green living, smart spending
Best new athletic gear: The Olympics showcase the world’s top athletes. Lucky for the rest of us that some of the high-tech gear developed for them will be on the market soon to help us improve in our own favorite sports activities, on land or on the water. Here are five new tech developments for
Read more
There’s little to enjoy about airplane travel these days, thanks to long security lines, cramped seats, full flights, extra fees for everything from checked bags to priority boarding. Consumer Reports rates the best and worst airlines in 2016, the best and worst websites for getting airfare deals in a special report. Not surprisingly, there are
Read more
It sounds too good to be true: designed and made in America, gets around 85mpg, and costs under $7,000. That’s the promise of the Elio E-Series, a super fuel efficient vehicle Paul Elio and his backers plan to start rolling off the assembly line of a former GM plant in Shreeveport, La., later in 2016.
Read more
Every time I visit Europe, I see great cars I wish would come to America, and my most recent trip was no different. Here are four great European cars not available in the USA in 2016, , including small, green, energy efficient models already on sale and brand new models just coming to market. 2017
Read more
Think pink. Hilton Panama has partnered with the Mattel toy company to create a Barbie themed room, along with a Barbie themed menu, spa treatments and activities, and Barbie lobby decorations. Hotel chains and individual locations often offer something special to lure or entertain guests. Over the years, I’ve written about hotel promotions to pay
Read more
It will cost you less to learn to ski or snowboard January 2016, as top ski and snowboard resorts throughout the West offer free or steeply discounted ski and snowboard lessons during the eighth annual Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month. Several resorts even are offering FREE season passes for those who complete the beginner
Read more
Comparison shopping for the best prices is not enough. You should shop around also for the best return policy. There’s no such thing as “many happy returns” after the holidays. These tips will save you time and money, along with stress, during and after your 2015 holiday shopping and gift-giving. The good news is that
Read more
Enter to win a FREE vacation for two in Hawaii from Virgin America, celebrating the airline’s new route to Honolulu, including the chance to hang out with owner Richard Branson, and more. Enter the Virgin America “Make Your Hawaiiscape” sweepstakes by September 30, 2015, for a chance to win the grand prize of a trip for two
Read more
New Orleans is famous for its food, so it makes sense that a museum devoted to food is here. The Southern Food and Beverage Museum showcases the food and crops of the South, not just Louisiana. The museum, SoFAB for short, is in the Central City neighborhood, which – like so much of the city
Read more
Happy 450th birthday to St. Augustine, the oldest city in what is now the United States. Even if you can’t attend the week-long celebrations in September 2015, this historic city is fascinating and fun any time. My favorite spots on a recent visit were the Fountain of Youth, the Pirate & Treasure Museum, the beach
Read more