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There’s just something about walking into a day spa, isn’t there? It’s a haven from your hectic every day life, an oasis that lets you do something just for you. That massage or body treatment feels like a guilty indulgence, even though it’s probably necessary for your sanity!

Whether you’re visiting a day spa for the first time or the fiftieth, these tips will help you get the most out of your massage, body wrap, aromatherapy, etc.

1. Remember when Mom told you not to swim for an hour after eating? Well, the same holds true for spa visits. Don’t eat for at least an hour before a massage or body treatment.

2. Arrive 30 minutes early. If you’re worried about being late, tapping your foot waiting for the elevator and rushing to the receptionist desk, you won’t get nearly as much out of your visit.

3. RELAX! I know, that’s how you’re supposed to feel after you’re done. If you can take a few deep breaths before your treatment (in the waiting room, since you’re early, right?), your experience will be that much more rewarding.

4. Drink LOTS of water before and after. Water enhances the detoxifying and rehydrating benefits.

5. Talk to your therapists – they don’t bite! If anything feels off, let them know: too hot/cold, too much pressure/too little pressure, music’s too loud – anything. They want you to have the best experience possible so you’ll come back for more.

About The Author

Theresa Carter is the creator and publisher of TheLocalTourist.com, a free online guide to downtown Chicago. Find restaurants, bars, spas, salons, events, attractions, shopping, media, transportation – anything Chicago. Theresa also provides a weekly events newsletter. http://www.thelocaltourist.com.

articles@thelocaltourist.com

When we think about mobiles, there are always the well-known few that pop into our heads and are the most famous, the above are 3G, 02, Orange, T-mobile and the most popular Vodafone.

Built in 1982 as Rascal Telecom, the mobile business then became independent in the early 90s. Located in Berkshire England; it is the largest telecommunications company in the world by phone sales and has a market value of near to seventy-five billion. They have equity interests in 28 countries around 6 continents, 187 million proportionate customers and more than thirty partner mobile networks.

In more than twenty years the firm have been on the forefront of the telephone innovation. The corporation is used by so many individuals since the mobile firm is well renowned for their first-rate service. The firm channels colossal investments into creating a mobile phone network that lets every one of their clients dial more telephone calls from more locations than any other network, cheaply and whilst continuing to continue providing top quality and reliability to all there clients. In the past 3 years the mobile business has cut there costs more than 5 times, as if they had cut their charges and services by 50 per cent per client. The mobile corporation has developed its range of uncostly mobile devices and introduced more flexible payment schemes.

Cell phone technology is upgrading at a fast speed every day. The mobile organisation is aware that their users are their number one priority hence the firm think it is important to make sure that the mobile phone clients can use all the products safely and confidently. What makes the mobile business the top mobile phone company to use is that Vodafone do care about their users. When you do have an issue there’s no need to dread calling as all their call centres are situated in Britain and will be able to assist you find an answer to your problems and queries really quickly. The mobile corporation frequently ask their clientele about their experiences of using the retailer as their specific mobile phone network and what they can do to make it better for their clients. Compare Mobile Phones and offers with MobileShop.

When you fly on the commercial airlines of the United States, you are flying on the safest, most efficient form of transportation. When the rare accident does occur, more and more people survive due to advances in aircraft manufacturing and design, air traffic control technology, emergency planning, and cabin safety.

Aviation manufacturers, air carriers, and the Federal Aviation Administration are proud of their contributions to aviation’s impressive safety record. You, the air traveler, play a very important role in aviation safety. You can take responsibility for your own safety.

Listen To The Safety Briefing
Keep Your Seat Belt Fastened
Obey Carry-On Baggage Restrictions
Wear Sensible Clothing Fly Smart.
Fly Smart. Be responsible for your safety and make your safe trip even safer.

LISTEN TO THE SAFETY BRIEFING

Fly Smart travelers always listen to the safety briefing because they know that every aircraft is different. The following are some tips to ensure that you are familiar with the aircraft you are on:

Take the passenger safety card out of the seat pocket and follow along while you listen to the safety briefing. Always take a moment to review the card before subsequent takeoffs and landings.

One of the best things you can do to be prepared is to mentally plan the actions you would need to take in an emergency. As part of this plan, count seat rows between you and at least two exits.

If you have any questions about the safety procedures, ask the flight attendant. Flight attendants are professionals; they know about the safety procedures of the aircraft.

FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELT

Of all the safety features aboard the aircraft, one of the most important is right at your fingertips – Your Seat Belt. In a recent study, nearly 300 turbulence-related serious injuries to passengers were reported over a 10- year period. None of the injured had their seat belts fastened. To prevent turbulence-related injuries, Fly Smart travelers should always:

Keep their seat belt fastened at all times. Make sure their seat belt is secured snugly and low across the hips.

OBEY CARRY-ON BAGGAGE RESTRICTIONS

Fly Smart travelers should be aware of what they bring on board.

Most airlines restrict carry-on baggage to two pieces per passenger.
Carry-on bags must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins. It’s a good idea to put the heavier items under the seat.

Carry-on items could become flying projectiles during turbulence. Heavy items and baggage with sharp corners can be hazardous.

Some hazardous materials are restricted. They can be dangerous if carried (or checked) on an aircraft. Following is a partial list of common articles from the home, workplace, or garage which, because of their physical or chemical properties, can pose a danger when transported.
Mace, tear gas, and other irritants
Aerosols containing flammable material (hair spray, deodorant, repellents),
loaded firearms, loose ammunition, gasoline and other flammable materials
propane, butane cylinders or refills, and lighter refills, wet-type batteries, e.g., as used in cars, fireworks and flares, safety or “strike-anywhere” matches (in checked baggage), paint and paint-related materials (thinners and cleaners), corrosive (acids), poisonous, infectious, and radioactive materials.

The above list is not all inclusive. There are certain exceptions for personal care, medical needs, and equipment to support physically challenged passengers. There are also provisions for sporting equipment. When in doubt, check with your airline.

In the unlikely event of an emergency evacuation, leave everything behind.

WEAR SENSIBLE CLOTHING

For ease of movement and protection in the unlikely event of an evacuation, Fly Smart travelers should follow these guidelines:

Wear clothes made of natural fabrics such as cotton, wool, denim and leather. They offer the best protection. Synthetics may melt when they are heated.

Wear clothing that allows freedom of movement. Avoid restrictive clothing.
Wear low heeled shoes or boots. (Shoes with laces or straps are recommended. Avoid sandals.)

Arms and legs should be as fully covered as possible. (Long sleeves/pants are recommended.)

PASSENGER CHECKLIST

SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE YOUR SAFE TRIP EVEN SAFER

Sensible Clothing

Shirt – Long sleeved, natural fabrics.

Slacks/pants – Long, natural fabrics.

Shoes – Leather or canvas and low-heeled.

Child Safety Seat

Check with airline for policy on use before arrival at airport.
On Board the Aircraft

Safely stow carry-on baggage.

Wear seat belt snug and low across the hips.

Keep your seat belt fastened at all times.

If you take your shoes off, put them on before landing.

Review the passenger safety card before each takeoff and each landing.
Listen carefully to the safety briefing.

Ask questions if safety information is not clear.

Make a mental plan of the actions you would take in an emergency.

Be familiar with all exits.

Count seat rows between you and at least two exits.

Exit Row Seating

Listen to the safety briefing and/or read the written instructions for aircraft specifics.

You must be physically capable and willing to perform emergency actions. If not, request another seat.
You must know your responsibilities in the unlikely event of an emergency.
Ask questions if instructions are not clear.

Consider the effects of alcoholic beverages.

In the unlikely event of an emergency, you should be aware of the following.

Evacuation Slides

Jump feet first into center of slide.

Do not sit down to slide.

Place arms across chest, elbows in, and legs and feet together.

High-heeled shoes can damage slides.
Decompression

Pull oxygen mask toward you to start oxygen flow.

Put your oxygen mask on as quickly as possible.

Help children and others with their masks.

Flotation Devices

Know where they are and how to use them.

Life vests (under seat, if available), life rafts, and some seat cushions and evacuation slides can be used as flotation devices.

Evacuating the Aircraft

Follow instructions of crew member (if possible).

Stay calm and proceed quickly to exit.

Leave all your possessions behind.

Fire or Smoke

Inflight

- Use wet paper towel or handkerchief over nose and mouth.

- Move away from the source of fire and smoke.

On Ground

- Stay low.

- Proceed by your predetermined count of seat rows to exit(s) and/or

- Follow floor proximity lighting to an exit.

- Exit the aircraft.

- Leave all your possessions behind.

Outside the Aircraft

Move away from aircraft, fire, and smoke.

If possible, help those requiring assistance.

Remain alert for emergency vehicles.

Never go back into a burning aircraft.

Source: Federal Citizen Information Center

About the Author

http://www.ChicTour.com is an online directory and resource for your travel.

Great Lakes Sonnig Cruise

Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link:
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/cruise02/greatlakes/columbus/columbus.html

The Great Lakes were formed ten thousand years ago by retreating glaciers. The sweet water seas of the Great Lakes are one of the newest, yet also one of the oldest cruise destinations in the world. Seven night cruises started here over a century ago with palatial ships such as the “North Land ” and “North West”, and today cruisers are only now rediscovering the beauty and excitement of the region.

Sailing on the Great Lakes, passengers enjoy a new port of call every day, visiting small picturesque towns, turn-of-the-(20th)century resorts, or a historic city with magnificent galleries and architecture. Some of the things that can be enjoyed along the route include: world class theatre, salmon fishing, First People dancing and drumming, or hiking through woodland glades.

The largest cruise ship on the Lakes system may come to you as a surprise, because it is a German company called Hapag-Lloyd, well-known for one of the most luxurious cruise liners, the Europa, rated the best in the world for the last five years. Hapag-Lloyd is a subsidiary of the world’s largest tourism group TUI. On the Great Lakes the line sets sail with a wonderful Three Star ship called the C. Columbus, which has been plying these waters for over five years.

Recently the M/S Columbus won awards for World’s Best Ship in the Great Lakes from Berlitz Publishing’s Ocean Cruise and Cruise Ships 2005, by Douglas Ward; it also won an award for Best Cruise Ship from Luthansa City Center.

I race down the old Navy Pier in Chicago, dodging the tourists who are nonchalantly strolling the attractions, restaurants, and vendors, and at the end of the pier is my ship. As I board C. Columbus I am immediately given a Willkommen au Bord like a member of the family. The German crew is crisp in speech, manner, and demeanor, but the smiling faces are beguiling witnesses to a crew of fun people. I meet the ship’s Director of Hotel Operations, Stefan Doktor, while checking in. He assures me that my starboard bow cabin is one of the nicest outside staterooms. with a large oval window for a porthole. My bags are silently whisked off.

All-in-all there are 134 outside cabins on the ship, all at about 162 square feet, but they must have had a German feng shui expert design the layout because even though my cabin is compact, it is roomy and easy to walk around in. There are also eight suites onboard, two of which have a balcony. There are also 63 inside cabins at 140 square feet that are often sharply discounted. My cabin (kat in German) has an adequate bathroom with an expansive shower, complete with botanical shampoos and a hairdryer. Other ensuite amenities include mini bar, safe, telephone (that ialso serves as the ship intercom for relaying the day’s events), color TV, and generous wardrobe space. The two twin beds make a wonderful king bed when squeezed together. All inside cabins has separate beds. My Philippina housekeeper keeps me in stock with fresh towels and nightly turn down chocolates.

That evening, while dining in the Main Salon, C. Columbus barks a honk and we are off across Lake Michigan to Traverse City. There is only one sitting at the huge restaurant and I immediately make new friends with Sonnig, which in German means sunny. The blond, lithe German lass is a delightful rainbow of sunny smiles, and I later learn her name is but a nickname; everyone on board loves her fresh, energetic style. The food is fantastic in the restaurant or Main Salon, and the wine cellar is superb. The Maitre d’ continuously circles the two sides of the restaurant making sure all guests are well received and satiated. He arrives at my table, clicks his heels, bows, and smiles. All crew members speak excellent English. Any special diets require a three week advance notice before sailing. Dining is casual only the Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Dinners call for something more formal a cocktail dress for the ladies and jacket and tie for the gentlemen.

C. Columbus also has the Showtime/Lounge Bar for nightly entertainment by the Allegro Band, and the Palmgarten Bar off the Sonnendeck (Sun Deck) on the sixth deck is kept lively during the day, as guests play games, listen to music, and are served drinks and casual dining. The Galleria is a cozy seating area.

To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link:
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/cruise02/greatlakes/columbus/columbus.html

Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

About the Author

Kriss Hammong, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Leave your email next to the logo for FREE e travel newsletter.

I did used to have quite a few misconceptions about what mobile broadband is. I did think that for example that Wi-Fi was basically the same as mobile broadband, and that would be incorrect.

I can take my pay as you go mobile broadband almost anywhere and be connected to the Internet, that is not true of Wi-Fi, which requires that you are very close to a Wi-Fi hotspot in order to make use of its wireless connection. I was also under the impression that I needed a Wi-Fi connection in order to connect to mobile broadband that also is not the case.

Another concept that I had was that mobile broadband only connected me to small less useful versions of websites via my mobile phone. My mobile broadband connection is via my laptop for full versions of websites whenever I need them.

Many people think they can only use your mobile broadband connection in your home country that is not so. In this sense, it is like your mobile phone in that you will pay additional fees to connect to a roaming broadband connection, but you can use it in most countries around the world.

Setup is also very straightforward and takes literally two or three minutes with a dongle or USB modem, these items are plug and play which means that you plug them in and click to automatically connect you to the Internet, is that simple.

Copyright 2005 Oliver Phillips. May be freely reproduced “as-is” for private and commercial use.

In Part 2 of this series, Oliver Phillips of PFS France (http://www.propertyforsalefrance.co.uk/) takes a look at common approaches to financing french property purchases.

So you’ve found your perfect home, you know the area, the people, and you’ve appointed your own Notary. You’ve also had an independent valuation and will be getting the property surveyed to make sure you understand what you are buying?

Your next thought is likely to be financing? Generally, you might look to finance your purchase in one of two ways; either using the equity in a UK property by way of remortgage or by taking out a second mortgage on the French property. Both methods are subject to exchange rate risk but in different ways.

If you decide to remortgage an existing UK property the finance would normally be raised in £GBP. Raising the mortgage in euros may result in a fairly substantial foreign currency conversion or exchange fee to pay. Make sure you are aware of how much this will be. Secondly the timing of your purchase is important. A weak pound against the euro will inflate the cost of your property, and require you raise a larger mortgage, but conversely a strong pound against a weak euro, could make remortgaging your UK home a cheap way to buy your home in France. However once the mortgage is raised, you will always pay the same monthly fee regardless of future exchange rate changes.

If you want a second mortgage on the French property itself it might be possible to deal with a French branch of your British Bank and this is worth looking into. A euro mortgage with a French bank will always be for the euro cost of the property, so you avoid exchange rate risk on the mortgage amount, but monthly repayments though the same in euros may seem more or less expensive as the euro exchange rate moves against the pound.

French mortgages are not that different to UK mortgages; they are usually of the repayment type with a term of between 5 and 20 years. As in the UK, fixed rate and variable rate options exist and redemption penalties will sometimes apply. A larger deposit will often secure a more attractive interest rate but the minimum deposit is 20%. Arrangement fees of around 2% are also normal on French mortgages.

French financial services legislation dictates that life insurance to cover the mortgage is taken out and also that a mortgage offer once made, must be accepted no earlier than 10 days and no later than 30 days after the offer has been made.

This article only provides a general appreciation of how French property can be financed and it is not advice. Guidance should be sought from a specialist who is qualified to advise on the best method of financing in your specific circumstances.

About the Author

Oliver Phillips works for PFS France (http://www.propertyforsalefrance.co.uk/) a business that helps French property owners advertise and sell, and potential buyers find, some of the finest and best cared for traditional French properties available.

Coaching is a type of therapy that has become very popular over the last five years. The term life coaching first became trendy in the USA where, together with NLP, it became part of a regenerated wonderful wave of extremely proactive therapy modalities.

In many ways both Life Coaching and NLP are an answer against certain variants of the Humanistic therapy movement, in particular Person-Centred Counselling. A problem of the person-centred therapy approach is that it is astonishingly reactive and not terribly proactive. Although all that works good with some customers, with other clients long periods of impasse or low return for time and effort occur. Coaching and Neuro Linguistic Programming are both person-centred therapy in stance, spending time on improving a person?s happiness rather than jumping into the minefields of childhood, like traditional psychology. Life coachings emphasis is, however, deliberately proactive and problem solving.

Life coaching is not about telling the customer what to do. This is a common misconception. Some success coaches are comparatively successful in their business careers and then make the change to performance coaching, assuming that they will merely be required to share their pearls of super success and wisdom with the lifestyle coaching client. This is more like mentoring an apprentice in a specific environment. Lifestyle coaching is instead about life as a collective. Use www.easilyachieve.com to book yourself a life coach.