Las Vegas April 28 2010 180″ width=”225″ height=”300″ class=”alignleft size-medium wp-image-187″ />Las Vegas transportation suggestions: taxi? yes! limo? hell yes! avis car rental- dear god no!

First things first, 3 weeks ago, I was in Las Vegas and was shocked when Avis ran a credit check to rent a car to me. A hard credit inquiry; the kind that dings your credit, and they don’t even ask first! Since I’ve gotten in the habit of buying houses these days, I’ve been guarding my credit like a hound, wanting to get those fab interest rates. Who wants to potentially lose 10′s of thousands of dollars paid to interest to rent from Avis car rental? Not I! Plenty of car rental companies in Las Vegas that don’t resort to this shady stuff.

Anyway, back to my experience with Vegas transportation…
After a shocking $1,000+ car rental bill from my Vegas trip 3 weeks ago (those extra fees seriously add up) I opted to take taxis and even try a limo service for this Vegas trip. Smart. Cabs were cheap; around 5-8 dollars for transport around the strip and were available just about everywhere. Even the taxi lines weren’t that bad.

Las Vegas Limos are a bargain, I’ve decided: $15 flat rate for transport anywhere along, or just off the strip. Hourly rates, I was quoted anywhere from $45 to $60 an hour as a start. $25 for airport transportation. Not bad. Not bad at all. If you’re looking for a really great limo service, I have to recommend the company I used; National Transportation Services. I hope you get Ken or Kenny, the limo drivers I had. These guys were great- professional, yet friendly, helpful, and honest. Ken even gave me a hug when he came to pick me up the 2nd time, telling me how grateful he was for the tip I’d given him before. Hey, he deserved that tip- he got me to Coach for a hold pick-up, and back to my Westin spa appointment just in time!

Las Vegas April 28 2010 180″ width=”225″ height=”300″ class=”alignleft size-medium wp-image-187″ />Las Vegas transportation suggestions: taxi? yes! limo? hell yes! avis car rental- dear god no!

First things first, 3 weeks ago, I was in Las Vegas and was shocked when Avis ran a credit check to rent a car to me. A hard credit inquiry; the kind that dings your credit, and they don’t even ask first! Since I’ve gotten in the habit of buying houses these days, I’ve been guarding my credit like a hound, wanting to get those fab interest rates. Who wants to potentially lose 10′s of thousands of dollars paid to interest to rent from Avis car rental? Not I! Plenty of car rental companies in Las Vegas that don’t resort to this shady stuff.

Anyway, back to my experience with Vegas transportation…
After a shocking $1,000+ car rental bill from my Vegas trip 3 weeks ago (those extra fees seriously add up) I opted to take taxis and even try a limo service for this Vegas trip. Smart. Cabs were cheap; around 5-8 dollars for transport around the strip and were available just about everywhere. Even the taxi lines weren’t that bad.

Las Vegas Limos are a bargain, I’ve decided: $15 flat rate for transport anywhere along, or just off the strip. Hourly rates, I was quoted anywhere from $45 to $60 an hour as a start. $25 for airport transportation. Not bad. Not bad at all. If you’re looking for a really great limo service, I have to recommend the company I used; National Transportation Services. I hope you get Ken or Kenny, the limo drivers I had. These guys were great- professional, yet friendly, helpful, and honest. Ken even gave me a hug when he came to pick me up the 2nd time, telling me how grateful he was for the tip I’d given him before. Hey, he deserved that tip- he got me to Coach for a hold pick-up, and back to my Westin spa appointment just in time!

Happiest Buddha Ever!

A man came to my door this morning, riding a bicycle with a bucket hanging off the handlebar.  He very kindly, asked if he could wash my Grand Jeep Cherokee.  When I hesitated to assess how dirty it was, he quickly added, “Please, I need to eat.”   It brought tears to my eyes.  I agreed, immediately, giving him everything I had in my wallet when he was finished.

It made me think.  I’ve always been an overly generous individual, even when I couldn’t afford to be.  Now, I can afford to give quite a lot, and I do.  My mother, a huge Oprah fan, had brought this up while we were in Vegas this week:  “Oprah says the more she gives the more that comes back to her and that she just can’t give it away fast enough.  I think this is why you have become so successful.  You have always done the same thing.”   It makes you wonder, doesn’t it?  Is this the reason I’m making 7 figures this year for doing next to nothing, aside from traveling around and having fun?  I help friends who need money.  I help strangers who need food.  I help family members who aren’t even my family members.  I ask nothing in return, but I do this out of complete selfishness- giving makes me feel good.

I’m in the process of planning a spa vacation to San Francisco for next month.  The Brilliant Society, (all my girlfriends from Rutgers) were looking over the various spa options in and around San Fran and Napa Valley.  One of the destinations we had our eye on was the Calistoga Ranch, an ultra exclusive spa getaway only an hour away from San Francisco and offering just about everything you could possibly want.  The price tag…. $17,000.   I’ll admit, this was still a consideration until this morning.  Now however, I think I’ll stick to my beloved Westin or St. Regis for about half the price and give a little (ok, a lot) extra to charitable causes this month.

Anyway… San Francisco already has me excited.  5 girls, from all over the country (and me from Puerto Vallarta) hitting the spa for a week or so.  I can’t wait!

Happiest Buddha Ever!

A man came to my door this morning, riding a bicycle with a bucket hanging off the handlebar.  He very kindly, asked if he could wash my Grand Jeep Cherokee.  When I hesitated to assess how dirty it was, he quickly added, “Please, I need to eat.”   It brought tears to my eyes.  I agreed, immediately, giving him everything I had in my wallet when he was finished.

It made me think.  I’ve always been an overly generous individual, even when I couldn’t afford to be.  Now, I can afford to give quite a lot, and I do.  My mother, a huge Oprah fan, had brought this up while we were in Vegas this week:  “Oprah says the more she gives the more that comes back to her and that she just can’t give it away fast enough.  I think this is why you have become so successful.  You have always done the same thing.”   It makes you wonder, doesn’t it?  Is this the reason I’m making 7 figures this year for doing next to nothing, aside from traveling around and having fun?  I help friends who need money.  I help strangers who need food.  I help family members who aren’t even my family members.  I ask nothing in return, but I do this out of complete selfishness- giving makes me feel good.

I’m in the process of planning a spa vacation to San Francisco for next month.  The Brilliant Society, (all my girlfriends from Rutgers) were looking over the various spa options in and around San Fran and Napa Valley.  One of the destinations we had our eye on was the Calistoga Ranch, an ultra exclusive spa getaway only an hour away from San Francisco and offering just about everything you could possibly want.  The price tag…. $17,000.   I’ll admit, this was still a consideration until this morning.  Now however, I think I’ll stick to my beloved Westin or St. Regis for about half the price and give a little (ok, a lot) extra to charitable causes this month.

Anyway… San Francisco already has me excited.  5 girls, from all over the country (and me from Puerto Vallarta) hitting the spa for a week or so.  I can’t wait!