Thursday, August 11, 2011

Marriott's Website Named Fastest in Industry by USA Today Study

Top-Ten Consumer Website Ranked #1 in Performance.


When booking a hotel room online, marriott.com users are experiencing the best the Internet has to offer. According to a recent USA Today-commissioned study, Marriott International (NYSE: MAR) beat all others as the fastest and best performing lodging website.

By winning the top spot, marriott.com (http://www.marriott.com) earned the Gold Award for “Best of the Web.” This designation came from USA Today’s partner in the study, Compuware. The study’s metrics included speed, navigation and room details. Extensive testing found that marriott.com loads quicker than two seconds. Other hotel websites were sluggish, some taking up to eight seconds to load.

FULL USA TODAY ARTICLE:

http://travel.usatoday.com/news/story/2011/06/Which-travel-websites-are-the-fastest/47916944/1


How to Prepare as Kids Ready for College

High school graduation can sneak up on kids and parents alike. One moment, you are changing dirty diapers or wiping running noses, and the next, you are cheering as your child walks across a stage and receives a diploma. College is a big step for many kids. No longer do they have their parents or guardians to wake them up, make sure they get to class and make sure they do their homework. When at college, kids also are out on their own living on college campuses, many for the first time. They are responsible for caring for themselves and for studying on a daily basis. You can get your kids ready for college with some preparation


Get kids ready for college years in advance by challenging them to work hard on their college preparatory courses in middle and high schools. Help kids develop strong study habits by sitting down with them at the same time each night to complete school work. Help them study for tests by giving them practice tests verbally and in written form. Check their work and help them learn from their mistakes.

Set up a savings account for kids and help them contribute to their college funds starting in elementary or middle school, if possible. Contribute as much money as you can afford each month and watch the savings compound for their college lives.

Apply for college early. Ask the kids to meet with their high school guidance counselor to look at different college options. School guidance counselors typically maintain files for many different colleges and have a wealth of information ranging from student life to academic programs to applying for colleges. Colleges typically admit new students for fall courses during the spring months. Applying for colleges should be done during the fall and winter months prior to admission to programs. Help the kids apply for the programs of their choice and make sure they have all the materials they need for the applications. Wait to be accepted to the schools and help the kids select which college to choose by visiting different campuses in person and by talking with current college students and staff members.

Prepare a budget for the kids prior to entering college. Make a list of all the expenses that will be included with going to college. This will include costs for room, board, tuition, dorm room supplies and extras. Look at how much money that is saved for school. Help your child apply for financial aid through scholarships and grants by making sure the child fills out the applications on time, completes any corresponding essay questions and tests and sends in the materials.

Shop for dorm room supplies for the kids before sending them off to college. Dorm room supplies will include: bathroom supplies like towels, toiletries and soaps, flip flops for the showers and bathrobes; bedding materials like clean sheets, blankets, pillows and pillow covers; a small dorm refrigerator, if you would like, with beverages and snacks for studying and studying supplies like a computer, notebooks and pens.

Answer any questions your kids have about your college experiences. The more knowledge they have about what can be expected, the more relaxed they will be on the day when they go off to school. Many kids report having a great deal of anxiety during the days they go to college. You can alleviate some of that stress by being calm yourself and telling them how great they'll do in college.



End of the Summer Vacay!

Find a place that can offer relaxation, physical activities and cultural interest


Large families often have a wide age range of children, and even small families can have kids that are rather spread out in age. What's a family with a 4-year-old, an 8-year-old and a 15-year-old to do? Families with kids in multiple age groups know how hard it can be when a teen is giving you the silent treatment, sulking with their headphones on as a cranky, whining toddler who needed a nap hours ago is throwing a fit. Is it possible to have a great family vacation for everyone in the family? Of course it is!

Family camping trips are great for everyone. The kids can burn off their excess energy at the beach, the lake, or on the hiking trails, and parents get the chance to share their love of the wilderness with the kids. But for some families, the driving trip on the way to the campground is the most challenging part of the whole adventure. If you aren’t sure what to do with your kids on your next long drive, pack a few of these travel games in your knapsack and keeping things fun the whole way there.


The License Plate Game

This classic game is a staple of all road trips, and it has a few variations. The easiest version is to ask kids to look for letters of the alphabet, one letter at a time. They can get the letters from road signs, billboards, and, of course, license plates. When someone finds “A,” everyone moves on to “B” and so forth. License plates come in handy for tricky letters like Q, X, and Z!

A variation of this game for older kids is to try to spot license plates from every state in the U.S. (excepting Hawaii and possibly Alaska). For younger kids, print out a map of the U.S. and let your child color in the states as you spot license plates from each one. Keep these maps over various road trips and see if you can get them all filled in.



Yet another variation involves making up sayings to go with the letters on license plates. RGF might be “really good Friday” or “rabbits go frolic.” And you can watch for different collections of numbers, like numbers all in a row (4, 5, 6) or groups of three of the same number (3, 3, 3) on one plate.


Fun with Maps

If you get tired of being asked “how much farther is it?,” try giving your child their own map. You can photocopy part of your road map or atlas, then show your child how to use signs and markers to find your location. If your child is old enough, you can ask them challenging questions like “what’s that mountain range over there?” or “how many miles is it to Round Lake?” Part of the fun of travel for kids is getting accustomed to different place names, river names, and the look of the land. Ask your child to pick out their favorite town name or to let you know when you’re going to cross different rivers or forests. You can pick the town or city you’d most like to live in someday or watch for the funniest looking car.

Kids can also have fun making their own maps. They can draw a different picture for every big town you go through or of different landmarks like bridges, mountains, and rivers. At the end of the day, line all the pictures up for a visual reminder of where you’ve been.


Secret Writings

If you have more than one kid in the car, have one child close their eyes and put out their hand. The other child uses their finger to trace a letter on the palm of the out-turned hand. Try to guess the letter, then trade places. If the kids are good at guessing, they can try spelling out whole words.

Two kids can also enjoy playing classic paper games like Hangman, Tic Tac Toe, and the paper version of Battleship. Card games like Crazy Eights, Old Maid, and Gin Rummy are also great ways to pass the time. And don’t forget to sing songs. Nothing passes the time like a sign-along!

Looking for more information and other great articles about camping with kids? KidsCamping.com has a wide variety of articles, activities, games and learning tools to inspire kids of all ages to love camping and the outdoors

No Equipment Travel Workout

A vacation can do wonders for reducing stress levels, but it often reeks havoc on your fitness regimen. Fortunately our onsite gym can make sure your lifestyle remains uninterrupted but some people are not comfortable with working out in a new environment. We understand.


Even some of the most die-hard exercisers find it difficult to stick with a workout program when away from home. Sure, many have good intentions. They may even pack their workout attire. Unfortunately, it usually never makes it out of the suitcase until it’s unpacked when their back home.

But travel from home doesn’t have to result in an interruption or complete abandonment of your healthy habits. You can still fit in exercise time when away from home, regardless of whether you find yourself in a warm or a cold climate. Even if bad weather forces you into seclusion in your hotel room, there are exercises you can complete without a single piece of equipment.

Below are some tips to help you stay fit away from home.


Be realistic. You probably won't be able to fit in your normal weekly workouts and that's okay. Shoot for completing at least 50% of your normal regimen.


Plan ahead. Before leaving town, find out what facilities your accommodations will have or if there is a nearby park or jogging track (weather permitting, of course).


Scope out local gyms. If you are staying somewhere that doesn’t provide a workout area then inquire at the nearby local fitness centers or community centers for their rates. Often they offer day passes for minimal fees.


Pack a resistance band in your suitcase. The band takes up very little space, yet can provide you with an entire upper and lower body workout routine.


Don’t deprive yourself of all local delicacies. You can enjoy some special meals without going overboard. Ask the restaurants to prepare your favorite dishes with a few lower fat ingredients.


Be creative. Find unique, fun ways to exercise instead of doing the same routine you do when you are at home. Try biking, hiking, a pedal boat excursion, water skiing, beach volleyball, etc. Effective workouts aren’t limited to the standard fares of walking, jogging and fitness machines.


Try out your travel routine at least once at home. A new workout that you’ve never done before will require more time and preparation. This type of frustration just makes for an easy excuse to skip the workout.


Prepare snacks. If your journey includes a lot of time in the car, be sure to pack some healthy snacks so you aren’t forced to eat at all the fast food and convenience shops along the way.


Play in the pool. If lounging poolside is part of your vacation plans, then hop in the pool every 20 minutes for 5-10 minutes of pool walking (try it in waist-deep or higher water for a really challenging workout).

Get comfortable. Don’t forget to pack comfortable workout attire that fits your destination’s climate.

This workout targets the entire body and is great for travelers or those who don't have a lot of equipment. All you need is a thick phone book (or any other thick, heavy book) and a stool or chair. Some exercises are very advanced, so use caution and modify the workout to fit your fitness level.

1. Begin with a warm up of light cardio

2. Beginners perform 1 set of 12-16 reps of each exercise, modifying each move to fit your fitness level

3. Intermediate/Advanced: Performs 2-3 sets of 10-16 reps with short rests in between

4. Add intensity by adding weights or slowing the movements down

5. See your doctor if you have any injuries or illnesses

6. Click on pictures for a closer view

Staggered Pushups

Try a different version of your usual pushup by putting one hand on a phone book (or any other object) and the other on the floor. On your knees or toes (and with body straight) lower down into a pushup and push back up. Do as many as you can and move on.

Good Mornings

Stand with feet about hip-width apart holding phone book (or medium weight) straight up overhead. Keeping abs braced and knees slightly bent, tip from the hips and lower the torso until it is parallel to the floor, keeping the arms in line with ears. Lift up and repeat. Keep the abs braced throughout the move. If you have any back problems, skip this move!

Pike Shoulder Pushup

This is a very advanced exercise, so use caution! Place your toes on a step or stool and hands on the floor. Lift your body up into a pike position with your hands directly under your shoulders and the top of your head facing the floor. Bend the elbows and lower body into a pushup. Push back up and repeat. The move is shown on a ball which is even more advanced. Be careful!

Rear Delt Fly

With feet hip-width apart, tip from the hips until back is flat and parallel to the floor, abs braced. Lift the arms straight out to the sides to shoulder level with thumbs pointing up to the ceiling. Lower and repeat. Add light weights for intensity...if this hurts your shoulders, skip it!

Triceps Dips

Sit on a bench or chair with hands resting next to thighs. Push up and bring the hips out, butt just brushing the bench, knees bent. Bend the elbows and lower body down (staying close to bench) until elbows are 90 degrees. Push up and repeat. Straighten the legs for more intensity.

Triceps One-Armed Pushup

Lie down on left side, hips and knees stacked. Wrap the left arm around torso so that left hand is resting on the right waist. Place the right hand on the floor in front of you, palm parallel to the body. Squeeze the triceps and push your body up. Lower and repeat before switching sides.

Squats on Tiptoes

With feet wider than hips, squat down and place hands on phone book in front of you. Raise up on the tips of your toes. Staying on tiptoes and fingertips, lift hips up towards the ceiling and straighten the knees as much as you can. Squat back down and repeat, staying in tiptoes the entire time. Modify by placing hands higher (on a chair or bed).

Lunge with Arms Overhead

Stand in split stance with feet about 3 feet apart. Hold phone book or weight straight up overhead. Bend the knees and lower into a lunge, bringing both knees to 90 degree angles, front knee behind toe. Keeping weight overhead, push back up and repeat before switching legs.

Single Leg Lift and Squat

Place hands behind the back and tip forward until back is parallel to the floor and flat, abs braced. Take right leg out to the side, resting on toe. Squat down with the left leg while simultaneously lifting the right leg a few inches off the ground and out to the side, leg straight. Straighten and repeat for all reps before switching sides.

Calf Raise

Stand on phone book with heels hanging off the back. Keeping body straight, lift the body up onto tiptoes by contracting the calves. Lower and repeat. You can do this on the floor as well.