Free Hotel Upgrades Part I

By Michelle Delio http://www.fodors.com/

"Ask and you might receive
When you book a hotel room, ask about every possible discount. Do they offer a corporate rate? If you have a business card and you're not staying in a resort property, you probably qualify. Are you a government employee? Do you qualify for a military service rate? AARP? Local resident rate? (Hawaiian hotels offer steep discounts to island residents). If you don't qualify for any of these reductions, politely say "What's the absolute best rate available for the days I want to stay at your property?"

New Passport Fees - Effective July 13

Link: New Passport Fees - Effective July 13

U.S. citizens will  be paying more for passport fees starting July 13.

New, adult passport will jump 35%
New minors under 16, passport will increase 25%

Existing passport fee
Adult fees increase almost 50%- $75 to $110.

Sunset Grille at the Radisson Aruba

Sunset Grille at the Raddison Aruba

We love this restaurant. When you make your reservation, request a table outside.

For Aruba Do Not Forget To Pack A Hat

A hat for protection from the sun. Nothing worse than sunburned tops of ears.

We all wear the hats to protect our head, ears, and faces from Aruba's fierce sun. They also have under chin draw strings for those windy days in Aruba. Both dh and I have at one time or another gone swimming after a hat blown off by the wind. Even if you decide to go without the drawstring, the Ultimate Panama hat floats!

Mom's bonus? They are machine washable. The antique brass, screened grommets after 10 years are beginning to get tarnished. In my mind it only adds character to the hats.

So how do we tell the difference between whose hat is whose? Different colors! I have Natural and dh has the Khaki color. Dd has a lighter weight.

Biologist Kees Nooren Conducts Investigation for National Park

Link: Biologist Kees Nooren Conducts Investigation for National Park