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Next Vacay - My New "Go-To" Flight Booking Site?

2/1/2017

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,By Jen Lucas
​
Next Vacay is a site I stumbled across through one of the many travel related newsletters I receive daily. There are so many booking sites out there that I’ve tried and new ones that continue to be developed, which can prove to be overwhelming, BUT, Next Vacay caught my attention.  
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Seoul, by Greg Samborski
First of all I’m a true supporter of the entrepreneur, and a husband and wife team, Naveen and Shaylee Dittakavi, developed this site. Naveen, a software developer and travel junkie, found it tiresome (as we all do) and almost impossible to hunt through the many travel sites out there to find the best deals, at the exact moment they are released, as they often disappear in an instant. Last year Next Vacay was developed, which automatically searches countless airfare sites, finding the best deals from your home airport (and those surrounding) which are delivered right to your inbox. ​
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How it works – when you navigate to their website you’re prompted to enter your home airport and sign up for a free one-month trial period (which does require inputting your credit card information). After the one-month trial, the charge is $25 per year (unless you cancel) which to me is worth it providing the service turns up some killer fares. The membership includes unlimited deals and a six-month money back guarantee if you are not happy with the product. 
Once you are registered, their system searches multiple databases, sending emails alerting you when deals, both international and throughout the US, are found from your home airport. If a flight looks interesting, instructions to book directly with the airline are provided; which is a bonus as it’s easier to work with the airline directly in the case of cancellations or rescheduling. 

​Using their system, Naveen and his wife claim they were able to fly from Georgia to India for $300 each round-trip and Barcelona for $600 round-trip.
“Every single deal is reviewed and assembled by hand by us. We know you have bosses and family to talk to before booking. This is why we do not send last-minute deals. We put ourselves in the shoes of someone who has to request paid time off and coordinate with a partner, who also likely has to do the same. The deals we send include links to real ticket itineraries for desirable weekends like Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.” -Naveen
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Seoul, by Greg Samborski
Since joining 2 weeks ago, I received a total of 5 emails most notably a flight deal from Cleveland to London for travel between early February and late March ($575 round-trip) as well as a deal from Philadelphia to Venice, Italy for travel in late March to early May ($450 round-trip). Both airports are several hours away but again, if the deal were one I couldn’t pass up, I would consider it; and these are both really low fares. The email, although automated, had that personal feel which is lacking in so many other services and they encourage users to notify them when booking a trip as they appreciate the feedback.
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At first glance my personal concern is that I have specific trips planned throughout the year and this service sends deals for any destination. The good news is most of my trips are to popular destinations where there are several airport options and my dates are somewhat flexible. ​
On the other hand if a “hard to pass up” deal were to land in my inbox there is a good chance that I would book a spontaneous weekend trip which would justify the membership fee. Also, I’ve read they plan to release more personalized options in a future version of the site, possibly allowing users to choose specific destinations. So it seems there is a lot of potential for Next Vacay as they refine their system. Being a small operation allows them the flexibility, as well as the personal connection with users, to understand their needs and to update the site accordingly.   

Next Vacay is obviously not for every traveler however if you have flexibility in your destinations, travel dates, are able to travel with only a couple months notice, I’d say this site is for you!

Check out "Next Vacay" here... NextVacay.com

​Jen Lucas, a freelance travel writer, works as a Project Manager in the tech industry by day, but is a travel junkie at heart. Having worked in the publishing industry throughout her career, Jen has always been passionate about writing and is currently branching out into the travel writing scene.

Jen Lucas
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Top 10 Things to do When You get to Seattle

1/25/2017

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Congratulations on your visit, or your move, to Seattle! Whether you are new to the city or are intimately familiar with it, many adventures await. With that in mind, here are 10 must-do activities.

1. Hit the Coffee Shops and Microbreweries
Coffee joints are everywhere in Seattle, and so are microbreweries. Each one has a special ambiance and unique flavors that are fun to sample as you hop around town. Lisa Grimm, at "Seriously Eats"  wrote a brief history of Seattle Microbreweries here.
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2. Uncover the Stairways
Seattle is hilly, and many buildings have lovely stairways. If you enjoy obscure adventures, what's better than setting out in search of steps? The quest will take you to all types of buildings and neighborhoods. Here's a MAP to get you started! Speaking of neighborhoods…
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3. Check Out the Neighborhoods

If you've already done number four, try again. Odds are good that there are even more neighborhoods to check out (West Seattle, anyone?). Seattle is your new home; what better way to get to know the city than to cover every neighborhood, whether you are renting or have bought? Plus, entrepreneurs and savvy real estate investors can keep an eye out for promising properties.
4. Look into Real Estate Investing
Speaking of real estate, Seattle has one of the hottest and most expensive housing markets in the country. If you buy a fixer-upper, you could rent it out for a nice profit. Get in touch with a property management company to better understand your options.

If you're visiting, owning rental property is a great way to make future trips tax deductible.
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5. Go Swimming
Seattle offers many swimming options, including the fun Lake Washington, Puget Sound and indoor and outdoor pools. Be sure to check out Colman Pool, which could quite possibly be the top pool in the U.S. It's even saltwater.

6. Take Advantage of Nature
From whale watching to hiking to visits to the San Juan Islands, the Seattle area has plenty of opportunities for you to get in tune with nature; take advantage of them, especially the beaches! Once you dive into daily life, it's harder to carve out these times.
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​7. Discover Ways to Get Around the Traffic

With some planning, there are great alternatives to sitting in city traffic. Biking is big in Seattle, and it offers a new adventure every day. There is also public transportation with light rail bus services. Traveling during off-peak times is another good option if you can swing it.
8. Go to the Tourist Spots
Ironically, many people who live in a city never do touristy things and visitors often miss all but the most obvious. Get to know the city through the public transportation system... it's a great, stress free, way to see the sights. Go to spots such as Pike Place Market and the Elliott Bay Waterfront, 
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Other iconic spots include Dick's Drive-In and the Space Needle. No explanation needed for the Space Needle; it's what represents Seattle on TV. ​Dick's is an iconic Seattle eatery that was founded in 1954 and that has since spread to multiple locations. Best burgers around! Pike Place Market is like a farmer's market, and you can find the freshest seafood and produce there, while the Elliott Bay Waterfront offers gorgeous views of the bay and is easily accessible in downtown Seattle.
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​9. Find the Farmer's Markets

Practically every Seattle neighborhood has at least one farmer's market, and you can often shop all year round. Check out the Magnolia Farmers Market and others, support local agriculture, enjoy music and people watch.
 10. Meet People!
People are one of the best things about Seattle. Activities abound, including volunteer efforts, workshops, book readings, yoga classes and fitness camps​, so you can find at least one thing that interests you.

Also... check out the business organizations; there are many professional groups, such as the American Marketing Association - Puget Sound Chapter, Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) and the National Property Management Association (NPMA) - Northwest Chapter.
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There's a city out there waiting for you to explore it. Time to get started!
Booking.com
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Patrick Rogers
​...is the Principal Property Manager for Asurent Property Management in Eugene Oregon and his company can be found here: PropertyManagementEugeneOregon.com
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Don't be an "Ugly American" or a Viral Video

11/13/2016

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To avoid being an asshat, ​the rules we follow at home should also serve double duty while traveling. Number #1 on the hit parade, in polite society, is the “Golden Rule” … do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

This is a great rule and covers a variety of situations. For instance…

Leave things the same, or better, than you found them.

As a guest in someone else’s home, do you tidy up before you leave? Or do you leave a big mess for your friend or relative to clean up?

​Of course, if you expect to remain friends, or be invited back, you leave the place the same as you found it… or BETTER.
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​You would not appreciate your friends trashing your house like a rock star trashes a hotel room, would you? So of COURSE you would not do it to your friends home.

Don’t do it to their COUNTRY either!

Obey the local rules and customs, even if they are different than your own.

If you have a “no smoking” rule in your home, you certainly would not appreciate friends or relatives ignoring that rule and turning your coffee table into a giant ashtray, right? 

It’s a simple thing, but guests are good guests by being sensitive to the local rules and culture, and by trying to fit into the surroundings. This one thing can greatly enhance the quality of your trip too, as the best way to do this is to ASK a local what the common courtesies or cultural norms are, and in doing so, you’ll earn their respect and make a new friend.
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Treat your surroundings with respect, leave it better off.  For instance, I always pick up additional trash while disposing of my own. Another way you can do this is with the American custom of a gratuity. Many service workers are paid little, and often are not tipped at all. Make their day a little brighter by flipping them a few dollars.

It’s also a safety issue to pay attention to your surroundings.
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​You don’t want to be like THIS guy, described by a local…
​

​“In México are thousands of tourists, every single day, doing stupid things. Like recently, an American was eaten by an alligator because he couldn't read IN ENGLISH (or even see the drawing of a alligator) on a warning sign and jumped into a lake. ”

Even worse? His return ticket  was non-refundable.
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And, please, don't be like some of these other people, whose stories I read on the internet…

"Just about every beach and harbor of Cornwall (seaside touristy area of the UK) has a strict rule about NOT feeding the seagulls, with prominent signage to that effect. As a result of constant feeding by tourists, there are huge numbers of gulls, which are very aggressive and bold enough to snatch food from your hands even if you’re not aiming to feed them; they will also attack children, cats and small dogs. Their beaks are very, very sharp, and a wound from one will almost always go septic because they’re such “dirty” feeders. Yet every year you see visitors moaning and wailing (or even trying to sue the town councils) because they’ve been injured while feeding seagulls - generally whilst standing in front of a large sign saying “DO NOT FEED THE GULLS.”

Apparently tourists never see a bird a home...

"In a cafe off the Piazza in Venice a family of English speaking tourists caused an incident. My family was eating at one table, theirs at another. They were throwing bits of bread to the pigeons.
Pigeons on the Piazza San Marco are quite a thing to have to deal with, and the cafes have strict rules about feeding them. Vendors selling bird seed further toward the center of the square have taught the pigeons that presence of humans plus the presence of food equals pigeons getting food, so the birds are very bold near the open-air cafes. It's a constant battle to keep them from hopping and flying right on in.

The waiter came out and asked, very nicely, in perfect English, if they could please stop. They stared at him as if they didn't understand a word he said, and went back to tossing bread as soon as he left. Pigeons got closer and closer. Patrons looked down, startled, as they felt birds around their ankles. Others tried to shoo them off tables and chairs.

The waiter tried again, a couple more times if I remember correctly. I know the family were English speakers, because they spoke to one another every time he left. They just chose to ignore him, and you could see he was getting very frustrated. At the time I got the feeling that he didn't want to make a big deal, and kick them out, because the family had children. Each time, they stared at him blankly, but then kept tossing… I guess seeing the pigeons go after the bread was just too much fun for them to stop.  At one point the waiter actually took away the bread, but the children found little rolled bits they'd dropped on their chairs and clothes and kept going.

Long story short, from there it was a very short jump to the patio being swarmed with pigeons, who perched on the tables and ruined the place settings. Spoiled the meal for everyone, especially that poor waiter."

One tourist even told a story on himself... AGAIN with the birds... 

"I learned the hard way about birds and restaurants. I was in Phoenix on business and sat outside on the patio at a Mexican restaurant. My salad had those tortilla chips on it, and I saw a little sparrow a few feet away. So I tossed it one. ONE. Sparrows came from everywhere. I won’t over exaggerate the scene, but there were dozens. Fortunately, I was on the patio by myself. A couple of birds perched on the backs of chairs right next to me. I really thought they were going to dive-bomb my salad to help themselves to the tortilla chips. I covered my meal with my napkin and tried to stare them down. I don’t know who looked more stupid at that point."

Since he was alone, I’m guessing…. HIM?
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​Don’t be a “cheapskate!” If you can afford to travel, you can afford to pay the associated costs.

Take the time to learn what they are before you travel and you'll make your trip smoother.

Whether it’s a gratuity for the housekeeper who does up your room, or the duty taxes on your shopping spree, you should be prepared to pony up your fair share...
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"​A wealthy woman from a foreign country first arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport from Paris last July with her sister and adult daughter. The Customs and Border Patrol officers found undeclared items in their luggage, including designer bags, a fur coat, diamond jewelry and watches, Total value: $160,000.

The woman attempted to then bribe the customs officer offering a watch and US$10,000 if he would turn a blind eye. After the officer excused himself and put on a hidden recording device, the woman upped the stakes and offered to “sleep with” the officer if he allowed them to pass through.

She is presently out on a bail of$250,000. USD."
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Behaving badly on a plane is never a good idea, in fact behaving badly, in this age of cell phone video and YouTube, could make you a viral sensation and, if your name is published, could hurt your career down the road. 

Ask THIS guy how that works and how effective his “damage control” on Inside Edition has been in saving his career in the mortgage biz.
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Wolters World offers some great tips for American tourists that will help travelers fit in and not get labeled an “Ugly American.”

Some of these tips are good for anyone, and go back to the “try to fit into local culture.” rule.

Check out more at… www.WoltersWorld.com
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Probably the best thing you can do before traveling is READ up on the areas you will be visiting.

Search on Facebook for locals in that area, send a friend request and ask them if they have some tips.

Search YouTube for videos of the area so you can familiarize yourself with the local culture and customs.

All of this will make your trip go more smoothly, will allow you to make new friends around the world, AND, just as important, will help you blend in and not be a target to local petty criminals looking for a pocket to pick or a bag to swipe.

No matter where you go… just treat other people the way you would like to be treated!

#TravelTips
#UglyAmerican
​#TravelWriting

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by: Sue Copening
TravelWritingPartner@gmail.com

Do YOU have a story to share about an "Ugly American" or "Bad Tourist?"

Or maybe you'd like to make us all feel better, and give us a lift, with a story about the best experience you've had traveling and the most helpful people you've met?  

​Please post in the comments below...
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