Author Archives: schatzi

Whitewater Rafting Trips

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There is a wide array of whitewater rafting trips to choose from. Some of the attractive tourist destinations are the Merced, Tolumne and American rivers in Central California, the Ocoee in Tennessee Valley, the New and Gauley rivers in West Virginia, the Kennebec and Dead in Maine, San Juan, Yampa and Green in Utah, the Snake and Salmon Rivers in Idaho and the Colorado River flowing through the Grand Canyon.

The peak season begins in April and continues until the end of October. A half day trip in California could cost around $100 and a 2-day trip is likely to cost around $300. An 8- to 13-day trip to the Grand Canyon could cost anywhere from $2000 $3000 respectively. Some places have different rates for weekdays and weekends, with the prices for weekends being higher. Some even offer packages based on your expertise and familiarity with the sport.

Each rafting group has its own pricing policy and duration for a trip, so interested vacationers should research the organization’s web sites for specific details. Most places offer discounts when reservations are made for large groups. It is advisable to watch for special packages and make reservations well in advance. Most destinations provide arrangements for other recreational activities like hiking, biking, fishing and even golf. They aim to provide an environment of wholesome entertainment.

It is advisable to travel light for these trips. Extra T-shirts are a good idea in case of emergency and a wet suit might definitely come in handy. It is also a good idea to carry a first aid kit in case of emergencies.

Social Marketing Ideas For the Travel Business

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Travel agents, or anyone involved in associated businesses, have recently been handed a gift on a golden platter: online social networking. The travel business has long been driven by good word of mouth and similar forms of personal interaction. Facebook, Twitter, and the many other new venues raise those methods – and their benefits – to new heights.

In days past, travel agencies relied chiefly on newspaper ads and the recommendations of a relatively small network of existing customers. The old “she tells two people, and they tell two people, making four, sixteen…” and so forth, could really only go so far. The problem is that the threads of the ‘people web’ got broken in too many places, crippling the spread.

Today, that amplification effect is, well, amplified many times over. There are millions of people on MySpace, Facebook, and the rest. That ups the odds quite a bit that word of mouth will continue in one direction, even if it stops in another.

Facebook is an excellent example. Create a Facebook Business Page that perform multiple tasks for you and you’ll soon see. You have an opportunity to “soft sell” your travel business in myriad ways. Here are just a few…

The travel business frequently offers advice on places to go, things to do. But it’s easy for travelers to get information overload. It’s like drinking from a firehose. The travel agent provides a service by sifting through that gold mine, panning for the gold and discarding the stones.

Using Facebook, it’s possible to become the go-to guru in your niche. Announce a series of online seminars. Think about using sites like BlogTalkRadio to do a weekly travel show and post your upcoming topics on your Wall. Create some audios and direct your potential customers to a place they can learn how to get the most out of travel at the least cost or hassle. Use your ‘Wall’ in your Page to post great photos, newsfeeds, and links to articles from a variety of travel experts (including you, of course).

You could let them in on the secrets experienced travelers know about how to find the cleanest, safest hotels. You can direct them to helpful information on relatively quiet hostels. Fill them in on places that offer the best opportunities for getting to know an international crowd.

Twitter offers still more chances to target your audience and create a unique brand in double-quick time.

Since the travel business is filled with exciting one-time events, you have a golden opportunity to pass them on to your followers in real-time. That gets the buzz going in your direction. No need to pump it with a hard sell. This is one place where “build it and they’ll come” really works.

You can provide wary travelers with lots of advice on places to avoid in otherwise exciting and desirable countries like Mexico or Egypt. Such places sometimes get an undeserved bad reputation as countries to skip, when there are really only a few easy-to-bypass cities or regions that are risky.

The travel business is, maybe not quite unique, but certainly distinctive in depending so strongly on trust. You gain your customer’s trust by providing reliable information on places to go and how to get there. The casual, friendly nature of the travel business syncs perfectly with Twitter for building that trust.

Extend that genial atmosphere as you share your personal passion for travel. All kinds of people travel with all kinds of interests. Share some of your other passions besides travel and you’ll find they’ll become inclined to come to you first for all things travel related, too. Let them get to know you in multiple ways.

Lucky for you, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, and all the rest make it simple to expand “them” to include millions.Both Facebook Pages and Twitter are where you can –

  • Build a community surrounding your business and gain extra exposure
  • Inform visitors of what’s going on in the travel industry. Where are the HOT vacation spots? Where are the best destinations for the deepest deals?
  • Ask fans for input and comments about their vacationing experiences. What have been the most exotic, the most kid-friendly, the most historic, the scariest, the most eco-friendly. This list could go on and on.
  • Create contests and special offers
  • Get a little crazy and creative – loosen up and have a bit of fun
  • You could provide valuable information for those that want to do a road trip with their children and/or pets. Hotels that have special amenities for kids and pets are a huge hit with this crowd. Even if you don’t know much of the information yourself, I’ll bet you know of websites you could link to in Twitter and on your Facebook Page. Remember, you don’t have to be the one creating all the content yourself, but that doesn’t mean you will not be providing extreme value when pointing your visitors in the right direction.
  • Announce your newest or best services
  • In this economy, extensive travel to exotic places may be out of reach for many. What if you do a series of posts dedicated to “staycationers”. Provide ideas on ways budget travelers can pamper themselves.
  • What about other related topics your audience is interested in? Could you provide information for them about: packing tips, pet boarding tips and alternatives, travel games, house-sitting resources and related information, trip planning and how/when to start saving for the big trip, eating do’s and don’t s while you’re traveling – and related information. I’ll bet there is a light beginning to shine above your head right about now, right?
  • Upload your videos and pictures of hot vacation spots, near and far. Encourage your Facebook fans to upload their funniest vacation picture and have people vote on it. Pictures and videos will be your best friend. We all like to dream about taking great vacations. Help your visitors realize that dream.

Fast Weight Loss Tips – 2 Fast Weight Loss Tips That Work

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I can tell you are skeptic, especially about the headline of this write-up!

I can tell that deep at the back of your head, you’re thinking that I’m just another guy who’s giving away fast weight loss tips which is nearly impossible to get rolling!

Perhaps you’ve stumbled upon a lot of fast weight loss tips articles or reports – all of them sounded impressive and convincing only to see that they are hard as hell to get started with.

BUT hey! You’re still reading and that says A LOT about what you’re thinking.

Deep down you still believe that there exists a fast weight loss tip that when you get your hands on would take you to the true path of losing weight quickly!

Not to mention you no longer have to bear with your neighbors and relatives taunts when they see those dangling fats.

Then this brief and hype-free article is for YOU!

If you’re sick and tired of your beer belly, looking at the mirror, and all of the fast weight loss tips that deliver nothing but empty promises, the time-tested and practical tips here will be a breathe of fresh air for you!

Fast Weight Loss Tip 1

There’s ONLY one thing you MUST change to start shedding unwanted pounds!

Simply cut down your carbohydrate cravings and intake!

And by that we mean dropping sweets, sugar-dense foods, sodas, beer, and other fast and junk foods. Their simple carbohydrates will settle in and accumulate in your body as fat…making the process of losing weight 10x harder.

Instead, get high on complex carbs. You can find complex carbs in almost every vegetable and fruit. These form of carbs don’t get converted to fat immediately which means lesser and slowe weight gain for you.

Fast Weight Loss Tip 2

Combine the first tip with moving your body a bit and you’ll see nearly miraculous results.

Talk a walk to work and set about 15-20 minutes a day to do some flexing and exercise. Better yet, take a sport or even martial art you’re interested in and practice or pursue them.

That would serve as a very good exercise to shed off some pounds through sweating.

A Fast Weight Loss Tip About Supplements

If you’re planning to take something while doing the above fast weight loss tips, settle for supplements that are protein, vitamins, and mineral-rich – they’re extremely helpful in keeping you healthy.

On the other hand, drop any thought about taking diet pills – they’re a waste of time and money

Did that seem very difficult?

NO! So start applying these fast weight loss tips and be a step closer to fitter and healthier you!

Restaurant Equipment For Appearance and Durability

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So you are getting ready to open up your own restaurant – where do you begin to figure out what you need? Going to a one stop shop like an online retailer is a great place to start. They tend to have just about every piece of restaurant equipment that you need to get started.

Starting with the major appliances, you must have a good refrigeration system, freezers and ice machines. An important part of restaurant equipment is the dishwasher. Prep and working tables along with large kitchen sinks are all must have restaurant equipment.

There are so many vital elements that make up comprehensive restaurant equipment. Having the right equipment for your individual needs is the key. You shouldn’t have to purchase a piece of equipment that is too larger or is too small to meet your requirements.

Quality is key in picking out your restaurant equipment. It generally becomes a pay me now or pay me later situation when deciding how much to spend on certain equipment for your restaurant, bistro or pub. But in the long run you will save both time and money if you look at the purchase of restaurant equipment as an investment in the future of your business.

Having the right prep table makes your chef’s job as well as the line cook’s jobs a lot easier. And having all of the right tools help them be able to prep faster and more efficiently cutting both your employee costs and food costs. Quality knives, the right ovens, fryers and microwaves and the added extras that help make running a restaurant a little bit easier can all be found in a good restaurant equipment store.

Unique equipment is also available at a full service restaurant equipment supplier. Things like waterbaths, pasta boilers, chargrills, barbecues, crepe makes, doughnut fryers and waffle makers may not be for everyone. But if you are setting up a breakfast buffet, a waffle maker is going to be an important part of your restaurant equipment.

If you are a caterer, you will be more focused on items such as catering toasters, contact grills and crepe makers may be in line with what you need to effectively handle your catering event. Maybe an on site catering job will require the use of a tabletop fryer or charcoal or gas grill equipment.

Once you have all of the key equipment – refrigeration, ovens, prep tables – you begin to focus on the front of the house. Your table linens, plates, glassware, barware and additional accessories are the finishing touches that bring the whole thing together. Your choice of catering crockery is important in several ways. It must be appealing to the eye, yet stand up to rigorous use.

There are durable classic styled pieces that are no frills but can stand the test of time. And then there are durable yet stunning looking fine china pieces that are fancy enough to go on tables in the finest restaurants yet can take the wear and tear that comes from serving hundreds of people on a daily basis.