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PassPorter News
News, Announcements, Updates, and Tips
January 18, 2007 * Issue 7.3
PassPorter.com - http://www.passporter.com
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Welcome to PassPorter News, an online newsletter
about PassPorter travel guidebooks, the
Walt Disney World Resort, and Disney Cruise Line.
PassPorter News is available by free subscription
to all readers and friends of our labor of love --
PassPorter Travel Guidebooks.
Learn all about them:
http://www.passporter.com/aboutpassporter.htm
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In This Newsletter:
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From the Authors: Message Board Upgrade
Travel Feature: Los Angeles
Disney Feature: How Young Is 'Too Young?'
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Checking On Charges, Water Woes, Character Cards
Captain's Corner: Pigskin Journal
Q&A: How can I be sure my bags made it
from the plane to the cruise?
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FROM THE AUTHORS: Message Board
Upgrade
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Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
We lost our high speed Internet access here for a
couple of days due to the recent ice storms, but that has barely slowed us
down!
Message Board Upgrade: The next big
thing in the PassPorter pipeline is an overhaul of our popular PassPorter Posts message boards community. On Saturday,
January 20, we'll be closing the message boards temporarily so we can upgrade
them. Please make a note now of your display name and password so you can log
in after the message boards are upgraded. You may also want to save a copy of
your profile information, signature, avatar, and any other images. Jennifer has
more details on the upgrade and can answer your questions in our Using Your PassPorter forum at http://www.passporterboards.com/ubb/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1472445
New E-Book: Last week we
introduced a brand-new e-book, PassPorter's Sidekick to the Walt Disney World Guidebook, and the
response has been fantastic! This 109-page Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file is bursting
at the seams with new planning worksheets (including eight "Stuff To Do
Before You Go" pages), journal pages in a variety of designs, an
electronic version of PassPorter Walt Disney World's Web Site Index (so you can
click the links and go), duplicates of every planning worksheet and checklist
in PassPorter Walt Disney World, luggage tags, and much more! What's really
exciting (at least, to us) is that most of these pages are completely
interactive -- you can type-in your information (the budget worksheet even does
the math for you!) and check-off your check list items on your computer, then
print-out the filled-in pages to insert in your PassPorter. As with all our e-books,
these pages are formatted to be printed-out to fit a PassPorter deluxe ring
binder, and will fold and fit neatly in your PassPorter's PassPockets. Get all
the details at http://www.passporter.com/wdw/sidekick.asp
Tip: If you've already got this e-book
and downloaded it on or before Saturday, January 13, we've updated the e-book
with more interactive features! Log back into the store and
download the e-book again to get the latest and greatest version.
Great Offer: For a limited
time, you can get a free copy of the above e-book with your
purchase of a PassPorter Walt Disney World 2007 guidebook when you buy
it from our online store. (Offer good through January 25, 2007.) What a deal!
Visit http://www.passporterstore.com/store/2007.aspx
Cruise Guide Arrived Earlier: The new
edition of PassPorter's Field Guide to the Disney Cruise Line is now in our
warehouse, and pre-orders are shipping now! That's a full week ahead of
schedule. We'll need a couple of days to catch up with all the pre-orders, but
by early next week new orders of the guidebook will be shipping out
next-business day. This is the biggest edition of our Disney Cruise Line
guidebook ever, with more than 70 brand-new pages, most of them dedicated to
this summer's Mediterranean itineraries. To be among the first to get your
copy, order now at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/dcl2007.aspx
Bestselling!!!: Sales of
PassPorter Walt Disney World 2007 are setting new records in the bookstores!
For the first two weeks of 2007 our little baby has been #18 on the Bookscan
Travel Bestsellers list, which measures actual in-store book sales. The list,
compiled by the A.C. Nielsen Company (famed for its TV ratings), includes guidebooks,
map books and travel narratives (like Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the
Woods"). If you subtract the literature and road atlases, we come in at
#9. Pretty darned cool, and cooler every week!
PassPorter Public Appearance Calendar
Friday, January 26, 2007 at 1:10 pm --
PassPorter co-author Dave Marx will be a guest on The Charlie Profit Radio
Show, on WXCT AM 990 in Southington, Connecticut
In this issue of the
newsletter, our globetrotting Brit, Cheryl Pendry, takes us for a tour of some
of the many sights of Los Angeles, and
newsletter Editor Sara Varney helps parents with that perennial question, "How young is 'too young?" Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Authors and Publishers
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DID YOU KNOW?
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& FREE extras for MouseFest 2007!
Kick Off 2007 with Our Magical Offers!
Get a FREE copy of
"PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World¨" Just book a
minimum 4-night vacation
Valid for bookings made 01/01/07--01/31/07
Visit us at: http://www.mousefantravel.com/?apid=ptp
*One book per reservation will be sent with
documents. Valid for 2007-08 travel.
Click for full details. CST207807440
- As to Disney artwork: ©Disney
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TRAVEL FEATURE: Los Angeles:
City of Angels... and Stars!
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by Cheryl Pendry, Guest Contributor and
PassPorter Message Board Guide
Los Angeles -- those two words invariably get
people thinking. Perhaps of the thousands of movies that have come out of the
city, perhaps of the designer names scattered throughout Beverley Hills, that
famous Hollywood sign, or maybe the smog and the traffic congestion.
Whatever it is you think of, Los Angeles certainly
makes its mark on people, whether they've visited the city or not, and with
good reason. It's the second largest city in America with a population of more
than four million people, spread over something like 500 square miles -- and
that's just in the city! It's reckoned the Los Angeles metropolitan area is
home to another 13 million people. If you're heading to California, it's one of
those places you have to visit -- and of course it's easy to get to for anyone
visiting Disneyland.
But where to start? Nearly every tourist heads for
Hollywood Boulevard and it's easy to see why. The sight of Mann's Chinese
Theater is one that's immediately familiar to any Disney fan that's seen it's
likeness at the Disney-MGM Studios. When you see the real thing for the first
time though, you're immediately struck by how much vision and showmanship Sid
Graumann had. This place really is unique and certainly doesn't blend in with
anything around it, but that's one of its attractions! And of course another
attraction is the handprints in front of the theater. It's worth arriving early
to get any photos, as this place gets mobbed later in the day.
Hollywood Boulevard is also home to the Walk of
Fame, and while not as prestigious as getting your handprint done, it's really
fun to find your favorites - be sure to print off a list before you leave home.
The Walk of Fame literally goes on for miles and you do need to have an idea of
where to find the star that youÕre looking for. A couple that Disney fans
should keep an eye out for include Walt Disney at 7201 Hollywood Boulevard, Roy
O. Disney at 6833, Mickey Mouse at 6925, Donald Duck at 6840 and Snow White at
6910.
This area is also home to the Kodak Theater, which
hosts the Oscars. Part of the Hollywood and Highland complex, it's fascinating
to walk down the stairs and see the names of the movies which have taken the
Best Picture Oscar each year. If you want to see more of the theater, guided
tours run daily and can be purchased at the box office. This complex is also
home to shops and restaurants and a very reasonably priced car park, where
parking will cost you up to a maximum of $10 per day -- a good bargain for a
major city!
Let's be honest -- we're all fascinated by the
lives of the rich and famous, otherwise the press wouldn't cover their every
move with such detail. That could explain why Beverley Hills is such a huge
attraction for visitors to Los Angeles. Packed with world famous designer
names, this area of the city just drips with money and of course, there's
always a chance you could spot a star out doing their shopping. It really is
worth seeing, just to see how the other half live! If stars are what you've
come to Los Angeles to spot, then this is also the area to find their homes. As
well as taking a guided tour, you can also do it yourself with guides to where
celebrities live. One guide that's particularly comprehensive is Celebrity and Movie Star Addresses.
Although movies may have made LA famous, they're
only half the story for visitors. The city also has a lot of history that many
never see. That history really started with La Brea Tar Pits, which were formed
around 42,000 years ago, when oil rose to the surface of the earth. Animals
became trapped by that oil and their remains were then fossilized. The Page
Museum here allows visitors to learn about the city during the last Ice Age,
when the city was dominated by sabre toothed tigers, rather than movie stars!
History is just as evident, but a lot more recent
at Olveda Street, the birthplace of Los Angeles. It's also known as El Pueblo
Historic Monument, after the original pueblo that was built by the 44 settlers
of Los Angeles in 1781. Today you can still find many historic buildings here,
including the oldest brick home in the city and there's also a traditional
Mexican-style market to browse. It's an odd area, set right in the middle of
modern downtown, and considering the development in LA over the years, it's
amazing it's survived so well.
A far more modern structure that's also well worth
a visit is the Hollywood Bowl. The summer
home of the LA Philharmonic since 1922, it's a unique concert venue and it is
worth checking to see if anyone will be playing there during your trip. Even if
there isn't anything that appeals, the museum is open year round from Tuesdays
to Saturdays and is free to visit. Just remember, if you do get a chance to go
to the Bowl, be sure to hike up high enough to get a photo with the Hollywood
sign in the background. It's not an easy climb, but it's worth it!
And speaking of the Hollywood sign, you'll get some
superb views of it from Griffith Park. Covering 4,210 acres, this park got its
name from Colonel Griffith J. Griffith, who donated the land to the city in
1896. As well as the wonderful views, the main attraction here is the Griffith
Park Observatory that has recently reopened, following a massive renovation and
expansion. One of its main draws is its superb planetarium and the 12-inch
Zeiss telescope, located in a roof top dome at the east end of the building,
allowing people to view the stars and planets for themselves.
With so much to see, you might be wondering where
to grab some good food. Unsurprisingly, LA is packed with a myriad of places to
eat, but some of the best include the Farmers' Market which was
started during the Great Depression of the 1930's as a place for farmers to
sell their produce. Today the food here is still first class and you'll be hard
pressed to find fresher meals. If you like hot dogs then don't miss Pink's at 709 La
Brea Boulevard. A family owned hog dog stand since 1939, you'll see lines
around the block at almost any time of the day, even the early hours of the
morning!
There's so much to see in Los Angeles that ideally
you'll either need a car to get around or you can also join a guided tour. As
you'd expect, there are many to choose from -- we went for Starline Tours and were very
impressed with the tour and the knowledge of our guide. In recent years, with
the creation of a new subway system in the 1990's, public transport has become
another way to get around Los Angeles. The metro system includes rail
and bus services, which will take you to most of the major sights.
About the Author: Cheryl and husband Mark live
in England and love to travel, particularly to America. Although they're
regular visitors to Walt Disney World, their travels have also taken them to
Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Boston, and Washington DC in
the last year or so!
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Did you enjoy this article? Have questions? E-mail
us at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss
your Disney travel plans. Also check out our Article Collection at http://www.passporter.com/articles for more
great information!
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DID YOU KNOW?
Great Cruise Rates are available at MouseEarVacations.com!
Disney Cruise Line¨ Special Offer
Summer, 2007 - Land / Sea Itineraries
Save up to $944* per cabin compared to
current Disney pricing.
*Savings based on double occupancy. Ships'
Registry: The Bahamas CST2058090-40
http://www.MouseEarVacations.com 800-886-8601
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DISNEY FEATURE: How Young Is
Too Young?
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by Sara Varney, PassPorter News Editor
By far, one of the most frequently asked questions
on our message boards and of me personally is, "When should I take my
child to Walt Disney World? How young is too young?" My usual quick answer
is, "There's no such thing as too young!" but in reality this is much
too important a question for a quick answer.
There are a number of things to consider when
figuring out that magic age for taking your child to see Mickey. I'll try to
break down some of the most important factors for you so you can make a more
informed decision. After all, you want to vacation to be magical for everyone,
not just your young one!
The first and most important thing to consider is
your expectations for this trip. Is this your first trip to Walt Disney World
or are you old pros? Do you want to see as much as possible, knowing that this
is a once in a lifetime trip, or do you just want to sit back and let the magic
happen, knowing that you will be back to experience more as your child grows?
Our son is two and has already visited Walt Disney World twice -- once at 19
months and once at 28 months. Both trips were wonderful and I wouldn't trade
those memories for anything, but for the most part they are my memories, not
his. If this is a once in a lifetime trip, I recommend waiting until your child
is a little older so that they can experience more and will have more
first-hand memories of the trip.
Another consideration is cost. And this is where
taking a younger child becomes a benefit! Children under three do not require
park admission. Not only that, but you can go during the less expensive times
of year when older children are in school. This can equal HUGE savings on hotel
rooms! Also, there is no charge for children under three at buffet meals. This
includes such popular character meals as the Crystal Palace, where your toddler
can dine with Pooh and friends, and Hollywood & Vine, which features JoJo,
Goliath and the Little Einsteins at breakfast and lunch. Watching my son run
into Stitch's arms while dining at Ohana is one of my favorite memories from
his first trip. That moment may have been worth the cost of the trip alone!
Then you have to consider logistics. Traveling with
a younger child requires STUFF -- strollers, car seats, sippy cups, diapers,
snacks, etc. Your child may still be napping requiring a trip back to the hotel
in the middle of the day. (Not such a bad idea for anyone actually...) Is it
easier to travel with an older child? Maybe. But keep in mind that as they get
older, the strollers may STILL be necessary; car seats become booster seats if
you rent a car, and "other stuff" becomes iPods and Gameboys. Let's
face it; traveling with kids requires a lot of stuff no matter what their ages!
Finally there is the "X" factor. And that
is your child. You know him or her best! Be honest with yourself. Is your child
a bit of a runaway? If she has a tendency to wander off at home, know that this
tendency will be multiplied tenfold at Disney. Does he melt down mid-day
without a nap? Take that into consideration. Is your child shy or timid? All
the sights and sounds at Disney overwhelm some children. It can be a bit much
at times, even for adults! There are kids for whom it would be better to wait
until they are better able to process what is going on around them.
There is something magical about a toddler seeing
Walt Disney World for the first time, because they "get it!"
Everything is real. Mickey is the best friend that they've been seeing every day on "Mickey Mouse
Clubhouse," Dumbo really flies and so does Tinker Bell. Exploring Disney
with a toddler is a whole new way of seeing "The World." It's a
slower pace that involves stopping to splash in every fountain, checking out
every play area, stopping at every restroom you pass if potty training, and
waving at every character you see. And while this can be difficult to adjust to
for former commando tourists like me, the benefits are well worth it. You spot
details you never would have seen before, find the fun in the most mundane
parts of Disney, and rediscover the magic in a way a grown-up never could. So
just like you're never too old to experience the magic, you're never too young
either!
About the Author: Sara is the Editor of
PassPorter News and Online Coordinator for MediaMarx Inc. She and her family
are looking forward to their third trip together to Walt Disney World for
MouseFest 2007.
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Did you enjoy this article? Have questions? E-mail
us at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss
your holiday plans. Also check out our Article Collection at http://www.passporter.com/articles for more
great information!
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UPDATES: What's New
and Changed
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Here's a few relevant news items:
Walt Disney World announced increases to the
rack room rates at their
resorts, effective January 11, 2007. This is the rate that is charged for the
room not including any discounts. Value resort rates rose approximately $4 per
night, Moderate resorts rose approximately $6 per night, Deluxe resorts, DVC
properties and Ft. Wilderness rose approximately $10 per night.
The price for valet parking at Walt
Disney World Resorts has increased to $10 per day.
Disney Cruise Line was expected
to announce special summer itineraries for 2008 on Wednesday, January 17. Well
it didn't happen, but it just may happen today (Thursday). Check our Disney Cruise Line message board
forum at http://www.passporterboards.com/ubb/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=UBB22
- we'll post the news there, as soon as it comes across the wire!
Two of Epcot's Behind the Scenes tours are being
discontinued. Hidden Treasures of the World Showcase will no longer be
available after April 27, 2007 and Gardens of the World will no longer be
offered after June 9, 2007.
Our thanks to http://www.allears.net from which we
get some of our news leads.
>Things To Do: Hear some news? Send it to us at
news@passporter.com
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Our readers are a wealth of information! Here are
the winners in this month's tip contest:
CHECKING ON CHARGES
"While staying at a Walt Disney World resort,
I like to take advantage of charging all purchases on my Room Charge. In order
to keep track, I keep a "running total" each day on the bottom of my
PassPorter pockets. I collect all receipts for the day and at night in the
room, I add them all up and write on the bottom of the pocket for that day
"Running Total As Of Today is $ _____". Sometimes it is easy to get
carried away with the spending, so this keeps me in order and on budget without
any surprises. Then after a few days, I either call to the front desk or ask
for a copy of my bill to check and make sure that the totals match. Then, the
express checkout option is easier too. This keeps my finances in order and it
is much easier to check out, knowing that all is right in "The
World."
--
contributed by Ami G.
WATER WOES
"Have people in your group who hate to get
wet? Bring in trash bags folded small. Make head and arm opening right before
going on the ride (for example Splash Mountain). Then after the ride simply
throw away. Saves on bringing dry clothes to carry."
--
contributed by Linda W.
CHARACTER CARDS
"When I was five my family drove two days to
Disney World. My mom knew this would be an awful drive if I did not have
something to channel my excitement. So she gave me some colors and a notepad
and told me to write notes to all of the characters that I would be seeing on
our vacation. I spent time writing little notes and coloring pictures for
Mickey, Minnie and the gang. Each day my mom took the notes to the park with
us. When we'd see a character, I'd give them the note. It gave me something to
hunt for as we walked all over the park and the characters loved it... at least
it seemed like they'd spend a little more time patting my head or taking a photo.
17 years and many trips since I still remember the joy I had seeking out and
delivering my special messages."
--
contributed by Katie B.
>Notes: Send us your tips! You may see them in
this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter! Visit:
http://www.passporter.com/wdw/tipsandstories.htm
>>Want more Disney tips? For Walt Disney
World fans, we've collected 500 of the best tips submitted by readers over the
past six years. All have been edited for accuracy and categorized. For details,
visit the PassPorter Disney 500 info page at
http://www.passporter.com/wdw/disney500.asp
>>For Disney Cruise Line fans, we have an
e-book with 250 cruiser tips, as well as a special cruise line comparison
section and seven customized packing lists. For information, visit the Disney
Cruise Clues info page at http://www.passporter.com/dcl/cruiseclues.asp
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CAPTAIN'S CORNER: Treasure
Hunting Game
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Play our fun and quirky treasure hunting game,
hosted by Captain Jack Skatt from our book, "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts
at Walt Disney World."
The Captain makes a study of the delightful details
-- sometimes hidden, sometimes in plain sight but often overlooked -- at Walt
Disney World and aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Using notes from his journals,
he will lead you to this "treasure" at Disney with clues, questions,
photos, or riddles. Your challenge is to discover the answer by searching your
memory, visiting Disney, or even just looking really hard on the Internet. If
you think you've found the answer, e-mail it to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the
first person to correctly submit the FULL answer will receive a free PassPorter
enamel pin or PassPorter name badge pin.
Here is this weekÕs journal entry:
"I'm becoming desperate in my search for
a new journal to record my musings. Today at lunch I snuck a few extra napkins
at Backlot Express and used them as note paper. Oh, the shame. I later stopped
by Dr. Honeydew's lab in the hope he could get one of his fancy-schmancy
machines to make me a journal, but his assistant was not available -- something
about finding wall dough. Sounds dreadful. My old pal Sweetums saw me wandering
about the labs and offered to make me a pigskin journal, but I politely
declined. I knew someone who would strenuously object. In the end, all I got
out of my visit to the labs was a pair of old 'sunglasses' that don't even keep
the sun out of my eyes."
Where are the labs that Jack visited?
Send your full answer to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the winner
will be notified by e-mail and announced in the next newsletter, along with the
correct answer!
Congratulations to William Hayes who was the
winner of last week's treasure hunt game! William correctly identified the
signpost as being located in the queue of The Seas with Nemo & Frien, see http://www.passporter.com/news/news011107.htm#captain
If you enjoy treasure hunts, we've got an entire
book with over 100 distinct treasure hunts and over 1500 questions, complete
with clues and contributions from Captain Skatt. Get details on ÒPassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney
World" at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/1587710269.aspx
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WFMA asks: "I'm
using the Disney Cruise Line airport transfers. When you get on the ship are
your bags in the room already or do you have to wait? What happens if one is
missing? Do they put them on the same bus as us? Can I verify that they made it
off the plane?"
Dave & Jennifer answer: "The
only way to verify that your bags made it off the plane is to not use the
luggage tags, and collect your own luggage at the baggage carousel. You can
then bring the baggage down to the Disney Cruise Line (DCL) shuttle yourself.
Whether you use the luggage tags, or deliver the
bags to DCL yourself, they will be loaded onto a truck - they won't be loaded
on your bus.
No matter how your luggage gets to the cruise
terminal, it is then checked again, X-rayed, brought on board by longshoremen,
and distributed to staterooms by the ship's crew (it'll be left in the hallway
outside your door). It will not be waiting for you (unless you spend a bit of
time at lunch, etc. before visiting your room for the first time) -- you can
get on board faster than the luggage can be distributed by the crew.
If something turns up on X-ray that is not
permitted on board the baggage is hand-inspected, and any item(s) not allowed
(like knives, tools, etc.) will be removed and held for you at the terminal (it
can be reclaimed at the end of the journey). This process can delay delivery of
that piece of luggage until after the ship has sailed (it's loaded on board
very close to departure time, and it may take a while for it to make its way
from the cargo hold up to your room).
If you do use the DCL luggage tags (and let them
collect your luggage at the airport), if there's a missing bag (due to airline
or baggage handling error), it may take a day or more to be reunited with that
luggage -- it'll be flown to the first practical port of call (typically,
Nassau) and delivered to the ship. If a bag does go missing, report it
immediately to Guest Services on Deck 3. Whether it's an airline error or the
cruise line's, they'll handle all the details.
For these reason, we always recommend that you
bring a day bag (carry-on) that has a change of clothes that will be
appropriate for dinner."
Have a question? Check out our new "Ask
PassPorter" Q & A blog at http://ask.passporter.com . We're still
working on getting the blog ready for prime time, but we welcome your comments
and questions! You can also post questions at http://www.passporterboards.com/
-- and if you're lucky, you may find that folks have already asked and answered
the same question that's on your mind!
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PassPorter News is published weekly, and this means
we need more articles than ever! We're on the lookout for guest columnists who
want to contribute articles to this newsletter. No professional writing
experience necessary, just a desire to share your experience with others! Not
only is this a great way to give something back to the PassPorter community,
but you get to see your name in "print" and receive a $25 gift
certificate.
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PassPorter News is only sent to those who have
subscribed to it through our Web site or at the time of an order,
registration, survey, or contest.
If this newsletter was forwarded to you by a
thoughtful
friend, please join us! You can subscribe at:
http://www.passporter.com/news.htm
Please ask your questions and help each other in
our
Message Board Community:
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Copyright (c) 2007 - MediaMarx, Inc. / PassPorter
Travel Press, PO Box 3880, Ann Arbor, MI
48106
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