Switzerland Travel

Switzerland, Switzerland Travel Advice, Ski Switzerland, Skiing in Switzerland, Swiss Ski Resorts, Swiss, Switzerland Information,Jungfrau, Verbier, Saas Fee and more Swiss Skiing, Ski Europe, Poll Thai Resorts, Poll France Resorts, free travel newsletter Weather Forecast Search Activelifestyle Select from list Partner hotels Brochures on-line Alpine routes Alpine ski maps EU golf maps TH golf maps UK Ski tours Golf video Ski video FREE Newsletter Snow Sports Gear SkiGear SkiJackets SnowboardBoots Information for Travel in Switzerland Zermatt.com Saas Fee Château d'Oex Les Diablerets Leysin Villars Engelberg Luzern Verbier Switzerland.com Andermatt Crans-Montana Veysonnaz Adelboden Gstaad - Saanenland Davos St. Moritz Jungfrau Region.com Grindelwald Interlaken Lauterbrunnen Mürren Wengen Ski Switzerland, Europe's spotless land of lakes and mountains. If skiing in Europe is your dream or if you do it frequently, skiing in Switzerland is a wise destination choice. World class ski resorts are all over Switzerland. World class ski lifts and mountain transportation will safely and comfortably get you into ski country, and some of the best hotels and restaurants in Europe will see to your comfort in Switzerland. Wining and dining in Switzerland are excellent activities and the Swiss kitchen, although underrated is certainly one of the best. Select from the resorts featured here-we will be adding more soon. About Activelifestyle | Contact European Reservations Dolonne, Courmayeur , family run hotel, bed/ buffet breakfast, great restaurant, 47 Euro,p/n,up Entreves, Courmayeur charming hotel, family friendly, 4 nights double half board from 260 p/n Get featured here. Pay 10% commission or .50cents per click through. Classified Ads Property Paradise? Invest for income or to live in Thailand. Paradise is yours. thailandpropertytimes.com Got something to say? Say it to a global audience. Free. www.bloggerup.com Luxury Holiday Word Europe, America, Asia, Canada, Yachting luxury www.luxuryski.com Advertise here pay per result Pay per click, per request or per month, change when you want, full reporting actone@activelifestyle.com Hotels in central Courmayeur Request here for great prices, great locations, and fast, friendly service Link to ME form with hotel list Speak Italian? Courmayeur brochure in Italian with great page turning feature. No plug-in needed. www.brochures-on-line.com The Activelifestyle Travel Network. Focused travel targeting at its best = perfect results for buyer and seller. Austria ski/resorts Swiss/ski/resorts Italy/ski/resorts France/ski/holidays Last Minute skiaustria.com stantonaustria.com austrianarlberg.com lechaustria.com stubaiaustria.com tirolaustria.com holidaysaustria.com skiswitzerland.com zermatt.com jungfrauregion.com verbierswitzerland.com zermattswitzerland.com holidaysswitzerland.com skiitaly.com aostaitaly.com courmayeur.com dolomitesitaly.com livignoitaly.com holidaysitaly.com skifrance.com holidayfrancais.com dive-lastminute.com golf-lastminute.com holidays-lastminute.com ski-lastminute.com Asia/activities/dest Asia/activities/dest Holidays Europe Luxury Luxury travelthailand.com bangkokthailand.com pattayathailand.com phuketthailand.com thailandgolfmaps.com asiandiveholidays.com asianmp3.com mp3thailand.com thailandhealthcaretimes.com thailandpropertytimes.com holidayseurope.com holidaysineurope.com europeanreservations.com croatiancoastholidays.com sloveniancoast.com luxuryalpinehotels.com luxuryasianhotels.com luxuryasianresorts.com luxurygolfdestinations.com luxuryyachtholidays.com luxuryhotelsamerica.com luxuryhotelscanada.com luxuryislandresorts.com luxuryhotelsbangkok.com luxuryski.com Best Price Best Price Best Price Alpine Sun Special travel bestpriceeurope.com bestpriceaustria.com bestpriceitaly.com bestpriceswitzerland.com bestpricefrance.com bestpricethailand.com bestpricezermatt.com bestpricecourmayeur.com bestpriceskiing.com bestpricegolfing.com bestpricetouring.com bestpriceverbier.com bestpriceairlinetickets.com bestpriceairtickets.com bestpricetravelnetwork.com alpineholidays.com alpinesecrets.com alpinesummer.com lakesmountainseurope.com hotelsinthealps.com alpinegolf.com alpineskimaps.com activelifestylewoman.com euroski-on-line.com businesstraveltoday.com bookhotelsdirect.com activelifestyle.com activelifestylemall.com gullibletraveler.com Available Accommodation Available Accommodation global apartments global apartments availableroomsthailand.com availableroomszermatt.com availableroomsitaly.com availableroomsfrance.com availableroomsaustria.com availableroomsswitzerland.com availableaccommodationitaly.com zermattaccommodation.com zermattapartmantregister.com alpineapartmentregister.com apartmentaustria.com apartmentsinthealps.com apartmentslivigno.com apartmentsswitzerland.com apartmentsverbier.com lakesmountainsapartments.com livignoapartments.com matterhornapartments.com privatealpinehomes.com verbierapartments.com alpineholidayhomes.com Applications Applications Airports Casinos/gambling Casinos/gambling ManagEasy.com easyairticket.com easyadtracker.com bloggerup.com brochures-on-line.com europeanevents.com skihear.com airports-on-line.com airporthotelsandservices.com skiersairports.com casinoisslovenia.com casinoseurope.com gamblingaustria.com gamblingslovenia.com webgamblingeurope.com alpinegamblingcasinos.com alpinegamblingguide.com

Hotel Travel

Web 2.0 Conference Home Why Attend Registration Program Speakers Workshops Sessions Events FAQ Sponsors Hotel/Travel Media Center Hotel and Travel Information Conference Headquarters Hotel Hotel Nikko San Francisco 222 Mason Street San Francisco, CA 94102 Tel: (415) 394-1111 Fax: (415) 394-1106 Rate Standard Room Rate: $169.00 Single or double occupancy. To be eligible for this discounted rate, you must identify yourself as attending the "Web 2.0 Conference" when reserving your room. NOTE: The cutoff date for this discount is Tuesday, September 14, 2004. Reservation requests will be accepted only on a space- and rate- availability basis after the cutoff date. All rates are single or double occupancy. Additional persons are $30.00 per person, per night. Rates do not include a 14% city occupancy tax (subject to change without notice). Make your hotel reservations by PHONE. Call the Hotel Nikko directly at: (415) 394-1111 - OR - Make your reservations by FAX. Download the housing reservation form and fax it to the Nikko at: (415) 394-1159 To receive the discounted room rate of $169, be sure to inform the reservationist when calling the Nikko Hotel that you are attending the "Web 2.0 Conference". Getting There San Francisco International Airport San Francisco International Airport is served by over 16 domestic and 22 international airlines. Located only 15 miles from the Hotel Nikko. Parking Valet Parking is available at the Hotel Nikko. Rates are as follows: Overnight (for hotel guests only): $39.00 + 14% tax* Oversized Vehicles** : $43.00 + 14% tax* * 14% tax is imposed by the City of San Francisco ** An oversized vehicle is considered as equivalent to a Ford Expedition or larger. Self-Parking is available in area parking garages, located within short walking distance to Hotel Nikko. Prices range from $12 - $20 per day. O'Reilly Media, Inc. assumes no responsibility or liability for the facilities or services provided by the vendors and suppliers. Anyone attending this conference releases O'Reilly from any and all claims that may arise out of attending at this conference. -- -- -- Sponsors Web 2.0 Sponsor Opportunities --Reach business leaders and technology influencers at the Web 2.0 conference. Call Amber Rattu at 415-905-2647 or email at Download the Web 2.0 Sponsor Prospectus . Press and Media For media-related inquiries, contact Ben Stricker: or Suzanne Axtell: Registration For registration questions, contact us at

Japan Travel

Japan.com - Travel - Travel in Japan - Japan Travel Search : on the web in Japan.com Powered by Home News Business Travel Travel Cities Flying to Japan Hotel Japan Overview Airports Climate Weather - Tokyo - Osaka - Other Cities Leisure Technology Living in Japan Study Job in Japan Immigration you@japan.com Login Address Password © 2001 Japan Inc. Communications K.K. All Rights Reserved. webmasters click here SONY Cyber-shot Digital Camera T1 (JE) Newly designed optical 3x zoom. Large 2.5-inch LCD and 5.1-million-pixels CCD. Meet the new, fully flat Cyber-shot with high-performance functions in a compact body : Click here to see more... JAPAN.COM FRIENDS Sign up for FREE and meet ADVERTISEMENT Free Newsletters Email : J@pan Inc Newsletter Wireless Watch Gadget Watch Terrie's Take Music Media Watch More NEWSLETTERS English OK Key Areas: » Kichijoji » Shinjuku » Harajuku » Omotesando » Shibuya » Ebisu » Shinagawa » Roppongi » Azabu » Akasaka Overview Japan, like any country, isn't something you can describe in just a few sentences. Below we have presented just some basic facts about the country, just to get things started. Japan (Nippon or Nihon) The four major islands of Japan are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, covering a total area of 377,829 square kilometers (or 145,880 square miles). According to the National Census of 2000, the total population of Japan was 126.92 million, and there were ten prefectures with more than 3 million residents. The average size for households is approximately 2.7 persons, with the average life expectancy for males being 77.64 years, and 84.62 years for females. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/index.html As of 2000, Japan's highly skilled workforce consisted of 64.46 million workers. The number of unemployed individuals, however, had exceeded 3 million per year for two consecutive years, and stood at 3.2 million. http://www.stat.go.jp/english/1.htm NATURAL FEATURES OF JAPAN The chief feature of the Japanese archipelago is its geological instability, resulting in frequent volcanic activity and earthquakes. Another distinctive characteristic of the topography is the fact that the Japanese archipelago is made up almost entirely of steep mountain districts with very few plains. Mountains and hills account for 73% of the land area, making Japan a very mountainous island country. MAJOR MOUNTAINS Mountains m Prefecture 1. *Fuji-san(Kenga-mine) 3776 Yamanashi Shizuoka 2. Kita-dake (Shirane-san) 3192 Yamanashi 3. Okuhotaka-dake 3190 Nagano Gifu An asterisk denotes a volcano. MAJOR LAKES A small number of large rivers, such as the Ishikarigawa, Shinanogawa, Tonegawa, Kisogawa, Yodogawa, and Chikugogawa, have large deltas at their mouths. A lake is defined as having an area of 10 kms2 or more and according to a 1999 survey, the lakes listed below are three of Japan's largest: lakes m Prefecture 1. Biwa-ko 670.3 Shiga 2. Kasumi-gaura 167.6 Ibaragi 3. Saroma-ko 151.9 Hokkaido FACTS IN BRIEF National Symbols Although Japan does not have an official national anthem, "Kimigayo" (His Majesty's Reign) is considered to be the 'de facto' anthem. Similarly, the "Hinomaru" ("the sun disk") has gained worldwide recognition as the 'national flag' of Japan, although it has never been officially designated as such. There is also no national flower of Japan, although many people believe it to be the cherry blossom for its overwhelming popularity or the chrysanthemum for its association with the Imperial Household. Japan has, however, officially recognized national entities such as the national butterfly (oomurasaki), national bird (pheasant), and the national sport (sumo). The national currency of Japan is yen (¥). Japanese language The Japanese language (known as nihongo in Japanese) has a complex writing system, comprised of Kanji and Kana. Kanji is derived from Chinese characters, with each character holding specific meaning, while Kana is a phonetic syllabry of characters, each character containing no inherent meaning in abstract. Hiragana and Katakana, two types of Kana, are used for locally derived Japanese words, and words initially 'imported' from other languages, respectively. It is not uncommon for students of the language to reach a level of fluency in spoken and written Japanese only after several years of dedicated study. World Heritage Sites in Japan In addition to Yakushima and Shirakami-Sanchi, which were both awarded World Natural Heritage status in December 1992, Japan also boasts nine World Cultural Heritage landmarks, including several well-known temples and shrines (see below). World Cultural Heritage Sites Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (listed in Dec. 1993) Himeji-jo (Dec. 1993) Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities: Dec. 1994) Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (Dec. 1995) Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome: Dec. 1996) Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (Dec. 1996) Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (Dec. 1998) Shrines and Temples of Nikko (Dec. 1999) Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu (Dec. 2000) J@pan Inc Magazine Get all the news on the Business - Technology and People in Japan. Aims to tell the real story of Japan's move... http://www.japaninc.com

Vacation Packages Lead Generation

Fraudulent Travel Clubs and Vacation Packages Schemes,Scams, Frauds. www.crimes-of-persuasion.com Site Directory Fraudulent / Deceptive Vacation Packages Lead Generation Be aware that when you place your business card or name into a drawing for afree vacation, you may be added to a telemarketing call list. Telemarketers knowthat wishful thinkers are susceptible to their offers. Also know that yourpersonal information, should you enter it, may be collected by unscrupulousoperators via the Internet when you are visiting bogus travel-related sitesseeking unbelievable deals on trips or airfare. Fly By Night Operations You get a notice that you have won a super travel bargain. All you have to dois make a deposit with your credit card and select your preferred travel dates.The trouble is you may never actually get your "bargain" trip because the travelproves to be a complete fabrication, your reservations may not be confirmed orbecause you must comply with so many hard-to-meet, hidden or expensive"conditions." Fraudulenttelemarketers purporting to be travel agencies can offer substantial travelpackages at comparatively low cost because they know they will never have tocome good on their promises. The use of travel as a commodity makes thelong-distance nature of the transaction plausible but also makes getting arefund next to impossible. Additional Costs and Upgrades Several companies overstate the amenities included, hide extra charges in"all-inclusive" packages, or charge you for products andservices you never received. Free vacations often become assertively pitched"discount" packages, where you have to pay an excessively high pricefor some uncovered part - like hotel or airfare, or inflated charges for a"required" second person. So, your airfare may be free, but your anticipated $50hotel room costs you $350. Perhaps a "handling fee" or"membership fee", anywhere from $50 to hundreds of dollars, isrequired as well. Some telemarketers say you've won or been specially selected for atrip then "bait andswitch" you into spending additional money for "upgraded" hotelor other accommodations. You get a free or low-cost trip, but the room iscramped and grimy, the food terrible or nonexistent. The promoter then magicallyfinds an upgrade at an outrageous price. In addition, many offers require you to pay upgrade costs to receive theactual destinations, cruises, or dates you were promised. Some may require youto pay more for port charges, hotel taxes, or service fees but not bill yourcard until after you return. They promise you a bargain-priced vacation. However, when you add up all thefees and extras, you wind up paying more for the "bargain" than for aconventional travel package. The total cost may run two to three times more thanwhat you'd expect to pay, or what you were led to believe. They mayalso fail to inform you of their "no refund" policy ormisrepresent it over the phone. Timeshare Sales Trap You take the bait and fly to Florida. When you try to pick up the vouchers for the rest of your trip, you find yourself trapped at a lengthy spiel on timeshares. You may also find out once you reach the final destination you are required to once again spend part of your vacation trapped listening to a lengthy and high pressure sales pitch for timeshare accommodations during your "vacation." For more info on TimeshareSales Presentations Charter Flights Every year at spring break many students, who signed up and paid forvacation packages, are disappointed when no plane is available for the returnflight. When they examine the conditions of their contracts, theyfind, in small print, a clause that says the travel agency had the right topostpone the departure flight by as many as three days without any advance notice. These students are left stranded in airports far from home, with no provisionsfor food or overnight lodging, just so the travel agency can save money,flying fewer of them during the off-peak days, once the break is over. A lot of college students use use charters for spring break but these flights are notcovered by the same laws as commercial airlines (usually charters can becanceled for any reason by the operator up until 10 days before the trip).Charter flights can also raise prices before the trip as well but you can cancelif they increase the package price by more than 10%. Cruise Line Cancellations Some travelers reserve a specific cruising date, sometimes a full year oryear and a half in advance. Then, shortly before the cruise, they are told thatthat particular cruise has been rescheduled. They are told that they can go onanother one, on certain dates, which may not fit their work schedule. Mostcontracts say that a cruise line can cancel at any time, for basically anyreason. Boat Ride to Hell Telemarketers can initiate contact with you in several ways: they may send direct mail to you stating you will receive a "fantasycruise holiday" vacation including a "luxury" cruise, then directyou to call an 800 number; and they also send unsolicited faxes to your business notifying "allstaff" that the "wholesale travel department" has only a fewBahamas cruise packages remaining at a special corporate rate and that youshould call immediately if you are interested in purchasing one; they send electronic certificates to your e-mail address congratulating youon "winning" a fabulous vacation for a very attractive price. Some sayyou have been "specially selected" (only people with e-mail qualify) for this opportunity. As mentioned, leads are also gathered at local fairs and trade shows by "leadgenerators." Booths are decorated with banners or signs inviting people to"register" for a vacation. You register thinking you areentering a draw to win a vacation. Regardless of the method of contact, you are led to believe you are part of aselect group of people specially chosen to receive this vacation package. Once they have you on the line, they describe an exciting vacation in Floridaand a "luxury cruise" to the Bahamas. They state that the vacation isworth a significant amount, sometimes as much as $2,500, but that you will pay amuch smaller amount to receive it, typically $398, $498, or $598. They urge you to immediately "secure" or "register" the vacation witha major credit card. They also say that the payment covers the cost of youraccommodations in both Florida and the Bahamas, as well as the Bahamas"cruise." They inform you that you must purchase the vacation immediately. If yourequest time to think over the offer, or receive it in writing, they respondwith canned rebuttals such as "this is a limited promotion based onavailability" or , "each confirmation number can only be activatedonce, so you cannot call back and reactivate your number" or "by thetime you receive something in the mail, the limited number of vacations will begone." In fact, there is no limit to the number of such vacations for sale. So you give your credit card number to the convincing operator. Once that is obtained, they say you will be switched over to a"supervisor." In actuality, the call is transferred to the"verification" department at their headquarters, where a third personcomes on to the line to confirm details of the sale. Unlike the sales portion of the call, the "verification" is taperecorded. During the verification, they ask for your credit card number again,quickly review the details of the vacation package and, in some but not allinstances, tell you for the first time that you will have to pay additionalcharges for "port service reservation processing fees" and that thevacation package is "non-refundable." These disclosures occur onlyafter you have provided a credit card number which will be charged within minutes ofyour hanging up. In the travel certificate industry, the amount you are initially chargedduring the sales call is known as the "front end" fee. This is because you donot receive a vacation for the money initially charged to your credit card, nordoes that front end fee pay for your vacation. In fact, most, if not all of the front end fee pays the ownersand their telemarketers for their sales efforts. For your initial $398, $498, or$598, you receive nothing more than a packagecontaining a short video, some advertisements and a "reservation requestvoucher" for the Bahamas cruise and the Florida vacation. When you receivethe vacation package you discover that you will have to pay more to take thevacation you thought you had already paid for. You find youhave actually just paid for the "option" to purchase a vacation andalso realize that you did not wina thing. Therequired additional payment, or the "back end" fee, is at least $198 to $316. They state that theback end fee is for "port reservation processing fees." Infact, the back end fee pays for most, if not all, of your"cruise" to the Bahamas and your vacation accommodations. Should you call and attempt to cancel your vacation it is flatly stated thatthey have a "no refund" policy and that you cannot cancel your initialpurchase. If you read the fine print on the back of the reservation vouchersthat are included in their vacation packages, you will discover that theyactually do have a return policy within a specified number of days, depending on thestate in which you live. If you return the vacation package, even following the instructions on the backof the reservation voucher, you inevitably receive your package back, oftenseveral times, until you either give up or call a law enforcement agency, theBetter Business Bureau, your credit card company or a private attorney. People who seek third party assistance generally receive a refund. Those whodo not are generally stuck paying for themisrepresented vacation package. Should you be one of those relatively few people who decide to pay the extra"back end" fee to take the vacation you will find that thevacation is not the "fantasy cruise holiday" you were promised but afive to six hour ferry ride to the Bahamas and back. The cruise shipyou're booked on may look more like a tug boat. The hotel accommodations theyprovideare shabby, and if you wish tostay at the better-known hotels and resorts referred to in the solicitations andbrochures, you must pay yet more undisclosed "upgrade" fees; otherwiseyou must endure the substandard accommodations provided. Never Never Land You receive in the mail an "Executory Writ of Authorization" whichcertifies that you will receive a "World-class Florida / Caribbean VacationPackage . . . including all accommodations and two Round-trip Airfares!" The certificate also states, "This special package is sponsored by, anddesigned to promote, select hotels, resorts and airlines." The certificate displays hotel logos including those of the "BestWestern British Colonial Beach Resort" and the "Nassau Marriott."To receive your vacation package, you must call right away. When you call their 800 number you reach a telemarketer who reiterates thatyou will receive a "promotionally discounted vacation package." Theysay they can offer such a "fabulous vacation" atan extremely discounted rate because they purchase large volumes of rooms fromthe specified hotels which, in turn, are promoting tourism in Florida and the Bahamas. They say you are guaranteed to stay at the British Colonial Beach Resort inNassau, Bahamas and that the vacation package is valid for 18 months, but thatyour reservations must be made at least 60 days in advance of the requestedtravel date. They indicate that they are a full-service travel agency and thatthey are the ones to call to book your reservation dates. This special limited time offer will cost you only $495 which you must payimmediately with your credit card. Through the use of stall tactics and blackoutdates they either manage to have the offer lapse or they have disappearedcompletely by the time you decide to book. Lifestyles of the Poor and Unfortunate Several states are suing National Travel Services Inc. and Ramada PlazaResorts, both of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., their owners, and Robin Leach, whopitched their vacation offer. The suit alleges that the companies used Leach's "celebrityendorsement" to convince consumers they had won, or were entitled to, aluxury Florida vacation and cruise to the Bahamas. After paying you'd receive a video hosted by Leach in which herepeatedly described the vacation as "world class" and "anexperience you'll never forget." You'd also receive travel certificates featuring Leach's picture and the message: Robin Leach says, "Pack Your Bags!" As a condition of the trip, thecertificates failed to disclose that you were required to attend lengthytimeshare presentations lasting up to five hours and pay sizable expenses and"port fees" to the promoters. You would eventually find out that you had wononly a chance to pay as much as $1,000 for a seven-day Florida vacation insubstandard accommodations and a bonus Bahamas' cruise which was actually aone-day ferry ride and a game of "Las Vegas style" bingo. There was nothing free or fabulous aboutthese dream travel packages. This was a trip to nowhere that you'll try toforget, but can't. Canadians continue to receive "special deal" offers for a $1600voucher towards an all-inclusive, first-class Caribbean holiday from RamadaPlaza Resorts (rprvacations.com) despite over 665 registered complaints at PhoneBustersregarding their practice of immediately charging $2500 to callers' credit cardsafter asking for a down-payment. Insisting that the packages arenon-refundable, company reps feel that because written scripts are used there isno possibility of abuse or misunderstanding. Some tips: Buy vacation travel from a business you know . Deal with members of a professional association and realize that few legitimate businesses can afford to give away products and services of real value or substantially undercut other companies prices. Verify arrangements before you pay . Get the details of your vacation in writing and a copy of the cancellation and refund policies. Don't accept vague terms such as "major hotels" or "luxury cruise ships." Call to verify your reservations. Look up numbers rather than using those provided. The entire operation may just be a front using mail drops and call forwarding services, all leading back to the same operation. Learn the vocabulary . "You have been specially selected to receive our SPECTACULAR LUXURY DREAM VACATION offer" doesn't mean you'll get a free vacation. It means you'll be "offered an opportunity" to pay for a trip that may fit your idea of luxury or not. "Subject to availability" means you may not be able to get the accommodations you want when you want them. "Blackout periods" are blocks of dates, usually around holidays or peak season, when no discount travel is available. Don't send money by messenger or overnight mail. Some scam artists may ask you to send them a check or money order immediately. Others may offer to send a messenger to pick up your payment. If you pay with cash or a check, rather than a credit card, you may lose your right to dispute fraudulent charges. Subject: RPR Vacations Date: 26 Aug 2001 Help! We think we have fallen victim to this scam. Our trip isn't scheduled 'til the end of Oct. this year, but the more we see& hear the more disappointed we are becoming. First it's approx. $700.00 for the first person, then it's $700.00 for thecompanion - if you don't want a sub-compact car or an inside cabin on whatsounds like the 'hell cruise' it's another $269...... Do you know of a way to get out without substantial penalty? Are thereany class action suits pending? Thanks for your great web site - wish wewould have looked at it sooner. Dayna Kaplan Reply: Suggested search at the FTC site and the search box atpage bottom for up to date info on suits. Big Ships Stop Slowly I happen to have been foolish enough to be taken in by Ramada Plaza Resortsand was given their website while on the phone with the telemarketer, though Idid not access the site until after I had hung up. I had to use a search engine to find their site and, lo and behold, there wasyour warning in big bold letters. I immediately called my credit cardcompany and they advised me to call the RPR ORGANIZATION and cancel, which Idid. They told me they would honor my request, but yesterday, three weeks afterthe cancellation, I received the video package in the mail and my credit cardcompany still shows there has been no refund. What do I do now? Shirl Teaney 11/30/01 I don't presently have the time to ascertain how this spammed offer operates. CONGRATULATIONS! You have been selected as a finalist in the NVP Travel Giveaway! Prizes areaccommodations for two for two nights at any one of the following locations: -- Ft. Lauderdale orDaytona, FL -- Williamsburg, VA -- Orlando, FL -- Las Vegas, NV -- Bahamas -- Branson, MO All you have to do is complete the finalists' registration form - be sureto include your Confirmation Number: G-862622 . As an added bonus, the first 500 finalists to register will receive a free entryin one of our bonus drawings for $1,000.00 Cash or Plane Tickets for 4Adults to any Continental U.S. Destination ! Why wait? You could be on your way! CLICK HERE (www.ca1.waredet.net.co.fr|https.travel.bzah.com) to "Travel Today"! Lisa Davidson National Vacation Promotions --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your screen namewas entered in our giveaway. If you do not wish to participate in future promotions, please click here. (www.ca1.waredet.net.co.fr|https.travel.bzah.com/remove.htm) We have a company that has just come to Dallas named GreatEscapes TravelClub based out of Lakeland Florida. It is almost exactly as you describe in yoursection titled "Clubbed on the Head." I too was taken in by whatoriginally was to be a 90 minute presentation that became a 3 hour sales pitch.I was promised the Guaranteed Lowest price on travel and 5 percent back in"travelbucks" to use towards other vacations. I asked the salesmanwhat types of travel and he said"everything". Reading the contract at home I find that the "travelbucks'could only be used for certain items and the fineprint suggested that they had totally misrepresented themselves. I stopped payment on mycheck the next day then faxed and sent them a certified letter demanding theyreturn it to me and to cancel my contract as I have not received any goodsor services from them. I have not heard from them yet nor have they cashed mycheck. My attorney says the contract I signed did not conform to State ofTexas law in regards to certain items be written in bold or underlined print andsays he hopes "GreatESCAPES" attempts to sue. Have you heard anythingabout this company? Bart Terrell 01/25/01 We Sell Dreams, Not Nightmares Les, I have been selling timeshare vacation packages for about three years andalthough I enjoyed yoursite, I was upset with the bad wrap you gave the vacation package business. It's extremely upsetting how a couple rotten apples can ruin the entirebarrel. I'msure there are a lot of fraudulent telemarketing companies who misrepresent thepackages and terms & conditions of the vacation, but I am proud to say that Ihave one of the cleanest and most respectful telemarketing companies in Tampa. (no name given ) You must understand that a lot of these discounted packages are impressively gooddeals made possible by the fulfillment and timeshareindustry. These vacations may not value at "$2,500", but for a personto put a similar package together themselves would cost a good $1000, whereas acustomer of mine can purchase it for $398. Although there is some truth to your article on fraudulent vacation packages,understand that there are many reputable companies who have been providing theirclients with awesome vacation packages and that there are many positive experiencesfrom people who have taken them. Bottom line: The world evolves around business. This is a businessbased on selling people something that will make them feelbetter about themselves. Selling a dream. What better dream than a"fabulous vacation". Jason Martinez 01/11/02 Hi Jason, While I value your opinion and even admit that many people actually sign up forvacation values knowing they must sit through a timeshare presentation, fewactually are prepared for the high pressure inherent in the industry.Timeshares, while predominantly legitimate, are by their nature a poorinvestment in the majority of cases. The scams I try to focus on are the ones where the value of an offer are grosslyexaggerated and misrepresented in order to deceive. Few people seem to arrive atthese offers aware of their future dissatisfaction. I am glad you work within the boundaries of goodwill, make people aware of theirobligations, and do not have add-on charges which negate any value of advertisedpromises. My research is taken from numerous cases of infractions which have seta track-able and unstopping trend. Les They All Sound Good I was looking for information on your great website to see if Ramada PlazaResort Vacations was a scam. I gave them $349USD on Dec 21/01 byVisa which works out to approximately $600.00 Canadian. I had given theirpackage and video to my husband for our 25th wedding anniversary and promised totake our three sons along. Now I still need to send them $1550USD tofulfill the cost, but after reading your info, I just want to see what Ican do to get my money back. I have to admit that I must be quite gullible. I fell for a scam last yearcalled, Skybiz. I paid $100.00 US to get a website instructional programthat was totally useless. I joined on the advice of a friend and with thepromise of making money. Right now I am also trying to get back some money from a company called,Underdoz.com (and underdogz) They offered cheap airline tickets yet I never receivedanything after six months for my $148CDN and I just found out that theyclosed on December 31, 2001. Pamela Funk 01/24/02 Note: the site was active when I visited 01/25/02 Call Center Job Jitters Last month I lost my call center job after I discovered their dishonestmethods. When I started the job I was told that I was to sell a vacation package topeople who called in about winning a $1002 credit voucher on a vacation packagewhich supposedly normally retails for $1400. Basically, the people calling would then be told they could get a packagecontaining seven vacations, one major and six mini vacations, for only $398.00for two people. When I saw this great deal I wanted to get one myself, but because I knewsomeone who was fooled with the Ramada resort travel package, one of myco-workers and I decided to look for them on the Better Business Bureau websitefirst. Oddly, there was no report available despite their claiming to be amember. Two days later I asked to see details of the package I was selling but theyrefused my request, stating that they only had one copy and wouldn't want tolose it. The next day, after nagging my supervisor, he finally agreed tolet me go through the package but then only showed me a bunch of pictures. Though unable to prove fraud, I suspect the worst. Now, after being fired for being too inquisitive, I really feel bad aboutlosing a job but I want to make people understand that, at least where I wasworking, a lot of the staff were unaware that it was actually a scam that theywere selling. Leon 03/29/02 03/00 - In an FTC settlement, Frederick F. Zeigler III, Robert E. Kane , Commonwealth Marketing Group, Inc . and Great Escape Vacations &Tours, Inc .; will be required to pay $145,000 in consumer redress,$18,500 in receiver's fees and expenses, will be enjoined from any futureviolations and post performance bonds of up to $150,000 before either sellingtravel-related services or conducting telemarketing activities. Through the use of direct mail vacation "certificates" and outboundtelemarketing calls to people who, believing they were entering a drawing for afree vacation, had previously submitted "registration forms" handedout at events such as county fairs, they represented thatconsumers had won a "fantasy cruise holiday" to Florida and theBahamas, when, in fact, they had won nothing. They actually had to pay a "promotional fee" of $598 per couple,and up to $300 or more in additional charges when they were ready to travel. Inaddition, the vacation packages received did not provide the "luxury"accommodations promised unless consumers paid yet more money in"upgrade" fees. Upon calling the consumers, CMG's telemarketer described an exciting vacationto Florida and "luxury cruise" to the Bahamas, concluding the pitch byoffering the complete package for a small "promotional fee" of$598. Consumers were instructed to secure their vacation using a major credit card.Only after consumers gave their credit card numbers were they told that thepackage was nonrefundable and that in some, but not all, cases they would haveto pay additional fees - often mischaracterized as "port fees" - whenmaking their reservations. When consumers received their packages, according to the Commission'scomplaint, they found that they had to pay more money for a vacation theybelieved was already paid for in full, and that they had, in fact, won nothingat all. Many consumers were told their purchase was nonrefundable. In fact, while CMGdid have a written return policy for the vacation packages, the companyallegedly did not honor it, and consumers who returned their packages often hadthem mailed back several times. Severing Ties With Tijuana On scams like the Mexican Vacation Club , or others where the consumer uses a credit cardfor time payments, I often tell consumers to destroy their cards, report their cards stolen, etc. Do anything you need to in order to close thataccount. I sometimes tell them to not accept the card company's offer of a replacement card, just to put more distance between you and the scammer. Reporting the card lost or stolen may be dishonest, but in this case, turnaround is fair play. Be sure to make good on your other debts or stop using the card for 10 days before you do this. I have never had a consumer report back to me that the business is actually legitimate and that it ispursuing the "debt." You may get a dunning letter from a"letter service" collection agency (as opposed to a real collection agency). The MexicanVacation Club contracts usually list jurisdiction in Mexico City, and I've never seen them file a suit there against a U.S. or Canadian consumer. Consumer Attorney in Seattle. 04/02 Have you heard of Dreamquest Communications which says you tour Ramada Plazafor an hour and get to stay at a Ramada in Orlando for 3 nights for$228.00? They offer some free Disney tickets but they want a bank checkpayment right away. Anon 05/06/02 04/02 - Vermont's Attorney General filed a consumer fraudlawsuit against Cape Canaveral, Florida based Cape Canaveral Tour &Travel , Inc. and two of its employees, Lory Walker and Michael Dwyer. According to the complaint, Cape Canaveral contacted Vermontconsumers by telephone to sell them seven-night vacation packages to the Bahamasand/or Florida, typically consisting of hotel accommodations, a rental car andtravel on a cruise ship that, not including air fare, cost $1,155 and involved atime-share tour. The complaint alleges that they violated Vermonts ConsumerFraud Act by: through their agents, soliciting consumers to fill out entry forms at fairs on the pretext that this would entitle the consumer to participate in a giveaway or drawing, whereas in fact the purpose of the entry forms was to generate "leads" for Cape Canaveral. failing to disclose, at fairs, that a purchase was required. misrepresenting the companys vacation package offer as a special offer and highly discounted, when in fact the offer was ongoing and was figured from hotel "rack rates" that consumers could easily obtain at a discount from a local travel agent. failing to disclose that consumers had to take a time-share tour in order to take advantage of the vacation package offer. failing to afford Vermont consumers their right to cancel the telephonic purchase of a vacation package within three days. A court order requiring the defendants to comply with Vermontlaw, refunds for Vermont consumers, civil penalties of up to $10,000 perviolation, and other legal relief is being sought. Diamond Holidays Travel called me to let me know I won acruise including 4 nights and 3 days in the Bahamas with hotel, but I have tosend them a check for $77.00 for me and the second person plus port charges of$99.00 a person. I have four days to call them back. Is this ascam? Thanks, Agnes 06/20/02 One spammer offering vacations in both English and Spanishformats and which are accompanied by timeshare presentations is Valued Guest atwww.valuedresorts.net See also: TimeShareBeat's VacationClub Scams . Have you ever heard of Sundance Vacations out of Pa?. Theirdeal started at $10,000 for 20 vacations which included excess inventory andother enticements but I kept saying no. Final deal, $5000, unlimited vacations, excess inventoryplus. Seemed too good to be true. Walked out. Hope I receivethe free weekend which was the come-on. Owlgolf 07/31/02 Live Wire Shorted Out 10/24/02 Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan filed suit against Live WireSystems , 2425 Commercial Boulevard, Suite 400, Fort Lauderdale, and JamesP. Davis with violating the Automatic Telephone Dialers Act, UniformDeceptive Trade Practices Act and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive BusinessPractices Act. The defendants are charged with placing more than 10,000 autodialer marketingcalls since at least July 2002 to individuals and businesses across Illinoisusing prerecorded messages that invited consumers to purchase low-cost Disneyvacation packages. To confirm their invitations, consumers were instructed to call a toll-freenumber that provided the details and conditions of the trips. The lawsuit alleges that they misrepresented the nature of the offer byfailing to disclose that consumers are required to tour timeshare resorts aspart of the package and that Walt Disney Company is not a sponsor of the tripand has not approved use of their name. In the suit, Ryan is seeking a permanent injunction, restitution toconsumers, costs, a civil penalty of $50,000 and an additional penalty of$50,000 for each act committed with intent to defraud. www.crimes-of-persuasion.com Crimes of Persuasion2000 LegalDisclaimer Web www.crimes-of-persuasion.com Using Paypal First Name Last Name [ Home ] [ Up ] [ RPR Vacations ] [ Tempus Resorts ]

European Vacation Planning Map

Your European Vacation - How Much will it Cost?  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors Your European Vacation - How Much will it Cost? Europe for Visitors Blog « Virus Knocks out State Department's Visa System | Main | Soccer and the Traveler » September 24, 2003 Your European Vacation - How Much will it Cost? These are times when folks want to be frugal. But frugal doesn't mean cheap--after all, how often to you get to go on a European vacation? You'll want the best bang for your buck. So, to give you the idea of what it might cost to travel in Europe at the peak of the season, I've broken down my own expenses to give you a feel for what transportation, lodging, and a typical sit-down meal at a restaurant might cost you. Email a Friend Display Latest Headlines Read Archives Advertisement Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...