Travel Blog

This is a news alert for anyone planning to go to Vegas and stay at the Mirage Casino and Hotel in Jan and Feb of 2016. Pool Closed at the Mirage Casino. It is usually closed for major maintenance at this time of year. We suggest that you check with the front desk before making reservations during the winter months if you want to use the pool area.

Sometimes it is closed for maintenance. The water has been drained and it looks like the bottom and the sides of the pool are being redone. It can be very disappointing if you want to use the pool during this time.

Checking the Mirage web site did not show any indication that the pool will be closed. Nor any update as to what is planned for the pool. We are never sure if the pool is being repaired or if the MGM group will be making major changes to the pool area. For any that have been there, you will recall that it was always a great place to be with lots of sun all afternoon, waterfalls and bridges. A great place to spend the day working on your suntan.

Annual Maintenance

The Mirage hotel routinely uses Jan to perform regular maintenance on the pool. The weather is usually cooler and the pool is not heated so it is a good time to perform this maintenance, however, the least they could do is let people know that it is closed before they book their trips. It would be a big disappointment if you were planning to soak up some sun on warm January days. Right now you cannot even go out on the pool deck due to all of the workman and the noise.

For more information about the Mirage Hotel and Casino, click here.

We are staying at the Mirage hotel for two nights at the end of Jan comp’d by the hotel. We have not stayed here for a few years, preferring to stay at the Wynn or the Bellagio hotels. I guess it is a slow time for them and they wanted to get us back to spend a few dollars. For those of you who are not aware, using a slot card at a hotel will usually get you free meals and free nights. However, if you stop gambling at a hotel, sometimes they will invite you back, give you some free stuff, etc. to get you coming back to their casino. We used to stay here all the time and then stopped.

Well, we are fortunate to be able to take advantage of this offer this year as we are on our way to California.

Updates at the Mirage

The Mirage is very nice and has been updated in recent years to be more contemporary. We like bright airy places and the casino is now darker than it used to be. It still has the beautiful fish tank behind the reception desk. Also he tropical waterfall at the entrance to the casino and classy bars and restaurants.

Our room has also been updated with new furniture and designs. Gone are the boxy clothes drawers. They have been replaced by a sleek glass and wood wall that encompasses the flat-screen TV. There is a desk for those of us that feel the need to work while we are on vacation. Also for road warriors to keep up with the email back at the office.

Speaking of email, one of the things that the MGM group has started in Vegas and Atlantic City is a resort fee. They now charge from $15 to $35 per night for access to the internet, newspaper and the gym. There is no choice in this, even if you do not use these features. Apparently Harrahs also does this as well. Most of us cannot exist without the internet these days. However, there are also so many free sites around that we do not need to pay for the service.

As of this writing, we do not think that Wynn is levying this daily charge.

Comments are appreciated.

Slot players, you will love the Horseshoe casino in Tunica! You can now order your drinks at the slot machine by touch screen using your Harrahs Slot Cards! All you do is activate the little screen on the slot machine that normally shows your casino points to show the drink menu and then order the drink you want. The casino waitress shows up five minutes later with your drink! Don’t forget to tip the waitress, this is how they make their living. The casino pays them very little and also limits their hours so tips are really important.

The RoadHouse Casino is also part of the Harrahs chain and they have implemented the same feature. We were in this casino early in the morning and there was really no one there except us and the employees and a few people playing at the tables. There is usually only one waitress at this time of day serving drinks. You can wait a long time for a coffee or something stronger at this time of day. We used the new screens to order our drinks and she was there with our drinks in less than 5 minutes. This is a great service.

We cannot wait to go to some of the other Harrahs casinos to see if they have implemented this feature to other locations as well.

Harrahs Slot Cards – Order Your Drinks

It is really great in the mornings when there are not many waitresses on the casino floor. Just order , the bar makes the drink, and the waitress picks it up for delivery! No more waiting to flag a waitress or playing at a machine just to be near the bar to get a drink! Order whatever you want – water, coffee, beer, wine, mixed drinks, and special drinks such as Irish coffee’s and liquors.

Needless to say we used this new service at the Horseshoe and also at the Road House Casino.

Call Slot Attendants

If you are having trouble with your slot machine you can call a slot service attendant the same way. They usually arrive within five minutes. Harrahs casino resorts is really leading the casino competition with this new service.

Slot Cards

In case you have not used a slot card, we cannot emphasize enough why you should always have a card when you are playing the slots. Some of the features of slot cards include:

• Free meals
• Free play
• Point play
• Meal and merchandise discounts
• Free rooms
• Free airport pickup ( High Rollers)
• Free airline fees ( High Rollers )
• Free gifts
• Invitations to slot tournaments or table games tournaments
• Free tax report( more on this later)

Frequent players can expect more while less frequent , or low denomination players will take longer to build up their comp’s. With all of these features everyone should have a slot card.

Express Comp’s

Harrahs has had this feature for some time, and MGM Grand hotels has just introduced this feature on their new MLife cards. Basically you build up comp credit on your card as you are playing slots. These comps can be used to purchase meals in any of the restaurants associated with the hotel your card is associated with.

All you need to do is present your card to the cashier at the restaurant you are dining in and they will deduct the amount of the bill from your comp’s. You do not need to see your slot host and you do not need to line up either. This convenience is another reason why slot cards are a must-have.

We appreciate comments that will help our readers. Feel free to leave yours, however spam comments will be deleted and linking comments will be deleted unless you also link to our web site and make a contributing comment to this blog.

We have just discovered an iPhone app that works on the iPhone, the iPod and the iPad called My Fitness pal, which I have to say is one of the best tools that we have seen for helping people manage their calories intake, but also their sodium, carbs and vitamins. If you are serious about losing weight, using My Fitness Pal can help you to do that.

It will take some effort to record all of the activities and food. The payoff of course is knowing how your food intake affects your weight. Just knowing that the snack your eating has 500 calories in it helps. You may decide to eat a little less. Note that there is no need to eliminate various foods. Control how much you eat by monitoring the caloric intake. Don’t forget to add exercise and the calories that you burn. You can use these extra calories to either treat yourself or contribute to the weight loss your aiming for. My Fitness Pal is a great tool. Start using it now.

My Fitness Pal

This app is so good that we are recommending it to any one who wants to keep track of their food intake and see how it affects your weight. You start of by installing the app and then registering with the online application. You will need to create an ID and a password. Once that is complete, the next thing is to create a profile. Nothing too invasive, however it does ask you your current weight, some information about your lifestyle and how many pounds you want to lose in 5 weeks time.

With this information, the My Fitness Pal app will calculate how many calories you are allowed to eat every day in order to achieve the desired weight loss. This becomes your objective, in other words you cannot exceed this amount. If you exercise, walk etc then you will be able to enter that into your daily diary and add some calories if you want, while still achieving your objective.

Every day you enter the various foods that you eat. There is an extensive online list of various foods and typical meals along with sizes to search and add to your daily diary. As long as you record everything and do not cheat, you will have an accurate representation of the amount of calories, carbs, sodium, fat and vitamins that you are eating every day.

My Fitness Pal – The Big Surprises

I have been using the MY Fitness Pal for a week now and have had a couple of surprises. For years I have avoided adding salt to my food, preferring the natural taste and also trying to keep blood pressure under control. To my surprise even with this approach, I am far exceeding the salt intake that I should be because of the type of foods I am eating.  Not a lot of processed foods, but there appears to be sodium in everything with sodium being added. I am starting to be more judicious about the foods that I eat now, even more than I was previously.

Another surprise is the number of calories that are in various portion sizes. Even with splitting meals with my spouse, I am finding that the meals served in America are so large and contain so many calories, that it is impossible to stay within the limits of the calories I should be eating every day. This re-enforces what we have always known and that is that you must chose foods that are naturally low in calories to lose weight, or you need to exercise like crazy!

Exercising Helps

On various posts on this blog we have said that energy in less energy expended  will equal weight loss only if the answer is negative. By entering the time and type of exercise into your myfitnesspal app, you will have an estimate of the calories burned and you can also see the impact this has on how many calories you can eat as a result each day. Exercise really does help, even if it is just walking!

Update Your Diary

Keep your food diary up to date and the app will do the rest for you, in terms of tracking calories, fat, carbs, sodium and vitamins. YOu can generate various reports on your smart phone as well as access the web site with a PC and generate additional more detailed reports as well.  This is a great little application that can be used by anyone with a smart phone, although the web site indicates that it has been developed for the Apple products.

We will add mote posts about this app in the future and talk about our success as well in terms of losing weight. However in the mean time, comments are appreciated from our readers who have had experience with this app or others that will help us all manage our weight, our sodium intake and maintain a healthy life.

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Coffee at the Roasted Bean at the Beau Rivage casino in Biloxi! Fresh coffee under a glass canopy with shrubs and trees around you, background music and free WiFi. Wait it gets better, although the first coffee is expensive, as long as you have your receipt, all of your refills are free for the rest of the day! For a large coffee you are going to pay $3.85, which is one of the most expensive around, surpassing even Starbucks.  However all you need to do is show your receipt and you can get a free refill any time that day. So if you are a coffee lover, then after even a 2nd cup of coffee you are starting to get to a reasonable price for coffee.

The Roasted Bean coffee shop is better than any coffee shop we have been in, including Starbucks! Muted earth tones decor, open to the atrium above, it is an enjoyable place to sit and savor your morning coffee. It can get a bit crowded at times, especially if the hotel is full, however most people only stay for a few minutes and they are on to their conference, the pool or to the casino.

Comfortable Surroundings

All of the chairs are padded and they have invested in easy to clean marble tables. None of these short stay uncomfortable non cushion chairs which make you want to leave at the Roasted Bean coffee shop. And the place is clean, which says a lot about the management.

On nice warm days in Biloxi, you can also go outside and enjoy the warm air on the patio while you enjoy your coffee. The Roasted Bean has solid tables and chairs with umbrellas for patrons to sit and enjoy their coffee! All in all the Roasted Bean coffee shop is one that we enjoy going back to! This is one of the features that keeps us coming back to the Beau Rivage Casino and Hotel.

The only negative thing about the Roasted Bean coffee place is that there are not enough wall plugs to plug-in your computer. I could only find two. I guess they really do not want you to stay too long working on your computer.

For more reviews about coffee shops, click here.

We left at 5:45 am in the morning on Jan 15th. Neither one of us could sleep, so we got up at 5 and were on our way after picking up a coffee at the local Tim Hortons. Two to four inches of snow was forecast for the Ottawa area that day, however, we made it all the way to the border at the Thousand Islands crossing from Ottawa Canada before it started to snow! We usually cross into the US at the Thousand Islands border crossing.

For once crossing the border was a non-event. We were the only car in line and the customs agents asked us about 5 questions and then allowed us to proceed. I think they are happy to hear that Canadians are spending their money in the US. Right now they can use all of the extra income they can get.

We passed Syracuse before the snowstorm really started and even then it was not that bad. We had to take our time until we got to Buffalo, and then after that, there was no problem at all. The roads were clear. I almost put snow tires on the car before leaving, but now I am glad I didn’t, since we will spend so much time this year in warm weather.

Love those Texas Road Houses

We stopped the first night in Dickson and went to a Texas-style roadhouse called – Long Horns. Great place with really good ribs and steaks. We cannot get over how inexpensive the prices are. Everything in Canada is at least a third again more expensive and then you add the HST!

The next night was in Solon, Ohio. We always stay at Hampton Inn, since we are never disappointed and there is always a great place to eat usually next door. This time the restaurant was called the Farmers Market. They try to use as much local produce as they can. This was a buffet for $9.95, all you could eat, with 4 or 5 different kinds of meat, pasta, salads, Mexican food, and great desserts. Going to have to loosen my belt around my waistline!

Tunica – Gold Strike

We stayed in Tunica for two nights at the Gold Strike Casino. We usually stay here, since the rooms are very nice and there are three casinos located within walking distance. With free rooms, free wi-fi,  a free buffet, and of course free drinks, what more can you ask for? Oh yeah, win at the slots, well not this time.  Click here for reviews of the Gold Strike Hotel & Casino and also here for the Horseshoe Casino.

Biloxi – Beau Rivage

When we left Tunica, we drove to Biloxi and stayed there for two nights, at the Beau Rivage Casino. Again free nights and $100 free play. We signed up for a slot card at the Hard Rock Cafe and they gave us another $100 in free play on the slots. We had a room looking out on the gulf on a beautiful sunny day. Click here to read about the Roasted Bean at the Beau Rivage casino in Biloxi! For pictures and information about the Beau Rivage, click here.

The next stop is Beaumont, Texas at a Hampton Inn of course. We went to another Texas roadhouse and sat at the bar for happy hour and something to eat. We always try to sit at the bar. You do not have to wait in line and you get to meet all kinds of people who are really interested in our travels. For $13.99, we split a plate that came with real mashed potatoes, a bowl of coleslaw, fried onions, a half rack of succulent ribs, and an 8-ounce sirloin steak done to perfection. The beer was $3.50 and the wine was $4.50! What a deal!

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio is a great place to visit, especially along the River Walk. This is a canal that runs through the downtown area, lined with hotels, outdoor patios, and restaurants. A really happening place where thousands stroll along either side of the canal every day. If you have not been here, it is well worth the visit, especially in warm weather when you can sit outside and enjoy the sun and a nice cold beer.

We ended up at Chillies for supper and happy hour. Happy hour is at the bar whenever there is a football game on and of course, at this time of year, there is almost always a football game on. Large draft beer was $3.25 and all appetizers were half-price! The Green Bay Packers won and are on the way to the Super Bowl.

A warning about San Antonio. While it is a safe place to walk around, the city applies a hefty tax on rooms. For a room that cost me $116 at the Hampton Inn, there was a tax of $18 added to the cost, which I find pretty hefty and much more than many other cities we have stayed in. Click here to see pictures of the River Walk in San Antonio

Driving

We are currently in Benson, Arizona when I write this portion, after driving over 5000 km, and for the most part, it has been uneventful which is exactly what you want. We have had some heavy traffic and some erratic drivers that flip from lane to lane at high speed, but nothing even comes close to a dangerous situation. Last year we had exploding tires and a cracked windshield, however, so far all we have had is debris on the road which we missed. Someone lost a bumper and cars and trucks were rolling over it, causing pieces to fly into the air. Fortunately, they missed our car!

We are off to Bisbee, Arizona, and Laughlin, Nevada before hitting Vegas at the end of the month. Watch for our next post about these locations. For more posts about snowbirds and their travels, click here.

San Antonio is a great place to visit, especially along the historic  River Walk. This canal is actually part of the San Antonio river that the city has taken and turned into  a canal that runs through the downtown area of the city. It is  lined with hotels that back onto the canal and has been named the River Walk. There are numerous outdoor patios and restaurants. As well as boat rides with tour guides that you can even book your supper on. A really happening place were thousands stroll along either side of the canal every day. If you have not been here, it is well worth the visit. Especially in warm weather when you can sit outside and enjoy the sun and a nice cold beer.

Some restaurants will also have music in the evening for everyone to enjoy. On cool nights many will also place heaters at strategic points to keep diners warm while they enjoy their dinner. There is definitely a Mexican influence in this part of the United States. There are many Mexican restaurants and so we had our first Mexican meal of the trip.  Very enjoyable! You can stroll along both sides of the canal for perhaps half a mile review the restaurants and then decide which one you want to return to for your dinner or lunch. There is not much open for breakfast.

We stayed at the Hampton Inn, downtown off Bowie street. The Hampton Inn has free parking, free wifi and free breakfast included with the price of the hotel which is a good deal, especially for downtown hotels. It is also with easy walking distance to all of the major downtown attractions.  The Hampton Inns are always clean and always dependable.

The Alamo

You cannot visit San Antonio, without visiting the Alamo.  The Hampton Inn downtown is about two blocks from the River Walk and also two blocks  from the Alamo, one of the most historic places in Texas. On past trips we have toured the Alamo and seen the movie that depicts the story of the last stand at the Alamo as the Texans tried to with stand Santa Anna’s Mexican armies onslaught! It is a really moving piece and well worth seeing by everyone!

You can picture yourself being there facing over whelming odds knowing that help is not going to get to you in time. Every man is willing to fight to the last man standing because Santa Anna has promised the sword to every Texan in the fort.  The story is compelling and exciting and memorable. It brought tears to our eyes as we pictured how patriotic these frontiersman were. Although Sam Houston did not reach the fort in time to save the Texans, he did defeat the Mexican army and retake the Alamo from the Mexicans, setting up the situation for Texas to become a US state.

Historic District

On the morning of our second day we went for a long walk into the historic district of downtown San Antonio. This is an area were homes were built-in the late 1800’s and most are mansions with grand pillars supporting upstairs balconies on grounds that are well manicured. There is a historical society which authenticates and ensure standards are followed in the maintenance of the homes along with any changes that may be considered by the owners. Some are open for tours, although on Sunday when we visited they were all closed. There are also a few that operate as bed and breakfast accommodations, which would be really neat to stay at.

Chilli’s on the River Walk

We ended up at Chilli’s for supper on our second night and it turned out that it was happy hour. Happy hour in Chillis is for patrons sitting at the bar whenever there is a football game on and of course at this time of year there is almost always a football game playing. A large draft was $3.25 and all appetizers were half price! The Green Bay Packers won and are on the way to the Super Bowl!

This last picture on the left was included to show how beautiful the area is. It is not related to Chillis.

A warning about San Antonio. While it is a safe place to walk around, the city applies a hefty tax on rooms. For a room that cost me $116 at the Hampton Inn, there was tax of $18 added to the cost, which I find pretty hefty and much more than many other cities we have stayed in. I guess the money is used to fund the River Walk maintenance etc.

For more places to visit in the US as snow birds, click here.

We just finished staying at the Gold Strike casino one of the Tunica Casinos,  just outside of Tunica for two nights. We enjoy staying at this hotel because it is always clean. It provides good value for our time and of course our money. We did not win any thing on this trip, however we did have our rooms comp’d as well as two dinner buffets that were worth $20 each. So in a way even though we lost money at the slots, we broke even in total when you take into account these comp’s.

The location of the Gold Strike is great because there are three casinos within walking distance. There is the Gold Strike, the Horseshoe and the Roadhouse. The last two are owned and operated by Harrahs Casinos. You can go back and forth between them if you need a change of action or you find that the machines are not paying very well at one or the other. They both honor the Harrahs slot card and you can order your drinks right from the slot machine. This is a huge advantage for Harrahs and a service for their customers. You do not have to wait for a server to randomly come by your slot machine now. Just order it on the screen and it will arrive usually within 5 minutes.

Tunica Casinos – Remember to Get Your Comp’s

While it is nice to go back and forth, you need to take into account that to continue to receive comp’s in terms of free rooms and free play along with meals you need to play were you want to stay. We really enjoy the MGM chain in general. They are usually a level above some of the other hotels in terms of service and rooms. If you are new to slot cards take the time to read one of our posts. It will help to understand why you would want to have a slot card and the benefits of having a slot card. You can click here for more information.

We did not notice a lot of change at these three hotels. In fact a great deal was the same. For a review of each take a look at our previous posts about these hotels.

What we did notice is that both chains, MGM and Harrahs, have updated their slot card systems. They are making them more convenient for the players and reducing the control that the hosts have on comps. If you are a high roller, you will still want to get to know your slot host or table host, however for the average player, you really do not have to stand in line any longer to receive your cash comps . Both systems display your cash comp balance either right on the slot machine screen above the reels or on special terminals located throughout the casino.

Ordering Beverages From the Slot Machine

In addition, Harrahs has added another feature which we really enjoyed. Now you can order beverages right from your seat without having to try and flag down a casino waitress. Place your order on the slot machine touch screen, the order is sent to the bar and the cocktail waitress delivers it 5 minutes later. Wine, mixed drinks, beer, water , coffee and specialty drinks can all be ordered in this manner.

In the mornings when there are only a few cocktail waitresses around or at night when it is really busy, patrons will really appreciate this feature. We found that at the Roadhouse Casino in the morning, there was only one cocktail waitress on duty for the entire casino. We never saw her until we ordered our coffee on this new touch screen. She was there in five minutes. Without this feature, we would never have seen her, since she would hang around the tables were  most of the players were ordering drinks and tipping of course.

We are off to Vegas next and looking forward to staying at the Mirage Casino. We have not stayed at this casino for some time, and there are rumors that there have been lots of updates to the casino and the rooms. It is also part of the MGM chain so we can use our MLife cards at this casino as well. The Mirage has already comp’d us for the rooms so we have already won before we even arrive!

Comments are welcome, especially if you have information about the Tunica Casinos that our readers will find interesting.

All casinos have slot cards or loyalty cards as some would call them. Slot Cards at Harrahs work the same way as at other casinos and we want to cover why you need to have one. This is a great way to reduce your travel costs and receive great service as well. Of course you must have your gambling under control, however if you play the slots this can be a great way to enjoy free rooms, free drinks and meals and much more.

We have repeated a portion of an article on one of our other web sites to show traveler’s how they can save some money while traveling.

Slot Cards at Harrahs

In case you have not used a slot card or do not know much about them, we cannot emphasize enough why you should always have a card when you are playing the slots. Some of the features of slot cards include:

• Free meals
• Free play
• Point play
• Meal and merchandise discounts
• Free rooms
• Complimentary airport pickup ( High Rollers)
• Free airline fees ( High Rollers )
• Free gifts
• Invitations to slot tournaments or table games tournaments
• Free tax report( more on this later)

Frequent players can expect more while less frequent , or low denomination players will take longer to build up their comp’s. With all of these features everyone should have a slot card. More information can be found by, clicking here.

New Features Being Added

Recently the casinos have been updating their systems to bring even more features to their customers through the slot card. Here are two examples.

Slot players, you will love the Horseshoe casino in Tunica! You can now order your drinks at the slot machine by touch screen! All you do is activate the little screen on the slot machine that normally shows your points to show the drink menu and then order the drink you want. The casino waitress shows up five minutes later with your drink! Slot Cards at Harrahs are getting better.

The RoadHouse Casino is also part of the Harrahs chain and they have implemented the same feature. We were in this casino early in the morning and there was really no one there except us and the employees and a few people playing at the tables. There is usually only one waitress at this time of day serving drinks. You can wait a long time for a coffee or something stronger at this time of day. We used the new screens to order our drinks and she was there with our drinks in less than 5 minutes. This is a great service.

We cannot wait to go to some of the other Harrahs casinos to see if they have implemented this feature to other locations as well.

Order Your Drinks

It is really great in the mornings when there are not many waitresses on the casino floor. Just order , the bar makes the drink, and the waitress picks it up for delivery! No more waiting to flag a waitress or playing at a machine just to be near the bar to get a drink! Order whatever you want – water, coffee, beer, wine, mixed drinks, and special drinks such as Irish coffee’s and liquors.

Needless to say we used this new service at the Horseshoe and also at the Road House Casino.

Call Slot Attendants

If you are having trouble with your slot machine you can call a slot service attendant the same way. They usually arrive within five minutes. Harrahs casino resorts is really leading the casino competition with this new service.

Express Comp’s

The Slot Cards at Harrahs has had this feature for some time, and MGM Grand hotels has just introduced this feature on their new MLife cards. Basically you build up comp credit on your card as you are playing slots. These comps can be used to purchase meals in any of the restaurants associated with the hotel your card is associated with.

All you need to do is present your card to the cashier at the restaurant you are dining in and they will deduct the amount of the bill from your comp’s. You do not need to see your slot host and you do not need to line up either. This convenience is another reason why slot cards are a must have.

We appreciate comments that will help our readers. Feel free to leave yours, however spam comments will be deleted and linking comments will be deleted unless you also link to our web site and make a contributing comment to this blog.

For more information casinos in the area and across the US, click here.

Rafting Trip – Gila River rafting in New Mexico – 40 miles

Gila River Rafting – Description –

The Gila River begins near Silver City, New Mexico, in the Gila Wilderness area. It travels west into Arizona, ending near the southeast town of Clifton.

Put in at Grapevine Campground and take out at Mogollon Creek. Rafters can also put in at USFS Road 809 and take out at Redrock to cover 18 miles. A third location calls for put in at Redrock with a take out at Highway 92 bridge for a trip of 19 miles. Anyone floating down the river are cautioned to watch for trees that may have  fallen into the river. Boats and rafts can get caught in the trees, and there is a chance you could capsize.

The trip down the river starts at about 7000’ in elevation, where you’ll be surrounded by majestic Evergreen, Juniper, and Ponderosa trees. Be sure to have your camera ready! As you descend to about 5500’ by the end of the run, you’ll be enjoying totally different flora, namely Alder, Cottonwood, and Sycamore trees.

Explore the Gila River

While running the Gila River, there are many wonderful places you can explore along its banks and in side canyons. Kayakers may even be treated to views of ancient petroglyphs. These are most likely carved by Native American tribes that were indigenous to this part of the American southwest thousands of years ago. They include the Comanche and Apache Nations.

Kayaking on Gila River waters also means a look at some of the area’s most incredible scenery. Bird watching couldn’t be better, with an amazing number of species inhabiting the canyons. You’ll also find a vast array of wildlife here, including rattlesnakes. However be cautious as to where you wander and be sure to abide by the rules of your experienced guide if you’re traveling on a guided kayaking or rafting tour. If you’re on your own, take time to read about the river and necessary safety precautions before you embark on your trip

Rafting Details

River Rating – Class III

Number of Rapids – 39 miles of class III rapids

Minimum Age – Check with outfitters for details and restrictions

Departure Dates – Unlike other rivers that are located further north, kayaking on the Gila River waters is best accomplished in the early spring months. For example usually from late February or early March until the end of April. This is when snow melt is at its peak.

Boat Type – Kayaks and Rafts

What to Bring – Weather can be quite extreme in the early spring, with chilly temperatures one day and scalding heat the next. For example dress in layers as your trip down the Gila River will require an overnight stay. This means you’ll need clothing of various weights during your trip.

Outfitters – Check locally for outfitters for Gila river rafting

Reviews – None available at this time, please feel free to leave a comment and or review about this river.

For more posts about New Mexico rafting and more, click here.

MGM Grand has changed their slot card from MGM Mirage to “MLife” over the past few months. They have also updated features as well. We assembled some of the new features for MGM Grands New Slot Card MLife as described to us by a slot host at the Gold Strike in Tunica, MS.

This is the new slot card from the MGM Grand group, renamed and now called MLife. It still has all of the casinos that are part of the group listed on the back of the slot card. Several new casinos have been added and at least one removed. Treasure Island was sold and is now called TI. It is no longer part of the MGM grand group. MGM has so many properties and each of them have their own 1-800 number so they all have to be listed individually. Makes it tough to read for some of us who need better glasses. There are a total of 12 properties now listed on the slot card and your new MLife slot card can be used at each one of them!

MGM Grands New Slot Card MLife – Express Comp’s

MGM has added “Express Comps” to the screen readout. These Comps are used at the restaurants to pay for your meals. MLife  Comps cannot be used for merchandise. Use these express comp’s at any of the MGM properties all over the US and also at one property in Canada. This is also a great convenience which their competitors have had for some time. Watch our next post for an article about a competitors improvements to their casino slot cards. To find out more about slot cards in general, click here.

This saves a lot of time. Before you had to go and talk to the slot host to see if they would comp you for a meal. Now you go straight to the cashier at the restaurant and hand them your slot card. Now the cashier will deduct your meal from the express comp’s balance on your account. You can even use these express comp’s to pay for your hotel bill at the end of your stay.

Slot Hosts

Of course slot patrons should also talk to their host before checking out. There may be additional meal Comps they might have coming to them. It never hurts to ask. We have had several nights and meals written off amounting to several hundred dollars. It is the same as winning a small jackpot!

Also many people either are uncomfortable about doing this or cannot be bothered. One couple we know do not even bother to get a slot card. As a result pay top dollar for their rooms and all of their meals. They never get comp’d for anything. Of course they are forgoing thousands of dollars sometimes in lost comp’ds.

Provide Comments about MGM’s Mlife slot card. New enhancements or deals that our readers may have come across. Spam comments are deleted.

Alaska is home to some beautiful country, wild animals, some really big mountains, white water rafting and of course Sarah Palin. Her latest reality show that show cases both the Palin family and the state of Alaska. She has done a great job of allowing Americans and Canadians to get to know her state and her family. She is doing a great job about showing off Alaska and the many out door things you can do in Alaska. Of course all of these activities will not appeal to everyone. You just need to watch the show were Kate + Eight, visited Sarah and her family and they went on a camping trip. Not a good experience for Kate, although the kids really liked it. All of the liberal hacks and city slickers really put her down for her out doors attitudes, however I thing she is a “Real American”.

Whether she is going to take a run for President of the United States is an unknown, although she is taking huge steps to show the American people who  she is and what she stands for. In the mean time, Alaska should see a huge influx of tourism as a result of the show.

Alaska White Water Rafting

This site is all about white water rafting and not presidential candidates or reality shows so we are going to take a look at the white water rivers in Alaska. Here is a list of them along with information we could find about them.

• Copper River
• Chitina River
• Nizina River
• Kennicott River
• Alsek River
• Tatshenshini River

Copper River

Rafting in Alaska on the Copper river, through one of the world’s most dramatic canyons, will render a lifetime of memories. Offering an abundance of wildlife, cascading waterfalls, glaciers that often calve right into the river, and mild white water, this river trip floats 100 miles towards the sea, allowing for a classic passage from the heart of Alaska’s majestic mountains to the sparkling Prince William Sound. Simply put, there is no better way to experience the Alaskan wilderness than on this Alaska river rafting trip.

Chitina River

Nizina Canyon, expansive views, eagles, salmon and possible bear sightings. Open riverside camps, view of the Wrangell Mountains

This river features spectacular scenery and remote wilderness. The journey begins near the headwaters of the Kennicott River, only half a mile below the terminus of the Kennicott Glacier. Float the splashy rapids of the Kennicott and merge into the Nizina, which narrows to a steep-walled canyon, a highlight of the trip. On a multiday trip, the second day, the Nizina joins the Chitina and the valley spreads wide as we turn west, skirting the Chugach Mountains. Stop at clear streams and sloughs to search for spawning salmon and keep our eyes peeled for the grizzlies and eagles that feed on them. The last day we will end our river journey at the confluence of the Copper River, near the tiny town of Chitina.

Nizina River

Highlights: bush plane flights into the park, glacial lake exploration, mile-high cliffs, waterfalls, hiking in the vast Chitistone Valley, Nizina Canyon rapids

Less than a dozen people float this stretch of river each season. This is a unique and remote wilderness adventure, as you must be dropped off and picked up by a bush plane that lands on the river bar. The flight in takes us to the lake at the toe of the Nizina Glacier, surrounded by ice-capped peaks and rocky crags. The lake itself is full of icebergs, some as large as a house. Spend the first day hiking and rowing around the lake and exploring the wonders of ice and rock. On the second day you run the splashy rapids of the Nizina River. At night camp beneath the towering Mile-High Cliffs and the following day hike up the broad Chitistone Valley.

Day four is spent floating through a maze of channels as the river bends west around Sourdough Mountain. After floating the spectacular Nizina Canyon, pull out, pack up, and a bush plane carries you back to McCarthy.

This trip can be combined with the Chitina River Journey or the Glacier to the Ocean trip for a remote adventure up to two weeks or more in length!

Kennicott River

Few one-day rafting adventures can match the level of rushing whitewater and powerful vistas found on the remote Kennicott River. In addition through Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The fun begins near the hamlet of McCarthy at the base of the Root and Kennicott glacial moraine. Where the Kennicott River begins its steep descent away from these towering ice fields. You head off downriver for 45 minutes of delightful and challenging Class II and III rapids. A stop below the whitewater lets you marvel at a panorama that includes views of the Wrangell and Chugach mountain ranges jutting skyward.

Alsek River

Perhaps the wildest and most visually spectacular rivers in North America. The Alsek and Tatsheshini give you mountains, glaciers and more! Flowing from the inlands of the Yukon Territory to the coastal regions of the Gulf of Alaska. These rivers offer a full range of outdoor experience. The Alsek is extraordinarily different from the Tatshenshini which is only “one valley over”. Glaciers, icebergs, wildlife, canyons and a helicopter portage around Turnback Canyon add to the adventure. The Alsek valley is perhaps the most “Himalayan-like” topography on the continent!

Tatshenshini River

The Tatshenshini River flows through the heart of the largest bio-preserve in the world. Wildlife abounds as you travel through tall mountains, vast glaciers and ice burg dotted lakes.

For more posts about Alaska, click here.

We decided to add this post on our website because we are so excited to learn that not only are we getting two rooms free at the Gold Strike in Tunica, we also received two free buffets and $40 free play. There is more as well and so we have re-posted this article on this blog so our readers would not miss it. You can click on links below if you want to find out more about casinos, the Gold Strike or casino slot cards. We have written various posts about using slot cards and why it is important to always have a slot card and to use it while gambling.

Receiving free nights and free buffets is the same as winning a small jackpot.  Even better you cannot put it back into the machine, so this is really a true win! You get to sleep and eat and then play in the casino.

MLife Casino Slot Cards

MGM Grand has changed their slot card from MGM Mirage to “MLife” over the past few months and updated features as well. We assembled some of the new features as described to us by a slot host at the Gold Strike in Tunica, MS.

This is the new slot card from the MGM Grand group, renamed and now called MLife. It still has all of the casinos that are part of the group listed on the back of the slot card. Several new casinos have been added and at least one removed. Treasure Island was sold and is now called TI. It is no longer part of the MGM grand group.

There are so many properties and each of them have their own 1-800 number so they all have to be listed individually. Makes it tough to read for some of us who need better glasses. There are a total of 12 properties now listed on the slot card and your new MLife slot card can be used at each one of them!

Express Comps

They have added “Express Comps” to the screen readout. These Comps can be used at the restaurants to pay for your meals. MLife Comps cannot be used for merchandise. You can use these express comp’s at any of the MGM properties all over the US. Also at one property in Canada. A great convenience which their competitors have had for some time. Watch our next post for an article about a competitors improvements to their casino slot cards. To find out more about slot cards in general, click here.

This saves a lot of time. Before you had to go and talk to the slot host to see if they would comp you for a meal . Now you go straight to the cashier at the restaurant. Hand them your slot card. Then they will deduct your meal from the express comp’s balance on your account.

Talk to Your Host

Slot patrons should still talk to their host before checking out to see what room and additional meal Comps they might have coming to them. It never hurts to ask. We have had several nights and meals written off amounting to several hundred dollars. So it can be well worth it. It is the same as winning a small jackpot!

A lot of people either are uncomfortable about doing this or cannot be bothered. One couple we know do not even bother to get a slot card. As a result they pay top dollar for their rooms and all of their meals. They never get comp’d for anything. They are forgoing thousands of dollars sometimes in lost comp’ds.

Comments are welcome. Anything that our readers will find enjoyable about traveling. Spam will be deleted.  Links are good as well, just link to our website and leave a helpful comment for our readers and once we confirm we will reciprocate.

For more posts about casinos and slot cards, click here.

We just had dinner at the The Farmers Market – Dickson Tennessee Exit 172, off of I-40.  From Hwy 46 turn right onto Christy Dr. They are beside McDonalds and behind the Cracker Barrel restaurant.

We are staying at the Hampton Inn, about 1 block away so you can walk to the restaurant. There are lots of motels at this location and several gas stations, so all in all a great place to stop for the night.

Farmers Market – Dickson

They only offer a buffet on the weekends for $9.99 plus tax and it is well worth it. In fact it would be worth it at $15.00 per person. Salads, soup, southern cooking including catfish, pork , pulled pork , several kinds of chicken, pork filets and the best ribs I have had in a long time. The meat is tender and just falls off the bone!

The Farmers Market has of course regular potatoes, sweet taters, several kinds of dressing and also vegetables. It is all great and good, and not a calorie in the lot!

They also served pancakes and crepes which we did not try, however I am sure they are great as well.

Peach cobbler, cherry cobbler and apple cobbler along with at least a dozen other deserts complete this fabulous meal

Family Owned

The Farmers Family Restaurant is family owned and operated. Their goal is to provide a wholesome atmosphere where you and your family can feel right at home while dining out.

Family and farming is important to them. You’ll see their walls are covered with photos of local farmers, past and present. They carry on the tradition of the local farmer, men and women who have worked hard and sacrificed to feed their families and communities.

They don’t use any canned vegetables, only fresh veggies. They buy produce from local farmers when available and  only use USDA choice meats. And, if it’s seafood you’re looking for, they use the freshest seafood on the market.

If you get a chance to stop at this location, I would really recommend that you take this restaurant in for your lunch or evening meal. The restaurant setting is one large room with checkered table clothes on the tables. It is meant to resemble a farmers market of years past. Drinks are extra and huge. Refills are automatic as well .

They also serve breakfast, however we did not get a chance to try a breakfast meal. For more things to do in Tennessee,  click here.

This is really not a coffee shop, but I have slotted it into this category since we purchased coffee at the Esso Station that is combined with a Tim Hortons coffee service.

We had to fill up for gas at the local Esso station at the corner of Jean D’arc and St Joseph in Orleans. True to fashion this is one of the most unfriendly places I have ever gone to.

It was 5:30 in the morning and I will give the guy some slack, he probably has been on duty all night, and maybe just about ready to finish his shift. Still, he could have said good morning! It got much worse.

Tim Hortons & Esso

I am trying to fill my car with gas and ran my credit card through the reader on the pump, selected the grade and placed the spout in the gas tank intake. It is -17C and I am waiting for the attendant to activate the pump. They have to do that even though the customer does everything else.

He was busy with a customer providing coffee , so long that the pump reset itself and I had to enter my card again. It was really cold, so I entered my card and knocked on the window to get his attention this time. Once I filled my car I went into buy a coffee.

He did not say good morning, but did say it would be a few minutes, because he had to make another fresh pot of coffee. No problem, fresh coffee is always good at that time of the morning. Tim Hortons coffee is one of the best when it is really fresh.

Not so Great Service

So myself and two other customers are waiting for the pot to fill. He is doing his end of shift accounting and I said to him I think the pot is going to over flow. It was as if I had not said a word. I looked at the other customer who shrugged. Then I said the pot is overflowing because by this time so much water came out that it was running all over.

He still did not move so I said it is going all over the place. He finally walked over and stuck another pot under the drip to catch the rest. Not a word of thanks or what a mess or anything. He prepared the other customers coffee who was there before me. Then he asked me what I wanted and gave me my coffee.  Talk about someone who either does not like his job or who was in a bad mood.

This is typically Tim Hortons these days and typically Canadian. Canadians are getting a reputation as being an unfriendly lot. We have found a lot of the Tim Hortons shops unfriendly due to the kids that work there.

We all have trouble keeping New Years resolutions for many reasons. Some of us never intended to keep them in the first place, it is just the thing to do so we can tell everyone that we have made them. For other people they honestly want to keep them and achieve what ever New Years resolutions they have made. They may not have the will power, they may get discouraged, they may get side tracked by outside influences and just give up.

What ever the reason is , we all have to find away to meet our objectives and use what ever help we can get to keep our resolutions.  We think that most people will need help and so we have put together a list of things that might help people keep their resolutions.

New Years Resolutions

Not all ideas will work for each person, but if one or two work for you then this post has achieved the objective of helping people with their New Years resolutions. We are focused on maintaining weight or losing weight, while New Years Resolutions can be about anything in your life. What ever they might be, only make one or two New Years resolutions and focus on meeting those . You will have a better chance of success this way, compared to trying to meet ten or fifteen resolutions.

Here is our list :

• Make New Years Resolutions, some people don’t. You have to think about them and actually make serious well thought out resolutions. Otherwise they are just words with no real plan and no idea of how you will accomplish these objectives
• Tell others what they are, so that they are public. Sometimes telling others is away of forcing ourselves to keep resolutions. Making them public and then not meeting those commitments is embarrassing and looks bad. No one wants to look badly to others
• Write them down. Writing them down will help you remember them. You will make you just a little more committed to meeting these goals and objectives
• Look at your resolutions every day. Place your goals somewhere were you will see them every day. It might be on the table, beside the mirror, even on your smart phone. As long as you are reminded of them every day it will help reinforce the commitment to stick with the plan.
• Post them on your to do list – add them to your todo list, which forces you to look at them and deal with them each day as you pull up your list of things to do on any given day. Being reminded all of the time will help build habits which is really what we all need.
• Keep them reasonable and achievable – we all need goals that there is a reasonable chance we will be able to complete them. If they are unrealistic, you may give up before you can complete whatever goals you had in mind.
• Make them complete – well thought out goals are always easier to achieve. Stating a goal with a plan of how you will achieve that goal will help you make them happen. There is a far greater chance that you will achieve your plan if there is a step by step approach outline with your resolutions.

Conclusion

Hope this helps. Even if one reader gets something out of this post, we have achieved our goal. This web site is about diets and losing weight and obviously we think that your New Years resolutions should center around dieting, exercise and nutrition. However these ideas can be applied to any type of New Years Resolution.

Comments and additional suggestions are greatly appreciated!

• Make only a few resolutions
• Make a plan

Save

We have had an opportunity to dine at the Sala Thai Restaurant at 2666 Alta Vista Drive (at Bank), Ottawa, Ontario, (613) 521-1102, several times over the past couple of years. Every time we go the service is excellent and so is the food. If you like Thai food, this is the place to go to experience really good Thai Cuisine!

Fully Licensed

It is fully licensed and they accept all of the standard credit cards. During the week you probably do not need reservations, however on the weekends , reservations are a good idea to make sure you are able to dine at your convenience. 

They are open from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm every day for lunch and from 5:00 pm until 10:00 pm Monday to Saturday and from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Sundays.

Sala Thai Restaurant – Location

They are located in a small strip mall, but don’t let the location fool you. The trip is well worth it, because the traditional Thai food is excellent. They cater to the complexities of central Thai cooking, but in addition to this,  you can  also experiment with the distinctive food of the Esan region, Thailand’s northeast, where the Thai and Laotian cultures meet.

Esan food, the staple of 17 million people in the northeast, is eaten with sticky rice. If you are not already familiar with the food of north-eastern Thailand, their Esan staff can show you how much casual enjoyment you can take with their food.

The writer is not from Thailand and really does not have a lot of experience with traditional Thai food or Esan food from the Esan region. However, we do enjoy excellent cooking and new flavors from a variety of food types prepared in regions that are not familiar to us. This is one of the best and we can recommend many of the dishes that are available at this particular restaurant.

Ordering Your Food

The staff will also help you make your selection as well, so that you can experiment with new meals prepared in ways you may not be familiar with. Check out their menu on their website. Customers can also order take out to take home and enjoy with the family. If you cannot finish your meal feel free to request a take home box as well so that you can enjoy the remainder of your meal later.

This is a great little restaurant that will not disappoint!

This morning we had breakfast at the Mix Steakhouse & Bar in Orleans, beside the Dairy Queen on Tenth line. The address is 1675 Tenth Line Road, Orleans. We had a window view, however, there is not much to look at. There is a tarp covering the chairs for the outdoor patio in the summer and there are thousands of cigarette butts that are strewn everywhere to look at.

The Mix Steakhouse & Bar in Orleans – Description

This is a bar first and foremost although they obviously serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Unfortunately for us this morning the coffee was lukewarm at best and although the waitress tried her best to get us a hot cup of coffee, there was just something wrong with the coffee machine this morning.

We also found that the Mix Steakhouse was still rather untidy from the night before. The floor had not been cleaned, my first coffee cup had catsup on it and the second had something unrecognizable on it as well.

Our Order

We ordered a combo and split it since my wife is a light eater at breakfast. The combo sounded like a lot of food. In fact, it was, consisting of two pancakes, two sausages, two pieces of bacon, scrambled eggs, deep-fried potatoes, and toast.

After my wife took her share, I could still not finish the meal. Although the quantity was more than we needed, it left a bad aftertaste most of the morning.

I think it was the bacon, but not really sure since there was a lot of grease and fat with pretty much everything.

The Service

The service at the Mix Steakhouse was fine and the waitress really tried. But when you are dealing with a bad situation, it is pretty tough to recover from it. We have only tried one meal, however, based on this meal we will not go back.

If you have comments on this location, please feel free to leave a comment, positive or negative. Everyone deserves a second chance. For more information about Ottawa, Ontario, and the nation’s Capital, click here.

We are in the early stages of planning our trip and are using the checklist that we posted in the previous post, called travel planning. We will be driving to California and taking a southerly route to avoid a lot of highways that could be snow covered and to avoid snow storms in the winter period. On the way home we will come back on a northerly route, probably through Utah and Colorado. We have found that it is much easier and safer to take a longer route in the winter months. We really do not need to be concerned about snow and icy roads.

Planning Our Trip –  Route

For now though we are going to head straight south to Memphis and then on down to Biloxi, Mississippi. We will spend a few days at Tunica, Mississippi and then on to Biloxi were we will also spend a few days. We stay at the Gold Strike in Tunica and at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi. Both of these places are casino hotels and we can usually get a free room at either place.

Next we will head west along Interstate 10. It takes you all the way to Los Angeles with no snow to worry about anywhere along the route. Once you pass Houston, it is pretty much desert all of the way to California, although on past trips we have encountered rain storms in the middle of the desert and the odd flake of snow at higher elevations, near Benson Arizona. We will not book any hotels along the way until we get to Benson Arizona. Our preference is to stop when we get tired or see something we like along the way. We will stop at Benson, Arizona for a night and then head off to a Titan Missile Museum the following day. We will leave a post about this later on our trip.

Once we leave the Missile Silo, we will head to Phoenix were we will stop for one night and then on to Las Vegas for two nights. After that we are spending a month in Palm Springs before heading to Laughlin Nevada. As we travel to each of these locations we will add posts along the way, sometimes daily if there are interesting things to write about.

Making Reservations

For some locations we can make reservations ahead of time. Such as Benson and Las Vegas. However from Biloxi to Benson we will leave it open so we can be flexible about how far we drive every day. This is the best way to travel on a vacation were you make decisions about were you are going to go each day. We will often decide around 2 or 3 pm how much further we want to drive and then call ahead to book a hotel.

Many of our friends cannot travel this way. They have to get to their final destination as quickly as possible. They have to know were they are staying each night, other wise they get stressed out about their trip. We also carry a GPS with us so that we always know were to go.  Even if we pull off somewhere , it will automatically recalculate directions for us. The GPS helps us find restaurants, shopping and things to see in the area. There has been the occasional time that we have had to drive much further than we planned due to unacceptable hotels. But it is so seldom that we really do not worry about this at all.

Using Air Miles, Credit Card Points

We also try to use points from various cards and loyalty cards that we have. This saves us a lot of money. However we really need to coordinate our travel with the loyalty cards. They sometimes need advance notice of several days before they will confirm reservations for us. You can also use airline points as well to pay for hotels.  Once we have everything set up to go the only thing that we need to be concerned about is the weather. As long as there is some flexibility in dates, you can pretty well work around this easily. However you must always account for at least one day delay due to weather.

Other than that it is just basic preparation. Follow though on our list of preparations and we will be ready to go on our trip! For more ideas about trip planning, click here.

We just have to leave a post about this subject to show how cheap and sad the OLG really is. The Ontario Lottery Corporation is a running a month of OLG Give Aways, actually it is not even a full month, but then who is quibbling! OLG is run by the government and of course they see casinos as another source of income without the negative that taxes are perceived with. Here are the giveaways.

OLG Give Aways – 21 Days of Giveaways

January 3-9 You could win an all-expense-paid trip to Ottawa from January 29 – 31, 2011 to see country superstar Brad Paisley perform live!

Prize package includes:

• Concert tickets
• Transportation, accommodation and dinner
• $500 in spending money

Plus, we’re giving away 21 daily instant cash prizes of $100*!

January 10-16 You could win 100,000 Reward points!

Plus, we’re giving away 21 daily instant cash prizes of $100*!

January 17-23 You could win a Home Entertainment package!

Prize package includes:

• SONY Bravia 55″ TV
• A SONY Blu-ray player
• SONY Surround Sound System
• Tech Craft LCD Mounting Stand
• La-Z-Boy Diplomat Recliner

Plus, we’re giving away 21 daily instant cash prizes of $100*!

Minuscule Prizes

These are nice prizes, however what is so sad is the smallness of these prizes. Other casinos will give away huge prizes in the thousands of dollars, while here you might win $100! or one of the other prizes. And they really do not say how many of these prizes are being won or given away each day, so you can be sure there are not many.

This coincides with their slot cards which give away a minuscule amount of money and meals to patrons of the casino compared to US casinos. We go once a year to Tunica and stay at the Goldstrike there and we receive free rooms every year. We are only there for two days, yet we get all of these free rooms! The OLC does not even come close.

Government Taxing Canadians and Americans

Governments, which the OLG is part of is taxing Canadians to the hilt and taking even more money through casinos. Americans who do not live close to Vegas, Tunica,  Atlantic city or Biloxi are having the same thing happen to them. These casinos are built for one reason only, they are to bring added revenue into the states. The OLG has a casino in all of the major cities in Ontario and where there is not a casino, they place one at the race tracks close by. There is no competition and there are certainly no significant perks for patrons.

We recently saw an interview of a government representative about casinos run by local governments. There attitude is that their constituents are going to gamble anyway, so they may as well gamble in their province and the province may as well collect the revenue instead of losing it to Quebec or to the states. The state governors in the US feel exactly the same way. As a result you see all of these casinos springing up, spread all over the place which means no competition between them and poor payouts as well as poor perks.

OLG Lack of Giveaways

Or should we say OLG poor giveaways? These giveaways are only being done to try to keep Canadians from spending money in the US or in Quebec. January is a slow month, consumers have to pay their Christmas bills and there is less money to go around.

I really think that people living in Ontario should boycott their casinos for just this reason. The Ontario Government is just offering small baubles to entice you to go to the their casinos.

Comments are welcome. Maybe you agree with the writer or perhaps not. We would like to hear your opinion on this subject!

My wife and I recently had lunch at the Ha Noi Pho Restaurant in Ottawa located at :4312 Innes Road, Unit 1,Orleans, Ontario. It is at the corner of Innes Road and Lanthier Road.

Ha Noi Pho Restaurant in Ottawa

We found that this restaurant not only serves excellent food, but the service also is great and there is a nice atmosphere as well. It is a relatively small restaurant and we were there late in the lunch hour period, so it was not too crowded.

We had a beer first which was ice cold, just the way we like it, and ordered vegetable rolls initially. We mentioned to the waitress that we wanted to enjoy our beer and then order our lunch a bit later.

She was really excellent not bothering us every 5 minutes to see if we were ready to order. Instead, she was very respectful and observed us from a distance. As soon as we were ready we were able to get her attention easily and place our orders.

I had General Tao’s chicken which is slightly spicy and comes with white rice. It was excellent and both the quantity and the taste of the food more than met our expectations. Although the lunch came to about $40,  we did have a beer each, an appetizer, and two great meals.

My wife has dined at this restaurant several times with a friend. She plans to return many more times for the food, the atmosphere, and of course that ice-cold beer. She has gone to this restaurant several times since our visit together. Each time she has enjoyed the meal.

They seem to be able to maintain consistency in terms of both services as well as food quality. This is difficult to do when staff changes etc. at many restaurants.

If you have not been to this restaurant in Orleans, it is definitely worth a try, especially if you enjoy Vietnamese food.

We recently had coffee at the Starbucks located inside the Chapters store at 2401 City Park Drive, Gloucester, ON K1J 1G1, which is actually in Ottawa near the corner of Blair road and Olgivy Rd. This Starbucks & Chapters store is a very busy store both for books as well as for coffee. On any given day  it is difficult to find a place to sit. Many of the Starbucks locations seem to be like this. Starbucks is also upgrading many of their busy locations. A big improvement in the opinion of this customer.

This is a nice combination of located a great coffee shop with a Chapters store. Many people were browsing books while enjoying a coffee. We have to assume that the books had been paid for and not borrowed.

Starbucks & Chapters

As with many of the Starbucks it has a decidedly American flavor to it. The staff is friendly and helpful and they have a full selection of all of the standard coffees etc. This is a high traffic location and there was a bit of slush in the parking lot so that a lot gets tracked into the store which is a bit of a negative.

As we said the staff was friendly and actually said hello to us first before asking for our order. This is something a lot of Canadian companies still have to learn.

Besides belong located inside a Chapters book store which is a decided advantage, there are also a lot of tables and chairs for people to relax and enjoy their coffee and a snack. The WiFi was also working and there were a number of people working on their laptops while have a coffee.

I checked the connection using my iPod and found that it connected quickly and had a reasonable speed. Many people go there for several hours to do their email, work on a project or study for exams. This puts seating at a premium, which can be a bit of an issue if you want to settle down with your favorite coffee and read a book..

I would definitely go back to this particular Starbucks! The hours of this particular store coincide with that of Chapters since there is no physical separation between the two. As a result if the Starbucks is open the Chapters book store much also be open as well.

There is also lots of parking outside with a Best Buy and the theater nearby. On days when there are a lot of people going to the show it can get a little busy in the parking lot as well.

Sarah Palin’s Alaska is one of the best shows on TV right now. It has done wonders for Alaska. Like the last show about mushing dog sleds to white water rafting. There are lots of people who love her and there are lots of people who really cannot stand the ground that she stands on. Either way though Sarah Palin’s Alaska is one of the best marketing packages anyone could put together for a state. Who knows whether she will run for president of not. Right now she is riding the wave of popularity and notoriety that she has to promote herself and Alaska.

White Water  – Alaska

Imagine that you want to somehow get the country to get to know you, advertise your state and increase tourism in the state. Get someone like Sarah Palin to go around the state and do all of the outdoors things that any one would love to do. From hunting, to hiking to boating to mushing to white water rafting. She does it all and she can even shoot accurately according to the TV show. Whether she is  acting or not, I do not know any women that can cut trees down, operate large pieces of equipment and be a mother to 5 children!

Each episode depicts a different sport or activity that families can take part in regardless of whether they are in Alaska or not. She is demonstrating the idea of family values, discussing some of the issues that families must deal with and showing that although she has become wealthy, she and Todd Palin are just another couple trying to make ends meet and raise a family.

We will add more posts about White Water rafting in Alaska and about Sarah Palin. In the mean time if you have any comments about this post or about Sarah, please feel free to leave constructive comments that our readers will appreciate.

Sarah Palin and Rafting on the Matanuska River

An exciting glacial fed, class III & IV whitewater trip next to the 27 mile long Matanuska Glacier. The main rapids are several miles long. The result of a squeeze play between the glaciers lateral moraine and “Lion Head”, a massive basalt rock wall from an ancient volcanic plug. A perfect trip for first-timers or experienced river runners! Oar rafts with paddle assist or full paddle rafting available.

On the show were Sarah and her family went white water rafting, there was her brother and sister, her father and a number of the kids along with an expert guide. They appeared to have a wonderful time, getting totally soaked and thrills galore as they traversed the class III rapids. The water was ice cold since this river comes from the glacial melt that is just above the freezing point.

All though I am sure that the entire event was somewhat staged, this was a great show. It demonstrated what it is like for people to go white water rafting in a setting such as Alaska. Surrounded by mountains, glaciers and a raging river. It provides some of the best scenes for a show such as this.

Other Rivers in Alaska Suitable for White Water Rafting

Perhaps the wildest and most visually spectacular rivers in North America, the Alsek and Tatsheshini give you mountains, glaciers and more! Flowing from the inlands of the Yukon Territory to the coastal regions of the Gulf of Alaska, these rivers offer a full range of outdoor experience.

The Tatshenshini River flows through the heart of the largest bio-preserve in the world. Wildlife abounds as you travel through tall mountains, vast glaciers and ice burg dotted lakes.

The Alsek is extraordinarily different from the Tatshenshini which is only “one valley over”. Glaciers, icebergs, wildlife, canyons and a helicopter portage around Turnback Canyon add to the adventure. The Alsek valley is perhaps the most “Himalayan-like” topography on the continent!

Additional rivers that can be candidates for white water rafting are COPPER RIVER – CHITINA RIVER – – NIZINA RIVER – KENNICOTT RIVER – GULF OF ALASKA.

For more posts about Alaska, click here.

We are starting to receive advertising for the spring of 2016 from the casinos we have visited over the past year. There are lots of free rooms, buffets and also free play available if you can take advantage of them all. Casino comps are one of the casinos primary advertising methods. They reward their customers and attract business to their venues. Of course we are talking about the casinos in the United States since Canadian casinos do not provide significant casino comps. In fact they are down right tight on these sorts of things.

Casino Comps – Free Rooms, Free Buffet and Freeplay

These rewards of course depend on your play and also how busy the casinos are, however with the economy the way it is they all seem to be doing everything they can to get their customers to come back to their hotels, their casinos and their restaurants. We have found that when there are major conferences and trade shows taking place, the room comp’s are not as great or you need to have a lot more play to qualify. On the other hand if the casino is not busy, they work hard to fill rooms and bring people to their property and that often means many more rooms are offered to the slot players who also have a slot card, even if you are not a big player.

How Do You Qualify for Free Rooms?

It is pretty easy. First you need to register with the casino’s slot program. It is free to sign up and make sure you give them your email address, since they will send you deals and information about shows by email. You can choose the regular mail if you prefer, however most people go for email because it is faster and it is eco friendly.

Always use you your slot card when you are playing the slots. Just insert it in the card reader on the slot machine before you start playing. You will have to also insert money as well, either cash or a ticket that you got out of another slot machine. As long as the card is inserted, they will track your play and then based on your play you will be sent invitations to free rooms, meals and shows. Of course if you only play for 5 minutes, don’t expect to receive any free items!

Sign Up for Slot Cards Everywhere

We always sign up for a slot card and now we are receiving all of these offers. Of course we will not take advantage of all of them, but so far we are receiving 6 free rooms, several meals and also some free play. That’s over $800 depending on what you assume a room costs these days! A small jackpot!

Heavy Players

We do not fall into this category, however if you play a lot, then you will likely receive far more that what we have just discussed. Everything from free rooms anytime, free meals, even free airfare if you are a heavy gambler. Note that we are not advocating gambling or playing a lot. However if you do play, you may as well take advantage of these perks as much as you can to enhance your trip and make it more exciting.

Collecting Free meals and Free Play

Most casinos will either send you a voucher which says you will receive free meals and free play. If you get one of these vouchers, then all you have to do is to go to your slot host. They will actually add it to your slot card. Then you can go to the restaurant and enjoy your meal on the house. Same with free play.

Sometimes the slot host will tell you to charge all of your expenses to your room. Once you are ready to leave, they will ask you to come and see them. At that time, they will decide how much to give you or write off for you. If you played a lot, they may write off all of your meals, expenses and room charges. The down side of this if course is that you have to eat within the casino or hotel. Any meals that you eat outside of the hotel you are staying at cannot be written off by your host.

Why Not take Advantage of these Offers

With all of these complimentary meals and rooms available, players would be crazy not to take advantage of them. Sometimes you may have really bad luck at the slots, and recoup the equivalent in comp’s! It is also a bit of payback from the casino for all of your losses.

What a great deal if you play your slot card and comp’s right. If you have comments or know of deals that our readers will benefit from, let us know. Leave a comment.

 Starbucks Orleans is part of an American company expanding into Canada and this location demonstrates a little bit of the American influence. Starbucks Orleans cannot quite shake off that cold unfriendly Canadian influence that Canadians are increasingly being known for.

This location is always really busy (they need a third Starbucks  somewhere in Orleans, Ontario) and crowded. Often there is a line almost out the door to place your order and another line waiting for the specialty coffee orders to be prepared. At busy times you might have to wait up to 10 or 15 minutes in total for the special cup of java.

The staff is professional and they do say ” Can I help you” with a smile. However that is about as far as it goes. I think they are so busy they are just trying to get the orders completed. Which is not a bad thing. Still it does not measure up to what we have experienced at coffee shops in the US at Starbucks.

Since this location is so small, they really do not have a good location to store supplies. As a result they have boxes piled up in customer areas. They sometimes even place them on the counter were people sometimes sit if there are no boxes to enjoy their coffee.

Starbucks Orleans

My daughter who is a food auditor for the airlines mentioned that this is a really bad infraction from a cleanliness perspective. Who knows were the bottom of that box has been. Now it is on the counter and leaving who knows what on the counter were people enjoy food as well as coffee. She spoke to them about it. However of course no one did anything about it.

They have a couple of sofa chairs, about 5 tables and a bench area, all really crowded together. This place is always really crowded. As a result we have to line up for a coffee and then line up for a specialty coffee to be made.

This place is a real gold mine, but they have to get more space for people to sit at. The place is popular since everyone goes for the coffee! They also have free WiFi.

We also registered our Starbucks card so we get free refills and free toppings if we order a specialty coffee. We also get a free drink of our choice on our birthdays!

Even with the friendliness, the boxes and the relatively small space, we will continue to frequent this Starbucks. Although the new Second Cup in Orleans is beckoning as preferred spot. As of June 7, 2016, this location is going to be remodeled. Can’t wait to see the changes.

They have just opened a new Second Cup coffee shop in Orleans, Ontario Canada along Innes road. This Second Cup – Orleans, Ontario is located near Lowes.  I do not normally go to this particular chain for coffee, however my wife wanted to try it out. What a pleasant surprise! this location has become one of our favorite places to have coffee with friends and as a couple.

Canadians are actually friendly in some coffee shops. I recently posted about Tim Hortons and how unfriendly they are. Well at Second cup they actually said “good Morning” with a smile and asked ” how can I help you”! The store is new and I know they are trying to gain customers, and for me this is absolutely the best way to go about it. Nice friendly service. When we were leaving someone said to us from behind the counter, “Have a nice day”. You never see this at any of the competing coffee chains except for maybe Starbucks if they notice and have time.

Second Cup – Orleans, Ontario

It does not hurt that the place is brand new and decorated very nicely. They have the usual chairs and tables, but they also have a nice fireplace with soft leather chairs to sit in, read a book or chat with friends. There was also a spot over by the windows in a little alcove were you could also meet with 2 or 4 friends and have a great conversation on nice leather chairs. This is a very comfortable spot to go and we usually visit this coffee shop a couple of times a week.

This is absolutely the best way to go about it in terms of attracting customers and keeping them. Finally a coffee chain that recognizes that their customers want more than just a cup of coffee. They are looking for comfort and a cozy place to relax in, enjoy coffee and chat with friends and family.  We will definitely go back to this Second Cup for coffee in the near future!

For a list of more things to do in Palm Springs, click here.

Let’s face it we all gain weight over the holidays. There are parties to go to and then there are the meals, not to mention all of the snacks that are everywhere. We consume thousands of calories with the drinks, the food and the deserts and lets not forget the snacks and munchies that seem to be available everywhere. It is very difficult to Lose Weight at this time of the year.

Unless you are a robot, it is really tough to avoid or resist all of these temptations. We all love to snack and when the food is so good, why not. Now it is time to make some new years resolutions, but will we stick to it?

New Years Resolutions – Lose Weight

I am sure you have made New Years resolutions in the past and you are probably going to make some this year as well. I know that I have and I will make some more resolutions which I will probably break within a few days of having thought about them or even gone as far as writing them down.  Doomed to failure , right!

Well they do not have to be broken right away. Many people some really drastic resolutions that call for them to make significant changes in their lifestyle. These are really difficult to keep. There are too many temptations and let’s face it our will power is just not up to it. Who wants to turn down that piece of chocolate cake or that extra helping of food.

My solution this year is to make smaller resolutions that are aimed at something I can actually complete. For example, instead of saying I am going to lose 50 pounds this year, I am going to focus on losing one pound a week and I am going to utilize small plates at supper which will limit the amount of food that I can pile on my plate! Hopefully this will work and if I lose some weight or half the weight I am trying to lose, well I will consider it to be a success.

Lose Weight – Small Portions

It is all about limiting the number of calories we intake. If we can eat smaller portions pretty soon our bodies and our stomachs will tell our brains that we are full after we have eaten a small amount. Using a small plate is one way of doing this, so that you are forced to think about filling up a second time.

Stay away from buffets, were the natural tendency is to always eat more than you planned. I always take a little bit of everything, but before you know it I have an overloaded plate! This is where the small plate really works well. By the time you finish the first plate and are heading back for the second you are going to feel full and you just may avoid a second helping.

Most of us do not have the will power to stick with it, so playing these little tricks on our selves, is a great way to condition our bodies to expect less. Try it.

Exercise

We cannot write a post about New Years resolutions without talking about exercise as well. Many people will go out and buy a membership at a gym, only to quit a month later. Actually the gyms love these people, because they pay for a full year and then never use the facilities. Talk about profit margin!

Get out there and move. Walking around the block, walk around the mall if it is cold outside, whatever works for you, but move and get some exercise. If the gym works and you will stay with it, it is a really great way to exercise and get it done, but you do need to form the habit of exercising daily for at least 20 minutes a day!

Diet

Lastly there is diet. New Years resolutions cannot just be “I am going to lose weight”, or ” I am going to lose 10 pounds”. There has to be more than that. It has to encompass, eating less, exercising and of course diet. You might eat smaller portions, however if you are still eating high fat content foods, then you are probably going to lose some weight if you are reducing your portion size, but you could lose a lot more if you watch your diet and eat  food that is going to help you lose weight.

Eat salads and low fat foods, which means you have to limit what you eat that is deep fried, food that has a lot of sugar in them etc.

Good luck with your New Years resolutions. Remember – smaller portion sizes, exercise 3 times a week, eat a proper diet and set reasonable achievable goals! Comments and suggestions are welcome!

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This is just a short post to talk about our stay at the Comfort Inn in Hogansburg, New York just beside the Akwesasne Casino. This is a fairly new hotel built for guests going to the casino. You can park at the hotel and walk easily over to the casino across well lit parking lots with no concern about your safety.

The hotel is very clean and has everything you will need including WiFi (which I am using at this moment to write this post) and free breakfast in the morning. They have a quality breakfast consisting of hot and cold dishes along with fruit and cereal as well as yogurt. Lots of coffee is available all day long.

They even have hot chocolate chip cookies when you check in, in the evening around 5 to 7 pm. The cookies will all be eaten by 7 for sure so get there early if you want one.

Comfort Inn – Akwesasne Casino

The staff is friendly. Every time I meet someone from the hotel, they say hello or good morning, or how was your stay etc. Very friendly and very helpful.

If you are looking for a place to stay the Comfort Inn  is a great place to stay while you are playing slots or poker at the casino. It is convenient, with free parking and as we mentioned within very easy walking distance to the casino itself.

Oh and I forgot the best part. There is no tax since you are on Indian land and they are not charging New York State tax on your hotel stay. There is no tourism tax or city tax or anything of that sort when you stay at this hotel. This is really a bonus since many hotels are now charging not only state and city taxes, which they have no choice with, some are also charging resort fees. So you $100 a night room can suddenly balloon out to $125 or even higher for a one nights stay.  They do not tell you this when you check in.

Breakfast at the Comfort Inn includes both hot and cold items, fruit cereal, eggs, yogurt, toast and waffles. Of course you have to help yourself bu that is fine since you can take your time and enjoy your breakfast without waiters bothering you. They usually serve breakfast from 6am to 10 am in the morning.

Definitely a must stay, and do not forget to ask for a senior discount or Triple A discount. It will save you approximately $10 on your stay each night! We also ask to stay in the new section which is only one year old. The old section is  maybe 5 years old which is not very old either.

Comments welcome and don’t forget to read our review of the casino.

At least were we go, Americans seem to go out of their way to be friendly and polite. We are at the casino in Akwesasnee, New York staying at the Comfort Inn. First person I met said good morning to me. The lady looking after the kitchen asked if everything was ok with my stay and did I need anything. Americans Friendly and Polite, absolutely yes! This is the way it is all over America! Keep it up, the service is great and the quality is excellent.

We have traveled all over the US and Canada staying at various hotels and motels, visiting restaurants and tourist areas and we have found that there really is a difference in the way that Canadians and Americans treat their guests. American in general understand that their business depends on satisfied customers. Unfortunately we do not think that Canadians care and we wondered why this was the way it is.

One example is the breakfast area at the Comfort Inn in Akwesasene, New York. The breakfast area was really clean and the young lady in charge did a really great job at keeping up with making sure there was enough food available and cleaning up after everyone.

Americans Friendly and Polite

She even took time for a smoke outside, which she deserved without any problem around the breakfast area. This hotel is non smoking and they make sure that the rooms are clean and odor free too. She checked with all of us before leaving to make sure that we had everything we needed before going on her break.

The halls were spotless; everything in the hotel is nice and clean and as we mentioned earlier in the post the service and the friendliness of the staff was superior! This is pretty typical in terms of the service level that we have found, but there is one more point that we think deserves mention.

The staff was friendly, they spoke to their guests, they used the words please and thank you and they made sure that we understood that we were their customer and that they appreciated it. Why is the service level so much better in the US vs. Canada?

We happen to think that it is the maturity of the individual providing service. Canadians tend to hire teenagers who are more interested in their next date, the latest song or movie etc. they just don’t get it that they are there to provide excellent service. Adults who need the job are almost always going to provide better service because they want to keep those jobs.

Sure there are places everywhere that provide bad service from time to time, but they do not last long and all we are saying is that on average, service levels in the US are much better. In general, Americans Friendly and Polite – absolutely yes!

Are Canadians Friendly & Polite? We do not think so or maybe it is just the kids that work there. Yesterday we were at a Tim Hortons in Ottawa, Canada on Trim road near Waters street. Typical of most Tim Hortons it is one of the most unfriendly places to get your coffee. No one said good morning, no thank you or can I help you, Just “next”. Canada used to have a reputation of being friendly and polite. Not any more. Every time I experience this sort of thing I am going to post something on this blog about it. This is the first one and I will also post comments when I do receive friendly service!

Aside from the unfriendly service, the shop was messy, the kids behind the counter were too busy talking to really provide good service and there is no WiFi for customers who want to check on the news and surf the net.

Tim Hortons has recently updated its restaurants with WiFi. I guess they were finding that the competition was too much for them and customers were expressing frustration at no service.

Canadians Friendly & Polite

Tim Hortons is a really successful coffee shop chain in Canada, and try to move as many customers as possible through their store as fast as possible. They discourage anyone from really staying too long. Never the less if they do not provide great and friendly service, there is an opportunity for another chain to step in and under mind their business.

We originally wrote this post in Dec 2010 and this update is two years later. Nothing has changed relative to customer service at this chain and in fact, we have continued to notice a deterioration at many other places as well.

Even McDonald’s is not consistent and it really depends on who is across the counter. Adults tend to provide better service than the teenagers who are too engrossed in their personal lives which are very trivial – music, the latest date or party, etc. You have a job, you are lucky to have a job, so do it well or you risk losing it.

There are actually quite a large number of things that need to be thought about when it comes to planning for trips and to get ready to leave on a trip. It also depends on whether you are leaving for a weeks vacation in the sun, a trip to a ski resort or are taking off for four months as many of the snow birds do. Each has similar and unique requirements which can make the difference between a successful trip and one that is memorable for all of the wrong reasons.

We have compiled a list of items that we feel that anyone planning for trips should take into account in getting ready for a trip. We cannot promise that everything is listed, but it works for us. Hopefully it will help you as well. If you see something missing, let us know by leaving a comment.

We will be glad to add it so our readers can benefit. I have them listed in a spread sheet and I just tick them off as I complete each item. I also have a counter on the spread sheet so I know how many are left for me to do. Some items are color coded to indicate those that I must do the day we leave, the day before and the week before. It is a good system and works for me.

Planning for Trips

Here we go in no particular order or importance

• For driving trips, plan your route
• Update CAA membership and obtain maps as needed
• Travel insurance top ups for coverage of airfare etc
• Health insurance top ups for health coverage
• Arrange for driveway snow clearing
• Arrange for lawn maintenance in the summer
• Mail pickup by a friend or neighbor
• Stop cable tv or satellite TV if you will be away for a month or more
• Stop Internet access if you are away for a month or more
• Arrange for basic home telephone
• Arrange for mobile coverage and roaming if needed
• Make sure all passports are up to date
• Arrange for payment of all utilities while you are gone

More Items to Consider

• Does your Car license need  renewal while you are gone
• Do you need to do your income taxes while you are away
• Life insurance is paid up
• Health insurance coverage is paid up
• Disability insurance is paid up especially if this travel is work related
• Do you need a Visa to enter a country
• Stop any newspapers
• Car maintenance is up to date – oil changes, tires
• Prescriptions have been renewed
• Maps / GPS are ready to go if this is a driving trip
• All Doctor appointments have been completed
• Update calendar and provide itinerary to family or friends
• Car insurance renewal is up to date
• Scan and email passports, licenses, Credit Cards, etc for emergencies
• Set up an email emergency contact list
• Contact credit  card center to let them know you are traveling
• Tag luggage with your names
• Take pictures of house for insurance purposes in case there is a claim
• Obtain travelers checks if needed
• Leave keys for house with someone you trust
• If driving take a flashlight, first aid kit and emergency blankets with you in case of breakdown
• Unplug all electronics while you are gone, TV,  computers etc
• Turn water off as required by most insurance companies
• Back up computers in case of loss or damage
• Take a portable hard disk with you and store in separate location
• Set Timers for lights in rooms in your home that you use regularly
• Set Furnace temp to desired temperature while away
• Turn off Washing m/c & unplug
• Turn off Dishwasher
• Shut off ice maker in fridge
• Turn off humidifier on furnace
• Remove battery from cars that are not being used while away
• All air tickets, hotel reservations and entry fees are packed with your carry on

The Basic’s for your Trip

This may seem like a long list of things for Planning for Trips, however some only apply to driving trips of extended length. Pick and chose those items that make sense to you based on your home, your trip and your family.

The basic things are must do’s – passport ready, money ready, tickets ready, home ready, water shut off ready, someone to look after your home while away. Everything else can generally be dealt with or can wait if you are going on a short trip, however longer trips take more care and planning to make sure there are no major problems on your trip as well as back at home.

Always plan for the entire family to make sure that everyone will enjoy their vacation. Usually not everyone will like every thing so you need to plan something for every one to do. You also need to acknowledge that there are going to be things that you do not enjoy and compromise is the only way to deal with these things.

Enjoy your trip and if you have other ideas about items we should add to our checklist, don’t hesitate to leave a comment. Our readers will appreciate your thoughts. Planning for Trips makes for a successful vacation.