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Many rental car agencies are upgrading to the latest GPS technology. Budget Travel rated several and this is what they found.

Enterprise rents the Garmin nuvi 265W for $10 a day.

Hertz uses their own brand for $13 a day. This one is fixed below the dashboard so be careful when parking as it cannot be removed and placed out of sight.

Avis/Budget has the Garmin nuvi 780 for $14 a day. Budget Travel really likes this one as it is a newer model and will even give you real time traffic updates.

Dollar/Thrifty rents the Garmin nA1/4vi 660 for $12 a day.

Alamo/National has the Garmin StreetPilot c330 for $12 a day.

Each have pros and cons so do some checking if having a GPS is the reason you are renting from a particular company. Happy navigating.

Plan to visit San Francisco next February for the Chinese New Year parade. It is rated one of the world’s top 5 parades celebrating Chinese New Year. We spent a glorious sunny day in San Francisco but did not know about the parade until too late.
Next year, we will buy tickets to ensure a seat on the bleachers. For $30 US you get to view this glorious parade up close.
What better way to ring in the Chinese New Year?

When looking for a great restaurant in Sacramento, California, look no further than “Fat City”. This turn of the century bar and cafe serves some patrons on the Legendary Pioneer Bar from 1876 in use in Leadville, Colorado.

This Famous Purple Lady, from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair took first prize in the stained glass category. Now it graces one wall. Tiffany chandeliers hang over each table, leaded glass windows provide views of the streets and boardwalk, and ornate wood and beveled glass doors beckon you inside.

The Fat City Building was originally built around 1849 as a general merchandise store. Today it has been rebuilt to its original 1849 appearance.

Don’t pass up a chance to try their food. It is not your typical bar and cafe food. The chef does an amazing job with everything we have tried. Enjoy.

My friends at Budget Travel offer some tips for taking better sunset photos. Sometimes I remember to do what they told me…other times I get so into the sunset and snapping photos, that I forget. See if these tips help you.

1. Turn off your flash, allowing the warm natural light to dominate the picture. If you can’t turn it off, turn to the “night photo” setting.

2. Fill the camera frame with the sky. Point the center of the frame above the horizon line and fill the frame with as much of the color and light you want captured.

3. Try pressing the shutter button half way down to lock in the exposure and focus. When you’re ready, press the shutter all the way to take the picture.

4. Be prepared. Take your camera with you. And pack an extra battery.

5. Set your own film speed. A faster speed like 400 or 800 ASA/ISO is designed to be used at sunset.

6.If using a digital camera, choose the highest resolution your camera will allow.

7. Try composing off center. Use objects to give your picture some depth.

8. Early riser? These tips will work for sunrise as well. Just don’t shoot into the sun!!

If you don’t have time to learn the language when traveling, take a look at this cool piece of equipment. Ecataco iTravl can translate and speak more than 70,000 phrases in eight languages, including Chinese.
It comes with Fodor’s travel guide and a language tutor to help you master the basics. Use it during your flight and be ready to say “good morning”, “please” and “thank you” when you land.
This handy piece is around $600.00 US. Look for it at www.ectaco.com.

Renting a car on your next trip? Sign up in advance for the rewards or loyalty program of the company you are going to use. Most programs are free. Some offer discounts for your first rental and many offer on-going discounts or frequent user promos. Almost all will offer members-only lines with shorter or no wait times, allowing you to start your vacation quicker!

Next time you pack for a trip of any length, throw in some zip-loc bags of different sizes. They take up almost no room and have endless uses…
-toiletries that are prone to oozing
-cell phones at the beach or on amusement park water rides
-umbrellas that are too wet for your purse or back pack
-emergency laundry kit
-perfume
-sea shells
-souvenir collection of post cards, brochures or menus
-nuts or snacks
-wet swimsuits
-keeping your book dry at the beach or pool
-wash cloth
-napkins for a picnic
the list goes on and on…

A flight attendant once told me to carry some strong peppermints with me when I fly. That way if the flight gets bumpy or my stomach gets upset, I can use them.

Another flight attendant told me to order Ginger Ale instead of water, juice or soda.

Both have natural ingredients that help with upset stomachs.

What says romantic Valentine’s Day getaway spots more than Italy?

Albergo California hotel in Positano, on the Amalfi Coast of Italy, houses 15 guest rooms. Six of these are in the original 1777 Palazzo Bruno. Each spacious room provides guests access to the terrace where you can sip wine, plan the next day and watch the sun sink down. www.hotelcaliforniapositano.com

Head to Sicily for the best combination of style and value at Hotel Gutkowski in Siracusa. All 25 rooms in this hotel overlook the Mediterranean, with the best views on the second floor. Breakfast is an experience not to be missed. www.gulhotel.it

Last but not least, Castello di Gargonza in Monte San Savino, Tuscany sits like a fairy tale castle, complete with a crenellated tower. Gargonza, the hilltop village, fought over for centuries by Florentines and Sienese has even been a host to an exiled Dante in the early 1300’s. Their 35 houses serve as apartments with 17th century style furnishings, working fireplaces and a pool surrounded by fragrant rosemary and olive trees. www.gargonza.it

Pick one and enjoy.

Looking for Caribbean destinations? Try Villa Beach Cottages on St. Lucia. Most rentals have a private patio with ocean views (on a clear day you can spot Martinique). Or just relax in a hammock along the water’s edge and drift off to the sounds of crashing waves. www.villabeachcottages.com

If it’s seclusion you are after…the Santa Teresa Hotel Milarepa in Costa Rica offers just that. Only four rooms in this hotel so your privacy is almost guaranteed. Warm breezes soothe your room all night while howler monkeys in the trees provide your wake-up call. Don’t forget to enjoy the shower…it’s open to the sky. www.milarepahotel.com

Head to the Bahamas and explore the third largest barrier reef in the world. Seascape Inn on Andros Island is just minutes from Mangrove Cay where you can spend your day exploring the reef by kayak. Or practice up on your bonefishing skills from the flats in front of your bungalow (catch and release, however). www.seascapeinn.com