Small Gray Bear

Do you enjoy traveling and taking nice vacations? Most of us do but simply can't afford to buy a second home at a particular travel destination. A good solution is to invest in a timeshare. This is where you and many others buy a property together and each enjoy it at different times of the year. This is a good alternative especially if you travel on a regular basis.
It is important that you shop around before you commit to a timeshare. There are often many great promotional offers out there that you can take advantage of. Sometimes you can even get an offer for a free vacation while you try out the location. It is very important that you do your homework if you want to get the very best price for a timeshare offer.
Think about what it is you and your family are interested in. What type of lifestyle do you lead? Where is the best location for your timeshare to be? What types of activities do you enjoy? All of these questions are very important in determining the very best timeshare offer for you to invest in. You also need to be assured that it is a quality location. Talk to others who already have some ownership in a particular property that you are interested in. Ask them if they are happy with the purchase and why. Ask questions about how the time is arranged and if it works well for them.
When you decide to buy a timeshare you are investing in a location to take an annual vacation. This is a good choice if you travel often. Make sure you take the time to purchase the right timeshare location though so that it is a good investment you can enjoy and be happy with.

If you want to give your husband or boyfriend a gift that he will never forget, there is nothing better than to purchase a golf travel package for him. Ladies, do the right thing and give him access to some of the world`s most amazing golf courses. If you are under the impression that golf travel packages are expensive, you are in most cases wrong, and the man in your life will remember this gift for a long time. If you do not want to break the bank and get the best value for your money, take a look at our tips that we have made for purchasing a golf travel package for the love of your life.
Everything included
The best way in order to get value for your money is to buy a golf travel package at one of the many all-inclusive golf resorts. Places like this offer packages including everything, like food, drinks, equipment and green time. The more exclusive all-inclusive golf resorts may also include rental cars or tickets to shows or attractions in the evening.
You can book a golf travel package directly through one of these resorts, if you wish; but you will typically have to pay for any transportation by yourself separately. Talk to your "brick and mortar" travel agent about buying a golf travel package. When you do this, be sure that they understand that you want it to include a stay at one of these all-inclusive resorts.
You may also want your "brick and mortar" travel agent to arrange for your golf travel package to include everything like; a stay at a all-inclusive resort, flights, rental car, visa, passport and other things. One important thing, that must not be forgotten, is to make them arrange for transportation to and from the destination airport. It may be a rental car or a pick-up service. In order to organize this golf vacation, be sure that you have enough time, some things may take a long time to do, like visa and passport if you are going out of your own country.
If your husband or boyfriend isn't an experience golfer, it can be a superb idea to send him to a golf school. Then he would get a vacation and a chance to learn golf properly. Many all-inclusive golf resorts have a golf school, or at least a basic golf course, included in their packages. If you are interested in this you should ask the all-inclusie golf resort about this. Your travel agency may also be able to help you with finding a golf school for the man in your life.
It is not a good idea to send the man in your life on a golf vacation alone. First you should ask some of his friends if they can join him, this would be a great surprise, men like to be with other men when they play golf. If this is not possible you can join him on this golf vacation, it could possibly be a very romantic vacation. Imagine yourself together with your husband playing golf at a romantic golf resort.
Happy golfing and enjoy the trip.

When you are traveling, there are many things to think about and do before you leave for your destination. You have to pre-plan a lot of services and book flights, hotel rooms, rental cars and more before you even leave your home. There is a lot to do and a lot to think about, but it is always better to do these things before you leave so that you can fully enjoy your vacation. No one wants to arrive at their vacation destination only to find out that there are no rental cars available!
In the last few years car rental agencies have tightened up their rules and regulations quite a bit. A few years ago anyone could rent a car as long as they had their drivers' license and were over the age of eighteen. Today however, a lot of rental companies have put some stipulations on the class of the renter's license and also on the age of the renter.
A lot of car rental companies now have the rule that a driver has to be at least twenty five years of age and carry a full license to be able to rent one of their vehicles. This limits their business a little bit, but they feel that there will be less accidents involving their rental cars this way. At some agencies this rule is bent a bit; for example, the renter can be under twenty five, but they still have to have their full license, or they have to be over the age of twenty five but don't have to have their full license.
Many rental agencies that do not have these rules will actually charge more for drivers that are younger than twenty five or drivers that do not yet possess their full license. This extra charge can be anywhere from an extra twenty dollars to an extra one hundred dollars! Basically, a lot car rental companies are being more careful with younger drivers. Sometimes they will also request that the renter supply a credit card before they can rent a car.
Most people expect that there could be an age limit on younger drivers who are looking to rent a car for a few days, but not many people realize that rental agencies are also putting age limits on senior citizens. Many times senior citizens tend to slip under the radar with these types of regulations, but some rental companies are now including them in their age standards. They tend to actually be stricter with older drivers than with younger drivers! At some rental places, if you are over their set age limit, you can forget about renting a car from them. At other places, if you are over a certain age you will have to pay an extra charge to acquire rental services from them.
There are still many car rental agencies that do not yet have these rules and regulations set up, and anyone can rent a car from them with no worries of extra charges and fees.

There is no doubt that Disneyland possesses an endless amount of fun and attractions, but as with many theme parks, the frustration of long lines for the rides and attractions can spoil your vacation.

Countless hours can be spent queuing for popular attractions, but there are a number of ways that they can be avoided as much as possible.

Try to get to the park as early as possible. The lines are shorter in the morning when the park first opens, and understandably it becomes busier towards midday and the afternoon. It's a good idea to plan out which rides and attractions you would most like to see, so that you can get to these rides whilst the lines are relatively short. It makes no sense to jump in line for the first ride that you see because they will more than likely have shorter queues than the most popular rides throughout the day.

Another option to avoid the long lines at Disneyland is to ride many of the popular rides later in the evening, whilst the majority of people are enjoying other entertainment. Disneyland provides entertainment from the moment the gates open until late into the evening so finding short lines for the rides you would most like to enjoy is possible. However, this of course means that you will miss the other entertainment that is put on in the evening, so it is probably best to keep this option as a last resort.

You could also consider purchasing FastPass tickets for the rides that offer them, but make sure you do this early. FastPass tickets can be obtained from machines located near the rides that accept them. The ticket doesn't mean that you will be able to move to the front of the line immediately, but instead will schedule you an appointment for later in the day, at which time you will be able to avoid the queue and move to the front. In the mean time you are free to enjoy the rest of the entertainment and rides that the park offers.

The FastPass ticket will give you a one-hour time frame in which to enjoy the ride. For instance if your tickets says "1pm to 2pm", then you will be able to show up at the ride at any point between this time and move to the front of the line. Remember to keep your Disneyland ticket with you as you will need this to obtain a FastPass ticket.

FastPass tickets are currently available for the following rides:
- Indiana Jones
- Splash Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Roger Rabbits Cartoon Spin
- Autopia
- Space Mountain
- Buzz Lightyear

With a bit of planning and by remember the tips I have provided above, you can make the most out of your visit to Disneyland. Your day does not have to be taken up by queuing in line after line!

With the many security procedures that have been implemented and revised due to the terror threats of today, it is hard to keep up with current information on air travel rules. The good news is that there are plenty of resources available to help you keep up with the latest information on air travel rules, to help make your travel plans run as smoothly as possible. With a little research and preparation, you can fly through security checks in the quickest time with the least amount of inconvenience. The best source for current air travel rules is the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA's) website.
Carry-on Items that are Allowed In Air Travel
The most recent change to air travel rules pertaining to carry-on bags has to do with the liquids that are allowed to be packed into cases that are going into the cabin of the plane. This applies to that cup of Starbucks that you grabbed on the way to the airport, as well as the bottle of shampoo that you threw into your carry-on at the last minute. Current air travel rules state that in order to bring liquid or gels onboard your airplane, they must be in three-ounce containers that are placed into a clear, quart-size, zip lock bag. Keep in mind that if you do carry on items by this method, you will be asked to remove the plastic bag from your carry-on and send it through the conveyor belt for an x-ray.
The new air travel rules do allow you to carry on items like liquid medications, baby formula and diabetic treatments, but these must also be removed at the security station to allow for additional screening procedures. If you must carry on some sort of liquid item, be prepared to spend some additional time making your way through the security checkpoint. If you do not need to bring onboard any of these items, it is preferable to pack them into your luggage that will be checked in. This will help to ensure fewer hold-ups at the security station and a quicker path to your gate.
Once you have passed through security and arrived at your gate, you may purchase a cup of coffee or a bottle of water to bring onto the plane with you. Keep in mind that flights do still offer beverages onboard as well, so you will have the opportunity to get something to wet your whistle once you are comfortably seated on your flight. As you are attempting to work your way through the new air travel rules, keep in mind that these procedures are implemented for the good of all of the passengers and crew aboard airlines. While they may seem inconvenient at times, it is the government's best method to ensure that air travel remains safe for everyone.

As an RV owner for over twenty years now, I have seen a lot of mistakes made in purchasing Rvs by myself and others. The mistakes always result in the loss of finances. As with any product, smart shopping is always worth the effort that it takes to correctly choose what is best for you. So what is smart shopping?
I remember the first RV that I purchased. I had been using a pop up camper and was now ready to move up to a real RV. Naturally I was going to find the best deal out there. I checked RV sales in South Carolina, Arkansas RV sales, Atlanta RV sales, and an RV for sale in Knoxville, Tennessee. I was searching all over the country for the best price that I could find. I finally purchased a unit from Trailmanor RV sales in Ohio. I felt that they had given me the best price and I was very happy.
About a year later I became somewhat dissatisfied with the RV that I had gotten such a good price on. Nothing was wrong with the unit itself, it was very dependable and well made. The problem was, it was not exactly what I wanted. I began to see a need for a larger unit with some features that my present unit did not have.
I then decided that I would trade up for a larger unit, better equipped with features best suited for the wife and I. There again I checked on RV sales Raleigh, RV sales Saginaw Michigan, well you get the picture. To my surprise, on a trade in, my RV was not worth much. I would be taking a beating on a vehicle that I had gotten such a good price on.
Have you ever tried to sell a used RV by yourself? Listing it in the local newspaper, or in the trader magazines, is about the only way to go here. Although you do have the option of parking the unit in your front yard with a for sale sign on it, if you so choose to. Then you have to experience the humiliation of potential buyers criticizing everything about it just so they can negotiate a price in their favor. Believe me, it is no fun.
I then decided that the best way to get a good deal on an RV is to purchase a unit that you will be happy with for years to come. Buying an RV at any price and then trading up and up, will only cost you dollars and frustration.
I kept the unit that I had for another year all the while that I was shopping for a new vehicle. I decided that this would be the last RV that I was going to buy for a while. After many convention center trade shows, and inspecting fellow camper's units, I finally decided on an RV that I was going to purchase. It was more money than I wanted to spend, but I felt that it would be less expensive that trading up over and over again.
I took the advise that my father had often given me, "Do It Right The First Time". Smart shopping is not all about getting the best price, it is getting what you will be satisfied with.

And that answer is both "yes" and "no".... maybe !

Undoubtedly, not everyone wants to drive on vacation, and for those that fall into this category, there are of course taxi cabs available, as well as limited bus services to get you around. However, although it can be done, the bus / taxi combo is not in any way the most cost effective or convenient way to travel.

Of course, if you are just visiting Florida to soak up the sunshine from the pool deck of your rented luxury villa, then you may be content to forgo the car and just utilise taxi cabs for the odd time that you do venture away from your vacation home. However, there is such a vast world of excitement out there, that to do so would surely be selling yourself short.

And whilst Disney does provide free park to park transport once you are on Disney property, getting there initially can be a time consuming and often expensive experience.

So, to my mind, if you want the convenience of being able to go where you want, when you want, there is no better way to achieve this than by renting a car for the duration of your vacation. Amazingly, with the incredible all inclusive and fully insured rates that a select few on line car hire companies provide, I feel sure that you will be pleasantly surprised how economical it is to have the freedom and luxury that you really deserve.

However, a word of warning is advisable at this point, as not all car rental deals are as clear cut as they first appear. Many travel agents or charter airline companies, will offer you a "free" rental car as an incentive to get you to book with them. In reality, these "fly drive" deals as they are commonly known, can often work out many times more expensive than if you had booked the car hire and flights separately, as they often involve many hidden extras and required insurances to be paid when you pick up your car at your arrival airport.

Of course by that stage, you are thousands of miles away from home, and literally stuck between a rock and a hard place. As a result, you have no option but to pay the hefty extra fees, and very quickly, the "free" car rental doesn't seem such a good deal anymore.

I would therefore always advise that you do a little research and check on line which car rental companies offer a guarantee of fully inclusive, fully insured prices, and also allow you the opportunity to select the size and class of vehicle that is best suited to your travelling party. You will be amazed at how much money you can save by cutting out the middle man and making a simple on line reservation.

So, in conclusion, I would reiterate that whilst it is possible to "do" Florida without a car, the benefits of renting one far outweigh the other options available. After all, for most folks, a trip to Florida is a long anticipated vacation of a lifetime, and once you discover how much there is to experience and enjoy, you'll be glad that you took my advice.

What is considered good manners in one culture may be considered rude in another. For example, in English speaking Western countries it is usually considered good manner to bring a bottle of wine when coming to someone's house for dinner. In France, however this is considered insulting as it suggests the hosts are unable to provide their own good wine.
In Arab countries it's rude to display the soles of your feet or touching somebody with your shoes, Also eating with left hand is extremely offensive; for the left hand is reserved for bodily hygiene.
In the United States, it is rude not leaving a proper tip for a server at a restaurant. While in other countries some establishment may add a gratuity to the bill, in the United States this is not usually done and is up to the patron to leave an adequate tip, usually 15 percent.
Here are a few points that you should observe while staying in Pattaya, Thailand.
1. Always take your shoes off when you enter somebody's home, unless the owner insists you not to take it.
2. Always take your shoes off when you enter a temple hall.
3. No tank-tops, shorts, sleeveless-shirts, allowed in a temple ground and palace ground. Do not climb on stupas (chedis) and Buddha statues.
4. Doorway thresholds are considered a sanctuary for spirits, it's important not to step on a raised threshold, but rather to step over it. Keep this in mind especially when visiting temples.
5. Thais revere their King greatly, so treat portraits of the King and Queen with respect. Do not step over or standing in bills or coins (they all have the face of the king).
6. Do not point at something with your foot.
7. Do not touch somebody in the head (in Buddhism the head is the most pure region of the body).
8. Tipping is not necessary then eating at mom-and-pop food shops. For high-end restaurants and hotel restaurants, 10-15 percent gratuity is usually included in the bill.
9. Never passionately smooch and kiss in public.
10. Do not feel offended when someone asks you, "When do you want" they don't' mean to be rude , they just don't know it's a bad connotation.
11. Other than that, use your common sense. Do what the Romans do.
This is special Advice for new comer in Pattaya Thailand
1. Beware of unauthorized people who offer their services as Pattaya guides. For all tourist information, ONLY contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tel : 1672. For information about Pattaya, contact the Pattaya Tourist Information.
2. Observe all normal precautions, as well as the safety for your assets. Walking alone in night on streets or deserted areas is not recommended. Be sure that all your money, jewelry, and important information are properly protected from stolen. Visitors needing assistance relating to safety, or other matters, please call the Tourist Police (1155).
3. Do not get yourself involved with drugs. Penalties for drug offences are very severe in Thailand.
4. Do not support any manner of wild animal abuse. Never purchase any products or souvenirs made from wild animals like snakes, monitor lizards, and also turtle shell and ivory.

Scuba diving is by far the biggest attraction on Ko Tao, and it is easy, fun, and you will see a lot of fish, perhaps even turtles, stingrays, barracuda, reef sharks, and even a whale shark if you get lucky
You will get good diving weather on Koh Tao apart from November, when the sea is choppy, and visibility is poorer than normal. The visibility can be over 40 metres during the rest of the year.
You will find a lot of dive operators on the island, and some of them offer accommodation. Just beware that when you read the accommodation is free, it's not really, because they will offer discounts if you stay somewhere else.
In 2006 you will pay in the region of 10,000 bht for a PADI open water certificate, and this should include the new PADI training manual, proper professional instruction, rental equipment, boat dives etc. This may include insurance and basic accommodation, but shop around, and remember the methods of instruction may differ enormously.
A few hints include avoiding shops that use swimming pools to teach you in. You'll find it cold, boring, and unhygienic, bearing in mind this is a very popular diving island, and they will have literally hundreds of students .
Choose one that will take you to a private beach so you will see fish and coral right away, it is a lot more interesting, and you will probably get more dives!!
It's also a good idea to find a dive shop that has its own private pier, so you won't have to climb over other boats at the pier, although you won't be carrying your dive gear, that should be carried by a Dive Master Trainee. In addition you ought to ask how many students there will be in your group, because there should not be more than a small handful, if they tell you there will be more than ten then look elsewhere. You want personal tuition for something as important as this, and you want your course to be really enjoyable.
If you are looking for specific dive shops, this list whilst by no means exhaustive, is at least a starting point.
1. Coral Grand . Located in a much quieter area than the other dive shops, at the far end of the beach, the hotel is more upmarket than most on the island although the 'free' rooms are still basic. Operates 2 dive boats plus a speed boat.
2. Divepoint . Located in Mae Haad on the waterfront. Divepoint has probably the nicest dive boat on the island, big enough that you won't have to carry your gear to and from it. PADI and SSI.
3. Easy Divers. Fantastic Dive Shop with really experienced instructors. Professional and fun with great accommodation. Based right in the heart of Ko Tao.
4. IDC Ko Tao. Instructor development courses (IDC's) run every month by English PADI Course Director Matt Bolton.
5. Phoenix Divers. Right on Sairee Beach, has good boats, new gear and multilingual often western staff.
6. Stingray Divers. Very modern dive resort overlooking Chalok Ban Khao Bay.
Hope this information helps you to have great diving experience on Koh Tao

What do you do upon realizing it's been more than a year since your last dive trip, and you're itching to get wet again? After kicking yourself of course? Well the obvious answer is to drop what you're doing and go diving.
So I took my own advice and have just returned from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where my son and I pretty much dived our brains out for about a week. We also ate some great food, saw much of the island, and chilled out on our balcony overlooking the ocean.
So why St. Croix? Well, why not? For one, I hadn't been there yet, and prefer diving new locations. But I also have a friend who used to work there as a divemaster, and I figured on getting some insider perspective. After a few email exchanges with him, and scouting the web, I found all I needed to get everything booked.
Considering how "last minute" the planning was, the trip came off smoothly. There were only a few parameters to consider, namely that I wanted to do it cheap and get in a lot of diving - at least 2 tanks a day. Oh, and I wanted to eat some fresh shrimp.
The best diving on St. Croix, is on the famous "Wall" that runs along the north shore for about 7 miles or so. With this in mind I found lodging at a small, 9 room hotel at Cane Bay which is just west of the mid-point of the north side. As luck would have it, one of the best restaurants on island is also located on the same property.
The hotel is built right on the shore, which is rocky at that point, and all rooms face the ocean. The views are outstanding with St. Thomas and St. John visible on the horizon, and the ever-present sound of the waves crashing on the rocks. Within a half mile are a couple more excellent places to eat, as well as the dive shop we used which is right across from the beach at Cane Bay.
I highly recommend obtaining a rental car for getting around the island. It's far less hassle than relying on taxi's and because there's lots to see, will save money in the long run. The best way is to arrange the rental beforehand so it's waiting for you upon arrival.
This worked great for us, as there was a representative waiting outside baggage claim when we arrived holding a placard with our name on it. Just signed some papers and left. Upon departure, I parked at the airport, locked the keys inside and left it.
As for where to dive - definitely the north shore "Wall". Several sites are an easy swim from the beach - maybe 200 yards out, then drop down over the wall which starts at about 50' and drops to 3200'. Keep an eye to the north where you might see the occasional black-tip shark, manta, or spotted eagle ray swim by.
Also make sure you dive Salt River where the wall has giant coral heads, some caves, and huge swim-throughs. The reef is healthy, vibrant, and full of all kinds of marine life. I saw several stands of black coral, and an unusual number of trunkfish there.
While the north wall is awesome, there are a couple places to note on the west end that are also "must do" dives. One is the wrecks. Actually 2 sites - the deeper one has a tug and a vehicle ferry setting about 100' down. Lots of growth, but the structures stand out clearly - especially the wheelhouse on the tug, and makes for a super photo shot.
Also on the west end is the Frederiksted Pier, which runs a few hundred yards out, and is one of the fishiest places I've seen. The debris on the bottom and the pilings are home to all sorts of critters, including banded coral shrimp and spider crabs by the dozen.
You're likely to get "inked" after startling an octopus trying to blend into the background as you swim by, or watch them turning colors while hiding in some of the oddest places. The funniest was this little guy holed up in what appeared to be the top of a broken wine bottle.
There's lots more to see and do on St. Croix, including some interesting history. It's readily apparent from the dozens of old windmills, that sugar plantations once covered the island, and supported a very different economy from today.