Radio Flyer - Awards And Achievements

At the beginning of the twentieth century, a young Italian boy named Antonio Pasin dreamed of a better life for himself in America. His family supported his dreams, selling their meager belongings to finance the trip. Antonio Pasin left his parents and friends behind at the young age of sixteen and traveled to Chicago. Pasin came from a line of skilled carpenters and hoped to find work as a cabinet-maker. Instead, the teenager worked many different odd jobs until he finally saved the money for his own workshop and wood-working equipment.In this little one room shop, Antonio Pasin began building his American dream, working day and night handcrafting wagons out of wood. Pasin first called his business the Liberty Coaster Company. Over the next few years, Pasin began using the same technology as car manufactures, producing mass quantities of high quality steel wagons. He called his manufacturing company Radio Steel, but coined his little red wagon the Radio Flyer, which would eventually become the company name.Radio Flyer has been producing the world's favorite wheeled toys for over eighty-five years. They have achieved great customer loyalty and became a household name. Radio Flyer and their products have been noted for their high standards, quality products, and their dedication with numerous awards.The 1933 World's Fair, held in the company's hometown of Chicago, was Radio Flyer's first boost of public recognition. The Radio Flyer exhibit featured the forty-five foot Coaster Boy and was one of the most popular attractions. The company saw great success with the sale of their collectible miniature wagons at the fair, leading to a rise in sales across the rest of their product line. During World War II, Radio Flyer ceased production of their toys to manufacture materials needed by the military. An Army-Navy "E" award was presented to the company on July 14, 1945 to recognize their efforts in assisting with the war. After the war, Radio Flyer resumed production of their toy lines, experiencing even more customer loyalty and satisfaction. Through the years, many of Radio Flyer's products have been named with special awards for their quality and popularity.Radio Flyer wagons and tricycles have been named the world's best selling toys time and time again. Their products have won numerous awards from prestigious agencies including Parent's Choice, The Great American Toy Test, Dr. Toy, and Parent's Guide to Children's Media. Many Radio Flyer toys have also been given the National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval. To celebrate the eightieth anniversary of Radio Flyer, the company produced it's record breaking World's Largest Wagon. The one of a kind big red wagon weighs 15,000 pounds and measures a huge 27 feet long and 13 feet across.Antonio Pasin and Radio Flyer toys have influenced the minds and changed the lives of children everywhere for almost a century. In 2003 Pasin was commended for his innovative ideas with the ultimate award. The Toy Industry Hall of Fame inducted Pasin as it's 44th toy inventor, honoring the imaginative spirit that has driven Radio Flyer to where they are today.

Jobs on the Road For the Vagabonds

In order to sustain and maintain traveling accessories and equipment, the vagabond with a small or even non existing bank account, may sometimes find themselves stopping over to earn payment for services.The form and amount of payment may depend on the specific job, but as long as the vagabond can attain enough resources to continue trekking, any job will do.Because of their non materialistic and efficient lifestyle, most vagabonds won't usually need to find a source of income.But in times of hardship and when resources get scarce (like worn out shoes), money can always be obtained to provide for whatever a traveler may need.More elaborate vagabonds usually have higher traveling cost to maintain and provide fuel for RVs, trailers, wagons, campers, towing vehicles, and other expenses attached to motorised traveling.The vagabonds with larger wagons, typically travel in groups, some having family members sharing one RV, or a caravan of many RVs of other nomads, gypsies, wanderers, drifters, and tramps.Opportunities for the Vagabond Below is a list of various fields of work that a traveler can look for, all depending on how long the traveler is willing to stay in one area, there is always work to be found anywhere your wheels or feet take you.Seasonal jobs sites: Jobs are available everywhere you go. Farms (crop pickers, equipment operators, animals to tend),Amusement Parks (maintenance, sales, promotions, services), Cruise Ships (cooking, hosting, housekeeping, travel guide), Outdoorsman Camp (fishing, hunting, guides), Training Centers (teaching, organising), Construction Sites (skilled trades, labour), Tradeshows (sales, promotions, bartering, great place to sale stuff), Tourist Sites, Campgrounds (office work, reservations, sales, grounds maintenance, handy-person, housekeeping, running social activities),Property Owners (house sitting, gardening, pet sitting, landscaping), Tax Centers (having ability to do tax returns. Get trained and go to work remotely or at a local tax form preparation office.)Skill-Specific Work: A skilled worker is any worker who has some special skill, knowledge, or (usually acquired) ability in his work. A skilled worker may have attended a college, university or technical school. Or, a skilled worker may have learned his skills on the job. Skilled Labour (equipment operator, carpenter, mason, electrician, plumber, painter, etc.), Consulting (providing specialist advice to other people who work in the same field) Teaching, Personal Care, Property ManagementWagon based work: It is just like a home based job, however with today's communication technology, a vagabond can work out of his RV.Some mobile communications gadgets are required, for example mobile phone and fax machine, laptop, portable printer and scanner, etc... Publishing, Sales, MarketingVagabond Jobs DescriptionsRecreational Activities Worker: Plan, organize, and direct activities in local playgrounds and recreation areas, parks, community centers, religious organizations, camp sites, theme parks, and tourist attractions.Performers, Event Planners, Sports Coordinators, Fishermen and Hunters, etc...Property Caretaker: Property Care for financial compensation, and sometimes in exchange for rent-free living accommodations.Ranch Sitters, Bed & Breakfast and Inn Sitters, Property Managers, Estate Managers, Hosts, Mechanics, Electricians, Cooks, Landscapers, Farmers and Gardeners, House Sitters, etc... Personal Caregiver: Someone with health care skills, who is employed to care for another person or pets, can look for jobs like.Pet Walkers, Teachers, Pet Groomers, Caterers, House Cleaners, Nurses, Hair Stylist, etc...Mystery Shopper: Mystery shopping or Mystery Consumer is a tool used by market research companies to measure quality of retail service or gather specific information about products and services.Mystery shoppers posing as normal customers perform specific tasks-such as purchasing a product, asking questions, registering complaints or behaving in a certain way - and then provide detailed reports or feedback about their experiencesTravel Guide/Agent: Provide travel related services for weary travelers such guides, tours, and travel arrangements. Travel agent, Host, Tour Guide, etc...Publisher/Writer/Producer: Making information available for public view and getting paid for it can be a vagabond's source of income.Using the internet to publish blogs, tips, articles, stories, even novels could be a rewarding way of getting money for the traveler, since there is no need to stop over.Online Entrepreneur: Every day more and more entrepreneurs are building successful businesses using the internet. There is an abundance of opportunity online and depending on the venture; there is often less cost and risk involved when compared with traditional businesses.Traditional Business: Small business can be operated out of an RV, such as selling a product or service in return for money or other means of compensation.Paid Online Surveys: You can earn money just for sharing your opinion; it's a fun and easy way to make some money help for some travel expenses.Sign up on the following websites to start some surveys that pay now. http://www.SurveySavvy.com

Dan 'The Gypsy Dad' Sauve
For more resources on traveling the vagabond way, visit http://www.TheModernVagabond.com
Join Vagabonds Social Network to share your pictures, story, video, or just chat with more Vagabonds.

Radio Flyer Goes Off-road

Radio Flyer Wagons such as the Radio Flyer ATW Wagon have been a part of American childhood since the early 1900's. These strong, sturdy steel wagons have carried generations of tired children and been the center of millions of play groups. Radio Flyer wagons have fostered imagination in the minds of so many children, they are now the number one selling brand of toy wagons in the world.Each Radio Flyer wagon is made to last. With seamless steel construction and numerous safety features, these toys usually outlast the child and become family treasures. The Radio Flyer company's commitment to enhancing young minds through innovative play products has driven them to keep their toys up to date, continually changing with the demands of the time.Near the close of the twentieth century, Radio Flyer improved their signature wagons by steering away from the usual sidewalks and driveways. Powerful air-filled tires allow Radio Flyer ATW wagons to go anywhere. Across the mud, over leaves and brush, and wherever the path may lead, Radio Flyer ATWs (All-Terrain Wagons) keep up with today's busy child.Like all Radio Flyer products, the ATW is engineered to meet the highest of standards in safety specifications. Using Radio Flyer's exclusive controlled turning radius, the ATW can brave the toughest backyard terrains and never spill a load. Radio Flyer All Terrain Wagons are multifunctional as both toys and utility wagons. The ATW is available in three different styles to meet many purposes.The Big Red Classic ATW is a monster version of the signature Radio Flyer little red wagon. With fifty percent deeper carrying capacity and extra high steel sides, this ATW provides usability as well as tons of fun. The Big Red Classic ATW is large enough to carry two children and sturdy and rugged enough to go through the backyard with a load of firewood. Radio Flyer's second design in their ATW line is the ATW Cargo Wagon. Over three feet long, this wagon is made of fine quality finished wood. It features removable bright red sides for extra versatility, making it the perfect ATW for wide loads of flowers or small shrubbery. The large, comfortable body ensures hours of outdoor adventure.The ATW Steel & Wood Wagon takes the classic Radio Flyer little red wagon and adds high wooden stake sides and big air-filled all terrain tires for the ultimate in fun and adventure. With the extra-long handle, this ATW will effortlessly pull two with plenty of space for other belongings. It is ideal for nature walks or along the beach.Radio Flyer ATWs can travel almost anywhere. The line of wagon accessories will guarantee a comfortable ride no matter how bumpy and rough the path may become. Radio Flyer wagon pads are made of soft foam cushioning and feature an easy to clean cover. The pads are available for the sides as well as the bottom of the wagon for complete safety and comfort.The award winning all terrain wagons from Radio Flyer have taken the classic wagon to new and exciting places. Every ride in a Radio Flyer wagon creates a new adventure. With the Radio Flyer ATW, the adventures are endless.

Radio Flyer Goes Off Road

Radio Flyer Wagons such as the Radio Flyer ATW Wagon have been a part of American childhood since the early 1900's. These strong, sturdy steel wagons have carried generations of tired children and been the center of millions of play groups. Radio Flyer wagons have fostered imagination in the minds of so many children, they are now the number one selling brand of toy wagons in the world.Each Radio Flyer wagon is made to last. With seamless steel construction and numerous safety features, these toys usually outlast the child and become family treasures. The Radio Flyer company's commitment to enhancing young minds through innovative play products has driven them to keep their toys up to date, continually changing with the demands of the time.Near the close of the twentieth century, Radio Flyer improved their signature wagons by steering away from the usual sidewalks and driveways. Powerful air-filled tires allow Radio Flyer ATW wagons to go anywhere. Across the mud, over leaves and brush, and wherever the path may lead, Radio Flyer ATWs (All-Terrain Wagons) keep up with today's busy child.Like all Radio Flyer products, the ATW is engineered to meet the highest of standards in safety specifications. Using Radio Flyer's exclusive controlled turning radius, the ATW can brave the toughest backyard terrains and never spill a load. Radio Flyer All Terrain Wagons are multifunctional as both toys and utility wagons. The ATW is available in three different styles to meet many purposes.The Big Red Classic ATW is a monster version of the signature Radio Flyer little red wagon. With fifty percent deeper carrying capacity and extra high steel sides, this ATW provides usability as well as tons of fun. The Big Red Classic ATW is large enough to carry two children and sturdy and rugged enough to go through the backyard with a load of firewood.Radio Flyer's second design in their ATW line is the ATW Cargo Wagon. Over three feet long, this wagon is made of fine quality finished wood. It features removable bright red sides for extra versatility, making it the perfect ATW for wide loads of flowers or small shrubbery. The large, comfortable body ensures hours of outdoor adventure.The ATW Steel & Wood Wagon takes the classic Radio Flyer little red wagon and adds high wooden stake sides and big air-filled all terrain tires for the ultimate in fun and adventure. With the extra-long handle, this ATW will effortlessly pull two with plenty of space for other belongings. It is ideal for nature walks or along the beach.Radio Flyer ATWs can travel almost anywhere. The line of wagon accessories will guarantee a comfortable ride no matter how bumpy and rough the path may become. Radio Flyer wagon pads are made of soft foam cushioning and feature an easy to clean cover. The pads are available for the sides as well as the bottom of the wagon for complete safety and comfort.The award winning all terrain wagons from Radio Flyer have taken the classic wagon to new and exciting places. Every ride in a Radio Flyer wagon creates a new adventure. With the Radio Flyer ATW, the adventures are endless.

Check Out Your Options When Choosing a Wheelchair Van

If you're in the market for new wheels for your wheels, you'll find that there are amazing new and used wheelchair vans to be had at some very cheap costs. In this article you'll find information on some of the wagons available. Perhaps you will even decide that you need to take a look.You are going to love the new Honda Odyssey vans. They are some of the best on the market when it comes to sturdiness and style and are an excellent choice for families who enjoy traveling. The space inside an Odyssey has been maximised. Additionally, it will include quality CD and cassette players, a back-up sensor, and two removable front seats. Since both seats can be removed, you are going to be able to either be the passenger or to drive for yourself when there is no one else around.The wagon is designed for easy accessibility and has a power ramp found in the floor. The dual air conditioning guarantees a comfortable ride in both front and back. You'll be able to select the color of your wheelchair truck from a good selection of interior and exterior options so that your wagon will reflect your own personal style.A Dodge Grand Caravan would be another excellent choice. These vans also come with the dual A / C, a power ramp that will fold out, and a power sliding door. The interiors are terribly roomy and comfortable and have seats that adjust so you won't feel cramped or claustrophobic when traveling for long amounts of time.Chevrolet puts out a great wheelchair wagon called the Venture. A venture features lots of space, keyless entry, and seats which can be removed. There's also a CD player so that your tunes can travel with you and keep you pleasantly occupied while traveling.If any of these lorries sound like what your folks might like, you should talk with your local dealership to see what can be done to customize your van for your needs. Some dealers will wish to charge more for these services than you should have to pay, so make sure that before agreeing to any deal you do some comparison shopping in order to get the most your get for the littlest price .A good way to comparison shop is to visit internet sites such as mobilityvansusa.com where you are going to be able to read more about each lorry as well as compare costs. Another good site is libertymotorco.com which has photos of all of the different trucks listed. By doing your research ahead of time, it'll eliminate surprises when you see the completed product.Be certain to check out Honda or Chrysler. You'll be able to visit with a rep about the customized wagon packages they offer as well as prices, so that when you are through doing your research, you are going to be able to find the ideal wheelchair van for you and your family.

For more info on wheelchair vans visit http://www.wheelchairsandyou.com

Caviar Flights and Borscht on Rails - Adventures in Crossing the Motherland

You're in Moscow on business when your boss tells you he wants you in Kiev by Monday. Quick, what do you do? In the U.S., you'd log on to some travel search engine and find the best flight. The train wouldn't even register as an option. But here in the Former Soviet Union (F.S.U.), the train is usually the first (and often the only) consideration for long-distance travel. Let's take a closer look at both options.Most major cities in Russia and Ukraine have airports, and most major airlines serve them. In-country air travel is modern and - as expected - relatively inexpensive. Thankfully, even on purely Russian airlines such as Aeroflot, announcements are made in both Russian and English. Equally convenient, all important airport signs are also written in English. The main difference between Western air travel and Russian is the peripheral infrastructure. Don't expect Starbucks. Instead, be thankful if there's a caf at all. Bring your own toilet paper (a rule that actually applies to any mode of travel throughout the F.S.U.), and brace yourself for barbaric bathroom conditions.Step through the gate and civilization returns. Nowadays, passengers on Russian airlines are better fed than their American counterparts who are lucky if they get a packet of pretzels tossed their way. The various Slavic airlines which serve the F.S.U. are reminiscent of the variety of Western budget airlines like Southwest: Professional, reliable, and no-frills. They have comparable safety records, as well. Though you'll probably do most of your long-distance travel in the F.S.U. with the airlines, you shouldn't rule out train travel.Buying a train ticket is easy enough, even if you speak no Russian. At the ticket counter, say the name of your destination as you hand the lady a slip of paper with the travel date written on it. Just make sure you use the European system: Day then month. It's easy, and tickets are cheap. You can cross nearly the entire expanse of Ukraine - the largest country in mainland Europe - for a whopping ten dollars.But it won't be in style. A ten dollar ticket buys you passage via a barracks-style wagon called 'plaskart'. I don't know what the word means, but can only assume it's Russian for "suffering." Winter or summer, it's always too hot and too crowded. Although the communal spirit of traveling 'plaskart' style can be appealing - imagine sharing beer and dried fish with complete strangers - the communal noise and odors quickly take their toll. Traveling in the great cattle wagon of the Russian train system is best experienced vicariously.That was the ten dollar ticket. For $15 or so, you can go first class. Called 'kupe' (pronounced 'koo-PEH'), this is a private, four-person sleeping car. Your own bed, your own luggage compartment. There's even a lady who comes to bring you tea. Some trains have an even more exclusive option: Written C.B., it's pronounced 'Ess-Veh' and stands for 'Super Wagon.' A spot in one of these two-person rooms will cost about $35. But no matter how comfortable your personal compartment is, there's no hiding from the noise of the train itself. My girlfriend finds the constant clattering relaxing, but as I try to sleep, it sounds like it's Hammer & Anvil Day at the metal works next door. My advice: Bring ear-plugs.Still, traveling by train across the great Motherland is an amazing experience. Make your way to the restaurant car, sit at a table by the window, and enjoy a surprisingly tasty dinner as you watch the countryside roll by. Neither words nor photos can express the marvel of passing the unending fields of sunflowers in the south of Ukraine. Is there that much yellow in all the world?Depending on the time of year you travel, you'll ask similar questions of other colors. Imagine, for days on end, passing nothing but snow covered fields in Siberia. You'll think someone painted all the windows white. Or take a ride through the forests east of the Carpathians at the height of autumn. Trees are ablaze with red and orange. In summer, you might see only green fields and blue skies. Traveling by train across the F.S.U. is a visceral experience, not to be simply dismissed for the ease and comfort of air travel.So let time be the deciding factor. If you're in a hurry, head to the airport. But if your schedule permits, considering crossing the land of Eastern Europe by train. You might lose a day or two, but you'll gain a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Mark Thomson learned the Russian language and attained fluency quickly. If you'd like to know about Russia, Ukraine, or his language learning techniques visit: russian-video-blog.com

Cheap Holidays In Naples Florida

Naples carries the well earned reputation as being one of Florida's finest towns. Located on the sun drenched beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. For an age, Naples has been the regular winter retreat for the wealthy Americans who are looking to escape the drudgery and cold of their home State and come to the enchanting and warm climate of Naples. Here they can bask in the sun and enjoy the beautiful beaches, people and weather.With spectacular beaches, shopping and wildlife and abundant challenging golf courses, Naples is truly a first rate choice for a Florida holiday. With nearby attractions such as Venice, Marco Island and the Everglades Visitor Centre, no wonder Naples is a popular place to spend your summer. AttractionsNaples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens - Rediscover nature and fun in the heart of Naples itself.Babcock Wilderness Adventures - If you want to experience the thrill of meeting assorted wildlife close up like panthers, bison, birds, and dozens of wild alligators face to face, then this tour is a must for all Naples visitors.Everglades Excursions - Taking the "Safari Wagon" to the Everglades Jungle Cruise is an ever popular choice for tourists and locals alike.Accommodation in NaplesThe accommodation in Naples ranges from budget (cheap and cheerful) right up to exclusive and expensive. Although for this location, you would reasonably expect to pay much more. The Inn at Pelican Bay is located on the lakeside to the north of Naples and is just 2 minutes drive from the beach. With 100 rooms over 6 floors, each room comes with air conditioning, cable TV, safe, iron and board, coffee maker, hairdryer and bathrobes. Rooms have either 1 king sized bed or 2 doubles and can sleep a maximum of 4 people. The inn at Pelican Bay offers its guests a complimentary continental breakfast each morning as well as the newspaper to read after. There is a swimming pool with tropical terrace, whirlpool and fitness centre. For value for money, the Inn at Pelican Bay is first rate. With all amenities you could need, plus many added extra's, it can be hard to beat this friendly and efficient hotel. Prices can start from as little as 40 per night.The Quality Inn Gulf Coast is another reasonably priced hotel in Naples. Located in the very heart and soul of Naples, this beautiful hotel is just 5 minutes away from the beach. There are 121 rooms on 2 floors and each room comes with air conditioning, tea and coffee maker, TV, safe, fridge, hairdryer, iron and board. Rooms will normally have 1 or 2 double beds with a rollaway and can sleep a maximum of 5 people. There is a pool bar and caf called Harold's Place Bar. This is great for basic meals and can cater for almost any taste at a reasonable price. The Fujiyama's famous Japanese Restaurant is great for a treat or special occasion. The Quality Inn Gulf Resort also has a swimming pool, shuffle board and a video games area for the children or big kids. There are several nearby shops and stores to keep you entertained or for a spot of retail therapy. Catering for almost any taste, this can be a great place to take advantage of all the local amenities.The Cove Inn on Naples Bay offers a spectacular view of the famous waterline. Located in the charming Olde Naples where there is plenty to see and do, and everything worth doing or seeing is nearby. The only hotel in Naples, Florida located on Naples Bay which affords a unique experience not offered anywhere else in Naples due to its location - my personal favourite.The above hotels are superb value for money and situated near the main attraction, the beach. With shops surrounding the hotels , all the hotels are ideally situated.Prices do vary season to season, but on average you can expect to pay in the region of 40 per night for a room.

York Tourist Guide & Travel Information

York is a city that is recognised for its rich heritage, city walls and strong links with the Roman Empire who ran their government from here. The face or York changed in 1839 with the introduction of the railway which later became the headquarters for the entire North Eastern Railway, providing thousands of jobs for local residents. In recent years, tourism has become a huge industry due to the city's powerful history. For a historic overview of York visitors can go to the National Railway Museum which illustrates the foundations of rail transport and how its creation has affected society. Spread across 20 acres, the museum showcases a diverse range of railway vehicles from all of Britain as it holds arrays of national collections. It is globally the largest museum of rail transport and is the most popular museum in all of Britain outside of London. There are also many vehicles that have been imported from China, France and Japan including the Wagons-Lits sleeping car and Night Ferry service. Another great museum that is definitely worth a visit if you are interested in York's Roman history is Jorvik Viking Centre. Here you will come across recreations of streets from the Viking era and a variety of exhibitions that have brought in 15 million visitors over the past 25 years. All artefacts and displays are from archaeological findings where remains of 10th century Viking buildings were found. Amazingly, items such as wood and leather had been well preserved resulting in the discovery of thousands of objects. For shopping, you can visit Coppergate Shopping Centre located in the heart of the city. The shopping centre houses many popular trendy retail stores including Boots, Clarks Shoes, Evans, Fenwick, The Body Shop, Topman, Topshop, Miss Selfridge and many more exciting high street brands. There are cafes and restaurants such as Starbucks and Russell's Restaurant that caters traditional British food. The Jorvik Viking Centre is also situated in Coppergate Shopping Centre which makes for a fantastic day out in York. If you are looking for designer labels at an affordable then York Designer Outlet is the place to be. It is based towards the city centre and offers a variety of over 120 retail stores such as Jeff Banks, Karen Millen, Fred Perry, French Connection, Hugo Boss, Burberry, Calvin Klein and Ted Baker to name a few. The outlet is open every day of the week although and is open from 10am although closing times differ according to what day it is. Family facilities are also available, with plays areas designed for small children and a selection of restaurants so you can make the most of your day out. There are various venues for entertainment, one of them being the York Theatre Royal. Built in 1744, the theatre has developed throughout the years, particularly in the 1960's where it underwent severe refurbishment. Many new features were built to modernise the building such new entrance facilities, foyer and a glass reception area that has received many awards for its unique structure. The auditorium was also enlarged, currently seating more than 800 people and improved sound systems were introduced.



Naz Daud - CityLocal YorkYork GuideYork Business DirectoryYork BusinessesBusiness Reviews

Get on the Broadband-Wagon

'Broadband' is the general term used to refer to high-speed information transmission over networks, and nowadays is used increasingly to mean a fast Internet connection.The term has more to do with the electrical waveform ('signal') being transmitted. The signal can come to you through a variety of physical arrangements: a DSL line, a T1 line, a TV cable, a wireless link and even your utility power line.Which physical arrangement is best for you depends a great deal on what is available in your geographical area and the price of each arrangement. You should do a comparison of speeds and costs and choose what is optimal for you. Just be sure you do not choose an ISDN line (because it is getting obsolete) or power line (because the technology is not mature, and it will be some years before the bugs are ironed out).Live in a large city and want free wireless broadband Internet? Your wish is or will be granted! Almighty Google is busy fixing antennae to lampposts in major cities so that your computer can access the Internet much in the same way your mobile phone accesses your cellular network: almost anywhere in any city. Not only will you get driving directions to that restaurant you are going to, the maitre d' will appear on a small screen and take your order as you drive.~ Broadband's Bag of Goodies ~Broadband has brought a slew of valuable capabilities to the Internet:1. Good VideoFirst of all, you can download smooth, non-jerky video. Consequently an increasing number of sites are including rich graphics, Flash and video to enhance the appeal of their messages. You can now download feature films from over 200,000 Web TV stations and watch them as they stream into your computer ("stream them"). No more trips to the video library and no more renting DVDs!You can share your screen and talk with co-workers located at far-flung locations (or just relax and play Xbox or PS2 games with them). You can interact with them from the convenience of your home computer, and the need for a physical office can be dispensed with. This implies less travel in your car, less gasoline consumption and less pollution of the atmosphere by engine exhaust gases.You can search online video archives with specialized search engines. This means you can download video that matches your chosen phrases. Examples would be "Nick Lachey singing 'My Everything' to Jessica Simpson", "Oprah visiting Katrina victims" or "how to toss a thin pizza shell". There is no longer a need to wait for your subject to be broadcast.2. Cheap Long DistanceBroadband has enabled miracle of low-cost long-distance Internet telephony. This application is based on the renowned technology, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). You can now speak to your loved ones or business associates in most other parts of the world for 2 cents a minute!No more waiting for late nights or weekends to get those "free minutes" you can afford to call anytime. Additionally, the sound clarity is several times better than that of a conventional phone call voices are loud and clear with little or no background noise.This means you can stay in touch more often. You can get news faster and offer advice without delay. For instance, a timely observation about a certain medical treatment could very well save the life of the person at the other end!3. Always OnWith Broadband, you are always connected to the Internet. No more dialing up and waiting to connect. The dialing time is freed up for you to use for other things.In most cases, you get a telephone connection with the broadband connection, so you can simultaneously speak on the phone and surf the Internet. Your phone line will not be busy when you surf so that people can reach you even if you are online.One important user of this constant connectivity is security. You can have inexpensive webcams mounted in various locations of your home or office and connect them to the Internet. Since your broadband connection is always 'live', you can monitor your house from anywhere, anytime. No more worrying when away from your desk or living room!~ Conclusion ~The day is not far when dial-up connections will be a rarity. If you have not yet upgraded to broadband, start working at doing so NOW. You will definitely not regret it.John J Stockwell is an engineer with considerable experience in Internet technologies. Get even more information n broadband from his website at http://broadband-aa.info

Leisure Bicycle Tours Are The Way To Travel

Many companies offer leisure cycling tours to locations around the world. This article summarizes how you should prepare for your trip.There are many ways to enjoy travel in a foreign country. Most people think of renting cars, or taking buses or trains everywhere. But because people are following a different routine and are on vacation - they do tend to pack on the pounds. The way to ensure that you will not need to go on a diet after you return from your vacation is to go on a cycling tour. You'll be able to sample the local cuisine all you like, because you'll work off all those calories on your bike!Cycling tours are offered for every level of bicyclist - from the beginner who might need a "pick up ride" after a while, to the experienced cyclist who can zoom up the hills as if they were weren't there.Most European countries are extremely bike friendly. Bikes are expected to be on the roads, drivers are familiar with them and give them a wide berth. So it's very safe to bike in Europe. A lot of places in the United States seem to resent the very existence of bicycles, which is why it's always best to go on a cycling tour with like-minded people. You'll be biking through areas that are used to seeing cyclists.Leisure cycling tours are designed for all different kinds of terrain - from flat and peaceful rides through the beauties of nature to the fitness challenging of the steepest of mountains.If you'd like to go on a leisure cycling tour, the place to do your research is on the web.When you're looking for a particular tour, you'll want to compare all the available amenities for each tour.1) Accommodations. Are you going to be staying in hotels, or in campgrounds?2) Are meals included? If so, which ones?3) Will there be free refreshment stops each day?4) If the tour passes by anything of historical interest, are riders given an opportunity to go look at any sites of interest?5) Baggage transport. Who handles the luggage?6) Is their a sag wagon? (This is a car or other vehicle which will come and "rescue" a tired rider or one who has had an accident of any kind.)7) Do riders receive daily maps and cue sheets that are easy to read and follow?8) In the evenings, is there someone around to clean your bikes, or is it up to each cyclist?Depending on the state or country through which you're riding, most of these amenities are offered, unless you're on a budget tour. If you're going budget, it's best to be a very experienced cyclist and already know what you're doing.Bicycling is a very popular way to see Europe. There are self-guided bike tours as well as the tours offered by companies. It's important to check out what kind of bikes they offer to ride, however. You'll want the best quality available.Types of ToursWomanTours is a company that focuses solely on offering bike tours for women. Most of the tours offered by this company take place in the United States, but at least once a year they do offer a tour overseas. You can go on an economy cycle tours of Hawaii, cycle through the Outer Banks of North Carolina, experience the majesty of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, and much more. Their website even has a tour blog so you can see the fun that past cyclists have had on their tours.Some of the major bicycle manufactures have a travel and adventure arm for their customers. For example, Trek Bikes has "Trek Travel." They offer six trip types: classic, explorer, family, family explorer, specialty and weekend tours, in destinations such as Asia-Pacific, Central America, Europe, and North America.The "classic" tours are designed for riders of all abilities. The "explorer" trips put less of an emphasis on luxury - you'll be camping out in national parks, for example. Family trips are designed to have activities available for people of all ages. And Trek's specialty trips include being escorted by professional cyclists - for example "Classic Climbs of France with Kevin Livingston," or "Texas with Lance Armstrong."If you're planning on taking a leisure-cycling tour, you must do your research. Find out how long the tour company has been in business, and try to contact some people who've been on those tours so you can find out if anyone had any bad experiences. It's always a good idea to contact the Better Business Bureau to see if anyone has lodged any complaints against themA leisure-cycling tour is one of the best ways to see a particular region. The more you know and the more preparations you make, the more fun you'll have on your trip.

European Car Rental - Top Ten Tips for Europe Travel - Tip #2: The Price is Right

When it comes to shopping for something on-line, we tend to become naturally more focused on a singular aspect of the product or service we desire. There is so much information to be absorbed while browsing sites that it is nearly impossible to factor everything in. This is very true of the travel industry, which happens to be the second largest on-line market (I'm sure you can guess what the first is) and the one thing most customers tend to zero in on is that magical of all numbers: price.This is of course to be expected. We can, after all, only afford what is in our budget. However, the first order of business should always be to understand the requirements of our vacation, in this case, the car rental. Before you look at prices, you should have a solid idea of how many people you need to accommodate, the amount of days you are staying, whether or not you can drive a manual shift, and the locations you are picking up and dropping off at. Provided you have those things locked down, you can safely move on to comparison shopping.While it is true that 91% of travelers at least research if not purchase their trips on-line (source: Nielsen NetRatings - EyeforTravel independent study), it is always best to have some human contact before you make that important decision. In fact, if it is difficult to elicit at least a personalized e-mail response within 24 hours of contacting a travel company, you can almost guarantee that their customer service will put you on the back burner should you have a problem. Before you settle on a price, make sure that any future dealings with the company you choose will be satisfactory, or you will end up paying much more than that number on the screen.The time honored tradition these days is "added extras", also sometimes known as local taxes, hidden fees, or much more malicious wordings, depending on who you talk to. Some companies only quote you a "base rate". Some companies will tell you their price is "all-inclusive". Sometimes this is true, other times it is anything but. As long as the company is honest in conveying this information, it should not be a deterrent, as sometimes it is not within their control. Make sure you always read any terms and conditions and if you are still uneasy, call or e-mail the company and ask if there are any other charges to be expected upon arrival. Note that I say "charges" and not "fees" or "costs". The basis of this being that in most cases a security deposit will be held for gas and key as well as a deductible for insurance purposes. The things that should either be included or not are:Value Added Tax: Like sales tax in the States, all the countries in Europe have a different tax structure. This can be as low as 7.6% (Switzerland) to 25% or more (Scandinavia) and is generally not refundable as it is on goods, since car rental is deemed a service.Insurance: While there are new types of insurance being imagined up by rental companies everyday, the main ones are usually Collision and Theft (these two are sometimes covered by credit cards - more on that in later articles), liability, personal accident insurance (like medical insurance) and personal effects coverage (covers your belongings inside the vehicle).Mileage: Only luxury vehicles and SUV's should come with limited mileage. Beware any company who does not have unlimited mileage on normal sedan and wagon vehicles, even vans.Local Taxes: These typically include premium location surcharges (airports and railstations especially), road taxes, additional drivers, eco surcharges and more. Like insurances, these are called something different every day.After inclusions are tallied up, request a free quote in writing. If you can't get a free quote in writing, chances are the company will end up billing you for something you do not know about. If the company has a website where the quotes are stored, print it out off of your browser. Make sure it has a tracking number so you can pull it up when needed. Also make sure you know the difference between a tracking number and a confirmation number. One holds a rate quote, one holds an actual vehicle.In general, you can get the lowest price from a consolidator, who deals with multiple suppliers. They have contracted wholesale rates and typically hold more weight when confirming special requests such as hotel deliveries, additional equipment and after hours pick ups. It helps if they have a "best rate" policy. The better companies will offer to beat any rate you can find provided it has the same parameters and inclusions. Always ask if they have discounts for memberships like AAA, AARP, etc. Ask friends who have used the company if they know of any discount codes. You never know what will bring down the price in the long run.To sum this up, always remember that price should not be the first thing you look at. Make sure the company is reputable, is easy to reach via telephone and e-mail, has the criteria you require available, and then worry about the price. It may sound like a lot of work but in the end you will be happy that made the right choice.Murdoch Morris does happen to work for one of these car rental consolidators, which has given him 3+ years of thorough insight into the ups and downs of keeping your dream itinerary from becoming a nightmare. Feel free to contact him with any questions you may have specific to your next trip to Europe.http://www.autoeurope.com

How To Select A Good Car Hire For Travel Around New Zealand

Touring around naturally beautiful New Zealand by car is an exciting experience. You can hire your car from Auckland when you are in North Island. When you are in South Island, Christchurch is the place to hire your car rental. Travelling around New Zealand by car needs a few important things to be borne in mind before you plan one. We have highlighted a few important points pertaining to New Zealand car hire.Is your car hire reliable?Make sure your car hire is reliable by checking to see if the car rental company includes 24 hour AA (Automobile Association) roadside assistance. AA is a not-for-profit organisation which takes care of vehicle breakdowns giving you complete peace of mind when you travel around New Zealand. Does your car rental meet your needs?Ensure that the car rental you intend to book meets your needs. When you contact the supplier, be specific about the model of the car you are looking for and your budget. Your supplier will have a wide range of cars to hire at different budgets, luxury levels and number of travellers the car is suited for. Are you under the age of 21?If you are below 21 years of age, it is VITAL to ensure that the car rental company you are using will permit you to drive the car. Most car hire companies in New Zealand prescribe 21 years as the minimum age to hire a car. So, ensure that your car rental company allows you to rent a car and check if there are any associated surcharges.What is included in the car rate that you pay per day?You must carefully check what is included with the daily rate you pay for your car rental. Make sure you contact your car hire company to find out the inclusions and the exclusions in the daily rate. Do you need special requirements like baby seat etc?If you are travelling with your baby, ensure that a baby seat can be fitted in the car that you are hiring. In addition, most car rental companies hire out baby seats.Do you know the size of the car you need?Be very careful in choosing the size of the car you are looking to rent. Be very specific on what type of car you are looking to hire. Do you need a ferry service to transport your car?If your tour of New Zealand covers both the North Island and South Island, you must make sure of your car hire company's policy on the ferry crossing between the islands. Some car rental companies have depots on either island (Wellington on North Island and Picton on South Island). Some companies do not and this means you have to take your car on the ferry. From travel experience, it is easier to take your vehicle on the ferry to the other side instead of giving up your vehicle on one side, travel to the other side, transfer your luggage to the new vehicle and do up new contracts. At Ezy, we ensure that you, our valued customer, comes first and gets the best out of our car hire service to have the most memorable trip around New zealand. The highlights of our car rental service are:Ezy is a registered member of AA. In addition, Ezy offers a 24 hour replacement vehicle policy. If the vehicle cannot be repaired within 24 hours, Ezy will deliver a new vehicle within 24 hours.Ezy are a prominent 2nd tier company in New Zealand car rental industry and their great rates reflect this. They also offer a range of car hire ranging from cheap car rentals to luxury cars and 1st tier cars to suit special needs of clients.Ezy Rentals hires cars to 18 years+. In this case, the hire rates remain unchanged. It is the insurance excess that is slightly higher.Ezy car hire rates are inclusive of standard insurance, Goods and Sevices tax or GST and free 24 hour roadside assistance from AA.Ezy rentals offer a wide range of vehicles with baby bolts fitted so that baby seats can be attached securely and safely. Ezy also hires out 3 different sized baby seats and boosters to ensure that your child fits into it perfectly.Ezy Rentals has a wide variety of cars on offer from small hatchbacks to large sedans, station wagons and people moversEzy Rentals does not have offices on either side. Hence it is best to take the car on the ferry. This makes it easy for the client. Ezy offers discounted ferry rates for its clients.Ezy Rentals is a market leader in the 2nd tier segment of the New Zealand car hire industry with branches in Auckland and Christchurch. We have earned our reputation as a clean and honest car hire company in the New Zealand tourism industry. We are sure that you will not be disappointed with our high level of service and our car hire prices.Courtesy: Tim AlpeCEOEzy Rentalshttp://www.ezy.co.nzEmail: tim@ezy.co.nzWe make your New Zealand trip by car EZY

European Car Rental - Top Ten Tips For Europe Travel - Tip #1: Car Size and Type

More often than not, a person will base his or her entire decision on the price. This is especially true when one is on-line creating their own itinerary without the help of a travel agent or trained professional, something that within 5 years from now will be standard practice. While price is undoubtedly one of the most important things to consider when making a reservation, it is not the first priority. The first priority should be to determine what kind of car you will need, based on a few different factors.To begin, you must know how many people will be accompanying you on this trip. Remember that the European equivalent of a rental category will be smaller than its US counterpart, so make sure that you take notice of the model that they are quoting you for, along with the supposed size. Once you know what the model is, look it up on the internet and make sure that it will work for you. Some companies will quote you for what they bill as an intermediate car when it is in reality a compact size. Usually for 1 or 2 people, an economy will suffice, provided you have one suitcase apiece. In the event that you have more luggage than this, you may opt to put it in the back seat or upgrade to a larger vehicle. Keep in mind that if you are planning on stopping at any places where your luggage will be visible from outside the car, it is best not to keep it in the back seat.For 3 people, a compact should be suitable. Sometimes, if you do not mind being a bit cramped on shorter trips, this will also accommodate 4 people. You may have to put some luggage in between the people in the back though. A car this size should be roughly the equivalent of a Ford Focus or Toyota Corolla here stateside. If you can afford it, I would definitely recommend an intermediate 4-door vehicle for 4 people.For anything above 4 people, it is best to get a van, or more than one car. Once again, if you don't mind being cramped, then get an intermediate wagon. This will allow you to seat 5 people and have room for the luggage. However, luggage for 5 may not fit under the pull-shade most wagons are designed with to eliminate luggage visibility, therefore increasing your chances of a break-in if you leave the vehicle unattended. Vans are typically much more expensive and use a lot more gasoline, which is a commodity in and of itself in Europe (current average of about $4.00 USD per gallon, less for diesel) and sometimes even more expensive than two compact vehicles.There's nothing less embarassing than trying to squeeze too many bodies and suitcases into a car that's not designed to take them. That is, unless you get a stickshift vehicle and don't know how to drive one. Americans (myself included) have generally been spoiled with unlimited access to automatic transmission. Most of the rental cars in the States are automatic as well. The opposite is true in Europe. While most major locations do stock automatic vehicles, you will not get a very good selection to choose from and those that are there will cost anywhere from fifty to one hundred percent more than the manual version. On top of that, you will lose 5 to 10 miles per gallon in gas efficiency. However, if you are uncomfortable with a stick, it costs a lot less in the long run than taking a chance in getting in an accident, which costs you time, money and overall enjoyment of the experience. This is especially true in countries like England, Ireland and Cyprus, where the cars (and drivers) are on the opposite side.In conclusion, remember that in most cases you are planning for a vacation. Sometimes in order to enjoy it, you have to be willing to spend a little bit more. Keep an eye out for my next installment, when we discuss the best way to get the car you really need for the price you really want.Murdoch Morris has worked in the European Car Rental industry for 5+ years, helping drivers to find the best way to get the most out of their itinerary for the least amount of money. Feel free to contact him with any questions you may have specific to your next trip to Europe.http://www.autoeurope.com

Top Five Places Not to Miss When You Travel to Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri - not to be confused with the other Kansas City, Kansas - is a vibrant and historically rich city that does indeed have many amazing places to see and things to do if you are visiting. Located roughly 250 miles west of St. Louis, set right on the border of Kansas, this city is one of the only cities in the United States that is actually positioned on two state borders, the Kansas side and the Missouri side. It is important to note that the Missouri side is where all of the fun and excitement occurs, from the revitalized downtown area, the many museums and the historical districts, not forgetting the rich history of this great city. On the Kansas side, the city consists mostly of suburbs and is actually lacking in any areas of real interest.During the early 1800s, this city was a true staple to the wagon trains and settler routes that defined America. The city financially suffered during the Civil War but was later revived during the railroad tycoon revolution that saw thousands of stockyards populate the state. Today, the city boasts a mixture of cultures and ethnicities that have spawned a vibrant and exciting, newly revitalized downtown area complete with an astute mixture of arts, sciences, shopping districts and professional sports teams that have certainly earned Kansas City its own right as a destination, mid-western city on the US map. If you plan on traveling here, make sure to checkmark some of these must-see locations.Kansas City Zoo: One of the largest and most complete zoos in the entire US, this zoo boasts an amazing two hundred plus acres of land that it sits on. It is so large, in fact, that they even have trams that take visitors from one end of the zoo to another, as it could easily take half an hour to walk to both ends on foot. The zoo offers animals from around the world and is so popular that the park sees nearly three quarters of a million visitors annually. Don't forget to hop on a guided train tour of the zoo, to truly enjoy all the exhibits that it has to offer.Westport: An absolute must-see when you travel to Kansas City, MO. Perhaps the oldest historical district in the entire city, and in the state for that matter, some of the red brick buildings in this district are so old that they used to serve as supply outposts for settlers and pioneers. Aside from the history and the many preserved buildings, this district is adorned with a plethora of unique eateries, art galleries, nightclubs, boutique stores and cafes.18th & Vine District: This is the number one place that you HAVE TO SEE if you find yourself in this great city. Fondly referred to by musicians around the world as, 'The Birthplace of Jazz,' this location was the stomping grounds of some of jazz's greats including: Charlie Yardbird Park, Count Basie, Joe Turner and Ella Fitzgerald, just to name a few. Places not to be missed include: American Jazz Museum, Horace M. Peterson III Visitors Center and Gem Theater. On an additional note, this is the top tourist destination in the city, so don't forget to mark this on your must-see list.Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: Experience some of the most famous art pieces in the world firsthand. Just to let you know about a few of the artist's works that you can see here, they include works by the following masters: Homer, Caravaggio, Monet, Titian, Rodin, Renoi, and many more. The museum offers several sections, including a real Egyptian tomb, a Chinese area and even a sculpture garden. An absolute Must-See!Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art: There are many different facets to this great museum of contemporary arts. From above, the building has been designed to look like a bird with spread wings flying. Inside, onlookers can enjoy some of the most prominent contemporary artworks in the world. From Herb Ritts, to Robert Juarez, if you travel to Kansas City, MO, make certain you set aside a few hours to peruse this great museum.

To learn more about amazing Kansas City, MO vacation spots, including our full top ten list of spots to visit, great links and tons of free information, please visit: http://www.KansasCityVacationTravelsGuide.com

The Buzz of Air Travel - From Departure Lounges to Airport Transfers

If you let them, airports can give you an electric feeling that few other major buildings can. The airport is constantly on the move, serving a conveyor belt of holidaymakers, business people and those simply moving from A to B. Airport transfers mark the beginning of your flirtation with air travel, delivering you to the busy entrance, garnished with taxis, space wagons and cars - each spilling forth families, suited men and excited weekend breakers.The structure of airport terminals may not change significantly, but the lifeblood is moving all the time. The airport is the skin and bones, and the passengers are the pumping blood - ceaselessly arriving, waiting, buying, eating, drinking. Airport transfers, luggage porters, baggage handlers, security details - all these contribute to the buzz of the airport.A school or a hospital or a hotel - they have a liveliness about them, but nothing like that of an airport. Transfers between different terminals, each serving different continents - heading to Rio or LA or Toronto, to London, Glasgow or Edinburgh. All take the form of mini trains or people carrying conveyor belts - internal airport transfers have never been so slick.Coffee fuelled, twitchy businessmen clutching bottles of perfume for their neglected wives, heavily laden Canadian backpackers eating the previous night's leftovers, nouveau riche pensioners treating themselves to the Spanish south - the whole patchwork of the human travelling quilt is sewn into the constantly shifting fabric of the airport. Transfers hurry along wide corridors of Singapore terminal 1, on their way to Bangkok to the north, or Jakarta to the south. Late arrivals in Amsterdam hurtle towards the soon-to-close flight to New York. The thrill of people going to places continues 24 hour a day.Never resting, the airport is impossible to pin down. Its temporary residents finally settling in to their aluminium tubes, handed their glossy in-flight magazines before failing to heed the safety demonstration for the Nth time. Sated by shopping and expensive airport food, they sit waiting for take off, surging up into the blue or the grey or the black - waiting for the experience at the other end.The red wine from flight 209 and black coffee from flight 803, the compact lasagne from Milan 222, the mini spring rolls from the Shanghai 406. The rich experience of air travel will take many hours to leave the traveller's system - and many more to adjust to the time difference. Jet lag is the come down from this heady world of plastic mini cutlery and little yoghurt pots - endless red wine refills and tiny bottles of whisky.And what at the other end? More airport transfers to other destinations - or perhaps simply airport transfers to familiar homes and familiar beds. But first the process of exiting - held up by passport checks and luggage which fails to appear on the conveyor belt. But, bag or suitcase retrieved, its time to exchange final Euros or Dollars or Pounds, time to find your way through the throng to the exit, out into the cold chill of the stationary taxi rank. At last the earth is still - until the next time.

Shaun Parker is a travel writer with many years of experience in the tourist industry. Find out more about airport transfers at http://www.vennards.com/

Travel Around in Los Angeles - City's Public Transportation Info

So you are in The Hollywood City- Los Angeles, the jewel in the crown of California. It is one of the four top cities in USA, the other three being New York, Chicago and Las Vegas. You may have been brought here for shopping, romance or just plain travel Los Angeles mindset. Anyhow, the purpose is served and you are in Los Angeles.Places to visitLos Angeles travel guide is quite a possession if you want to see places in the city. There are so many places to venture out that you will be floored. Hollywood Walk of Fame is the place for must-visit. Here you get to see many celebrities making rounds in their swanky cars if you are lucky. County Museum is also one of the favorite spots.You get to see the Universal Studios and check the rides. Elysian Park is another place where you can rest at ease and let time pass by. There are other areas which you may try out to capture the full essence of Los Angeles travel.There are a great many hotels in which to drop baggage. You get a choice of riches from luxury, exclusive, comfort and budget chain and boutique hotels. Even if you do not stay there and have a farmhouse, or better, a home to live in, you can always gape at the beautiful buildings that act as hotels.How to get to places?Transportation is always an important arm of a city. And when the city is ever buzzing with tourists, you will feel the crowd of cars and wagons overhauling the crowd of people. Strange but true!Thankfully, Los Angeles has fully furnished transportation infrastructure. This is one more reason to make Los Angeles travel much respected.ShuttlesIf you have a morning flight to catch or a day one, worry not if you can call shuttle. The rates may be high but there is a system with which the on-demand shuttles work. They will exactly point out what time a particular place will take; say, airport, railway station or Hollywood. They are known to be correct most of the time. This service is very professional.Metro railMetro rail is the bloodstream of the city from 1990 onwards. The environment friendly nature is a big boost for times ridden by global warming fears. The service is varied and you get to cover almost whole of Los Angeles if you plan well. What is Los Angeles travel without a careful spread of Metro rail?Metro basically runs in six color lines; blue, green, red, orange, purple and gold. Orange is the best service and has connection with rapid bus transit. It takes you to the Hollywood terminus.Blue line takes you to the carnival beach Long Beach. The other lines also take you to important and tertiary parts of the busy city. Whichever city the Metro rail is available, it becomes the center of moving activity.Metro busesFor Los Angeles CA travel, Metro buses are the next in line and are quite efficient. Plus, you do not have to get down boarding a train. That is a minus point for metro rails as the handicapped ad senior people find it hard to use Metro rail as a means of transportation.Metro Local is the artery of Los Angeles travel. You get to stop anywhere you like to, or within half a kilometer of its radius this is because there are countless stops and that causes the fare to be quite affordable. It runs a non-exhaustive network.Metro Rapid stops only in five or six places throughout its traversing distance. It runs on select routes and is generally not stopped by the signals. Actually transponders help the police know that a Metro rapid is arriving and so the signal is released at the earliest.Metro Express is only meant for expressways, freeways and highways. It stops only when someone feels nature calls, or when it passes tolls.Los Angeles travel guide gives you the proper knowledge of when these buses are available. The second and third buses have raised fares.Dash networkThey say your Los Angeles travel is incomplete if you have not been on a Dash. Los Angeles Downtown is quite a picture and pretty huge. To cover it, six quick bus routes operate, jointly known as Dash. Mainly, office goers take advantage of the bus. It is also available for some external routes.So Los Angeles travel is helped by a coterie of well-mannered transportation. You will not be short of options. Even if you are short on cash, do not worry. You get cheap transports too. Yes, the speed gets a tad slow on these cheap transports.

William M. Palmer is a professional web developer who deeply understands the travel market after years of studying and working in various cities including Orlando, Phoenix, Boston and Chicago. From budget travel to Los Angeles Ca travel guide, William M. Palmer's travel-related articles put the essence of travel right at your fingertips. Find out more travel Los Angeles information and ready to enhance your next journey.

Raw Food Diet on the Road - How to Stay Raw and Healthy While Traveling

Whether you are traveling for work or leisure-planning and preparation is key!You've discovered that the raw food diet and lifestyle definitely allows you to feel your best. Now you need to maintain that level of energy as best you can while enjoying life in another city. It can be easy to fall into bad eating habits while traveling, so you need to make your raw lifestyle and personal health a priority when you're away from the comforts of your home kitchen. I've found that bringing along dried, portable foods and supplements, as well as some fresh foods can be the difference between staying raw and completely falling off the wagon and experiencing a wave of regret. Planning ahead, some internet research before you leave, and getting to know the local natural food stores will help you enjoy the healthiest trip of your life.These are all things I do and doing all of them allows me to never be apprehensive towards travel. I would hate for my diet to hold me back from traveling. I don't think it would be worth it if it did! A couple days before you leave, start thinking about what raw snacks, superfoods, and supplements you'd really love to have with you. I portion my superfood snacks into small plastic baggies, and keep them in a larger zipped bag (for example: handful of almonds, goji berries, pumpkin seeds, dried figs, etc). I usually bring at least one raw food snack bar for each day I'll be on vacation. Other handy (and super-nutritious) travel snacks could be sea vegetables (such as whole leaf dulse), bee pollen, and an old vitamin jar full of superfood powders (green powder, maca, a little stevia for sweetness). I always bring a glass jar with a screw top lid to shake up the green powders in water. I never go anywhere without my Celtic sea salt shaker bottle either. All this, believe it or not, will fit in a large plastic zipper bag.If you take multivitamins and other supplements, bring those too! Most of us will need this kind of nutritional support the most while traveling because we may not have access to all the foods we're used to. I love reusing the tin cases mints come in for toting around vitamins, enzymes, and other supplements. They're the perfect size!A couple more things you may want to pack: a thin plastic cutting board, silverware (including a butterknife or something similar-packed in your checked in luggage, please), and some herbal laxatives--a change in diet plus travel makes for constipation-you'll thank me!You're almost set! If you're staying in a hotel, be sure to ask if there will be a refrigerator in your room. There is usually no charge for one, especially if you say you have a special diet. If you're staying at a friend's place, let them know about your diet and ask them if they don't mind you having a special area in their fridge for your foods. If you're going to be in a car for a while, maybe think about bringing a small cooler. The bottom line is, you'll want to keep your salad greens, vegetables, and fruit cool so they don't go bad.Also, before you leave, be sure to spend some time online checking out all the raw vegan, vegan, vegetarian, and/or organic restaurants near you. Write down the addresses and phone numbers before you leave. Find out where the nearest natural food store is and see if there are any farmers markets in town. These should be some of the first stops you make when you reach your destination. Natural food stores will be essential in supplying your greens, organics, and other fun snacks you'd like. Many times you can find a raw food section with prepared gourmet raw entrees as well!Here are some great websites that will help you:rawfoodrestaurantguide.com/blog/ (Enter your email on the website and the guide link will be emailed to you. )sunfoodtraveler.com.HappyCow.net (lists all vegetarian, vegan, and raw food restaurants)/li>The key is to not feel nutritionally deprived at any point during your trip. The people you will be traveling with may have to make an extra stop just for you, but as long as you have what you need, you can hang out with them from that point on.Some people have asked me if I travel with my Vita-mix blender or Magic Bullet mini-blender. I don't. But I usually don't travel for more than one week at a time. If I was to travel for two weeks or more, I would definitely consider bringing a blender with me because I love green smoothies in the morning. I could also make juice with the Vita-mix using a nut milk bag. But for trips of only a week or less, organic fruit in the morning is perfect.I usually make a salad for the plane flight, or long car ride, too. I do this for several reasons:I usually can't go for more than three hours after my typical fruit-only breakfasts without eating.I usually have plenty of greens, veggies, and ripe avocados in my fridge that will go bad while I'm gone, so why not use them?I like to get one last awesome meal in before switching to more dried foods and possibly non-organic meals.I like saving money on meals and snacks.I need a couple of reusable plastic containers for salads I'll make in my destination city anyway, so why not start using them now?Now you're set! You have most of the non-fresh things on you and you'll be buying your organic fruit, greens, salad veggies, and avocado (great to use for dressing) when you get there. Enjoy your trip, stay raw, and have the best time ever!

Lenette Nakauchi is a raw foodist who is passionate about teaching, coaching and demonstrating to others how to go and stay "raw" in a fun, healthy, sustainable way. Learn more about the raw food lifestyle and about superfoods by visiting her websites http://www.gorawchicago.com and http://www.eatsuperfoods.com.

Euro Travel

If you're going to Europe, and planning on traveling, rather than staying in the one place for the duration of your vacation, and you don't want to spend a fortune, there's two or three alternative ways that you can travel throughout the continent.The first option would be to take what you might call the "traditional" budget alternative, which would generally be backpacking and traveling by train. Nothing wrong with that at all, and by using a pass on the trains (known as a Eurailpass, and available in the USA from http://www.raileurope.com/eurorail/index.htm) you can certainly reduce your spending, whilst journeying widely throughout many countries.There are, however, a couple of down sides to this traditional "budget" planning.First, whilst it can often be exhilarating and exciting to meet and travel with strangers on a train, equally, sometimes, it's nice to have your own space to enjoy the journey, on your own. Secondly, by definition, trains can only take you as far as the railway station, and railway stations are not always placed where you want them to be placed. In other words, if you have definite "target" places that you want to see, then you might end up having to take a train, then a bus or taxi (for who knows what distances) before arriving at your destination. This shouldn't be a problem if the place you so desperately want to visit is in the city, but what if it not?And, of course, trains run to their timetable, not yours!An alterative to trains are planes. Flying within Europe is now extremely cheap, and can be reasonably convenient, especially if you are visiting a country that it widely geared up for tourism. For example, right now, it is possible to fly from the UK to beautiful Salzburg in Austria for GBP19 one way (approximately $35) or to Istanbul in Turkey for GBP31. See http://www.easyjet.com or http://www.ryanair.com for more information on availability of flights and fares.Budget flying, however, carries with it many of the disadvantages of the trains - crammed into small seats next to someone you have never met before, the inevitable delays and so on.So, here's my suggestion. If you are lucky enough to be planning an extended European adventure, (at least one month) then make it a real adventure of which you are in total control. Travel by car. Then, you can go exactly where you want, when you want, you can choose your own company, and, basically, you're the boss. Maybe you are now thinking, nothing so revolutionary in that, car hire is not exactly a new idea, is it? No,. it isn't, but I'm not suggesting that you use Hertz, Avis or any of the other global car rental companies. I'm suggesting that you do what I did some years ago for a three month tour of Europe. BUY a car - a used model, something relatively cheap that you can then resell at a later date, before you fly home. Make sure that it's a fairly basic model, something that is widely available throughout Europe (so that any required spare parts will be cheap and plentiful) and that it's mechanically straightforward - no turbochargers or superchargers - so that if anything does go wrong with it on your travels, repairs will be simple (i.e. inexpensive) as well.In my case, I traveled to Europe, bought an estate car (a station wagon) in France for $750, drove some 10,000kms throughout France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and so on, and sold it for $650 three months later. Apart from a couple of minor repairs (a new battery) and the cost of the gasoline, I lost exactly $100 on the deal.In the meantime, I had gone exactly where I wanted, when I wanted and done exactly what I wanted to when I got there! Truly, the freedom of the open road!Yes, it was travel on a budget, but it was definitely not what I would think of as budget travel! To read more, http://webbiz99.com/eurotravel/index.php

Dog Travel Basics

Travel time is upon us. When we start packing up the items we want to take, we have to be sure to think about the dogs. Our dogs are part of the family and go with us.Just like children, dogs should be safely restrained in a vehicle while traveling. We found a leash that has one end that clicks in to the seatbelt. The other end has the usual clip and fastens to the harness. We prefer a harness to using the collars for riding. If there are any sudden stops, the dogs are safely restrained without risk of damage to their necks.If you travel in an SUV or station wagon, you can get barrier screens to put between the dogs and the passenger seats of the vehicle. These help to keep the canine family member from being thrown forward in the event of an accident.Some of our friends have vans and actually are able to load up the travel kennels like those made by Vari Kennel. Their dogs are used to loading up in the kennels and settle right down for a long ride. They have their own crate beds and other accessories to make traveling quite comfortable.Besides determining how the dogs will ride, we need to pack up supplies for the dogs just as we do for ourselves. We suggest that you prepare for most any event.Be sure you have the water bowl or bottle. If your dog is not too fussy about having his own water bowl, there are wonderful collapsible travel bowls on the market.We recommend that you carry water from home so that your dog does not have to adjust to new water which may cause loose stools. Pack enough water to get you through your trip if possible. Should you run out, bottled water from the stores may be useful and should not cause problems. As with most things in life, water has its own scent to our dogs. They will know the difference, but the bottled water may not upset their digestive systems.How do you want to carry the dog food? We like to put it in buckets with lids so that we may stack them and store other items around them. You need a feeding dish. If you have a dog that will only eat from his own bowl, be sure to pack it. Many dogs are not that fussy, and you may use collapsible travel bowls. They pack easily and do not require a lot of space.Just in case your dog encounters an upset tummy and has loose stool, throw in a can of pumpkin. This helps tighten things back up and seems to be soothing to the digestive track. Our veterinarian also told us that in an emergency, a reduced portion of Immodium AD is acceptable. Be sure to check with your own veterinarian about dosage size if you have this in your pet pack.Remember the leashes. Most travel areas require that we keep our canine companions on leash. I prefer the braided leather leashes that are easier on my hands. These are available from many sources. The leash works well with dogs that are trained and walk easily on leash. Because the leash is leather it seems to improve with use just like a baseball glove.We find that it is a good idea to take along calming remedies to handle the stress of travel. Most times our dogs are fine, but once in a while, a little calming is needed. For these times, there are wonderful herbal supplements and even special aromatherapy for dog products that work. We found one aromatic mist that we used on one trip transporting greyhounds fresh from the tracks to new homes. These dogs did not know us or each other, and the mist was just the thing to relax and aid them in getting along together. Sprayed lightly in the air twice, the dogs sniffed and seemed to calm a bit. About half an hour later, I sprayed once more. The dogs settled in and slept for our four-hour leg of the trip. After using this special, essential-oils based product, I can safely say that I believe in aromatherapy for dogs.We also found that sometimes it gets a little "doggie smelling" in the car when we are in close quarters for a long time. We found another essential-oils based mist that has been great for taking care of this. The fresh lime scent and other essential oils used in the blend soon return the car (or hotel room etc.) to a nice clean scent.Once in a while our dogs get in to something that causes them to be a little less desirable riding companions. We found that travel size bottles of dog shampoo and dog coat conditioner are great additions. The travel sizes are small enough to tuck in the corners, and there is a bit of peace of mind knowing that if you have a minor coat problem, you have the dog supplies to handle it. There are many places to purchase dog shampoos, just be sure to get one that is pleasant for you to use and the dog does not mind.Are you going where it is cold? You may need to pack dog coats or sweaters so that your traveling partners are warm and comfortable. An extra blanket for lying on will also be welcomed by the canine traveler.Going where it is hot? You might consider packing in some of the new towels that are ultra absorbent. If you wet the towels, wring them out slightly, and then drape them over the dogs, they are wonderful cool-down coats. A small spray bottle filled with water is also helpful to cool your dog's underside and paws.It really is not any more difficult to pack for our dogs than it is to pack for ourselves or children. We make lists, check them twice, and load up. We also check them on the return to be sure we are bringing back everything with which we started the trip.Now relax, give your dog and extra hug, and have a wonderful vacation.The author is a dedicated dog lover and active in greyhound rescue through Greyhound Pets of America - Rocky Mountain Chapter. She enjoys traveling with her canine companions and family. Irene may be contacted through http://BigDogSpa.com

Choosing the Right Vagabond Wagon

The Modern Vagabond lifestyle is made up of those born with the tendency to roam and camp rather than living in one location. There is a large segment of vagabonds who tend to travel by foot carrying their life in a back sack and there are some who participate in the RV lifestyle. Many of the foot bound vagabonds will hop in with the vagabonds who live in an RV, the ones who choose to have a motorized wagon type vehicle, and their houses are on wheels. The RV style of vagabonding is more for the collector type, vagabond families or groups, or those who prefer a more comfortable and safe slumber. Also, the RV vagabond always needs to find a source of income or trading to maintain and provide fuel for their wagon.While many vagabonds are pensioners from their time served in the rat race (they are usually 50 years of age or older), other younger vagabonds are choosing RV travel as a way to see parts of the world while earning income using the gadget that the communication technology has to offer. An RV can have the internet, mobile phones and fax, and whatever gadget needed to get a job done. Vagabonds will usually not stop in camping sites for the reasons that, money is not needed, more choice of spots to park, for quiet and privacy, more self-sufficiency and to be nearer a specific location.The vagabond's RV typically has a good bed, a table and bench, and a kitchen. Vagabonds who travel in groups may have larger RVs which have bathrooms with shower, refrigerators, living areas, master bedrooms, and all. Very resourceful vagabonds can even have, satellite TV and Internet access, slide-out sections, and awnings, and either carry a small car inside it or towing it. A nice abode on wheels for any vagabonds can cost from less than $3,000 to $1,500,000 or more. However, most vagabonds, who are usually more mobile than a typical camper type, will have RVs that are more on the compact easier to "pick up and go" style.One type of RV that a vagabond may favor, is the truck camper, a unit that is temporarily let into the bed or chassis of a pickup truck. This style has a few advantages over trailer types of RVs. For instance, there isthe "pick up and go" factor, the traveler's house is always ready to go without a hitch with the turn of a key, and the maneuverability cannot be matched. Where ever the towing vehicle goes, the house goes to, the same can be said about the Class ABC RV. These types are converted buses, vans, trucks into a RV, usually called motor homes. The big disadvantage is that, the vagabond's house is also the vagabond's horse, which is kind of a strange thought. With the truck camper RV style,the vagabond has avehicle which can be utilized for other purposes, and a house that can be temporally left behind if needed.The truck camper RV requires a good pickup truck. Choosing a pickup truck for a camper will depend on the amount in weight the vagabond will need to carry. For the vagabond who chooses to travel alone, a smaller camper can be used with a 1/2 ton pickup truck. If there are more vagabonds using the same camper, then a bigger truck is required, like a 3/4 ton or even a 1 ton truck can be used. The bigger campers can be as long as 12 feet long and will usually accommodate 4 to 6 vagabonds.The craftier vagabond will design and build their own RVs out of cars, vans, buses, or whatever they can find to fit their needs. This is probably the most economical for a vagabond to acquire an RV for traveling, but it requires some mechanical skills and traveling time can be significantly reduced during the building stage of the RV.

See an example of homemade campers here at The Modern Vagabond.

There is a stereotype of vagabonds, gypsies, drifters, campers and nomads alike who live in RVs full-time do so because they are poor and cannot afford a home. Little do they know that a vagabond is a vagabond because if he stayed in one spot to long he might end up becoming a bum?

Carlson Leisure Travel Services Scores Extraordinary ROI and Highest Customer Satisfaction as Re-certification to the COPC-2000 Standard is Completed

Amherst, NY May 3, 2004 -" Carlson Leisure Travel Services is among the top services providers for credit card companies, financial institutions, and fulfillment loyalty programs. Driven by the demand for highest quality customer service, Carlson Leisure Travel Services clearly demonstrated World Class distinction while implementing the re-certification process across multiple contact centers. The re-certification audit was completed in less than one week with Carlson Leisure Travel Services meeting 100% compliance requirements immediately.Carlson Leisure Travel Services continues to make history as the first " and to date, only " travel fulfillment provider worldwide to achieve re-certification, and again, among mid- to large-size companies, achieving re-certification in the shortest time period. The re-certification process clearly demonstrates our continued commitment to Contact Center Excellence, ensuring our clients the highest quality customer service, stated Eric Burdon, Executive Vice President of Minneapolis-based Carlson Leisure Travel Services, which operates customer contact centers in Boise, Idaho and St. Louis, Missouri. Recognizing the critical importance of exceptional and consistent customer experience, the COPC certification process aligns perfectly with the Best-in-Class vision of Carlson Leisure Travel Services. Understanding the operational impact of quantified measures has driven both customer satisfaction and increased revenue. In fact, over 80% of recent, dramatic cost savings have been directly attributed to the COPC-2000 Standard implementation. COPC has been instrumental in our efforts to improve our business " and the results speak for themselves. They have helped us combine the best of the COPC-2000 Standard framework, Six Sigma and COPC Registered Coordinator training, enabling us to successfully grow our revenue, dramatically reduce operating costs, while delivering the highest level of quality and customer service, declared Mark Steinweg, General Manager. These efforts not only help to provide peace-of-mind to our clients and their customers, but it also strengthens our reputation as a great and secure place to work.Since its inception in 1996, Carlson Leisure Travel Services has evolved into the prominent service provider in the field of leisure travel award redemption programs and continues to enhance its valued level of customer service.About COPC Headquartered in Amherst, New York, Customer Operations Performance Center, Inc. (COPC) is the leading authority on customer contact center operations. COPC is authorized to issue certification to the COPC-2000 Standard, a comprehensive operations performance standard that specifies minimum operational requirements in critical functional areas. COPC services clients on a worldwide basis, and has representatives in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the United States.The COPC Standard was developed in 1995 by individuals from Microsoft, Motorola, Dell, American Express, L.L. Bean, Intel, and other customer-focused companies who were concerned with the level of service quality provided by Customer Service Providers (CSPs). Several hundred locations in 30 countries are using the Standard to improve performance, reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction. Users include firms in e-commerce, computer hardware and software, financial services, healthcare, telecommunications and consumer products. For additional information about COPC, visit www.copc.com, email info@copc.com or call us at 512-250-3412.About Carlson Leisure Travel ServicesCarlson Leisure Travel Services, a division of Carlson Travel Group, Inc. (wholly-owned by Carlson Companies), provides corporate clients with employee leisure booking tools, including TripForce.com, in addition to providing financial institutions and credit card reward programs with travel award redemptions. Through its customer contact centers, Carlson Leisure Travel Services currently assists more than 6.5 million active members of client credit card loyalty programs.Carlson Travel Group, Inc, is a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Carlson Companies. Among the names in the Carlson family of brands and services are: Carlson Marketing Group, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Carlson Destination Marketing Services, Regent International Hotels, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Park Inn hotels, Results Travel, Cruise Holidays, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, and T.G.I. Friday's and Pick Up Stix restaurants.

Datalex And Sight & Sound Software Merge To Offer Complete Online Booking Solutions To Travel Industry

Datalex And Sight & Sound Software Merge To Offer Complete Online Booking Solutions To Travel IndustryA New Power Emerges in the Online Air Travel Booking MarketDUBLIN, Ireland & PORTLAND, Ore. " April 3, 2000 " The power of online travel booking systems is poised to grow dramatically with the merger announced today of Sight & Sound Software and Datalex. Sight & Sound Software's product, BookSmart, is a top-performing online travel booking engine and Datalex is a leading global provider of full-service solutions to the airline and travel industry. The combined company will be better positioned to serve new and existing customers, bring innovative solutions to market faster, and deliver the underlying technologies needed to allow the online travel industry to continue to thrive and reach its full potential. The joint forces of these two leading technology providers will dominate the online air travel booking market, which is the largest, and fastest growing online commerce category. The merger reflects demand for increasing sophistication in booking engine technology. Online travel enterprises compete through their offerings of content, user functions, and high levels of personalized customer service. One combined company will now provide the full range of integrated solutions for the online travel enterprise, said Neil Wilson, CEO of Datalex. Customers were telling us, What we'd really like is to use Sight & Sound for this and Datalex for that.' Now all the desired components are available from a single source.Sight & Sound and Datalex have the full range of products to satisfy the needs of the online travel enterprise, said Jeff Kennedy, CEO of Sight & Sound Software, and the open architecture needed to work with other best-of-class solutions to build a complete infrastructure for the enterprise.Sight & Sound's leading-edge distributed computing technology and open architecture allows BookSmart to be deployed, configured and scaled to serve more customers. Customized applications can be written on top of BookSmart to add important features, such as BroadVision's personalization systems. Furthermore, third-party distribution, supported by marketing and technical services, assures continued rapid revenue growth for the merged company. Datalex has 15 years of unmatched domain-knowledge expertise across many areas of travel technology that includes Java-based booking systems, private fares engines, tour and cruise products and connectivity solutions that work with the WORLDSPAN, Galileo, Amadeus, and Sabre reservation systems.This merger will significantly change the competitive landscape of the online travel industry, said Krista Pappas, director of travel at Gomez Advisors, the leading e-commerce authority providing decision support to consumers that want to transact online and information to business that want to attract and retain online consumers. The new organization will address a broad range of requirements - including booking engines, private-fares engines, host access servers, and customer relationship management (CRM) solutions " to satisfy the needs of the entire online enterprise.Company & product plansThe combined companies will be registered as Datalex Ltd. and the headquarters for the company will remain in Dublin, Ireland. The Dublin office will serve customers in Europe and the Middle East and function as the center of excellence for research and development of leisure travel products. Portland, Oregon will become a center of excellence for booking engine research and architectural development. Jeff Kennedy, CEO of Sight and Sound Software will become CEO of Datalex USA, while Neil Wilson will remain CEO of Datalex Global Group Operations. The product road map entails combining the best technology and architectural attributes of both booking engines, BookSmart and BookIt!, and surrounding them with an array of products that support booking tours and private fares, host connectivity, and CRM. We are committed to maintaining compatibility and support for our current customers, while leveraging the best of the technology from BookSmart and BookIt!, said Wilson. We'll be forming a team of strategic planners and architects to plan our next generation of products. In the meantime, the complementary products will coexist.The convergence to one, feature-rich, open system provides a scalable, extensible architecture for the entire online travel enterprise that can be combined with other best-of-class components. Datalex's global presence will deliver this technology worldwide through locations in Europe, North America, Australia, and Africa and through a network of global integration and hosting partnerships, Wilson added. About DatalexDatalex is the leading global provider of full-service, end-to-end Information Technology solutions to the airline and travel industry. Founded in 1985, the company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and maintains offices in Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Manchester, England; and Melbourne, Australia. Datalex employs more than 330 professionals. The company's core competence is in devising solutions for e-Commerce, Enterprise Application Integration and Customer Relationship Management. Each day Datalex products and solutions are used throughout the world by major airlines, travel agencies, and thousands of travel consumers. Datalex was recently announced as a technology partner for the new airline travel site founded by United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and Continental Airlines. Major travel customers include Aer Lingus, Amadeus, Amtrak, British Airways, California State Automobile Association, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, KLM, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Tickets.com, Thai Airways, and WORLDSPAN. For more information please visit the company's Web site at http://www.datalex.com.About Sight & Sound SoftwareFounded in 1994, Sight & Sound Software provides products and services for the online travel market. The company's flagship product, BookSmart, occupies a unique position in the online travel industry. For more information, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.book-smart.com.For more information, contact: Karen WersteinWave Rock Communications503.944.6217kwerstein@wave-rock.comBarry AhernSlattery PR, Dublin+353 1 661 4055 or +353 086 850 8673 David SmithDatalex USA770.582.4000news@datalex.com

Carlson Wagonlit Travel - One of the Top 25 Franchises

In the world of business travel management, few companies can meet the global reach and versatility of Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Carlson has a presence in 157 countries around the world, most of which are partnerships with local owner-operators. Created in 1872, and constantly evolving since then, Carlson has a long and rich history of providing business travel consulting and management for hoteliers and other traveler-based corporations and firms across the globe. Carlson is also one of the most efficient franchises in the industry, priding itself on a waste-averse approach to international travel. Carlson offers hoteliers, industry owners, and travelers alike tried-and-tested services, from transaction processing, to online booking tools, to air and ground coordination, to security of travelers and owners alike. Investment in Carlson is investment in a recognized brand with recognized quality and commitment to safety, security, service, and savings - a combination of performance that no investor can or should pass up. Where Carlson truly stands out from the rest is in its area of standardization and consolidation, where it takes disparate services from all over the world and consolidates them under one travel management company in order to both streamline and optimize a client's operations. In this increasingly-globalized world, Carlson offers a service that is becoming more and more imperative to successful operations.If you have the time to spend away from friends and family while running this business and the funds for startup costs of 3k-11k (with ongoing royalties of $505-$960 a month for 5 years), this may just be the franchise for you. However, if you lack the desire or the financial stamina, there are still ways to own your own business.

Click on the link below to find out how I am doing it.

My name is Drake Palmer and I am a business leader who works with a team of high level entrepreneurs from around the world. I have always been committed to helping others achieve their goals, dreams and aspirations. To learn more about Drake Palmer and his team of Marketing Mentors Click Here