After I arrived in Chiang Mai and lived here for several months I never even considered driving here and never had any thoughts of buying a motor vehicle. Why? Because the traffic seemed just too busy with vendors with carts, bicycles, mortorbikes weaving in and out, drivers of cars and trucks not adhering to the rules of the road and with dogs laying out in the streets reluctant to move. And this is from a person who has driven a car since he was 18 years of age.

My means of transportation when I first arrived was the tuk tuk (or touk touk) which is three wheeled motorcycle with a small bench seat at back covered by a canopy. Either that or a red taxi which is pick up truck with two bench seats placed in back and also a canopy. It was red taxi or tuk tuk at first and then on the back of my girlfriends motorbike. It may look at bit odd but it isn’t uncommon here. A lady weighing 40 kilos driving the honda motorbike powered by a 100 cc engine with a big farang “foreigner” sitting on the back of the motorbike.

But then the time came where we needed to rent a car. We wanted to go to Myanmar and this gave me a chance to get my retirement visa stamped close to the one year period of it’s issue date. As the drive would commence at about 4 a.m. in the morning and be primarily highway driving I agreed to rent a car. The car was remted from North Wheels. As usual in my meticulous ways I checked every rental place I could here in Chiang Mai. Prices were close and North Wheels won it. They had the largest fleet, the best insurance, free pick up, and 24 hr. service in case of trouble. Some of their competitors had marginally lower prices but I think it is because there cars are older.

Well it took a little getting used to. First of all where I am from the steering wheel is on the left side of the car and not the right side and the shifter on my right hand side and not on my left as is common here. Also I have to drive on the left side of the road. But off we went and we made it there and returned in once piece. It was about a 4 1/2 drive there and same coming back. Not that much traffic but what you will find is that for half the trip there is nowhere to pass. You will witness reckless drivers passing on turns and up and down hills where they shouldn’t because they cannot see far enough ahead. The trip is up and some hilly terrain- very hilly.

Will you need to rent a car?

The climate here in Chiang Mai is either warm or hot during the day and warm or cool at night. I arrived on November 23 and during the first 3 months I did not see a drop of rain. It was sunny every day, warm during the day and pleasantly cool in the evenings and at night. If you were sleeping with the window open you would require a blanket.

My girlfriend told me that the time would come where we would get rain every day. Hmmm. She must be exaggerating I thought to myself. Perhaps rain every 2 or 3 days but not “every” day.

Well I was proven wrong. Starting in May we got rain every day. At times a quick shower during what seemed like the same time each day and ocassionaly a continuous rainfall. It was at this time that I realized that we should buy a motor vehicle. The drive on the motorbike at the time to here beauty salon was just too far and with rainfall it took even longer. The other consideration was that when we went shopping for groceries we were buying for 4 of us. Her mother, her daughter, her and me. A fair bit of groceries to carry by a big farang on a motorbike. So I went to look at cars or should I say trucks. Motorbikes outnumber cars here about 3-4 to 1 and trucks outnumber cars here by about 7-8 to 1 reason being is that they are taxed less than cars and therefore more affordable.

First of all I went to Nissan to look at their new trucks. The prices ranged from about 360,000 baht or $9,700 U.S. for a truck with one row of seating for 3 people. For seating front and rear for 5 people the price was approximately 460,000 baht or #12,200 U.S. Excellent prices if you are used to buying vehicles in North America. The price gets even better once you take into consideration that the price for the larger vehicle with seating for 5 ncludes first class insurance for one year, it includes a front bumber, rear bumber, includes the alumiunum castings on the side that you would step on to get in and out of the vehicle and a liner for the turck body and also an attachment where someone inside of the body of the truck could hold on to when they are standing up. All in all lots of extras and a great price.

I almost went ahead with that purchase. Now keep in mind that the most popular vehicles makes here are Toyota, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, then Nissan and then Ford way down the list. We decided to look at used vehicles probably because I thought either I or Wan who had yet to learn to drive and would be driving the vehicle may bang up the truck. At one of the dealerships they did an impeccable job of preparing the vehicles. They were cleaned inside and out and including the engine and engine compartment. The color was good as was the mileage which was only 17,000 km. at a price of 400,000 baht. We added the front and rear bumpers for about 4,000 baht and we were ready to cruise. /p>

The truck is mainly used to drive Mommie to school and for grocery shopping. On ocassion we make a trip to the hot springs or reservoir.

So what have I learned that I can pass on:

1/ If you come here on vacation you will probably not need a rented car unless you plan on seeing the sights out of town. If you come here to live long term you may want to buy a vehicle and probably a pick up because of the price. But chances are you will need it that often and you can get by on a motorbike and renting a car on ocassion. That is the case if you live here alone. Should you meet a lady then things change and you may want to buy a vehicle.

2/ Buy a used pick up as the driving will take getting used to and it may get banged up by you or by your girlfriend who may want to learn to drive it.

3/ Buy a popular make as it is easier getting service. So a Isuzu, Mitsubishi, or Toyota pick up or a Honda car. The driving is alot easier for you and the girlfriend or wife if you have an automatic. Hard to find but keep it in mind.

4/ Stay with a small engine as most of the driving will be city driving and you do not need the horsepower. Keep the money in your pocket as the oil Sheiks have enough of our money.

5/ I decided on getting auto insurance and it cost me about 19,000 baht or about $500 U.S. for a year. After one year the insurance contacted me and said if I wanted to renew the rate would be 30% less as I did not have any claims. What? Are they nuts? Don’t they know that in North America if you do not have any claims and have an impeccable driving record for SIX YEARS that the insurance companies will still increase your rates. So this is your call. If you do not feel that comfortable with the traffic then get the insurance and especially if the girlfriend or wife will also be a driver. After a year you can decide to renew or drop. There is a mandatory insurance here for motor vehicles. If I remember correctly it costs about 1-2,000 baht or $30-$55 U.S. and doesn’t cover much but it is mandatory. And should you decide to sell your vehicle and if you have insurance remaining you will not get a refund from the insurance company but rather the insurance is carried forward to the new owner. So that being the case you can ask more for vehicle.

6/ I have written an article about driving here in Chiang Mai. If you want to rent a car or thinking about buying a vehicle I suggest you read the article over.

7/ The driving here some getting used to. But once you do it is reasonably easy. You have to watch for vehicles running red lights VERY COMMON here. You have to watch for vehicles passing where they shouldn’t and expecting you to move out of your lane- VERY COMMON here. You have to watch for vendor, dogs, motorbikes, and more but I have faith in you. If I can do it anybody can do it.

8/ I am recommending North Wheels Rent A Car. Largest fleet, best insurance, newer vehicles and they know how to treat their customers. Recently I decided to recommend a few of the service providers in Chiang Mai. If you are a visitor you can spend half of your time checking out hotels, car rentals, restaurants, and the like. Best to spend it on having a good time and take my recommendations in good faith. My goal is to see that you have a good time here. Good enough to decide to return here in your retirement.

If you are interested in vacationing in, retiring to Thailand or Chiang Mai then you should visit a website designed to help people by providing interesting and essential information and also deals on accommodations and vacation packages.

Just visit:
http://www.retire-on-550-month.com

George Dowhan
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/buying-a-car-in-thailand-53192.html

While it’s true almost no one wants to pay extra for a car rental, sometimes the insurance add ons can be very smart buys. A lot will depend on what your private auto insurance covers, but when it’s needed, renter’s insurance can be a real lifesaver.

The best bet to make sure you have the right rental car insurance coverage before you sign a lease is to check with your private insurance company before getting a rental. In many cases, private insurance will cover a lot, so the add on buy might not be worth the expense. However, the only way to know for sure is to ask, so make sure to do so.

If you do need rental insurance, you’ll find there are several different types you can buy. Let’s take a look at the main types of add on insurance:

Collision damage or loss damage waiver: This type covers everything, including the deductible, in the event of a crash. This might not be needed for some private insurance policy holders, but it can be a real money saver in an emergency for those who do need it. This coverage is generally fairly inexpensive. Do remember to check with your company before buying this type. It’s very possible you already have it. If paying by credit card, also check with the credit card company before buying this option as some credit cards cover this, too.

Personal accident coverage: This insurance option covers accidental death and medical situations for the renter and passengers. Many times this coverage is not needed as personal insurance on your own car tends to travel with you. Be safe though and ask before you turn this down. It generally isn’t very expensive, but what it covers can be.

Property coverage: There is an option that will cover all your belongings in a rental car from such things as loss, theft or even destruction in an accident. Again, private auto insurance policies will generally travel to the rental car and cover these things, but do find out before you turn it down. This type of auto coverage is generally pretty cheap, and it can be very welcomed if it’s needed.

Liability: Here and again this type may not be necessary for those who have their own private insurance, but it’s a very important coverage if it’s needed. Liability covers you from claims made by others for injury, death and/or property damage.

Many of the major dollar rent auto insurance coverage types available might not be necessary purchases if you have good private auto insurance, but it pays to find out. Being covered in a rental car can be a very big deal if there’s an accident or theft takes place. Nothing can ruin a vacation quicker than an uncovered accident. Check with your insurance company to be sure, and if you’re not covered, cheap car rental insurance can help.

Tom Sample
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/insure-your-rental-car-87174.html

You don¡¯t have to read several media sources to notice that there are two

growing trends affecting the leasing and rental market. More and more renters

are searching for their next apartment online as opposed to traditional methods

and rental prices are rising as consumers choose to rent rather than buy in

order to wait for home sale prices to improve in affordability– as is clearly

evident in California where the median sales price of a home is at $560, 690.

Across the nation, the median sales price of a home is at $248,000.

According to Apartments.com, the company reported nearly 45 million visits in

2006, an increase of 20 percent over 2005. The top searched markets on the site

with the highest growth over 2005 were :

1. Chicago (214%)

2. Los Angeles (203%)

3. Phoenix (182%)

4. Ft. Lauderdale (168%)

5. Atlanta (163%)

6. Detroit (158%)

7. New York (157%)

8. Tampa (156%)

9. Orlando (153%)

10. San Jose / Silicon Valley (144%)

Note that Los Angeles and San Jose, which are cities located in California,

show a booming increase in online searchers looking for affordable rental

housing.

Unfortunately for many renters, as reported in a 2/4/07 online article in USA

Today, landlords are expected to raise apartment rents for a third-straight

year in 2007. By no means are we attempting to take pot-shots at landlords, the

objective is to give the perspective of how National Rental rates compare to

those in California.

¡°With the projected rise of 5% this year, rents would be 14% higher than at

the end of 2004, the report says. From 2000 to 2004, most landlords couldn’t

raise rents because so many tenants were leaving to buy houses or condos. To

feed that buying frenzy, about 300,000 apartments were converted to condos for

sale in the past three years. Now, even with 92,000 new rental units this year,

the stock is still too little to meet rising demand.

Rents are rising because the payment gap between renting and owning remains

wide. Even with this year’s increase, the national median rent will be $943 a

month, only 60% of the median mortgage payment of $1,566.¡± In California, the

median rent is at approximately $1,400 per month which is 47% of the median

mortgage payment of $2,520.

And data from a Census Bureau report in 2000, showed that the highest rental

markets were in Irvine, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara or Fremont, all California

cities, where median gross rents all topped $1,200 a month. That was six years

ago.

California cities claimed nine out-of-ten spots on the Census 2000’s list of

highest rents among large U.S. cities. The only non- California city in the top

high-rent tier was Stamford, Connecticut, at $1,007 a month.

Ten Highest Rent Cities

Irvine, Calif. - $1,272

Sunnyvale, Calif. - $1,270

Santa Clara, Calif. - $1,238

Fremont, Calif. - $1,196

Thousand Oaks, Calif. - $1,131

San Jose, Calif. - $1,123

Daly City, Calif. - $1,074

Simi Valley, Calif. - $1,058

Stamford, Conn. - $1,007

Huntington Beach, Calif. - $ 985

Keep in mind that Southern California is a sprawling geographic area dotted

with several hundred communities, it would be ridiculous to claim that there

are no affordable rental areas; however, as a renter you can realistically

expect to pay higher rents in more desirable neighborhoods or communities

located by the coast. In order to get a good perspective on rental prices and

desirable areas to live in, conduct a few online searches and check out sites

such as Realtor.com, Apartments,com and Rent.com.

If living in the ¡°Golden State¡± is your dream, there are now more online

rental websites available with virtual tours, mapping tools and other

information, so you can shop for a California rental from your desktop.

Nef Cortez
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/california-renters-squeezed-by-lack-of-affordable-rentals-104064.html

There are hundreds of new credit card offers available in the U.S market. The credit card companies compete against each other with attractive incentives such as cash back, points reward schemes and balance transfer offers at zero percent. There are lot of new offers have been introduced in U.S by worldwide banks. Among those new offers some credit cards are specially introduced as reward credit cards. Let see some good deals and their detailed descriptions.

Platinum Business FreedomPass Credit Card from OPEN(sm) the small business team: This card offers 5,000 point welcome bonus with first purchase and the card member can redeem the points for savings on any flight, hotel, car rental or cruise. There are no blackout dates and no travel restrictions. The card members will earn 1 point for every dollar they spend and provides option to pay over time or pay in full. There is no annual fee and 0% intro APR for 12 months. Provides OPEN Savings® like: Automatic discounts with FedEx, Delta®, Courtyard by Marriott®, and more.

BoatU.S.™ Platinum Plus® Visa® Card: This card offers 0% Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)on balance transfers and cash advance checks for the first 12 billing cycles. The card user can earn 1 point for every net retail purchase dollar spent and also he can redeem points for travel, merchandise, gift certificates, and cash. Provides Access to the MyConciergeSM service, a unique personal assistance service. There is absolute fraud protection against unauthorized use, online and offline. And there is no annual fee.

Discover® Motiva Card: This card has its own specific advantages like the card members can Pay-On-Time bonus equal to a full month’s interest each time they make 6 on-time payments in a row– twice a year, every year when they pay on-time every month. Provides 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus at top online retailers through the exclusive online site. The card member will earn up to 1% Cashback Bonus on all other purchases and unlimited cash rewards that never expire as long as the card member use the card. There is no annual fee.

The Knot Credit Card from American Express: This card provides start out with a great wedding gift - 5,000 Membership Rewards points the first time the card member use the Card, which can be redeemed for a $50 gift card. The card member will earn an additional 10,000 bonus points when they spend over $15,000 on the card annually. The card member can track all of their wedding related expenses with the Card on one monthly statement. There is no annual fee and the card member can pay the outstanding amount in over time or in full. The Intro APR is 12.24% and there is no intro period. Provides exclusive welcome gift that the card members can plan every detail of their wedding with The Knot Wedding Planning Kit, including the Knot wedding binder, where they can manage wedding ideas, budgets, guest lists, to-do’s and more.

Financial Rewards® Visa® Platinum Plus® Card: This card offers 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 6 billing cycles. The card members will earn 5 bonus points with their first purchase and the earned points do not expire for 5 years. Provides online banking service and total security protection. There is no annual fee.

Blue from American Express®: This card offers Fee-Free Rewards Program and 0% APR for up to 15 months. There is no annual fee. Provides low balance transfer APR - 4.99% Fixed APR for the life of the balance. Actuallly Blue is named as the card members launch pad to standout shopping and entertainment rewards and one-of-a-kind experiences.

Citi® Upromise® Platinum Select® MasterCard®: This card offers the 0% Intro APR and the Intro period is 12 months. There is no annual fee. Helps the card members to join useful programs through which the card members can Helps families and save some money for college and its free to join. The card members will earn 10% college savings on many grocery and drug store purchases, 2% college savings on purchase of gas at Exxon and Mobil locations and 1% college savings on purchases everywhere you shop.

Citi® Home Rebate Platinum Select® MasterCard®: This card provides 0% Intro APR and the Intro period is 12 months. There is no annual fee. The card members will earn full 6% Rebate on Utilities, Cable/Satellite TV, Internet Connection, and Telecommunications for 6 months. The cardholders will get a statement credit instead to start saving for their dream house. Also provides full 1% on all other purchases and the rebate will automatically applied to the Cardholder’s Mortgage Principal. There are no cap or limits on the amount of rebates cardholders can accumulate in a Year.

Citi® Driver’s Edge® Platinum Select® Card: This card provides 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 12 months. There is no annual fee. The card members will earn rebates for every mile driven and the rebates can be applied towards car maintenance, or to buy or lease a new or used car. The card members will earn 6% rebates on Gas Station, Supermarket, and Drugstore Purchases for 12 Full Months, 3% Rebates after, and 1% Rebates on all other purchases. Rebates can also be applied to the Thank You Network.

Citi® Platinum Select®/AAdvantage® World MasterCard®: The Intro APR is 18.24% and there is no annual fee. The card members will earn 15,000 Bonus Miles after the first purchase. There are no blackout dates for award travel on American Airlines, American Eagle, and AmericanConnection® Carriers. The card members will earn one mile for every dollar spent on eligible purchases - Up To 100,000 miles per year and the earned miles may never expire. The card members can redeem miles with over 25 of the World’s Top Airlines, Major Car Rental Companies, and Hundreds of Hotels Worldwide.

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Rewards Card: This card provides 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 12 months . There is no annual fee. Provides $50 Gift Card — Redeem 6,000 Bonus Points after first purchase and also provides 0% APR on balance transfers for twelve months. The card members will earn five bonus ThankYou Points for every dollar spent at Supermarkets, Drugstores and Gas Stations for 12 months and earn one bonus ThankYou Point for every dollar spent on all other purchases.

Citi® Hilton HHonors® Visa® Signature Card: This card offers 15,000 Hhonors Points with the very first purchase. The card members earn Double Dip® and receive both Hilton HHonors Points and Airline Miles for the same stay at Over 2,500 hotels and more than 55 participating airlines. The card members will earn three HHonors Bonus Points for every dollar spent using the card at Hilton Family Hotels, plus two HHonors Bonus Points for every dollar spent on other purchases. Provides complimentary silver VIP membership for the first year. There is no annual fee.

The Chase Business Cash Rewards Card: The card user will earn up to 5% cash back with unlimited rewards potential. There are no merchant or category spending restrictions, the card memeber can earn points by shopping wherever he want, for whatever he want. Provides 0% APR

on purchases and balance transfers for up to 12 months. There is no annual fee. The card user can opt for additional cards for his employees.

TripRewards® MasterCard® Credit Card: This card offers 0% introductory APR on balance transfers and cash advance checks for the first 12 billing cycles. The card member earn 2 points for every $1 in net retail purchases and earn 13 points for every $1 spent for qualifying TripRewards hotel stays. There is no annual fee. Provides 24-hour online access and Absolute Fraud Protection.

Advanta Platinum BusinessCard with Rewards: This card offers 0% Intro APR and intro period is 15 months. There is no annual fee. Provides 0% APR for 15 months on Balance Transfers, 7.99% fixed APR there after and 7.99% variable APR on purchases. The card members have their own choice of 5% Cash Back or Travel Rewards and there is no limit on earnings. Provides $0 Fraud Liability. And the card members can get personalized card — their company name on the top of the card.

American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Card: This card offers 0% Intro APR and there is no intro period. There is no annual fee for the first year and $125 there after. The card member get 10,000 Membership Rewards® points redeemable for rewards right away and there is no pre-set spending limit. Provides exclusive Gold Card events such as exclusive access to tickets for select concerts, shows, major sporting events, and more in cities nationwide. Global Assist® Plus Hotline and many more benefits included.

American Express® Preferred Rewards Green Card: This card offers 0% Intro APR and there is no intro period. The annual fee is free for the first year and $95 there after. The card members will get 5,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® points redeemable for rewards right away. The membership rewards program also let them transfer points to 11 frequent flyer programs: 1 point = 1 frequent flyer mile or frequent guest credit for most programs. Global Assist® Plus Hotline allows the card members to travel with total peace of mind when they are more than 100 miles away from home. Provides many other travel and shopping benefits and there is no preset spending limit.

One from American Express®: The Intro APR is 14.24% and there is no intro period. The annual fee is free for the first year and $35 there after. The card members never pay interest on new purchases and the Savings AcceleratorSM Plan contributes 1% of eligible purchases into an FDIC-insured High-Yield Savings Account in the card members name. Thereis no preset spending limit.

Bank of America Rewards™ American Express® Card: This Card offers 0% Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on balance transfers and cash advance checks for the first 12 billing cycles. There is no annual fee and the flexibility to pay over time. The user can reedeem the points for travel with no blackout dates, discounts at hotels, cash, brand-name merchandise, or gift certificates. Earn one point for every net retail purchase dollar. The card user gets Access to special Cardmember offers from American Express to save on shopping, dining, travel, hotels, and much more. Provides free 24/7 Concierge Service.

Business Green Rewards Card from OPENSM The Small Business Team: The card member receives 5,000 bonus points to start. The annual fee is free for the first year and a $95 savings. There are no preset spending limit or finance charges. The card members will earn One membership reward point for virtually every dollar they spend and discounts with FedEx, Delta®, Courtyard by Marriott®, and more. The card members can redeem their points for top-tier rewards including travel, merchandise, office equipment, and gift cards for them or for their employees.

Platinum Business FreedomPass® Credit Card: This card offer 0% Intro APR and the Intro period is for 6 months. There is no annual fee. The card member will earn 5000 bonus points with first purchase and redeem for savings on any flight, hotel, car rental or cruise. There are no blackout dates and no restrictions.

IN:CHICAGOSM Card from American Express®: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 6 months. There is no annual fee. The card member will earn one INSIDESM Rewards point for virtually every eligible dollar they spend, whether they’re in Chicago or not. The earned points have no expiration date and the card members can redeem points for rewards in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

IN:LASM Card from American Express®: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 6 months. There is no annual fee. The card member will earn one INSIDESM Rewards point for virtually every eligible dollar they spend, whether they’re in Los Angeles or not. The earned points have no expiration date and the card members can redeem points for rewards in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.

IN:NYC® Card from American Express: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 6 months. There is no annual fee. The card member will earn one INSIDESM Rewards point for virtually every eligible dollar they spend in New York city. The earned points have no expiration date and the card members can redeem points for rewards in New York. This card provides the option to carry balance.

Chase Flexible Rewards Platinum Visa® Card: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 6 months. There is no annual fee. The card members will earn 1 point for every dollar spent and the card members can earn travel fast! that means all their purchases earn points for them. Also provides 0% introductory APR for up to 12 months on all purchases and balance transfers. The card member can save even more with low rates. The time period for the introductory APR and the balance transfers to which it will apply will be based on the review of the applicant’s application and credit history.

Chase Travel Plus Platinum Visa®: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the intro period is 6 months. The annual fee for this card is $29. The card members will earn 1 mile for every dollar in purchases and they redeem their points for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, cruises and more! Provides the option to choose from over 250 airlines without restrictions. Also provides 0% Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for up to 12 months. The time period for the introductory APR and the balances to which it will apply will be based on our review of your credit history.

Discover® More Sealife Card: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the Intro period is 12 months. There is no annual fee. Also provides 0% Intro APR for purchases and balance transfers for 12 months. The card members will earn 5% Cashback Bonus on Get More purchases in popular categories that change four times a year like home, apparel and more. Also earns up to 1% Cashback Bonus on all other purchases automatically. Provides unlimited cash rewards that never expire,$0 fraud liability guarantee and easiest online account management options. The card members can double their Cashback Bonus (turn $20 into $40) when they redeem for gift cards or certificates from many of the 70 brand name partners.

Bank of America Visa Signature® with WorldPoints™: This card offers 0% APR and the Intro period is for 12 billing cycles. There is no annual fee. Also provides 0% APR on balance transfers and cash advance checks for the first 12 billing cycles. The card members will earn 1 point for every dollar they spend in net retail purchases.§ Points are redeemable for cash, brand name merchandise, travel with no blackout dates, dining certificates and more. Provides the advantage of preferred seating - Visa Signature Access gives the card members the exclusive entry to exciting events as well as the best seats at sports, entertainment, and cultural venues. The card members can reserve last-minute tables at popular restaurants - Visa Signature Dining makes it easy to get preferrred reservations, discounts, and special offers at the nation’s hottest restaurants. The card members also enjoy more savings and more extras - get discounts at select merchants, valuable upgrades, and savings of up to 50% on accommodations at spectacular places. Visa Signature Privileges make it possible. The card members receive personalized assistance - From hard-to-find gifts to travel and entertainment planning, let Visa Signature Concierge handle all the details. Provides absolute fraud protection.

Pet Rewards™ Visa®: This card offers 0% Intro APR and the Intro Period is Six Billing Cycles. There is no annual fee. Gives 500 bonus points after first purchase. 1 point for every dollar spend on everyday purchases and rewards begin at just 750 points. The card user can earn points toward veterinary services, pet food discount certificates, and shelter donations also earn two PetRewards Points for each dollar spend at participating veterinary clinics, pet food retailers, farm and feed stores, and neighborhood pet specialty stores.

2% Back MasterCard This card offers 0% Intro APR and the card members get 2% back on every purchase, everywhere - automatically! The card members can manage their account with 24/7 online access and bill pay and the card members can choose a payment due date that’s convenient for them. Provides 100% fraud liability protection and great built-in MasterCard benefits.

Discover® Business Miles Card: This card provides 0% Intro APR and the Intro period is 12 months. There is no annual fee. Provides 0% Intro APR on card purchases. The card user will earn Double Miles on travel and gas. The card member get up to 1 Mile per dollar on all other purchases. There are no restrictions on any airline, any date, any seat.

Chase Freedom Cash: This card offers 05 intro APR and the APR period is for 6 months. There is no annual fee. The card member can Earn 3% cash back for every eligible $1 spent in purchases at Grocery Stores, Stock up on food, household goods and more. Also earn 3% cash back for gas station purchases such as using the card for fuel, repairs, car washes, and other purchases. The same 3% cash back offers also applicable for purchases at Quick Service Restaurants, the rewards add up fast from pizza to hamburgers to tacos - even sandwich shops, coffee houses and more. The card members earn 1% cash back for every $1 spent in purchases everywhere else. The card members get a $50 Check once they have earned $50 in rewards. The card members can save up to $200 in rewards and redeem for $250 cash back.

Jagan babu vasudevan
http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/reward-credit-cards-benefits-and-detailed-descriptions-182108.html

When searching for value in travel, everyone comes in contact with the package travel holiday. Before you recoil in horror, let’s face it, if you are going to a place for the first time and want to do this safely and within a budget, packaged holidays often can’t be beat. They will provide your airfare, hotel, often with a choice of several grades, from economy to luxury and travel from the airport. Keep in mind that the hotels often offer 2 meals with this kind of booking and the package usually includes a sightseeing bus or vouchers for sightseeing. Often the package holiday includes other helpful discounts, such as museum passes. The package holiday may not be your style, but unless you have the time to really research your destination, this type of tour may provide the ultimate in sightseeing at a good price and safe and comfortable conditions.

However there is a type of holiday travel value that is growing in popularity. It is a sort of organized tour for the independent traveler. Several companies has sprung up that offer a type of unguided but planned holiday that offers perhaps not the cheapest price but undeniably great value for your holiday dollar.

The prototype of this kind of company is an American based purveyor started 35 years ago called Idyll Untours. Untour is aimed at the independent traveler who doesn’t want to do everything him or herself. Untour offers a many destinations throughout the world and a choice of apartments therein. They book the apartment for your and sort the traveler out with maps, information on the area and a travel car or car rental, both obtained at group rates not offered to the independent traveler. These savings are passed on to the client, as well as the name of a contact person at the destination in case something goes wrong. This person is also a helpful source of information and will coordinate activities with other people traveling independently through this company. Idyll sends brochures with information on the history of the region, entertainment, things to do and general information, everything you want from a tour. However the difference is that once the information is given, Idyll bows out and allows the traveler to experience travel on his own and at the desired pace. The traveler has the full knowledge that, should a problem arise, there is support and help available.

Another company offering trips for the natures is New Experience, a small family run organization base in the United Kingdom. They also book the basics of a holiday, airline travel and hotel, with a range of choices from nearly hostel accommodations, or bed and breakfast type to four stars. They equip the traveler with maps, information and a rail card that provides a 50% saving on transportation at the destination. They send a detailed brochure of activities and let the traveler at peace to explore.

This type of organized tour, but not a tour, is to my mind the ultimate travel value. The nuts and bolts of travel have been solved, and the traveler is left to discover the destination at his own pace and in his own way.

Dana Bradley
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/true-travel-value-123941.html

Renting a car for your trip must be a sensible decision which will give you most out of your trip. There are a number of sites that help you to do your reserving, what you must do is match the sites that give you car rental services and you acquire the best deal. There are several things to consider while you rent a car. To achieve a satisfactory pleasure from your trip here are some recommendations that prove to be useful to you greatly. - Firstly you should do the booking for renting a car well in advance, as this plan helps you to save you plenty of money as compared to booking done on arrival. To aid you better and to get a good deal use the Internet services, the comparison sites not only assist you to get the top bargain but you even get a sense of fulfillment when compared the car hire costs with other companies. - Choose the kind of car you want and depending on the size, you need to rent a car. It is senseless to rent a high class car where the rent prices are too high. Depending on your family and the luggage you take choose for a car wisely. The car hire cost comparison sites help you to view images of the cars and the seating facility as well. You can see the hire charges on these sites, compare the rent costs with different companies and make a sensible selection, where you need to pay less and get the best. - The car hire cost comparison site assists you to give the data on the hidden costs imposed by many of the companies. The fuel costs, drop-off rates, hourly rates, taxes, driver charges, any kind of deposits these are some fees that can be levied by some companies. The comparison sites help you to reveal this data too, you can match the costs amongst the car rental companies and wisely decide on one that offers you highest benefits at lowest and reasonable rates. - Usually, car hiring companies offer extra insurance, don’t willingly go in for it and if you truly don’t need it don’t select it. But to be on safer part if you wish to acquire the additional cover compare this too and select sensibly. - The transport that you have confirmed to rent for your convenience, see it thoroughly, inspect it and then confirm. If you see any type of dent select the similar vehicle from the car hire site and compare the car rental prices it imposes with the one you liked on previous site. If it is within your budget select one and enjoy your journey. Thus, the car hire cost comparison sites provide you a lot of information and clearly explains the car hire costs every company charges. It assists you to effortlessly confirm a car which offers you highest gains and comforts at affordable prices. These prices can be matched to the prices of different companies helping you to make a sensible choice.

jamiehanson
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/car-hire-costs-comparison-deals-727766.html

When in Maui you will truly experience the meaning of the words, “Maui no ka oi” which means Maui is the best. And rightly so, you will find Maui Hawaii the best holiday destination you have been to. It offers the great versatility of nature in the form of large beaches, majestic mountain ranges, lush rain forests, and its superior marine life which include the humpback whales in the waters. If I call it the best part of Hawaii the natives and the visitors both will agree with me beyond doubt.

Lahaina a famous town in West Maui in Hawaiian language means the “cruel sun”. When in this part of the world, always remember that you are quite close to the equator which makes the sun rays more powerful. So when going to take a sunbath always take proper precautions so that you won’t get sunburns. After all who would like to get the sunburns on the start of holidays?

Maui with all its natural treasures is a wonderful tourist destination. You can find this place changing colors with everyday of your stay. So much so that you will find time falling short to fully experience this place. You can start with relaxing on the warm beaches getting sunbath in the morning and then jumping into the waters to get a glimpse of its marine life. The very second day you can plan for trekking and camping in its lush green valleys. And when you do all sort of activities in the day time Maui soothes you in the evening with the cool breeze and an interesting nightlife. Maui is full of events all the time. You will have to work overtime to keep up with the unlimited fun taking palace in Maui.

Reaching Maui is not a problem as it is conveniently connected with the Kahului Airport which is the main airport for the islands of Maui. Getting around in Maui besides its lack of public transportation systems is never a problem as you can find car rentals everywhere. Another advantage in going in for car rentals is that you will find it cheaper than any other place in the US. Same is the case with the hotels as you can find a hotel for every budget. So if you are running on a tight budget be assured that you will find a budget hotel in Maui. The only important part for you is to make prior reservations as Maui is always packed with tourists. Some of the regular facilities offered by the hotels in Maui include air conditioned rooms, car rentals, airport pick and drop facilities, swimming pools, health clubs, spas, restaurants etc.

The best part of Hawaii is always ready to embrace you into its valleys so if you yet not visited Maui just pack your bags and take off to this wonderful part of the world, Maui.

Dhiraj
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/maui-hawaiiis-the-best-115980.html

You see them all over the place – vacation packages that are touted to be a great deal. “Pay for your hotel and your car and your plane trip all at the same time and save money with a vacation deal!” the vacation packages, and those that are selling them, swear that you’ll save tons of money when you are getting a package deal – more than you would with any other vacation deal. But will you really save money? Let’s examine how to get a true vacation deal, piece by piece.

The Hotel Cost

Hotels can be really expensive, especially if you’re looking to book a luxury hotel stay or a hotel stay during peak seasons. If you’re trying to get a good vacation deal on a hotel stay, you can save lots of money by using coupons, or by waiting around until the right time to book your stay. You can also save money by booking ahead early, and in many cases just booking six months ahead of time can save you over half of the price that you would have paid, meaning that you may get a better vacation deal if you book a hotel separately than you may if you book a package vacation deal.

The Car Cost

Cars can be horribly expensive to rent, which is why many people think that renting cars through a package deal is the best way to get a vacation deal. In some cases, it may be the truth, as there are many places that do charge quite a bit for a car. There are, however, other ways that you can rent a car cheaply. Instead of looking at the car rental place that’s in the airport, try renting a car through a local car dealership for your vacation deal. Many dealerships Rent Cars and can help you to make your vacation much cheaper than through renting it from the airport, giving you a true vacation deal. Also, instead of looking for a rental car and trying to get a vacation deal, see if you have friends who are willing to let you borrow one of theirs cars for your stay, or see if the city that you’re going to be staying in has a good city transportation system, allowing you to go car-less for your stay.

The Airplane Deal

Airplane costs are like a rainstorm – heavy one minute and light the next. In order to get a good airplane cost and a great vacation deal, you need to constantly check on the costs and be ready to pounce whenever you find a good price for you. Often buying a bundled deal means that you’re stuck with the price that you paid for your airplane fee, making it more expensive to pay for your airline ticket if you bundle your deal and not offering a good vacation deal.

A bundled deal may be a good vacation deal for some, but often you can save more money if you get individual prices, especially if you take the time to look and to search. If you’re in a hurry, however, a bundled package may be the best vacation deal for you.

Frank Demming
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/a-vacation-package-really-a-vacation-deal-685138.html

Doesn’t it seem confusing sometimes just to get a rental car? There seems to be so much paperwork and so many decisions to make.

For example, should you get the collision damage waiver or not? Should you buy additional insurance coverage from the car rental company?

If you’ve ever watched people at the rental car counter, you know these are questions that most people struggle with. Sometimes you can decline additional insurance on car rentals, but there are specific instances that you should always buy the insurance. But how do you know?

One of the biggest areas of confusion is the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) offered by the car rental company at the time of rental. It covers damage to the rental car if you are involved in an accident.

The CDW isn’t exactly insurance, and it only covers only damage to the rental car. It doesn’t cover property damage or personal injury. If CDW is purchased, the car rental company waives some or all of its right to gain from you for physical damages to the car.

So should you purchase the CDW the car rental agency pushes at you? Experts say that most people don’t need it but purchase it anyway. This is a very costly mistake!

You can save yourself a lot of hassle and unnecessary cost by doing three things. First, check your own car insurance policy to see what coverage carries over to rental cars. Second, see if the credit card you are using offers any coverage for renting. And finally, check the options the car rental agency offers in its own policies.

Many car insurance policies include all-inclusive and collision coverage to damages to rental cars. There is no sense paying for more if your policy includes this coverage, right? Just verify the details with your insurance agent before you decline the car rental company’s additional insurance options.

Typical car insurance policies provide liability coverage that extends to car rentals. If you injure someone in an accident while driving a rental car, your policy will often cover you. If your car insurance policy does not provide these coverages when you are driving car rentals, be sure to purchase additional insurance from the car rental company to protect yourself.

In addition, many credit cards offer coverage for rental cars. If your credit card includes coverage for car rentals that have been damaged in an accident, you don’t need to buy any other additional insurance coverage the car rental company offers you.

Finally, read the car rental policy carefully and decide whether or not your car insurance or credit card covers you. Then discuss the car rental’s coverage with the agent. Always make an informed decision. Don’t give into pressure by the car rental agent.

Deciding whether or not to pay for additional insurance coverage the car rental companies offer can be a tough decision. Check with your credit cards and existing car insurance policy to see if they provide rental car provisions, and if they don’t, you’d better consider spending the extra money for additional insurance for your own protection.

You shouldn’t pay for anything that you really don’t need! On the other hand, you don’t want to have inadequate coverage in the event of an accident with rental cars.

Karen Kirby
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/rental-cars-do-you-make-this-costly-car-rental-mistake-50594.html

It’s always exciting to arrive in a new city. I like arriving at night, so the suspense of this new place stretches into the next morning. After a late arrival via Westjet at about 11:30 last night at the Halifax Airport, I picked up my rental car at the Thrifty Counter from a very friendly customer service representative on duty who inquired whether he was going to be mentioned in my Nova Scotia travel experiences - so here you go, this is a little shout-out to the friendly young man working the late shift at Thrifty’s who gave me my first welcome in Nova Scotia.

I then checked into the nearby Hilton Garden Inn for a brief, but hopefully effective night of rest. Early this morning I got into my rental car and on my way to my first destination: the Grand Pré National Historic Site which commemorates the lifestyle and expulsion of the Acadians, original French settlers that came to this area in the 1600s. I first drove south from the airport to locate Highway 101 and after several unsuccessful attempts to find the right exit I finally linked up with the big highway that connects Halifax with Nova Scotia’s western shore. The interior of the peninsula is made up of gently rolling forested hills and as you reach the northern shoreline, the land flattens out into tidal mudflats. Windsor, Hantsport and Wolfville are the major local settlements and the main body of water, the Minas Basin, features the highest tides on earth.

Less than an hour and a half after my departure I reached the Grand Pré, French for “large meadow” where I met Victor Tétrault, Executive Director of the Société Promotion Grand-Pré, who filled me in on the history of this site. The Grand Pré is an ancient settlement of the Acadians, descendants of the original French settlers in north-eastern North America. Acadians originally settled the areas around Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island in the 1600s and are culturally distinct from the French immigrants that settled in Quebec. The earliest Acadian settlement took place in Port Royal, less than two hours west of the Grand Pré, in 1604.

Acadians were astute farmers and through an ingenious system of dykes they managed to reclaim large tracts of land from the ocean. Victor explained that studies have shown that many farming communities of this era were really based on subsistence farming, where the average wealth base was “one unit of livestock” per person . The Acadians were rather wealthy since their average wealth per person was estimated at 8 to 9 units of livestock. They generated more agricultural products than they needed for their own consumption and started trading their surpluses with surrounding communities.

The Acadian settlers were also a peaceful group and got along well with the local Mi’kmaq Indians, even learning their time-honoured fishing and hunting techniques. The Mi’kmaq had developed a fishing technique that involved a network of criss-crossed stakes that would be set up in the tidal flats during low tide and when the water levels rose, this mesh of wooden sticks would simply trap fish and all that was necessary was just to go out there and pick up the fish.

Territories in north-eastern North America changed hands numerous times between the English and the French in the 1600 and 1700s and the Acadians decided to remain neutral, refusing to take either side. In the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713 France ceded Acadia as a British procession, at which point the area became known as Nova Scotia. During the following years, the British Governor Richard Phillips tried to coerce the Acadians to swear an oath of allegiance to the British Crown, but the Acadians steadfastly refused. Consequently, the decision was made that the “French Neutrals” needed to be removed and deported from their territories. Thus the Great Expulsion, the “Grand Dérangement”, a brutal act of ethnic cleansing, began.

Between 1755 and 1763 about 10,000 Acadians were rounded up and deported to locations in New England, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia, even as far awa as Martinique and St. Domingue. Some Acadians were deported back to France, while others tried to hide in the woods, often sheltered by their friends, the Mi’kmaq. Some Acadian settlers made their way to relative safety in Quebec. Many families were torn apart, their houses were burnt, their livestock killed and fields destroyed. A great many Acadian settlers ended up in the former French territory of Louisiana where the Acadians became known as the “Cajuns”. Some families were expelled five or more times from different locations they were deported to.

Although there were numerous deportations of different groups during these turbulent historic times, the deportation of the Acadians was unusual because so many were not sent back to France, their country of origin, or another French colony. Instead they were deported to British territories where Anti-Catholicism was rampant, and in the southern colonies it was feared that the Acadians would join slaves in a general uprising.

Once peace returned in 1763, some Acadians started to migrate back but they never settled in their original settlement areas again. Instead, many Nova Scotia Acadians moved into the area around Baie Ste-Marie or St. Mary’s Bay between Digby and Yarmouth where they took up fishing as a livelihood. Today hundreds of thousands of people across all of North America and beyond can trace their origins to the Acadian Diaspora.

After giving me a brief introduction to Acadian history Victor took me on a tour of the facilities. The Grand Pré National Historic Site is actually a large piece of land that was donated about 100 years ago by a local businessman by the name of John Frederick Herbin who was an Acadian descendant. He gave the land to the Dominion Atlantic Railway with the condition that it be made accessible to Acadians forever. The company later gave the site to Parks Canada which turned it into a National Historic Site.

The New Visitors and Interpretation Centre houses a multimedia theatre, an exhibit hall, a gift shop, a multipurpose room and administration area along with other visitors’ facilities such as restrooms, public phones, etc. The entire facility is run jointly by Parks Canada and the Société Promotion Grand Pré, which represents the Acadian community. The grounds around the Centre are made up of flat farmland, a winding river and railway tracks that still serve for freight transportation.

We walked outside the Centre and Victor pointed out to me a metal sculpture on the side of a long, low-lying hill that consists of 4 life-sized individuals, representing an Acadian family that is being torn apart by the deportation. This sculpture was unveiled just a few weeks ago, on September 3, 2006. Victor mentioned that the sculptor was looking for an appropriate place to position the sculpture once it had been transported to the Grand Pré site from Montreal. The sculptor was unable to find a proper location for his masterpiece, pacing for hours through the entire property. Finally he found a spot, right there on the hillside. He just knew that this was where the sculpture would have to go. Through archeological research it had been discovered earlier, unbeknownst to the sculptor, that an Acadian house had been located right next to the sculpture and the foundation of this house is now outlined by wooden stakes. Hearing about this psychic connection between Acadian history and a present day sculptor gave me the goose bumps, and this example just underscores the spiritual and historic significance of the Grand Pré National Historic Site.

Victor also enlightened me that the Grand Pré is a location of reconciliation. During the 2004 celebrations to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Acadians, tens of thousands of Acadian descendants congregated in the Grand Pré area for a reunion. The local Shaw family, a Planter family who was assigned to settle the area after the expulsion of the Acadians, invited the descendants of the Thibodeau family, who had come from all over North America, to stay on their property. Only two families had ever lived on this stretch of land: the Thibodeaus and the Shaws. The Shaws as a matter of fact, had coined a phrase “Be careful of the tippie-toes”, which really meant “Be careful of the Thibodeaus”. Both groups of families celebrated together and the Shaws stated that they were not the owners, but rather the keepers of this land, and that their home would always be open to the Thibodeaus.

The celebrations proceeded with exuberance until one man, a Thibodeau family member from Quebec stated in front of everyone “I only have one thing to say: we Thibodeaus are going to come back and take this land”. The entire crowd gasped at the thought of implied conflict until he continued “I am going to marry Sarah”. Sarah was a member of the Shaw family. The audience breathed a collective sigh of relief. This vignette is just one of many stories of reconciliation and forgiveness that have taken place here in the Grand Pré area.

Victor and I crossed the railway tracks and approached the Memorial Church, built in 1922. In front of the church is a statue of Evangeline, heroine of an 1847 poem by American author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. “Evangeline” tells the story of a young Acadian woman who dedicates her entire life to searching for the man she loves from whom she was separated at the time of deportation. The tragic story concludes with Evangeline finding Gabriel, her true love, on his death bed in Philadelphia.

Beside the church Victor pointed out some archeological excavations to me. The Grand Pré site is a significant historic site and ongoing archeological research has turned up more clues about early Acadian life in the Grand Pré area. When Victor had to say goodbye to me as he was on duty at the Memorial Church, I went back inside the Visitors Centre and watched a brief yet extremely informative video about the history of the Acadians which effectively tied it all together for me.

After leaving the Visitor Centre I decided to drive a few kilometers east to the actual deportation site in the Minas Basin. The Deportation Cross was erected in 1924 to commemorate the deportation of 2000 Acadians who were deported from this very site.

As I started to make my way westwards towards Annapolis Royal, another originally Acadian settlement, I reflected on the significance of this site for one of the founding cultures of Nova Scotia. I was amazed at the perseverance and the power of the human spirit displayed by hundreds of thousands of Acadian descendants who have lived in diaspora all over the world and for centuries have managed to survive and hold on to their cultural heritage despite much adversity that they have experienced. Despite all this human tragedy and upheaval, the stories of reconciliation and forgiveness found here at the Grand Pré National Historic Site are a sign of hope for all us.

For the entire article including photos please visit
http://www.travelandtransitions.com/stories_photos/grand_pre.htm

Susanne Pacher
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/hello-from-nova-scotia-part-2–acadian-history-at-the-grand-preacute-national-historic-site-95549.html