Sunday, November 21, 2010

Experience Cape Town

Undoubtedly one of the most spectacular cities in the world and a regular on any list of ‘top tourist attractions’, but why? ‘Tired of London, Tired of life’ goes the expression - well the same applies to Cape Town.

A gourmets delight. Fresh seafood & international cuisine with a decidedly South African twist, and a huge range of eateries ranging from cheap & funky to award-winning fine-dining. Great value too – anything from £7 per person !

Think of South Africa and I am sure wine comes to mind at some point. Home to the very full-bodied Pinotage grape variety and some other great wines, ports and brandies.

If you are in town at the right time why not try and get a ticket for a Curry Cup or Tri-Nations rugby match at Newlands or any game at the Newlands cricket ground, surely the most scenic test ground in the world.

Table Mountain is so much more than just a flat-topped mountain. You can climb it, fly over it, walk up it, abseil down it, have breakfast on it, get married on it or just look at it.

On the coast, amongst vineyards, in the mountains – the Cape’s 70 golf courses offer spectacular golf. Can your golf match it do you think?

Come face to face with one of the most feared predators on the planet and dive (in a cage) with the Great White Sharks.Hit the beach in Camps Bay, Clifton, Hout Bay or Blouberg.

The beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Groot Constantia Estate are lovely days out. Take a picnic and sit amongst the vines or gardens and take in the beauty.

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Car Hire Cape Town

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Online Shopping Tips

{mosimage}Selection and convenience are two of the primary reasons for shopping online. Why should I get dressed, get in my car, drive through the traffic, and struggle to find a parking place to get to a brick and mortar store that may or may not have the item I want? Instead, I can sit in comfortably in my own home, in my robe and furry slippers and purchase the item I need online and arrange for overnight delivery.

Well, it really isn't as cut and dried as I've described. There are definite advantages and disadvantages to online shopping. For instance, if I really want to purchase a gift for the birthday party that I'll be attending later today, I'd better warm up my car. Even with express service, there is no “instant” delivery. While the Internet can give you more information about a product than you'd get in a store, sometimes that information just isn't enough. For example, I can read that the new perfume is a combination of gardenia, freesia and sandalwood with a delicate top note of vanilla, but nothing can substitute for actually smelling the fragrance.

Is Online Shopping Really Safe?
The first question that I am often asked about online shopping is this: "Is it really safe to use your credit card online?" The answer is that it is often safer to use your credit card online than paying for dinner by giving your card to a waiter or waitress who disappears for a given period. However, there are ways to confirm that you are protected when shopping online.

Shop Only at Secure Sites
Always make sure that you shop only at secure sites. Before you provide a credit card number or personal information, make sure the site has been authenticated as a secure site. Sometimes, you may click from one site to another and may wonder whether the current site is really secure. There is an easy way to tell. The address of the secure page will begin with "https" instead of "http". The extra "s" stands for "secure." At the lower left-hand corner or bottom-middle of your screen depending on your browser, you will also see an icon in the form of an unbroken key or a closed padlock. Both of these represent secure sites using SSL or Secure Socket Layering, which is a particularly reliable encryption process that scrambles credit card information once it is entered and before it is transferred. Remember, the entire site does not have to be secure, but you should see the https and the lock or unbroken key on the page requesting your shipping and credit card information.

Use Reputable Companies
Be sure to shop with reputable companies. Because credit card fraud takes a bite out of their bottom line, most reputable companies have devoted a great deal of effort to ensure that your personal information is safeguarded and that your transactions are secure. Always read the security information as well as the refund, restocking and return policies of the company even if they are a well-known business.

Remember that anyone can set up an Internet site. If you are unfamiliar with this particular company, see if they have a toll-free telephone number that you can use. Ask friends and neighbors for feedback about the company, and place a few small orders with them before you make a large purchase. Always remember to look for a valid physical address and/or telephone number for the company that you will be dealing with.

Return Policy
When shopping online the return policy can be very important. Can you return the product if you don’t like it? Is there a restocking fee? Will the company pay return postage if the product arrives damaged? If the Web site also has a brick and mortar store can you return the product there?

Pay by Credit Card
If you pay online by credit card, the Fair Credit Billing Act will protect your transaction. Under this legislation, consumers have the right to dispute certain charges and temporarily withhold payment; generally customers are held liable for only the first $50 worth of unauthorized credit card charges. The type credit card used can also make a difference. Some cards provide supplemental warranties or other purchase-protection benefits.

Keep Good Records
Always print a copy of all your purchase orders and confirmation numbers. If the company sends an e-mail confirmation of your transaction, be sure to read the fine print on the e-mail. Also promptly check your monthly bank and credit card statements. Reconcile these statements with the records of your transactions to make sure that any billing errors or unauthorized purchases are reported within the required timeframe.

Sandy's Favorite Shopping Spots
With my busy schedule, I do a lot of my shopping online. HSN.com is one of my perennial favorites for jewelry and household items. You can watch the television presentations right on your computer and get a lot of information about the products before you make your purchase. HSN is very large. They use their purchasing power to negotiate good prices and often use value-added items to entice you to buy. For instance, I saw a printer on HSN selling for the same price as Best Buy, but on HSN the printer also came with paper and software making the value-ad more than offset the shipping charges.

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Life Insurance South Africa