A few days ago I did something I don’t normally do. I was looking for a cheap get away trip for my family. Some place to take the kids this summer that wasn’t going to cost me an arm and a leg. With the price of gas even driving is expensive this summer so I was prepared to find a place close to home as our summer get away.

I was looking at Spirit Air Lines web site and some pretty good deals to Washington DC and thought that it might be good to see the White House and some other touristy things in the area. Flights were only about $60 each way from Detroit Metro (DTW). Problem was I couldn’t find a nice hotel in the area with a good rate so the cheap flights and expensive hotel just didn’t work for us.

While online Spirit announced a special $67 seat special to Orlando from Detroit. Now we love going there and there is always cheap hotels so I whipped out my credit car and grabbed 4 seat right away. They do charge $15 per bag each way, My wife and daughter need there own suitcase but my sone and I can share one. So with taxes and surcharges for just under $600 I picked up 4 round trip airfare tickets from Detroit to Orlando. This is a great deal!

Now we own points in Disney’s Vacation Club. I was planning on banking the rest of our points this year but decied to call membership services at the last minute to see if they had any rooms available. I was surprised when they told me that a studio room at Old Key West was available. I took that right away.

Disney World also has a free transportation service called Magical Express. This is transportation between Orlando International Airport and a disney hotel. I booked that too.

So thanks to Spirit Air we are heading to Disney World for a week for $600. Now that is a cheap summer vacation.

Gary

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3.2

Airline travel has become quite complicated these days.  With inspections and airlines’ rules and regulations, standing on line at the airport can become a frustrating event.  With the 3-1-1 Totally Compliant Carry-on Kit, there is one less thing to be concerned about.

The kit features:
* leak proof
* Transportation Security Administration 3-1-1 Carry-on Compliant
* Squeeze Tubes Fill in Seconds
* Odor Proof Food Grade Material
* Reusable Again and Again

Included are ten easy to fill squeeze-tubes and an Envirosprayer which you can use for hairspray or lotions.  All ten tubes can be utilized for people who do not check baggage but prefer carry-on luggage instead.  Great for shampoo, toothpaste, conditioner, mouthwash, and other important necessities, the 3-1-1 Kit holds any liquid, creams or lotion and is totally reusable.

You don’t have to worry about leakage either and the tubes are sturdy and durable as well.  A syringe also comes with the kit to allow for easy transference.  Complete with instructions that are easy to follow, users of the 3-1-1 kit have commented that it saves a great deal of space in a travel bag, and they have also noted that nothing is wasted as you can squeeze out the contents down to the last drop.

At a time when you can stand on line for hours waiting for your luggage to be checked, in addition to having to pay for each piece that you bring on board, carry-on luggage for those who are back-packing their way to Europe might find this Kit a great find!

The 3-1-1 Kit can also save you money as well. Let’s face it; we all go out to the drug store to buy those tiny bottles of shampoo, conditioner, nail polish remover, sun tan lotion and creams.  Well, just fill up the tubes at home by using what you have on hand. 

Regardless of whether you travel light or take two pieces of baggage on your next summer vacation, the 3-1-1 Kit is great to have for travel anywhere around the world.  Leave the airport hassle behind and pick up this amazing kit for just $24.95.

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2.5

This guy has figure out how to enjoy life and has inspired me to do the same thing … someday!

This is actually his second travel video and this one was paid for by a gum company. What a way to see the world.

You can find out more about Matt and where is is now on his web site at http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/

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3.2

Hawaii is where Wanda and I went on our honeymoon. We plan to revisit the Islands on our 25th wedding anniversay. We only spent one day on Maui and plan to spend a lot more time there on our next visit.

The island of Maui in Hawaii is a wonderful family vacation spot. If you are planning a family vacation this summer, consider staying at the Westin Maui Resort. Here are some highlights of this grand hotel.

Your children will never get bored at this beautiful resort. With an aquatic playground that includes: five pools, grottos, waterfalls, spa tubs, and a water slide; you will always know where the children will be spending most of their time as the hotel also offers a supervised children’s program.

You will love the open-air restaurant, poolside grill, and outdoor café that hosts nightly entertainment, need i say more, the Westin Maui has it all. Children ages 12 and younger receive complementary meals at most restaurants.

Nestled on a white sandy beach, the resort also has tropical gardens, a full health spa, a sauna, non-smoking air-conditioned rooms, arcade and game room, coffee shop, hair salon, fitness equipment, and much more.

The rooms offer private, furnished lanais, with island décor; refrigerator, TV, coffee maker, bathrobes, child care, iron and ironing board, cribs, and rollaway beds.

Some of the activities you and your family can participate in include: miniature golf, a golf course, snorkeling, whale-watching, bicycle rentals, hiking, horseback riding, helicopter sightseeing, and a nearby playground. There are many more activities available.

The restaurants offer a wide array of choices. One overlooks Kaanapali Beach and is an open-air restaurant offering fresh island seafood and grilled food as well. The poolside bar and grill offers breakfast buffets, sandwiches, fish, salads, and tapas. The dining room café, overlooking the ponds and waterfalls, serves light foods throughout the day. There is also a food stand near the pool and beach area where you can obtain cold drinks and snacks.

The Westin also has a Kids Club that offers cultural activities for children ages 5 to 12.

Spending your family vacation at an island report in Maui that caters to families has become the norm, rather than the exception. In year’s past, Maui was considered the “honeymooner’s” island.

With more visitors to Hawaii than ever before, it seems only fitting that some of the hotels on the island of Maui have changed their collective mind-set and offer a family vacation resort that provides a myriad of activities and clubs for everyone to enjoy.

now do we bring the kids or go along on our vacation to Maui. Hmmmmm

Gary

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3.2

Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween

Premium Dates:
September 19, 26
October 3, 10, 16, 23, 1 24, 26, 30, 31

$55.95 + tax = $59.59/adult
$49.95 + tax = $53.20/child

*The above prices apply for purchases made the day of the event for any date, also.

Advance Purchase Price available for:
September 5, 9, 12, 16, 23, 28, 30
October 2, 5, 7, 13, 19, 21, 28
$48.95 + tax = $52.13/adult
$42.95 + tax = $45.74/child

AP/DVC Discount
Available only on:
September 9, 12, 23, 30
October 2, 7, 9, 21
$45.95 + tax = $48.94/adult
$39.95 + tax = $42.55/child

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Premium date prices:
November 14, 21
December 4, 5, 11, 12, 14, 18, 19
$55.95 + tax = $59.59/adult
$49.95 + tax = $53.20/child

*The above prices also apply for purchases made the day of the event for any date.

Advance purchase prices for the following dates:
November 10, 11, 16, 20, 30
December 2, 7, 9, 16
$48.95 + tax = $52.13/adult
$42.95 + tax = $45.74/child

AP/DVC Discount
Available only on:
November 11, 20
December 7, 9, 16
$45.95 + tax = $48.94/adult
$39.95 + tax = $42.55/child

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3.2

Ireland: It’s a Long Way to Tipperary

How would you like to spend eight days in the Emerald Isle for your summer vacation? Well, the good news is there are many affordable all-inclusive packages which you can choose from. Let’s take a look at one such package.

A typical all-inclusive package can cost approximately $1139 per person, and would include the following: Roundtrip airfare, transfers, six full breakfasts and three dinners. Also included in this fabulous tour are: Dublin, Kildare, Limerick, Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, Rathbaun Farm, Blarney, Ring of Kerry, Killarney, Tipperary, Waterford, a hand-weaving mill at Avoca, and Glendalough.

Among the many sights included are Trinity College, the Irish National Stud, a marble factory, woolen mills, Waterford Crystal factory, and St. Kevins. You may already be writing down what you intend to buy, eh? Waterford Crystal, perhaps? Or perhaps you will be visiting shops to acquire hand-made woolen sweaters, Irish linen or jewelry.

This particular tour package holds a great deal more exciting and historical visits. For example, you will take a drive to Dingle Bay where Ryan’s Daughter was filmed; visit St. John’s Castle and the Rock of Cashel where St. Patrick is said to have preached; St. Mary’s Cathedral and visit a working sheep farm; visit the Blarney Stone (don’t forget to kiss this magical stone!) and the spectacular Cliffs of Moher to view the magnificent view of Clare coast. You will even spend a night at Killarney, a popular resort.

With its green rolling hills and lush landscape, you will find the weather to be quite accommodating during the summer months.

Irish cuisine consists of traditional dishes such as Irish stew, fish such as prawns and oysters, and without a doubt the best soda bread found anywhere. Their pubs are lively, the people are friendly, and visiting a few pubs can top off a long and exciting day. Most pubs feature live music and you can relax and stomp your feet as you enjoy a mug of their famous ale.

If you have never been to Ireland, this is the trip of a lifetime. Check out the many online sites wherein you can find dozens and dozens of packages that will fit your budget. Also, give your travel agent a call as well. They usually receive discount packages right off the press and can guide you in booking an affordable and exciting tour that offers the most for your money.

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3.2

With the rising cost of gas prices…and no end in sight…everyone wants to save as much money at the gas pump as they possibly can. You may not be able to control the price of gas but you can change certain habits and follow some basic guidelines to help you save as much money as possible.

Rising gas and oil prices each year mean that the average driver, who travels approximately 15,000 miles each year in a car that gets about 20 miles to the gallon, will pay more at the end of the year for his gas costs.

When you have finished filling up your gas tank try turning the nozzle of the hose a full 180 degrees.

This will drain a bit more gas into your tank; in some cases up to an entire half cup that would otherwise be a bonus to the next gas customer.

Once you get into the habit of turning the hose you’ll find yourself doing it without thinking. That extra half cup that you get each time that you fill your gas tank can add up to a lot of extra gas at the end of the year that you never have known about.

Also try to avoid “topping off” at the gas pumps. When you purchase just a bit of gas at the gas station the pump doesn’t have enough time to really activate, resulting in short bursts of fuel that may short change you from the amount of gas that you are purchasing.

The best time to replenish your gas tank is when you have half a tank or less left in your vehicle, or when you find a gas price that you just can’t afford to miss.

One more thing for now. Avoid running your gas tank too close to empty

Try not to drive your car when the gas gauge is on empty.

You may think that you using very little gas when your car is on empty, but you are in fact using more gas because your vehicle is running less efficiently as it tries to accelerate and decelerate in a normal fashion.

Keep your gas level above the quarter tank mark if at all possible.

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3.2

Last night we decided to check out Caesars Windsor casino.

We arrived in Windsor about 7PM and headed north on Howard ave past the Devonshire mall, past Tecumseh road and as we got closer we could see the new tower of Ceasers Windsor all lite up in the evening sky.

Like a moth we focused on the light becon and navigated toward it until we arrived at the casino’s parking garage. There was a lot of traffic around the casino. My first response was hey this is good, it looks busy around here, the casino must be doing good.

I turned on the street just to the south of the parking lot so that I could get over to the main entrance. That is when I discovered that you had to be a “7 star member” to enter here. This must have been a change since the reopening as I recall that this was the entrance to general parking in the past.

No problems however, there was a sign right there telling us to go around the block as general parking is now on the other side off of the parking garage on Glengary Ave. As I turned the corner there was a line up of cars in the curb lane waiting to get into the garage. We waiting about 5 minutes in this line, inching our way closer to the entrance. We were about three cars away from entering when a Ceasar’s Windsor employee approached us an said that we needed a players car in order to enter the parking garage. There was a Michael Bolton concert at the casino and I guess when they have a big name act they close the parking garage for their preferred guest. You know, the ones who come in with a lot of cash and donate it.

I told him that I would gladly get a players card once inside. This was our first visit to the new Caesars Windsor so we didn’t have one yet. The guy told us that we would have to go and park in the “off site” parking lot and take the shuttle. He then instructed us to follow the signs south on Glengary.

So we start to following the signs. They lead us all the way back to Wyandotte where there is a sign telling us to to turn right. We are now heading west on Wyandotte towards the Windsor / Detroit tunnel and Ouellette Ave. Along the way there are a few signs telling us to keep going. Then the signs stop. Somewhere along the way we must have missed a sign pointing us in a new direction.

We are not big gamblers so I didn’t expect Caesars Windsor to kiss my ass. Our plan was to go to Caesars Windsor for a nice dinner and then try out luck out in the casino. Well our plans changed. I wasn’t going to circle the block again looking for the mystery off site parking.

We decided to go to the Keg instead and we had a wonderful dinner there. I guess I should thank Michael Boton for saving us a couple hundred dollars in the end as we never did get a chance o make a donation to Caesar. Our bill at the Keg came to just a little over $120. I did order a bottle of wine at the restaurant, asking for a nice local bottle of red wine. Local wine at the Keg means tht it is from the Niagara region, not Essex County … but that is another story.

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3.2

Well we finally did it. After reading about how much fun these Disney Criuses are this morning I went online and booked a 4 night Disney Criuse. Now we can begin counting down the months, weeks and finally the days until we set sail.

I did some research before booking our Disney vacation on the seas. Disney Cruise Line offers a seven-night cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida at Disney Magic. Sailing the Caribbean islands, including Castaway Cay, Disney, which is private island resort and theme, this festival combines the best of both worlds – a relaxing and enjoyable cruise for adults, and a fun adventure for children.

Cruise Disney Magic and Disney in particular are geared towards families, and among the many activities available to children are the Theatre of Walt Disney, Buena Vista and the Studio Theatre Wednesday Furthermore, there are three pools, one for children, one for adults and one for children and adults. I wonder if my wife and i will find some free time to visit the adult pool area?

More importantly, the cabins are bigger than normal and with half bathroom and sleeps up to six family members. This was important to me. This will be our first cruise and I was very worried that the rooms would be too small. I have heard that rooms on most cruise lines are like big closets. Many seasoned travellers will say that you don’t spend a lot of time in your room so it is no big deal. sure, no big deal until you try and share a closet with my teenage daughter.

The Disney characters, Mickey and his friends are all the attractions of the cruise. There are a variety of playgrounds for children of all ages, including sports games, and the club where Oceaneers autographs Mickey and his friends can be purchased. While my kids are getting a bit too old to hang around with Mickey for a long time, they still love to get their photo taken with him and any other Disney character.

There are seven restaurants, fitness center, spa and full service center. something for everyone. I am sure that we wil get good use out of many of features on our Disney Cruise. There is also a cinema, which offers the latest Disney releases. I am not sure yet if this is something we will take time out to enjoy as it is something we can do at home. Who knows though. A nice break from the go go go pace might be good for us.

For children aged 3-12, Disney Magic offers Oceaneers Club. This Laboratory Oceaneers Club including activities such as: sports games, arts and crafts, dance classes, and computer time.

Our kids will be more interested in what is offered for teens 13-17 years, Disney Magic offers the stack, which is designed specifically for teenagers and guided by boat advisers who provide music, movies, video games, big screen plasma TV, a living room, track dancing, Internet cafe and teen-only activities.

Disney has designed this boat exclusively for children and adolescents (although there is plenty for adults to do so). According to tradition Disney, Goofy pool at Disney Magic became special occasions to host a new 24-by-14 foot jumbo LED screen attached to the ship’s funnel with interest. You can enjoy the films of the pool, along with enhanced entertainment and outdoor deck.

Ports of call include St. Maarten, St. Thomas (ideal for shopping), St. John and Castaway Cay. Departures are Saturdays and early booking is strongly recommended. Passports are required.

A Disney cruise of this magnitude is the best family vacation, you can imagine. Leave your cares behind and enjoy all this cruise has to offer, while knowing that their children will have the time of their lives!

Can’t wait to experience the Disney Magic!!

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3.2

I wouldn’t have made this statement about a year ago when the lap top I bought came with Windows Vista but I am really starting to hate lately. The sidebar thingy is nothing but a memory hog and I have no idea how I did it but I managed to add about 15 calendars to the side bar cauing my lap top to freeze ever time I start it up.

I was able to disbale the sidebar and eventually remove it from the start up options.

Windows Vista takes up a lot of memory and when not available your computer is going to suffer by slowing down. I never had any problemss with Windows XP. Never ever!

I HATE Windows Vista. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. There I feel better now that I have said it.

Gary

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3.2