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MouseSavers.com - Ways to Save for Your Disney Vacation Great deals on all things Disney! Find out how to save on: Walt Disney World Disneyland Disney Cruise Line Transportation for Your Disney Vacation Other Disney Travel Savings Discount Disney Shopping Mall Live Disney Shows Disney Freebies Disneyland Resort Paris Disney Parks in Asia Disney's Vero Beach/Hilton Head Non-Disney Theme Parks & Attractions More information: About MouseSavers Frequently Asked Questions Trip Reports and Articles Links Testimonials Privacy Policy & Legal Stuff Contact Mary Ways to Save for Your Disney Vacation Jump to: Vacation Savings Account Other Ways to Save in Small Increments More Tips and Tricks Vacation Savings Account One of the best and smartest ways to save for a Disney vacation is to open a separate savings account specifically for your vacation fund. If at all possible, jump-start the account with a lump sum, such as a tax refund. Have a certain amount auto-debited from your paychecks and deposited directly into that savings account. That way you never see the money, so there is less temptation to spend it. And of course you'll be earning interest! If you put $25 a week into your vacation account and earn 2% interest compounded daily, you'll have $1337 in the account a year after you start saving, and $2677 in two years. If you're able to "jump start" the account with $500 and then add that $25 a week at 2% interest, you'll have $1847 in your account a year after you start saving, and $3197 in two years. By the way, it is very worthwhile to shop around for the best banking deal . The best I've found is the Orange Savings Account from ING Direct . I have one of these accounts myself. You can open one in 5 minutes or less and transfer money into it electronically. The ING account pays a variable 3.75% Annual Percentage Yield on savings with no minimum deposit and no hidden fees or service charges. (Compare this with what your bank or credit union pays on savings accounts. I predict you'll be amazed.) It's FDIC insured. You can easily set up an automatic savings plan with this account. Other Ways to Save in Small Increments Here are some additional, relatively painless tricks people use to get themselves to save. It's all about setting priorities -- and in some cases, tricking yourself into saving. What works for one person, won't work for another. Try one, or try 'em all. Remember, every penny helps! Buy US Savings Bonds You can purchase them online and spend as little as $25 each time. US Savings Bonds must be held for at least 1 year before you can cash them in. There is a 3-month interest penalty if you cash an EE or I Bond within the first five years from its issue date. There is no penalty for cashing EE or I Bonds that are at least five years old. Bonds pay very good interest compared with a regular savings account and since they are issued by the government, they are an extremely safe investment. Buy Disney Dollars Personally I would never use this method because it doesn't earn interest, but some people find it very helpful because you can't spend Disney Dollars anywhere but Disney! Disney Dollars are "cash equivalents." One Disney Dollar = one US dollar, and you can buy any even dollar amount, so for example if you have $31 saved you can buy that amount in Disney Dollars. You can also give your children Disney Dollars for birthdays and holidays, and ask relatives to do the same, so the kids will have their own spending money for the next Disney vacation. Disney Dollars can be purchased at any Disney Store or Disney theme park, or through Walt Disney World Mail Order at (407) 363-6200. The Change Jar Make a rule that you never spend coins. Save all your pocket change and throw it in a big jar. Label the jar (i.e. "Our Disney Vacation") to remind your of your goal. Periodically you can roll the coins and see how much you have. (This is a great job for kids.) Once it's rolled, put it in your vacation savings account. If you don't want to roll the change, see if your bank takes unrolled change . Some banks have change-counting machines and they'll count your coins for free or for a very small fee. There are CoinStar machines in many grocery stores that will allow you to dump in a ton of change and get a slip redeemable for bills at the cashier, but you'll pay a hefty premium (somewhere around 9%) for the service; if you do this, at least pluck out the quarters and roll those! Variations on the change jar: Never spend quarters , or never spend dollar bills . Put those in the jar. Checkbook Games When writing a check, round up your checkbook entry to the nearest dollar. For instance, if you write a check for $57.12, record it in your checkbook as $58. Not only does this help you prevent overdrafts, it also means you're accumulating a little extra in your account every time you write a check. Another good thing about this method is that you're earning interest on that extra money, assuming you have an interest-bearing checking account. Round down your deposit entries to the nearest dollar. For instance, if you deposit $300.91, record it as $300. Again, you're accumulating a little extra "ghost" money in your account. A variation on the checkbook rounding method: charge yourself a dollar every time you write a check, plus round up . So if the check was for $47.39, round it up to $48 and add a dollar, making the entry in your checkbook $49. Another variation on the checkbook rounding method: round up to the nearest five dollars . So if the check was for $52.23, round it up to $55. If it was for $9.51, round it up to $10. More Tips and Tricks If a payment ends, keep making it -- to yourself! For instance, if you pay off a car or a credit card, keep making that payment, but instead write the check to yourself and deposit it into your vacation savings account. Make a rule that "found" money goes in the vacation fund. For instance, if you get a rebate, tax refund, gift check or work bonus, deposit it in the vacation account. Give yourself an allowance for cash expenditures (i.e. groceries, gas, meals out, entertainment, etc.) and make a game of seeing how much of your allowance you can NOT spend. Anything left over at the end of the week (or month) goes into the vacation fund. Charge everything to Disney's Visa or a cash-back credit card and pay the card off each month. (Only do this if you can handle the temptation to overspend on plastic, and if you really will pay the balance off every single month. If you won't pay it off monthly, this is a bad idea.) Use the Disney Dream Reward Dollars or cash-back bonus toward your vacation. Cut out one small daily expense and put the money you're saving into your vacation fund. The savings can really add up. If you save $1 a day on something you buy at work, and you work 5 days a week x 50 weeks, that's $250 a year! For example: If you drink a cafe latte every morning, buy a travel mug and fill it with strong coffee and hot milk at home instead. If you usually eat lunch out or buy lunch at a deli, try bringing lunch from home at least 2 or 3 days a week. If you just can't get it together to make a lunch, at least try bringing a can of soda from home instead of buying one at the deli or out of a machine. Bring a snack from home instead of hitting the vending machines. Giving up smoking may save you enough money in a year to fund a family vacation. I'm not kidding! If you're smoking a pack a day, you're spending at least $800 a year on cigarettes. In places with high tobacco taxes, you're spending $1600 or more. Ask your family to help you save. Often children aren't very aware of how much small expenses can add up over time. If you point out that every nickel they can save the household will get them closer to seeing Mickey, they may surprise you! Solicit their ideas and suggestions, and then agree to put aside what you've saved for your vacation fund. Be sure you have a plan for keeping the saved money separate, so that it doesn't get spent elsewhere. That might mean writing a check for the amount of money saved and depositing it into your vacation account, or putting that amount of cash into the change jar. Whatever it is, do it consistently. Here are a few ideas your family might consider: Spend less on entertainment. Borrow videos from your public library instead of the video store: most public libraries offer this service for little or no cost. Instead of going to the movies, check the newspaper for free local family entertainment and events, or have a family game night. Eat out less. Face it, cooking every night can be tiring and a drag, and that leads to eating out, which is much more expensive. So find a way to avoid this. Think up something you can make in the crockpot one night a week instead of getting takeout. Or turn cooking into a fun project once a week -- for instance, make a pizza with the kids instead of ordering one. Use grocery store coupons. Particularly if you live in an area like Southern California, where the major supermarkets will double the value of manufacturer's coupons, you can't afford NOT to clip coupons out of the Sunday paper! I do this, combined with buying sale items and seasonal produce, and frequently save 40% or more on my grocery bill. Seriously, 15 minutes of effort and a $5 coupon organizer can save you an amazing amount of money. Kids who are old enough to use scissors can certainly cut out coupons. Older kids can also sort and file coupons in your coupon organizer. Sell your junk. Have a big garage sale. Take still-in-fashion clothes to a consignment shop. Sell unwanted books, CDs, movies and collectibles you no longer want on eBay . You'd be amazed at what your old stuff may bring. Don't assume no one wants it. (I once sold a ratty bathmat the dog had chewed up, which I was using as a rag, for a quarter. It wasn't even part of my garage sale -- someone just noticed it lying on the ground and offered me money for it!) If you are a family of recreational shoppers, start going to garage sales, consignment shops and thrift stores instead of the mall. One person's trash is another's treasure, remember? There is often good stuff to be had at these places! Take a certain amount of cash and don't spend more. You'll get the thrill of the hunt and the thrill of the bargain, but for much less than a trip to the mall. Shop around on your insurance at least once a year. It's remarkable how much you can save. Rates for an identical auto insurance policy can vary from one company to another by as much as 100%! An easy way to shop around is to use an online site such as InsureMe.com , which will get you quotes from several insurance companies. I used this site to shop for life insurance and ended up with a great deal from a top-rated company. Evaluate your spending on cable television and telephone services. Maybe you don't really need extended cable or call waiting. Check rates to be sure you're not paying more than you have to for long distance calls. I've used OPEX as my long distance carrier for several years. I have tried AT&T, Sprint, MCI and others in the past, and this company is just as good... for only 3.9 cents per minute! To compare long distance rates, you can use a site like longdistanceworld.com . Get everyone to turn out the lights when no one is in the room, and turn off TVs, radios and computer equipment when they're not in use. Fix dripping faucets and leaking toilets. These measures may only save you a buck or two a month on your utility bills, but it all adds up. Encourage "gifts of love" instead of store-bought gifts. For instance, give each other certificates for back rubs, car washes, and other kind gestures that cost you nothing but your time and effort. Or set a low limit (like $5) on gifts and see how creative you can get. Back to the home page Back to top Content of MouseSavers.com is © Mary Waring & MouseSavers 2001-2005. No part of this website may be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.
air travel poses no
Air travel during pregnancy: Is it safe? - MayoClinic.com Air travel during pregnancy: Is it safe? Q. Is it safe to fly during pregnancy? I've heard that it's not recommended in the first or last trimester. No name / No state A. Commercial air travel poses no special risks to a healthy pregnant woman or her fetus. However, pregnant women with certain underlying conditions are at increased risk of problems and should check with their doctors before flying. These conditions include: Severe anemia Sickle cell disease A history of blood clots Placental insufficiency The lowered air pressure in a pressurized airplane cabin has minimal effect on the fetus. During the flight, air pressure is adjusted to approximately that of between 5,000 and 8,000 feet above sea level. Although you and your baby will both have less oxygen in your blood than you would at sea level, your bodies will adjust to this. Some pregnant women worry about exposure to electromagnetic radiation from the sun at high altitudes. Although the exposure increases at higher altitudes, it's still very low and won't increase the risk of birth defects or miscarriage. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the safest time for a pregnant woman to travel is during the second trimester (18 through 24 weeks). This is when a pregnant woman has the lowest risk of miscarriage or premature labor. Many doctors recommend that women avoid flying after 36 weeks of pregnancy or if they're at risk of preterm delivery. Some tips for pregnant women who plan to fly: Ask for an aisle seat or a seat at the bulkhead — which offers the most space and comfort — or over the wings — which offers the smoothest ride. Fasten the safety belt under your abdomen across the tops of your thighs. When possible, get up and walk every half-hour and flex and extend your ankles to prevent blood clots. Drink plenty of fluids. Low humidity in the cabin has a dehydrating effect. All airlines have policies regarding pregnancy and flying. So, check with the airline before booking a flight. RELATED Articles Ectopic pregnancy Pregnancy and diabetes: Plan your pregnancy to avoid complications Twin pregnancy: What multiples mean for mom Ask a Specialist Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in pregnancy Flu shot in pregnancy: Is it safe? Asthma and pregnancy Centers Pregnancy Center MayoClinic.com Bookstore 'Mayo Clinic Fitness for EveryBody' (Softcover) 'Mayo Clinic on Digestive Health' (Softcover) 'Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy' (Softcover) ARTICLE TOOLS Print Larger type more information Oct 14, 2004 © 1998-2005 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "Mayo Clinic Health Information," "Reliable information for a healthier life" and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. AN00398 About this site · Site help · Contact us · e-Newsletter · Site map Privacy policy updated Oct 7, 2005 Terms and conditions of use updated Jun 3, 2004 LEGAL CONDITIONS AND TERMS OF USE APPLICABLE TO ALL USERS OF THIS SITE. ANY USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE. © 1998-2005 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Mayo Clinic Medical Services | MayoClinic.com Bookstore Diseases & Conditions Drugs & Supplements Treatment Decisions Healthy Living Ask a Specialist Health Tools Home Log in Register now ASK A PREGNANCY SPECIALIST Advertising and sponsorship policy Dec 28, 2005
Japan Travel Guide is
Japan Travel Guide - Student Travel Guide Japan Home ACJS/Aichi OCJS/Online Japan Guide FAQ Network Databases Contact Us Multimedia Log in yamasa.org / home / japan / index - www.okazaki.fm www.yamasa.tv okazaki city guide Dictionary Destinations A project sponsored by The Yamasa Institute Innovative, International & Non Profit Sitemap | Search Tips | Help Desk Video at Yamasa TV Can you read this? Welcome to Japan's only multilingual, fully searchable , interactive online student travel guide for independent language and cultural travellers. See the real Japan. See it without 30 clueless tourists. See the parts that YOU want, not the parts others want to show you. See off the beaten track places that are usually inaccessible to visitors. Mix with the locals, practise your Japanese language skills and get out and about. Destinations contains detailed guides to hundreds of locations in Japan, plus answers to many questions about travelling here. For various reasons, many places in Japan (including National Parks , UNESCO listed World Heritage sites, and surprisingly - even tourist traps in Kyoto and Nara ) have minimal or zero information available in foreign languages. Due to space constraints and commercial decisions, most guidebooks are only able to provide superficial information about many of the destinations Japan has to offer. This website has no such restraints, and is designed to make knowledge accessible. In addition to the destination and transportation guides, a number of specialist sub-directories support the project. These include Skiing/Snow , Surfing , Trekking/Hiking and National Parks sections, in addition to growing arts , culture and history projects and an online encyclopedia currently under development. Our Japan Travel Guide is written exclusively by travellers in Japan - and in particular by and for travelling students. Every destination in the guide is visited regularly by the project team (usually several times per year), and each file is continuously updated. All guides are in a print ready format in several languages . When planning a trip or before heading to a destination you can easily supplement your " deadtrees " guidebook with much more detail. The virtual guidebook includes bulletin boards where community members can receive and/or share information on good accommodation and out-of-the-way places, and extensive on demand streaming media sourced from Yamasa.tv and Okazaki.fm . Most of the guide is free access (including all video and streaming media), though in some cases we will require registration (free) before the video can be streamed. Please note that due to high and on-going development and maintenance costs, for some of the more valuable bulletin boards or web accessible resources such as the reservations service and the low cost accommodation database we will require you to acquire a password . The travel guide also includes a free and extensive FAQ covering many questions related to travelling in Japan . If you can't find what you need please contact us - we have a large team here in Okazaki waiting to help you. Updates/New Additions Happo One Tsugaike Kohgen (Updates Archive) Support Directories Arts Online Encyclopedia History Online National Parks Phrasebook Surfing Guide Trekking/Hiking Guide Winter Sports Guide World Heritage Japan Travel FAQ Photogalleries Okazaki City Guide C O M M U N I T Y M E M B E R S forgot password? update your details privacy policy faqs and help feedback membership Hattori Foundation (est.1919) - The Yamasa Institute 1-2-1 Hanehigashi-machi, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, JAPAN 444-0832 Tel: +81 (0)564 55 8111 Fax: +81 (0)564 55 8113 Email: Inquiries www.yamasa.org content is created and maintained by Declan Murphy and the students and staff of theYamasa Institute's Multimedia Studio. This site is Yamasa - All rights reserved.
Mexico Travel
Yucatan Peninsula Travel Info : TravelYucatan.com Travel Information for the Yucatan Peninsula Mexico 2005 Cancun Mayan Riviera Costa Maya Quintana Roo Campeche Yucatan Hola! Welcome to TravelYucatan.com , the information source for planning your vacation to the beautiful Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. If you have never traveled to the Yucatan Peninsula, most everything you need to know is here. General Info contains entry requirements, time, etc. Below is information more specific for your trip. You may also use the search engine above [and on every page] to find exactly what you need. This web site contains hotels, maps, campsites, archeological information, bus routes and lots of related information for first time travelers and even veterans returning to the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Yucatan Peninsula Maps Exciting Guided Tours Airport Shuttle Services Site Feedback Survey MAYAN RIVIERA DESTINATIONS The Mayan Riviera includes exciting attractions, colorful cities, quiet pueblos, enchanting Mayan ruins and beautiful secluded beaches! Puerto Morelos Playa del Carmen Playacar Calica Puerto Aventuras Xpu-Ha Kantenah Paamul Akumal Chemuyil Xcacel Tulum The Yucatan Peninsula is one of the richest archaeological zones in the ancient Mesoamerica world. The Yucatan presents astonishing surprises at every turn. All major sites in the Yucatan Peninsula are listed here and much more . | Ruin Sites | Site Maps | Tips | Guides | | Recommendations | Museums | Field Schools | The Yucatan Peninsula is the perfect destination for travelers interested in exotic environments. The Yucatan is home to three major ecosystems. | Intro | Destinations | Wildlife | Eco Tips | Discount Airfares Select the BEST DEAL! Cruises Book Your Holiday Cruise On-Line Tours Make Your Tour Reservations Here! The Yucatan Peninsula boasts world-class 5 star luxury resorts accommodating both the European plan and the "All Inclusive" - eat all you can, drink all you can and lie on a white sandy beach under a palm tree. What are you waiting for!!! Experience the Tortuga Liberation! Every year hundreds of baby Green Sea Turtles emerge from the sandy beaches of the Mayan Riviera and head into the vast ocean. Come witness this magical event! Click here to learn more! YUCATAN OVERVIEW Why the Yucatan Peninsula Some of the many reasons. Where to Go What destination is best for you. What to Do in the Yucatan Peninsula Includes Tours and Attractions. How to Get There An overview of transportation means. Mexican People Get to know the people! Food/Water/Safety Info pertaining to your well being. Getting Married Planning a Cancun wedding! General Information About Mexico Entry Requirements etc. Traveling With Children YUCATAN ATTRACTIONS Introduction Help for planning your itinerary. Yucatan Beaches Cancun to Campeche. Mayan Arts & Crafts Hand made to mass produced. Jewelry Bling Bling Lovers! Cancun Attractions Staying in Cancun, there's lots to do! Mayan Riviera Attractions Exciting attractions on the Riviera. Chetumal Attractions Mayan Ruins and world class diving. Merida Attractions A beautiful colonial city awaits you. Campeche Attractions Less traveled but historically significant. Eco Attraction Ecological wonders abound here! Xcaret or Xel-Ha Decisions...decisions... Cancun Deep Sea Fishing Go on a guided trip! Swim with Whale Sharks The world's biggest fish! Golf - Ocean front golf courses. TravelYucatan.com TravelYucatan.com Newsletter Subscribe Privacy Statement About Us Testimonials To Contact a TravelYucatan.com Representative Please e-mail: TravelYucatan.com adds new content daily in order to present you with up-to-date information to assist you in the planning of your Mexico vacation. £inking to TravelYucatan.com 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Ways To Help People In The Yucatan! HOTELS & RESORTS Cancun Mayan Riviera Cozumel Puerto Morelos Playa del Carmen Playacar Puerto Aventuras Akumal Tulum Chichen Itza Merida Uxmal Isla Mujeres Isla Holbox Group Rates Re-Print Voucher DESTINATIONS Cancun Isla Mujeres Mayan Riviera Playa del Carmen Cozumel Piste Merida Ticul Campeche Isla Holbox Costa Maya GENERAL INFO Yucatan FAQ Seasons/Weather Mexican Money Mexican Telephone Basic Spanish Museums Universities Travel Tips What to Pack Buying Stuff Cigars and Tequila TRANSPORTATION Renting a Vehicle Air Boat Cozumel Ferry Taxi Mexican Bus Collectivo Cancun Bus Maps Driving Regulations Things To Know Entering a Vehicle Distances DIVING SNORKELING Open-Water Cave/Cenote Snorkeling Cozumel 1 Cozumel 2 OFFICIAL Embassies Legalization Journalists Tourist Boards Complaints State Governments + EMERGENCY + Loosing Your Money Quick Departure Medical Emergency Phone Numbers TRAVEL TOOLS Packing List Tool Trip Countdown Travel Glossary Currency Converter Travel FAQs Tropical Storms 2005 TravelYucatan.com All rights reserved. Travel Information for the Yucatan Peninsula Mexico
Taiwan Travel
Taiwan Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Taiwan Taiwan History meets hyper-reality on this pulsing, picturesque island. Places to See Review WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Transport Money RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links Taiwan Folk Village village Tel: 04 786 0815 Set deep in the hilly countryside, and bursting with photo opportunities, the Taiwan Folk Village preserves the traditional architecture, arts and food of days gone by. Here you'll find accurate reproductions not only of grand structures such as temples and halls, but also of simple farmhouses made of bamboo and thatch. Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm SPONSORED LINKS Enquire Accomodation Reviews Find Lonely Planet author reviewed places to stay * Required Fields Country * Please select Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Egypt England Estonia Finland France Germany Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel & the Palestinian Territories Italy Japan Malaysia Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Poland Portugal Russia Scotland South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Taiwan Thailand Turkey USA United Arab Emirates Vietnam City * Please select Travel Services · Flights · Hostels · Hotels · Travel Insurance More Services › Disclaimer: We've tried to make theinformation on this web site as accurate as possible, but it isprovided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injuryor inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety,customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before youtravel. text & images © lonely planet 2005 about us | privacy | feedback | advertising FAQs worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links