they want with his free Prosperity Ezine, free Empowerment Tape and free Coaching at www.TheDream.com. Keith@TheDream.com

NC—Many young drivers will venture onto the roads this winter season, some for the first time. In fact, there are almost 3 million drivers in Canada between the ages of 16 and 24.2 Thats why its important for parents to prepare teenagers and young drivers for the difficult winter months, by making sure their vehicles are properly maintained and theyve been given helpful instructions and well-stocked emergency kits.

First and foremost, have their vehicles checked thoroughly. Belts, hoses, water pumps, batteries and spark plugs need to be properly maintained. Winter tends to magnify any problems a vehicle might have. One simple routine that helps maintain fuel efficiency and engine performance is spark plug maintenance. "Too many people underestimate the power and importance of a spark plug, but its exposed to more severe stress than any other part of the engine," says Peg Campbelton, Brand Manager for Autolite.

A spark plug must deliver a high voltage spark within split second timing, thousands of times a minute and under extremely varying, always hostile, operating conditions. Campbelton suggests having the vehicles spark plugs changed every 48,000 kilometers, or in accordance with the owners manual. Using premium, platinum-tipped plugs, such as Autolite® Double Platinum spark plugs, is also a good idea.

Once a thorough under-the-hood inspection is complete, make sure your new driver checks their tire tread and windshield wipers as well as fluid levels like washer solvent and antifreeze/ coolant. Many motorists are under the impression that antifreeze/coolant is only needed in the warmer season to avoid overheating, but the proper mixture is necessary to avoid engine freeze-ups in frigid temperatures. A recommended concentration of 50% Prestone solution protects your vehicle down to –36.8C. Prestone antifreeze can be adjusted to give protection down to –64.4C if it is required.

Windshield wipers and washer fluid are also vital. Its a good idea to switch to a winter wiper blade. They are more durable and designed to handle the snow and ice better than a regular blade. If wipers arent working properly or if theres a lack of fluid in the reservoir, the combination of salt, ice and sleet may reduce the drivers ability to see other vehicles or objects in the road. Use a concentrated washer fluid additive designed specifically for cold weather driving, such as Prestone‚ Windshield Heat De-Icer Concentrate Additive. Unlike many "blue" washer fluids that arent as effective in extreme cold, this concentrated deicer melts frost and light ice and boosts the freeze protection of your regular washer fluid. It also guards against re-freeze on windshields. "For those who park outside, a concentrated windshield washer additive with a deicer product makes a lot of sense for those early morning drives to school in the late fall and into the winter months," states Megan Currie, Prestone Brand Manager.

Remind new drivers to turn on their headlights any time they use their windshield wipers. It will help improve visibility and allow them to be seen better by other drivers. Emphasize the importance of clearing off the entire car, not just a portion. If the entire vehicle hasnt been cleared properly, it creates hazardous situations for your child when they are driving, and for other motorists on the road. It is also a good safety precaution to keep more than a half tank of gas in the vehicle during the cold weather season. Itll be the only source of heat if somebody is stranded.

Although these preventative maintenance tips do help, they by no means serve as a complete deterrent to potential problems. Prepare for a roadside emergency with a special winter kit that includes: A cell phone – for calling you in case of emergency A portable jump starter – in case of a dead battery, they wont be stranded alone in the cold A flashlight and extra batteries Emergency flares – so other motorists can see their vehicle Sand bags – highly recommended for vehicles with rear-wheel drive A tire inflator and sealer Warm clothes and blankets Extra de-icer washer fluid and a spray de-icer Ice scraper with a snow brush Tire traction product Shovel

Even though young people today are always on the go, emphasize the significance of these safety tips. It may change what could be a disastrous situation into a simple inconvenience.

2 Source: Statistics Canada, Transportation Division 2000

- News Canada

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

You’re going on a trip, and need luggage. Did you consider your carry on luggage size? It’s important to know what’s allowed and what isn’t. Obviously verify with your airline, but I’ll give you some generally accepted carry on luggage allowances to help you shop.

As I stated in my carry on luggage article, weight is a factor. Some airlines have no restrictions when it comes to carry on luggage weight. Others are as low as 11 pounds, some as high as 40 pounds.

Most airlines will allow one piece of carry on luggage and one personal item. They consider a personal item as carry on. The weight is the total of the two. Personal items include a purse, laptop bag, reading material or another small (no bigger than 36”) carry on bag. Keep those carryon luggage limits in mind when packing!

The standard carry on luggage rules are 22” X 14” X 9” for a total of 45”. Again, these carry on luggage dimensions vary both by airline and shape of the bag. Even if your carry on luggage doesn’t exceed the allowed dimensions, the airline can make you prove that the bag will fit by putting it in a box, and if it won’t fit, your luggage will be checked.

About The Author

Tara Pearce is the publisher and webmaster of http://www.a1-travel-accessories.com

Visit us for great information on all manner of travel tips and accessories resources.

support@a1-travel-accessories.com

Hartman luggage has been around for a while. The advent of the steam engine in the mid 1820s heralded the first wave of mass tourism. Mass organized travel probably began in 1841 when a 33 year old Thomas Cook organized his first rail tour. And from then onwards, luggage has performed a dual role of not only protecting one’s belongings, but also surreptitiously declaring one’s social status. Travel was the exclusive realm for the leisure of the well-heeled. The end of the Napoleonic Wars saw great advances in technology, leading to the arrival of the steam engine, which soon permitted travel by rail. By the 1870s, sleeping and dining cars had arrived, bringing about unheard of comforts in travel. The jet age dramatically changed the dynamics of travel which no longer remained in the domain of the rich. Today, a traveler would truly be lost without luggage.

It is therefore fascinating to think that one company, which has seen it all, has not only survived the sea-change but has also come up trumps – the Hartmann Luggage Company! Inspite of a couple of ownership changes during its era, this company which was founded in 1877 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by Bavarian Trunk-maker, Joseph S. Hartmann, retained the “Hartmann” brand name, matured like vintage wine, and has as yet, kept its rightful place among the premium luggage-makers.

Distinctively stylish Hartman luggage.

Hartman luggage is designed to be distinctively stylish, and yet as strong as you expect luggage to be. Hartman luggage is often even more useful than you would imagine, and comes in matching sets with a lifetime warranty. The Hartmann product-mix includes wheeled luggage, carry-on luggage, garment bags, hard-sided luggage, briefcases, totes, travel and business accessories, wallets and what-have-you.

Today, Hartmann luggage has truly become a fashionable object of conspicuous consumption; an emblem of caché and exclusivity, identifying the owner as a well-traveled and cultured person of means just like it used to be in the 19th century.

A true case of history repeating itself .....in altered circumstances.

About The Author

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.my-luggage-4me.com/

Innovations provide the power to enjoy RV amenities miles beyond the last electrical hookup.

ARA - If youve already experienced the serenity and fun of camping with your towable recreational vehicle RV, you know the freedom of getting away. Now you can travel even farther and discover your own quiet haven in nature. Without leaving every convenience behind, your family can dine amidst tall pines, identify constellations in clear night skies and then flip on the lights to enjoy a favorite novel before turning in. New products such as quiet, dependable power sources can make comfort and security part of your travels, wherever the trail may lead.

"The U.S. Forest Service includes 192 million diverse acres across the nation that are waiting to be enjoyed," says Jim Miller, dispersed recreation program manager, USDA Forest Service. "Most campsites in our system do not have electrical hookups and many forests offer even more primitive or dispersed camping opportunities. Depending on local forest regulations, campers can travel off main roads and pick out their own sites along less-developed routes, as long as they do so responsibly, with respect for other visitors and as little environmental disruption as possible."

Miller notes that dispersed sites tend to appeal to experienced campers who are looking for their own quiet spot. What they often find are breathtaking vistas, colorful sunrises and close-up looks of surrounding nature. "Many choosing dispersed sites stay near favorite hunting or fishing spots," Miller notes. "Mountain bikers or hikers also prefer to camp close to favorite trails for easy access."

Camping -- Not Roughing It

Even without electrical hookups, piped water or toilets, campers can enjoy many comforts from home when they travel in a camper carrying its own power source. Onans new compact generator, Camp Power, provides big-RV power for smaller trailers, folding camping trailers and truck campers. The generators fully enclosed design is quiet enough to operate in many national parks, although park authorities should always be consulted regarding local regulations.

"Towable RVs can be compatible with rustic or dispersed campsites, where its highly important to tread lightly on the land," says Joyce Drinnin, marketing manager, RV marketing, Onan. "Since most toilet and cooking facilities are available in towables, its easier to leave natural surroundings undisturbed. With an unobtrusive power source, campers can enjoy a hot cup of coffee and a hearty meal without building a fire. Plus, in some camper units, you can even cool down in air-conditioned comfort after a long, hot day on the trail."

For other benefits, Drinnin points to added security from dependable campsite lighting and communication systems that provide advance warning when stormy weather is on the horizon. "Todays active families build strong ties when they spend time together camping," she adds. "These extra safety features can reduce stress and enhance the time busy families enjoy together."

Be Prepared

Preparation for remote camping experiences is key to ensuring a pleasant camping experience, says Miller. His recommendations for campers are:

Contact the U.S. Forest Service in the area you plan to visit for current ca

You’ve just been granted an on-site interview in another town. Hurray!

This means you’ll be traveling to an employer’s location so that they can further evaluate you for a specific job position.

Before you make any travel arrangements, it’s a good idea to discuss who will be paying for your trip – you or the employer. If you’re paying, find out if you’ll be reimbursed. It’s a good idea to save all your receipts from the trip if you’re being reimbursed for expenses.

Here’s some things to keep in mind when traveling to interviews:

1 Let the employer know immediately if you have to cancel the trip or make any changes to your visit.

2 Unless the employer is reserving your flight and hotel room, you will need a way to make reservations in advance.

3 Get all directions and transportation instructions to your destination ahead of time.

4 Factor in your commute time when planning to leave for the interview destination. How long will it take you to get there in traffic

5 Avoid late airplane flights. These can be cancelled or delayed at a moment’s notice.

6 Bring your interview clothes with you on the plane – just in case your checked luggage is lost or delayed.

7 It’s okay to wear casual clothes while traveling if there is no employer representative waiting to meet you when you arrive.

8 When you check into the hotel, ask the clerk if there are any messages or information for you from the employer.

9 Schedule a morning wake up call with the hotel so you don’t oversleep. Or, bring a travel alarm clock.

10 Bring extra copies of resumes, recommendation letters, transcripts, contact information, etc.

About The Author

Copyright 2004

Donna Monday writes employment related articles for http://www.get-a-job-interview-quick-tips.com.

The Travel Industry Association of America TIA released their annual Travelers’ Use of the Internet study in December 2003. The study shows an increase in the number of people using the internet to research and book travel.

TIA found that 30% of the adult U.S. population 63.8 million consult the web for travel information. These travelers spend on average $300 more on travel, and nearly 40% had an annual household income above $75,000.

Online travelers surf to two or more travel websites, spending an average of 37 minutes. They research and compare prices, check schedules and book trips. The number of people actually booking online increased by 8% over 2002 and grew to 42.2 million people in 2003. Within this group of online travelers, 32 million people made travel arrangements exclusively through the internet a figure expected to grow according to the TIA.

10 million travelers responded to email campaigns, causing the TIA to believe that email campaigns are stimulating unplanned travel.

TIA stated that the top 10 travel websites are: Expedia Travelocity Orbitz Yahoo Travel Cheap Tickets Hot Wire VIPfares Priceline.com ITN.net TravelNow.com

If your business supplies lodging, real estate, shopping, recreation, dining, events or tourist related specialty services, it may be wise to place advertisements with these websites. If you are not making full use of the internet for your marketing campaigns you are missing 30% of your potential market.

As online travelers’ habits become more sophisticated you will find them expecting to find and book everything from one location.

About The Author

MARKETING COORDINATOR and WEBSITE DESIGNER-Radha Khalsa, has extensive experience in the areas of marketing analysis, strategic planning and project management. info@khalsaweb.com

A laptop computer certainly provides you with an unprecedented level of freedom and mobility away from the office. However there are a few extras you might want to bring along on your laptop travels:

Extra 1: portable printer

If you travel a lot, you never know when you might need to commit one of your digital documents to paper.

Sure, you can probably find a Kinkos, or even the business center at your hotel, but the experienced business traveler knows youre much better off when youre not at someone elses mercy.

Extra 2: USB hub

If you need to connect to several external devices simultaneously, the one or two USB ports on your laptop may or may not be sufficient. If not, keep an inexpensive four- port USB hub in your laptop case.

Extra 3: PC card token ring adapter

Ethernet is the industry standard for computer networking, however back in the 1970s IBM introduced a competing technology called Token Ring.

While Token Ring has all but faded from the mainstream, some hardcore IBMers still use it.

If youre going to be working in such an environment, youll need a PC Card to connect to the network.

Extra 4: Foreign power kit

If you travel abroad, youre bound to run into a wide variety of power schemes - power schemes that arent compatible with your laptop.

When youre away from the homeland, youll need some sort of adapter/converter if you want to plug into a local wall outlet.

These are relatively inexpensive and can be easily found online.

Copyright c 2004 HowToBuyALaptop.com

About The Author

The author, computer journalist John San Filippo, has created the definitive guide for buying a laptop computer and mobile accessories. Visit the site at: http://HowToBuyALaptop.com

Good websites stand out from the masses of boring, hard to travel, and overly commercial sites that now rule our Cyberspace. Interactivity and integrity are necessary for a site to become a hub of activity.

Websites, there’s literally billions of them out there in cyber-space. How many of them do you go to and just think this is boring, bland, or hard to use It seems like too many to mention. So what makes a good website I reckon it’s about interaction. You’ve got to make the visitor interested. You’ve got to grab their attention. Many sites use plenty of bright and shiny gimmicks to attract you, but once you make it through to the content of the site it’s just not worthy. A good site uses easy navigation, relevant content, and interactive media like comments and message boards. If you’re fortunate, whoever builds your site may even have a few tricks up their sleeves to make it really fun with sound, video, and other interactive fun stuff.

Do you want people to come to your site and then tell their friend and family about it Do you want to have huge amounts of visitors Do you want to succeed in making your dreams come to fruition on the Web Make your website exciting! It might be easier said than done, but there are people around whose job it is to construct and design sites for a living. If you can afford it, go for the best. How great is it when you come across a site that has some special feature that you’ve never seen elsewhere Isn’t it great when you find a site that relates to one of your interests that is simple and easy to get to the information you want If you want to have people to come back again and again, you’ve got to keep updating the content to keep it fresh and interesting. Have a way for people to communicate with yourself and others who are into the same things. E.G. Forums, message boards and comments. The aim is to catch the ‘viewer’s’ interest.

A lot of sites just look like giant advertisements and you have to search for the needle in the haystack to find out what the actual site is for. I know advertising is a way of making money, but if you want your site to have an authentic, respectable atmosphere that exudes a feeling of integrity, you better be careful. People are becoming wary of this consumer driven, mindless attack at the average civilian’s wallet. Some people will automatically leave a site if a bunch of commercials pop-up on the screen. Pop-ups, don’t even make me go there…

So, the aim of the game is to make a site that offers the public to be part of the action as well as being a source of knowledge or information that is in demand. A simple to navigate, good ‘feel’, and if possible-innovative site is the means to becoming the popular Internet magnate you’ve always dreamed of becoming. Another important fact is the idea of ‘you’. Your website is a chance to put your identity out there in the world. Be yourself. If you try to appeal to an audience in a way that doesn’t reflect your true self, you’re destined to fail. Be honest and speak from your real perspective on life. Give it to us from the heart.

About The Author

By Jesse S. Somer M6.Net http://www.M6.net Jesse S. Somer is some guy from somewhere wondering when the Internet will become the beacon of light it is destined to be. All it will take is a bit of accountability and honesty. priyankaa@M6.net

I am not a professional photographer nor am I in the travel business. However, I stay very busy these days taking scenic photographs and featuring them on my web site because my “not so” professional travel photos are bringing serious traffic to my web pages.

I consider myself a serious hobbyist when it comes to photography. It’s a hobby because so far no one is willing to pay for any of my pictures. I know it’s a serious hobby because I am never totally honest with my wife when she wants to know just how much I spend on photography. Over the years I have been privileged to see and shoot a few of the spectacularly scenic locations that exist in the U.S.

When I started designing web pages I was constantly on the search for fresh images. One afternoon my search for a waterfall took me into the basement of my home where my wife had stored dozens of shoeboxes filled with hundreds of ordinary vacation snapshots. I found the perfect scene for my project among the many photographs I had taken of Niagara Falls.

I scanned several of the Niagara pictures into my computer and tweaked them slightly with an image editor. I was very pleased with the results and decided to post the images on my personal website. I made a mistake when I typed the words and the file ended up as “NiagraFalls”. I didn’t think that much about it because I only planned to publicize the Niagara Falls pages to a few friends and relatives so they could enjoy the pictures also.

A few weeks later I was checking the stats for my website and noticed that a number of guests had surfed in through search engines. To my surprise 30% of my visitors had come through a search for “niagrafalls”. I went to one of the major search engines and keyed in that phrase and was amazed to see that my site was in the top ten returns.

I decided to see if other scenic hotspots might become “virtual” destinations of choice. I went through the same process with photos I had taken at Garden of the Gods State Park in Colorado Springs Colorado as well as a few other Colorado locations. I was pleased that “gardenofthegods” became another key search phrase that brings people to my site.

In the past I used my personal web pages to promote my web design and hosting business. Unfortunately, web design and hosting is not that relevant to my guests who come because of scenic interests. After some measure of trial and error I discovered that “entertainment” products market very well to the scenic seekers that visit my site.

I began a banner rotation on my photographic pages that link out to various entertainment sites which I affiliate with. So far the results have been very encouraging. In a future article I hope to explain what I discovered about keyword searches in the entertainment sector.

Let me summarize with these simple instructions. Get those vacation photographs out and upload them to your website. Build a separate page for each exotic location that you have been to. Be sure to enter the name of the place in your page title and in the keywords and description meta-tags. Set up a relevant banner rotation program and enjoy the traffic of virtual travel.

About The Author

Ken Mowerys articles have been published in a number of magazines. He also writes a monthly column for the Greeley Tribune. He has been involved in web design and promotion for 8 years. kmowery3@comcast.net

NC—The summer is in full swing and so is the travel season as Canadians take advantage of the long awaited warm breezes and sunny skies. For those of us without a family cottage or a plane ticket out of the province, the options may seem limited for creative, fun destination ideas for a day trip or even a summer-long getaway.

Options do exist – and its often surprising just how close and convenient the fun can be. Below youll find some great ideas in regions across Canada that are sure to create memorable and fun vacations for even the most discerning traveler. All of these options and more can be found in Michelins Green Guide to Canada – a fountain of information, and an indispensable travel companion.

Spas

Spas are sprouting up almost everywhere in Canada. Michelins travel guide highlights several of these pampering palaces, particularly those in Ontario. Day spas like Kingstons serene Spa at the Mill, spacious in a restored woollen mill overlooking the Cataraqui River. Or Torontos newly relocated Victoria Spa, a haven of Asian-accented calm within the Crowne Plaza Toronto Centre. As for resort spas, High Fields Country Inn & Spa, an hour north of Toronto in Zephyr, combines wraps, facials and hydrotherapy with swimming, tennis and nature walks on the expansive hilltop property. In charming Port Hope, guests at The Hillcrest of Haldimand Hills Spa Village spend the night in finely appointed bedrooms within a grand porticoed mansion—after a day of exercise, mud facials and massage. In The Michelin Green Guide Canada, youll find plenty of places throughout Canada for luxuriating.

Cool Places to Stay

Guest Ranches are increasingly popular, especially in British Columbias Cariboo, where week-long stays in rustic log cabins at Elkin Creek Ranch, for example close a day of trail riding, roping lessons, fishing and—you guessed it—spa indulgence try the Moor Mud Wrap at Echo Valley Ranch or rosehip oil treatments at Hills Health Ranch. For a selection of BC ranches, find the page number for The Cariboo on The Green Guides detailed Contents page.

For travel beyond the summer months, visit the Ice Hotel in Quebec City, where you slumber in a sleeping bag nestled on deer pelts.

Or sink into a whirlpool tub, complete with heated towel rack, at Murray Premises, a converted trading house in St. Johns. In Vancouver, youll overnight in your own "gallery" of Northwest Coast art on Listel Vancouvers museum floor. And in Jasper, warm your toes by the wood-burning fireplace in a Tekarra Lodge cabin that recalls the Rocky Mountain bungalow camps of the early 1900s.

Good Eats

Try a blend of Indian, African and French cuisine in Montreal at Le Piton de la Fournaise relocated to Rue Duluth Est. Or French-Québécois cookery foie gras de canard du Québec in Québec Citys Le Saint-Amour Rue Sainte-Ursule. Out West in Calgary, youll find Brazilian entrées at Latin Corner Cantina 8th Ave. and Thai cuisine at Thai Sa-On 10th Ave. that compete with the traditional Canadian fare and western specialties of other city restaurants. Vancouvers Blue Water Cafe in trendy Yaletown serves up seafood delights from sushi to Dungeness crab cakes. Authentic Mexican food can be found in Fredericton of all places at El Burrito Loco King St. and on Queen Street, German dishes draw repeat customers at Schades Restaurant.

No matter your budget, finding a new and interesting travel destination close to home is easier than you think. This summer, make it fun to find out more about Canada!

For more information, pick up the latest edition of The Michelin Green Guide Canada, available from major booksellers across the country or visit www.viamichelin.com.

- News Canada

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Wether it be on a vacation to your favorite resort, or just visiting the in-laws for the weekend, many people are choosing to take their dogs with them when traveling. Land or air, there are many things to take into consideration. The best advice is simply, be prepared. Below are some great tips for traveling by air and land.

Tips on preparing rover for air travel

Unless your dog is a frequent flyer, air travel is likely to be a very stressful experience, so you might want think twice about subjecting them to the friendly sky . Each airline is going to have their own set of rules for traveling pets. Be sure to know the details prior to making any arrangements.

Have your vet sign a document health certificate, stating that your dog is healthy, and free of disease.

Make sure he is up-to-day with a flea tic program

Do not feed your pet within 6 hours some wait even longer prior to departure. And no water 2 hours before takeoff.

Make sure you have proper identifaction tags on him. This includes his name, and ALL your information...address phone number

You MUST provide an adequate crate for you dog to travel in. The crate must be big enough rover to stand in, free of any “debris,”and strong enough to withstand the rigors of travel. Be sure to check with your airline for more specific requirement.

Attach a note to the crate stating your dogs feeding and water requirements in the event that your flight is delayed or diverted.

Carry a photograph of your dog incase he is accidently lost. Finding your dog will be a lot easier for everyone, If you have a picture.

Traveling by car

keep your dog leashed whenever possible.

Pack ID and a photo. Make sure your rover has his ID tags, with all important contact information up to date. Along with his tags, make sure you have paperwork with current vaccinations and important health notes.

Book your lodgings ahead. If your road trip involves staying overnight somewhere, insure that your accommodations allow dogs

Is your dog ready for a long trip If your dog is not use to long road trips it might be a good idea to get him accustomed to being in the car longer than a trip to the grocery store..

Keep your dog cool. If you don’t have air conditioning in the car, make sure you have a window down to let in fresh cool air.

Traveling with your four legged pal makes a great trip even better. If you follow these basic guideline and educate yourself on rules and regulations for traveling and accommodations you will have a great memory of your trip, that will last a lifetime.

Here are some great resources for info on dog friendly destinations.

http://www.dogfriendly.com/

http://www.ehow.com/how_18753_find-dog-friendly.html

http://www.food4pets.com/destinations/

http://www.petswelcome.com/

About The Author

Ron Swerdfiger For more great articles and information, visit www.web-rover.com ron@web-rover.com

A good travel mug is a must when you need to take your coffee or tea with you on the road. There are many different types of mugs available, so here are a few tips to consider before you purchase one.

Travel mugs are offered in both stainless steel and plastic with plastic being the least expensive.

Even though stainless steel initially costs more, it will give you much better value for your money.

Plastic mugs can break when dropped and they dont keep your coffee or tea hot nearly as long as the stainless mugs.

You can expect superior performance from a stainless steel travel mug keeping your coffee or tea hot for about an hour. If you are looking for the very best way to keep your favorite beverage hot or cold longer, look for a mug with stainless steel double wall insulation.

Stainless steel also cleans up easier than plastic and the plastic liner over time will absorb coffee or tea. This build up will affect the taste of your beverage and the only way to remedy it is to buy another travel mug.

If you still prefer a plastic travel mug, make sure it has a stainless steel liner. The advantages of these are you wont feel the heat on the outside of the mug and you have a variety of colors to choose from.

You should also decide if you want your travel mug to fit a cup holder in your car or if you want it to have a wide bottom for stability.

The advantage of a travel mug that fits a cup holder is you dont have to hold onto it. Just make sure the dimensions of the mug will fit your holder.

If you dont have a cupholder or dont like to use one, you need a travel mug with a wide bottom.

Look for a non-slip wide bottom because not all of them come that way. You dont want it to slide if you let go of the travel mug.

Next, what kind of a lid do you prefer The lids that snap on can sometimes come off if the travel mug tips over or is dropped. Screw on lids are better because they stay on no matter what happens and thats the idea of a travel mug to begin with.

Also, consider how the beverage hole will be covered and uncovered when you want to drink. Do you like a flap over the drink hole that snaps shut or do you prefer a slide that stays open or closed Then there is the PressNSip lever design that opens when you push on the spring loaded lever and closes when you let go.

Travel mugs come in a variey of volume sizes too. If you only drink a small amount, consider a smaller 8 oz. travel mug. On the other hand, if you want a large amount of coffee or tea to drink, consider a larger 16 or 20 oz. travel mug.

Once you get the travel mug that is just right for your tastes, hand wash it instead of putting it in the dishwasher. Sometimes soap residue gets left behind either in the lid or in the travel mug and no one likes that kind of surprise. So be sure to rinse it extra good so all that you taste is the rich flavor of your coffee or tea.

If you leave your travel mug in the car while at work, store it away from direct sunlight. That way the hot sun magnified by the windows wont damage the rubber seals in the lid.

Keep these tips in mind the next time you shop for a travel mug so when you fly out of the door with your favorite hot beverage, it will stay in the mug and remain hot until the last drop.

Copyright © 2004 PerfectCoffees.com. All Rights Reserved.

This article may be re-published "as is" unedited as long as the authors bio paragraph resource box and copyright information is included. The URLs in the resource box should be set as hyperlinks if used on a web page.

About The Author

Gary Gresham is the webmaster for http://www.perfectcoffees.com where you can purchase quality coffee, tea, cups & mugs, coffee gifts and delicious desserts online. If you are looking for the perfect travel mug he offers you only the top rated travel mugs that he knows youll be happy with at: http://www.perfectcoffees.com/Travel-Coffee-Mugs.html Gary@perfectcoffees.com

Despite the fact that accurate nutrition information can be accessed by almost anyone with an Internet connection or a library card, the 21st century has picked up where the last one left off: one dominated by poor eating habits.

The reason for this national dietary deficiency is not due to any single source or kind of nutrition misinformation. Nor can it be said that a lack of interest or effort on the part of health-conscious Americans is to blame. Actually, there are more health-conscious Americans than ever before. The problem of poor eating habits is not a strategic, idealistic, or tactical one it is a logistical dilemma.

Americans of all ages live such busy, fast-paced lifestyles, that eating nutritious meals is seen as something of a luxury to be enjoyed on special occasions or when one rarely has a few hours to prepare a complete meal. Seldom is this healthy eating challenge more pressing, however, than for the typical business traveler[i].

The second biggest source for unhealthy food in the life of a typical business traveler begins at the airport. The vast majority of these hubs of transit activity offer travelers a selection of fast foods or snack foods that are usually very high in carbohydrates, unsaturated fats, and loaded with calories.

Yet if the airport or station is the second biggest source of unhealthy eating, then what is the first Without doubt, it is on the airplane itself.

In the past, the criticism levied against airline food was its sheer tastelessness and lack of variety. Yet as the overall awareness of nutrition – and lack of nutrition – in some food sources has grown over the past decade, a related distress has grown over the nutritionally flawed food that most business travelers are subjected to while en route.

Indeed, according to a study by the American weight-loss program organization Nutricise[ii], the average meal served by airlines in all service classes tops 1000 calories. This high number for a single meal is more than half the daily total number of calories for “average eaters”. Yet this problem goes beyond calorie counting. Almost 45% of the 1000+ calories in an airline meal come from fat which is a full 15% more than some experts recommend as the 30% optimum daily fat-from-calorie level[iii].

In response to this challenge, some airlines are offering more eating options for business travelers, including vegetarian and vegan meals that are typically though not always lower in saturated fat, calories, and sodium. However, a 2003 study[iv] by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine PCRM regrettably noted that of the 10 airlines surveyed, only 1 of the 10 was observed to provide easily available healthy eating choices. 3 of the 10 airlines offered some degree of healthy eating options, though planning ahead was necessary -- something that is not always feasible for business travelers. The remaining 6 airlines surveyed were criticized for providing little or no effort at offering vegetarian i.e. low-fat, low sodium, low calorie in-flight eating options.

On top of this, business travelers are faced with yet another eating challenge that those not in the air are not forced to address. Whereas most people “on the ground” can physically leave a restaurant or deliberately choose to purchase food that conforms to a healthy eating regimen, those “in the air” are often forced to accept what they are given. Most business travelers are typically short of time and running from meetings to airports and back again. Therefore, the decision to eat the high-fat, high-calorie, high-sodium, and altogether unbalanced airline meal is often better than the alternative of not eating at all.

While some awareness is creeping into the world of business traveler nutrition, thanks in part to the work of the PCRM and others, this awareness is not spreading quickly enough. Business travel in the US comprises over 200 million person-trips per year[v] and this means that a lot unhealthy meals are awaiting a lot of business travelers who, quite frankly, need more nutritious food.

There have been some attempts to respond to this massive business traveler need, including a halfhearted effort by most airlines to revise menus. There have also been several “nutritional supplement” options, typically in fluid or bar form, that have proposed to help fill this business traveler nutritional gap.

Unfortunately, like the revised airline meal effort, the vast majority of these supplements fall short of providing a high-protein, low-calorie, low-carbohydrate nutrition that travelers need. Furthermore, the handful of products that have in some sense met these protein, calorie, and carbohydrate requirements are usually devoid of essential nutrients.

However, a small number of nutritionally wise products are generating positive feedback from business travelers, both for nutritional value content, and for traveler-friendly fluid containers that can take a great deal of airport bag handler abuse. Furthermore, since these products are liquid, they can be ingested easily without needing to be diluted, mixed, or taken with large amounts of water or other fluid.

Taken as either a supplement or a meal on its own, these intelligent and scientifically validated nutritional products – which offer a complete range of essential vitamins – help business travelers stay healthy in ways that fit into their busy, time-conscious lives.

References

[i] Source “Tips for Eating Healthy Away from Home”. BetterHeathUSA. http://www.betterhealthusa.com/public/267.cfm

[ii] Source: “Healthy Eating on the Road”. Business Traveler Center Magazine. http://www.businesstravelerusa.com/articles.phparticleID=291

[iii] Source: “Fat Lowering Tips”. Ask The Dietician. http://www.dietitian.com/fatlower.html

[iv] Source “Doctors Rate Airline Food for Healthy Options”. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. http://www.pcrm.org/news/health031117.html

[v] Source: “Travel Statistics and Trends”. The Travel Industry Association of America. http://www.tia.org/Travel/traveltrends.asp

About The Author

Copyright 2004 - Protica Research - www.protica.com

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at www.protica.com. You can also learn about Profect at www.profect.com.

How to keep in shape while on the road!

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, being on the road usually leads to one thing: weight gain. From missed workouts to large restaurant meals, travel days often become high calorie days. Next time that you go on the road keep the following tips in mind, and come home leaner than when you left!

TIP #1: STICK WITH CIRCUITS

When you find yourself in a poorly equipped hotel exercise room, make the best of it. You are not going to be able to get in a normal workout like you would at your local health club, so you will have to make do with the available equipment. A great way of doing this is to workout in a circuit. Most hotel exercise rooms will have at least one piece of equipment for each body part, and they are usually as empty as a ghost town, so a circuit will work well. Do one set on each body part, and then hop on a bike or treadmill for 10 minutes. Repeat this two more times, and you will find yourself sweating up a storm.

TIP #2: BURN CALORIES EVERYDAY

If your travels keep you too busy for a workout, or if your hotel does not have an exercise room, make a conscious effort to burn calories everyday. There are many different ways to fit some calorie burning into your day. Go on a brisk walk after your day’s activities. This is a great way to see a new city, and also a great way to burn off the rich dinner you just ate! Take the stairs instead of elevator in your hotel and any other buildings you visit. Go on a short jog in the mornings or evenings of your stay. If your hotel has a pool, swim a few laps each morning or evening.

TIP#3: WATCH PORTION SIZE

Eating out is a must when traveling. Whether you are visiting 5 star restaurants or fast food diners, you are faced with the same problem: large portions. While the easiest thing to do with a large portioned meal is to simply eat it all, that isn’t the easiest on your waist! When you order your meal ask the waiter or waitress to bring you a to-go box with your meal. This way you can take half of the meal and place it safely into the box before you even begin to eat. You will have no choice but to eat a healthy portion, and you have your next meal taken care of. If you would rather not carry around a to-go box then ask that your entrée be made into a smaller portion. If it is dinnertime ask for the lunch-sized entrée.

TIP #4: AVOID FRIED FOODS

While fast food restaurants are definitely convenient, with their low prices and quick service, this convenience is not worth the inevitable weight gain brought on by the burgers and fries. When you travel, keep this in mind: avoid fried foods. While this is always good advice to follow, it is even more important to abide by while traveling.

While traveling you are most likely to be burning less calories each day than you would normally burn at home, and you are consuming more calories due to your schedule of eating out. You are walking a fine line, and eating fried foods would throw you right over the edge of weight gain. A gram of fat contains 9 calories as compared to the 4 calories that proteins and carbohydrates carry, so you can see that consuming fried foods will drastically increase your calorie intake. If I still haven’t convinced you to pass on the French fries, keep in mind that heartburn and indigestion are never fun, but how about experiencing them on an airplane, bus, or train ride!

TIP #5: BODY WEIGHT ROUTINE

When your hotel doesn’t have an exercise room, and you still want to get in some type of workout, try this body weight routine right in your hotel room: 20 Jumping Jacks: you remember these from grade school! Start jumping! 20 Push Ups: Get on the floor, keep your back flat, and push! 20 Jumping Jacks 20 Crunches: Keep your hands behind your head and breathe out as you crunch up. 20 Jumping Jacks 20 Triceps Dip: Place your palms on the edge of a chair, bend at your elbows and push yourself back up! 20 Squats: Stand in place, with your knees shoulder width apart, squat down! 20 Jumping Jacks 20 Lunges: Keep your hands on your waist, step forward keeping a 90degree bend in your knee, and press yourself back up!

Next time your work or pleasure takes you away from home, keep these tips in mind and be pleasantly surprised with your results! Have a great trip!

About The Author

Diana Keuilian, author, ACE certified Personal Trainer, and co-founder of HitechPersonalFitness.com offers online personal training and nutrition programs that fit your budget and schedule. Whether your goal is to lose weight, firm and tone, or to build muscle, HitechPersonalFitness.com will build a custom designed program just for you.

Visit: http://www.hitechpersonalfitness.com/ and begin meeting your fitness goals today!

dkeuilian@hitechtrainer.com

Travel insurance is something that many people haven’t considered. Sure, it’s possible that you may never have to access your travel insurance, but just having it can really give you peace of mind. As it so often happens, there are many different circumstances or situations that could cause you to cancel your trip, interrupt your plans and possibly return home early or force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling. To demonstrate the importance of purchasing travel insurance, and emergency travel services, here are a few common examples of what might go wrong:

Its 8:00 p.m. and your family arrives at the airport for a connecting flight, only to find that your flight has been cancelled. How do you get your family home A travel insurance policy would be very helpful.

Your spouses luggage was lost which contained his medical insulin inside. Obviously he needs to locate that piece of luggage very soon. What could you do

It’s your first visit overseas to Europe, and your passport and wallet are stolen. A terrible circumstance to be in under any condition. Where would you turn for emergency cash, and very importantly, how will you get your passport replaced

Your spouse is involved in an accident and adequate medical treatment is not available. Who will help arrange and pay for a medical evacuation A solid travel medical insurance policy would go a long ways towards easing the difficulties of this situation.

Sure, these circumstances are rare and may not ever happen to you. However, if you have adequate travel insurance you can relax a little because now you’ve got someone on your side.

Take your time and look around to see what is offered and we’re confident you’ll find the travel insurance you need.

About The Author

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.a1-insurance-quotes-4u.com/ mjy610@hotmail.com

Becoming a seller on ebay can be daunting. Becoming a travel seller can be impossible, unless you know the secrets. My tips on selling on eBay can apply to all categories of items, but some steps are unique to selling travel.

The travel industry is highly regulated on EBay, as it should be. High standards keep out disreputable sellers and scam artists, and adds to your own company’s trustworthiness when you are approved by eBay..

1. Before you are even thinking about selling travel on eBay, it is important to get a username and email address just for eBay. Registration is free and only takes a few minutes. Register as a seller and you can use the same username to buy as well. Choose a name that reflects what you sell i.e., “Bermudabound” rather than “sexyblueeyes”. Other eBay members will come to recognize you by your User ID, so its a good idea to choose one youll want to use for the long term.

2. Your eBay name has sunglasses i.e., read “shady character” for the first 30 days, so don’t try to sell anything while you are wearing shades. Use this time to buy on eBay and learn good practices from other sellers.

3. Set up a PayPal account. EBay buyers feel more confident purchasing something from a seller who accepts PayPal. According to PayPal, “Listings that offer PayPal are 6% more likely to sell and experience a 5% average increase in final price.” Go to www.Paypal.com. Get a business account. Registration is free.

4. In the first 30 days, buy small items on EBay, pay for them promptly. I have always found eBay sellers to offer good values, provided that you check their feedback listing first.

5. Pay your seller promptly, because then you will always get positive feedback from your seller. Your feedback profile is the most important aspect of your reputation at eBay. Feedback is extremely important on eBay, as your future buyers can evaluate you at a glance. Even one strike against you counts heavily. Your feedback score also helps later with qualifying to run banner ads on eBay, and to have eBay pay some of your advertising costs.

6. Create your “About Me” page on eBay. Use this page to tell other eBay users about yourself and your interests, your experience and your products.

7. While you are waiting the 30 days, also become a ID verified and bsquare trade approved.

a Get ID Verified through eBay as an extra sign of security for buyers. When a member gets ID Verified, a third-party company working with eBay confirms the members identity by cross checking their contact information across consumer and business databases. Youll see the ID Verify icon in verified members profiles.

b The Square Trade Seal is one way for sellers to show bidders that they are committed to high selling standards and have had their identity verified by a third party. You will need a credit card and your IATA, ARC, or seller of travel number. Both are requirements for selling travel, and you must place these numbers as the first lines of your ads on EBay. All members listing airline tickets, cruises, vacation packages, or lodging must be participants in the Seller Verify by SquareTrade Program. This program combines verification of sellers with ongoing monitoring. For instructions on this, go to eBay.com.

8. When you are ready to list your items at auction, sell small stuff first, building customers and credibility. Sell all items with no reserve, at the lowest price you can afford to accept, and fill all orders promptly.

9. Choose carefully what you will sell. You cannot sell some travel certificates, and all listing must list the exceptions, blackout dates, and extra taxes and shipping charges. Travel agents, and other businesses selling travel services are regulated in eBay. According to the eBay rules for selling travel, “Businesses and individuals who sell and/or arrange air or sea travel or accommodations but do not directly provide the travel service themselves may list air and ship related travel items i.e. airplane tickets and cruise trips, along with accommodations, on eBay only if they are licensed as sellers of travel lawfully able to do business in all 50 states and they themselves will be booking the travel for the winning bidder. Their listings should clearly set out their California seller of travel license number as well as any other license information required in other states. It is against eBay policy for travel clearinghouse affiliates, that are not actual agents booking the travel themselves, to list travel auctions on the site. Sellers are required to include the following disclaimer in all listings for travel exactly as it appears below and in a text size and color that can easily be seen and read by all bidders:

"By listing this auction I verify that I am the actual travel agent or travel provider and not a third party affiliate. The travel/accommodations in this auction will be booked directly through me and not an outside agency. I also verify that, other than the government taxes and related government fees stated within the listing description itself, there will be absolutely no additional fees, charges or after auction purchases associated with booking the travel within this listing."

For travel services other than air or sea travel, businesses and individuals may offer gift certificates or coupons that are issued by a specific provider of travel, such as a gift certificate to a particular hotel. They may not, however, offer travel club memberships or "choice travel" certificates.”

10. Build a store. EBay stores are free for the first 30 days. Afterwards, they are $9.95 a month. According to eBay, Store sellers see on average a 25% incremental increase in sales the 3 months after opening their Store.” Here is where you can list all those other items that are higher priced, but good value at a low listing fee - at about 02 cents, rather than $4.80 for an item over $500. Auction and Fixed Price listings appear in your eBay Store as well as in eBay Search and Listings. The store allows your buyers to peruse your other items in addition to your auction items. Go to: http://pages.eBay.com/storefronts/openbenefits.html

For examples of travel stores on eBay, take a look at: http://stores.eBay.com/Travel-Ireland-and-Britain_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

http://stores.eBay.com/Himalayan-International-Tours_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

About The Author

Mc Nulty is President of Lynott Tours, specialists in travel to Ireland and Britain. Ellen assists retail travel agents in listing their wares on EBay. Lynott Tours has been selling travel for 35 years, and can be found on the Internet at www.lynotttours.com.

lynottads@aol.com

A journey by a web-footed gull through a sea of sharks.

Definitions:

Gull - a dupe, a fool; vulnerable to deceive; to trick; to defraud.

Shark - voracious marine fish; swindler; rapacious fellow; an expert. Shark-skin - stiff, smooth-finished!

As a gull with newly acquired webbed feet, I set out to test them on new waters. My new webbed feet allowed me to surf on waves I had never seen before, soaring high with excitement and sometimes being overwhelmed by the shear size of the waves. The waters I am discovering are vast and diverse, stretching out in all directions, some hot, some cold and some luke warm.

Diverse are also the fish in these waters. Some small and tasty but not big enough to satisfy my hunger. Others are big and juicy offering more than enough to feed on, but rather difficult to get my teeth into. This needs perseverance and a tough stance, refusing to let go. The longer I hold on the more I can bite off, and eventually the easier it will be to share with others and help them get their teeth into this big fish.

There are however, I am discovering, dangers in these waters. Surfing the seas with webbed feet attracts some other fish who are hungry to dig their greedy teeth into my flesh, and eat up everything I have. These are sharks! Stiff, smooth looking creatures, who lurk in the waves, just below the surface, out of clear view, just visible enough to be mistaken for a big meaty fish ready for feasting on.

But watch out! You other young gulls with your new webbed feet. These sharks are out to get you! They will lure you into a corner and snap at you grabbing all they can get, and leave you squirming in the foam helpless and lost and robbed!

The sharks will use any means possible to draw you towards them. Some wave fancy banners, rather similar to those banners pointing to where the good etable fish are. Still other sharks will attract you with dummy fish, which look like the real thing. But beware! Such fish are never so easy to catch and these false offers are just too easy to be true. They are traps. Try to grab one and the shark will have you.

Yes! The World Wide Web of Surfing is a dangerous place. It is an INTERwoven NETwork of goodies and dangers. I have learned to be cautious while SURFing these waters, not to be so gullible, and watch out for the many SHARKS.

Here are a few tips for young gulls.

1. Test the waters before you plunge in.

2. Never believe what you are told without first checking it out.

3. Ask some of the bigger gulls, who have evolved with experience to become dolphins. They will tell you who are the sharks to avoid.

4. A sure sign of a shark: “Come to me and I will give you plenty - immediately!” Stay clear of such ones.

5. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

About The Author

Jim Murdoch is new to network marketing. Read what he has to say about “Why you need your own home business” in his autoresponder: mailto:whyahomebusiness@upward-path.com His web site is at http://www.upward-path.com64

Many people are unclear about the travel industry. Travel agents are often thought to be the same as real estate agents. Becoming a travel agent or more specifically a home based travel agent is an exciting career change or retirement option. Some people do it full time while many do it as a part time business.

A travel agent books travel for customers and is paid by suppliers a commission on the booking. For bookings that suppliers do not pay a commission on, a travel agent also can charge the client a service fee for his/her time. An example is if you were to book a hotel for a client, the hotel would then send a check to the agency after the client checked out. Most hotels pay 10% of the price of the hotel before taxes and fees. A $100 per night hotel reservation would mean $10 a night for the travel agent who made the booking. This hotel would cost the same whether the customer uses a travel agent or books through the hotel directly. In many cases the travel agent can get a better price. It costs the customer nothing to use the travel agent unless the travel agent charges service fees.

Can anyone do this In order to work with suppliers, you must have an account set up with the supplier. Most require an agency to hold an IATAN, CLIA or ARC number. IATAN stands for International Airlines Travel Agent Network. CLIA stands for Cruise Lines International Association. ARC stands for Airline Reporting Corporation. Each of these memberships requires different things including sales, money in the bank, experience or training in the industry, and membership fees. Many will require Errors and Omissions insurance of $1,000,000 or more.

For the average travel agent, membership is not a possibility with some organizations so the agent will team up with an agency and work as an independent agent or outside agent. There are also advantages of working with an agency because most travel agents cannot make enough in sales with a particular supplier to obtain higher commission levels and bonuses. Working with an agency with many agents can increase the commission percentages the agent gets because of the joint sales of all the agents at the agency. Support is also a very important aspect of being a successful agent. Agents who do not work with others tend to feel more isolated and have to learn to do it all solo. Since no agent can have the experience of being everywhere in the world or staying at every hotel or resort, having others that you can get advice from is really helpful.

The future of travel agencies is always questioned. The truth is the industry has changed in many ways. Some changes were for the better, some for the worse. Many airlines have cut commissions for travel agents. However, there are many other suppliers who are paying travel agents more than they were ten years ago. Cruises used to be booked by only the rich and now people in every income book cruises. Each year more and more people go on cruises. Most people say they want to go on a cruise at least once and many who go on their first come home to want to book another.

You can earn commission on many travel reservations. Hotels Rental Cars Tour Packages Cruises Some airline tickets International airline tickets Travel insurance Ground transportation including limos Attraction tickets Train tickets

People all need travel arrangements at some point in time. Those who take road trips need hotel reservations. Those who need to travel for business need airline tickets, rental cars, and hotel reservations. Families want to experience vacations with their loved ones. People visit family and relatives. Most people who win money say they are going to spend it to take a nice vacation. Newly married couples go on honeymoons. You are not selling something that is hard to sell. People contact you for help, you are not calling them or approaching them trying to sell them something they don’t want.

Educating the public is the main thing any travel agent must do. Most people put travel agents into the same category as real estate agents. They believe it costs additional to use a travel agent. This is untrue. In many cases a travel agent can get a better price than the general public through the suppliers who work only with travel agents. Many people do not know all the options for booking a vacation. A good travel agent does. Once people are educated on how a travel agent gets paid, they are more willing to work with travel agents. If a person knows that if he or she let you book a hotel and it will cost the same price regardless, she or he will work with you. It is important to let people know how you can help them save time and money on their travel arrangements.

So how do you get into the industry Many people think they must go to school or become certified. This is not true. You can get into the industry and begin training. I don’t recommend anyone spend thousands on a travel school until he or she knows this is a career that he or she will really want to pursue. The truth is you do not have to spend thousands to get trained. There are many courses free to travel agents from suppliers. There are also organizations such as ICTA Institute of Certified Travel Agents who offer courses as you get more years experience in the industry. CLIA also offers courses. There are some agencies that will offer training. Even if you decide this is a career you would like to pursue, you do not need to spend thousands to become an educated and competent travel agent. There are many courses you can take with suppliers and organizations to get a better education in travel. I truly believe a hands’ on approach is the best way to become a better travel agent. Learning to work with suppliers and how to find the information your clients need is an important part of becoming a good travel agent.

How can you find an agency to work with There are a few organizations dedicated to independent travel agents. NACTA and OSSN are the top organizations. NACTA stands for National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents. OSSN stands for Outside Sales Support Network. You can also search online for home-based travel agent programs. I would never recommend anyone spending a lot of money to start this business. It is key to first try and see if it is something you would really want to do and get training before you invest too much money into it. Get involved in the industry first and see if it is really a career that is best for you.

Jennifer Dugan CTA Owner of Dugans Travels Travel agent since 1993 http://www.duganstravels.com

Copyright 2004 Jennifer Dugan

About The Author

Mother of two who started a homebased travel agency in 1997. She has over 200 outside agents working with her agency and is active in the travel industry. She has been an agent since 1993. She is the author of three ebooks.

Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 20, 2004

Let me quote something you wrote. "When you reach the boundary between like and love, you know you are entering a different country. You are beyond newness and infatuation. You know what Shakespeare meant when he called love an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken."

On one level, I agree with what you say. But I believe very few of us find what you describe. We end up settling when we reach a point at which we realize it is either that or being alone.

I, for one, have never felt what you describe and recently have come to terms that I will not. I am 50, outgoing, attractive and independent, with two children who are blessings I would never have if I did not "settle." I know I will never make that mistake again, and I find I am alone and probably always will be.

Is love the luck of the draw Are some of us just luckier than others Or is it something lacking in me I would love to know.

Linda

Linda, sixty years ago the science fiction writer René Barjavel asked what would happen if you traveled back in time and killed your grandfather before he met your grandmother. Could this happen If it did, you would not exist, so how could you travel back in time This dilemma is known as the grandfather paradox.

When you "settled," how did you know the next man wouldnt have been the perfect one for you How did you know the children wouldnt have been his and your children When you are of the mindset of settling, youre not thinking of love but of other things--marriage, a house, children. Youve traded love for a time schedule.

When you "settle" for a house, how many more houses do you visit with your real estate agent None. How do you know the next house wouldnt be the one of your hearts desire When you are dating, married to, or pregnant by a man you settled for, how likely is it you can see or be seen by the one for you

It would be as easy for us to say your children would have been in your future, if youd waited. Now you want to discount this idea again, but you are closer to it now than when you settled--because now you dont want to settle. This has more to do with patience than with luck. You dont stop trying to balance your checkbook until things balance.

Perhaps it is your fate to come to this knowing now. Why could this not happen for you now Why not tomorrow or next month or next year When you are living your life fully, engaging with others, knowing what you want, why not now

Wayne & Tamara

Theoretically Speaking

My relationship started off as a holiday romance and has had trouble developing into a normal relationship. We met in Spain and fell for each other immediately. We were both over the moon, but when we moved in together, things began to deteriorate.

He wasnt sure what he wanted. I felt neglected and reacted badly by contacting an old flame. He thinks I nag. Once, in a rage, I told him I dont want to be with him anymore. Now hes angry and refuses to speak to me until he thinks things through. It upsets me because I know were both very much in love, but no matter what we do we cant seem to make it work.

Jayne

Jayne, in science competing theories are tested against each other to determine which is true. You believe you and your boyfriend are in love. That is your claim.

We have an alternative hypothesis. It was a holiday fling. On our side we point to verbal rage, nagging, confusion, and unfaithfulness. What evidence is there for your theory

Wayne & Tamara

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