A cheap tent or camping equipment in general will start to show wear and tear after a few times out camping.  The material will leak or a zipper will tear.  Tents are take on a big load.  They are usually roughed up when people go in and out of them and then rolled up into a tiny bag afterwards.  To have a high quality tent no matter where you are camping is one of the best feelings you can have.  Your tent is your home and protection.  To have great protection is an amazing feeling.

I also believe that quality is without a doubt the way to go because of what you will be putting in your life.  Many times we tent to buy the cheaper products because we want to save some money.  But, what we don’t look at is the added stress from having a poor quality product also the long-term costs that we will have once the product begins to deteriorate.  I learned this the hard way.  Many times I would buy products because of the cost.  What I begin to realize over time is that all my possessions were all cheap junk.  I think began to look at my material things and which ones I liked the best.  What I found out is that my favorite possessions were all products that were high quality.  After, I found this out I began to buy almost all high quality products.  It may have cost more and taken longer to purchase but in the long run I am so much happier and confident with my possessions.

The primary change with this program is that the Rapid Rewards now give more points for their more expensive flights.  That means their Business Select customers now receive 12 points per dollar for their flights, while Anytime flight customer’s earn 10 points per dollar, and Wanna Get Away customers earn 6 points per dollar. As the flight and seat-level go up, so do the number of points that are earned.

This is a huge departure from their earlier plan that only provided 1200 points for each flight, no matter what the level or how much was spent.

This same benefit is extended to the redemption side.  Business Select customers can book their flights using 120 points per dollar, while Anytime flights can be booked for 100 points per dollar and Wanna Get Away fares only need 60 points per dollar to book.

Ideally, this allows someone to take company-paid flights on Business Select, and then use their points to fly more Wanna Get Away fares  But this system also works well with customers that use their Southwest Credit Card to earn to points, as well as helping their large base of family-oriented customers get flights for a fraction of the points that used to be needed.

The other major benefit is that the points earned are now good for 24 months with limited expiration.  Additionally, those points can be refreshed by adding more points.  So as long as customer’s fly at least once every 2 years, their points will not expire   In the past, customers had to fly 6, round trip flights in 2 years in order to earn a free flight before their points expired.

Finally, for the frequent flier, the Rapid Rewards program now has its own credit card that can allow customer’s to earn 1 point per dollar spent on their everyday purchases. This is just an added benefit to the already excellent new Rapid Rewards program, and Southwest’s tradition of excellent customer service. ]]> http://www.foote-prints.com/how-rapid-rewards-works/feed 0 http://www.foote-prints.com/chiang-mai-thai-massage http://www.foote-prints.com/chiang-mai-thai-massage#comments Fri, 13 May 2011 05:02:19 +0000 GuestPoster http://www.foote-prints.com/?p=215 Chiang Mai is a major highlight of any journey through Thailand. Visited by over one and a half million foreign tourists each year, it is the most important city in northern Thailand and the capital of Chiang Mai Province. In contrast to the modernized Bangkok, Chiang Mai is more relaxed, cultural and old-fashioned.

Thai Massage in Chiang Mai

The large, visually impressive city is home to some 160,000 people, over 300 Buddhist temples and some of the finest Thai massage schools in the country.  More foreigners get their Thai massage education in Chiang Mai than anywhere else in the Thailand, although the Wat Pho school in Bangkok predates all others and is also very important.

Thai massage is a kind of bodywork that involves deep massage, stretching and pressing specific points in the body. Massage in the Thai style is done fully clothed. Originally Thai massage was used only for therapeutic reasons but lately it has found its way into spa and tourism businesses.

The Chiang Mai style of massage emphasizes stretches over pressure, causing many Westerners to dub it as “yoga massage.”   Thai massage is supposed to restore harmony and health by causing energy to flow freely in the body. You can reap the benefits of massage the Thai way by enrolling in an accredited school in Chiang Mai. Accreditation by the Thai government and other massage authorities is important to ensure quality education and safety.

Chiang Mai Massage Instruction

Some of the places for massage instruction are:

Thai Massage School of Chiang Mai. An accredited school for all levels of training. The basic 30-hour course costs about 5,000 Thai bahts.

Chetawan Thai Traditional Massage School. This school is affiliated with the Wat Pho school in Bangkok, the oldest university in the country and the original Thai massage school.

International Training Massage School. This school focuses on promoting Thai massage to an international audience. A one-hour Thai yoga practice is taught to prepare students for massage practice.

Some massage experts in Chiang Mai also teach individually. These instructors may have a less formal setting than a traditional school. For instance, students may live with their teacher’s family and tuition may be more flexible.

Make your tour of Thailand not only fun and memorable but also useful. When you learn how to do Thai massage, you learn a new skill that you can use for a lifetime.  Chiang Mai is a great place to start.

Free and Affordable Fun

One of the biggest money saving tips that should be taken into consideration when visiting New York or any other location is checking out the free festivities and activities that are commonly available. This can include any multitude of parades, street fairs and attractions that do not charge upfront. Many of the museums are free to visit but ask that guests make a donation to help cover operation costs. Even contributing a few dollars can rack up the savings when compared to the price of admissions elsewhere.

Getting the Best Deals

Saving money in NYC also involves becoming a savvy shopper. Rather than shop at vendors targeted towards tourists, visiting local markets and vendors can come at quite a cost reduction. More often times than not, gift shops and tourist driven merchants may charge significantly more than what other shops will. In addition to this, there may even be more selection in merchandise and authentic New York items.

Other Considerations

Visiting New York City does not necessarily have to be expensive, particularly if you use something like the NYC Explorer Pass. There are several ways to obtain discounts and take advantage of what the area has to offer without paying full price, if anything at all. However, the consumer should also take into consideration other factors, such as lodging and transportation. These two items alone can make or break the bank when it comes to taking a vacation anywhere in the world.

Tate Modern – Londoners are very proud of the Tate Modern and is actually the most visited modern art gallery in the world attracting around 4.5 million people a year. The building is an imposing sight sitting and not unlike a power station right. It sits on the bank of the river Thames in the popular cultural area South Bank. The gallery has some great exhibitions including a permanent exhibition and always has a large display in the foyer.

Tate Britain – This is a great one for traditionalists and houses some very important exhibitions of classical art and portraits. Located on Milbank the building itself is very beautiful and photogenic. Exhibitions include Rembrant, David Hockey and John Constable. For popular exhibitions you must book tickets in advance and be prepared to queue.

The National Gallery – This started off small in 1824 but now the gallery proudly boasts a collection of over 2,000 pieces including many masterpieces. The collection houses famous greats such as Monet and Van Gogh. A great day out!

Victoria and Albert museum – This one is a little different and displays an excellent collection of decorative arts such as ceramics, sculpture, portrait miniatures and photography. In fact it’s the greatest collection of this kind in the world.

Saatichi Gallery – This gallery is a favourite of many Londoners. The famous advertising group also owns this London contemporary art gallery. Aiming to give innovative modern art a voice there are some real treats located here including some by Damien Hirst.

The rugged cliffs are more private with fewer hotels and tourists. Hotel tariffs are therefore quite high. Moreover, they are not suitable for kids. However, the views are breathtaking and most tourists look forward to the sunsets that are famous on these cliffs. Some hotels have private sundecks to offer the most amazing views for their guests. For adventurers, the cliffs are best for snorkeling and scuba diving in Negril. There are several restaurants and night clubs which are extremely popular. The cliff road that connects tourists to the famous lighthouse on west Jamaica provides for a wonderful ride.

Those who prefer holidaying on the beach, the 7-Mile beach should not be given a miss. Ranked as one of the top beaches in the world, the Negril beach remains crowded for most part of the year and is perfect for a nice vacation with family. There are some famous Negril resorts that can make the stay comfortable. Home to several resorts and small family-run hotels, Negril’s beach fits the budget of all kinds of tourists. It offers a calm and relaxed ambiance to make the trip truly memorable. During the peak months, the beach remains crowded. But it still provides a great holiday experience for the tourists.

Over the years, Negril has become a tourist hot spot for all kinds of travelers. With its scenic beauty and hospitality, Negril has become the top destination for tourists from all over the world.

Mildreds – Mildreds is great and very popular vegetarian restaurant located in the middle of the trendy Soho area. It attracts media types and some celebrities including the comedian Russell Brand. Although it’s decidedly unpretentious with a cozy atmosphere rather than glamorous. Hearty but healthy food is served such as veggie burgers and soya cheesecake.

St.Johns – If you’re more of a die hard carnivore then why not try St.Johns handily located next to the meat market in Smithfields (in the city of London). Not a place for the squeamish, this restaurant serves offal, off cuts and game such as venison, partridge and pheasant. Apparently delicious but definitely an acquired taste!

Salt Yard – One of the best Italian restaurants in London, Salt yard is located in the centre of London on Goodge Street. The décor is dark and sleek and the mix of Iberian and Italian food is served up with reasonable price tag.

Princess Garden – This is a Mayfair Chinese yet somehow manages to remain not overpriced. This restaurant promotes the principles of Feng shui and brings a bit of Hong Kong to London.

Mango and Silk – This is a very popular chain all over London offering budget but great quality Indian food. Perfect for spice fans and for those on a budget.

For many people Koh Phangan is best known for its Full Moon Party. It is a great party on the beach, but it is an unfair characterization to think of Koh Phangan as only a party island. It does provide a great night out for those who love beaches and music but there is much more to Koh Phangan than merely hedonism.

For many Thai people, Koh Phangan is associated with Kings of Thailand. Three Kings have visited the same waterfall at Than Sadet including the much beloved present monarch and King Rama V.

Koh Phangan was first permanently inhabited by monks 600 years ago who recognized the spiritual possibilities of the beautiful isle. They built the first temple on a hill just outside modern day Thongsala. Since then there have been over 20 temples built in Koh Phangan. Temples worth visiting are the Chinese temple in the North West that has great views and Wat Pho in Ban Tai where the monks still prepare traditional herbal steam saunas.

The island is also famous for Muay Thai or Thai kickboxing. A number of Bangkok champions have lived on the island. There are some great schools to learn Muay Thai and every month there are some lively fight nights.

Koh Phangan is also great for water sports. There is a long range of corals just off the west coast. Also nearby is the Gulf’s only 5 star PADI rated dive site, Sail Rock. You can also wake board in Chaloklum and kite board in Ban Tai.

And of course Koh Phangan has over 20 white sand beaches which have unspoiled natural scenery. The most famous beaches are Thong Nai Pan, Haad Yao and Haad Rin.

To sum up, Koh Phangan is an island rich in history and culture. It has one foot in the past as well as one foot in the present.

You never know when you’ll run into an accident, so it’s best to prepare ahead of time. Following the advice in this article will make your experience much easier if this should happen. Plus, it’ll be faster, leaving you more time to enjoy the rest of your vacation.

Know who to call in advance

The first thing to do before leaving is to keep the information of 2 or 3 towing companies you find trustworthy. Going online will make this process easy. We recommend you visit Yelp.com, a site where users type in their thoughts about local services, places, and more. Here you’ll find all the towing companies in San Diego, and what locals have to say about them. Look for the top rated, but read both the good and bad, because you never know to what extent a business participates to write about themselves.

What should you avoid? Customers complaining about hidden fees, drivers with an attitude, damages to their vehicle. We recommend you keep a fund specifically for accident or emergency expenses. Choose a handful of companies, and write down their information.

Let them know every detail

When you call the towing company of your choice, you should give them a detailed description of the situation. What kind of car you’re driving, 2WD or 4WD, any specifics of the accident. Anything you believe is pertinent to tell them, so when the driver arrives to the scene he’ll do his job more efficiently.

Ask the company for a flatbed tow truck

Depending on the scenario, flatbed towing might be your only option. That’s why it’s important to give an in-depth description. Whatever the case is, know that asking for flatbed towing will minimize the risk of damage to your vehicle. This is because your car will rest on top of a metallic bed, fitted on the back of a truck. It will also be tied down from parts that were designed for this type of towing.

You’ll have a good feeling knowing that you’re prepared for the worst. If you run into this situation, make sure your opinion is heard by using the same site recommended for research. It’s good practice to leave feedback for the towing company that worked with you, future travelers will appreciate it.

The information in this article is provided to you by a towing company. They’ve been towing in Chula Vista, CA for many years now, so you can trust it’s a good source based on their experience working with San Diego customers.

An off-white island of tranquil elegance in the midst of bustling Waikiki, the new Halekulani opened late in 1983, replacing a legend. A sea captain’s two-story home once stood here on the point where Waikiki Beach begins its graceful sweep toward Diamond Head. It became a small beach hotel in 1907, the Hau Tree Hotel, and was acquired by Clifford Kimball and his wife in 1917. They renamed it Halekulami, house befitting heaven. Natives had called the sea captain’s house that out of gratitude for being allowed to keep their canoes under his hau trees.

Over the years, the Kimballs improved and expanded the hotel, adding cottages around the property. New main buildings replaced the original house in 1931, which has been carefully restored and is the focal point of the new hotel. Nearby is a new open-air lounge, the House Without a Key, replacing the original. Author Earl Derr Biggers, a frequent visitor to the old Halkulani, introduced Charlie Chan in 1925 in the House Without a Key. The Halekulani now is the state of the art in elegance; polished marble and terrazzo, pure wool carpets, the finest cotton sheets and towels.  And the views from the lanais toward Diamond Head are spectacular. Actually comprised of five buildings, ranging from two to sixteen stories, on five acres, the 456 room hotel gives a remarkable sense of unity. It truly is a house befitting heaven.

From the main part of the hotel the new House Without a Key presents a graceful profile against sea and sky. The Presidential Suite, is a study in elegance. There are special robes for guests, and tiny gift wrapped seashells are placed on the pillow each night. Kanoe Miller, a former Miss Hawaii, dances the hula each evening at sunset in front of the century old kiawe tree, a Waikiki landmark. Glistening at the bottom of the pool is a cattleya orchid, symbol of the hotel.