Save big with the Luxembourg Card

In Luxembourg, that small and expensive Grand Duchy situated next to Belgium, France, and Germany, families can save a bundle with the Luxembourg Card.

The card features include unlimited FREE use of trains and buses, along with FREE admission to 56 tourist attractions, including museums, castles, sightseeing trips, and more.

The Luxembourg Card is priced depending on the number of days that it is good for.  You can buy it in advance, and validate it on your first use.  The more people in your family, the more you’ll save.  And with the Euro vs. Dollar valuation right now, you’ve got to save whenever and wherever you can!

A card valid for one person costs €10 (about $14) for one day, €17 for two days, and €24 for three days.  A card valid for 2-5 people costs €20, €34, and €48 respectively.  This means that you’re paying for two adults and the kids get in or ride FREE.  That will save some serious coin on your vacation.

You can buy the Luxembourg Card online.  They are also available at tourist offices, hotels, hostels, and train stations, as well as most participating attractions.

Photo credit:  Luxembourg National Tourist Office

Post from: Blisstree

Big Savings with Luxembourg Card

CityPass offers ticket booklets that slash admission prices to major attractions by nearly 50%.  The booklets contain the actual admission ticket (not a coupon or voucher), and if you plan on seeing a number of attractions around town, the savings starts adding up fast.  For the price of one or two attractions, you may be able to see the whole city full!  And you’ll save time (and frustration) by avoiding ticket purchase lines.  Spending vacation time waiting in line is never fun!

Most passes are valid for 9 days from the day of first use, and have no black-out dates.  Some attractions also offer special complimentary upgrades (onsite) to CityPass users.

Here’s what CityPass if offering (valid April 1st, 2009 through March 31st, 2010):

• Atlanta:  Admission to Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Zoo Atlanta, Inside CNN Atlanta Studio Tour, a choice between the Fernbank Museum of Natural History or Atlanta Botanical Garden, and a choice between the High Museum of Art of the Atlanta History Center.  Adults $69, children $49, representing a savings of at least $39.61.
• Boston:  Admission to Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, Skywalk Observatory, and a choice between the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum or the Harvard Museum of Natural History.  Adults $44, children $28, representing a savings of at least $20.45.
• Chicago:  Admission to Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum of Natural History, Museum of Science and Industry, Adler Planetarium, and a choice between The Sears Tower Skydeck or Hancock Observatory.  Adults $69, Children $59, representing a savings of at least $51.50.
• Hollywood:  Admission to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Walk of Fame with Red Line Tours, Starline Tours of Hollywood movie star’ homes tour, a choice between the Hollywood Museum (in the historic Max Factor Building) or a guided tour of the Kodak Theater, and a choice between the Hollywood Wax Museum or Madame Tussauds Hollywood (opens in August).  Adults $50, children $40, representing a savings of at least $36.95.
• Houston:  Admission to NASA’s Space Center Houston, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Downtown Aquarium and the Houston Zoo, a choice between Texas living history at George Ranch or the Health Museum, and a choice between the Museum of Fine Arts or the Children’s Museum of Houston.  Adults $39, children $29, representing a savings of at least $21.72.
• New York City:  Admission to Empire State Building Observatory, American Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), a choice between a 2-hour day or cocktail cruise aboard Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise or a visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum.  Adults $79, children $61, representing a savings of at least $42.
• Philadelphia:  Admission to National Constitution Center, The Franklin, Philadelphia Zoo, Adventure Aquarium, and a choice between the Academy of Natural Sciences or the Eastern State Penitentiary.  Adults $58, children $39, representing a savings of at least $32.57.
• San Francisco:  Admission to the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39, Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise Adventure, and a choice between the deYoung Museum (which includes the California Legion of Honor, if visited on the same day) or the Exploratorium science museum.  Also included is a 7-day MUNI public transportation pass that includes cable cars, light rail, and the entire city bus system.  Adults $59, children $39, representing a savings of at least $32.95.
• Seattle:  Admission to Space Needle (day/night ticket), Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, Pacific Science Center, a bay cruise aboard Argosy Cruises, and a choice of either the Museum or Flight or a combo admission to the Experience Music Project (EMP) and the Science Fiction Museum.  Adults $54, children $39, representing a savings of at least $29.38.
• Southern California:  Includes six days of park admission, and is valid for 14 days from time of first use, including Disneyland (3-Day Park Hopper Bonus ticket for Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Park), Universal Studios Hollywood, SeaWorld (in nearby San Diego), and a choice between the San Diego Zoo or the Zoo’s Wild Animal Park.  Adults $259, children $219, representing a savings of at least $87.
• Toronto:  Admission to CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto Zoo, and Casa Loma.  Adults $59, children $39, representing a savings of at least $32.38.  (Prices listed for Toronto are in CAD).

You can purchase a CityPass and any of the covered attractions, or directly from CityPass online (where you can also take a more in depth look at each attraction offered). You can have ticket books sent to your home, office, local hotel, or go with an e-ticket voucher option and save on shipping.  Along with the CityPass booklet, you’ll get a map, public transportation routes, and some insider tips.

Image credit:  CityPass

Post from: Blisstree

CityPass Can Save You Money in 11 Cities

To make check out time a whole lot faster, when signing for restaurant, bar, and room service charges calculate your tips so that all the total charges end in the same digit.  It doesn’t really matter what the digit is, but when it’s the same you can quickly scan down the list of room charges and confirm that they’re all yours.

For example, add tips that will make all your totals end in the number 8.  The quickly scan your bill and if there’s a charge that doesn’t end in an 8, you’ll have to check it out a little closer.  This also works great if you’re sharing a room and charges with a companion.  Each of you can pick a different number, and then quickly scan and separate charges.

It won’t prevent all mistakes, and it won’t alleviate you of the responsibility of checking your bill, but it will sure make the check out process a lot faster!

Image credit:  personal collection

Post from: Blisstree

Track Hotel Charges with a Favorite Number

But campuses can provide lots of other fun experiences, even if attending classes is not in your future.

• Most colleges have great architecture and buildings, often with very interesting history.  You can usually find someone who can share with your the history of the campus, covering some of those urban legends that don’t quite make it to the college website.  History buffs are usually eager to share their knowledge with interested visitors.
• Campuses usually have lovely grounds and landscaping.  If you need to find a place to just sit and relax for awhile, have a picnic lunch if the weather is nice, or to study a map and get your bearings, a campus is a safe place to do that.
• You can ask a student for directions or recommendations about somewhere to go or some place to eat.  Since students usually have limited budgets, you will probably get budget friendly suggestions.
• If you need protection from the weather, you can pop into a student union building, a library (most campuses I’ve visited don’t require a student card to go into the general libraries), or even an administration building.  If you’re traveling on the cheap, you may find a study carrel in a quiet corner of the library where you can put your head down for a short nap.
• Student aged travelers can make like-aged friends.
• During non-school times, many campuses rent out dorm rooms at affordable rates.
• College campuses offer affordable dining options. Most campus dining facilities (other than in the dorms) are open to the public, so if you can’t face one more sandwich or cold meal, try finding a campus cafe.  Don’t expect gourmet food, but you’ll get something tasty and filling offered at a reasonable price.  Bring cash, as not all will accept debit or credit cards.

I love visiting colleges,and enjoy walking around looking at the campus.  That’s Boston College in the photo. I loved checking out the combination of gothic and modern architecture on the campus, and since it was a rainy day, I hung out in the library till the storm passed.

Do you have a favorite college campus to visit?

Photo credit: personal collection

Post from: Blisstree

College Campuses as a Vacation Option

Maybe what we need to do is think ahead and buy a potted spring flowers that for one would last longer and it could be planted in our garden for future enjoyment.

It is a fact that so many of us have either become unemployed or beginning to find it hard to make it on the income we are making. So maybe what we have to do is think ahead and think about the plants we want to put into the garden this year and purchase it now for your love one. A month ago my wife was in the hospital from back surgery, I bought her a beautiful azalea plant, today it sits on my dining room table just as beautiful as the day I bought it. She loves the plant and enjoys it everyday and I make brownie points every time. This may also help save money later down the road.

Some of these can be purchased at your locate larger food stores, but there are some garden shop open with a large variety of plants as well.  The garden shops usually have plants that are in far better condition and you have the professionalism in advising you the correct feed and planting conditions.

Post from: Blisstree

Flowers For Valentines Day

These are hard times and only going to get harder.

CNN’s article shows where you have to go to do this.

The article is “More turning to Web to watch TV, movies”.

If you find this interesting, it may possibly be an answer to one of your problems.

Post from: Blisstree

Out Of Work Changing From Cable To Internet TV and Movies