Posts Tagged ‘United States’

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V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N Anytime, Anywhere!


2010
05.08

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Posted in Travel Destination, Travel Tips, Vacation | No Comments »

Webster’s dictionary defines vacation as “a period of time for pleasure, rest, or relaxation”. Most vacationers, however, aren’t aware of this definition, as they often return from their trip feeling less relaxed than when they left! Luckily, more and more people are discovering that Webster’s definition of “vacation” is synonymous with timeshare ownership. Here’s why:

Timeshare owners enjoy the privacy of a home with the amenities of a world-class resort!
Timeshare owners know that their timeshares provide better value than renting hotel rooms.
Timeshare owners are less burdened than full-time vacation homeowners.

According to the American Resort Development Association’s (ARDA) recent study, most timeshare owners believe that their timeshares are better than hotels. In fact, when asked about their overall satisfaction with their timeshare property, 78% of the timeshare owners rated their property as “excellent”. When timeshare owners were asked if they were getting good value for their money, 72% of the owners rated their properties as “excellent”, compared to 58% of those who stayed in hotels.

Mike Hussey, ARDA’s Chief of Staff, confirms that this is due to new trends in vacation ownership over the past several years. “Timeshare owners are more satisfied with their overall vacation experience and feel that they get good value for their hard-earned money,” says Mr. Hussey. In fact, the numbers back him up. In 1980, only about 155,000 households owned a timeshare at 500 resorts worldwide. Today, there are over 5,000 timeshare resorts with 4.5 million vacation owners worldwide. It seems as though more people ARE learning to “vacation”!

Besides receiving better value, timeshare owners also appreciate the benefits that come with part-time vacation home ownership. On an average, vacation homes in the United States are used 17 nights per year! Unless the owner uses this property a lot, they are paying way too much for a vacation home that does not provide much utility. They’re paying full time for a part time vacation. Year round vacation homeowners spend more for maintenance costs (even when they are not there), and spend more of their valuable “vacation” time on upkeep.

Life’s too short not to enjoy great vacations. You work too hard to deserve anything less! Your free time is your own. When you do discover the definition of vacation, we hope that you’ll practice what you learn, and practice often as practice makes perfect.

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The importance of Wireless Internet


2010
05.07

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Nowadays, internet is an important media for all people; from teens to adults. Since I am a college student on computer science faculty, I recognize that internet is very useful for educational purpose. When I was a high school student, I always made use of the internet to find articles or research papers so I could finish my homework. For instance, internet helps me to find information quickly and reliably. Now, as the technology of the internet keeps developing, the speed of internet connection is going faster from day to day. If ten years ago dial-up connection mode is used widely throughout the country, now, 4G internet connection is the most reliable and fastest internet connection.

The 4G internet connection is still rare in the United States, there are only a few communication companies provide 4G internet connection for public such as Wimax Broadband with its popular product: Clearwire 4G. As you know, today we are enforced to use the internet anywhere and anytime such as in school, at home or perhaps at café. That’s why we need reliable wireless internet connection like Clearwire so we can use the internet on the go, at home or both. Last but not least, I suggest you to subscribe to reliable wireless internet connection so you can research or browsing anywhere you want.

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Beware When Shopping Overseas.


2010
04.25

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Wildlife Souvenirs

Be careful when you buy articles made from animals and plants or when you purchase live, wild animals to bring back as pets. Some items, such as those made from elephant ivory, sea turtles, crocodile leather, or fur from endangered cats, and many species of live animals cannot be brought legally into the United States. Your wildlife souvenirs could be confiscated by government inspectors, and you could face other penalties for attempting to bring them into the United States. Do not buy wildlife or wildlife products unless you are certain that they are legal for import into the United States.

Glazed Ceramics

Beware of purchasing glazed ceramic ware abroad. It is possible to suffer lead poisoning, if you consume food or beverages that are stored or served in improperly glazed ceramics. Unless the ceramics are made by a firm with an international reputation, there is no immediate way to be certain that a particular item is safe. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that ceramic tableware purchased abroad be tested for lead release by a commercial laboratory on your return or be used for decorative purposes only.

Antiques

Certain countries consider antiques to be national treasures and the “inalienable property of the nation.” In some countries, customs authorities seize illegally purchased antiques without compensation, and they may also levy fines on the purchaser. Americans have been arrested and prosecuted for purchasing antiques without a permit. Americans have even been arrested for purchasing reproductions of antiques from street vendors because a local authority believed the purchase was a national treasure.
Protect yourself. In countries where antiques are important, document your purchases as reproductions, if that is the case, or, if they are authentic, secure the necessary export permit. The documentation or export permit may be available through the country’s national museum. A reputable dealer may provide the export permit or information on how to secure one. If you have questions about purchasing antiques, the country’s tourist office can guide you. If you still have doubts, consult the Consular Section of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. In places where Americans have had problems because of purchasing antiques, the Consular Section is usually well aware of such situations. Consular officers can inform you about the local laws and the correct procedures to follow.

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Top Ten Best Boating Lakes


2010
04.17

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Posted in Travel Tips | 2 Comments »

When it comes to boating there are plenty of lakes that allow you to have fun. However, there are few lakes that are the best for boating and you should take advantage of the fun these lakes have to offer.

1. Houghton Lake – Michigan

Houghton Lake is the largest inland lake found in the state of Michigan and it is also one of the largest natural inland lakes in the entire United States. The lake is an extremely popular resort and is know for its year round fishing and water sports including ice fishing in the winter.

2. Lake Tarpon Florida

About ten miles west of Tampa is Lake Tarpon, Florida which has 52 square miles of water. This lake is popular with boaters because of its renowned largemouth bass population. Because of their two largest tributaries, South Creek and Brooker Creek, this is a regional recreational destination that offers some excellent fishing for boaters.

3. Red Lake Minnesota

In northern Minnesota there is Red Lake which is the second largest natural freshwater lake found in the United States. It is divided into two sections with a peninsula in the middle which is home to the Ponemah community. The size and quality of this lake offers some excellent boating opportunities.

4. Lake Geneva Lake Geneva

Southwest of Milwaukee there is a resort city located on the edge of Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. Because of railroad access from Chicago this lake has become both an excellent resort and outdoor recreational facility. Everyone can enjoy any type of boating they want at this lake or they can relax beside the lake in one of the many resort communities.

5. Clear Lake California

The largest natural lake located entirely in California is Clear Lake. Many streams feed this lake, but it only has Cache Creek as the outlet. The lakes capacity and outflow is regulated by a dam located on Cache Creek. It is also believed to be one of the oldest lakes in North America. Due to its large capacity and the fact that it stays at the same depth all year round makes it an excellent lake for boating sports or for fishing.

6. Lake Travis – Texas

On the Colorado River in central Texas there is a reservoir known as Lake Travis. It is a man-made lake after the Mansfield Dam was constructed in 1942. It is popular recreational lake due to its large capacity, which makes it one of the largest of seven reservoirs known as the Highland Lakes.

7. Lake Marion South Carolina

In South Carolina the largest lake is Lake Marion, which has about 315 miles of shoreline. They offer several public boat ramps so it is easy to get your boats in and out of the water. It is also known for some of the largest fish, which offers excellent opportunities for those who want to catch large fish such as striped bass, trout, white perch, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, Arkansas blue catfish and bream.

8. Lake of the Ozarks Missouri

In central Missouri the Osage River was impounded to create the large man-made reservoir known as the Lake of the Ozarks. This lake features over 1,150 miles of shoreline. Although much of the shoreline on the lake is privately owned it is also a popular site for recreational activities. In fact it is home to Party Cove, which is one of the most popular boating gathering spots in the United States and has even been featured in several magazines and newspapers.

9. Reelfoot Lake – Tennessee
The northwest portion of Tennessee is home to a shallow natural lake known as Reelfoot Lake. It is more of a swamp and bayou-like ditches rather than a lake. The lake features a system of parks, wildlife refuges, recreation areas and public boat ramps so you can always enjoy the lake no matter what type of boating you do. For those who want to do some fishing it is one of the largest lakes for crappie in the United States.

10. Deep Creek Lake Maryland

The largest inland body of water found in Maryland is Deep Creek Lake. It is a man-made lake that has a variety of freshwater fish for the fishing enthusiast. While fishing has been the most popular draw for the lake it is also expanding into a recreational boating community during the summer. Some of the fish species found in the lake include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown trout, rainbow trout, black crappie, walleye, yellow perch, rock bass, bluegill, common carp and northern pike.

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Know Before You Go On Your Trip Overseas


2010
04.11

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There is much that you can do to prepare for your trip abroad, depending on where you are going, how long you are staying, and your reasons for traveling.

The following suggestions and sources may be useful:

Do your homework and read as much as possible about the countries in which you plan to travel. Informing yourself about a nation’s history, culture, customs and politics will make your stay more meaningful. Such information can be found in most libraries, bookstores and tourist bureaus. Although English is spoken in many countries, it is a good idea to learn what you can of the language of the country in which you will be traveling.

Travel agents can provide brochures and tourist information about the countries that you wish to visit.

Most international airlines can supply you with travel brochures about the countries that they serve. Many countries have tourist information offices in main cities in the United States where you can obtain travel brochures and maps.

Foreign embassies or consulates in the United States can provide up-to-date information on their countries. Addresses and telephone numbers of the embassies of foreign governments are listed in the Congressional Directory, available at most public libraries. In addition to their embassies, some countries also have consulates in major U.S. cities. Look for their addresses in your local telephone directory, or find them in the publication, Foreign Consular Offices in the United States, available in many public libraries, or on the state department travel web site.

The Department of State publishes Background Notes on countries worldwide. These are brief, factual pamphlets with information on each country’s culture, history, geography, economy, government, and current political situation. The Background Notes are available for approximately 170 countries. They often include a reading list, travel notes and maps. To purchase copies, you can contact the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, or call (202) 512-1800. Select issues are also available from the Department of State’s Bureau of Public Affairs, fax-on-demand, by calling (202) 736-7720 from your fax machine or on the Department of State’s home page.

The Consular Information Program provides pertinent information for travelers. The U.S. Department of State issues fact sheets, known as Consular Information Sheets, on every country in the world. You should obtain the Department of State’s Consular Information Sheet for any country that you will visit. The sheets contain information about crime and security conditions, areas of instability, and other details pertaining to travel in a particular country.

The Department of State also issues Travel Warnings and Public Announcements. Travel Warnings are issued when the Department of State recommends deferral of travel by Americans to a country because of civil unrest, dangerous conditions, and terrorist activity and/or because the United States has no diplomatic relations with the country and cannot assist an American citizen in distress.

Public Announcements are issued as a means to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term and/or transnational conditions, which would pose significant risks to American travelers.

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