16 Aug, 2011

Smithsonian Journeys Offers Value Mediterranean Cruises for 2012

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1. Smithsonian Journeys Offers Value Cruises to the Mediterranean for 2012

2. Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Searching For Best “Mom On Wheels“

3. Check Before Buying Travel Insurance for Rental Cars — Most Travelers Are Already Covered

4. Top 25 Flexible Career Trends

5. Top 10 Hates of School Students

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1. Smithsonian Journeys Offers Value Cruises to the Mediterranean for 2012

Washington, DC (PRWEB) August 15, 2011 — Smithsonian Journeys, the Smithsonian Institution’s travel program, announces three value-priced all-inclusive cruise itineraries to the Mediterranean for 2012. These special value cruises to the Mediterranean start at $4,250, including international airfare from more than 60 U.S. gateways if booked by September 30, 2011.

Prices also include accommodations aboard ship and in hotels, most meals, shore excursions in each port, lecture program, onboard gratuities, wine with dinner aboard ship, baggage handling, and transfers (if booking airfare package) and port and service charges. Full details on these value cruises to the Mediterranean can be found online or by calling toll-free 1 (877) 338-8687.

Travelers will also enjoy the flexibility of determining their own schedule on these cruises. Following scheduled shore excursions, guests can select optional excursions or time at leisure to pursue personal interests. These cruises take place aboard the 350-guest Aegean Odyssey, which is ideal for cruising the coastal waters of the Mediterranean. Due to its size, the ship offers a host of big-ship amenities, yet can cruise the smaller, less-crowded harbors and closer to the coast to maximize the magical views. Comfortable, generously sized suites, junior suites and staterooms feature superb amenities and many offer balconies. Complete details and photos of the Aegean Odyssey can be found on the Smithsonian Journeys website.

“Southern Italy and the Dalmatian Coast” (March 29-April 13, 2012), features a two-night hotel stay in Rome followed by a 12-night cruise that makes stops in southern Italy, Sicily, Malta and Croatia. The itinerary features excursions to World Heritage sites such as the historic center of Rome, Pompeii, Valletta, the Palace of Diocletian in Split, Dubrovnik and Venice. An optional two-night post-cruise hotel stay in Venice is also available. Prices start from $4,250 and due to special single savings on this cruise, prices for solo travelers start from $4,495.

“The Wonders of Turkey and the Greek Isles” (Apr. 22-May 6 and Sept. 14-28, 2012) features a nine-night cruise of the Aegean Sea with daily excursions to sites in Turkey, including Istanbul, Ephesus and Pergamon, and in Greece, including the Greek Isles of Mykonos, Delos, Crete and Santorini and Mycenae and Athens on the mainland. Two-night hotel stays in both Istanbul and Athens provide additional time for travelers to pursue personal interests in these fascinating cities. Prices start at $4,450.

During “Treasures of the Dalmatian Coast and Ancient Greece” (June 22-July 5 and Oct. 7-20, 2012) travelers will enjoy a 10-night cruise aboard the Aegean Odyssey, beginning in Venice. Travelers will then cruise along the pristine Dalmatian Coast for four days, visiting Zadar, Split, Trogir, Korcula, Dubrovnik and the Bay of Kotor. The ship then crosses to Greece, making stops in Corfu, Ithaca, Olympia and Mycenae before concluding with a two-night hotel stay in Athens, where travelers will enjoy special tours and time to explore independently. Travelers who want more free time in Venice can also take advantage of an optional two-night pre-cruise extension in this World Heritage city. Prices start at $4,250.

Smithsonian Journeys is the Smithsonian Institution’s travel program, with more than 40 years dedicated to life-enriching experiences worldwide. The Smithsonian is known for “Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery,” which is central to Smithsonian Journeys and its expert-led international and domestic tours featuring exclusive access and unforgettable experiences. All 2012 travel options can be seen online at http://www.SmithsonianJourneys.org/2012, featuring more than 200 departures to 80 countries worldwide, or by calling toll-free 1 (877) 338-8687.

2. Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Searching For Best Mom On Wheels

Short Hills, NJ (PRWEB) August 15, 2011 — The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has launched its first ever contest to crown the Best Mom on Wheels via an online contest at www.ChristopherReeve.org/bestmom.

From August 15 through September 9, individuals may nominate a biological, adoptive, or foster mother who is living with paralysis. In a 200-word essay, the individuals nominating their “best mom” must describe all the ways she is encouraging, inspiring, and a real-life everyday role model.

For the past two years, the Reeve Foundation has sought out and awarded the Best Dad on Wheels; it is now turn for the moms to be showcased.

Ten semi-finalists will be selected by a panel of judges based on the essay, photo, and optional video, submitted at www.ChristopherReeve.org/bestmom. From September 14 through September 23, finalists will be featured on www.ChristopherReeve.org for the public to view and cast their votes. The winner will be announced on September 27.

“The past two years we have celebrated and honored dozens of fathers living with paralysis,” says Peter T. Wilderotter, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation President and CEO. “The Reeve Foundation believes in empowering moms living with paralysis who teach their children and communities about compassion, understanding, encouragement, and love. This is their chance to share heartwarming stories of moms living with paralysis.”

The winning mother will be named the Reeve Foundation’s 2011 Best Mom on Wheels and receive $500 worth of restaurant gift cards from P.F. Chang’s.

To nominate a mother to be named the 2011 Best Mom on Wheels, go to ChristopherReeve.org/bestmom. All entries must be submitted no later than Friday, September 9 at midnight Eastern Daylight Time.

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. For more information please visit www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-225-0292.

3. Check Before Buying Travel Insurance for Rental Cars — Most Travelers Are Already Covered

St. Pete Beach, FL (PRWEB) August 15, 2011 — Buying travel insurance to cover a rental car is an additional expense that many can avoid. Before making a purchase, travelers should first check with their car insurance and credit card provider to see if coverage is available. “Many travelers buy additional coverage because they don’t know they already have protection,” says Sarah Byrne, Marketing Manager at www.Squaremouth.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance. “Checking your options first could save you money and prevent over insuring.”

When traveling within the U.S., many rental car drivers do not need to buy additional rental car insurance. Many car insurance plans from companies including State Farm, Allstate and Progressive, offer their policy holders protection when driving a rental car. However, additional coverage may be needed to cover “loss of use” charges if the rental car requires repairs.

Travelers should also check what coverage is available through their credit card company. American Express, MasterCard and Visa offer rental car coverage with many of their cards, however, it’s important to remember that the benefit is only available if travelers pay for the rental car on the card.

If travelers do not have the option to receive coverage through their car insurance or credit card provider, rental car insurance is available with many travel insurance plans. Most plans range from $25,000 to $50,000 in rental car coverage and will also include cancellation, interruption, medical and medical evacuation. “Since the amount of rental car coverage can vary from one policy to the next, its important for travelers to read the fine print,” says Chris Harvey, CEO of Squaremouth.

For example, Travel Guard offers primary coverage with a $250 deductible, while CSA Travel Protection and HTH Worldwide offer primary rental car insurance without a deductible. “Since CSA provides primary coverage for rental car damage, travelers in most instances never need to inform their car insurance company that a problem occurred, saving them time, frustration and potential rate increases,” explains Kathy Townend, CSA Travel Protection’s Marketing Manager.

Other plans from Seven Corners, Travelex and Travel Insured offer secondary rental car coverage, yet travelers are required to first collect from any existing insurance they may have before the travel insurance will pay a claim.

If a comprehensive travel insurance plan is not needed, Travel Guard and American Express both offer alternatives. Travel Guard offers only rental car collision insurance for $7 a day, and American Express offers primary car rental insurance to non-card members for $9 a day.

Squaremouth is a travel insurance comparison site, helping customers instantly quote, compare and buy policies from every major carrier.

4. Top 25 Flexible Career Trends

Boulder, CO (PRWEB) August 15, 2011 — Data regarding flexible job market trends for the top 25 career fields with the most open telecommuting, part-time, freelance, and flexible jobs is now available to the public through FlexJobs. Recent analysis of this data concluded that the Medical and Health career field leads the flexible job market with the highest percentage of open jobs across 25 fields. Openings in the Sales and Education fields are second and third respectively.

In July, the Art and Creative field had the biggest jump in overall volume, growing 36 percent. Education also grew by 32 percent. The category with the biggest drop in job volume was Engineering, with a decrease of 43 percent.

“Every quarter, thousands of available telecommuting, part-time, flexible schedule, and freelance jobs are listed on FlexJobs, and we are excited to be able to release the job trends for industries that are the most active in hiring for flexible work,” stated Sara Sutton Fell, CEO of FlexJobs. “We want to help raise awareness about the depth and variety of flexible jobs, and we will continue to evaluate flexible employment trends both quarterly and monthly.”

The ongoing reports demonstrate the growing diversity in the employment market for flexible jobs and will provide reliable data on top career fields that offer work flexibility. Data includes positions listed on the site directly by employers as well as jobs found by FlexJobs’ trained staff of researchers who scour hundreds of websites to gather this data from industry blogs, employer websites, online job boards and feeds, and many other sources. Only professional jobs that can both be confirmed as legitimate and as having some kind of work flexibility (telecommuting, part-time or flexible schedule, or freelance contracts) are included in the job database.

“FlexJobs is the biggest and most trustworthy resource for flexible jobs, and we have been researching jobs in this industry for over 4 years. This is the first time we have released data publicly, in part because our data-tracking has found an increase in many surprising professional fields,” Fell added.

The interactive Quarterly Flexible Job Trend Report can be viewed by visiting www.flexjobs.com/trends.

5. Top 10 Hates of School Students

(PRWEB UK) 15 August 2011 — With the summer holidays in full swing, the UK’s adult population has revealed why they were glad to say goodbye to full time education. Alongside the usual suspects, like homework and exams, the survey by Home Learning College highlighted dorky uniforms and moody teachers as negatively affecting people’s enjoyment of school.

The research investigated what adults miss least about their school years. Half were happy to see the back of homework and exams, while 40 per cent happily waved goodbye to bullies. The results revealed a clear gender divide with regard to the latter, as 43 per cent of women expressed relief at escaping classroom tormentors, compared to just 34 per cent of men.

Over a third of respondents mentioned wearing a dorky uniform as contributing to their school time misery, with men proving almost as fashion conscious as women. Moody teachers were similarly blamed for dampening school spirits.

Peer pressure was revealed as a key issue for over a third of women, while men proved less susceptible, with only a fifth mentioning this as a problem. Other elements of the school experience to feature on the list included school dinners, PE and detention.

Top 10 school hates:

1. Homework 52%

2. Exams 50%

3. Bullies 40%

4. Moody teachers 34%

5. Wearing a dorky uniform 34%

6. Peer pressure 29%

7. Assembly 28%

8. PE 24%

9. School dinners 23%

10. Detention 22%

On a more positive note, almost a quarter of respondents admitted that ‘back to school’ messages already appearing in shops make them sad their days of learning are over. A further 15 per cent reported that the thought of the coming academic year inspires them to study again.

“Our research shows that certain memories of school have left a bad taste in the mouth for many people,” says Dave Snow, Academic Director at Home Learning College. “However, the survey also highlighted that a significant proportion of adults experience positive emotions at the thought of going back to school.

“It’s important to bear in mind that studying as an adult is very different, with students in far greater control of their learning experience. This is particularly true of distance learning, which takes place at the time and location of the student’s choosing. No classrooms, no uniforms, no moody teachers and certainly no detentions!”

For more information http://www.homelearningcollege.co.uk