My Utile Center

Chamonix Mont Blanc is a beautiful location with the towering Mont Blanc and tumbling glaciers. Everyone like to go skiing or even sightseeing. I normally travel from Atlanta and stay at a Chamonix hotel for the duration of my break.

My family and I previously visited JW Marriott Seoul but it never matched its marketing: The JW Marriott Seoul is a deluxe property situated at Central City in Gangnam, on the south side of Seoul, approximately 28 miles from Gimpo International Airport and 37 miles from Incheon International Airport. Local attractions include Apgujeong Rodeo Drive, Deoksugung, Lake Seokchonho, Myeongdong, Olympic Park, Seoul Tower, and Lotte World Amusement Park.Hotel amenities include non-stop coach service to airport, complimentary shuttle to shopping center, express check-in/out, complimentary onsite parking, valet parking (fee), 24-hour room service, laundry/valet services, shoeshine, babysitting, hair salon, gift shop, concierge, business center, safe deposit box, Seoul Rent-a-car desk, indoor pool, solarium, health club, whirlpool, sauna, tennis and squash courts, jogging track, and full European-style spa. Onsite drinks and dining are available at the Classic 7, the Deli Shop, JW??s Grill, the Lobby Lounge, Man Ho, Marriott Caf??, The Exchange, and Mikado.Guest rooms feature work desks with lamps, dual-line telephones, voicemail, dataports, in-room fax, high-speed Internet access, cable TVs, in-room movies, mini-bars, coffeemakers, A/C, irons, ironing boards, trouser presses, hairdryers, bathrobes, and in-room safes.

On the other hand in Chamonix village the guesthouse is always brilliant. Also eating out in my preferred French restaurant, Brookshire’s Food Stores - Deli, munching fourth of july lemon flag bars is a memorable experience. Chamonix Mont Blanc is a big enough village to insure that there is lots of things for the snowboarder to do. With a cinema and a strip of bars, Chamonix provides a combination of climbing, French alpine charm and shopping which barely any ski resorts can match.

Cost is one of the main factors concerning new versus used RV’s, but there are several other factors to consider too. If you’re only going to use the RV two weeks out of the year, a used RV might be your best decision. On the other hand, if you are planning on going fulltiming or traveling cross country, a new RV with a full warranty would be a better choice.

Speaking of warranty, if you do decide a used RV is your best choice, check to see if there is any type of warranty available. If you buy a used RV from a private owner it is normally AS IS with no warranty. This is true with many RV dealers too. Replacing an RV refrigerator or other major appliance can be very costly. Most RV dealers will offer an extended service plan or contract if the used RV meets the service plan criteria. You can also purchase these plans from RV clubs and reputable websites on the Internet. The age of the unit will factor into the cost of the plan but you should be able to negotiate with the dealer concerning a service plan. Make sure you read all of the fine print and understand exactly what is covered and what is not covered in any type of service plan or contract you purchase. Many times service plans offer different levels of coverage based on the cost of the plan. You also want to be sure that other RV dealers and repair facilities will honor the service plan you purchase. It won’t do you any good if you need repairs while you’re traveling and nobody will honor the plan.

Another factor to consider between buying new or used is how long you plan to keep the RV. What I mean by this is if you buy an RV with the thought in mind that as soon as you get your next pay raise you’re going to upgrade to a larger RV, it would be best to consider buying used. RV’s depreciate, they do not appreciate. If you buy a new RV and trade or sell it within the first couple of years you will lose a substantial amount of money. In many cases a used RV has already suffered the brunt of the depreciation and you don’t stand to lose as much if you get rid of it sooner. This of course will depend on how much you pay for the used RV. Most RV dealers use the NADA guide for Recreation Vehicles to determine used RV pricing, www.nada.com.

Used RV prices are based on the age of the unit, the condition, options and mileage, if it’s a motorized RV’s. The NADA guide has wholesale and retail pricing for used RV’s, and all NADA pricing assumes the RV is in good condition, and proper working order. Ask to see the NADA price for the unit you are considering purchasing or look it up on the Internet. For accurate figures you will need to know the make, model, year, options and for gasoline motorhomes, the chassis manufacturer and mileage. You wouldn’t pay full Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for a new RV, so you shouldn’t pay full NADA retail price for a used RV either. Some used RV’s are in more of a demand than others, but if the used RV is in good condition and everything operates properly a fair price would be somewhere between NADA wholesale and retail price.

Another consideration when thinking about purchasing a used RV is the finance terms and interest rates. Because the RV is used, banks offer shorter finance terms and higher interest rates compared to new RV financing. See the finance section of this chapter for more information.

If you decide to purchase a used RV make sure that all of the systems and appliances operate properly, and that there is no type of hidden damage that can’t easily be seen. Damage caused by water leaks can be hard to detect and extremely costly to repair. If you are not knowledgeable about RV’s you should take someone with you who is, to inspect the unit you are considering purchasing. It may be possible to hire somebody to thoroughly inspect the unit before you buy it. Most RV dealers will give you a walk through orientation of the RV and demonstrate that everything is operating properly. I recommend that you purchase an RV training video on the type of RV you are buying and view it prior to the scheduled walk through. You will have a much better understanding of how everything works and you can ask more targeted questions.

Be sure to consider the cost, how you plan to use the RV, warranty, and how long you plan to keep the RV when deciding whether to buy new or used.

Happy Camping,

Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk, owner of RV Education 101

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America’s most highly regarded series of DVD’s, videos, books, and e-books. Sign up for your free “RV Education 101″ Newsletter http://rveducation101.com/email/
Mark Polk is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three, specializing in wheeled and track vehicle fleet maintenance operations. Polk owns and operates RV Education 101, (based in North Carolina) since 1999, and also has an extensive RV background working in RV service, sales and management. Polk has a degree in Industrial Management Technology with 30 plus years of experience in maintenance includes working as an RV technician, a wheeled vehicle and power generation mechanic, an automotive maintenance technician, Battalion and Brigade level Maintenance Officer, an RV sales manager and also in the RV financing department as the Finance & Insurance manager. http://www.rveducation101.com/

I’ve been traveling and writing about places I believe others would love to visit, to unwind from their busy and hectic schedules. Most recently I visited Costa Rica, a place which can be best described as one of the last paradises on earth. The last paradise on Earth?

Certainly, Costa Rica is one of the ultimate destinations and not just for vacationers. This small country of 50,000 square kilometers between the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean is about the same size as Switzerland. Not only ecotourists and retirees praise it for its abundant fauna & flora - the country has no military, no nuclear power plants, the highest literacy rate in North America, no winter and lots of culture.

Whether you want to go adventure touring, honeymooning, or hiking, surfing or rafting - Costa Rica has everything to offer.

Adventure Tours, Honeymoon Packages, & Nature Hikes

Relax and dream about Costa Rica. You have many options like guided mountain tours, the best birdwatching in the world, rainforest canopy tours, whitewater rafting, wind surfing, fly fishing tours etcetera.
Enjoy your wedding and/or honeymoon with one of the many available Honeymoon Packages. See interesting places like Tortuguero, Drake Bay, Corcovado, Puerto Viejo Sarapiqu and Cahuita at the Caribbean Coast or Playa Flamingo, Gulf of Papagayo, Playa Hermosa, Potrero, Conchal, Tamarindo or Langosta at the Northern Pacific.

— Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica - “Region of the Turtles” —

The small village of Tortuguero (translated as “Region of Turtles”) lies on the northeastern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, approximately 50 miles north of the principal Port of Limon.
The region surrounding Tortuguero is called the Tortuguero Plain, which is a vast low lying area of little topographic relief still covered by a large expanse of tropical rainforest.

— Drake Bay - MANGROVE AND BIRD ISLAND TOURS —

Drake Bay is one of the most remote and natural settings that tourists will encounter in Costa Rica. The abundance of wildlife, (particularly birds), combined with great accomodations and friendly people make this one of the most spectacular and memorable places to visit.
This is truly an outdoor lover’s paradise. Hiking, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, and sunbathing are just some of the many outdoor activities here.

— Playa Conchal —

Located 2 kms from Playa Brasilito, Playa Brasilito and Conchal make up a unit seperated by the rock headlands of Punta Conchal. Its name is derived that the sand is made up of millions of cruched shells that constitute a rare environment. along the 1,5 km long beach, manzanillo-, madero negro-, brasil-, and some ear trees can be observed. The beaches are drenched in sunshine, this being one of their most valued attractions.

And many more…

For Travellers:

In this Central American paradise you will find what you are looking for. If coming for the first time, learn the entry requirements from consulates, embassies and travel agencies.

Costa Rica Climate and Weather

Don’t worry about the weather! Costa Rica offers the best climate in the world. Like many tropical countries, Costa Rica experiences two seasons, wet and dry, rather than the four seasons of temperate regions. The dry season verano (summer) lasts from about December to April. The rest of the year tends to be wet and is called invierno (winter).
Here you can find the so called Green Season, when it usually rains in the afternoon, leaving the rest of the day for you to enjoy the outdoors. Even during rainy season there is a daily average of 5 hours sunshine.

Some hotels, tour operators, and car rental outfits offer green season (May-November) discounts.

At the end of your stay, you will be fascinated with this country of endless beauty!

Here a list of what awaits you: Flora and Fauna Tours, National Parks, Volcanoes, Rainforests, Dry Tropical and Cloud Forests, Wilderness Lodges, Surfing, Wind Surfing on Lake Arenal, one of the world’s top five wind surfing spots, Deep Sea and Inshore Fishing (Sailfish, Marlin, Roosterfish, Mahi-Mahi, Yellow-fin Tuna, Grouper Tarpon and Wahoo), Freshwater Fishing for local rainbow bass, Scubadiving, Snorkelling, Whitewater rafting, Canopy Tree-top rides, Arial Trams, Sky-walks on Hanging Bridges or Souvenir shopping in one of the popular craft towns.

Have a pleasant stay in one of the last paradises on Earth!

Thanks,

C. Lucky

All the information you need on Costa Rica can be found on the web site, http://www.1-costaricalink.com