Mardi Gras: Save up to 40% on hotels at Expedia
Posted November 30, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Travel Deals
Come to the ultimate party in New Orleans!
Join the joyous revelry of Mardi Gras—fabulous parades and extravagant costumes at the Greatest Free Show on Earth. Save 10%–40% on a hotel when you stay 1–4 (or more) nights, but hurry! Mardi Gras comes early in 2008, and hotels are filling fast.
- Save 40% on 4 nights; 30% on 3; 20% on 2; or 10% on 1 night
- Mardi Gras parades are scheduled from Jan. 19–Feb. 5, 2008
- Book by Dec. 12, 2007
- Travel from Jan. 4–Feb. 16, 2008
Mardi Gras: Save up to 40% on hotels! Expires 12/10/07.
Popularity: 33% [?]
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Las Vegas on sale! Air + 2 nights from $222
Posted November 29, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Travel Deals
Stay on The Strip—a 3.5-mile-long oasis of extravagance—for less. Book your Vegas vacation now on Expedia for great rates on hotels and packages.
They’ve even upped the ante with extra discounts, like 2-for-1 shows and shopping trips.
- Hotels from $40 per night
- Save more with a package: Air + 2 nights from $222
- Book by December 4
- Travel by December 31, 2007
Las Vegas on sale! Air + 2 nights from $222 Expires 12/4/07
Popularity: 33% [?]
I Love My Baggallini Bags!
Posted November 25, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Bags
Let me say this first, I hate handbags and I absolutely refuse to carry one when I’m at home.
So, I was absolutely delighted when I discovered the Bagallini Messenger bag shown left (me in Singapore) and right.
It seemed to me that this bag had been designed by someone who travels a LOT.
Well, as it turns out, baggallini Inc. was founded in 1995 by two veteran flight attendants, Dixie Powers and Ann Simmons, who recognized a need for more fashionable and functional tote bags, handbags and travel accessories.
And they got it right! It’s absolutely perfect for travelling. It’s made of a super lightweight water resistant nylon, and has a zippered front compartment for your credit cards, cell phone, and a key fob.
There’s also an exterior water bottle pocket which is actually big enough so that the water bottle doesn’t constantly fall out like it did on some of the other bags I’ve bought.
I now have four baggallini bags that I’ve found in specialty stores throughout my travels, including the Wallet Bagg, Urban Backpack, Expandable Tote and the previously mentioned Bagallini Messenger bag — all in beige.
BUT… today I found that they are sold online!
Better yet, I discovered that they come in more than beige and lime green. They also come in black, blue, brown, multi-colored, orange, pink, purple, red and yellow. Yeah, orange! Yeah, RED!!
the Curling Iron Cover Bagg made from Crinkle Nylon.
Yes, I think I deserve something more stylish than ‘Le Sock’.
Although I found Baggallini products at WorldTraveler.com and BagsBuy, eBags.com had the best prices on all Baggallini products.
So… what do you think? Should I get the Only Tote (shown above right) too? 
Technorati Tags: baggallini, luggage, totes, bags
Popularity: 84% [?]
Malaria: Are You at Risk?
Posted November 23, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Health
Those bitten by a malaria-infected mosquito and become sick with malaria may experience seizures, mental confusion, kidney failure, coma and possibly death.
Let me repeat… malaria can be fatal.
Estimates indicate that over 10,000 worldwide travelers fall ill with malaria after returning home from malaria-endemic areas. The WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that approximately 40% of the global population is at risk for getting malaria and that there are 300-500 million new cases of malaria each year, resulting in 1 million deaths.
Although many travellers believe that they have been vaccinated for malaria — there is NO vaccine for malaria.
When Ed and I travel to malarial regions of the world, we typically opt to use Malarone, which is approved for the treatment and prevention of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in adults and children weighing at least 25 lbs.
We recommend that you contact your doctor to find the treatment that is right for you and your travels to areas of the world where you might be at risk of becoming infected with malaria.
To find out more about malaria please visit the CDC’s malaria page which includes an interactive malaria risk map providing information on malaria risk throughout the world. Users can search or browse countries, cities, and place names and get information about the risk of malaria in that particular location and see recommended malaria prevention medicines for that area.
Popularity: 27% [?]
London and Beyond from only $366+
Posted November 22, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Travel Deals
Virgin Atlantic’s low-priced fares from $366+ roundtrip will turn your European dream vacation into reality. Embark on a trip to the British Isles, France, the Netherlands, and beyond from top U.S. cities for less.
To take advantage of this offer, you must:
- Book by November 27, 2007
- Travel through March 23, 2008
Virgin Atlantic: Fly to London and beyond from only $366+ roundtrip! Expires 11/27/07
Popularity: 31% [?]
Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder
Posted November 21, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Camcorders
I recently learned about the Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder through a friend online and after seeing examples of the videos that he took with it, I just had to order one for myself.
The Ultra Flip is described as “a revolutionary new way to shoot and share videos” and its portable, simple-to-use design makes it incredibly easy to create high quality home movies.. and better yet, it’s very light for travel!
It’s so light, you’ll be able to carry it anywhere and everywhere to capture those special and interesting moments in time and share them with your family and friends.
Built-in software provides a convenient, seamless way to save and share your videos by email, or make custom movies, capture still photos from video clips, and upload videos directly to popular video-sharing sites, including AOL Video and YouTube.
This next-generation version of the original Flip Video line features a new sleeker design, premium no-glare LCD screen, and improved video and audio quality. Flip Video Ultra comes with a TV connector cable, wrist strap, soft carrying case, two AA batteries, and a quick start guide.
Best of all the Flip Video Ultra is also ultra affordable.
Popularity: 25% [?]
50% Off WestJet. Today Only.
Posted November 21, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Travel Deals
WestJet.com Seat Sale Today Only! For 50% off book by November 21, 2007 at 11:59pm MST. Save on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays travel.
WestJet is Canada’s leading low-fare airline offering scheduled service throughout its 34-city North American network. Named Canada’s most respected corporation for customer service in 2005, WestJet pioneered low-cost high-value flying in Canada.
Here are more reasons to fly WestJet.
- WestJet’s customer service is outstanding.
- Easy-to-use online services get Guests on their way quickly.
- They can earn AIR MILES® reward miles.
- Modern planes. Air travel with WestJet is simply more comfortable. Most aircraft are equipped with live seatback television, more legroom and leather seats.
- Incredible on-time performance (OTP) that rivals the best in the business.
Book your WestJet.com Seat Sale Today
Popularity: 23% [?]
Hands Free Cell Phone
Posted November 17, 2007 by Ed Szajniak · Filed Under Electronics, Safety
Driving these days requires full attention. One of our pet peeves is people who drive and talk on the cell phones.
When in your car if you decide to make a call pull over and talk to your hearts content. If someone calls you they can leave a message. Now we all know that this isn’t going to work.
When we use our phones in the car we use a hands free speakerphone. It allows us to place and receive calls with simple push of a button. It will require some time to setup the voice commands, it will handle 150 of them, but once done it works well.
We never have to take our eyes off the road. When we travel this is great as we navigate through new or unfamiliar territories. As well there are jurisdictions where the use of cell phones while driving is illegal without a hands free device.
The Parrot Mini Kit is a Blue tooth device that clips on to the sun visor. it comes with a car and home charger.
Popularity: 27% [?]
Roamsters Short-Listed for the Schmap Guide
Posted November 15, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under News
This is pretty cool. I received the following message about the picture shown here to the left.
Your photo(s) shown below have been short-listed for inclusion in the third edition of our Schmap Vancouver Guide, to be published mid-November 2007.
While we offer no payment for publication, many photographers are pleased to submit their photos, as Schmap Guides give their work recognition and wide exposure, and are free of charge to readers. Photos are published at a maximum width of 150 pixels, are clearly attributed, and link to high-resolution originals at Flickr.
If you would like your short-listed photo(s) to continue to our Vancouver Guide final selection phase, please read our ‘Terms of Submission’ and press the ‘Submit’ button, no later than our editorial submission deadline – Sunday, November 11.
Just one of the benefits of putting your photos on Flickr I guess.
Technorati Tags: Schmap Vancouver Guide, Flickr
Popularity: 20% [?]
Windstorm: Powerless in Penticton
Posted November 15, 2007 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under At Home
We arrived home from our trip to New York and Toronto in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
Although Don, our housesitter, had phoned us in Toronto to tell us about the Penticton windstorm and downed trees in our yard (see the pictures), it wasn’t until the next morning that we became fully aware of how much damage the 100 kilometer per hour winds had caused, particularly in our neighbourhood and down at Skaha Park on the beach.
After seeing the destruction first hand, I was amazed that there were no injuries or deaths caused by falling trees during the storm considering the number of trees that crashed into houses and cars. I was more amazed still after hearing our neighbours talk about being outside and watching the ground heave as the trees swayed wildly in the wind.
Thirteen big trees on our street of only 14 houses were dropped by the wind. We lost 5 trees in total, including a huge blue spruce that took out a big maple which fell into the hydro lines and caused the power pole to collapse. The lines fell around our neighbour’s truck and actually melted a piece of his driveway. The top portion of a poplar in the backyard snapped off and landed on a hawthorne splitting it in half. Lastly, a spruce in the back yard was sheared off about 8 feet above the ground, lifted upwards and then sideways clearing the fence and another landscaped part of the side yard, before it landed in the street.
Our weather station (shown top left) clocked the top wind speed at 80 kilometers per hour, and down the street another friend with a weather station showed top speeds of 101 kilometers per hour.
We were SO lucky not to have sustained any damage to the house, unlike so many others who need to have windows replaced and are looking at roof truss replacement in the spring.
Although I thought we were properly prepared with our emergency kit for a lengthy power failure (this one lasted 2 and a half days) with both gas and wood fireplaces, a gas stove and water heater, the Grundig emergency radio this event proved that we still have more work to do.
Although we had tons of emergency candles and crank flashlights (that don’t require batteries), one of the essential elements we were missing was a couple of really bright lights, like this 10 Million Power™ Series Spotlight or better yet, a Coleman® fluorescent lantern such as the one pictured left and available online at the HurricaneStore.com. We picked up 3 of them yesterday, and just one provides ample lighting in any large room.
Because I hate having to throw out food and would like the house to stay warmer than 12.9 degrees celsius, our next investment will be a generator large enough to power both the fridge and the furnace.
And last but not least, and although it is completely unecessary, I want a little TV for those really long power outages.
Technorati Tags: Penticton, windstorm, skaha, trees
Popularity: 17% [?]
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