The Weather Forecast on Your Personal by: David Leonhardt

I use the Internet to find just about each type of information. Even the weather.

Sure, I could just stick my head out the window and call out, “Hello. What is the weather forecast this day?” But if the response is “hurricanes, hail and meteor storms”, I don’t want my head to be on the wrong side of the window when the answer comes down.

Plus, that will not help me fine-tune my last minute travel plans.

So I turn to the Internet. There are three really easy ways to get a good weather forecast over the Internet:

Weather forecast websites:

There are some good weather forecast websites. The one I use most often, because I am in Canada, is The Weather Network http://www.theweathernetwork.com ), and I also like CNN ( http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER/ ).

CNN gives current conditions and a five day forecast. The Weather Network provides more detail, with a short term forecast ( this evening, tonight, tomorrow morning, etc.) and a longer term forecast over the next six days. The Weather Network provides the most detail of all the options, but it takes longer to download than the progress of climate change (so don’t do it on a 26K modem!) Both offer forecasts for cities worldwide.

Weather forecast software:

A second way, which does not even require going to a website, is to get current conditions right on your desktop. There are free weather forecast software downloads, such as http://www.weather4you.info that display key data right on your desktop, and even provide a text summary one click away.

Weather forecasts on the desktop are probably the fastest way to get local weather information, and the data is updated every five minutes. The display can be set up for local weather, but a couple clicks grants for a quick check of conditions form almost each weather monitoring station in the world ideal for making last minute travel plans

Weather forecasts by Google:

A third way to access the weather forecast is through Google. Yes, the find-everything search engine has added weather to its repertoire. For instance, search Google for “weather Orlando”, without the quotation marks, and see what you get.

At the time of writing, this service is available only to cities in the USA (I presume Americans get more weather than other people.). However, it will hopefully be available everywhere by the time you read this article.

Google’s is the least precise weather forecast of the options, but fairly swift and simple to reach if you are looking for information on a city in the USA.

All three options are worthwhile, whether preparing for the daily commute or making travel and vacation plans. So pull in your head, close that window and log on. Why stick your neck out when there’s weather on your personal.

About The Author David Leonhardt is a website marketing consultant: http://www.seo-writer.net And an SEO consultant http://www.seo-writer.net/freelance/seo-consultant.html He is building a travel directory at: http://www.wv-travel-directory.com Info@thehappyguy.com

Top Ten Secrets to Saving Big Money in the Airline Flights

 by: Alex Fir

Do you know that some people travel around the country and abroad, for both business and pleasure, and save bundles of money in the process?

They do that by using little known ways of really taking advantage of the most popular form of transportation - airline flights.

They do not rely on the ever-famous airfare price-wars. They don’t rely on their travel agents to save money while flying.

Certainly, you should not dismiss these two methods. The price-wars can work to your advantage. But depending on them too much is a massive mistake.

1. Call the airlines.

Call the airlines between midnight and 1 a.m. Monday through Friday to get cheaper tickets.

Most people never realize that at midnight, airline agents revise and load new fares into their computers. The best fares are just after they’ve done the updating!

2. Check into other airports other than the main one you use.

Many major cities have two airports. Check into surrounding towns and cities so you can compare airfares. You may save hundreds of dollars on your flights.

3. The early bird catches the plane.

The earlier you book your flight the more you save. Most special fares have restrictions of 7 to 30 day advance buy. Usually non-refundable but they can offer deep discounts.

On the other hand, there are last minute deals too. Visit www.smartliving.com to get emails for last minute deals.

4. Get out of town on Wednesday.

Mid-week travel is usually less high-priced. If you leave on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and stay over a Saturday night, you can garner terrific savings compared to Friday through Monday when most people fly.

Begin taking your vacations Wednesday-to-Wednesday or Tuesday-to-Tuesday. Youll save a lot by choosing your departure and arrival dates this way!

5. Buying a one way or split ticket.

Lets say you travel from Boston to Dallas. It might be cheaper to get two separate tickets. You could buy one ticket from Boston to Nashville and one from Nashville to Dallas.

It all depends on the connecting cities and your airlines hubs. Just tell your agent you’re willing to travel out of other airports and connect using regional airports to save money.

6. Open wide.

You should look into what’s called an Open-Jaw ticket. These are used when a traveler is arriving and departing from different cities.

One ticket is bought to cover both cities. Check with your travel agent or airline representative to see if this trick is available instead of two one-way tickets. Compare the price of each.

7. An excellent online service www.sidestep.com

You enter destinations and dates and SideStep quickly searches a couple of dozen affiliated regional and international airlines to find the ideal rates.

8. Code share.

Ask your agent if this flight is a code-share flight. That means the same flight is offered by two different airlines. Just copy down the name of the other airline and check into what they’re charging.

Only one of the airlines is actually operating the flight. The actual operator always offers this flight for less, so book with them.

9. Sign up for the airline newsletters.

From weekend getaways to international flight packages the newsletter saves you money on travel and doesnt require that you constantly visit the airline website for the latest offering.

10. The airlines often slash their fares during sluggish travel times.

Scan your travel sections in the newspapers and speak to your agent about these low fares.

About The Author Is Your Travel Experience Limited by Your Credit Card? Alex Fir is providing 250+ pages of insider tips and tricks that teach you how to travel cheap and sometimes free. Click Here => http://www.webpillar.com/cheaptravel ** Attn Ezine editors / Site owners ** Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site so long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed above. If you do use the material please send us a note so we have the ability to take a look. Thanks. mailto:info@webpillar.com

Samoa, Heart of Polynesia by: David StanleyThe islands of Samoa are emerging as an exciting new South Pacific travel destination between Hawaii and New Zealand. This “Heart of Polynesia” is politically split into two distinct entities 80 miles apart. The country Samoa is a former German colony, captured by New Zealand in 1914 and granted independence in 1962. In 1997 the name was changed from Western Samoa to Samoa.American Samoa is the only U.S. territory south of the equator. Annexed by the United Says for use as a naval base in 1900, the territory no longer has any military significance. Instead, Pago Pago currently hosts the StarKist and “Chicken of the Sea” tuna canneries, making it the most important commercial fishing port under the American flag.The Samoan environment is tropically lush, with green volcanic peaks plunging to brilliant coral reefs, an ecotourism paradise still unspoiled by mass tourism. Visitors often stay in open Samoan beach houses called fale (pronounced FAH-lay) and adopt the laidback local lifestyle. Swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, surfing, deep sea fishing, and hiking opportunities are all close at hand.Samoan culture is alive and strong, and local traditions can add another fascinating layer to your travel experience. Most Samoans are subsistence farmers who reside in small villages governed by chiefs (matai). The egalitarian ideals of this communal society place loyalty to family and religion above all. Visitors can sample this culture at the weekly “fiafia” island night dance shows staged at most of the larger hotels and beach resorts. Buffets of authentic Samoan dishes are an essential part of these events.Samoa’s climate is sultry, alternately sunny and rainy, but always hot and humid. Cooling sea breezes make the shoreline the best place to be yearround. The nicest months weatherwise are May to September, “winter” south of the equator. The rainy season runs from November to April, with increasingly intense hurricanes sweeping in due to global warming. Yet you can get long spells of bright sunny weather even during the “rainy” season, and Samoa’s excellent Vailima beer (created by German brewmasters) tastes ideal at this time of year.Most visitors spend their time in independent Samoa, which is considerably more massive and less high-priced than American Samoa. However the rugged scenic beauty of Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa, should not be missed. In recent years some of the most strikingly beautiful parts of the territory have been incorporated into American Samoa National Park. There is great hiking on Tutuila and wonderful snorkeling on Ofu in the seldom visited Manua Group.Traditional Samoan culture is largely based on oratory, and it’s no accident that several literary legends originated here. Robert Louis Stevenson spent the last five years of his life in Samoa and is buried on a hilltop above Apia, the capital. His mansion is now a museum dedicated to the author. Somerset Maugham’s short story “Rain” about Sadie Thompson and the repressed missionary thrown together in a guesthouse at Pago Pago, American Samoa, has been adapted by Hollywood several times. The original guesthouse still exists, now an upscale restaurant and inn. In “Tales of the South Pacific,” James A. Michener based the prototype of his character Bloody Mary on an Apia hotelkeeper named Aggie Grey, whose family still operates Samoa’s largest resorts. Michener’s book was later made into the musical “South Pacific.”Getting to Samoa is easy with direct flights from Hawaii and Los Angeles on Hawaiian Airlines, Polynesian Airlines, and Air New Zealand. Local ferries and small commuter planes ply frequently between the islands, and getting around by public bus or rental vehicle is no challenge. Visas are not required by most visitors for entry to either Samoa, even though a passport and onward plane ticket are mandatory.

About The AuthorDavid Stanley is the author of Moon Handbooks South Pacific http://www.southpacific.org/pacific.html which has a chapter on Samoa. His on the internet guide to Samoa may be perused at http://www.southpacific.org/text/upolu.html.You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, so long as the byline and resource box are included. Please don’t use this article without the byline and resource box. Many thanks!

Fish Creek Home - Making Montana Memories and a Dream Come True by: Cid and Dan BusarowWHITEHALL Cindy Buscarow fulfilled a childhood dream when she moved to Montana last May. Another dream was reached two weeks ago when she and her husband, Dan, opened Fish Creek Home, a bed and breakfast just outside of Whitehall.

“When I was young I always told my parents I wanted to live in Montana,” said Cindy, known as Cid. Living in New York and later California, Cid did not know how that would quite happen.

Dan, a partner in a personal business and gunsmith, and Cid, a bi-athlete, came to Bohart Ranch near Bozeman to compete in the running and shooting competition and fell in love with the area. The search was on for property in Montana. For Dan, he was returning to his roots. He lived in Malta until he was five.

The couple found a beautiful log home located on forty acres with gorgeous views of the mountains and a stone’s throw from Fish Creek.

The house was purchased and a large renovation started.

“We’d drive up from California each month to see how the progress was going,” stated Cid.

During one of their trips, they took a hike down to the creek and when Cid looked up at the log home nestled in the hills, the name Fish Creek House came to her.

With the renovation complete and the licenses involved with a bed and breakfast approved, Fish Creek House is officially open for business.

The couple looks forward to sharing their home with guests, and those with horses as well. A new barn and round pen have been built for the couple’s horses and although they are not offering trail rides, guests are welcome to bring their own horses and board them in the new facilities.

“We want accommodate people who arenature loving. We will make you feel like part of the family while you’re here,” said Cid.

One of Dan and Cid’s specialties is shooting and plan to host shooting clinics for enthusiasts.

Another specialty of Fish Creek Home will be the food. They offer a gourmet breakfast for their guests and with their own personal greenhouse, the vegetables will be organically grown on site.

The inn offers two guests suites, each with a private bath, a massive living room with a stone fireplace, a library and a sitting room, complete with a microwave and a fridge. Fish Creek House is also a place where the active businessperson can stay in touch. They offer wireless internet in each of the rooms and are considered a “wifi hotspot.” The Buscarow’s have swiftly introduced themselves to the local Chamber of Commerce. They have offered their services to build a website for the Chamber and are in the process of doing so. They’re also community minded business people and have used custom made Montana pieces in their guest rooms.

“The beds were made by the Amish,” said Dan. The couple also uses local artwork to adorn the rooms.

About The Author Dan and Cid are anxious to help their guests plan their ultimate vacation and can be found on the internet at www.fishcreekhouse.com. They can be e-mailed at info@fishcreekhouse.com Cid has varied experiences from careers in custom software programming, marketing, farming and horticulture. Cid has also worked in business development and with her twin sister formerly owned a catering company, Sibling Revelry. An avid hunter and fisherman,husband Dan is a certified NRA teacher developing shooting programs for 4-H clubs and is a gunsmith.