Archive for May, 2008

Planning a Vacation

May 9th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

There are several different approaches to planning your perfect vacation. Perhaps budget is your biggest concern; maybe you’re in great need of relaxation, or it might be time to add some romance back into your relationship. It could be that a particular destination is important to you, or your leisure time could be an opportunity to indulge your favorite hobby. Then again, you may just desire a new experience. It’s important to identify your current needs and frame of mind when you begin your vacation planning.

Start with a budget in mind

If you know exactly what you can spend on a trip or vacation and you feel restricted in what you’re able to do, let yourself be creative. There are many opportunities to stretch your dollar and create a wonderful experience even on a limited budget. For instance, consider traveling in the off-season. Tour Europe in the winter or the Caribbean and the South Pacific in the summer. To help offset transportation expenses, accumulate air miles with your credit card over the year and use your air miles for your airfare. And when you do, be adventurous. Once the cost of the airfare is taken care of, it can be very reasonable to travel in another country.

There are also wonderful destinations close to home, e.g., our national parks, which offer reasonable accommodations and opportunities for family time. If you book directly with the parks, you often have to book your vacation a year in advance. But many of the travel wholesalers hold a group of rooms for the entire season which are available through them in a package tour. Your travel agent can help you find one that is perfect for you, your family and your budget.

Perhaps you can consider taking a three- or four-day cruise from a port that is driving distance from your home. Your meals and entertainment are covered in your cruise cost, which can be extremely reasonable.

When you plan your vacation can greatly impact the cost. If you can, plan your getaway 6-8 months in advance when prices are lower. For instance, if you want to go to Europe, now is a great time to start planning a trip for November or December. A five-day trip to Prague, if planned now, can cost you around $1,000 per person, including airfare and accommodations. If you wait until October or November to start planning the same trip, the cost will be much higher.

Be willing to travel at the last minute when airlines, cruise lines, and hotels still have some spaces to fill and are motivated to fill them.

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Can I afford an Airline Lounge Membership ?

May 7th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

If you’ve ever sat through a 6-hour weather delay, you know why you’d like an airline lounge membership.  Lounges shelter us from the lines, noise, and chaos of the airport.  Even the worst, most crowded lounge is usually more comfortable than the average airport waiting area.

I used to think airline lounges were only for the wealthy, or the lucky executives whose companies footed the bill.  Not so.  Here’s how the “in the know” travelers get their airline lounge memberships.

1.  Even new travelers know the first option:  buying loung membership at full price, straight from a single airline.  If you have several hundred dollars you could go this route.  I don’t personally recommend it.

2.  Instead of buying full access to an airline’s club, you can consider a day pass with that airline.  Prices run from $25 to $75 and are only good for the single day.  If you only travel a couple times a year this might be the right option.

3.  If you’re offered an American Express Platinum card take a few minutes to consider the services it brings.  The annual fee is pricy ($450 least I checked) but it does give access to many airline lounges.  I recommend this approach if you plan to make use ALL of the frequent flyer cards services.

4.  Similarly, if you have a Diners Club card you have access to their network of lounges.  This benefit isn’t particularly useful in the United States.  If you travel internationally it’s a good option with a relatively low annual fee.

5.  Frequent travelers loyal to a single airline have more options.  Those with frequent flyer status usually get a discount on the airline’s membership fee (possibly even free if your status is high enough).  You might also be able to use your mileage points to pay for the remaining cost.  This is a terrific option if you travel one airline (or airline partnership) regularly.

6.  If you’ve made it this far down the list without finding an answer, don’t despair.  You still have Priority Pass membership to look forward to, and it’s a great option.  My Priority Pass membership gives me access to over 500 lounges in more than 275 cities.  They have access in the U.S. airports I frequent, and a nice range of membership fees.  You can start as low as $99 plus $27 per visit.

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Free Chick-fil-A food

May 6th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

Yesterday I wrote about the grand opening of the Avenue Mall in Forsyth County, GA. Now here is some good news for Chick-fil-A lovers here in Cumming, GA.

Chick-fil-A Inc. is giving away $26,000 in food to the first 100 adult customers in line for the May 8 grand opening of its new store at Avenue Forsyth at 430 Peachtree Parkway in Cumming, Ga.

The Atlanta-based chicken sandwich chain said it will give a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A Combo Meals (52 coupons) to each of the first 100 adults, age 18 and older with identification, at the new restaurant. The line can begin forming up to 24 hours before the opening, with the prizes being given away on May 8 sometime between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. The restaurant will open for business immediately afterward.

Chick-fil-A’s popular grand opening giveaway started in 2003.

“When we started the First 100 Fans promotion we were stunned when someone arrived 18 hours in advance and asked where he could wait in line,” said Dan Cathy, Chick-fil-A president. “Almost five years later, we’ve given away more than $7 million in free Chick-fil-A food across the country to raving fans who’ve braved snow, wind, rain and triple-digit temperatures to help us celebrate the opening of each new Chick-fil-A.”

Chick-fil-A has more than 1,380 locations in 37 states and Washington, D.C. Its sales jumped 16 percent to $2.64 billion in 2007. The chain which plans to add 88 locations this year, including 70 stand-alone restaurants.

We should be hearing some more promotions like these because nothing attracts customers better than free stuff :)

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The Avenue Mall in Forsyth County, Georgia is OPEN for business

May 5th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

Ever since it was announced that a big mall was coming up in Forsyth County, GA, just off of GA-400, near Exit 13, we have been tracking its progress and were eagerly awaiting it it opening!

It was first announced o Friday, September 1, 2006.

Here is an excerpt of that:

A total of $300 million in direct capital investment, $90 million in sales tax revenue over a decade, and 2,000 jobs were some of the benefits mentioned Wednesday as plans for a major retail center in Forsyth County were unveiled.

For the past 13 years, Cousins Properties Inc. has been eyeing Forsyth County for its next specialty retail center. Wednesday was a big day for the company as it revealed The Avenue Forsyth, a planned 500,000-square-foot open-air retail center on Hwy. 141 near Ga. 400.

We are very happy to tell you that the Mall is now OPEN for Business. This is very exciting for us because it was one of the factors that we considered when were buying a house. Hopefully having a mall nearby might bring up the value of our home :)

Yesterday, we drove through the Avenue Forsyth Mall and were very impressed by the layout and the landscaping. Its looks very sophisticated. I have always liked the concept of having a downtown square like feel to a mall, so this made me very happy.

You can find the full Store directory at Avenue Forsyth Mall Store Directory

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