MyGreatDeals.com - Travel & Leisure

Todays Escapes (SM), a travel discount membership program by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, knows only one simple cure for wanderlust -- travel. These days, though, what's packed (and how much "stuff" there is) needs to be factored into the trip's overall cost. Like many businesses, airlines are struggling, and now they've started assessing fees for checked bags -- especially for oversized items.

It's just a guess, but the late Jack Kerouac probably didn't have too many worries about extra packing fees and the like when he penned his now-famous On the Road back in 1957. For travelers back then, it was just "make plans to go"...and whatever was going to happen eventually did. But the modern traveler isn't so lucky; continued concerns over rising fuel costs and a generally sluggish economy have led to increased baggage costs.

That's why TodaysEscapes has come up with a few tips on how to pack more efficiently, lightly and cost-effectively. After all, traveling to satisfy that wanderlust is only natural. And Todays Escapes has some ideas to ensure that extra baggage fees aren't the thing that's stopping those innate travel urges:

-- Call the haul. Call the airlines and check websites to find out the fees for packing certain items. If a fishing trip is on the docket, for example, know that there could be extra fees for fishing poles, tackle boxes and the like. Before it's time to grab that "catch of the day," know how much extra there'll be to pay.

-- Learn online. The general rule is that the most up-to-date information on additional baggage fees is usually buried somewhere on the airline's website. Digging around to save a few bucks may not be the best way to start off a vacation, but a little patience may be rewarded. Check out links on major airlines' sites like Know before you go and Baggage; in this case, a little knowledge is a good thing.

-- Ship and save. If that dream vacation or long-awaited getaway requires oversized luggage (especially things like golf clubs and other sports equipment), consider shipping it ahead of time.

-- Trim the fat to lighten up. If the itinerary calls for a long time away, there's not a lot that can be done about bringing heavier bags. But for those shorter trips -- ones that don't require extra baggage -- don't over-pack. Stick to the basics, and try to get by with a carry-on and -- at most -- one checked bag.

Todays Escapes understands that traveling -- as great as it can be -- does carry added costs these days. So for travel needs and vacation ideas that help keep costs down but keep the "fun quotient" steadily moving up, look no further than TodaysEscapes.

Todays Escapes (SM), a travel discount membership program by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, knows what a grind work can be. And that's why it's crucial to recharge and refresh with some time off, whenever possible.

The proverb, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," has been around for a few thousand years, thanks to an Egyptian sage named Ptahhotep (believed to be the saying's original author, written in about 2400 B.C.). More than 4,000 years later, that friendly advice still applies. In fact, according to a 2007 survey conducted by Robert Half International, a professional staffing and consulting organization, 51 percent of executives said employees are more productive after a vacation than before one.

So the majority of bosses out there think taking time away from work (and staying work-free while on vacation) plays a big part in long-term business success. That's why AP9 TodaysEscapes suggests leaving all those work-related worries back at the office:        

-- Time has come today. Just like the Los Angeles-based soul group The Chambers Brothers sang back in 1968, " … time has come today. Can't put it off another day …," the same goes for a much-needed vacation. Just remember to consider what the group/division at work is likely to focus on during a possible vacation time. Make sure all the bases are covered before skipping town for a while; nothing will break up vacation fun faster than the sound of a work-related phone call.

-- Cover me. As with most things in life, the "business merry-go-round" rarely -- if ever -- stops. That's why it's important to make sure a trusted colleague is on the case before getaway time. Consider setting up a meeting with the person covering to make sure everything is set.

-- Let it go. Yes, Todays Escapes understands that it can be tough to leave office matters behind, but try letting go. Get that trustworthy person to cover, leave the laptop and/or BlackBerry at home, and try to relax. Limit any out-of-office participation to the bare essentials; there'll be plenty of work to do post-vacation.

-- Create a recipe for relaxation. The ability to leave office life behind while on vacation depends heavily on preparation. If things are usually very busy, go in early and stay late, long before the vacation is scheduled to begin. Knowing that everything is in order (with plenty of time to spare) will make those first few moments away from the job what they're meant to be -- time off.                

Todays Escapes understands that today's work environment demands hard work. That's why taking time off is so important. And as for those other travel needs and vacation ideas down the road, look no further than AP9 TodaysEscapes.

DealMax (SM), a multi-tiered discount shopping program from Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, prides itself on knowing a little something about everything -- including proper handling of the American flag. Nationalistic feelings over the "Stars and Stripes" seem to have been on the rise in recent years, and AP9 DealMax wants to help honor America -- by the book -- the way history intended.    

Back in 1916, then-President Woodrow Wilson officially declared June 14th as National Flag Day. Prior to that, though, and thanks to a dedicated New York City kindergarten teacher named George Balch, the first "unofficial" Flag Day celebration took place at the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, PA, on June 14, 1891. (Apparently, Balch arranged a special day for his students to honor the flag in June 1889; his idea was adopted by the New York State Board of Education and was later recognized elsewhere.)

For years after President Wilson's proclamation, people in many cities in different U.S. states celebrated June 14th as Flag Day. And in 1949, some 60 years after George Balch's original patriotic notion, 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day. Armed with that bit of important history on "Old Glory," DealMax advises displaying the U.S. flag with pride … and with special attention to these simple but important U.S. flag codes:

-- Wait for the word. Only the President or a state governor can order a flag to be flown at half-staff. This often indicates a time of national (or statewide) mourning, and flags shouldn't be flown at half-staff unless the official word is given.
    
-- Don't seal the deal. It might look cool in a college dorm room or even as a decoration on the ceiling of a den or living room, but the U.S. Flag Code (established in 1923) prohibits the flag from being used as a ceiling covering.

-- Make sure it's the one and only. They say that George Washington commissioned Betsy Ross to sew the first U.S. flag to very precise specifications. That's why the flag needs to be displayed in its purist form; with nothing attached to it, nor altered in any way. Again, decorations might look cool or amusing, but they might also offend someone.

-- This ain't no costume party. No part of the flag -- except replica patches and lapels -- should ever be used as a costume. The late Abbie Hoffman probably didn't see things that way, but the flag represents a living country and is considered a living thing by many.

AP9 DealMax offers these handy guidelines on the American flag not only to help citizens celebrate Flag Day on June 14th, but also to honor America throughout the entire year. Show respect and personal pride in the U.S. -- with a little help from DealMax.

Passport to Fun (SM), a premier recreation and entertainment savings program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, knows that summer is just around the corner. And that surely means plenty of outdoor fun for kids. Still, all that open-air activity can translate into exposure to dangerously hot temperatures, water safety hazards -- even trouble from pesky insects and other animal life.

And the same goes for all the "grown-up kids" out there; kids who understand that "Mother Nature" means business are largely influenced by their adult role models. Let the kids have fun, sure, but don't forget to tell them there's more to summertime safety than beating the heat.

It's like 20th-century essayist Russell Baker said, "Ah, summer. What power you have to make us suffer … and like it." With that in mind, PassportToFun suggests that striking the perfect balance of summertime fun and safety means helping kids better understand summertime's potential perils:

-- Don't flake out on me. All the sun worshipers out there (kids and adults) need to know the facts: Yeah, sun feels great, but between all that sunning, sweating and swimming, skin conditions like eczema (a.k.a. atopic dermatitis) can worsen during the summer months. It's cool to let kids catch the occasional "ray," but keep skin moisturizers on hand.

-- Make like Mae West. Busty film starlet Mae West may have lent her name to the life vests of yore, but when it comes to modern water safety, kids need U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets or personal flotation devices. IMPORTANT: Be sure to read the fine print on things like arm floaties and other swimming aids. They're designed to help kids learn how to swim -- to use their arms and legs -- not to keep them afloat.

-- Sport the right shades. For kids, image counts for just about everything, especially during the summer. That's why it's so important to help them find the right pair of sunglasses -- ones that will protect their eyes from the sun's damaging rays, while still offering them "the look" they want.

-- Dr. Doolittle never got the memo. There's no doubt that nature's creatures are a joy to behold. But Passport to Fun wants to reinforce a few facts: Deer carry ticks that can lead to Lyme Disease, wild animals are still … well … wild, and they don't understand it when kids just want to pet them. Oh, and bees and wasps can't be reasoned with. Teach kids the joys of summertime nature. Just make sure they understand the realities too.

So welcome summer 2008. Have a fun and safe time out there. And remember, no matter what the season, the never-ending quest to get more for less starts with Passport to Fun.

About PassportToFun:
Passport to Fun is a leading membership discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC. Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Adaptive Marketing is a category leader in membership programs, bringing value direct to consumers through an array of benefits in healthcare, discounts, security, personal property and personals. Members may access their benefits at PassportToFun.com. With broad online and offline distribution capabilities, Adaptive Marketing offers its corporate client partners effective tools to enhance market presence, strengthen customer affinity and generate additional value through programs such as PassportToFun.

Sometimes it seems like all the fun family activities always involve spending tons of money. Members of Passport to Fun (SM), a premier recreation and entertainment savings program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, know that's simply not true. They can count on their benefits and savings to come up with creative ways to have fun as a family for hours on end.

The key word is creativity, notes Passport to Fun. Anyone can plan a whole afternoon or an entire weekend of entertaining games and activities for the family, no matter the age differences or the size of the group. The thing is, people have gotten so used to paying for everything, including entertainment, that they forget how to do it themselves in a simple, more affordable way.

Get your creative juices going, and start off with some of these ideas, brought to you by AP9 PassportToFun:

Board Game Day:

Any rainy Saturday or Sunday afternoon is ideal for playing lots of board games. Place three different games on three different corners of the house. Start early, and kick things off with some milk and cookies to get everyone excited. Go to the living room, and put a puzzle together as a start, then play Pictionary or Scrabble in the kitchen, and for the finale, let the kids rule in the Beat the Parents Family Trivia Game.

Write a play ... and act it out!:

Role-playing is one activity that everyone enjoys, and kids actually learn a lot by role-playing. It's a perfect activity when relatives are visiting -- the more people involved, the merrier. Split the whole family in two groups, then act the plays just like Broadway professionals. Let each group invent the argument of the play, or use a theme, such as: "Mom and Dad's wedding day" or "life when grandma and grandpa were kids," etc.

Free Day to Learn:

The major expense for this idea might be gas. Schedule a family outing to a nearby museum on a day when admission is free. (Many galleries, museums, zoos and aquariums have a special day of the week when admission is either discounted or free.) Seize the chance to take the whole family, and make it a fun and learning day. Pack sandwiches and refreshments to keep costs to a minimum.

Show and Tell:

Reverse the roles, and make the kids the spectators. Include aunts and uncles, Grandma, Grandpa, other relatives, or even neighbors specially invited for the occasion. Adults can make it fun for kids if they tell funny stories or tales of their youth or times when their parents were little. Use pictures or homemade movies to make your presentation more enticing.

When it comes to quality time with loved ones, money isn't important. With ideas like the ones included here and many more you can plan together, family recreation won't push you into bankruptcy, reports Passport to Fun.