South America Travel

CANOE Travel - South America -- December 28, 2005 Canada USA Mexico Central America Caribbean Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe South America Tips Trends Cybertrips Q&A Books -- Active Vacations Adventure Art Cruises Cultural Cybertrips -- Fall Getaways Families Golf Holidays Romantic Ski More -- Bed & Breakfast VIA Rail Canada All-Inclusive Vacations starting from C$747 Discount Travel Deals Tips on managing your debt -- Contest E-cards Newsletter Forum Feedback Weather Currency Calculator Passport Canada Info Canada Customs Info Travel Health Tips World Airports Guide Atevo Travel Guide Great Canadian Lakes Great Canadian Parks Great Canadian Places Great Canadian Rivers Natural Tourist Park Wardens Ski Canada -- South America Feature Destination: RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil Brazil exhibit honours lady in tutti-frutti hat Long before supermodel Gisele Bundchen exploded onto the fashion world, the original Brazilian bombshell had already detonated : Carmen Miranda. Now, on the 50th anniversary of her death, the Modern Art Museum is hosting "Carmen Miranda Forever," an exhibition honouring the Hollywood star that introduced Brazil and outrageous, fruit-laden turbans to moviegoers everywhere. FULL STORY More to Ecuador than Galapagos The Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador are among the world's most famous destinations, a once-in-a-lifetime trip near the top of many travellers' wish-lists. FULL STORY SouthAmerica -- Forever tango Seventy-eight-year-old Carlos Lazzari is the Gordie Howe of tango music in Buenos Aires. His talent shows. When Lazzari picks up his bandoneon, the lightning quick tango steps of the dancers on stage step up to an ever more frantic pace. FULL STORY SouthAmerica -- Ski season's not over yet Hold on, don't put those skis away just yet. The season is just approaching south of the Equator, and a little research on the Web can take you to spots such as the Andes Mountains resort of Portillo, Chile. FULL STORY SouthAmerica -- PHOTO GALLERY: South America Click here to enlarge photo and view full Travel Gallery. Friendly smiles outshine scenic beauty Though it's widely accepted that those who live on Canada's East Coast are some of the friendliest on earth, it took a firsthand experience to get this cynical Southern Ontarian to truly understand. FULL STORY More In My Travels Share Your Travel Stories Attention Canoe Travel readers! We want to hear about your vacation. What made it good? What would you recommend others to avoid? Give us a short story (500 to 1,000 words) about your travels, and we might publish it here. Add your photos too! Submit stories now -- ADVERTORIAL -- 'Paris of the South' Wonders of Patagonia Brazil's other Carnival A symphony on the sea Where legends live More South America Headlines -- The Prairies: Sculpted by glaciers Like the adjoining Boreal Plains to the north, glaciers have largely flattened the land here, leaving behind a thick layer of dark, humus-rich topsoil that has made the Prairies very fertile, and created Canada's most extensive agricultural region. But it is mainly because of farming that the once ubiquitous grasslands, the northern limit of the Great Plains of North America, are now mostly gone. FULL STORY More in Park Wardens Dec 28: Evolution of banjo from hollow gourd featured in Washington art exhibit Dec 28: Christmas tree catches fire at Disneyland hotel; more than 2,000 evacuated Dec 27: Union representing striking Mont-Tremblant resort workers wants better offer Dec 27: Shroud of Turin, the original ice-cream bar among Olympic city's attractions Dec 26: Azerbaijan Airlines suspends flights by Ukrainian-built plane after crash Dec 25: Iran holding German, French tourists whose boat strayed into its waters Dec 24: Christmas spirit returns to Bethlehem for 1st time in six years Dec 24: Mont Tremblant tells striking workers: offer good for a few more days Dec 23: Tsunami's destruction also brings promise of renewal to remote Indian territory More Travel News Headlines [an error occurred while processing this directive] New Year's Eve Deals Still Available Toronto to Santiago de Cuba $597 + tx $199 Toronto to Camaguey $597 + tx $199 Toronto to Puerto Plata $497 + tx $274 Vancouver to Varadero $835 Calgary to Mazatlan $579 -- Click here to sell your vehicle hotelier.ca Get great deals on hotels with hotelier.ca

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 ]

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Cheap flights and more with the Booking Buddy airfare comparison tool Subscribe to Booking Buddy's Top Travel Deals Free Newsletter . . . . . Build your trip Round Trip: One Way: Travelers: 1 2 3 4 5 6 From: City or airport code To: City or airport code Depart: Dec 2005 Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov 2006 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Return: Dec 2005 Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov 2006 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 » Hurricane Relief » FREE Newsletters » Feedback Cheap flights found by over 7 Million travelers Testimonials Search for cheap flights Try these search options: CheapTickets.com Lowestfare.com OneTravel.com Kayak.com Travelgrove ------------------------------ AirFare.com AirGorilla AirTran Alaska Airlines AllCheapFares Allegiant Air ATA bookairlinetickets.com CheapAir.com Cheapseats Continental Airlines Delta Air Lines Expedia Frontier Airlines Independence Air JetBlue Midwest Airlines Mobissimo Northwest Airlines Qixo SideStep Southwest Ted TravelJungle TravelNow US Airways Yahoo! FareChase United.ca BeachDestinations.com Cheap flights and more at BookingBuddy.com. The fastest way to search your favorite travel sites. feedback@bookingbuddy.com | Searching from Asia? Air Search | Hotel Search | Car Search | Cruise Search | Vacation Search Help | Change Subscriptions | About Booking Buddy | Press Mentions | Testimonials | Jobs | Sitemap Also part of the Smarter Living, Inc. Network: www.SmarterTravel.com | www.TripMania.com | www.MyBusinessTravel.com © 2003-2005 Smarter Living, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

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Outstanding Vacation Rentals Around the World - ScenicRentals Area Properties Africa ...................................... 13 Asia / Middle East ...................... 7 Australia / Pacific ...................... 11 Canada .................................... 73 Caribbean ............................... 128 Central America ........................ 13 Europe ................................... 217 Mexico .................................... 32 South America .......................... 10 United States .......................... 616 FIND YOUR DESTINATION Enter Key Words to find your ideal Vacation Properties. Enter Property ID Choose from our growing collection of outstanding vacation rental homes around the world. We feature vacation homes that are luxurious, yet affordable. Our U.S. vacation homes are in desired locations ranging from: Scenic Lake Tahoe vacation rentals Vacation condos in Florida Smoky Mountain cabin rental Orlando Florida vacation homes Hawaii vacation rental homes South Carolina cottages Our worldwide properties include Italy villas British Columbia Costa Del Sol Mexico villa rental Caribbean vacation rentals Have a Vacation Property to Rent? Scenic Rentals is committed to being the best resource for marketing your vacation rental. Our team is dedicated to your success, and our world-class website offers an affordable showcase for your valuable property. See how easy it is to increase exposure and income with a listing on Scenic Rentals. Check out Whats New on ScenicRentals and the Top Ten Reasons for listing with us. It is easy to feature your vacation rental property on ScenicRentals. Scenic Rentals is committed to being the best resource for marketing your vacation rental. Featured Destination: St. Barths A volcanic island with luxury villas, gorgeous beaches, beautiful people, and world-class French cuisine.Ooh la la more >> Featured Destination: Palm Springs Natural beauty of the mountains and desert along with hiking, biking, shopping, arts, golf, and nightlife. more >> About Us | Contact Us | Links | Legal | Site Map |© NewVaco Inc., Scenic Vacation Rentals™ Quick Access to Vacation Rentals in Popular Locations United States Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Missouri Montana Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Utah Virginia Washington California Big Bear Lake Dana Point Del Mar Downieville Healdsburg Laguna Beach Lake Tahoe Los Angeles Mendocino Mission Beach Oceanside Palm Springs San Diego Florida Anna Maria Island Bonita Springs Cape Coral Captiva Island Cedar Key Cocoa Beach Davenport Daytona Beach Delray Beach Destin Disney Area Fort Myers Fort Myers Beach Ft Walton Beach Hallandale Beach Hutchinson Island Indian Rocks Beach Indian Shores Islamorada Jupiter Key Colony Beach Key Largo Little Gasparilla Island Marathon Marco Island Mount Dora Naples New Smyrna Beach North Captiva Island Orlando Panama City Punta Gorda Sanibel Island Sarasota St Augustine St Petersburg St. Augustine Beach West Palm Beach Ski Properties in Utah Park City Hawaii Hanalei Kahana Kapaa Kauai Kihei Lahaina Maui Molokai Poipu Beach Princeville Waikoloa South America Brazil Peru Europe Bulgaria Croatia England France Greece Italy Portugal Spain Africa South Africa Asia - Middle East Indonesia Thailand Australia - Pacific Australia New Zealand Central America Belize Costa Rica Caribbean Anguilla Antigua Bahamas Barbados British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Dominican Republic Grenada Jamaica Puerto Rico St. Barthelemy St. Lucia St. Maarten/St. Martin Turks and Caicos US Virgin Islands Canada Alberta British Columbia Nova Scotia Ontario Quebec British Columbia Okanagan Valley - Penticton Sooke Sun Peaks Vancouver Vancouver Island Victoria Mexico Cancun Cozumel Ensenada Manzanillo Playa del Carmen Puerto Vallarta San Miguel de Allende Zihuatanejo

Golf Vacation

Cancun Golf Vacation : TravelYucatan.com Cancun Golf Vacation Cancun Mexico CANCUN GOLF VACATION Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned veteran Cancun offers tree lined and shaded fairways, challenging greens, great views of the ocean, Mayan ruins and an array of exotic birds and animals. You must find your own transportation to the course you wish to play. You can take a taxi. Every taxi driver in town knows every golf course. It is not recommended to take your own clubs unless you plan on golfing every day. Club rentals are between $30 - 40 USD. We do suggest that you bring a sleeve of balls and tee's...since they're easy to pack. Bring cheap balls because you will loose a few on these jungle/ocean courses. You can book a twilight game at a reduced rate however not all courses have rangers on board and if you get a bunch of drunks in front of you this can be a hassle. It is cooler to golf later in the day - but almost impossible to get 18 holes in before dark. CANCUN GOLF COURSES Pok-Ta-Pok is a picturesque course located on the lagoon side of the hotel zone across the street and a little east of the Intercontinental Presidente. The course offers up many holes with both ocean and lagoon views. Features a practice tee, putting green, oceanfront holes and Mayan Ruins. Designed by: Robert Trent Jones Jr. Green Fees Round of Golf in the morning $120 USD for 18 including a cart. Afternoon $90 USD for 18 including a cart. Twighlight $70 USD for 18 including a cart. Club Rentals $25 Shoe Rentals $20 Balls $20 US for 3 Gloves $20 US Located: Km. 7.5 Kukulcn Blvd in the Cancun Hotel Zone Tel: 01 152 98 83-12-30 Hilton Cancun Beach & Golf Resort offers Cancun's only Par 72 Resort Hotel Golf Club. Hilton Cancun Beach & Golf Resort [formerly Caesar Park Cancun] is located next to the beautiful Nichupte Lagoon. This 18-hole full service complex invites registered Hilton hotel guests, non-registered visitors and groups to experience this remarkable golf course. Facilities include: driving range, challenging sand traps, transportation service from the lobby, golf shop with name brand equipment for men and women, electric carts, equipment rental and golf pros. Manicured fairways and greens, spectacular scenery, exotic wildlife and our attentive staff await your arrival with traditional Mexican hospitality. Green Fees Rack Rate for Non-Hilton players: US$175.00* Discounted Rate for Hilton Guests: US$125.00* Located: Km. 18 Kukulcn Blvd in the Cancun Hotel Zone *Includes tax and golf cart fee. Equipment Rentals Graphite Clubs $25.00 Shoe Rental $ 8.00 25 range balls $ 2.50 19th Hole Restaurant Equipment and accessories may be purchased or rented from the Pro Shop. Melia Cancun Golf Club is an eighteen hole, par 54 course, total length of 1,818 yards. Features a putting green. Located: Hotel Melia - Km. 16.5 Kukulcan Blvd in the Cancun Hotel Zone Tel: 52 998 885 1114 Cancun Oasis Golf Club is a nine-hole par 27 [par 3] course with a maximun length of 888 yards and a putting green. Located: Oasis Cancun Hotel - Km. 17 Kukulcan Blvd in the Cancun Hotel Zone Tel: 52 998 885 0867 Club de Golf Cancun is a professional quality 18 hole golf course with restaurant & bar, pro shop and club house. The following hotels have a special rate for the golf course. All reservations must be made through the front desk of the hotel. * Fiesta Americana Coral Beach. * Hyatt Regency Cancun. * Camino Real. * Presidente Intercontinental. * Holiday Express. * Marriott Casamagna. Located: Km. 7.5 Kukulcan Blvd in the Cancun Hotel Zone Tel: 52 (998) 883-12-30 & 883-12-77 Fax: 52 (998) 883-33-58 e-Mail: poktapok@sybcom.com Green Fees High Season Dec 18 2004 April 30 2005 Low Season Aug 01 2004 Dec 17 2004 Regular $100.00 USD $75.00 USD Late Rate: $75.00 USD after: 2:00 pm $50.00 USD after: 3:00 pm Club Rentals $26.00 USD Shoe Rentals $16.00 USD Non playing rider $30.00 USD Note: rates include a shared cart and all taxes. Golf Club Moon Palace Cancun is set in the Mayan Riviera at the Moon Palace Resort. This 7,165 yard, par-72, course is a true championship golf course that surpasses even the highest standards set by Palace Resorts. The Golf Club is designed to be enjoyed by golfers of all skill levels. The fantastic layout requires the golfer to navigate not only through the native Mayan vegetation, but also numerous natural wetland waste bunkers that have been strategically placed. Green Fees Service Description Fees Green Fee (18 holes) Includes 1/2 cart, snacks & drinks $250 Junior Fee 12 years and younger $150 Twilight Fee After 2:00pm 1/2 cart, snacks & drinks $150 Extra Rider 1/2 cart, snacks & drinks $55 Club Rentals Cobra Steel $32 Callaway Steel $32 Taylor Made Steel $32 Taylor Made Graphite $32 Range Balls Large Bag (50 balls) $5 Small Bag (25 balls) $3 Bag Storage Per Night $2 Per Week $10 Caddy Fee Optional, per group $30 Lessons Per hour, per person $45 * Palace guests discount: US $50.00 coupon per person included in the Palace Passport. Every player must have a complete set of clubs Twilight fee is good for the holes that you can play No Rain Checks in Twilight Tee Time Reservations 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at 52(984)8730624 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at 52(984)8730676 Located: Km. 340 - Hwy 307 e-Mail teetimes@palaceresorts.com Reservattions must be made at least one day in advance and are not accepted for day arrival. Minigolf is available at the Cancun Palace Hotel km 14.5 Blvd. Kukulcan in the hotel zone. There is also a mini-golf course located at the Moon Palace Resort & Spa. Recommended readings if you're planning a trip to Cancun: A Quick Guide To Cancun Beach Hotels Corruption Isn't What It Used To Be Cancun Medical Cancun Restaurants Shopping in a Cancun Supermarket Cancun Supermarkets Transportation in Cancun ENGLISH SPANISH hello hola please por favor beer cerveza thanks gracias bathroom bao travelers de viajero cash efectivo credit credito bank el banco open abierto Cancun is a world-class tourist resort destination and a thriving community of 450,000 full-time residents who lead normal, often very traditional lives. The greatest asset Cancun has is its natural marine playground which sparkles with a warm sun more than 200 days of the year. Cancun beaches are 14 miles of white-talc sand. Don't forget that sunlight in the Yucatan is more direct than most are accustomed to. Limit you initial exposure then increase exposure as your vacation progresses. Cancun resorts have long been a honeymoon destination but have now become a very hot place for weddings. In Cancun partying takes precedence over just about everything. Cancun has more than 350 restaurants. Cancun hotels are excellent, ranging from four and five star to Grand Tourism. CANCUN INFO Introduction Cancun Hotels Cancun Hotel Map Cancun Beaches Cancun Vacations Info & Tips Cancun Map Bus System Cancun Shopping Cancun Restaurants Club Scene Cancun Attractions Cancun Golf Entertainment Cancun All Inclusive Deep Sea Fishing Weather Cancun Airport Pictures If you are staying at an all-inclusive for any length of time it is a good idea to tip the egg-lady at the buffet on your first day. She will remember you. In many resorts the egg-lady is in charge of the breakfest. Airport Transfers If you wish to plan your trip around visiting museums check out the page. For information about renting a car, taking a bus, road signs etc. go to the section on More detailed information on exploring Mayan ruin sites can be found in The Yucatan's many varied ecological destinations are reviewed in Emergency information is located in the section. | Cancun | Chichen Itza | Merida | Uxmal | Isla Holbox | | Mayan Riviera | Playa del Carmen | Cozumel | Isla Mujeres | Last Mod: November 2, 2005 2005 TravelYucatan.com v4.0 Description: Cancun Vacation Information Travel Information for Cancun Mexico