green living, smart spending
San Diego’s Hotel Solamar is the city’s first downtown hotel to become Green Seal™ certified, and one of just 20 in all of California to earn this top rating for social and environmental responsibility. The Hotel Solamar is operated by Kimpton, which is one of the hotel industry’s top green leaders. Kimpton operates 50 boutique
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The AAA estimates more than 92 million Americans will be on the road during the holiday period between December 23rd and January 2nd, 3.1% more than last year. There is a mind-boggling selection of iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry apps to download that will help make your driving and travel less stressful and perhaps even
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Sometimes, green travel means saving the green in your wallet. Here are some deals, discounts and other special offers will help stretch your travel budget early in 2011– $20.11 hotel room at Red Roof Hotels — Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, Red Roof is offering all guests its nicest price ever with a $20.11
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The eagerly-awaited extended range hybrid Chevrolet Volt has been getting all the headlines lately, along with many of the top car awards. But so has the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, which the Volt looks like and even feels like behind the wheel, although the fuel efficiency of the two models is very different. I test drove
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There are annual tributes around the world to John Lennon marking the anniversary of his murder on Dec. 9, 1980. In Liverpool, where The Beatles grew up and wrote about in the songs that changed the sound of music forever, Beatles history is a year-round affair. Liverpool is a great place to visit, even if
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Airlines, hotels and tourism boards are giving away free vacations. Some current travel contests, sweepstakes and promotions often involve little more than signing up to the company’s Facebook page. Now that I have your attention — Grand Velas Riviera Maya — the prize is a two night all-inclusive vacation for two adults and two children
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On Veterans Day 2010, let’s salute our active and retired U.S. military personnel. Let’s also salute the travel industry for the ways it supports American soldiers, sailors and Marines in 2010. The travel industry gets lots of headlines for cruise ships that have to be towed into port, delayed flights and lost baggage. Today, I’m
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Leave those scarves and mittens at home. Escape the winter by heading south. Despite the upcoming holidays, the Caribbean is on sale right now, with fourth night free and other travel discounts. Here are some Tuesday Travel bargains for family travel or romantic getaways without the kids: Curacao — Book before January 8, 2011 and
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There’s still time to book special eco-friendly getaways for the holidays. These travel adventures are great gifts to give yourself. Zion National Park is one of my favorite places in the world to hike and inhale the beauty of the rugged scenery and the clear air — that photo of me is atop the Angels
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The world’s largest winter carnival is the annual Quebec Winter Carnival, in the heart of Old Quebec. It is 17 days of fun in the snow, from January 28 to February 13, 2011. The daily schedule of festivities includes parades, fireworks, slide runs, a giant foot ball game, concerts, snow sculptures, horse-drawn sleigh rides, dogsled rides, an
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