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Las Vegas Shopping – THE Place to Shop

Many things come to mind when thinking of Las Vegas. Sprawling casinos, world-class shows, a hotel strip like no other in the world – and lots and lots of fabulous shopping. From the glamorous Forum shops with top designer names to the open-air Premium Outlets with great deals on brand-name merchandise, shopping in Las Vegas is as fun and unique as the city itself.

Some of the hotel shopping on Las Vegas Boulevard is an absolute must, as much for the surroundings as for the boutiques themselves. A great place to start on the strip is the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace (3500 Las Vegas Blvd S.) Even if you don’t spend a dime you will enjoy the architectural details of this famous shopping venue. Designed to reflect the grandness of a Roman street, this shopping arcade features marble statues, a massive atrium with a domed skylight, and the much-copied sky painted ceilings that make it feel like you’re outside even though you aren’t. The shopping is also pretty remarkable. There are over 160 stores including mall favourites such as Gap, Victoria’s Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch, alongside top international luxury brands like Gianni Versace, Louis Vuitton and Roberto Cavalli. Notable boutiques include the chic fashions in Nanette Lepore, the incredible bags by Balenciaga, and the trendy pieces in Intermix. You will find fashions for your home as well, from the handcrafted crystal at Baccarat to the sleek designs at Nambé. If you hit the jackpot, the Forum Shops are the place to splurge – and so is the extraordinary collection of boutiques at the Wynn Esplanade in the Wynn Las Vegas (3131 Las Vegas Blvd S.) Oscar de la Renta features classic couture and shoe lovers particularly will enjoy the sexy styles on display at Manolo Blahnik. If you REALLY hit the jackpot you could even treat yourself to a shiny new car at the Penske Wynn Ferrari Maserati dealership.

For more great shopping and opulent settings, head to the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Resort & Casino (3355 Las Vegas Blvd S.) It has a canal complete with crooning gondoliers, cobblestone walkways and a re-creation of Venice’s famous St. Mark’s Square. Shoppers are serenaded by musicians, jugglers and various entertainers as they stroll along the canal. There are plenty of luxe labels to browse including Burberry, Jimmy Choo and the stylish and sexy designs at bebe. If you want to pamper your skin, the luxurious soaps, lotions and fragrances at Acca Kappa are simply divine. Other highlights include the one-of-a-kind porcelain designs in the Lladro boutique, and the acclaimed panoramic photography in the Peter Lik Gallery. Other notable shopping on the strip can be found at the bustling Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino (3663 Las Vegas Blvd S.) which offers hip stores like H&M, Marciano and Ben Sherman.

There are some gigantic malls in Vegas and shopaholics should prepare themselves for a shopping extravaganza at Fashion Show (3200 Las Vegas Blvd S.) At nearly 2-million-square-feet with more than 200 stores, this shopping centre is one of the biggest in the US. Located in the heart of the strip, this mall features an 80-foot retractable runway for the fashion shows that run regularly. You’ll find renowned department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, and Bloomingdales, and cutting edge shops like Zara, Betsey Johnson and Ed Hardy. And there are plenty of popular chains like Hollister, J. Crew, and Ann Taylor. More in the mood for Old Navy than Emporio Armani? Then check out The Boulevard (3528 South Maryland Parkway.) Just minutes from the strip and downtown, it is the second largest mall in the city after Fashion Show, and features a Sears, JC Penney, and many other mall favourites.

Off the strip, head downtown to the Las Vegas Premium Outlets (875 South Grand Central Parkway.) This open-air shopping venue has over 150 stores with a mix of brands, many of which are unexpected for an outlet. The uber-trendy on a budget will love browsing through the fashions at Dolce & Gabbana, Michael Kors and A|X Armani Exchange. Need to accessorize? Head to Kate Spade, Coach or Cole Haan. From sportswear at Adidas to crystal at Swarovski, this is outlet shopping that really delivers the designer goods. There are also lots of upscale finds at the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas (32100 Las Vegas Blvd S.) located about 40 miles south in Primm, Nevada. Shuttles are available from the MGM Grand Hotel, the Miracle Mile and Fashion Show (round-trip fare is $15.00 and includes a coupon book.) Highlights include Neiman Marcus Last Call and the Williams Sonoma Marketplace, which is worth the trip itself for deep discounts on high-end kitchenware.

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Do Not Settle For The First Car Insurance Quote You Obtain

If you are shopping around for a new motor vehicle, your purchase need to go hand in hand with acquiring a car insurance quote. As soon as you drive your new vehicle off the dealership’s floor you are at risk of getting in an accident or you can be hijacked on your way home, consequently you have to have your car insurance policy in place previous to getting behind the controls of your car for the very first time.There are many variables that would influence the car insurance quote that you will obtain. Causes such as your age, gender and driving history are all examples of such variables. The price of the car in question will also play a role, as will the number of nominated drivers on the vehicle.Never settle for the first car insurance quote you receive. Try to contrast and compare as many quotes as possible – no less than three or five. In case you are uncertain about the terms and conditions associated with your policy, make certain to discuss this with your insurance agent or insurance broker prior to signing your contract.One of the points that may perhaps result in a lower car insurance quote is opting for a higher excess amount. An excess amount is essentially the difference between the price for repairing your vehicle and the amount that the insurance company is willing to pay. Say for instance you must repair your bumper after a small accident and the repair price is R10 000. The insurance company agrees to pay R8 000. Your excess amount (payable by you!) is then R2 000. The greater your voluntary excess amount, the lower your associated premiums (usually!). Just be careful that you do not pick such a high excess amount that you would not be in a position to honour the payment when it is time to put in a claim!Also keep in mind that your car insurance quote will typically only give you an indication of your first year’s premiums. An essential issue to remember is that your insurance premium is likely to increase on a yearly basis. You might be thinking that this is not making sense, as the value of your car is in fact decreasing year after year and thus the insurance providers’s subsequent risk is lower. On the one hand that is true, but remember that the cost for repairing your vehicle (parts and labour) increase every year and insurance firms have to cater for this increased cost by increasing your premiums.Often times an insurance business will provide a car insurance quote, but your insurance policy will only be activated as soon as you’ve taken your vehicle for an inspection. These inspections are necessary as insurance firms must make certain that you are not trying to insure a car with an existing problem and that all the security features (such as an alarm system, immobilizer etc) stipulated on the contract are indeed in place.Obtaining a car insurance quote is really not difficult. Research your options, compare a couple of quotations and make an informed decision.

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The Secret of El Salvador – Terrific Beaches Just Minutes From a Major Airport

If airlift is the key to the second home door, then El Salvador is the best bargain on the street. It may look like a fixer upper because of the country’s history with hurricanes, earthquakes, war and poverty but its main airport – now the hub of all of Central America soon will be hosting more than 2.5 million passengers a year – is 20 minutes from the region’s Costa del Sol and some of the finest beaches on the West Coast. If there is one single amenity that drives second half traffic it is waterfront property and El Salvador has 200 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline that few North Americans have ever seen, let alone researched for a real estate purchase.

El Salvador, from the Spanish word “The Savior”, is bordered by Guatemala on the west, by Honduras at the north, by Nicaragua and the Gulf of Fonseca on the East, and by the Pacific Ocean on the South. It is the smallest country in Central America, and has the highest density of population in the region and has the second largest U.S. Embassy in the world. The distance between San Salvador and neighbor capital cities of Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua is about the same (4-hour drive). Approximately 70 percent of the regional commerce is concentrated in these four countries.

TACA International Airlines, owned by a Salvadorian family, operates about 65 percent of all the traffic in and out of the El Salvador International Airport also known as Comalapa International Airport. TACA, which is expanding its hub in El Salvador, provides non-stop service to San Salvador from Toronto, New York, Washington, D.C., Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago and recently purchased a string of regional carriers that will provide additional flights within Central America and the Caribbean. Delta (Atlanta), United, Continental (Houston) and American also provide direct flights to the country’s capital city.

Compared to U.S. coastal communities, homes in El Salvador are an absolute bargain. For example, Joan Rich Mantecón, a San Francisco Bay-area Realtor who specializes in international second homes (www.internationaldwellings.com), had listed for sale a five-bedroom, three-bathroom home on the beach at Playa San Diego, south of La Libertad, in May, 2007. This fully air-conditioned house had been painted inside and out in 2004, had two swimming pools and Jacuzzi, a five-room servant-renter quarters, large gazebo for hammocks, outdoor BBQ and enough room to park five cars in the backyard. This property is 20 minutes away from the airport and also 20 minutes away from Santa Tecla where there is a Costco and various malls. There’s a seafood restaurant on the beach only steps away and the home’s caretakers live across the street. Price? $325,000.

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