Top 10 Ways to Save on Travel

Springtime is here and if you are planning for that summer vacation, you may find these travel saving tips helpful. Whether it’s that class reunion, summer getaway or family outing – you have to get there. These days with travel costs on the rise, saving money is essential.It may take you a little longer to book your travel plans, but the savings may be well worth the time. When it comes to travel, I am all about saving money. I recently saved over 50% on my rental car and it was no ordinary rental. Our rental vehicle was the kind that you want to take home, however the price we paid was equivalent to the type you cannot wait to return.Here are the Top 10 Ways to Save on Travel:

Plan Ahead of Time. Booking your travel plans ahead of time (at least two weeks in advance) can save you money.

Discounts, Coupons and Promotion Codes. Applying discounts, coupons or promotions can translate into big savings on travel. My warehouse club membership travel discounts provided 25% off normal rental car rates plus a day free.

Discounts may be offered on rental cars, hotels, airfare, train and a variety of other travel related expenses. A few examples of those who may qualify for discounts are motor clubs, organizations, college student, senior citizen, employer or military.
Coupons and Promotion codes may be available on the web (e.g. company sites, social media sites), motor club websites, warehouse clubs (e.g. Costco) travel services, credit card promotions or your car insurance provider.

Shop Around. Compare the prices on the travel websites. Some websites that I use are Hotwire.com, Priceline.com, Kayak.com and Orbitz.com. However, the lowest price may be found on the official company website, so compare these prices as well. Be sure to look for any direct booking special offers or promotions when visiting the official websites (airlines, hotels or rental car companies). Note: Southwest Airlines is not normally on any of the travel websites, you must visit their website directly.

Be aware of any Extra Fees. Spirit Airlines recently announced that they will begin charging travelers for some carry-on bags. Not to mention there is an airline considering charging to use the restroom once on board. These fees can really add up, so keep in mind any extra charges when doing your price comparison.

Travel during Off-Peak Times. Traveling on off-peak days (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays) can save you money on your airline tickets. Early morning or late night flights may also be cheaper.

Be Flexible with Travel Dates. Switching your travel date by a day or two could amount to hundreds of dollars in savings.

Compare Package Deals. Bundling up your travel into a package (airline, hotel and rental car) can be a tremendous savings.

Look for Last Minute Travel Deals. Yes, it’s true you can find great deals on last minute travel offers. The best way to find out about them is to sign up for email notification or to visit the company (e.g. airline, rental car or hotel) websites to check for any special pricing or last minute offers.

Join Frequent Traveler Programs. Frequent traveler programs can help you save on fees (i.e. baggage), get travel perks (e.g. special offers, upgrades, priority boarding) or receive free travel benefits (hotel stays, tickets).

Purchase a Travel Pass. If you are planning on visiting a city and touring some of the major attractions. Travel passes can really save you money. My husband and I purchased a city pass (visit citypass.com) in San Francisco and it included all of the attractions we wanted to visit and public transportation, amounting to about 50% in total savings.TripAdvisor.com is another great travel website. This site is very helpful with giving you some insight into what to expect from hotels, including hotel rankings and customer reviews (some of these are very funny!). The site also has ideas for places to visit, restaurants, price comparison tools and more.©2010 by KP Evans Financial. Reprint rights granted if crediting author Kembala Evans.

5 Empowering Tracks From Female Icons To Make You Feel Inspired

Sometimes we all need a little lift. Whether you’ve had a recent knock to your confidence, have been going through stress in your personal or professional life, or have always struggled with your self-esteem, music is an essential tool for lifting your spirits and making you feel better about yourself.

According to a study by Heriot-Watt University, the type of music you listen to not only influences your mood, but also your personality, with indie and rock/heavy metal fans reporting the lowest levels of self-esteem, while fans of jazz, blues, opera, classical, pop, rap and soul all reported high levels of self-confidence.

So if you’re having a ‘down day’, why not boost your spirits by listening to some powerful, uplifting tracks? Here are five perfect confidence boosters.

Britney Spears – Toxic

Britney’s own struggles with her mental health and conservatorship have made her an inspiration for many people across the world.

This classic song is timelessly sensual, and the heavy beats throughout make it impossible not to dance to. A welcome blast of nostalgia, this tune has filled dance floors across the globe with fans old and new.

The video features Britney as a female spy playing the sexy flight attendant, seducing her passenger before she makes her escape on a motorbike and breaks into a high-security facility guarded by a laser security system.

This track and video is a guaranteed way to feel invincible, and deserves a place on your playlist no matter your mood.

Kelis – Milkshake

A cheesy classic that is guaranteed to make you feel all warm and gooey inside, Kelis pumps up the heat in this 00’s RnB track. Underpinned by intricate drum beats and electric elements, Kelis’ self-confidence is infectious, and it’s hard not to find yourself smiling at the lyrics.

This track is a great way to get into a flirtatious mindset, making it a great choice before going on a date or heading out for the evening.

And if you’re staying in? It’s a great mood lift. But beware! You may find yourself craving a sweet treat.

Eve (ft. Gwen Stefani) – Let Me Blow Your Mind

This RnB classic will capture your attention with its assertive rhythm and powerful vocals from 00’s icons Eve and Gwen Stefani. Featuring a laid-back – yet self-assured – beat, and catchy guitar riff, this is a great track for driving, and its empowering feel is sure to help you feel motivated.

Got a job interview lined up, or thinking of asking for a raise? This anthemic number is a quick way to feel positive and more assertive.

The video features Eve and Gwen Stefani crashing an exclusive event on quad bikes, causing a stir among the privileged attendants, and shoving the performer off stage to perform their own music, before finally being arrested and taken to the station in a police van.

This ‘baddie’ track helps you to tap into the hidden ‘bold’ side of your personality, and lifts your mood while keeping you feeling calm and cool.

Fergie – MILF$

If you have kids, it can be difficult to feel sexy. When you’re running around cleaning the house, changing nappies, or up to your elbows in dishwater, you can easily forget your sensual side – leaving you feeling frumpy and lacking in confidence and motivation.

Thankfully, Fergie’s comeback track is a quick remedy to your low mood and lethargy.

Featuring attractive mothers dressed in curve-hugging latex and silky lingerie going about their daily life in a dreamy, colourful suburbia, this track is a quick way to transform your self-esteem and transport you to a world where you are not just a mother, but a goddess too.

Why not shake off the day and tap into your feminine energy with Fergie, your sexiest PJs, and a bottle of your favourite wine?

Marina And The Diamonds – How To Be A Heartbreaker

Low confidence after a breakup? You’re not alone. Having your heart broken can leave you feeling depressed, undesirable, and unmotivated. So flip the tables on your ex and become a heartbreaker with Marina’s catchy club classic.

This empowering dance track will make you want to move your body and get in touch with your bad girl side, with its heavy beat and pounding rhythms.

Plus, if your libido has suffered as a result of your low mood, take a sneaky peek at the video – it will get your blood pumping with its steamy shower shots and smoking hot male models.

The Pandemic Effects on Hospitality Industries and How They Overcome It

The COVID-19 pandemic affects many aspects and many sectors of life. As a result, economic sectors are fully affected, and the hospitality industry is no exception. The hospitality industry is known to be the source of job opportunities and supports many livelihoods of millions of workers and their families. Because Indonesia is primarily reliant on the service sector, the tourist industry plays an important part in the country’s growth. The increase of the COVID-19 cases has brought about a huge increase in the number of workers getting expelled or having their work ended. How did the hospitality industry survive in this era? The pandemic has provided several opportunities for numerous hospitality industries to use specific mechanisms in order to overcome pandemic difficulties.

Tourism and hospitality industries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including hotels, restaurants, resorts, travel agencies, travel and transportation, and real estate, show a significant losing number of tourists. According to the president of the Indonesia Tour Guide Association (HPI, 2020), 45,000 visitors have cancelled their plans to visit main tourist spots in the country between January and May. Furthermore, According to UNWTO (2020), 100-120 million direct and indirect activities were in jeopardy, and foreign tourist numbers decreased 56% year on year from January–May 2020. These noteworthy diminishing numbers primarily influenced the Indonesian financial state. For example, hotel profits have dropped by up to 40%, having an effect on hotel operations and risking business continuity. The drop in international visitors has an effect on the salary of restaurants whose clients are more prevailing than foreign visitors (Block, 2017). Following the dropping, many hospitality industries are taking awareness of tourists’ health risks and protocols taking an advance.

The recovery of hospitality industries is indistinguishable from the progressively sophisticated information innovation utilized to pull in potential visitors to choose to travel. The regaining of tourist attractions after a pandemic is required to utilize other promoting techniques to advertise their items inventively. First, social media marketing reaches many internet users who are looking for tourist information hospitality industry. This strategy is helpful in advertising and attracts many tourists to find more information related to a tourist attraction in the designated region. Second, Tourism industry players and visitors, as well as government action, are required to arbitrate between the two groups. Government policies must be in the form of the finest judgments to characterize the middle ground between commercial actors and visitors (Anggarini, 2021). This means that provided policy in the hospitality sector during-post pandemics maintains the best solution for both tourists and hospitality owners. Last, all tourism-related activities must adapt to current conditions, in which humans must live alongside Covid-19 (Anggarini, 2021). By all means, many factors, including health issues, hygiene, and safety for tourists, are priorities.

In conclusion, even though the pandemic is really affecting the hospitality industry as a whole, it gives many advancements of movement done by the hospitality industry to survive. Many resources are being used as the development of technology to provide data destinations insight. In addition, the sophistication of information technology can also facilitate the government in supervising the implementation of safe travel in accordance with government recommendations. All these initiations are good examples of overcoming pandemic situations while running hospitality industries.

Expert Advice For Tree Service

If you’re a resident of Clearwater, Florida and you need tree service, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll provide valueable advice on what to look for when hiring a tree service company in Clearwater and some tips on how to care for your trees throughout the year. Let’s get started!

What to look for when hiring a tree service in Clearwater, Florida?

When hiring a tree service in Clearwater, Florida, you should keep a few things in mind. The first is to make sure that the tree service company is licensed and insured. This will protect you in case something goes south during the job. Another thing to look at is whether or not the company has experience in the type of tree work you need done. Finally, be sure to get a written estimate from the company before hiring them.

The benefits of professional tree care in Clearwater, Florida

When you have trees on your property, it’s important to take care of them to stay healthy and look their best. That’s where professional tree care services come in. Tree care experts have the knowledge and experience needed to maintain your trees properly. There are many benefits to using a professional tree service in Clearwater, Florida. One advantage is that they can help you keep your trees healthy. They can also help you avoid problems such as insect infestations and diseases. Another benefit is that they can improve the appearance of your property by trimming and pruning your trees. This can add value to your home or business if you ever decide to sell.

How to prepare your property for tree service in Orlando, Florida?

When you hire a tree service company in Clearwater, Florida, there are certain things you need to do to prepare your property for the work that will be done. The first thing is to make sure all vehicles and other valuables are moved out of the way of the work area. This includes any lawn furniture or toys that might be in the way. Another important thing to do is make sure there is a clear path for the tree service company to access your property.

What to expect from the team of arborists at your home in Clearwater, Florida?

The team of arborists we send to your home in Clearwater, Florida, will be equipped with the proper tools and knowledge to take on any Tree Service Clearwater task you may need. They will work quickly and efficiently to get the job done right the first time. We guarantee that you will be satisfied with our work!