Picture yourself waking to the warmth of sunshine slanting through your window, then enjoying the sound of gently crashing waves as you take your morning coffee out on your beachfront terrace.
Fortunately, putting yourself in this idyllic setting doesn't have to break the bank. There are affordable beach resorts all over the world-from Mexico to Thailand-where a night's stay doesn't cost much more than dinner and wine with friends at your favorite local restaurant. Every year, the Travel + Leisure staff scours the globe to find great, inexpensive coastal resorts; none of the properties on our list costs more than $250 a night (and some cost much less).
So no matter when-or where-you're planning on traveling, this is the list to check out if an affordable beach resort is on this year's itinerary.
Anacaona Boutique Hotel
Meads Bay, AnguillaOn an island where $1,000-a-night rates barely raise an eyebrow, the recently reopened Anacaona Boutique Hotel manages to feel like a splurge. There's Frette linens and free Wi-Fi in the 27 tropical-chic rooms, two pools-and even waiter service on the beach.
Cost: $250
Don't Miss: Thursday nights at the hotel's Fire Fly Restaurant & Bar, when a local troupe performs Afro-Caribbean dances.
(Photo: Susan Croft)
Cooper Island Beach Club
British Virgin IslandsYou won't find shops, nightclubs, casinos, or even televisions in the rooms at this resort located on Manchioneel Bay on the northwest side of 480-acre Cooper Island. A casual beachside restaurant and bright but simple rooms with kitchenettes, radios, ceiling fans, and private baths with outdoor showers are about all there is here-but that's enough. Don't expect much more than palm trees, a sandy beach, clear water, and potent rum drinks.
Cost: $250
Don't Miss: Many guests say the restaurant is their main reason for coming back-try the local specialty of conch fritters served with a spicy dip.
Best affordable beach resorts
The world's most expensive handbags Photo
Since the fashion industry is constantly recycling past styles and struggling to come up with new concepts, often "in the know" stylish types attempt to get noticed by creating or wearing the most expensive or most extravagant item possible (ahem, Lady Gaga). Until now the big status get was the $20,000 Hermes Birkin bag (made famous by Samantha on "Sex and the City"), but it's nothing compared to House of Mouawad's new "1001 Nights Diamond Purse," which clocks in at a whopping $3.8 million.
Five offbeat cars coming in 2011
Strange experiments are happening in the auto industry.Companies are cross-pollinating different types of vehicles to create new breeds, and the results are sometimes perplexing.
For example, Nissan has turned its pudgy Murano into a convertible. Meanwhile, Range Rover is trying to show some concern for the environment by offering its smallest, most car-like SUV ever, the Evoque.
Both the Murano and Evoque are considered "crossovers," which by definition are a mixed bag to begin with: They blend attributes of SUVs, wagons and minivans. So it seems these new variations represent the next level of crossing over.
The line between different kinds of cars is also getting hazier, driven in part by a focus on making smaller cars more appealing. Both Hyundai and Scion are launching compact cars that stray from the norm in terms of seating and overall packaging. The intention is to make them more practical and thus appeal to a wider audience.
Of the new vehicles coming in 2011, here are five that don't quite fit typical moulds.
Sneaky Ways To Get Better Gas Mileage
Motorists looking to save on a litre of gas needn't drive across province lines in search of cheaper prices at the pump.
The answer is right under the hood. That's because more frequent air filter changes can improve your vehicle's gas mileage by as much as 10%, the Car Care Council says. The filter keeps dirty particles from damaging the inside of your engine and helps it run more efficiently. The council, a consumer advocacy group that promotes vehicle maintenance, recommends checking the filter each time you change the oil every 3,000 miles (nearly 5,000 kilometres).
Other fuel-saving measures include keeping tires properly inflated, reducing your load and avoiding long idles.
Checklist: 10 Sneaky Ways To Save On Fuel
These adjustments have never been more important. Last week, the nationwide average price for regular gas pushed toward $1.30 a litre, and prices are expected to rise, some say, to as much as $2.50 by summer.
"You can't control the price of gas, but you can control how much gas you burn by proper maintenance and how you drive," says Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. "Performing simple and inexpensive maintenance can save as much as $1,200 a year."
Top Tips
We compiled 10 key fuel-saving tips and estimated fuel savings from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Car Care Council and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Convertible Cars Have Best Deals Now
By Liz Opsitnik
Wednesday, Feb 23 2011 14:52
If you want to save money, it's no secret that buying a seasonal item in the off-season will score you a great deal. Snow blowers, winter coats and boots can all be purchased with huge discounts in the spring and summer. The same goes for summer items like patio furniture, lawn mowers, swim suits and shorts when purchased in the fall or winter.
2011 Volvo C70
Unless you live in Florida or another warm-weather state, buying a convertible is hard to consider when there's a foot of snow on the ground. November, December, January and February are the best months to buy a convertible because car shoppers are looking at winter-friendly vehicles, like SUVs and trucks, and not shopping for convertibles. Cars.com's Kicking Tires reports that currently, the average 2011 convertible stays in dealership inventory for 52 days, while the average selling time for all vehicles is 40 days.
The 2011 Volvo C70, Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder and BMW Z4 should have the most room for price negotiations, as they aren't selling very quickly. The car research site says some convertibles will be harder to get a good deal on, like the Audi TT, Nissan 370Z and Infiniti G37, due to their higher demand and two-week or less selling time.
17 Ways To Sleep Better Tonight
Scientists like their zzz's just as much as you do — and have put their (hopefully well-rested) brains to studying what really helps you get a good night's sleep.
8 More Ways Ways to Fall Asleep Fast
1. Pump it Up Regular aerobic exercise — bicycling, walking at a moderate pace, swimming laps — for 30 to 40 minutes, four times a week, improves sleep quality. You can break it up into two 20-minute sessions if that fits better into your life. But don't schedule it in the evening; while exercise helps regulate your sleep/wake cycle, the stimulation that comes from a workout in the three hours before bedtime may cancel the benefit.
2. Combine Carbs and Proteins Carbohydrates help your brain use tryptophan, an amino acid that causes sleepiness. And proteins help your body build tryptophan. Get the duo in a light bedtime snack of peanut butter on toast or low-fat cheese and crackers.
Related: More Bedtime Snacks to Help You Sleep
3. Try Tai Chi This meditative martial art helps you sleep more deeply and for longer, studies have shown.Taichiproductions.com offers a selection of good, though somewhat pricey ($25), DVDs for beginners. The site also includes lists of certified instructors.
4. Try to Turn In and wake up at the same time every day. But don't worry if you occasionally miss your bedtime during the week — new research shows you can use weekend sleep-ins to help restore your body.
Related: 11 Easy Energy Boosters
5. Chill Out A cool bedroom lowers your core body temperature, which initiates sleepiness. Ideal thermostat setting? It varies from person to person, but try 65 degrees to start and then adjust, if necessary.
6. Stress Soother Frazzled people sleep less and have worse sleep quality, and compromised slumber contributes to stress. A research-proven way to relax: a warm bath before bed. Not only does a soak help you forget the day's troubles, but raising your skin temperature may enable you to fall asleep faster and then shift you into deeper sleep.
Related: 15 Ways to De-Stress Now
Saskatoon paying renters to buy houses
As the housing boom in Canada continues, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is taking the unprecedented step of giving renters money to help with a down payment.While home prices are high across Canada, the boom is being felt even more in the Prairies. Housing has traditionally been less expensive than in the rest of the country, but demand for commodities is fueling blistering growth. According to Statistics Canada, Saskatoon was the fastest-growing metropolitan area in Canada last year. Vancouver was a close second and Regina third.
Prices continued to rise quickly in Calgary and Edmonton, but Saskatoon has now overtaken Alberta's major cities in terms of housing being less affordable. The average home in the city now costs $277,000, 4.3 times the average annual salary of $63,900.
Subsidized housing programs for low-income people exist throughout Canada, but until now there have been no programs to help middle-income buyers daunted by often stratospheric prices.
Saskatoon isn't giving away the money for free — it's offering low-interest loans to renters for the purchase of a home between $220,000 and $280,000. Applicants who meet the criteria will be able to get approximately $12,000.
Where to Find the Best President’s Day Deals
Image via Wikipedia
Many of the large retailers have weekend sales that will go through Monday, February 21st. The two-day sale at Best Buy features at Dynex 46” HDTV for $549.99 and $100 off a Gateway Laptop for just $429.99.
Macy’s department store is featuring 2-day specials as well both online and in-store which include an extra 25% off clearance items. Massive savings can be found on luggage sets, jewelry and most designer clothing.
Kmart is having an online only sale that runs through Monday. Two-day specials include a Sylvania 32” HDTV for $279.99 and a Sony 40” 1080p HDTV for $584.99, which is $65.00 of the list price. Online orders of over $39 will ship for free during the holiday.
Sears is offering 30% off all Kenmore appliances and 50% off select mattresses. A variety of other savings can be found throughout the store through Tuesday as well.
With Monday being a big shopping day it’s recommended that you head out early to find the best in store deals and hop online early as well before certain items sell out.
Jennifer Aniston's Beverly Hills home on sale for $42m
Washington, Feb 19 (ANI): Jennifer Aniston has put her sprawling Beverly Hills home up for sale for 42 million dollars.The mansion will not be officially listed and only real potential buyers will have access to the grounds to view the property.
Aniston bought the estate in 2006 for 13.5 million dollars and then spent over two years renovating it. She moved in just before her 40th birthday in 2009, reports People mag.
The actress said that she felt the need to sell her dream house after having an epiphany while on a recent trip to London.
"My life felt really cluttered. I couldn't sleep and I sort of had one of those moments where I went, 'I really need to simplify, my life needs to be simplified'... And along with that thought came, 'I should sell my house'," Contactmusic quoted her as saying.
"I had the realisation that this is just too much for me. I'm not this person," she added. (ANI)
The delicate art of negotiation
Jody White is one happy man. Just before the holidays our resident web guru (he writes the Proving Grounds blog for MoneySense.ca) became the proud owner of his first condo. The amazing thing is that he nabbed it with a bid that was $10,000 less than the nearest competing offer. As a first-time home buyer, Jody chalks his win up to a great real estate agent who really understands the power of negotiation. Turns out there's an art to buying property as well as a science. And as Jody discovered, using a little psychology when you're sitting across the table from the seller can pay off with a winning bid that's thousands less.
Know more than the other side
When you're buying a house, knowledge is power. Ask any successful home buyer and she'll tell you that the key to a successful negotiation is to walk into the room fully prepared. In particular, you should find out how close the property in question is to public transportation and major roads. Look at the taxes and neighbourhood crime rates. Consider the quality and proximity of schools, community centres and stores. All of these factors can have a big impact on how much a house is worth.Most importantly, though, get to know the sale price histories of similar homes in the area. That way, if you think the price of the home you want to buy is too high, you could point out, for instance, that an almost identical house down the street just sold for $20,000 less and it has a second bathroom. Use this to negotiate a lower price.
Frugal Family: Deals of the Week
We're all watching our family budgets these days Port Washington Patch checked around and found some special deals. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars.
This column will be dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money.
You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box.
Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together.
THIS WEEK'S DEALS
Jessica Simpson Entering The Billion Dollar Club
Jessica Simpson may not have gone to Harvard and created Facebook like Mark Zuckerberg, but the blond pop singer is about to have something in common with the social networking kingpin - she's joining the ranks of young billionaires.
Jessica's fashion line, which includes shoes, purses, hair extensions, clothes and more, is gearing up to make $1 billion in sales this year, according to New York magazine, which features the chanteuse on its cover.
PLAY IT NOW: Jessica Simpson Shares Some ‘I Do’ Details
"I never thought I'd be some fashion mogul!" Jessica told the magazine of her move from the big time -- $750 million in sales last year - to the even bigger time.
Jessica said she doesn't try to concentrate on having a "trendy" collection, rather she is putting the main focus on "basics."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Top 10 Reality Romances Gone Wrong!
"We try not to set trends, but you need your trending pieces in every delivery. But those go fast. What you really need is your basics for every type of person," she said. "When it comes to other celebrity brands, I think a lot of people do a great job, but it can't be all about them. Everybody doesn't want to just look like the celebrity, because they can't. They just want one element of that style."
Like her customers, Jessica likes to look stylish. She's tried a host of trends herself over the years, including those high-waisted jeans on stage in 2009 that made international headlines.
"I still thought I looked cute," she said of the infamous outfit. "I wouldn't have gone onstage if I didn't."
Love with a smile
WASHINGTON - Here's Michelle Obama's advice for couples this Valentine's Day: laugh with your partner.She says it's what she and President Barack Obama do, and it seems to be working. Their marriage, although tested throughout the years by his political ambitions — for the Illinois Senate, the U.S. Senate and later president — is going on 19 years.
"I think a lot of laughing," the first lady said Tuesday at a White House luncheon with reporters who asked about the Obamas' union. "I think in our house we don't take ourselves too seriously, and laughter is the best form of unity, I think, in a marriage.
"So we still find ways to have fun together, and a lot of it is private and personal. But we keep each other smiling and that's good," she added.
It also helps that Obama is "very romantic."
"He remembers dates, birthdays," Mrs. Obama said last week on "Live! With Regis and Kelly. "He doesn't forget a thing, even when I think he is. . I'll have a little attitude. I give him a little attitude, but he always comes through."
"Got to keep the romance alive, even in the White House," she said.
As for Valentine's Day on Monday, the first lady said her husband would do right by giving her jewelry.
Starbucks plans single-serve announcement soon
On Sunday February 13, 2011, 3:56 pm EST
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp , the world's biggest coffee chain, on Sunday said it plans to announce a new product for the single-serve market "in the near future."
Analysts long have expected Starbucks, which also sells Via instant coffee packets, to make a more aggressive move into the small, but fast-growing single-cup brewing segment.
Word of its new plan comes as Starbucks is getting ready for the March 1 termination of an agreement by which it provides coffee discs for Kraft Foods Inc's Tassimo one-cup home brewer.
Kraft's Tassimo brewer won some loyal fans with its bells and whistles, but it was bested by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters' generally lower-cost Keurig brewing system that now has a near-monopoly in the single-cup category with roughly 80 percent market share.
While several analysts expect Starbucks to begin providing coffee for the Keurig system, some also have concerns about expiring Green Mountain patents, patent challenges and whether current Keurig users will migrate to the company's new machine.
"Starbucks is currently exploring all options to expand its presence in the premium single-cup coffee category, beyond our initial entry with Starbucks Via Ready Brew," Starbucks spokeswoman Lara Wyss told Reuters.
"Single-serve is still in the earliest stages and no clear delivery system has been established as the gold standard so it is important for us to look at all options," Wyss said.
KRAFT DEAL WINDING DOWN
Starbucks and Kraft -- which has distributed Starbucks' packaged coffee and other products to supermarkets and other stores for more than decade -- will part ways on March 1.
The Best On-Screen Chemistry Of All-Time
By Joanna Campbell
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in The NotebookWho didn't fall in love with Gosling after watching this romantic flick? Offering up the perfect dose of youthful passion, complete with the unforgettable rain-soaked kiss that earned them an MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss, Gosling and McAdams pulled off love struck Noah and Allie perfectly.
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in TwilightTeam Edward! Taylor Lautner may provide some serious eye candy as Jacob (those abs!), but Robert Pattinson is the clear winner when it comes to his intense connection with Kristen Stewart. Still coy about whether their show-mance is the real deal, they can count us as believers.
3 Retirement Myths That Jeopardize Your Security
Much of the conventional wisdom about retirement is not based on facts. If you accept these fictions as fact, you take greater risks with your future than you realize. Here are three retirement myths that could jeopardize your retirement security.
[See 10 Winter Wonderlands for Retirement.]
1. You will spend less in retirement. Many people think that once they retire, they won't spend as much money as they did while they were working. Once your house is paid off and your kids move out, you will have eliminated two big expenses. You can also eliminate the costs associated with going to work, such as travel and work attire. But all this cost cutting may not work out as planned. Your children may still require at least occasional financial support. Many people don't pay off their mortgages by the time they retire because they refinanced the home to pay for college costs for their children or other large expenses. And even though retirees don't go to work, they have lots of free time to fill up. Often, they spend that time shopping and eating out--two very expensive pastimes.
Many working people spend more money on the weekends than during the week because they have more time to spend. When you retire, everyday is like the weekend. Unless you find part-time work or volunteer opportunities, you may be tempted to go out and spend just to escape the boredom of sitting around the house. Here is how to calculate how much money you need to retire.
[See 4 Advantages of a Phased Retirement.]
2. You should shift to conservative investments as your retirement date approaches. Many people think they have to become very conservative with their investments as their retirement date approaches. But ultra-conservative choices are not the best investments for recent retirees. I'm not saying you should fill your 401(k) with only equities, but I do encourage you to rethink your investment time horizon. If you retire at 65, you have to plan on living another 20 years at least.
Your retirement date has nothing to do with how you should invest. It is much more important to focus on how long you think you will live. At 63, you have to invest so that your money will last at least another 22 years. The fact that you are planning to retire in 2 years has nothing to do with how to invest your money. You need to focus on creating income over your lifespan.
4 Things You Should Never Do To Denim
If you’re anything like us, you have a soft spot in your heart for your favorite pair of jeans. You know the ones that make you feel confident, sexy, and slim? Given how much they do for you, it only makes sense that you want to return the respect. But if you’re like most people, you probably don’t know the basic rules of denim care and may unknowingly be shortening their lifespan with damaging everyday treatments. Keep them around and useful much longer by avoiding the following four denim no-nos.
1. Don’t wash too frequently.
Unless you’ve spilled on your jeans or find a nasty stain, resist the urge to wash with each (or every other) wear. Washing causes denim to fade, lose shape, and wear out faster. CNN recently reported that one University of Alberta student resisted washing his jeans for 15 months. After swabbing the jeans for bacteria, it turned out that they were no dirtier than when the same pair was washed and worn for just 13 days. Less laundry and longer-lasting jeans? That’s a win win!
Hot (and Flattering) Date-Night Dresses
2. Don’t wash in hot water.
Washing denim in hot water can cause damage to fabric fibers. Wash dark denim inside out in cold water and hang them to dry. Avoiding a hot wash and warm tumble dry will prevent jeans from shrinking and increase their overall lifespan.
Killer Heels You Can Actually Walk In
3. Never iron your jeans.
Just like washing in hot water, applying intense heat and steam from an iron can damage denim fibers, set in stains, and create outdated and unsightly pleats.
100+ Ways to Spice Up Your Love Life
4. Never subject your jeans to fading.
To resist fading on a pair of dark jeans, send them to the dry cleaner instead of washing them. For the same reason, store jeans in a place that does not receive direct sunlight to keep them as dark as possible for as long as possible.
PadGadget Daily App Deal – 10 iPad Apps on Sale
For today’s Daily Deal we’ve found seven great apps to add to your iPad collection. We have three navigation apps, two entertainment apps, two productivity apps and three game apps in today’s bundle.
We used our PadGadget Apps Tracker to find these great deals and we’ll continue to look for the best app deals as they pop-up. Some of these apps are up to 66% off, so be sure to check them out because they are on sale for a limited time.
- PAC-MAN for iPad – The classic arcade game now in the palm of your hand. This fun game is now on sale for $1.99 instead of $4.99.
- NOBY NOBY BOY – Weird name, fun game. Get it on sale now for only $0.99 instead of $1.99.
- Words With Friends HD – If you’re into words, then this is the game for you. This iOS hit is on sale for $0.99 instead of $2.99.
- V1 Golf – If you love to play golf and want to improve your swing, be sure to check out V1 Golf. The app is on sale for $3.99 instead of $9.99.
- IM+ Pro – This is one of the better IM clients available for the iPad and it’s now on sale for $5.99 instead of $7.99.
Does the grapefruit detox really work?
By Julie Daniluk, R.H.N.
Most of us have heard of the famous grapefruit detox and wondered about its effectiveness. And while the results are overblown, there is something to be said about the healing power of this wonderful bitter and sweet cousin of the orange. During the winter, when the produce aisle gets a little pricier and tired-looking, the one thing that gets better is the quality of citrus fruits. That is because February is the peak season for grapefruit in Arizona, California and Florida.
Even if grapefruit won't help you drop 10 lbs the way the fad diet promises, it does make a great alkaline breakfast suggestion. What this means it that while you might think that grapefruit is an acidic food, when we "burn" them in our body, they actually leave our bodies more alkaline due to their mineral content. Alkaline foods help our body cope with the acidic refined choices we consume like sugar, white flour and processed meats.
Grapefruit actually slows down phase one detoxification in your liver. This may sound like it is a bad thing, but it turns out that excessive amounts of toxic chemicals such as pesticides may cause hyperactivity or what is called 'induction' of this pathway. This can result in high levels of damaging free radicals being produced if phase II detoxification can't keep up. Other substances that may cause hyperactivity include caffeine, alcohol, dioxin, and paint and exhaust fumes.
If the phase II detoxification systems are not working adequately, these intermediates can cause substantial damage. By enjoying grapefruit, you can slow phase one and let phase two catch up, helping your liver balance out the workload.
5 health reasons to eat grapefruit
This information is a perfect addition to http://weightlossedmonton.net site with weight loss resources.
Credit card had a 79.9% APR from First Premier Bank
Toni Riss had a credit card with a 79.9% interest rate.
The 58-year-old woman from Texas thought she struck gold when she found the First Premier card, which is aimed specifically at consumers with poor credit.
"I had an accident on a motorcycle, went through bankruptcy to pay for medical expenses and my credit went to hell in a hand basket, so I was looking for credit cards for people with bad credit" Riss said.
They granted her a card with a $300 limit -- typical for new customers -- and a starting rate of 29.9%, which Riss said she considered decent given her credit score.
But about six months after opening the card -- at the end of 2009 -- she received an unwelcome surprise in the mail.
"I about had a heart attack when I got a disclosure notice saying that my starting rate of 29.9% was going up to 79.9%," said Riss. "It was ludicrous. Talk about a highway robbery."
At that same time, First Premier Bank launched a new credit card with the sky-high 79.9% rate.
The card proved popular with consumers, said First Premier Bankcard CEO Miles Beacom, but the performance was bad: "A lot of the people ran up the card, defaulted and went directly to charge off."
As a result, they dropped the rate to 59.9%. "We also tested it at 23%, 33%, 45%, but 59.9% is the one that shows the best performance and where the organization can market the product," he said.
Since then, nearly 700,000 people have signed up for the card -- and more than half of them carry a monthly balance
The Easiest Diet Ever
By Robyn Urback
Cutting calories works: Eat 500 less a day, and you'll loose a pound a week. Sound hard? It doesn't have to be, especially if you substitute with great-tasting, low-cal, filling alternatives. "Healthier options can often be just as satisfying", says Kelowna-based registered dietitian Brenda Davis. Get inspired with these five 100-calorie swaps:
Ditch your juice
One of the easiest ways to cut your calories is to drink water frequently. To ease into it, opt for vegetable instead of fruit juice. A cup of tomato juice has only 50 calories, compared to the 120 calories in a cup of orange juice, and "green juice" made of ingredients such as kale, cucumber, and celery, can have as few as 30. "Plus, it's packed with vitamins and antioxidants," adds Davis.Try muesli instead of granola
Substituting a bowl of granola for a bowl of muesli is an easy way to cut more than 100 calories at breakfast. Composed of mostly the same ingredients, granola is typically drizzled with honey and oil then baked, making it higher in sugar, fat, and calories than muesli. "Muesli is just as delicious and is an extremely popular breakfast in Europe," says Davis. "Just pour milk or yogurt on top and let it soak overnight, and top it off with fresh berries in the morning."
5 of the best travel deals
The illuminated Eiffel Tower, Paris Source: AFP
5 OF the best travel deals for around the world.
1 Save on Sunshine
STAY seven nights for the price of four at the 5-star Coolum Seaside Resort on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Offer is valid on all self-contained apartments for stays until June 30, subject to availability. A three-bedroom ground or first-floor apartment usually priced at $1535 is now $1010. Conditions apply.Ph 1800 809 062 and quote ESCAPE DEAL or see www.coolumseaside.com
2 Eastern discovery
SAVE more than $700 a couple on Insight Vacations' 14-night Eastern Discovery tour from Vienna to Istanbul, departing August 21. Price has been reduced from $3750 to $3395 a person. The tour visits the Schonbrunn Palace and other sights in Vienna before heading to Zagreb in Croatia, then the UNESCO listed Plitvice National Park, Split and Dubrovnik. The tour continues through Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey.Ph Cruise Lovers on 1300 402 233 and quote ESCAPE DEAL.
3 Take a cheap flight
FLY to Paris or Rome from $1299 or to London from $1399 when you take a Trafalgar First Class guided holiday of 11 days or more. Book by February 28 for travel between April 1 and October 31. Airfares are valid for travel between April 1 and June 18 and September 12 to October 31, and are available with Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Etihad and based on twin share. They include all taxes and surcharges. Conditions apply.
I need a vacation!!!
Get the best deal for your used car
Aakash Salgaonkar owned two hatchbacks, but still longed for a sedan. A budget of Rs 5 lakh was not helping till he stumbled on a steal: A three-year-old black Chevrolet Optra that had run 28,940 km for Rs 3 lakh. A new model would have cost Rs 8 lakh. Salgaonkar bought the car for Rs 2.7 lakh in early 2010. A year later, the finance executive from Mumbai is still smiling.“With second-hand cars, you can get a model in good condition for sometimes half the price,” says Sandeep Kapoor of Relioquick India, which organises automobile shows. Used cars are perennial suspects for performance, mileage and maintenance costs. But these factors pale before cheap prices. Say, you want a sedan. A new Honda City in Mumbai costs more than Rs 10 lakh. You could get a used model for half that price if you can live with its two-year-old tag.
A year-old hatchback can be cheaper by up to Rs 1.5 lakh. The prices vary across cities. Used wheels are an answer to people against loans or accumulating finances. Still, buyers are intimidated by the prospect of future costs. Even if a car costs 50% of its original price, there are doubts on fuel and maintenance expenses.
Super Bowl Weekend Shopping Deals, Discounts and Coupons for TVs, Clothes
As the Super Bowl approaches and cabin fever is in full swing, a little shopping and some good deals are advisable for the weekend. Historically, Black Friday in November offers the best limited quantity doorbuster TV deals, but the best overall are usually found in late January, with special sales right before the Super Bowl in early February.
This year offers some good budget HDTV model deals from Walmart and Target.
TV Deals
Walmart
Phillips 40" LCD HDTV (1080p, 120Hz, 39.9-inch diagonal screen size), $498. You save $100.
Click HERE for a flat screen TV buying guide.
Best Buy
Some higher end models are on sale at Best Buy. Samsung models are on sale from through Feb. 5.
Blake Lively Named 'Most Desirable' Woman By AskMen.com
Blake Lively is Hollywood's "most desirable" woman, according to AskMen.com.
The popular men's website released its annual list of the "Top 99 Most Desirable Women" and the "Gossip Girl" star topped the list of beauties.
PLAY IT NOW: Does Blake Lively’s ‘Green Lantern’ Character Go Bad?
The website credits the 23-year-old's "unusual amount of dignity and composure," her performance in last year's "The Town" and her upcoming role opposite Ryan Reynolds in "Green Lantern" for landing her the coveted honor.
"Black Swan's" Mila Kunis came in second place, with "Modern Family's" Sofia Vergara taking third. Supermodel Selita Ebanks and new mom and Orlando Bloom's wife, Miranda Kerr, rounded out the top five, respectively.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Blake Lively: From Hollywood To The Upper East Side!
Access Hollywood's own Maria Menounos nabbed #46 on the list - and she has an idea about how to amp up the competition among her fellow lovely ladies.
The most expensive celebrity homes on the market
, On Friday January 14, 2011, 12:18 pm ESTCelebrities are a picky bunch when it comes to buying homes. Among the amenities they may regard as necessities: screening rooms to watch their celluloid selves, entertainment spaces to host A-list parties and elaborately equipped gyms to keep those tabloid-gracing abs rock-hard. Other must-haves are high-tech security systems and secluded locations.
"The home really should be set off the street or down a private driveway," explains Jade Mills, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Previews International of Beverly Hills, who regularly handles celebrity real estate deals like the late Dennis Hopper's $6.2 million compound, which she currently shares with fellow agent Jane Gavens.
It's no surprise then that the properties celebrities like Ricky Martin, Dr. Phil McGraw and Anjelica Huston have on the market are walled-in fortresses tucked into exclusive neighborhoods. Many are in Beverly Hills, where the average police response time to calls for assistance is a speedy three minutes.
We tapped online listing sites Realtor.com and Trulia to round up a list of the most expensive celebrity-owned real estate now for sale. We narrowed the search to Multiple Listing Service (MLS)-listed properties that currently belong to high-profile people in entertainment, or that did so in the past. The result is a list of the 15 priciest properties for sale from America's rich and famous stars.
7 On Your Side offers tips for finding the right health club and best deals
For a lot of people the beginning of the New Year means setting goals. One of the most common New Year's resolutions is to get in shape, maybe joining a gym. But before you join one, 7 On Your Side has tips on getting the most out of a health club membership.
If you're going to put down good money to join a health club, you'll probably want to make sure you actually use your membership and the toughest part may be staying motivated.
The exercise floor is packed at the Berkeley YMCA. The facility is expected to get even more crowded in February, when new members join current ones to get in their exercise routine.
"Sometimes people put on a little weight and get out of their exercise routine so usually New Year's resolutions bring lots of people in January and February," says Berkeley YMCA fitness coordinator Lori Cable.
Berkeley resident Juliet Bashore signed up to strengthen her injured wrist and try out the classes offered.
"I also want to take advantage of the yoga classes because I'm a long time yoga practitioner. So this seemed like the best bang for my buck," says Bashore.
Getting started may be the easy part. The tough part is sticking with it.
"Health clubs make a lot of money on people who sign up and are there for a few weeks or a couple of months and then don't show up after that," says Robert Krughoff, the president of Checkbook.org.