My Travel Tales

The popularity of timeshare rose through the years and has spread worldwide. Unfortunately, along with it popularity, opportunistic individuals has concocted various schemes to prey on your innocence to gain an easy buck. In fact, in recent years, there has been a rise in timeshare related crimes.

You have to be aware of the many timeshare scams that are conducted over the phone, A group has organized a means to obtain a list timeshare owners, and contact them stating that they have received information of an interested buyer to purchase the property for an irresistible price. Upon hearing the overwhelming amount for the transaction, an owner is eager to close the deal. Before the completion of the transaction, the owner is required to pay a certain amount of brokerage fees. When payment is received, the transaction ends, and you are left hanging . Your supposed buyer never shows up, and your broker is nowhere to be found, nor is your money!

Another variation of this scam is, someone informs you of a holiday trip you've won. These trips are available within an 18-month time span , and you have to make a quick decision or lose your chance forever. To go through with your trip, you have to pay a certain miscellaneous fee. More often than not, after you pay the fee, you receive news that the company that offered you the prize has closed down and disappeared.

But not all scams leave you empty handed. Another ploy used is an offer of a very attractive price for your existing timeshare in exchange for a purchase in another timeshare. The sale of your timeshare never happens, and you end up with two properties. There was a case, where a person was promised that both his timeshares would be sold after purchasing another timeshare. Again, the sale never happened and he was left with three timeshares.

Have the holidays become too commercial for you? Are you feeling empty and unfulfilled during this time of the year? This year by making some simple changes you and your children can truly make the holidays more meaningful.

Teach gratitude during the holidays:

Gratitude should not only be for the material presents but for the little blessings in their lives. Begin to have your children tell you each day three things that they are grateful for. This helps children understand the true meaning of the holidays in several ways. First, the children begin to notice the little gifts that they sometimes take for granted, a butterfly, a sunny day, getting to sleep late. Secondly, once they notice these little gifts and are grateful for them they can start bringing more of them into their awareness.

Empower your family with tools to make the holidays more meaningful:

Spend time discussing topics like what are you the most grateful for? How can you make the world a better place? How can this holiday be more meaningful? What presents make you feel the best? Plan a kind deed day and see who can perform the most random acts of kindness. Write little spiritual notes and leave them in their lunchboxes.

Give gifts from the heart:

Write a story, a letter or a poem for your children. If you are artistic paint a picture for them. Put a photo album or scrapbook together. Record on audiotape your favorite family memories. Make a book of all the reasons you are grateful to have your loved ones in your life. Share a favorite childhood treasure that you saved, like a coin or a doll from your favorite collection. Finally, purchase gifts from charities that donate back to community.

Learn and then teach the spiritual meaning behind each faiths traditions:

Share with your children that the candles are lit on Hanukah to symbolize the light of the Creator in our lives. Explain that a wreath is a symbol of the eternal circle of life. Describe how the presents for Kwanzaa represent the deep connection between parents and children. Illustrate how the sun's return and warmth are celebrated during the Winter Solstice. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa or the Winter Solstice share the beautiful miracles within each faith and then have your children share some of the miracles in their own lives.

Celebrate differences:

Attend a worship service with a friend or a family member of another faith. This exposes children to the marvelous ways we are more similar than different. For it is only when we embrace the differences, that we can truly come together in unity.

Make community service and helping those less fortunate part of your family holiday activities:

There are so many wonderful lessons when we give of ourselves to others. Have your children start or participate in a toy, clothing, or food drive for those less fortunate. By participating in charitable acts your children can learn that they can make a difference in the life of another, that they have a purpose, and that they can be part of the solution.

Slow down enough to enjoy the essence of your children and of the holidays:

Our children remember the time and the energy shared as a family not the gifts, the parties or how perfectly the house is decorated. Say no to commitments that are not going to serve the greater good of your family. As Kabril Gibran so eloquently said in The Prophet, "Our children are but ours for such a short time." Make this short time a time of wonder and reverence for your children to discover the true meaning of the holidays.

One of the more challenging aspects of being a flight attendant is providing in-flight service excellence to your customers. When operating out of familiar territory selecting a highly regarded caterer is usually not a problem. However, can that high level of service be found in Boise as well as in Beijing? And, if so, where can this information be found?

According to, "THE INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF CORPORATE AVIATION CATERING SERVICES," you certainly can find a caterer in Boise, Beijing, and hundreds of other locations worldwide. First published in 2001, the directory is a one-of-a-kind book chock full of caterers from around the globe. The 400+ page, 6" x 9" directory is organized by continent, country, and airport code.

Each section begins with a city/airport code cross reference table for that region to enable you to find the airports that each caterer serves. Those catering organizations with multiple airport locations have separate listings in each airport. This particular feature is wonderful as the referencer need not flip throughout the book in an attempt to find and compare caterers.

As far as particular caterers in more remote locations, the directory lists A Catered Affair as the lone caterer for Boise, but has four sources for Beijing. For example, Beijing Air Catering Co LTD serves Capital International Airport. The guide gives this particular caterer's address, a contact name, hours of operation, e-mail address, phone and fax numbers, and an "other" number which I assume is a backup or cellular phone number. Typically, for many of the far flung places the guide lists a flight planner such as Universal Weather & Aviation or Air Routing International as the contact for that city. According to the guide, these two companies will recommend a caterer at the destination and can provide a local representative to bridge any language barriers.

The guide also offers a "Helpful Reminders" section for the flight attendant under the heading, "Advance Planning When Traveling Outside the United States." Included are tips on contacting the caterer ahead of time, what to do [as mentioned above] when no local caterer is listed, keeping appropriate containers onboard your aircraft in the event that the caterer does not have the correct sized packaging to fit in your microwave, and more.

The guide will be updated on a regular basis and is currently available in paperback and eventually also will be available on CDROM.

Many of the catering recommendations were received by knowledgeable corporate flight attendants directly. As such, some of the addresses or phone numbers may have changed, while some of the businesses may have closed altogether. Always check in advance to see if the caterer is still available.

I'm constantly surprised by the lack of thought that some people exhibit when choosing a gift. I don't equate gift selection with rocket science, but perhaps for some it's just as challenging.

I remember a Christmas years ago when I shared a large apartment with three other students. No one was making the journey home that year, so we decided to create our own celebration, complete with turkey dinner and (inexpensive) gifts.

Before going shopping, I thought about my roommates and made a quick list of their interests and hobbies. Susan was a keen cook so I chose a classic cookbook for her, along with a cute 'kitchen witch'. Her husband Jim loved music, so after asking Susan the name of his favorite band, I bought him their latest CD, one he didn't have in his collection. Peter was a keen hiker, so I drove to the nearest camping store and found him a great water bottle insulator.

Christmas morning arrived, and after a leisurely breakfast, we gathered around the tree to open our gifts. Susan and I exchanged ours first, and I was surprised to discover she had bought me three frilly coat hangers. Yes, they were pretty but they were so not me.

Then Jim handed me a package and I found myself clutching three women's magazines. I'd always been a fan of non-fiction books, and the last thing I'd ever read was one of these publications.

Finally I opened Peter's gift. He'd bought me four white soup bowls! And not especially attractive bowls

To recycle a tired old clich?delightful things often come in diminutive packages. Surveying the Caribbean, there are many islands to choose from that convey a message of exoticism, relaxation and jaw-dropping beauty that make your hometown landscape seem black and white in comparison, and some of these islands are easier to spot than others. When deciding on your next island vacation, don't overlook St. John; it's relatively tiny but packs a big punch and does an incredible job of making you feel like you're far, far away.

Much of St. John's allure revolves around the fact that two thirds of the island is pure, untouched nature. Protected by the United States as designated national park land, these hills, valleys, forests and beaches are untainted and lush, brimming with wildlife and Technicolor beauty. This is the smallest of the US Virgin Islands, but once you set foot on the soil of this impressive place you'll be convinced that 28 square miles is more than enough to make your getaway supremely satisfying.

Tours led by knowledgeable guides will acquaint you with the sights of the island, or if you're feeling adventurous you can head out on your own and just let the peaceful ambiance overcome you. Whether you're nestled into a jeep or walking along the path with no particular itinerary in mind, this will be a good first activity to get you in the vacation mood, if you're still hanging on to that last bit of stress, that is.

The beaches are the best part about St. John. From scenic Rams Head to the white sandy wonderland that is Trunk Bay, you'll feel like you've stumbled onto a very well-kept secret as you survey the scene. That's another plus; crowds tend to be thinner here than in other Caribbean isles, perhaps because it's tucked away from the main thoroughfare or maybe people just don't know what they're missing. Either way, it's to your advantage. Enjoy the beaches without feeling trampled upon, and pretend like you've escaped to your own tailor-made hideaway in the clear blue ocean.

The run-through isn't over yet; we've yet to visit the place nicknamed Love City. Cruz Bay is a little more action packed than St. John's other spots, as it is the home of shops, grocery stores, gear and jeep rental services and restaurants. This will be the home base for your scuba diving adventures, and where you can stock up on souvenirs and staples to take back to your vacation rental. Don't expect a bustling city atmosphere or anything, but it gets the job done in a pleasingly laid-back way.

The climate and conditions of St. John make it ideal for plant growth, and a common activity involves taking a flower tour. Heavenly orchids dot the hills, century plants add a sense of time and history, and the Red Ginger's ruby color will cause you to continually marvel at its vibrancy. Hibiscus, prickly pear cactus, Hanging Heliconia and the Bananaquit, the official bird of the island, will all delight your senses as you meander through the wonderful world of St. John.

In addition to all of this, there are boat tours, horseback riding, windsurfing, fishing, surfing and paragliding to keep you busy. Many visitors find it not only worthwhile but ideal to snag a St. John Vacation Rental that will make your home away from home as comfortable as possible. If you're taking the time to traipse all the way to the Caribbean for what is certainly a hard-earned vacation, you may as well treat yourself to a well-rounded and pampering experience on all fronts. Vacation rentals allow for the possibilities of breakfast in bed, cocktails on your private patio, naps in the middle of the afternoon, and short strolls to the beach, among other things. Seeing this island through the windows of a cute cottage on the shoreline or a fabulous Oceanside villa will make this dreamy vacation even dreamier, so at least check out the options as you start to plan your trip.

St. John is a true find, and one that you should make an effort to seek out. It's not the biggest or the most well-known Caribbean isle, but that's something that will become your gain and everyone else's loss.

A romantic vacation is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with one's partner. Romantic vacations are an easy and exciting way to keep the romance alive and flourishing in a relationship. These offer the perfect setting to enjoy time together with a loved one, away from the hustle bustle of the city.

Nowadays, all people work harder and for longer hours than they used to. Kids, chores, and several other daily activities take up a good portion of a person's free time outside of work. Couples who have been married for several years, as well as those who have just begun dating hardly find the opportunity and time to get away and just be romantic together.

Research has shown that homemakers who took a vacation once every six years or less had almost twice the risk of suffering from heart attacks as homemakers who took vacations two or more times a year. Another study found that compared to men who never took vacations, men going on annual vacations were 21% less likely to die over the next nine years and 32% less likely to die of coronary heart disease. A romantic vacation has thus has the power to transform people's lives.

The best way to start with a romantic vacation is with communication. Finding out what both parties expect and want will be the starting point of a great romantic getaway. With modern conveniences such as the Internet, people can book a romantic getaway from the comfort of their own home. There are thousands of romantic getaway travel packages to choose from. Many of these packages include special services that help create the ideal romantic mood, complete with champagne on arrival, chocolates, flowers, bubble baths and breakfast in bed.

These romantic vacations are perfect to enjoy some quality time with one's partner and rejuvenate the sense. Such a vacation is perfect to start a new week of work with more vigor and enthusiasm. A person can make the best use of this uninterrupted time with the partner to rekindle the spark in a relationship.

It's summer time and the living is easy. So time to go shopping and get a new pair of sneakers. But you don't want an ordinary pair of sneakers. You want something unique, flashy, and eye catching. So wither your a native New Yorker or your visiting from out of town here are some of the best spot to find sneakers in NYC.

1. Premium Good's 694 Fulton St (Btw. Ft. Green Pl & S. Elliot), 718.403.9348 Train: A or C to Layffette Hours: 10am-7pm Looking for Bathing Ape? They have em! Plus a whole slew of sneakers many people have never seen in the US.

2. Alife Rivington Club 158 Rivington St Cross Street: Between Clinton Street and Suffolk Street 212.375.8128 Train: F to Second Ave Hours: Tues-Sun. 12pm-7pm This down-low sneaker spot have some SERIOUS kicks that will make you shell out that $300.

3. Adidas Orginals 136 Wooster St 212.777.2001 Train: N or R to Prince St. Hours: 10am-7pm My Adidas! Your Adidas! Who does't like Adidas!

4. Training Camp 41 and 6th AVe Train: D Train to 42nd. Hours: 10am-7pm A large selections of sneakers and large sizes for those with big feet.

5. ATMOS 203 West 125th Street Train: A Train to 125th St. Hours: 10am-7pm The best place in Harlem to find affordable and hard to find sneakers.

6. NikeTown 6 East 57th St. NY 212.891.6453 www.niketown.com Train: N or R to 57th Hours: 10am-7pm The mothership for all that is NIKE!

7. Laces 252 Mott Street 212.334.5457 Train: B, N, R to Broadway-Layffette Hours: Monday by appointment only, Tues-Friday 10am-7pm. The only sneaker store in town that's execlusivly for women.

8. KCDC 99 North 10th Street 718.387.9006 kcdcskateshop.com Break out ya skate board and skate your troubles away. otherwise pick up a nice pairk of sneakers here.

9. Dave's Quality Meats 7 East 3rd off the Bowery 212.505.7551 Train: F to Bowery Hours: 10am-7pm You won't find salamey here but a dope selections of sneakers and t-shirts.

10. Nort 235 235 Eldridge Street 212.777.6102 Train: Locations throughout Manhattan Hours: 10am-7pm if your looking for sneakers that you won't see alot of people wearing then visit this spot.

In Cape Coast, the men greet travellers with a flash of white teeth and a limp, drawn-out handshake which ends with a rather complicated finger click. Children refrain joyously from that ditches that line the roads, "Hello. How are you? I'm fine." Women smile shyly from the side of the road where they are braiding each other's hair in divinely-named boutiques such as

If you have never had the opportunity to fly across the ocean then I both feel sorry for you and I envy you. I love traveling and taking vacations, especially when it means going to someplace that is really far away, but the flight is a real killer. I don't know about you but there is only so much that I can really think about doing on a flight that lasts 6 or more hours. Sure they have movies and the shopping catalogs and airplane instructions in the seatback in front of you but will this be enough to keep you occupied as you are traveling so long? Here are a few things that I do in order to combat airline boredom.

1. I always carry my own reading material. I know that there are so many different periodicals that I get in the mail and I am never able to keep up on them. Sometimes I am not even up to opening them, they simply go into the pile for things that I'm going to do someday. Well when you are taking a long flight it is a great time to catch up on your reading, just take them along in your carryon luggage.

2. Play a game. If you enjoy playing games then you would probably enjoy having something like a Gameboy along with you on the trip. I know that this is good for me for at least a couple of hours, maybe more if I break the playing time up over several periods. You can also bring a game like boggle, or something that is contained if you are traveling with someone that also suffers from airline boredom.

3. Write a letter. If you are anything like me you are always wanting to write letters to people but don't have the time to do it. Sitting on the plane you will have all the time that you need to write those notes that you have been putting off for so long.

4. Make a list - Think of things that need done and make them out into lists. Take the down time that you have while sitting on the flight and get more organized.

These are just a few things that will help the time to pass more quickly on a long flight. I hope that it helps you to get where you are going feeling a bit more refreshed.

Ever since Alcatraz was opened to the public in 1972, it has become one of the most visited historic sites in San Francisco. About a million people visit the island each year. Therefore, tickets to Alcatraz sell out as early as one to two weeks in advance. This is especially true during the summers and weekends.

To get to Alcatraz Island, you'll need to board the Blue and Gold Fleet, which is the exclusive provider of transportation to and from the Island. Departures are available throughout the day beginning at 9:30 a.m., and runs about every 30 to 40 minutes.

Many people resort to the Advance ticket sales where you can book tickets by calling the Blue; Gold Fleet at (415) 705-5555, or through their official website at www.blueandgoldfleet.com. You can also buy tickets from their booth at Pier 41, Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco. Group Reservations can also be made by calling (415) 705-8214 for groups of 15 or more.

There are several tours available for Alcatraz. One of them is the Day tour, which includes an award-winning audio tour in the prison Cell House featuring actual interviews of former guards and inmates, along with a ferry ride to and from Alcatraz. The ferries return every 1/2 hour. Ticket prices - Adults $26.00, Children $20.75 and $24.50 for Seniors.

The evening tour has been selected as Best Tour of the Bay Area by San Francisco Magazine and features park guide-led tours to the cell-house, the audio tour, Alcatraz Map, Guide, etc. But remember, a few sections of the island that are open at daytime are not open to the public at night. Ticket prices - Adults $33.50, Children $24.25 and Seniors $30.75.

Other tours such as outdoor interpretive walks are also made available by NPS rangers and volunteers featuring a number of topics ranging from history of early military fortifications, famous residents, escape attempts etc to natural history and the Indian occupation.

There is also a combination tour called Alcatraz and Angel Island Tour, which takes approximately 5 1/2 hours. The tour features ferry to and from Angel Island and Alcatraz, one hour narrated Tram Tour of Angel Island and an Audio Tour of Alcatraz Cell House.