I use Venere.com for accomodations here in Italy: http://www.venere.com/hotels/italy/ . It allows you to sort by price and has reviews by actual past guests.

The train website is here: http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/homepage_en.html . Note that there are family fares on some routes depending on the ages and various promotions are available. There are also discounts of up to 30% on the fast trains for early purchase of tickets. However, with that many people, it is likely to be more economical to rent a van. You might find this site useful for driving directions & times: http://www.viamichelin.com/ . It will also give you an estimate of tolls and fuel costs.

Airfares aren’t cheap and depend on where you’re coming from and exactly where you want to go. Try sites like: http://www.skyscanner.it/ for budget flights or http://www.kayak.com/ or http://www.expedia.com/

With respect to food, you can save some by shopping in the local markets and making your own sandwiches, etc. Generally, you can find a panino or pizza by the slice for 4 to 6 euro though or a pizza will run 8 to 13 euro. By the way, 1 pizza = 1 person typically here, but you can share if you carry out. Restaurants post menus and you can check them while you’re out exploring to find places that meet your tastes and budget. Look for local festivals and particularly Sagre - they feature local specialties and are usually a real bargain. There’s one in the town where I live that features maccheroni where the food is a couple of euro - until a couple of years ago, it was free.

Such an emotional time for everyone.

You can read it for free there. Very interesting book.

When a loved one passes away there are a variety of different ways and methods that people use to memorialize those they have lost. Many erect monuments or headstones to commemorate their loved ones while others choose cremation and present the ashes of their loved one in a beautiful urn. Everlasting Memories has a beautiful collection of cremation urns that will properly honor or pay tribute to those that have passed away and make a lovely presentation for their loved ones left behind. The urns are available in a large variety of materials and many can be customized with engraving or brass or silver plates.

Individual urns are designed to hold the cremated ashes of one person and average approximately a 205 cubic inch capacity. An individual cremation urn typically has a bottom opening panel that attaches with screws or a top opening hinged lid. For those individual urns with a stopper type opening, Everlasting Memories recommends applying a small amount of epoxy to the outer inside rim of the stopper before inserting into the opening. Individual urns make a wonderful resting place for the cremated ashes of a loved one and are designed to be displayed. There are various cremation urns, though, that are meant to hold the ashes of one individual and then can be buried.

Everlasting Memories has a wide and varied display of individual cremation urns. Several of their hardwood individual urns are made to order and can be selected in cherry, oak, maple purple heart and walnut. This allows their customers to customize their urn selection to their own personal taste or décor or reflect a type of wood that their loved one had a fondness for. Many of their hardwood urns include a lining on the interior of the cremation urn. This extra added touch shows that Everlasting Memories is really taking to heart the concerns of their customers and doing all they can to provide a comfortable and inviting resting place for the memory and cremated ashes of loved ones.

Marble urns are a wonderful alternative to hardwood as they are versatile and beautiful. Marble urns are available in different shapes and sizes and are generally buffed to a high gloss and a pearly finish. Everlasting Memories has a lovely display of marble urns that are versatile and that will cradle the remains of one individual. Many of their marble urns come in a medley of different colored marble and range in shape from cylindrical to rectangular to square. Brass accents are a brilliant contrast to the rich colors and textures and Everlasting Memories doesn’t disappoint. They have one of the most complete online selections of marble cremation urns available.

Individual urns are not the only type of urn on the market. Companion urns are very popular as they give couples and families the option of having their ashes stay together for eternity. Companion urns are suitable for those that have lost a spouse and want a resting place that will accommodate their own ashes in the future. For those that have experienced a multi family member tragedy, companion urns would be a terrific and loving tribute to those that they have lost. Companion urns are a specialty of Everlasting Memories and they have a superb selection of companion urns that will hold the cremated ashes of two individuals.

Adding a touch of personalization to your individual or companion urn makes for a complete dedication to your loved one. Most urns will accommodate a brass appliqué or plaque and some cremation urns that are crafted of brass, stainless steel or other metals can be engraved on the actual surface of the urn. Everlasting Memories offers many of their individual and companion cremation urns with the option of one or two engraved plaques.

Honoring your loved one with an individual cremation urn is a true dedication to their spirit and the joy they added to your life. For those that like the idea of being with their loved one forever, a beautiful companion cremation urn would be the road to go. Everlasting Memories offers a complete selection of individual and companion cremation urns that will stunningly display your devotion your loved one that has passed.

sumeetha Gowda
http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/create-a-loving-resting-place-with-individual-and-companion-cremation-urns-700845.html

Travel insurance is essential for every trip, no matter how long your getaway or how far you plan to travel. But if you’re like countless travellers out there, thinking about and actually sorting your travel insurance arrangements is not at the top of your to-do list - primarily because it’s not the most exciting thing to think about with regard to your travels. Nevertheless, travel insurance is important and you should make time to arrange cover well before your date of departure.

But, as if it weren’t hard enough to consider insurance for individual, once-a-year holidays, frequent travellers need to think about cover all the time. And if destinations vary greatly, getting a suitable insurance policy for each place of travel can be time consuming, costly and confusing.

However, those who travel frequently throughout the year have a better option than to secure seperate policies for each trip. The answer is in <a href=”http://uk.insurancewide.com/insurance/travel/”>annual travel insurance</a> - a product that combines comprehensive cover, convenience and value, all under one policy.

Annual travel insurance policies will often cover travellers for an unlimited number of trips within the span of twelve months. However, you might find that insurers will place a limit on how many days a singe trip can last - so if you tend to take extended trips, you’ll want to look out for this restriction. Some policies will also include a limited number of days’ cover for winter sport activities, such as skiing and snowboarding, at minimal or no extra charge. However, not all insurers will offer this, so it’s essential to compare annual travel insurance policies before committing to any one product.

Another advantage to annual travel insurance is that buyers usually obtain better value by buying one policy that covers them for the entire year, rather than multiple policies for individual trips. Moreover, certain annual travel insurance policies will offer money-saving perks such as free cover for under-18s travelling with their family. No matter how you look at it, annual travel insurance ends up a better bargain for frequent travellers.

Generally, if you travel more than two times a year, an annual travel insurance policy will be of value to you, in terms of the money you’ll save. But it’s also a big time saver, as you won’t have to compare and secure policies for each and every trip you take - so you’ll have more time to think about and plan all the fun aspects of your trips.

Harvey McEwan
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/annual-travel-insurance-simplifying-cover-for-frequent-travellers-724908.html

The year was 1960. I’d just moved to Chicago and I would  have to spend Christmas alone, the first one ever away from my family. I’d bought gifts for everyone and packed them carefully into two big cartons and then dropped them off at the Railway Express office. I knew shipping by rail was slow, but since I was sending everything early, I knew it would all get there before Christmas.

I don’t remember now what the gifts were, but I do recall that each one was extra special that year.  As it turned out, I was able to get away after all, so I decided to drive home to Peoria and just show up at my parent’s front door and surprise everyone on Christmas Eve.

And they were surprised, but not as surprised as I was, or should I say, as stunned as I was to discover that the gifts had never arrived.  My reactions kept ricocheting between disbelief and disappointment, and then  . . I got mad, and the more I thought about it, the more unhinged I became until I was on the verge of a wild-eyed fit. My mother tried to calm me down. She didn’t care that the packages hadn’t arrived; she was just happy that I was home. That was more than enough for her. She kept saying, “Aw, don’t worry about it. They’ll probably deliver them in a couple days. Come on, let’s have some hot eggnog.”  My dad agreed.

Well, that wasn’t good enough for me. I said, “Get your coats, we’re going to the train station!” My dad said, “What? Why? There won’t be anybody down there on Christmas Eve.”  My mother said, “Oh, Sharon, you just got here. Let’s not worry about that now.”
 
But they both knew what sign I’d been born under and when the bullhead kicks in, there’s no stopping a Taurus. Besides, I could always smell an adventure in the making.

So, everybody bundled up and we headed for the far edge of town. Looking back now, I realize what good sports they’d always been . .  especially that night, letting me drag them out of the house on what must have seemed like a crazy wild goose chase.

My dad got into the swing of things right away. While we were driving he started reminiscing about the old same train station story he’d told us so many times—how once, years ago, he’d seen Nat King Cole. It was late at night and Cole and his musicians had just finished playing a gig in town and there they were, about to board the Rock Island Line and ride the rails back to Chicago. He said he remembered how tired they all looked . . . and kinda seedy and . . .  smokey, but that Cole had a big smile.

Yeah, they were probably higher than a kite, but I thought it best not to mention that. Why clutter his nice memories with details?  Besides, he said that every time he drove by the station after that, which wasn’t very often, he always thought about his one and only celebrity sighting.
 
I thought about my own memories of the Rock Island Line. They were the classic memories, the faint sound of a train whistle just as I was drifting off to sleep. . . it was a distant sound that seemed to be coming from somewhere way down the dark cinder alley behind our house.  On the flat prairie lands of Illinois, you could hear the sound for miles before it finally trailed off. It was the same comforting, but kind of lonely sound that poets and songwriters often write about.
 
We turned the corner and pulled into the train yard, and in the dim light of the street lamps we could see about a dozen or so freight cars lined up on the tracks…boxcars, they were called back in those days. The place looked pretty dark and deserted, until I noticed a little watchman’s hut on the far corner of the yard. And there was a light on.   
 
Now my dad was really enjoying himself.  Any old reason to be around trains. My mother had just come along for the ride and to make me happy, but she certainly didn’t have the slightest thoughts of actually finding the gifts I’d sent.
 
Somebody poked their head out of the hut.  I said, “Hey Look! Let’s go.”  We walked toward the hut and the skinny guy with a crewcut turned out to be somebody from my old high school.  I didn’t remember his name, but we vaguely recognized each other.
 
I explained my story, how I’d shipped two cartons from Chicago 10 days ago, and how they had never arrived, and how I’d come all the way down to spend Christmas with my family, and now the presents were missing—and that surely they must be here some place, probably in one of these box cars, so could I please, oh, please look through the cars and see if I could find them?
 
My mother gasped and looked at me with her mouth open as if it had just dawned on her why we were actually there. Yes, I was asking him to unlock each and every boxcar so I could climb in and dig around in the dark. But it seemed like a perfectly reasonable request to me. My dad just shook his head in disbelief, but he couldn’t stop grinning. And the young man seemed to be excited about the idea!
 
He got a flashlight and the two of us started going through the first car, stumbling over piles of cartons—cartons that probably contained Christmas presents that also hadn’t gotten delivered on time.  
 
My mother and dad stood outside peering through the sliding doors, breathing vapor into the cold night air. I’m sure she was also sucking air through her teeth at the thought of us inconveniencing this poor young man, the lone night watchman who had to work on Christmas Eve; the one who I could tell was having fun.
 
We had just started digging through the second car when I spotted our address on one of the cartons, and then on the other. I let out a squeal! It was Christmas miracle.  It seemed almost surreal, and yet, something about it seemed like the most natural thing to be happening.
 
I was so thrilled and so grateful.  He helped us put the cartons into the back seat and I handed him a big fat tip and as we pulled away, we were all wearing warm fuzzy smiles.  We got home, opened our gifts, laughed our heads off, and finally had that cup of hot eggnog.
 
My parents are part of my memories now, but if the guy from the boxcar is still around, I hope he can remember the night he became my Christmas hero.  
 

Sharon Rockey
http://www.articlesbase.com/holidays-articles/christmas-in-a-box-car-680387.html

Entertainment News! 1/19/10

Dexter

He said, “It’s nice to see colleagues and for me to show [people] I am doing fine. I had every intention of keeping it quiet, but because award shows were imminent, I had to make a statement.” Michael told the press that it was easier to talk about having cancer because he seems to be fighting the disease quite well. His doctor informed him that the cancer is already in remission.

Jeff Bridges

Speaking of the awards, what was up with Jeff Bridges? His acceptance speech was acceptable but it seemed like he was more than a little tipsy! Bridges won the Golden Globe for Best Actor for his work in the film Crazy Heart beating out George Clooney in Up in the Air as well as actors Morgan Freeman, Tobey Maguire and Colin Firth- Not too shabby. This is the first Golden Globe for the 60-year-old actor who has starred in many hit movies over the past three decades.

Ray J

I must admit that I’m a sucker for an off-the-wall reality/ “looking for love” show. I watch For the Love of Ray J because it’s suspenseful to see which woman will stay and which will be dumped. There are times when I hope for the woman’s sake that she does get sent home so she can move on to bigger and better things. I don’t watch this show the same way as I watch The Bachelor or The Bachelorette because I don’t take it as seriously.
Ray J doesn’t even seem like he cares that much about being involved in a serious relationship but it’s interesting anyhow. The contest is now down to the last three ladies now that Caliente has been sent home. MZ Berry, Luscious and Platinum are trying their best to become Ray J’s one and only. Who will win? It looks like Luscious might be quitting the show after being ridiculed by Ray J’s friends for having a fling in the past with someone they know and who could blame her. Platinum might be the true match for Ray J but she also still might have feelings for her ex. Will he take on a relationship with Platinum and hope her feelings are replaced for her “love” for him or will he go with MZ Berry who has all her ducks in a row and is absolutely gorgeous yet has a ready-made family? Taking into account Ray J’s slew of friends and hangouts, is he really ready to settle down and become a family man? Time will tell. Check it out Monday nights on VH1.

Dennis Hopper

Famous actor Dennis Hopper is going through a very difficult time right now. He and his wife of 13 years have split up and he has been informed that he now has approximately one month to live due to prostate cancer. He was diagnosed one year ago but the disease has now spread to his bones. Hopper said, “I wish Victoria the best but only want to spend these difficult days surrounded by my children and close friends.”  Dennis Hopper has starred in such hit films as Rebel Without a Cause, Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now and many more.

A New Director in the Works?

Move over Sofia Coppola, here comes Francesca Scorcese. Just her name sounds awesome. Apparently, Martin Scorcese’s daughter would like to follow in her father’s footsteps and take a stab at directing. Francesca has appeared in his films The Aviator and The Departed with her mother (Scorcese’s wife) Helen Morris. She is working on what Scorcese refers to as her first video at this time. Francesca is only 10 years old so I’m sure she’ll have plenty of time to practice and learn everything she can from her father!

Simon Cowell

We all know that Simon Cowell intends to leave his seat as the notorious yet lovable (not to mention famous) American Idol judge but this doesn’t mean that we are seeing the last of him. Simon is working to bring an American version of the U.K. show X-Factor into the limelight. Apparently, this show is amazing. Howard Stringer, Sony chairman is excited about the new venture and speaks very highly about Simon. He was quoted on E! Online as saying, “Simon Cowell is one of the most prominent and successful creative music and television executives in the entertainment business today”. X-Factor is said to have brought many talented artists to the world of fame and fortune like Susan Boyle and Leona Lewis.

Will X-Factor put American Idol out of business? I’m sure Idol will still thrive with Ellen Degeneres giving the show a new twist as well as the fact that many viewers tune in to watch their favorite contestants. Simon is excited that she will join the show and said, “Ellen has been a fan of the show for many years, and her love of music and understanding of the American public will bring a unique human touch to our judging panel. I can’t wait for this next season to begin”.

Celebrity Quotes:

“I was slightly brain damaged at birth, and I want people like me to see that they shouldn’t let a disability get in the way. I want to raise awareness - I want to turn my disability into ability.”- Susan Boyle

“People have been kind enough to compare me to Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. I think it’s amazing that they even put my name in the same sentence.”- Leona Lewis

“If we had to choose one American Idol to go out to dinner with, it would be Fantasia. There are no airs and graces about her . . . I like her.”- Simon Cowell

“My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the hell she is.”- Ellen Degeneres

“Can you imagine Simon as a kid? His imaginary friends probably never wanted to play with him.”- Paula Abdul

“The role model thing is interesting, it’s kind of like a catch 22… Part of me is like, ‘That’s flattering.’ And if I’m helping people find truth in their lives or lead lives [that] are more open themselves, if they feel that they also want to be comfortable in their skin, then that’s great. If I can inspire that, I’m thrilled.”- Adam Lambert

By: Frank Bilotta

Frank Bilotta

While you’re unlikely to get an all-expenses-paid trip unless you win a game show, you can still get portions your trip for free if you book certain promotions or take advantage of some alternative modes of travel. Here are my picks for top limited-time and long-term “free” travel deals worth checking out.

1. Kids Fly Free to French Polynesia

Never considered French Polynesia for family vacation? Maybe Air Tahiti Nui’s kids-fly-free deal will persuade you. When you book two adult Air Tahiti Nui fares from Los Angeles to French Polynesia from January 12 to May 31, 2009, you’ll get two free fares for kids ages 11 or younger. The deal is valid for flights to Papeete, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Manihi, Tikehau, and Fakarava. Adult fares start at $1,428, including all taxes. You’ll still be responsible for paying taxes on the free children’s fares.

2. Organize a Group Tour, Travel for Free

If you organize a group of people to book a package tour together, many tour companies will allow you, the group leader, to travel for free. You can choose to accept the freebie or spread some savings out to everyone in your group. Either way, it’s a good deal. Each tour operator’s group tour policy varies a bit, but most require you to put together a group with at least 10 paying individuals before you’ll get a free spot.

For example, Grand Circle Tours, a company that runs trips geared towards mature travelers on six continents, lets a group leader travel for free with 10 paid travelers on river cruises or 16 paid travelers on land tours. Go Ahead Tours, a similar operator, gives two free spots for every group of 12 or more paying guests. Be sure to ask your tour company if they offer similar deals.

3. Pay for Three Nights, Get Seven at Club Med

Club Med’s recurring “Seven-Day Weekend” package is back, promising seven nights for the price of three at eight of its all-inclusive resorts. The deal is valid at family-friendly Club Meds in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Cancun and Ixtapa, Mexico; Sandpiper, Fla.; Caravelle, Guadeloupe; and Buccaneer’s Creek, Martinique; as well as adult-only Clubs Meds on Columbus Isle, Bahamas, and on Turks and Caicos. You must book by December 15 and travel by February 13 to take advantage of the promotion. Seven-Day Weekend prices range from $793 per person (normally $1,190) at the Sandpiper, Florida Club Med to $1,065 per person (normally $1,610) at the Buccaneer’s Creek, Martinque Club Med.

4. Free Weekend Rental Days From Hertz

Hertz knows the only the thing better than a weekend away is a three-day weekend away. The company makes it easier for renters to take longer weekend trips by offering the first day free when you rent a car for three or more weekend days, including a Saturday overnight. The deal applies to economy- through premium-class cars rented through March 31, 2009, in the U.S. and Canada, excluding Hawaii

5. Kids-Fly-and-Ski-Free Packages

For the past several winters, United and American Airlines have partnered with popular Western ski resorts to offer kids-fly-and-ski-free vacation packages. Generally, these promotions allow children 12 and under to fly and ski for free when an adult pays for an air-hotel-ski package at a participating resort. While not all fly-and-ski-free promotions have been announced yet for the 2008-2009 ski season, Steamboat Ski Resort in Colorado is already advertising its package, which requires a two-night minimum stay at a ResortQuest Steamboat vacation rental. Valid travel dates and blackout periods apply. Be sure to check the American Vacations and United Vacations websites in the days to come to see if other resorts join the promotion.

6. Swap Homes, Stay Free

Why not swap your apartment in New York for a cottage in the English countryside? Or maybe my Utah ski condo for your second home in Costa Rica?

By participating in a home exchange, you can get free use of another person’s house if you’re willing to let them stay in yours. It’s a common practice for a certain segment of travelers who prefer staying in vacation homes over hotels and are a bit flexible with where and when they travel. Essentially, two home owners in different places agree to switch places for vacation, using one another’s homes for no charge. Home exchange websites make it easy to find and make arrangements with other home owners, with the website usually charging a membership fee in order for you to make contact with potential exchange partners. HomeExchange.com is one of the largest of such sites, including more than 24,000 listings in destinations across the globe. A one-year membership costs $100.

7. Free Universal Orlando Theme Park Passes

This coming fall and winter, Universal Orlando is giving kids ages 3 to 9 free Unlimited Admission theme park passes when parents book four or more nights at a participating hotel and buy adult Unlimited Admission tickets. Unlimited Admission passes grant the holder seven days of access to both Universal parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Passes cost $95 each for both kids and adults, so the free child’s ticket is a big savings.

To get the free passes, you must book a stay of four or more nights at one of six local hotels, including the onsite Loews Royal Pacific Resort. Valid travel dates and blackout periods vary by hotel, but all require bookings to be made by the end of December.

8. Free Airfare for Crystal Cruises Panama Canal Sailings

When you book one of three Crystal Cruises’ Panama Canal sailings, you’ll receive free airfare between Los Angeles and Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, or Palm Beach, Fla. The cruises, which range from 14 to 16 days, sail between Miami and Los Angeles, so Crystal is essentially promising a free flight home from the final port. Departures include January 6, February 16, and May 7, 2009. Cruise fares start at $3,595 per person, not including taxes and fees.

9. Skip the Hostel, Couch Surf for Free

For young budget travelers, sometimes hostels just aren’t cheap enough. In that case, why not crash for free with one of the nearly 800,000 members of the Couch Surfing Project, a worldwide network that helps travelers link up with hosts offering free accommodations. The mission of the network is to promote cultural exchange through free hosted overnight stays. Travelers can find and request stays with potential hosts on the CouchSurfing website. Hosts offer a free place to sleep and oftentimes show guests around or share advice on places to visit nearby. As a member, you can request places to stay and host guests as you please. The site has some checks in place to help ensure the safety and trustworthiness of hosts and surfers.

10. Free Meals and Attractions for Kids in Hawaii

Families staying at ResortQuest Hawaii hotels can take advantage of free meals and free attractions admissions for kids year round. There are 26 participating hotels and condo resorts located on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island.

Upon checking into a ResortQuest property, children ages 12 and under receive a special ID card good for the length of your stay. With the ID, kids get free meals and admissions at dozens of island restaurants and attractions when accompanied by a paying adult. For example, on Oahu, kids get in free to the Polynesian Cultural Center and Honolulu Zoo with an adult admission. On Maui, children eat free with the purchase of an adult entree at the Kobe Japanese Steakhouse and the Beach Club Restaurant.

104Inc.com
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/10-almost-free-travel-deals-681415.html