Beauty More Than Skin Deep

Casa Munras will delight you with its classic California hacienda architecture. The evocative hacienda theme is carried through each guest room to create a retreat from the ordinary. With many types of rooms available, you can be confident that you can book for business or pleasure and find the room and hotel amenities you’ve come to expect – excellent beds, free technology access, DVD, and, of course, a coffee maker, and even a fridge in some rooms, or by request.

Luxuriate

The sparkling outdoor heated pool beckons, or maybe walking through the beautifully landscaped gardens is your idea of relaxation. The list of amenities is bound to have something to appeal to your need to rejuvenate, from a massage at the spa to a workout at the fitness center. Don’t forget their restaurant and lounge to begin or end your day. Best of all, in my book, is that it’s a completely 100% smoke-free environment.

Takeaway Truth

A good hotel should be more than a place to sleep away from home. It should be a refuge from the hectic world. In other words, it should be a home away from home.

Home Vs. Hotel

I think perhaps her reasoning is why a lot of people choose a vacation rental home instead of the traditional hotel/motel visit. She explained that she and her husband were hitching a trailer to their SUV with all their toys on the trailer. They planned to take their motorcycles, jet skis, and even their golf cart if they could make room for it.

Everyone laughed, but she explained that if you rent all those toys, you always ended up with sub-par equipment that had been abused by other tourists. She and her husband figured out it wouldn’t be any more expensive to rent a trailer and bring their own motorized toys.

Admittedly, not all of us want to go to that extreme to have our own things to use during vacations, but we probably all understand the feeling of wanting to be in a nice home instead of an impersonal, and sometimes, inconvenient hotel whose quality may not match their promo materials.

VacationRental.org

Visit this website that specializes in vacation rentals, Beach, golf, lake, or ski? They’ve got rentals all over the globe for you to book. You can even offer your property for vacation rental and find a property manager too. A Search box makes it easy to find a vacation listing in a place you want to visit. For instance, if you want to visit the Keys, it’s easy to find a place to stay. Or, maybe a ski vacation in Steamboat Springs is more your cup of hot cider.

Takeaway Truth

Isn’t it time to think outside the hotel box before you book your next vacation?

PrinceResortOnline.com

Today I was checking out their website again, thinking about an October vacation if I could swing it, when I saw they had added a Cam Pier to their website. You’ve got to go click it right now. It’s in real time and pans 360 degrees to show you the sun dappled ocean, blue sky, and the pier lined with happy people. Of course, they’re happy. They’re at one of the best of all the Myrtle Beach Resorts instead of slaving away in an office somewhere or baking cookies for the PTA.

You’ll be inspired to visit Prince Resort yourself, just by looking at the photographs on the website. Have you ever seen a more beautiful sunset? Or maybe you’re the type of person more inspired by luxury, room service, and the best in restaurants. If so, don’t hesitate to make your Myrtle Beach Accomodations, oops, that’s accommodations, today.

Amenities? Oh, Yes!

They’ve got luxury suites with gorgeous ocean views, and the famous Cherry Grove Pier (985 feet long) is just waiting for you. The best in fishing and water sports not to mention shopping, dining, entertainment and fun can all be yours just by contacting the resort via the website or calling using the phone number posted on the website. You can even text the code shown to enter their sweepstakes and win a free vacation.

Takeaway Truth

Earl Wilson once said: “A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking.” How true!

Why Van Insurance?

This specialty insurance enables a policy holder to operate a van up to 3.5 tonnes on any UK or EU member states highways. Sometimes, van insurance is referred to as Commercial Vehicle Insurance or Commercial Van Insurance. Whatever you call it, remember that it’s a legal requirement to have it if you drive a van on public roads.

AutoNetInsurance

Regardless of the size van you operate, from Micro to Large or even Car Derived Vans and Pickups, you can get the peace of mind you need from AutoNetInsurance, specialists in UK van insurance requirements. Although if you need van insurance cover for temporary use abroad, they can help you with that too.

How They Work

Visit their website, and you’ll see that they get quotes from the top insurance companies in the UK. In fact, they check dozens of the leading insurers every day, and they have insurance experts ready to help you get the coverage you need. If you wonder why there are different covers and different rates, just check out the articles on their website. Sometimes, cheap isn’t the way to go if you sacrifice protection for the lower rate. That’s explained also on their website.

Contact Them

You can get a quote online or call them. They’re standing by, waiting to help you. They strive to please and even have a 24 hour claim line to make the claim process as easy and convenient as possible so it won’t interfere with your business life. They know that, in many cases, the business van is the key to a successful business.

Credibility

How do they know this? Like they say in Texas, this isn’t their first rodeo. AutoNetInsurance is one of the UK’s biggest independently owned van insurance brokers. They cater to the policyholder by matching the policy to the customer’s needs. You don’t have to believe me. Just check out their guarantee on their website.

Takeaway Truth

Insurance is something you hope you never need, but isn’t it nice to know you’ve got it if the need does arise?

Benefits

Since a Vision Premier® Prepaid Visa® Card works just like a debit card, you can use it anywhere a regular Visa card is accepted so it gives you access to your money any time of the day or night at ATM’s across the country. It also gives you the convenience of paying your bills online. Best of all approval is guaranteed without the necessity of a credit check.

You don’t have to give up your bank account in order to use one of these prepaid cards. They’re convenient when you travel. You can leave your other cards, cash, and checkbook at home because this card can be used just about anywhere. I’ve enjoyed the convenience of a prepaid card so I recommend them to other moms for when their kids travel away from home.

In fact, it’s a way to stay within your vacation budget because you get instant balance notifications when your balance changes so you can keep an eye on what you’re spending.

Direct Deposit Gives More

When you sign up for Direct Deposit, you have noWeekly Fees, no Transaction Fees, and you never run the risk of the dreaded Non Sufficient Funds fee. You won’t have to wait in line to cash checks. In fact, you can have your paycheck or government benefits easily available by requesting Direct Deposit to your prepaid card.

Website Resources Educate

VisionPrepaid.com, a secure website, gives you all the information you need to make an informed decision about this financial tool, and that’s what it is: a tool to help you manage your money, reduce your expenses, and enjoy its convenience and safety.

Check out Card Benefits to see exactly what you’ll get. You can even use their Savings Calculations to see what you’ll save in fees, and you can compare their card to others at Card Comparison. How It Works explains exactly how these convenient prepaid cards can work for you.

Takeaway Truth

Technology has made new tools available for all of us to use and enjoy. Do your research, and you might find a better way to do traditional tasks.

What The Doctor Ordered

There’s spa activities for me and my poor tired daughter as well as an elegant room, family type hospitality, and wonderful restaurants. For my husband, there’s a championship golf course that should keep him busy. If we recover our energy enough to want other activities, they have mountain biking and horseback riding, as well as the usual seasonal sports.

Historic Crater Lake

Since the resort is built around a historic crater lake, now called Homestead Crater, there’s even swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving offered. If that’s too strenuous for you, try the warm mineral bath inside the cavern. The best thing about this off the beaten track resort is that you can choose your own activities or choose to do nothing but relax, surrounded by pastoral beauty.

Check out their website for ideas to plan the perfect vacation, make reservations, see their Calendar of Events, or just to Chat or Talk with a representative about how Homestead Resort can help you rekindle your spark.

Takeaway Truth

For the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation, choose a resort that’s specialized in those two things for more than a hundred years.

Memories Of Asia

Nehru said: “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” Why not seek a real adventure with this vacation? Perhaps plan a trip to Australia and see the Sydney Opera House. Or, maybe Shanghai in China, an ultra cosmopolitan city with ancient roots, is more to your liking.

A thrill of a lifetime for me was Hong Kong. I can still remember peering through the fog from the top of Victoria Peak at the lights of Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Victoria Harbour. What an unforgettable scene that was. I get goose bumps just recalling that night.

Save With Accor Hotels

What ever destination you choose, from Australia to Vietnam, you can reserve your room at a great savings through Accor Hotels. You’ll see the room rates starting price posted on the website next to the city destinations. You can find a room with the amenities you want at a price you want. In fact, they’re offering savings up to 60% if you book your hotel online between June 23 through June 29, for stays between July 10 and September 30, 2009. Now that’s a bargain.

Loyalty Pays

You can join the A Club and earn points on all your City Sale Bookings. It’s easy to join, just click “Join Now” on the webpage. You might also be interested in Accor Advantage Plus membership in which you can receive a 10% discount on City Sale rates. It’s also explained on the website.

Website Resource

In fact, AccorHotels.com is a resource of information for the traveler. You can book a hotel, get travel ideas, view their many promotions, find out about their Loyalty Programs, and Contact them. For the Travel Professional, check out the information on Corporate, Meetings and Events, Travel Agents, Leisure Professionals.

Takeaway Truth

Many centuries ago, Lao Tzu said: “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” Maybe it’s time to take that first step by booking a hotel for the vacation of a lifetime.

Fountains In Italy

When I summered in Italy, I was struck by the number of fountains everywhere: inside, outside, in business centers and historic sites, on side streets and on major thoroughfares. There are some fountains in still thriving medieval villages piping water down from the mountains via ancient Roman aqueducts. Everywhere you go, the musical sound of splashing water greets you. Maybe that’s why everyone in Italy seemed so happy and friendly.

Daily Pleasure

You too can enjoy this mood elevator on a daily basis with an indoor fountain. At Garden-Fountains.com, you can choose between wall fountains or a tabletop model. Adding lighting can make a wall fountain the dramatic and artistic focal point of a room. Best of all? You can choose a fountain that reflects your home design whether contemporary or traditional. Check out the section on Indoor fountains, and you’ll learn the “do’s” and “do not’s” of indoor fountains.

The website tells you everything you need to know in order to shop smart when you buy a fountain. It’s easy to find the fountain that suits your needs and your budget by searching through their Categories: Garden Fountains, Wall Fountains, Fiberglass Fountains, Waterfalls, and Statuary.

Some purists may say that a fountain should be made only of stone, but once you check out the fiberglass wall fountain, you’ll dismiss those opinions. Fiberglass, not to be confused with the inferior product resin, comes in a sandstone finish that will make you think it’s stone if it weren’t for the lighter weight. That lighter weight will delight you when it comes to shipping. I especially like the Archimede Wall Fountain because it reminds me of so many I saw in Italy.

Entertaining Education

Garden-Fountains.com is a BBB Online Website that takes all major credit cards. You can order online or use their toll free number. They even provide free shipping on select fountains. No wonder they’re celebrating seven years in business. For those who love fountains or want to learn more, they provide articles for your entertainment and education, for instance, Use and Care of Garden Fountains. I particularly enjoyed reading the History of Garden Fountains.

Takeaway Truth

Herman Melville, author of the masterpiece Moby Dick, wrote: “Meditation and water are wedded for ever.” I think that must be what we know subconsciously, and that’s what makes water so pleasing to our senses.

Hidden Jewel

In case you haven’t heard about Isla Mujeres, let me describe this tiny jewel in the Mexican Caribbean which is in the area you might know as Cancun. Where Cancun is frenetic and overrun with college, and even high school kids, Isla Mujeres is more private and secluded. Just what newlyweds want. Yet, it’s less than 5 miles from Cancun (that’s 7 kilometers for those of you who speak metric).

Goddess of Love

Rich in history, this island paradise is separated from Cancun by a span of crystal blue water. You can get there by car or by express ferry which, in actuality, is an air conditioned boat complete with sun deck. This secret paradise, discovered by Spanish explorers five hundred years ago was named for the nearby temple dedicated to Ixchel, Goddess of Love, Fertility, and the Moon. How very appropriate for weddings and honeymoons.

Pirates

In the 1800s, it was a pirate hideaway then a wealthy family’s hacienda until it was abandoned, leaving only a few fishermen and their families. Through the years, it has grown as visitors have discovered its beauty. Indeed, its popularity among those seeking relaxation and renewal is equaled by those interested in the wealth of water sports available, and everyone likes to indulge in sunset watching.

Best of the Best

Romantic, exotic, and secluded, if you want it that way. What more could you ask for in a wedding destination? Whether you want your loved ones barefoot on the golden sand or dressed to the nines in elegant surroundings, a wedding at the Ixchel Beach Hotel in Isla Mujeres will be the wedding of your dreams. You can contact them via email from their website or phone them. While visiting their website, check out the items on “What To Do” and “What To See,” and your honeymoon will be planned too.

Takeaway Truth

Everyone has dreams about the perfect wedding. Make your dreams come true. It’s easier than you think.

Perfect Combination

Rogue Regency Inn & Suites is that appealing combination of elegance and casual comfort that’s so desirable yet so hard to put together. Obviously, they have figured out the way to do it right because their guests return again and again. Maybe it’s because of their outstanding guest service or maybe it’s the beautiful surroundings, for example their stunning two-story lobby and the 203 rooms designed to not only offer home comforts to weary travelers but also to impress the most experienced traveler.

Amenities Of Course

They offer the amenities you want when you’re traveling: high speed wireless Internet, indoor pool and spa, fitness equipment, a complimentary continental breakfast (or a discount if you order from the breakfast menu), a resident massage therapist, and a nail and hair salon too.

Website Tour

You can view their rooms and check rates on their website. They have something to fit every need from cozy rooms to large suites. Read about their Banquet/Meeting Facilities, check out Chadwick’s Pub, and read the long list of Local Attractions.

For reservations, just click the tab and you’ll be taken to a Secure page where you can compare rooms and rates and make a reservation. If you prefer, click Contact Us for phone numbers, email form, maps, and driving instructions. They’ll be happy to help you in any way they can because that’s what hospitality and guest service are all about.

Takeaway Truth

Planning a vacation? Summertime is nice and cool in the great Northwest. Now, wouldn’t that be refreshing?

Website Tour

Just look at that sunset over the ocean. I’ve traveled a lot and seen a lot of the world’s oceans. This view is comparable to any I’ve seen. With their new luxury suites and these gorgeous ocean views, The Prince Resort is one of the most beautiful of the North Myrtle Beach Resorts.

The website allows you to check Rates as well as Availability. There’s a great flickr® slide presentation that features the beauty of the resort as well as a Marsh Cam which is so cool. It’s a live feed that refreshes every 15 seconds. It’s almost like being there and watching the day pass in the neighborhood. How neat is that?

Luxury Matched By Amenities

What goes with luxurious accommodations and ocean views like those offered at this North Myrtle Beach Resort? Why, amenities of course, and the amenities offered are those that are most popular: a fabulous restaurant (get the website dinner coupon), swimming pools (ground floor and rooftop as well as one for the kids), hot tubs, fitness rooms (cardio and weights), and more.

Naturally, the suites are beautifully decorated and have expansive windows for viewing the stunning sunsets. They also have all the bells and whistles you’re looking for, i.e., high speed Internet, TV in the living room as well as all the bedrooms, even washers, dryers, and designer kitchen appliances if you need them.

If you want to get out and about, there is a wide variety of entertainment packages. Sailing charters, fishing, golf packages, family adventures, or romantic interludes can all be arranged. Oh, don’t forget the world class shopping and the Atlantic beaches.

Website Specials

If this will be your first time visiting The Prince Resort, check out the Manager’s Specials on the website. After all, everyone loves a bargain. Sign up for their newsletter and their sweepstakes. Want to reserve or find out more? Use their website forms or open a Live Chat. You can even click to speak to a person, and a representative will call you. What could be easier?

Takeaway Truth

Sun and sand are waiting for you, so what are you waiting for?

Creature Comforts

I like being able to sit on an air conditioned, comfortable tour bus and see the sights. In fact, I’m one of those tourists that love to hit every landmark, monument, and museum possible when I travel so Haymarket fits my agenda perfectly. They have everything from motor coaches that seat as many as 57 passengers to shuttle buses that seat 32. In fact, they have every kind of corporate transportation from limos to SUVs. I guess, that’s why they’re called a full service transportation company.

Now That’s Customer Service

Any company who says their goal is to make my life easier is a company I want to do business with. With their attention to detail, their wide selection of tour packages, their fleet of varying size vehicles, and their readiness to work with you to design a cost effective plan to meet your transportation needs, no matter how big or small the job may be, they’ve built a reputation for offering luxury and dependable transportation service.

It’s easy to book an event, whether it’s a school field trip, a corporate retreat, a wine tour, or just airport service. Use their toll free or local phone numbers to get in touch or fax or email them. There’s even an email form on their website you can use to contact a reservation specialist.

Takeaway Truth

Smart companies use well designed websites to make life easier for their clients, and this results in a win/win situation for client and company.

Location Is Everything

Rocky Point is located on the beautiful Sea of Cortez, also called the Gulf of California, and it’s the body of water separating the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland. Most maps call it Gulf of California, but the local residents prefer the Sea of Cortez, as do I. It just sounds more exotic.

The Sea of Cortez is fed by the Fuerte, Mayo, Sinaloa, Sonora, and the Yaqui Rivers and has a surface area more than 62,000 square miles. So when I tell you that you can fish, swim, scuba dive, and so much more then you can take that to mean that the quality of the water sports is amazing. Then of course there are the days you just want to lay in the golden sunshine and work on your tan or walk along the beaches in the day or by the light of the moon.

Oceano Rentals

Oceano Rentals, located just 65miles south of the International border (really just a hop, skip, and a jump from Phoenix, El Paso, and L. A.) has vacation rental homes of every description whether you want a house, a town home, or a condo. Sure they have beachfront views, and the luxury residences come with fully equipped kitchens and satellite television.

Website Resource

You can reserve online at their website or call their toll free number. The FAQ on the website explains every issue from “can I use my cell phone in Mexico” to “can I bring my pet” and more. You can see a listing of their vacation properties available to rent. Best of all, once you have visited Rocky Point, you’ll want to return so they have a VIP program that offers discounts for repeat customers.

Takeaway Truth

Remember what Earl Wilson said: “A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking.”

Of course, other friends can’t wait to head to the ski slopes for their winter vacations. Some, mostly guys, love snowboarding while others prefer downhill skiing, but everyone likes après-ski in a nice, warm lodge.

Regardless of the type of winter vacation that’s your particular cup of tea, one thing everyone agrees on is the need to obtain travel insurance for those little surprises life likes to toss your way – and I don’t mean the insurance offered by your travel agent. Unless you enjoy paying more than you have to.

Cheap Is the New Chic

I’m guessing you’re like most people. You don’t like paying more when you can get the same value for less. The doom-and-gloom world economists have made all of us research our financial decisions. But, we still want to have our fun vacations.

One vacation expense you can certainly reduce is the cost of  travel insurance.

CheapTravelInsurance dot com is less expensive than what travel agents offer because you can buy direct, either online or via their call center, or centre. They offer anything you could need from medical and accident to trip cancellation to baggage loss and a host of things in between to cover most age groups and just about every situation.

My standard advice about online retailers is to always check the website for credibility. You’ll find CheapTravelInsurance dot com reputable as evidenced by the security badges on their website.

Takeaway Truth

Join the new chic, savvy travelers who know value when they see it.

Last month on our vacation, my darling husband and I toured another winery and  vineyard. We enjoy doing this, and we always buy a wine we’ve tasted during our visit. I take scads of pictures and make lots of notes so, if it fits, I can use my visit as background for scenes in my novels as well as writing freelance articles about wine, one of my special interests.

Our visit to Lone Oak Winery in Burleson, Texas, was particularly enjoyable since my husband’s brother and his wife accompanied us.

Lone Oak is a small winery that opens to the public from noon to 7PM, Thursday – Sunday, for tastings. You can arrange for a guided tour by calling in advance, but we just strolled in, had great fun with tasting all their wines, including two ports, and then we did a self-guided tour.

Wine Dog

Actually, the self-guided tour had a guide – Sadie the wine dog. Sadie trotted ahead when we set upon the path through the vineyard. At every fork in the path, Sadie stopped and waited. As we approached, she turned and faced a particular direction and remained motionless, as if frozen in place. When we reached her, she set off down her chosen direction, and we followed like good tourists. We laughed as we followed Sadie from one grape planting to the next, making a big circuit through the vineyard and then back to the hospitality room.

Tasting

Lone Oak has an exceptional blush wine, and that’s what I just opened tonight. Normally, I favor the reds,  but in this case, the blush has a beguiling bouquet and a taste that’s light and fruity without being commonplace and sweet.

When it comes to wine, I’m so provincial that I swallow the samples presented to me at tastings. No gargling and spitting for me. Why waste good wine? I thoroughly enjoyed all their wines, but the one I really wanted to buy was their blush table wine, Rosa Blanca. As is our custom, my husband picked a bottle that he liked, I got the Rosa Blanca I wanted, and we purchased a couple of wine glasses, etched with the winery name.

If you’d like to visit Lone Oak Winery, Inc., they’re located at 2116 FM 731, Burleson, Texas 76028. Call (817) 426-6625 if you want to arrange a guided tour.

We chilled Rosa Blanca and opened it tonight. We filled our Lone Oak glasses. In a moment, I’ll finish this post, leave the computer, and drink the wine. We’ll also discuss the fun we had at Lone Oak during our vacation.

Takeaway Truth

Good times should be remembered and celebrated.