Archive for October, 2008
The Most Common Risks That are Covered by Travel Insurance
Travel insurance can usually be arranged at the time of booking of a trip to cover exactly the duration of that trip or a more extensive, continuous insurance can be purchased from (most often) travel agents, travel insurance companies or directly from travel suppliers such as cruiselines or tour operators.
Travel insurance often offers coverage for a variety of travelers. Student travel, business travel, leisure travel, adventure travel, cruise travel, and international travel are all various options that can be insured.
The most common risks that are covered by travel insurance are:
• Cancellation
• Curtailment
• Delayed departure
• Loss, theft or damage to personal possessions and money (including travel documents)
• Delayed baggage (and emergency replacement of essential items)
• Medical expenses
• Emergency evacuation/repatriation
• Overseas funeral expenses
• Accidental death, injury or disablement benefit
• Legal assistance
• Personal liability and rental car damage excess
Some travel policies will also provide cover for additional costs, although these vary widely between providers.
And in addition, often separate insurance can be purchased for specific costs such as:
• high risk sports
• travel to high risk countries
• pre-existing medical conditions
Travel insurance can also provide helpful services, often 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that can include concierge services and emergency travel assistance.
www.travelinsuregenie.com
By: Shahid Mahmood
About the Author:
Shahid Mahmood
Travel Insure Genie
http://www.travelinsuregenie.com
GadgetAdvisor.com Launches Featuring Top Technology News Chosen Daily
GadgetAdvisor.com Launches Featuring Top Technology News Chosen Daily
Fast-growing new web site, GadgetAdvisor.com, presents only the top news in technology, gadgets, computer software, and computer hardware.
GadgetAdvisor.com (http://www.gadgetadvisor.com) is quickly becoming a top site for technology news. The recently launched web site is loaded with hand-selected electronics stories relating to computer software, computer hardware, and gadgets, chosen to reflect the most significant, useful or particularly cool. No more scrolling through page after page of uninteresting or minor update items. GadgetAdvisor.com presents only the top technology news in an attractive, easy to read interface.
“People looking for the latest in technology, whether computer software, computer hardware or gadgets, should make GadgetAdvisor.com their first stop,” said Chris Hoffman, spokesperson for GadgetAdvisor.com.
Grouped into separate sections for gadgets, tech news, computer software, computer hardware as well as feature articles, readers can quickly and easily find technology news of interest and unbiased reviews on a whole range of products.
Reading the latest technology news on GadgetAdvisor.com is designed to be social, not solitary. Each entry is tagged so users can quickly find related topics. A ‘share this’ option makes it easy to post individual entries to a range of sharing and bookmarking sites, and to create trackbacks so readers can blog about stories as well. The site is available as an RSS feed, meaning readers can be the first to know when GadgetAdvisor.com has something new. And handy tools let readers track down technology news stories according to which is most popular and which is generating the most buzz.
Find unbiased reviews of computer software, computer hardware or gadgets, and the tech news that matters with no bias or fluff at GadgedAdvisor.com.
About GadgetAdvisor.com
GadgetAdvisor.com provides technology news and unbiased opinions about a range of computer software, computer hardware and gadgets. News is picked to reflect what people are actually interested in. The site is operated by Mystik Media, a leader in graphics and multimedia software solutions, as well as web sites for free online games, interesting facts, and much more.
Contact:
Chris Hoffman
Mystik Media
910-270-5251
info@gadgetadvisor.com
LIBOR could indicate mortgage market recovery
LIBOR could indicate mortgage market recovery
Responding to the news that LIBOR fell on Wednesday following the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Swiss National Bank’s $254 billion (£145.7 billion) injection into the wholesale funding markets, financial solutions company Think Money (http://www.thinkmoney.com/) commented that this could mark the start of a recovery in the mortgages and loans market, so long as the conditions remain in place for lenders to continue to do business.
Despite last week’s half-point base rate drop, which was aimed in part at encouraging lenders to offer lower interest rates on their mortgages and other credit products, three-month sterling LIBOR – the rate most banks base their mortgage rates on – has been slow to respond.
LIBOR reflects the willingness of financial institutions to lend money to each other – and therefore the amount of cash flow in the industry. As such, it affects the levels of loans, mortgages and other forms of credit they are willing to offer to consumers. In short, the higher the LIBOR is, the more expensive it is to obtain the funds necessary for lending.
But on Wednesday, LIBOR fell from 6.249% to 6.21%, following around four weeks of continuous rises - not a huge drop, but one that could indicate that banks may be becoming more inclined to lend to each other, following the first cash injections from the Government’s bailout scheme.
A spokesperson for Think Money said: “This is a small but encouraging sign that the mortgage market may be on its way to improved levels of lending. What’s more, it’s evidence that the first stage of the Government’s bailout scheme may be working, which is good news for the economy in general.
“The main obstacle to mortgage lending over the past year has been lenders’ unwillingness to take risks. That’s the main factor behind the short supply of mortgages on the market, and the reason banks weren’t lending to each other, hence the high LIBOR.
“The aim of the bank bailout is to artificially increase cash flow within the financial markets, which should then give lenders an incentive to start doing more business with each other and with consumers – and it would appear that it has worked, for the time being at least.
“What we will now be looking out for is whether the LIBOR will continue to fall, and by how much. If it can drop to a figure somewhere near the 4.5% base rate, we may begin to see healthy levels of mortgage lending taking place once again. But the continued success of the banking bailout scheme will be central to ensuring this can occur.”
The spokesperson added that although market conditions are currently difficult, there are still plenty of mortgage deals available. “We haven’t seen a complete freeze in mortgage lending – just a tightening in lending criteria across the market. Lenders still need to be competitive to do business, so the deals are still very much there – it may just take longer to find the right deal.
“Despite the uncertainty in the housing market, now could be a good time for first-time buyers, since house prices are relatively low, and therefore mortgages are relatively cheap. If house prices do begin to rise again soon, it could prove to be a very good move financially.”
Useful Resources for editors:
Homepage: http://www.thinkmoney.com/
Mortgage page: http://www.thinkmoney.com/mortgage/
Remortgage page: http://www.thinkmoney.com/mortgage/remortgage.asp
BMW preview Concept X1
BMW proudly presents the new concept car, the BMW Concept X1 is the world’s first Sports Activity Vehicle in the premium compact segment.
Through its design alone, this new concept model clearly expresses all the strengths and qualities of such a vehicle; the BMW Concept X1 exudes a strong touch of agility and versatility in its driving qualities. At the same time the concept car clearly reveals the stylish elegance of this five-door as well as its modern function.
BMW is catering for the demands of a customer in search of an up-to-date automobile meeting both the challenges of everyday traffic and the personal needs of many purchasers for an active lifestyle and a versatile driving experience. The BMW Concept X1 expresses that very special sheer driving pleasure so typical in this unique form of a BMW X model combined with a high standard of all-round functionality. So now these qualities are for the first time being carried over to a vehicle in the premium compact segment.
Description in Brief
• World debut of a concept BMW X model in the premium compact segment.
• BMW, the founder of the Sports Activity Vehicle segment, is consistently expanding the range of BMW X models.
• Authentic transition of the features and design language typical of a BMW X model into a new class of vehicles. A concept study offering a clear expression of modern style, agility, versatility and premium quality through its design alone.
• As an innovative vehicle concept in the premium compact segment, the BMW Concept X1 sets the standard for cool elegance, modern style, and variable function.
• The BMW Concept X1 offers ample room for spontaneous mobility in many different ways, clearly reflecting the lifestyle of a modern and active customer. Numerous details on the concept car provide a clear hint as to the actual production of an appropriate series model within one year.
Exterior Design Features
• Typical features of a BMW X model combined with elegant, sleek proportions. This alone gives the BMW Concept X1 unique character within the range of BMW X models as a whole.
• The striking frontal view clearly expresses the robust and powerful character of the car by emphasising its sheer width. A floor protection element finished in a different colour gives additional emphasis to the wide track.
• The BMW Concept X1 comes with dual round headlights cut off at the top in the typical style of the BMW brand, complete with a white-coloured horizontal cover at the top edge. The position of the headlights and foglamps brings back the three-eye face of other BMW X models.
• Six contour lines and the three-dimensional shape define the surface design of the engine compartment lid emanating a strong feeling of dynamic performance. The inner lines taper out sharply to the front towards the BMW kidney grille. The outer lines continue into the shoulder contours at the side.
• With its centre of gravity visibly positioned right in the middle of the concept car, the small distance between the front axle and the steering wheel, and the almost square contours of the wheel cutouts, the side view of the BMW Concept X1 draws a clear parallel to other BMW X models. Black body surrounds made of a special, robust synthetic material highlight the clear orientation towards the wheels. The sturdy, silver-coloured roof railing extends far to the rear, determining the course of the roofline together with the spoiler at the back.
• Characteristic rear end with L-shaped rear light clusters ensuring a homogeneous light effect thanks to LED light tubes. Raked to a low angle, the rear window gives the BMW Concept X1 a truly sporting touch, the horizontal lines emphasising the sheer width of the vehicle.
Premier Inn’s £500,000 Night Out!
Premier Inn’s £500,000 Night Out!
Paul Flaum and Gerard Tempest give to Hospitality ActionPremier Inn, the UK’s largest and fastest growing hotel chain, and part of Whitbread PLC, has donated £500,000 to Hospitality Action at their annual fundraising ball - the largest single donation received by the charity for many years.
Premier Inn chose Hospitality Action (HA) as their designated charity in 2007, and £500,000 was raised from fundraising events across all Premier Inn sites such as the ‘Purple Hair Day’ where all staff members wore purple wigs and took part in a range of fundraising activities. Other Premier Inn sites also made their own contributions, including sponsored walks, car washes and supermarket bag packs.
In recognition of this huge accomplishment, Premier Inn were presented with HA’s President’s award for the second year running. Paul Flaum and Gerard Tempest from Premier Inn stepped up to collect the award and present the cheque for £500,000. In true Premier Inn style, they topped off their Dinner Jackets with purple wigs!
Hospitality Action is the dedicated UK based benevolent organisation that offers vital employee assistance to the 2 million plus people who work in the hospitality industry through its unique life support programme. The charity receives no government funding and is supported entirely by donations and fundraising activities.
Penny Moore, chief executive of Hospitality Action said: ‘We are thrilled with the donation from Premier Inn, it is the largest donation we have received in recent years and the money will benefit many people. We would like to thank Premier Inn and all its employees, all of who have put in so much effort to raise the money.’
Paul Flaum, Chief Operations Officer for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, said: ‘Hospitality Action was chosen as our charity as it provides essential support and hope to those who need it in our industry. After months of determination and hard work we are proud to have raised this money for Hospitality Action - to be able to give something back to those in need within the hospitality industry is fantastic.”
ENDS
About Premier Inn - Premier Inn is the UK’s largest and fastest-growing hotel brand with over 550 budget hotels and more than 38,000 rooms across the UK. Premier Inn bedrooms are 22m² and feature en-suite bathroom, TV, and internet access for business guests. Premier Inn offers customers a ‘Good Night Guarantee’ of a good quality room, comfortable surroundings and friendly service, which is unique amongst Britain’s leading hotel chains.
Premier Inn was the first Britain-wide hotel group to sign up with national tourist board VisitBritain; this means Premier Inn is now part of a new quality assessment scheme, specially created for budget accommodation.
A joint venture with Emirates has seen the Premier Inn brand develop in the Gulf region, with its first budget hotel in Dubai in Spring 2008. Premier Inn also has a joint venture with Emar-MGF to roll out 80 budget hotels in India by 2017. On a domestic front, Premier Inn is set to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London by the time of the 2012 Olympics.
www.premierinn.com
Zoom LeBron VI by Nike
BEAVERTON, Ore. (October 29, 2008) – As LeBron James proved in a Gold Medal campaign this past summer in Beijing, he is a basketball player who can do it all and he requires a performance shoe that can keep up with his demanding game.
The Zoom LeBron VI shoe, the most versatile LeBron signature shoe from Nike and James, will be introduced at retail on Friday, October 31, in the U.S. and Asia Pacific. It will be available in Europe and Canada beginning January 2009.
The Zoom LeBron VI performance basketball shoe represents the essence of LeBron James: team, toughness, passion and vision. James worked with Nike designer Ken Link to create a shoe that meets his performance needs and the needs of players with a powerful, dynamic style of play. The Zoom LeBron VI not only has a full-length Zoom Air unit in the mid-sole for the ultimate responsive ride, but also has a Zoom Air unit double-stacked in the heel. The cushioning system helps the forefoot for transition when jumping. Deep sipes in the shoe allow for natural motion, which means the shoe works with the athlete’s movement, rather than against it.
The shoe’s collar has been engineered with a wider opening so it’s easier to slip on and wear while maintaining a full-length fit feel. On the collar, graffiti art highlights LeBron’s mantras—passion, family, winning, fearless and vision.
Integrated marketing and communication support for the introduction of the Zoom LeBron VI varies by global region and includes print, digital, out-of-home and broadcast advertising in addition to public relations.
Print imagery capturing James leaping over players wearing the previous five iterations of his signature footwear and labeled “The Six”, will run in prominent sports and vertical basketball publications and as out-of-home in the U.S. region.
Nikebasketball.com has created content that provides an in-depth view of LeBron’s signature product.
The U.S. television spot, dubbed “Chalk”, draws its inspiration from LeBron’s pregame ritual of tossing talcum powder into the air at the scorers’ table before each home and away game. The 15-second “Chalk” will air over the first few days of the NBA season during nationally televised games.
Asia Pacific captures the unstoppable nature of LeBron James in a series of broadcast spots dubbed “Bring Everything” (30-seconds) and “Try to Stop Me” (30-seconds). The spots are scheduled to begin airing November 1.
Suggestions for Booking Cheap Flights Online
Start by planning your vacation or business trip with flexibility in mind. Whether you book online or offline, you can usually save money if you travel on days when other people are not traveling. That means that the least expensive days to fly will almost always be Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. The exception to this rule is if there is a holiday on one of those days. Flights are always more expensive around holidays when people typically travel to visit their families.
Booking a cheap flight online is all about price comparison. Online travel agencies and other sites let you see the prices before you book. Be careful to note the prices as quickly as possible and, if it is included, check out how many seats are left at the quoted price. This is not a ploy by either the sites or the airlines to get you to buy. Most websites have a certain number of tickets, and if you do not book your flight quickly, you could miss out on a deal. Some websites have a time limit as to when your offer will expire, and the deal may still be available if you search for a flight the next day, or the price might be higher. That is a risk you take when you do not book immediately.
Once you have seen the prices available through the travel websites, you should have a good idea which airlines run routes between your point of origin and your destinations. You can then go to the airlines’ websites and check on flight tickets directly from them. In many cases you can actually save money this way because you will not have to pay booking fees to work through a third party. Some airlines do not have online ticket purchasing options, so you may have to call them to find out about prices for flights. Do not overlook this option, though, especially if you are flying overseas or have very flexible dates. You could save hundreds of dollars.
You can also attempt to bid on flight prices; however this effort usually yields a price that is close to most competitors. With this service, you choose the destination, the number of layovers you are willing to include, and your dates of travel. Then, you enter the amount you are willing to pay for the ticket.
There are opportunities; however, you can find a flight at a lower price than the listed flight on the site. The downside here is that once you enter your bid, you are committing to pay for it if the flight is available. They’ll tell you within a few minutes if your price was accepted, and your credit card will be charged. So, you should only use this option if you’re absolutely certain you want to book a flight. This works best when you need to book a flight at the last minute, since airports lower the bid amounts they’ll accept if they want to fill seats.
Sometimes, online travel websites run specials where you can enter a coupon code to get a cheaper flight when you book between certain dates. Other sites may also run specials where you can save money on a future flight if you sign up for a membership with them. Be wary of any site where you have to pay a monthly fee to be a member. Your credit card will most likely be automatically charged every month, and you may have to wait six months or more before you qualify for your discount. In the end, this could end up costing you money unless you were going to pay for the service anyway. If you do sign up for a membership service, make sure you remember to call and cancel as soon as you get your discount.
You can also sometimes find coupon codes online. Use your favorite search engine website to look for the name of a travel site and “discount” or “coupon.” The availability of coupons and other discounts changes daily in most cases, and they aren’t always available, but it is worth a shot. Be aware, at least, that these deals are out there if you’re willing to look for them. In general, booking a cheap flight online isn’t as hard as you may think. Certain destinations will always been expensive, but if you take the time to research your options, you could save a lot of money.
By: Suzanne Bradley
About the Author:
Suzanne Bradley is a freelance writer who writes about the travel industry discussing tips and offering suggestions about working with a travel agency.
Enjoy the Luxury of an Executive Car Hire
Why not think about an executive car hire for your next holiday. The majority of people still only have one holiday a year, so how about making it extra special by treating yourself to something more luxurious than usual? Whether you are staying in the most expensive hotel, or hiring a villa by the sea, it’s still very handy to have your very executive car hire, so that you are not having to rely on local transport, an executive car hire would be the ideal solution.
Executive car hire can be arranged very easily through our online search engine. All you need to do is to enter all your details, date and place of arrival and the location where you would like to collect the car and the site will do the rest. It will do a comprehensive search through a number of companies and come up with the best deals, which will save you having to go from one website to another. Once the search is completed, you will have a variety of executive cars for hire to choose from at very competitive prices.
You can then make your choice, reserve and pay for the car online and it will then be ready and waiting for you when you arrive at your destination. No forms to be filled out, as it will all have been done. If you prefer, you can arrange for your executive car to be delivered to you at your accommodation. Some companies will even arrange for your very own chauffeur, for that extra bit of luxury.
If you are not staying in one location, it will be possible to collect the car on arrival and then drop it off elsewhere, if this is more convenient. Executive car hire gives you that extra freedom of being able to fully explore the surrounding area and further a field, instead of having to spend your entire holiday in one place. An executive car hire will allow you to explore and there are still many towns and villages that have remained free from mass tourism, which may not be conveniently reached by public transport.
It may cost you a little more to arrange executive car hire, but by doing your homework and booking early, there are some good deals to be had. We would recommend reserving your executive car as soon as your flights and accommodation have been booked, as you will often find the prices more competitive, the earlier you book.
If you are not able to drive a top of the range car every day, give yourself a treat and explore the executive car hire options available through our website. It may not be as expensive as you think and it will give your holiday in Spain a real lift. Before you know, it you could be showing off in a Mercedes SLK as you pull up outside your favourite luxury villa, or arriving with your friends at one of the many great golf courses in a BMW 5 series. Take a look today to see what your options are for executive car hire. Give yourself a treat. You deserve it!
By: Michael J Lee
About the Author:
Where To Find The Best Low Cost Car Hire
Remember when looking for low car hire on the internet you will need to select your vehicle and put in some additional information such as the dates you would like to pick the car and a preferred destination in Spain. You will need to make some comparisons with lots of other low cost car hire companies who are advertising their low cost cars that are available in Spain. When you have found a company which offers low cost car hire that looks attractive and is highly competitive do not forget to put it in your favourites on your computer. This is for reference purposes as you may wish to go back to it again at a later stage to either confirm the booking or to book low cost car hire again at another time.
Low cost car hire is subject to availability and as such availability and prices will be changing constantly so it is very important that you can find this information again easily on your computer. It may take some time initially to research to find the best deal but it will be worth it when you are satisfied that you have found the lowest cost car hire in Spain around.
Ask family and friends if they can recommend a particular company which they made have used to obtain low cost car hire as personal recommendations are always good to have. They will be able to confirm that the company are efficient and professional and that there prices are low cost.
Low cost car hire does not mean you have to compromise on the type of vehicle. Many companies can offer many models at low cost simply because they have a large fleet of them and they can afford to be very competitive. Do not be suspicious if the price seems to be too good to be true for low cost car hire.
Low cost car hire does not mean cheap and nasty. You may be lucky and find that a certain vehicle is on offer at a special discounted price just at the moment when you make your request for a quotation.
Many low cost car hire companies will offer to upgrade your booking after you have initially booked. Customer satisfaction is of paramount importance to all low cost car hire companies and if a vehicle is sitting idle they will gladly offer this to you at your original low cost price.
So remember that the most important point to remember is to shop around on the internet under the heading low cost car hire in Spain or if you are heading to a specific destination then just type in low cost car hire in Madrid for example and you will find some great deals at great low cost car hire prices.
By: Michael J Lee
About the Author:
Car Video Screen sales on the up
Car Video Screen sales on the up
In-dash car video screen sales are on the up with sales increasing two-fold over the last twelve months alone. Experts claim that demand for in car entertainment continues to rocket despite the impending global recession.
In car entertainment such as in car video screens (also known as “car indash LCD” and “car LCD screens”) are popular with motoring enthusiasts and vehicle customizers who install the systems to their own and client’s specifications.
The car modification and cutomization market also continues to grow as consumers look to make the most of their existing vehicles, possibly due to reduced access to car finance.
Leaders in the car video screen markets such as Pioneer electronics and Jensen electronics are leading the way in in-dash entertainment, developing and releasing new models at unbelievable rates.
The boom in interest in the car LCD screen market has sprung a number of online specialists providing a range of advice, sales and service on leading brands.
One leading car video screen supplier has launched niche online store www.carvideoscreen.com, offering consumers a complete range of in car entertainment systems from leading brands such as Pioneer, Jensen & Legacy.
The site offers a complete range of in car entertainment systems including alarm systems, specialist speaker systems, amplifiers and flip down screens. However, it’s the indash LCD screens that continue to spark demand with numerous models back ordered up to 3 months in advance.
Recession or no recession, it seems that the car video screen market is still going strong!
Notes to the Editor:
For more information on car video screens, car indash LCD & car LCD screens please visit www.carvideoscreen.com
CarVideoScreen.com offers car video screens such as LCD monitors, in-dash screens, headrest monitors and other car stereo products at wholesale prices. Choose from name brand or reliable alternative LCD screens.
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