So I admit, I am a member of an e-commerce travel company. But this article is not about selling you on a home-based business; it's all about you becoming your own travel agent. Believe it or not, even if you never sign up one person in this company, you can win financially in amazing ways, regardless! For less than $1,000, you can own your own turnkey travel business, receive quick travel agent training, and become an independent, credentialed agent with all the terrific benefits that offers. And what are some of those benefits?
First, FAM or "familiarization" trips are offered by tour companies, hotels, convention and visitor bureaus, airlines and cruise lines. The purpose of these trips is to familiarize the agent with the cruise line, hotel, or tour company. Of course, the particular company is hoping you will send future travelers their way. The great thing about these FAM trips, sometimes called member trips, is that they are so easy to access. Once you become an agent you are able to take one of these FAM trips immediately. These trips are extremely discounted, and can save you up to 80% on land trips and 70% on cruises. Obviously, this is more than worth it. Here are a few random examples of some of the member trips that you can take advantage of:
4Day Jamaica Vacation for only $234.00
4Day to Cozumel, Mexico only $181.00
4Day to Cancun Mexico Vacation, $230.00
6Day Caribbean Cruise for only $285.00
Myrtle Beach golf vacation for 3 nights: $359.00
7Day to Spain: Madrid, Cordova and Seville. From $990 for agents; $1090 for spouses/companions.
Disney World 3 Day/ 4 Night, only $335.00. The kids will love this one...
(Many of these quotes cover hotels, transfers, sightseeing, and at least two daily meals).
Second, on top of the discounts, earn Travel Agent commissions on your personal travel, as well as the travel of your clients. Book any travel on your own site or point friends/family to it and you get cash back. Yes, you heard me right.
Third, enjoy sometimes being treated like royalty when traveling as an agent. Even the governments of some nations offer the red carpet treatment to agents. This is because politicians realize the huge benefits tourism dollars can bring to their economy. So don't feel as if you owe them the world. You're helping them too.
Fourth, enjoy tax advantages for running a business. According to the IRS, deductible expenses related to business travel are the normal and necessary expenses of traveling to perform your business, job, or profession. When you become a travel agent, you make traveling your business. Deducting travel expenses from your income before paying taxes means huge savings. The average American traveler that spends $3,000 a year on travel must earn $4,500 before taxes. For the travel professional that owns his or her own business, their income is not taxed until after travel expenses are deducted. This could equate to a 50% savings on expenses and a $2,000 a year difference in spendable money. This could be cash in your pocket! (Consult with a tax accountant for details).
Have the ability to travel more and better than you have ever dreamed while you compile frequent flyer miles as well as many other rewards. Connect your FAM rates to frequent traveler numbers with airlines, hotel chains, etc. Not all providers let you do this, but, for example, if you have a frequent guest number for Marriot, try and attach it to your reservation. Not only will you get the discounted rate today, you are working towards a free stay in the future.
Sixth, receive unbelievable discounts to shows, theme parks, and attractions. Enjoy discounts on swamp tours, riverboat dinners, dinner theaters, etc. All you have to do is ask.
You may be thinking, "All this is great in theory, but I wouldn't have the nerve to constantly ask for travel agent discounts right in front of customers who are paying full price." Don't worry about that. To get these discounts, most times you will receive them when you book the trip. And if there's a situation involving a long line of full-paying customers, travel agents go to the Guest Relations, Group, or Administration office or window and get their discounts there.
Would you love to travel almost free in years to come? This is the way to do it!
Debra Fortosis is a professional travel agent. She owns her own travel business and you can book travel at her user friendly site: http://www.MnDGetaways.com. She loves helping others book travel or actually start their own turnkey travel business for very little cost.
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Playoff fever is getting ready in Indianapolis. The Colts already know that they will face the New Orleans Saints and a lot of fans are already looking forward to watching the Super Bowl 44. True blue Colts fans held their initial Indianapolis public meeting with regards to the playoff season at the Circle Center Mall.
Autographs from the players and a playoff ticket raffle are the used as a lure. Fans were patiently willing to wait in line, even though everybody knows that the first Colts playoff game is still more than a week away. Fans that were there are also imagining the thrill of a Super Bowl appearance in Miami.
Paula Szczepanek a Colts super fan said Oh no, we do not have to go to Miami. But the Colts are. Surely, it would absolutely be worth the trip, Andrew Burrows said. He will not have to think twice about that.
A trip going to the Super Bowl is too costly for almost all the fans. But there are a lot of prepared Web sites with a lot of houses with pictures just waiting to be occupied by the arriving tourists, fans and the general public. If you've got a budget of about 1200 to 10,000 dollars a day Florida homeowners will provide you the keys to their wonderful houses over for the Super Bowl weekend.
For Jason Patterson, it will be dream come true, he is an avid Colts fan. He does not want to go to the Super Bowl unless the Colts will be playing there. But we are definitely going to be there, he said. On Craig's list, fans can look for a package that not only includes a place to stay for the weekend, but also a vehicle driver and a game ticket. The price tag for this package is only 3,000 dollars per person.
But another diehard Colts fan with the name of Nikki Gott might be going to the Super Bowl and not having to spend a single penny. She is hoping to, this is what she said. She is taking part of a contest right now. She is representing Indianapolis as the NFL Fandamonium Director. And all she needs to be is one of the top two vote getters on NFL-Monster, a website sponsor. She is now one of the eight finalists of the said contest and a ticket hopeful of the Super Bowl 44.
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By John Wilkins Some of the greatest fishing in the world, is available within a mile or two away any where in the US! Many anglers miss out because their gear is too big and not sensitive enough to show them bites. Fish feed in a delicate fashion 90% of the time. In order to catch them, you need to change your ways. If you do, you can be rewarded with 500 fish in 4 hours- my record is 512.To get in on this action, you will need a few items and, you will need to get rid of a few old items you may be used to.
It might help the reader to know that until the Spring of 2000, I was a big game fisherman with a box full of lures and plenty of spinning gear as my main tools for catching fish. Everything changed about the way I fish, especially the fact that I actually caught fish, every time out. I still have not been “skunked” since changing my ways. By the way, it’s a good thing we don’t smell like a skunk when we don’t catch anything as a group of anglers, otherwise our families would know for sure how miserable a fishing day we had. Getting “skunked” (catching no fish) stinks!
There is no need to be skunked, if you follow a couple of fishing basics and transform your gear for local waters (instead of our tackle being based on Florida Bass or Kentucky crappie or Wisconsin Muskie.
Even the “ultra light” spinning gear we are accustomed to using as a standard for local fishing is cutting down on our catches! Most anglers in the US have never truly fished “ultra” light. Years ago I changed my gear and I caught sacks full of fish all summer and for the first time in my fishing career, caught fish into very late fall! I never knew that fish would feed in late November and early December on open water!
I will give you two examples of having a blast catching fish vs. casting at them. At a 4th of July picnic on a small pond in suburban Chicago, I was fishing with my 30 foot pole while a pack of kids nearby were busy throwing a bass jig connected to a 2.5 inch bobber (way too big) at a weed bed extending 4 ft. out into the lake from the edge. Their problem was simple. They couldn’t cast well with the short “kids” rod and closed face reels. Their giant bobber was not giving them any indication of bites and the bass jig was too big to fit in any of the nearby fish’s mouths. Their 10 lb. line was like a cable being seen by even the aggressive fish in the area approaching this rig (read- avoiding).
When the rig was actually wet,because these kids could not get the thing into the water near the fish because of tangles and weeds on the jig head, it was not catching fish. Their “casts” couldn’t get the lure/giant bobber combo past the 6-foot wide weedy edge. I fixed that problem by putting down my pole and setting up my shortest 7 ft. graphite telescopic “pole” with a delicate float (the size of an pencil eraser) with 1.5 lb. line leader attached to a siz #14 hook and baited it with a tiny grub.
I handed the pole to the first kid and she caught a chubby blue gill within 5 seconds. With this non-mechanized fishing pole there was nothing to getting the bait just 6 feet out, past the weed bed. The kids could easily put the bait in front of the fish. As for the fish, they could easily pull under thetiny natural bait with the small hook and the float, which was about 1/30th the size of the bobber. The sensitive rig picked up on the fish sucking in the tiny bait immediately so the kids could react. Sure, I had to stop fishing for a while, but I had a blast with this pack of 6 kids. My newly adopted friends were out-fishing the guys with spinning gear working around the pond 40:1 ! The reason most kids don’t catch is those short little “kid’s” rods.
Kids rods come with the Mouse on the box, wrapped in plastic as one unit and are way too short. The closed face reels are not bad, but the short rods require a giant 55-gallon drum bobber which are often sold with these kits. Every angler in America should own and use a cane pole to fish with! A pole with no reel! On another day that summer, with nothing more than the cane pole, I won the 1st day of the U.S. Open with a top weight of 19.75 lb. of blue gill caught in 4 hours.
The answer to this victory was the simplicity of my rig and the size of my line using a tiny hook. By using this cane pole (really composed of graphite) I was able to fish quickly for blue gill that were in front of me. The conditions that day had them feeding in past the first break of the shoreline and were only 8 inches of water. My rig allowed me to get the bait out to the fish easily, accurately and quickly. Most of the other anglers in the match were fishing much farther out. My neighbor had a 60 foot pole!!! He was 58 feet past the fish with his expensive gear and I crushed his weight by 83% using little more than what Huck Finn used -- a cane pole. Some competitors were even casting far out into the lake some 70 yards away.
On this day, AS MOST DAYS IN OUR LOCAL LAKES, the plentiful smaller fish caught in great number, will offer you success as an angler. I would brag even more about that U.S. Open, but my teacher Hall of Fame Angler - Mick Thill, came from behind and crushed me in day 2 to win the tournament overall, I finished 2nd.Here are details on setting up to fish for most every fish in your local ponds. Follow these (8) steps and you will have a pan fish blast of your own.
1. Consult local bait store owner.
They will give you great information on local ponds and you should be able to buy some floats, and the rest of your gear below. While not every store owner is great for information, most can get you to good fishing spots. To start, find waters with panfish.
Panfish are abundant and for the most part active. This will provide you with a chance to catch fish.
2. Throw out your bobbers and purchase a couple small floats.
Bobbers are no good. Red and white are the worst. Throw them out or save them as museum pieces. America is about to find out what the rest of the world has known for 2,000 years.
Floats catch fish. Even if you must cast larger float, a properly balanced float will crush a round bobber every day. Slip bobbers are not as good as floats either. This is because the line comes out the top in a slip float and catches wind, current messing up the presentation.
3. Get some good fishing line
6 lb. test is overkill for pond fishing. Use 4 lb. with an even lighter 4 - 6” leader line to the hook. If a fish feels the line, they are gone. If the fish sees the line, they are gone. Your leader should be 2 lb.!
Fish feed by sucking their feed in with water. If the line is heavy, it gets sucked in slower. Most of the time, heavy line is just spit back out. Fish can spit a poor presentation out faster than you can see your float move up on the surface!
With heavy line, you can miss hundreds of fish bites each time out!! In the World Championships- I fished with line that is 1/8th the thickness of U.S. 2 lb. line!
4. Get some small, SMALL hooks
Size #12 should be one of the biggest hooks you ever use! If the majority of you checked your tackle box, I am sure that some 90% of you don’t own a hook this
small! A big hook will kill your fishing! Kill it. Take a look at the nail on your pinky finger. That is about as long as your hook should be or smaller. (Ask your bait store owner or check out mickthill.com for these hooks). MOST MAJOR CHAINS DO NOT CARRY THESE HOOKS. Some aren’t interested in you catching fish, just buying stuff. They are quite happy selling a bunch of giant bass hooks, because that is what you have been buying!!!
As we ask for proper equipment, the stores will change and offer us great selection. You may find these hooks in fly fishing sections of big stores but you can ask your local dealer to special order them. Size #14 or #16 hooks are perfect. If you are wondering, I have landed a 9 lb. walleye on a size #14 hook with small leech.
5. Get some small bait
Again, the thumbnail on your pinky finger is probably the biggest bait you should use. There are times the fish only want 1 maggot (spikes) on a tiny #16 hook. Even the big gills will not take 2 or 3 spikes as readily as they would 1 tiny piece of bait, this is especially true in early Spring, late Fall and after cold rains. Same would go for worms. Sometimes using a tiny cut piece will give you success. Only the fish will tell you. Lastly- big fish eat small bait! I have caught 15 lb. fish on a piece of crawler the size of my small fingernail.
6. Get a cane pole or telescopic pole
I have landed a 3.5 lb. fish so far on the cane pole with 2 lb. line. We call them “whips” and some call them crappie poles. I plan on landing bigger fish than that, but the greatest number of fish are best caught in our local ponds using a whip and tiny delicate floats with small baits. The whip will deliver the bait out to the exact spot you need to lower your bait. This could be a drop-off, rock edge, gravel edge or weed edge. You can hit the exact spot every time! No missed casts. No birds nests. Once you find the fish, you can put the bait back in with the whip in the spot where the fish are. Whips vary in length from 6 ft. to 25 feet (longer if you find pro versions).
7. Balance Your Setup
Good shot is essential to this setup. The bite indicator (float you use) should be the smallest you can find. Take your line, rig this float up and then using a bucket of water to add split shot below the rig until your float is nearly sunk. It should be 95% below the water if you have the right amount of shot on it. 75% of that shot goes right under the float. Take a few small shot and this will go close to the hook. The best shot is Anchor brand split shot! This is premium splitshot that will stay on the line better and not slide around on you. It also tangles much less than the brand with the wings on it- round shot is best.
Correctly balance your tiny float on thin line with a small hook and you will have created a very efficient fish-catching machine! When your bait is on the hook, float in the water- the bait should sink the float a little. When the rig is properly balanced with bait on it- the slightest movement will show above water for you to see. If you have too much float tip sticking up-you will not see the bites!
8. Catch (and release) bags full of fish
You will need a keep net for the water if you want to have some fun. Seeing how many you can catch is all the fun. There is nothing like pulling a bag with 100 fish out to show people what fishing is all about. If you want to fish in a local club competition, the net is also required to keep the fish you catch for weight of your total catch. Keeping some medium sized fish and returning the largest fish is the way to improve your lake. If you take all the big fish, they won’t be in there next time you go fishing. If you take the medium sized fish, the bigger fish will get even bigger! It is essential that you release large fish to keep the bloodlines breeding and ensure future fishing on your lake!
9. Teach a kid to fish and take them fishing
With a cane pole and the basics, kids can have a blast! If we don’t take our kids fishing, and above all, show them a good time, our sport will fade. Improving our sport brings better fishing programs, cleaner local waters and education on preserving our environment for kids. We need kids to care about their local world and taking them fishing for bluegills is the absolute best way to show them a good time. Incidentally, there is nothing wrong with catfish, golden roach shiners, bullheads, carp or bass as any fish gives the kids just as much fun. Any fish they catch will be a blast on a whip.
Who knows, you might even get hooked on pole fishing. I did. As an angler, is our time best spent casting all day, or catching fish? Certain situations will require spinning gear, a very long rod and casting, but for the greatest number of situations in our local ponds and lakes the reel-less pole will outperform casting gear sometimes by more than 200% and up. I mean, take a look across the pond at spin casters sitting fishless and you destroying them with a pole-that is the goal! Or should I say whipping them!
John Wilkins has fished on the US Fishing Team competing at the highest levels of fishing in Europe, Canada, China & the United States. He has fished in 2 World Championships and has educated anglers on the basics of fishing urban waters. His teacher is angling legend and Hall of Famer Mick Thill. John's top catch is 512 fish in a 4-hour competition and top finish is second in the US Open Championships in 2000.
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Many people hesitate to apply for a passport because they think the process is too difficult, but it is actually not a complicated process at all. If you take the time to learn about a few facts before going to apply for your passport you will have a much easier time. The Internet can be a great tool that will help you to locate a passport office in your neighborhood. Passport applications must be submitted in person along with fees and verification information. Take the time to gather this information before traveling to your local office.
The first thing to be sure of is that you have the $120.00 required for the passport application and issuance fee. You will only have to pay $95 if your application is denied. After your passport is issued, making changes to it is usually free of charge. Some small changes do require a small fee, but changes made within the first year after issuance normally do not require a fee.
There are many different ways that you can go about applying for a passport and there are different fees depending upon what your needs are. Most people simply apply at the local post office or at a passport office near them. This is a convenient and affordable way to apply for a passport or to make changes to an existing passport. The local post office or passport office will have all of the forms you need.
Many cities and towns have only post offices to process these applications, but some have separate passport offices as well. Government websites give a list of these locations and will even help you to determine which is the closest to you. The passport website will also walk you through exactly what will be needed to apply for a new passport.
It is necessary that you apply for your passport in person because your identity will have to be verified. Citizenship will have to be verified as well and the applicant will be required to provide proof of naturalization, a birth certificate, social security card, or proof of birth abroad. For applicants that cannot provide this proof, the government will verify citizenship, but this will cost an additional $60. These fees will be added to the application and issuance fees.
Picture identification will also be required at the time of application. A driver's license or military ID will work to prove identity. A government employee ID is another accepted form of identification. There may be alternative ways to prove identity if these items are not available.
It is absolutely imperative that photocopies of all identifying documents be submitted with the application and required fees. Your application cannot be processed without these copies of your documentation. It is important that these copies are at least actual size or larger. Scaled down copies will not be accepted.
There are numerous steps involved when applying for a passport, but with a little knowledge the process can be quick and easy. Just start by using resources available to you to locate a passport office near you. There should be many available and at least one right in your city or town. Bring along the ID and documentation you need as well as fees and the process should be quite easy for you.
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The bald eagle has done so well in recent years, it not only has been taken off the threatened list, it's even been dropped from the endangered list. Their numbers have been climbing steadily since they were first listed as an endangered species.
And every year, as November blows in, hundreds of bald eagles fly into Utah. They stay until the ice starts to melt in March. Latest estimates put the number of visiting eagles in Utah at around 1,000. Utah is among the top 10 winter stops for bald eagles. Some years, it's among the top five.
Held every February, the annual Utah Bald Eagle Day gives many children and adults the first - and maybe only - opportunity of their life to see a bald eagle close up in the wild. As many as 350 eagles have been spotted during a single Bald Eagle Day!
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources sets up spotting scopes at each viewing site so people can get a good look at the eagles. Biologists and volunteers are also available to help people spot the eagles as well as answer any questions they may have.
Originally held only at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, this yearly event has been expanded to include sites in central, northeastern and southwestern Utah. And this amazing experience is free. It's a fantastic way to see the national symbol of the USA in its natural setting.
For current and updated information and a complete description of the viewing sites, contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Rod Besler
An online guide about Utah written by a resident of more than 30 years. If you're thinking of visiting Utah or know you are, download my FREE eBook and you'll know The 101 Best Things To See And Do In Utah. All FREE to you 5 minutes after you ask for it. http://www.utah-travel-secrets.com or http://www.utahtravelsecrets.com
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Do you want to divide your time between working with animals in Malawi and teaching local communities? If so, a Born Wild holiday could be the perfect solution.
Malawi is perhaps best known as the country where Madonna controversially adopted her children, David and Mercy. The star received a lot of negative press for allegedly using her celebrity status to bypass local residency laws. But whatever you may think about the latest in a long list of celebrity adoptions, you can't deny that the star has been as good as her promise and is currently working towards giving something back to the country. At the end of October, Madonna returned to begin construction on the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls that she is using her cash to fund. The £9.2million project will take two years to build and if the school is successful then the model will be replicated across other developing countries.
It's easy enough to give something back to the world when you have millions in the bank, like Madonna. But how can we, with less affluent incomes, help support communities that have substantially less than us? The answer is by taking a volunteerism holiday, this unique holiday combines a stay in a foreign country with time spent helping out local communities or working with animals.
A Born Wild experience is perfect because rather than deciding whether you want to spend your time educating local communities, teaching children soccer skills or working with animals you can mix your trip up a little and combine all three. However, participants in the project are encouraged to find their own area of expertise in which they are best able to contribute.
If you believe that you are better adept at working with animals than teaching sports, then you may want to concentrate on the conservation side of volunteering. Visitors that select this option will get to spend time on game drives carrying out ID on native wildlife, such as elephant herds and lions. Erosion control is important so staff may find themselves planting trees and building ditches to prevent the flooding of game reserves. This is important because if erosion control is not carried out, the vegetation in a flooded reserve may die out leaving the animals with no food or shelter. With many newer game reserves built on derelict farmland, guests may spend their time removing wire and rusted metal from parts of the reserve. This helps ensure that animals have a much safer environment to roam and also helps prevent the onset of any injury.
Volunteers can also choose to spend some time working with local communities and this is a rewarding way to give something back to the local community. Whilst working with animals is an amazing experience, sometimes it can be more rewarding to see the first-hand effects of your work. Watching the childrens' faces light up as you teach them numeric skills and visual arts definitely makes for a rewarding experience. Budding Beckhams can also choose to help by teaching the children soccer skills or arranging a village game of volleyball. These exercises not only help to bring the community together, but are vital in teaching basic hand to eye coordination. However, it isn't just children that you can choose to help but local businesses and organizations too. You can assist in book-keeping and creating business plans or simply teach the basic principles of financial responsibility.
Whether you choose to spend your holiday working with animals or communities, volunteerism shows that you don't need Madonna's millions in order to give something back to the world.
Mark Bottell is the General Manager for Worldwide Experience, an online tour operator offering extended breaks working with animals and various adventurous gap years for adults.
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I was born in Australia and lived there over twenty years before traveling around the world for the last five. I have now seen over thirty countries, lived in over ten, and now speak two Spanish fluently. Traveling for me has been massive growing experience, and I would recommend anybody, regardless of age, race or gender to put away some time and money to make sure that they can experience the world.
However, after that is all said and done, I must say that after having seen the world, that there is absolutely nothing like my home country of Australia.
My hometown is Alice Springs, in the middle of the Australian desert. It is surrounded, on all sides, by beautiful red sand and clear skies; there is not a skyscraper to be seen at all, and the peaceful, tranquil nature of the place is enough to send shivers down your spine. Less then two hours drive away is Uluru, also known as Ayer's Rock, a massive stone formation that has stood for countless years and is a major tourist destination. You'll enjoy the ancient Aboriginal sites, as well as the native animals that frolic around the place. Red Kangaroos are a very common guest at Ayer's Rock.
On the eastern coast of Australia lies most of the major cities. In the North of the state of Queensland is Cairns, a lovely little town that is the heart to the Great Barrier Reef, which is also another massive tourist destination. A day trip to the reef is incredible affordable, and you'll be amazed as you spend hours swimming amongst a veritable armada of beautiful tropical fish amongst some of the most stunning coral formations in the world.
Cairns is known as the place where the 'rainforest meets the sea,' and this is absolutely true. An hours drive inland from the city leave you in a tiny village called Kuranda, which is in the heart of the lush, wet, beautiful North Queensland rainforest. Take some time and go to the Butterfly sanctuary, or the Kuranda train, which takes you through and around the surrounding region. When you are done with this beautiful icon of nature, catch the Skyrail back down to Cairns, and enjoy the sites of the land from your own private gondola.
Now, if you are after a more metropolitan experience, there is nothing like heading to the massive city of Sydney. With nearly four and a half million people, Sydney is the urban hub of Australia, and boasts some of its best restaurants, theaters, landmarks and destinations. Spend just a day in the city amongst the bustling metropolis, and you see the beauty of the Australian people and of their unique culture. Wrap it all up with a climb over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia's most recognized landmark, and take a birds eye look at this massive city and of the Opera House. It's an experience that cannot be missed.
Australia is such a unique place to visit, I would not want to be anywhere else.
Kim Hanna is a young entrepreneur, athlete and writer. When he's not on the road working, he's busy making webpages, and his latest installment is on cheap surround sound systems. If you are interested in upgrading your home theater, check out the site today.
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NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) -- The emerging genre of "island pop" has enjoyed recent success with the music of Sean Kingston and Jason DeRulo, and now 22-year-old recording artist Iyaz, who grew up in the British Virgin Islands, has landed a hit single in the genre.
"Replay," a light and catchy tune with a soaring hook, is No. 13 on the current Billboard Hot 100. It has become the Iyaz's introduction to US audiences, although it wasn't intended to be.
"We weren't looking for a single. 'Replay' was supposed to be one of the album tracks we were banging out," Iyaz says of the J.R. Rotem-produced song. "But it had a killer melody, and I knew I could put some crazy harmonies on it. It turned out to be one of my best songs."
Born Keidran Jones, Iyaz's father toured with singing groups and his mother directed church choirs. While studying digital recording in college, he recorded the track "Island Girls," which became a radio staple in the Caribbean Islands and caught Kingston's attention.
"Sean hit me up on MySpace, but I didn't believe it was him. I ignored him for a few days and even gave him a fake phone number," Iyaz says.
Kingston persisted until Iyaz realized it was indeed the hit singer-songwriter, and soon the two pop vocalists were talking music and becoming fast friends at Kingston's house in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Within weeks of meeting Kingston, Iyaz inked a deal with the Time Is Money/Beluga Heights imprint on Warner Bros. Records. He is working with Rotem, who produced Kingston's hits "Beautiful Girls" and "Take You There," on a debut album that will expand the infectious Caribbean sound known as island pop.
"If you listen to 'Replay,' it has so many elements going on that you don't know what will happen next, and that's what we want to do with this music," he says. "Everything starts off small, but we just hope to move forward with this sound."
Iyaz plans to release a second single early next year, with his debut album tentatively set for a second-quarter bow. The singer plans to keep recording and performing at various US events through mid-December as the popularity of "Replay" continues to grow.
"I've had to record while visiting three states in one day," Iyaz says. "It sounds busy, but busy is the best way to be in the music business."
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Unique and Interesting Orlando Hotels When planning a trip to Orlando, you'll be considering where to stay. There are thousands of Orlando hotels to choose from, each offering different amenities. You'll be able to find hundreds of familiar national chain hotels such as Hawthorn Suites, Days Inn, Staybridge, Clarion and Ramada Inns to choose from.
If you're looking for a hotel which has more character and offers more than just a place to rest your head for the night, consider a stay at one of these top Orlando resorts.
Gaylord Palms Hotel
6000 West Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34747 Tel: 407-586-2000
The Gaylord Palms is a huge resort hotel with an all-Florida theme. You can't mistake the Gaylord Palms Hotel, its' enormous glass atrium contains five hotel restaurants, a Haagen-Dazs ice cream shop and a Florida creek complete with real Florida wildlife!
Outside the hotel there are four swimming pools to choose from. Two of the pools are for families, with the popular giant green octopus waterslide and water fountains being the main attraction for children. There is a separate adults-only pool if you get tired of all the noise and excitement of the family pools. The South Beach style adult swimming pool has its' own pool-side snack bar serving refreshing cocktails, beer and wine.
The rooms at the Gaylord Palms are themed in either a Key West Island style, Old St Augustine or Everglades style. Some rooms will have atrium views, these rooms tend to be more expensive than non-atrium views. Bedrooms have in-room safe, wireless WiFi access, coffee maker and refrigerator.
The Gaylord Palms Hotel is perfectly located close to Orlando theme parks and attractions. It is 1.5 miles east of Disney's maingate and a 15 minute drive to SeaWorld, Wet N Wild Water Park, Universal Studios and Discovery Cove.
Hotel Highlights:-
Free shuttle transportation to Disney theme parks.
Four hotel pools to choose from.
Close to Disney World and a short drive to other Orlando theme parks.
Free WiFi access in the bedrooms and throughout the resort.
Kids sitting service.
Canyon Ranch Spa Club on-site
Mini-golf, croquet lawns and volleyball court on-site.
Peabody Orlando
9801 International Drive Orlando, Florida 32819 Tel: 407-352-4000
The Peabody Hotel in Orlando is one of just a handful of Peabody Hotels in the United States. The Peabody Orlando is a luxury hotel on International Drive, directly across from the Orange County Convention Center. You may have heard of this hotels' famous tradition - the March of the Peabody Ducks. Everyday at 11am and 5pm, the Peabody Ducks are led from their penthouse suite down the elevator, across the red carpet towards the fountains in the hotel lobby. Everyone stops to watch this funny spectacle!
The Peabody has excellent hotel facilities. Its' on-site restaurant, the B Line Diner, is open 24 hours a day. This 1950s style diner is a hit with locals as well-as hotel guests. It serves classic American favorties as well as some delicious desserts, cakes and coffees. You'll be able to work off any over indulgences at the Peabody Athletic Club. This club is voted one of the 10 best hotel gyms in the USA. You can work out at your own pace, or hire a fitness instructor. There are 17 Nautilus machines and well as cycling machines, stairmasters and treadmills. After all that exercise you can relax in the giant whirlpool spa.
There are many different room types to choose from, standard rooms through to Presidential suites.
Hotel Highlights
4 outdoor lighted tennis courts
Olympic sized outdoor swimming pool
Top on-site 1950s diner
Award winning fitness center
.....and the March of the Peabody Ducks of course!
Nickelodeon Hotel Orlando
14500 Continental Gateway Orlando, Florida 32821 Tel: 1-877-642-5111 or 407-387-5437
The Nickelodeon Hotel is a one of the Orlando resorts made with kids in mind! If you have younger children, the Nick Hotel is a great choice for your Orlando vacation. As its' name suggests, this hotel is totally Nickelodeon themed inside and out, kids love it! One of the great things about this hotel is that there are so many kids activities on-site included in the price. The main attraction at is the large outdoor water park filled with waterfalls, water slides, play areas and the daily 'sliming'!
The suites all have kitchenettes which are a great added extra for parents. Having a fridge, microwave and kitchen-ware makes it easy to keep snacks and drinks cool in your suite and save money on eating out for every meal.
At the Nick Hotel, kids will never get bored. There is a program of daily activities which take place inside and outside by the pool. It could be anything from arts and crafts, exercise classes, sports or even putting on a show later in the evening.
Hotel Highlights
On-site water park for Nick Hotel guests only.
Free daily shuttles to Disney theme parks, Universal Studios, SeaWorld and Wet N Wild water park.
Close to Disney theme parks, a short 15 minute drive to Universal Studios, SeaWorld and International Drive.
Free internet access and local telephone calls.
Free parking
Universal Studios Resort Hotels There are three 4 Diamond rated hotels located within Universal Orlando Resort: The Hard Rock Hotel, the Portofino Bay Hotel and the Royal Pacific Resort. Each of these quality resort hotels has its' own unique theme. There are some great benefits of staying on-site at Universal Studios theme park that you won't get when staying at any other Orlando resort.
The Hard Rock Hotel is perhaps the most recognized. Here you'll find the walls adorned with rock n roll memorabilia from some of music's great legends. The hotel is a large white Mediterranean-style building with a huge outside pool deck surrounded by palm trees. The Hard Rock Hotel is the least expensive of the three on-site hotels.
The Portofino Bay Hotel is the most luxurious hotel out of the three. Styled on the Italian port town of Portofino, this hotel is a world away from the busy, bustling theme parks of Universal Studios. The Portofino Bay Hotel is Italian themed throughout, with three on-site Italian restaurants, a marina with cafes, bars and cobbled streets.
The Royal Pacific Resort is themed on the South Pacific Islands. The focal point of this resort is the large lagoon pool area with white sandy beaches, palm trees and a white plane which forms part of a water slide. The hotel hosts special Saturday night Luaus. The Luaus are a South Pacific themed show with an all-you eat food buffet and drinks. Other resort amenities are 'Dive In' movie nights where a movie is played outside by the pool, a 5,000sq ft gym, croquet lawns, beach volleyball courts, ping pong tables and pool-side restaurants.
6300 Hollywood Way Orlando, FL 32819 Tel: 1-888-273-1311
Benefits of staying on-site at Universal Studios Hotels
Free transportation to Universal Studios theme parks and Universal CityWalk nightlife district. Free shuttles are provided everyday to hotel guests via either bus or water taxi. No need to drive or pay for parking for Universal Studios theme parks.
Kids sitting service and activities - all three resort hotels offer in-room kids sitting service and kids activities. Child sitting services do cost extra, but are a great way to have a night out at nearby Universal CityWalk without the kids in tow!
Free Express Passes for Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure theme parks. Express Passes are like having a fast pass to the front of the line at Universal Studios rides and shows. At busy times, this can save hours of waiting in-line.
Pet friendly - all three Universal Studios hotels are pet friendly. There is a small one off charge for bringing your pet, but many types of small animals are welcome (birds, ferrets, cats, dogs, reptiles).
Free daily transportation to SeaWorld and Wet N Wild water park.
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Are you and your spouse or your romantic partner looking to take a vacation together, namely a romantic getaway? If you are, have you already decided on your next romantic getaway destination? If you have yet to determine where you would like to travel to, you will want to take a few minutes to examine Jamaica. Jamaica is well-known as a popular vacation destination, especially among those who are looking for romance.
As nice as it is to hear that Jamaica is well-known as being a popular destination for those on romantic getaways, you may still be wondering if Jamaica is right for you. If you are, there are a number of important questions that you may want to take the time to ask yourself. A few of these questions are outlined below and they may help you decide if a Jamaican vacation, particularly a romantic getaway, is right for you.
Perhaps, the most important question that you should ask yourself is what you are looking for in a romantic getaway with your partner. For instance, are you looking for adventure or romance? What is nice about Jamaica is that you can get both. There are an unlimited number of activities that you can participate in, as well as attractions that you can visit that are both adventurous and romantic in nature. For instance, you can spend the day on a scuba diving adventure, a snorkeling adventure, or you spend the day horseback riding. When on a Jamaican romantic getaway, your options are, literally, endless.
In addition to what you would like to get out of your romantic getaway, in terms of activities to participate in and attractions to visit, it is also important you focus on what creates romance for you. For instance, there are some individuals who prefer tropical weather, like the weather that can be found in Jamaica. On the other hand, there are actually those who prefer colder temperatures, like those that can be found in Alaska. If you are looking to create romance with warm, sunny, and tropical weather filled days, Jamaica may be your best bet. The weather of Jamaica has been known to create romantic environments for many.
Another question that you should ask yourself, when examining where your next romantic getaway vacation destination should be, is what you envision your overnight accommodations to be like. If you are interested in staying in an upscale resort or one that is ideal for those looking to create romance, you may like what you find in Jamaica. In Jamaica, Jamaican vacation resorts come in a number of different formats. Of course, it is possible to find Jamaican vacation resorts that are designed for individuals of all ages, but you can also find Jamaican vacation resorts that are restricted to adults only and those that have romantic suites and rooms for their guests.
In keeping with your preferred overnight accommodations, it is also important to know that many vacation resorts in Jamaica are considered all-inclusive vacation resorts or even super-inclusive vacation resorts. These are vacation resorts that allow you to make multiple travel arrangement and vacation reservations all at the same time. Most super-inclusive Jamaican vacation packages, as well as all-inclusive ones, include the cost of your foods, drinks, and many of the activities that you would like to participate in, like scuba diving.
If you are married, did you know that you may be able to take your next Jamaica vacation to the next level? When purchasing all-inclusive vacation packages or super-inclusive vacation packages, many vacation resorts give you the option of reviewing your vows, often free of charge. Of course, the decision as to whether or not you and your spouse want to renew your vows is your decision to make, but it is at least something that you should consider. After all, what could be more romantic than renewing your vows in an upscale Jamaican vacation resort or along the coastline?
If you would like to purchase your next Jamaican vacation reservations right now and if you would like to do so in the form of a super-inclusive vacation package or an all-inclusive vacation package, you are urged to examine AhmTravel.com.AhmTravel.com is your one stop resource for everything Jamaica, including a large selection of vacation packages designed for couples, like you, looking for romance.
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