Buyer's remorse, or shopper's guilt, is when you get the feeling you’ve paid to much for something. Get rid of those second-thoughts by using one of these free price comparison apps that will help you save time, money and stress. Price Check by Amazon - Scan a product’s bar code, snap a photo, or say its name and model number, to see if Amazon sells it for less. The app also allows users to … [Read more...]
World’s most friendly tourist destinations
Feeling welcome is an important part of any vacation or business trip. A new survey of 140 countries lists the world's most friendly destinations, and the least friendly. According to the World Economic Forum, Iceland, New Zealand, Morocco are the world's top three most friendly destinations for tourists. I have visited all three over the years, and experienced genuine warmth in all three, … [Read more...]
VW “The Force” commercial voted one of 10 best in last 25 years
The Force has been with Volkswagen ever since it introduced the appealing 2011 TV commercial The Force. It's just been voted one of the ten best auto commercials in the last 25 years. You know the commercial. It's the one with the little boy dressed as Darth Vader, and when he points his hands at daddy's VW Passat in the driveway, the headlights blink and the young man is surprised by his … [Read more...]
5 best free apps for holiday travel
‘Tis the season for holiday travel. AAA predicts that this year could be the busiest in the last six, with 93.3 million Americans will hit the road. These five FREE smartphone apps can help you survive holiday travel madness by reducing stress and wasted time -- WeatherBug -- Winter traveling can be unpredictable across the country, so this is a great app to warn you about storms or other … [Read more...]
Best and worst national restaurant chains in 2012
Which sit-down restaurant chain has the best food? Worst service? Which one is the most kid-friendly? Here are the answers, based on more than 110,000 restaurant visits by readers of Consumer Reports, which most of us consider the absolute leader in non-partial reviews of products and services. Americans spend about $1.7 billion a day at restaurants, and whether you’re traveling the … [Read more...]
International Holocaust Commemoration Day is January 27th
On January 27, 1945, Allied troops liberated the Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. The United Nations has named January 27th as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, and all the other innocent victims of World War II. In addition to the deaths of more than six million Jews, millions more Gypsies, gays and other 'undesirables' died at the … [Read more...]
What Should Santa Drive on Christmas Eve 2011?
Rudolf and the reindeer are on strike - they want more work than just one day a year. Santa needs wheels to deliver millions of toys, games and electronics to little little boys and girls, and to grown-up kids around the world. So what should Santa drive? Reliable is a necessity, because all those little and big kids are depending on Santa to deliver. According to Consumer Reports, the 2012 … [Read more...]
5 tips for happy holiday travel with kids
This is the season of get-togethers and holiday travels. While it's a joyous time of year, the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's can create anxiety for children. Make your visits with family and friends, or your holiday vacation getaway, enjoyable for everybody with just a little preparation. Stick to regular routines whenever possible -- Unusual schedules and … [Read more...]
Haunted historic hotels in USA where you can sleep with friendly ghosts
Halloween has us all pre-occupied with scary ghosts, goblins, zombies, and other things that go bump in the night. Here are some historic USA hotels said to be haunted, but only with friendly ghosts, nobody scary or malevolent, like the ones in Hollywood movies like The Shining. Have you ever slept in a haunted hotel, or haunted hotel room? I have. It was the medieval castle of Meldrum, … [Read more...]
Five best U.S. destinations for fall foilage colors
Get ready to be dazzled by the annual autumn display from Mother Nature. Fall means grab your gear and your significant other and head out to a fall getaway. The tourists have gone home, hotels have reduced their peak summer rates, and the scenery sparkles in the crisp autumn air. Here are five favorite destinations for fall color: New York’s Hudson Valley -- Just north of New York City, … [Read more...]