Okay, my husband and I are in dire need of a little vacation…just to get away from work and the miserable country we currently live in (Germany to be precise).
Since we're military, we can't go far and we can't go for long…a week tops maybe. We're looking for something in Europe and I don't know where to start. Just to be clear though-we're not really looking to do sight seeing…even though a few we wouldn't mind; sun, sand, relaxing and maybe a slightly romantic environment would be nice (emphasis on the sun and sand - if that can be found around this time of year)…and cheap since the Euro rate is a B* against the dollar right now.
A holiday package with a flight and hotel included (plus transportation) is a must. Anyone have any ideas?
Also to add - please do not say Paris. It's cliche for "romantic" and it's a dirty city.
Ryan - What's your problem?
When I was stationed in Germany, just getting away from base for a few days was nice. Even going to Berlin was nice for a few days because I didn't have to worry about my military duties.
I say go to Amsterdam for a week and relax. Do nothing but enjoy each others company.
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Have you always dreamed of owning your own business, having
the time and money to visit exotic locations and being able
to fly first class?
If you love traveling, live in or near a city with a large
national or international airport, and you have the kind of
lifestyle that lets you pick up and go on a moment’s
notice, then you might want to think about starting your
own business as an “air courier”.
What is an air courier? It’s a person who is hired to
transport a specific item from one destination to another,
within a specified deadline.
And, before you start imagining sinister men in trench
coats carrying guns with silencers, and beautiful foreign
women transporting secret microchips, let me reassure you
that traveling as an air courier is 100% legal and
aboveboard!
What you are asked to transport varies tremendously — it
can be almost anything — legal documents such as letters
or business contracts, children going from one country to
another, medicine that was forgotten during a vacation,
reports, computer disks, product prototypes — the list is
endless.
In fact, because of the “instant gratification” mindset
today where we are used to information and communication
that travels faster than the speed of light, air courier
companies have seen their businesses grow tremendously over
the last ten years. What that means for you is increased
opportunities for free travel.
Who can become an air travel courier? Anyone who is over
18, holds a valid passport and who is in good health. It
also helps if you’re flexible and can pick up and travel on
very short notice.
Why is this a wonderful opportunity?
When sending a package by air, the shipper has two options
– the first is to send the package as “cargo.” Cargo
travels alone (especially since the tragedy of 9/11), is
shipped in bulk in large containers that usually aren’t
sent until the container is full, in order to maximize
revenues for the airlines.
In addition, especially when cargo is sent overseas, there
are sometimes long delays getting the package through
customs, there are endless regulations that must be
followed, inspections that must be passed, etc.
For the air courier companies, who have to make sure the
package is not only delivered, but reaches the intended
recipient as quickly as possible, these delays are
unthinkable. (If they don’t make their deadlines, then
their competitors will. Think of the slogan from one such
company…”when it absolutely, positively has to be there
overnight…”)
On the other hand, if the same item is considered “personal
baggage” and is carried with a ticketed passenger, it
arrives with the passenger, and generally passes through
customs quickly, without all the delays.
Plus, a person can book a ticket for a specific flight
arriving at their destination at a specific time — not so
for cargo. Which means that a shipment that could take days
or weeks if it’s classified as cargo, can take hours
instead because it’s classified as baggage.
Because very few of the air courier companies have the
resources to employ full-time couriers, the industry itself
has come to rely on freelance air couriers, which, even
when having to pay someone to travel, and covering the cost
of their airfare, is still a better ROI when compared
against the paying full-time wages, holiday and sick pay,
insurance and all of the other costs involved with having
employees.
This is where you come in.
As an air courier, you are providing a valuable service in
a growing market. And from the traveler’s point of view,
you might find yourself flying to Paris one day, and Hong
Kong a week later!
Once you’ve been hired, the process is pretty simple: the
company contacts you, to check your availability. When you
confirm, they book the flight and let you know when to be
at the airport. You’re met at the airport by a
representative, who gives you your ticket, a list of item
or items you’re transporting, and your baggage claim
tickets. They’ll usually even have checked you in, saving
you many hassles. You get to sit in first class, and enjoy
the flight. That’s it. You don’t have to contact the
recipient in the city you’re flying to, actually pick up
the package on your way to the airport, or do anything
other than be responsible for it going from one airport to
another.
At your destination, you’ll be met by another company
representative, who will take the baggage claim tickets,
and give you your return ticket.
How long do you get to stay? That depends on you and the
air courier company. Sometimes your schedule will be tight
– you may only get hours between flights. Other times,
you’ll have a day or two. Obviously, as your reputation
increases and the companies you work for know that they can
rely on you, you have more room for negotiating.
There are several ways to get started. There are actually
companies who recruit air couriers, and the fees for
joining are usually nominal. The benefits of going through
a certified company can be many. For example, they often
provide information that it could take you a long time to
figure out on your own. They also offer forums, newsletters
and other resources to help you succeed. Because they have
built a reputation, you might find it easier to get started
in the business by working for one of them at first.
But, you can also find the information completely on your
own, and start off freelancing. Look in the yellow pages
for air couriers that are located near your local airport.
Figure out where you’d like to travel to, and make a list
of the locations they serve. Because there are companies
who transport items both internationally or just within the
states, where you travel is largely going to be a matter of
personal choice.
Also, make sure that you investigate each company before
applying with them. You want to make sure that they are a
solid business, with a good reputation. Once you’ve
narrowed down your choices, get on the phone, and find out
what their application process is. Many companies today
prefer that you apply online. Whatever the process is, make
sure that you provide them with all the information they
request.
Timely tip: After submitting your application, follow up
with a thank-you letter, on your new “company” letterhead.
Remind them of your availability, that you can accept short
or no notice flights. Find a way to position yourself above
that of the other couriers.
Once you’ve gone through the process the first time, you’ll
have a much better idea about which other companies you
want to apply to and how to hone your interview skills. (So
don’t make your first application with the biggest company
that you want to work for the most.) Obviously, if you
limit yourself to one or two companies, you’ll also be
limiting the amount of work you’ll get and the locations
you can travel to.
Timely Tip: Put together a database of the companies you’ve
applied to, the date you applied, and contact information.
Follow up with the company regularly, but don’t be a pest.
Once you’ve been hired, don’t be surprised if you start
getting calls within the first couple of weeks. There is a
growing need for professional, responsible air couriers.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you start working:
1. Be professional. Remember that while shorts and flip
flops may be comfortable for vacationers, you’re working
and representing the air courier company.
2. Often the only baggage you get to take with you is hand
carried. Invest in microfiber clothing in basic colors, and
learn to pack essentials only. If you do get to stay for
longer than a few days, you can always pick up some
essentials once you’re there.
3. Give your own business card to the company
representative in the country you travel to, and make sure
that your email and voice mail information is included.
4. Apply to all the companies you’ve decided you want to
work for, and then follow up with the ones that haven’t
contacted you regularly — perhaps a polite letter or even
a one-page newsletter that lists the latest on industry
related news.
5. Stay organized. Don’t over commit yourself, and try
never to have to cancel a trip.
Being an air courier is a great way to make money and see
the world. Bon Voyage!
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Some oil company experts celebrate that the profits of gasoline companies demonstrate that not every company is suffering from the recession.
Those who have worked for companies like Exxon Mobile have enjoyed luxurious vacation packages to Hawaii, Bermuda, Caymen Islands, Paris, Tokyo, you name it. It's an amazing flow of money.
When asked if these profits are due to gasoline prices, they smile and say "don't be silly, it's just one of those coincidences, ya know?"
It's because oil suppliers, mostly the OPEC nations, are in a cartel that sets its own prices and are not subject to the natural market laws due to lack of competition. All of the OPEC nations have nationalized their oil production fields, therefor stifling competition and letting them sell oil at whatever price they want.
Not to mention the fact that, despite the vast increases in demands for oil, with the rise of China and India, oil production has remained essential flat. The nationalized companies are not investing in industry infrastructure, they are using profits to leverage government spending. Iran is buoyed almost exclusively by oil profits. They spend the profits on government programs like developing nuclear power or welfare programs but don't don't invest in new refineries or derricks. This is further compounded by corruption in places like Iraq, another country with nationalized oil, where corrupt government officials are funnelling profits into their pockets instead of investing back into the industry.
But what about the American oil companies? the problems facing the oil companies is that they are struggling under the weight of a vast government regulatory bureaucracy. Not a single new refinery has been built in the U.S in 30 years. There's too much red tape. So the oil companies are left with windfall profits and few places to invest in. That is also why the oil companies would rather put new new refineries (and the subsequent jobs that come with them) in foreign markets where there aren't so many draconian laws that prevent them from running their business. The effects of these laws also leaves the American oil infrastructure remarkably delicate, as we saw what happened when hurricane Katrina came to the shore.
So what do we do? Well when it comes to OPEC, there's not a whole lot we can do, short of military action. As we are seeing with Iran, U.N sanctions are usually paper tigers that do little to actually spur a nation to action. What we can do is as follows
A: build warmer relations with Russia, a major oil producer and a non-OPEC nation. Despite the fact that Russia's industry is nationalized, we can at least try to negotiate with them a bargain in a manner that couldn't be done with a nation that is the member of the OPEC cartel
B: Invest in Canada. The Canadian wilderness has more oil stores than the entire Middle East COMBINED. And because global warming is reduing permafrost in Canada, expect to see Canada become a global power in the coming decades as their oil production skyrockets. I betcha didn't know that there are very positive aspects to global warming, did you?
C: repeal draconian regulations that encourages oil companies to invest in their CEOs rather than invest in their infrastructure. That means repealing the feel good environmental laws that places a wilderness as having a higher value than the poor people of America who are struggling with high gas prices. That means letting America drill in the Alaskan wilderness, which has vast repositories of oil, like Canada. For every elk that doesn't have to live with a pipeline somewhere in its vast range, that's 10 American families that are being crunched with high gas prices. And I think a child's life is more important to me than an elk's comfort.
D: reduce our dependency on the OPEC cartel. The cartel may be sitting on its hands now, but when its top buyers begin going somewhere else, they will be forced to act if they want to keep their oil-buoyed governments alive. That means developing infrastructure to drive the cost of production down.
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