Vacation Packages Preferred Hotels


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MouseSavers.com - Disneyland Vacation Package Discount Great deals on all things Disney! Find out how to save on: Walt Disney World Disneyland Disneyland Resort Hotels Disneyland Resort Vacation Packages Preferred Hotels Near Disneyland Other Nearby Hotels Tickets & Passes Meals, Snacks & Drinks Other Disneyland Savings 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 Discounts on Disneyland Vacation Packages LAST UPDATE: 11/30/05 - MOST RECENT ADDITIONS ARE IN RED Many times Disneyland vacation packages are actually a good value for the money -- particularly the specially-priced seasonal package offers. On this page you'll find details on the standard Disneyland packages, as well as current discounted packages. Most of the packages listed below can be booked online at Disneyland.com . However, I find the online reservations system to be confusing and clunky. Also, you really have to dig around online to find out the restrictions and cancellation fees, etc. If you're going to spend the money to buy a vacation package, I strongly recommend using a travel agent who specializes in Disney travel . It costs you nothing, and you can sit back, relax, and have all the vacation planning and hassle taken care of by someone else. Standard 2006 Disneyland Packages Standard 2005 Disneyland Packages January-April 2006 Package Specials United Airlines Kids Fly Free Promo Fall 2005 - "One Night FREE" Package Special Packages for Disneyland Annual Passholders Last Minute Expedia Packages Standard 2006 Disneyland Packages Standard 2006 Resort Magic packages include these benefits: Stay at Disney's Paradise Pier, Disneyland Hotel, or Grand Californian Park Hopper tickets Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness* - A special experience which allows guests to enjoy and interact with Disney Characters in Mickey's Toontown one hour before it opens to the public. One Early Entry* to a select land in Disneyland - Guests enjoy select attractions one hour before public opening. Preferred Seating at selected attractions in Disneys California Adventure: Muppet Vision 3D, Its Tough to Be a Bug!, Disneys Aladdin A Musical Spectacular! and Golden Dreams 50th Anniversary Guidemap an exact reproduction of the map from the opening day of Disneyland on July 17, 1955 (one per package) Exclusive! Walt Disney Travel Company collectible pin and lanyard (one per person) Exclusive! Walt Disney Travel Company Luggage Tags (one per person) Exclusive! Walt Disney Travel Company California Fun Book (one per package) *Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness and One Early Entry are based on availability, do not operate daily, and are subject to change without notice. All attractions and entertainment, prices, types and features of tickets, special offers and events, and age ranges may be seasonal and are subject to change without notice. To book a 2006 package, please contact a Disney Specialist travel agent . Standard 2005 Disneyland Packages Standard 2005 Resort Magic packages include these benefits: Stay at Disney's Paradise Pier, Disneyland Hotel, or Grand Californian Disneyland Resort Hotel self-parking and Fitness Center access Park Hopper tickets NEW! Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness* - A special experience which allows guests to enjoy and interact with Disney Characters in Mickey's Toontown one hour before it opens to the public. NEW! One Early Entry* to a select land in Disneyland - Guests enjoy select attractions one hour before public opening. Preferred Seating at select shows in Disney's California Adventure Exclusive! Walt Disney Travel Company collectible pin and lanyard (one per person) Exclusive! Walt Disney Travel Company California Diamond Fun Book (one per package) *Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness and One Early Entry are based on availability, do not operate daily, and are subject to change without notice. All attractions and entertainment, prices, types and features of tickets, special offers and events, and age ranges may be seasonal and are subject to change without notice. Please note that all 2005 Disneyland packages are subject to a $100 cancellation fee! That's right, even if you book one day and cancel the next, they will charge you $100. This is imposed by Disney. Thanks to Small World Vacations for info. To book a 2005 package, please contact a Disney Specialist travel agent . January-April 2006 Package Specials Purchase a Disneyland Resort vacation package for arrivals January-April, 2006 and choose from one of three special offers: Everyone Plays at the Kids Price * - Get any three-day or longer adult Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket at the kids price. Valid for arrivals 1/3/06-4/25/06. OR Kids Play FREE * - With every adult Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket of three days or longer, receive a FREE childs (ages 3-9) Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket good for the same number of days. Valid for arrivals 1/3/06-4/25/06. OR Receive a $150 Disneyland Resort Gift Card ** - Guests who stay 4 nights or longer at one of the hotels of the Disneyland Resort will receive a $150 Disneyland Resort Gift Card. The Disneyland Resort Gift Card is a convenient way to purchase merchandise, food and more at Disneyland Resort theme parks and the hotels of the Disneyland Resort. Valid for arrivals 1/4/06 4/22/06. *Travel must be booked by 4/23/06 and completed by 4/27/06. Book a minimum 2-night Disneyland Resort vacation package with an Adult (ages 10+) Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket of 3 days or longer and receive one free child (ages 3-9) Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket. Or, receive an Adult Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus Ticket of 3 days or longer at the same price as a Child's Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Bonus ticket of 3 days or longer. Only one free child ticket per qualifying adult ticket purchased at regular price. The Child Park Hopper Bonus Ticket will allow the same number of days of theme park admissions and will be subject to the same restrictions as the corresponding Adult Park Hopper Bonus Ticket. First day of use must occur on or before 4/27/06. These tickets expire 13 days after the first day of use or May 9, 2006, whichever occurs first, and each day of use constitutes one full day of use. Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial use. Restrictions apply. All offers, events, tickets, age ranges, services, attractions and entertainment may be seasonal and are subject to change without notice. **Travel must be booked by 4/21/06 and completed by 4/27/06. Offer applied one time per reservation. Not combinable with other hotel offers or discounts. Disneyland Resort Gift Card may not be applied toward package or hotel price. Subject to availability, advance reservations required. To book a special January-April 2006 package, please contact a Disney Specialist travel agent . United Airlines Kids Fly Free Promo United Airlines is offering a "Kids Fly Free" promotion for travel between 1/3/06 and 4/27/06. With this promo, one child (age 2-11) flies "free" per one a paid adult airfare , when you buy a Disneyland vacation package. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, however, this package isn't a great deal in many cases , because it requires you to choose certain fare classes for the adult ticket(s), which are usually MUCH more expensive than the cheapest discounted advance-purchase ticket(s). Often it would be cheaper to book a discounted adult and child fare instead. However, I'm listing this offer because it occasionally works out to be a good deal in certain circumstances. The "Kids Fly Free" promo can be combined with the "Everyone Plays at the Kids Price" or "Kids Play FREE" offer above . Applies to packages purchased from selected cities only and must be booked by 4/7/06. You must arrive at Disneyland by 4/25/06 and travel must be completed by 4/27/06. Blackout dates apply and packages are subject to availability. You can book a "Kids Fly Free" package online at Disneyland.com . Fall 2005 - "One Night FREE" Package Special Guests who purchase a 4-night or longer Disneyland Resort Magic vacation package for arrivals most dates 8/28/05 through 12/19/05* get one night FREE! *Blackout dates apply, including Thanksgiving week. Book a minimum four-night Disneyland Resort Magic vacation package with tickets included and get one night FREE (pay for three or more nights, get one free). Offer subject to availability, advance reservations required, restrictions apply. All attractions and entertainment, prices, types and features of tickets, special offers and events, and age ranges may be seasonal and are subject to change without notice. Thanks to Small World Vacations for info. To book a "One Night FREE" package, please contact a Disney Specialist travel agent . Packages for Disneyland Annual Passholders Now Disneyland Annual Passholders can purchase Disneyland Resort packages without purchasing tickets. Packages may also include meals, tours, accommodations and other exclusive items that make your visit to the Disneyland Resort truly magical. 2005 packages include: Accommodations at one of the hotels of the Disneyland Resort Preferred Seating to select shows at Disney's California Adventure New! Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness! Guests can enter Toontown an hour before the general public. Special 2005 Walt Disney Travel Company collectible pin and lanyard (one per person) Special Walt Disney Travel Company Luggage Tag Special Walt Disney Travel Company California Fun Book (one per package) Call (800) 824-1146 or (714) 520-5060 to book these packages. Last Minute Packages to Disneyland through Expedia Some of the last-minute Expedia packages are a good value, especially if you need airfare. Sometimes it costs less to buy one of these packages than it would to buy the airfare alone. Definitely worth a look if you're interested in a low-cost getaway to Disneyland. 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.
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In this state-of-the-art plant we produce spray-dried powder and agglomerarted soluble coffee. With the vast capacity and the ancillary facilities at our disposal we are in a position to meet instant coffee requirements in any quantity, quality, packing or labeling. With over 75 years of coffee experience behind us, it is a question of our reputation to supply unmatched quality tailored to meet your exacting requirements. Russia - Metal.Com.Ru www.metal.com.ru is popular and most comprehensive Russia's metal business related portal containing a cutting-edge metal E-trading platform and a big pack of additional services - like Metal Newsline, Analytics, Bulletin Board, Events, Careers, Advertising and others. Metal.Com.Ru is the shortest way to make your business broadly-known on Russian metal market. Russia - [Banks] Ami Bank Russia - [Banks] Arsenal Bank Russia - [Banks] Bank of Business Assistance Russia - [Banks] Bank of Moscow Russia - [Banks] Banks in Russia and the NIS Russia - [Banks] Belarus Exchange Bank Russia - [Banks] Centr-Invest Russia - [Banks] Central Bank of the Russian Federation Russia - [Banks] Conto Russia - [Banks] Guta-Bank Russia - [Banks] Inkombank Russia - [Banks] Moscow Business World Bank, Saint-Petersburg Russia - [Banks] Moscow Clearing House Russia - [Banks] Most-Bank Russia - [Banks] NeftechimBank Russia - [Banks] Palbank Russia - [Banks] Promstroybank of Russia, Moscow Russia - [Banks] Rossiyskiy Kredit Bank Russia - [Banks] Tokobank Russia - [Banks] UNEXIM Bank, Moscow Russia - [Directory] Company Directories Russia - [Directory] Russian Green Pages business and environmental guide Russia - [Directory] Russian Organizations - Yellow Pages Russia - [Directory] Yellow pages of Russia and Ukraine Russia - [Government] Russian Consulate General Russia - [Info] AmCham in Russia Russia - [Info] BISNIS - Information on Russia and NIS Russia - [Info] CIA World Factbook Russia - [Info] REESweb Russia - [Info] Rusline Russia - [Info] Russia at your fingertips (TM) Russia - [Info] Russian Exchange Russia - [Info] Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey Russia - [Info] Russian Oil & Gas Russia - [Info] U.S-Russia Business Collaboration Center (BCC) Russia - [Info] Window-To-Russia Russia - [Media] Argumenty i Fakty Russia - [Media] Belarusian Market Russia - [Media] DELO Russia - [Media] Interfax News Agency Russia - [Media] Neva News Russia - [Media] News Bulletins Russia - [Media] Russia Today Russia - [Media] Russian Business & Trade Connections Russia - [Media] Russian Business and Trade Connections Russia - [Media] Russian Far East Update Russia - [Media] Russian Market Weekly Report Russia - [Media] St. Petersburg Times Russia - [Search] Aport Russia - [Search] Au Russia - [Search] Internet Yellow Pages Russia - [Search] OLVIT Russia - [Search] Rambler Russia - [Search] Russia on the Net Russia - [Search] Russian Search Engines Russia - [Search] Slavophilia Russia - [Search] Yandex Russia - [Trade] BIS Russia - [Trade] The Russian Import-Export Trade Board Russia - [Travel] The Traveller's Yellow Pages Online Russia - [Travel] Tips for Travel to Russia, etc. Companies Rad - Russian Federation - [Beverages] Wholesale of worldfamous alkohol drinks. Import of spirits, wines and beer from different countries of world. Target market is Russia. Open Company Gifts of the Nature - Russian Federation - [Food] Our company is engaged in gathering and drying of wild berries and mushrooms, sells their wholesale parties under very favourable prices. Berries and mushrooms are dried on the microwave vacuum equipment at low temperatures 35-60C, in them aroma is kept, the majority of vitamins, high regenerative ability, natural color without dimness of a product is kept. High microbiological quality of dried berries is kept more than 1 year. In 2004 at us in assortment a bilberry dried, a bilberry dried crushed, a mountain ash dried; a cranberry and a cowberry fresh, frozen; mushrooms white dried, mushrooms white dried crushed, cantharellus fresh, salty. We are always open for cooperation with the interested companies. ITS Partner c.c. - Russian Federation - [Household] "ITS" assembled saunas are created for you to be healthy and feel relaxed! 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Germany Travel > Baden
Baden Baden Germany Travel Planner You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Germany Austria Switzerland > Germany Travel > Baden Baden > Baden Baden Germany Travel Planner 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 Baden Baden Map James martin Stay up to date! Baden Baden Map James martin Email to a friend Print this page Baden-Baden Essentials Getting There - Airport Shuttles Spas and Prices Baden Wine Route Around Baden-Baden Porsche Museum and Factory Tours Touring the Upper Black Forest Rebland Wine Region Baden-Baden Resources on this site Baden-Baden Links Baden-Baden Region Map 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 Baden Baden Travel Planner -- Germany From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Oct 30 2005 A spa (and wine) town in the Black Forest has it all! Celebrities come to Baden-Baden to get themselves into hot water and then get pummeled after. You might be surprised at how affordable a spa visit is in this town whose name is "bath-bath"--we'll tell you how just about anyone can get the treatment . Location of Baden Baden Baden Baden is 60 km northeast of Strasbourg, France in the Black Forest region of Germany, in the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. Besides Strasbourg, other close by, worthwhile cities to visit are Freiberg, Baden Wurttemberg, Rothenberg, Hiledelberg and perhaps Stuttgart for the Porsche museum or a Factory Tour (the factory is actually in Zuffenhausen, a few miles north of Stuttgart.) How to reach Baden Baden By Train - The Baden Baden train station is a stop for high speed and regional trains. The main lines are Basel (Switzerland)/Hamburg, Basel/Rhineland, Basel/Berlin and Paris/Vienna via Stuttgart and Munich. By Car - Motorway A5 Basle to Frankfurt, A8 when traveling from Munich to Karlsruhe, Federal Highway B3 Kiel/Basle, B500 in France / Black Forest / Switzerland Motorway Exit "Baden-Baden." By Plane - Baden Airpark is 15 km out of the city. There is a daily flight to/from Berlin Templehof as well as charter flights by Eurowings, Hapag Lloyd, Hamburg International, Air Europa, Sun Express. You can take a train from larger airports at Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, and Basel (Switzerland). Airport Shuttle - You can book a seat on a small bus from international Airports at Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Strasburg, France for 135 Euros round trip. Baden Baden Hotels An oft recommended hotel in Baden Baden that isn't too expensive and is centrally located next to the opera house is the Schweizer Hof , Lange Str. 73, 76530 Baden-Baden. For you luxury buffs, the only place to go to mingle with the rich and famous is the Brenner's Park Hotel and Spa . Heidi Klum loved it. Kelby Carr, your France for Visitors guide, recommends the Hotel Beeg , on Gernsbacher Straße 44-46. which "had all the necessities, nice bed, a small armchair, TV, etc. The best feature was definitely the location, though. You could walk out the front door, walk along a sidewalk and be at the Caracalla spa." (The Hotel Beeg sounds nice, but I usually go for something smaller.) Find these hotels in our Baden-Baden Links. Spas Spas have been famous at Baden Baden since the Roman Era. The two big spas, Caracalla and the Roman-Irish spa, are quite affordable. A three hour visit to Caracalla will cost you 13 Euro, 10 three hour visits will cost you 113 Euros. A single admission ticket excluding soap and brush massage (3 hours) at the Roman-Irish Spa will run you 21 Euros, a three and a half hour visit including soap and brush massage will cost you 29 Euros. At either spa you can park nearby for two hours free, then for a Euro per hour thereafter. For all the info on prices and other options, see the linkbox on the upper right Wine Baden Baden is in the Ortenau region, in good position for wine production. The Baden Wine Route will lead you and your car through the best of the region, while the Ortenau Weinpfad (wine trail) running parallel has over 100 kilomters of hiking trails and vantage points. For more on these opportunities, follow the Baden Wine Route link in the box on the right Cuisine There is, of course, the famous Black Forest smoked ham, and the locally made Gansewurst, a sausage made from smoked goose, is worth a try. Lunch is light, there's a coffee and cake break in the afternoon, then a late dinner. Some of the food has French influence here, and the local black forest game is legendary. Weather The moderately priced Belle Epoque Hotel in Baden Baden has a five day forecast . 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
European Vacation Planning Map
Your European Vacation and the Tumbling Dollar - Should you go this Year? 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 Central Sardinia, where viewing ancient "Giant's Tombs" is free. James Martin Stay up to date! Central Sardinia, where viewing ancient "Giant's Tombs" is free. James Martin Email to a friend Print this page The Euro Guide to the Euro Using your Credit Card in Europe Using your ATM Card in Europe Recent Discussions Need Help Planning a Trip Accomodation in london Mediteranean Feries Planning your European Vacation European Vacation Planner Map Europe Travel Basics 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 Your European Vacation and the Tumbling Dollar - Should you go this Year? From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Feb 12 2004 Will my vacation be too exensive? Maybe not as expensive as you think! A reader asks: "Should we wait until the Euro gets weaker to plan our European vacation?"
While I am certain to be viewed as a biased source of information on this topic, and considering the fact that no one I know has a crystal ball able to predict exchange rates, I will nevertheless plunge ahead and give my reasons and justifications for taking that vacation to Europe this year.
Exchange Rate. No one can predict what the future will hold, but some "experts" have surmised that the dollar may fall to as low as 1.5 Euros before the bloodbath is over. At the time of writing, the rate seems to have stabilized in the short term at around 1.25 or so. It's hard to see the dollar strengthening anytime soon, given the huge deficit and slow economy. Waiting for the dollar to strengthen may leave you waiting a long time. But maybe things aren't as bad as you think.
Historically, Things Average Out. I've been traveling to Europe since the mid 1970s, and it's always seemed to me that prices have slowly risen as hotels adapted higher standards and the economy reacted to general increases in living standards, especially in Southern Europe. These changes seemed slow and steady, and largely independent of major short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate. See the next argument for a free market reason why I may not have noticed currency fluctuations much during my travels.
The Equal and Opposite Reaction. With the sharp decline in US visitors to Europe we've seen over these past couple of years, hotels are finally lowering their rates, recognizing that their excess supply of rooms may continue unless something is done to entice visitors. For example Arthur Frommer reports that London "hotels of five-star quality (are) charging less than $150 for a double room that would normally cost $400." This is how the Free Market is supposed to work; when things get too expensive for people to buy, prices must drop to "incent" them. It's happening for hotel rooms, airfares, and other tourist-only items right now. The effect may be that your vacation cost won't be as high as you might think compared to previous years. Just don't expect to buy standard European goods at a discount--shopping at home is recommended when the dollar is week.
Last year I walked into a great looking hotel in Chaves, Portugal, only to notice the sign on the desk proclaiming that all rooms were 90 Euros. When the clerk asked to help me, I pointed out that the room was too expensive and turned to leave--but fortunately not before she offered the room at 60 Euros, a price she quoted as standard for these tough tourist times. While still expensive for Portugal, the room offered 4 star, air conditioned comfort with a great view of the castle from the balcony, and the most elegant bathroom we've ever bathed in.
Things Change. An argument put forth by Carol Field and others is that European traditions are fading quickly in a multi cultural, easily traveled world. While independent of exchange rate, this argument, for me, is a compelling one, especially as Starbucks and McDonalds replace small, family run cafes and restaurants and Europe starts to look more and more like main street USA. I don't travel to experience the same things I can at home, and it's why I have to dig deeper and deeper to find places that celebrate those rapidly disappearing cultural differences.
The price of gas and the doomsday scenario. Many experts suggest that the price of gasoline will have to rise sharply to cover the cost of recovering oil from the neglected wells in Iraq (yes, oil wells go bad, I've read) and this increase is likely to spike after the elections and continue on an upward trend. Europe, it seems to me, is in a much better position to weather these increases in the short term, as they offer alternative modes of public transportation.
Even Worse: There is no doubt that oil is an increasingly rare commodity in an energy hungry world, and steadily rising prices will effect most of us around the globe equally. (Studies of Peak Oil and Gas ( pdf ) have predicted the production of Oil peaking at the end of this decade, and slowly declining thereafter.) This is my doomsday strategy, "go while you can, who knows what economic nastiness lurks around the next corner as we run out of energy sources."
Have a different view? Why not submit a rebuttal through our submittal form ?
How to offset the dollar's weakness without sacrificing your vacation Fun? Read on to Page Two: Saving Money on your European Vacation - 12 Frugal Vacation Tips . 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