green living, smart spending
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
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With a starting price of $15,995, and styling, technology and performance shared with corporate sibling Alfa Romeo, you can’t beat the 2013 Dodge Dart. Even fully loaded, with the award-winning 1.4 liter MultiAir Turbo, this spirited compact is under $23,000. That engine, by the way, was developed by another Chrysler sibling, Fiat. The 2013 Dodge
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The jury is still out on whether or not genetically modified food is potentially dangerous to our health. The federal government says no, along with many scientists, including those who work for the companies that create the genetic modifications. Those include Monsanto and DuPont, whose advertising slogan used to be “better living through chemistry” Many
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Just what the world needs – a stretch Lamborghini Aventador limousine, for your partying pleasure. It’s the limo version of Lamborghini’s Aventador model, complete with the same so-called scissor doors as the conventional model, which is a 690hp. $400,000 two-seater supercar. The stretch version is in the same fiery red orange color as the conventional
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What are the best cars of 2013? The April issue of Consumer Reports tells all, with reviews of 281 models. Watch the CR video, below, or just read the winners by category. Budget car – Hyundai Elantra ($18,445). One of CR’s top-rated compact sedans, the well- rounded Elantra delivers a lot for the money. It’s
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Because I travel a lot, I applied for Global Entry, the so-called “trusted traveler” pass, to get me through airport security and US Customs lines faster, on special security lines. At airports in the USA, Global Entry includes TSA Pre-Check. The line is shorter because you don’t have to take off your shoes or
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The new Cadillac ATS performance sedan has been named “Best of the Year” 2013 car by MotorWeek, the longest running automotive series on television. This award includes only vehicles made in America, on assembly lines operated both by Detroit based manufacturers and foreign companies including Toyota/Lexus, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan/Infiniti, which have been building cars
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Hotels are inventing new discount gimmicks to lure budget-minded travelers. My favorite of the moment is from Starwood, which lets you pay your birth date. This discount deal favors seniors and boomers, who can pay $43 for a room if they were born in 1943, $53 if they were born in 1953, and so on.
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The impending mandated federal budget cuts, also known as sequestration, are a disaster for US national parks, wildlife, and for those of us who love the outdoors. The impending mandated federal budget cuts, also known as sequestration, are a disaster for US national parks, wildlife, and for those of us who love the outdoors. Sequestration
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The Hotel Wilshire in Los Angeles is one of the growing number of older buildings rehabbed and retrofitted into a modern and LEED ceritified hotel. This is a 74-room boutique hotel in the Kimpton collection. Kimpton is one of my favorite hotel companies, because its brands, including Monaco, have both a strong green streak and
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