How come I don't get the preferred seat of my choice!!?

How come I don't get the preferred seat of my choice!!?

• The number of seats available for pre-assignment is limited. There is a growing trend on this too.
• Bulkhead seats are always reserved. In many cases, those seats are reserved for families traveling with babies, or other physically challenged travelers.
• Airlines change equipment scheduled. They will cancel all seat pre-assignment. That had happened to me couples of time!
• Each airline has a specific policy regarding check in time limits on prearranged seats. If you do not check in within certain time limits, you may forfeit your preferred seat
• You may be required to pay a pre-seating fee for the privilege of selecting a preferred seat. Tango of Air Canada charges $10.00 for preassigned seating. Air Transat charges a advance seat selection charge too.

Making Money Online with John Chow

The purpose of the this website had never been to make money, at least not through Google AdSense. According to Google Analytics, this website has received more than 1000 page views over the previous weekend. There were less than 10 hits on the Ad!!! If you are serious about making money online, you got to visit John Chow dot com.

John Chow dot Com is a blog that helps you make money online. If you do a review of his blog, he’ll link to it and send you a ton of traffic. Just make sure it’s a real review and not tossed in with another post. The link will send you tons of traffic and help improve your search engine and Technorati ranking. John Chow dot Com is the 135th most popular blog on the Internet! This is a very good chance to get a link from the top internet site.

Getting linked from other sites and blogs is the key to getting indexed by Google and other search engines. John will tell you how. See his The Art Of Link Baiting post.

Web users hate ads? Not exactly. Check out John's Value Added Advertising post.

Forums are known as poor performers when it comes to Google Adsense. Most forum users are ad blind and even if they see the ads, they tend to never click. John is going to show you a counter example. See his Best Google Forum Integration post.

How did I get 25% off Marriott - Look No Further Best Rate Guarantee Program

Marriott's Look No Further Best Rate Guarantee is assurance that you are getting the best available room rate when booking on Marriott.com. I found Travelocity.ca Good Buy Hotels - Low Rates GUARANTEED a good source for price matching. Please follow the steps below carefully.

• Pricematch Marriott

1. Make a reservation at Look No Further Best Rate Guarantee at Marriott.com
2. Find a lower publicly available rate within 24 hours through a Marriott Reservation Channel (our Worldwide Reservations Centers, a Marriott property, or an official Marriott Web site).
3. Make a reservation and get the confirmation number.
4. At least 24 hours prior to check-in, file a claim online providing the 2 reservation numbers.
5. Receive the 25% off the lower rate you found.

• Pricematch 3rd party

1. Make a reservation at Look No Further Best Rate Guarantee at Marriott.com
2. Find a lower publicly available rate within 24 hours for the same hotel, room type and dates through a non-Marriott Internet site. For example, go to Travelocity for Top Hotel Deals in Niagara Falls or other top area.
3. Get a screen shot where you saw the lower rate.
4. At least 24 hours prior to check-in, file a claim online providing the 3rd party website and email the screenshot to Look@Marriott.com.
5. Receive the 25% off the lower rate you found.

• Travelocity's top deal example

See also Save up to 70% on last minute travel at Travelocity.ca .

Mozilla FireFox. No more IE torturing!

Are you still using IE? According to Google analytics, 61.02% of Enjoy Toronto's visitors are using IE and 35.11% of them are using FireFox. Fellow IE users, I urge you to switch to FireFox today. Follow this link to download from the official website.

• FireFox has a tab page design. You can open multiple pages in a single browser as tab pages. This frees up lots of spaces from task bar and system resources.
• Unlike IE, the font size of all text content in FireFox is adjustable. You just press Ctrl+ to increase the font size and Ctrl- to decrement the size. Don't need to lean towards the monitor again. It is all about ergonomic.
• FireFox is much more stable. It is very lightweight.
• FireFox supports recoverability. If the previous session ends abnormally, IE pops a dialog box asking whether you want to report the problem. Firefox instead has an option for you to recover the previous sessions. Just one mouse click all the sessions are recovered.
• FireFox can import your IE bookmark very easily. Just click on File->Import and select the Internet Explorer radio button. All the favorites, cookies, history, and saved password are imported automatically.

Free copy of CANADIAN Investment Guide 2007 from Clearsight

The UW alumni magazine offers a free CANADIAN Investment Guide 2007. Follow the link and click on the magazine image. Just got it from my mail box that I ordered two weeks ago. The Canadian Investment Guide is a unique consumer publication based on the extensive research and analysis coupled with insightful articles from Investment Executive’s best writers and editors. The 2007 Guide is meant to provide investors with useful and practical knowledge of markets at home and abroad, an understanding of the myriad financial products and services at their disposal, plus much more.

• Follow this link to PriceNetwork.ca for more freebies.

How did I get 1 night stay in Hilton fallsview and commute for $5

This $5 vacation package includes:

1. Round trip commute from Toronto to Casino Fallsview
2. 1 night stay in Hilton Niagara Fall suite
3. Continental buffet breakfast

I basically combined the TD gold travel welcome bonus deal, Safeway casino deal, and the Hilton Honor Program.

1. Apply a TD gold travel credit card to get the $112 travel dollar and follow the hint in my Free Travel from TD Canada Trust post to have the annual fee waived.
2. Call TD Travel at 1-800-983-1043 to book a room at Hilton Niagara Falls Fallsveiw. I selected the ROOM SELECTED AT CHECK-IN for $99 only which is covered by the TD Gold Travel visa welcome bonus.
3. Book a bus seat at Safeway at First Markham Place. They charged me $25 at the sales office. There was a $20 rebate cheque on the bus, which could be cashed at the casino.
4. Go to the Safeway booth (at the entrance of the casino complex) and tell the representative that you are going to leave tomorrow. The returning ticket is valid for 24 hours. I told them that I am a big gambler.
5. Get free upgrade and breakfast at the hotel. I presented my Hilton Gold VIP card to get free upgrade to a suite. This works best for off-season. Your mileage may vary here. I will have a post about the Hilton Honor Program.

Please see also Free Travel from TD for existing TD Gold Travel card holder and Double TD welcome bonus points for couples for more TD travel reward.

Diamond.com - no more local jewelry retailer

• (Follow this link for Diamond.com Jewelry Sale - SAVE 20% + FREE SHIPPING except for loose diamonds)

Diamond.com, extraordinary selection with exceptional value. I have been comparing prices with many local stores including wholesaler who showed me the Rapport price. Diamond.com has the best price. See also my post Why I gave up on my local jewelers. Painful!!! and Enjoy Toronto's diamond buying guide for a middle person

Why I shop @ Diamond.com?

1. GIA certification. All the diamonds in diamond.com comes with a GIA certification. The certification number is laser inscribed on the girdle of the stone. What you got is what you paid for.
2. Free independent apparel. Save me a trip to an appraiser in Toronto downtown.
3. Pay absolutely no duty, GST, or sales commission. The jewelry come from Montreal. I only need to pay a 6% PST which shows up in the receipt at checkout. There is no hidden cost at all.
4. All major credit cards accepted. I put all my purchases on my TD gold travel credit card to accelerate my free travel and get the extended warranty and extra insurance. See my Free Travel from TD Canada Trust post for the details.
5. Easy monthly payment with 0% interest. This is huge. We are talking about diamonds here. I can defer the payment and let my money work harder for me.
6. Free shipping. They always offer me free upgrade to the FedEX overnight priority, although I choose the free basic shipping. Diamond.com credits my card only after I sign off the package.
7. Free return shipping. Yes, including the return shipping. Just use their FedEX account code.
8. 30-day money back guarantee. No question asked. I don't feel pressure at all.
9. Free gift boxing. Gift boxing is a common headache to many guys. Diamond.com got that covered for me.

Why I gave up on my local jewellers. Painful!!!

I have given up on the local jewelery stores in Toronto. Pain is part of love. Well, anyways, here I summarize the painful experiences:

1. The local retailers are much more expensive. There is a huge overhead on the rent, property management, staffs, insurance, inventory, etc. The cost is reflected on the price tags.
2. Some sales girls are trained to manipulate your situations. Suppose you want to buy an engagement ring. You don't want anything to screw up. This is a very good chance to break the greatest bargain hunter in town.
3. You won't be able to take advantage of the strong Canadian dollar. Diamonds come from the United States. Today, the exchange rate is around 1 US = 1.16 CDN, which was 1 US = 1.5 CDN just a few years ago. Diamonds should be much cheaper today in Canadian dollar term comparing to a few years ago, but it is not the case!
4. There is absolutely no refund or exchange. Some retailers won't even issue a receipt. Sorry, no can do...
5. The store may not accept credit cards. This is well-known in 1st Markham Place and Pacific Mall. You are not getting any credit card points, extra insurance, or extended warranty.

Enjoy Toronto's diamond buying guide for a middle person

The purpose of this guide is to assist a middle person in picking a perfect diamond. You want a diamond that delivers brilliance and fire. You want a diamond without any visible inclusion. Make sure that you go through all of the following criteria before buying a diamond.

Certification. A certificate is diamond's "fingerprint". GIA and AGS are the reliable sources. Pick a diamond that is certified by GIA or AGS only.

Carat. A diamond's weight is measured in what is known as a 'carat'. 0.8 carat or above is considered a large stone. 1 carat is preferred.

Cut. Cut grade is the result of a craftsman's skill in transforming a rough diamond into a breathtaking gem. GIA grades the diamond with the following grading system:

• Excellent
• Very Good
• Good
• Fair

For a diamond with fire, choose only GIA Excellent or Very Good.

Clarity. This refers to the number, position and size of the inclusions that occur naturally inside diamonds. Here is the commonly used grading established by GIA:

• FL – flawless
• IF - internally flawless
• VVS1, VVS2 - very very small
• inclusions
• VS1, VS2 - very small inclusions
• SI1, SI2 - small inclusions
• I1, I2 - inclusions

A clarity of VS2 or above will ensure that any inclusion couldn't be observed under handheld magnifying glass.

Color. The most important thing to know about diamond color is, in general, the less color a diamond has, the more valuable it is. The diamond color grading system uses the letters of the alphabet from D through Z:

• D, E, F – colourless
• G, H, I, J – near colourless
• K and on – yellowish

Even a trained professional can't always tell the difference between close grades of color in a diamond if it is mounted in a setting. D-H is fine.

Fluorescence. When exposed to ultraviolet light, small percentages of diamonds fluoresce, which may be yellow or blue. I don't want a blue diamond. Fluorenscence has to be NIL.

Polish. Polish is the overall smoothness of the diamond. It has be Very Good or above.

Symmetry. Symmetry describes several factors: how the facet edges align with each other; whether the corresponding facets from opposite sides of the diamond align with each other or not; and whether the facets from the crown, or top of the diamond are properly aligned with the corresponding ones on the bottom (pavilion). It has to be Very Good or above.

Girdle. The girdle is the narrow belt around the stone. Make sure that it is not graded "extremely think" or "extremely thin".

Setting. For high end stones, you want a solitaire setting as you want to emphasize the brilliance and fire of the stone. Tiffany's classical setting is a beautiful example:

"To complement the most classic icon of engagement, Tiffany suggests a wedding band of timeless simplicity."

Following all these guidelines, I am sure that you will get an "Enjoy Toronto Ideal diamond" for your loved one!

7 reasons to buy jewelry from ICE.com

• (Follow this link to go to ICE.com for 15% off plus free shipping until May31, 2007.)

I had a chat with a local jewelry store owner. I am surprised that he doesn't know about ICE.com. ICE.com is a leading online jewelry company, featuring gorgeous jewelry collections for all occasions at attractive prices. ICE.com is the place to shop for beautiful jewelry and outstanding customer service. Why I shop @ ICE?

1. Pay absolutely no duty, GST, or sales commission. The jewelry come from Montreal. I only need to pay a 6% PST which shows up in the receipt at checkout. There is no hidden cost at all.
2. All major credit cards accepted. I put all my purchases on my TD gold travel credit card to accelerate my free travel and get the extended warranty and extra insurance. See my Free Travel from TD Canada Trust post for the details.
3. Easy monthly payment with 0% interest. I can defer the payment and let my money work harder for me.
4. Free shipping. They always offer me free upgrade to the FedEX overnight priority, although I choose the free basic shipping
5. Free return shipping. Yes, including the return shipping. Just use their FedEX account code.
6. 30-day money back guarantee. No question asked. I don't feel pressure at all.
7. Free gift boxing. Gift boxing is a common headache to many guys. ICE got that covered for me.

Grand Yatt @ Bayview and 16th

Grand Yatt, great improvement!!! New management, new renovation, and new name too. My favorite picks include:

• Shrimp dumpings.
• Yeung Chow fried rice. Delicious! Every grain of rice is coated with egg. The BBQ pork is fresh. The shrimp is of correct grade. What is missing is lettuce which is a typically ingredient of Yeung Chow fried rice.
• Japanese style seafood Udon pot. Scallops, shrimps, crab meat, and a fried egg.
• Sago cake. A very unique mango based dessert.

* Note: For those who are getting VIP discount will be required to pay in cash.

Milestones

Milestones - romantic environment with signature dishes. The food is very special and the name of the chef is actually on the door. Here is what we ordered:

• Calamari. This not the conventional crisp Calamari. It is broiled instead of deep fried. Very tender with a little hint of spicy.
• Milestone's specialty seasoned beef burger platter. I like it medium cook.
• Fire grilled wild salmon.
• Ice tea. Unlimited refill.

Use the coupon below for a free appetiser. UPDATE: coupon expired. PriceNetwork.ca has more coupons.

Kelsey's Complete Classic Meals

Kelsey's Complete Classic Meals definitely delivers great value!

Here is a dinner for two. A causal dinner for two is less than $40, tax included.

• A glass of Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Caesar Salad. Above average.
• Shrimp Alfredo. The sauce was really good.
• Steak Sandwich with Fries. Absolutely mouth-watering, but the steak had a tough nerve fibre in it that I needed to cut it off.
• Vanilla Cake. Yummy!
• Cheese Dip. Free with the coupon.

COUPON EXPIRED. PriceNetwork.ca has more coupons.

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Quiznos - the ad is way too exaggarated!

Quiznos - the ad is way too exaggarated!

McDonalds - great value or not?

McDonald's, my childhood restaurant. One may not agree that McDonald's delivers delicious fast food with great value. A Big Mac combo costs you $6.38. You could get lots of good stuffs in any Chinese food court at the same price if not less. However, if you take a careful look at their Value Pick menu, you may change your mind. Here is my favourite lunch order at McDonald's. The price is ~$4, tax included.

• Double Cheese Burger
• Junior Chicken Sandwich
• Hot tea

Ba ba ba ba ba... I'm lovin'it!

Bahia Principe Spa and Resorts @ Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Punta Cana @ Dominican Republic, the most romantic trip ever. I would like to take this chance to say "I love you" to my gf :-) Bahia Principe is a 5-star hotel. The hotel facilities and services definitely blow away many other hotels in American. The hotel complex is huge. There is shuttle bus for going from one facility to another.

It is a perfect resort for beach lovers. You can spend your day relaxing on powdery white sand or having some fun with those complimentary water sports.

The Club Premier package includes 4 theme restaurant dinners, buffets, and unlimited wine. The Italian restaurant is my favorite. I ordered the shrimps in a rich watercress sauce, very good texture.

The French restaurant is awesome too. The fillet mignon almost melted in my mouth!

The listed price from Sunquest is $2,499 for the 7-night all-inclusive package. Be sure to check out Tai Pan @ 1st Markham Place. I got almost 50% off the listed price.

Marriot Niagara Falls Fallsview Hotel & Spa - Magic of the Falls

Marriott Niagara Falls Fallsview Hotel & Spa - experience the romance and magic of Niagara Falls with the loved one. (Babe, are you ready for thousand tons per second of love?)

The world-class Niagara Falls hotel accommodations is in the heart of the Fallsview tourist district. The hotel is adjacent to the new Fallsview Casino. We also took the Casino & Attractions shuttle to Casino Niagara and other local attractions. The Terrapin GRILLE restaurant is crazily popular. I had never have to line up for the breakfast.

With the in-room jacuzzi and fallsview, you may not want to leave your room. Don't miss Niagara on the Lake though!

See also my post Get 25% off Marriott's Look No Further Best Rate Guarantee Program

Marriot Courtyard @ Lesile and Hwy 7

I had a stay at the Marriott Courtyard @ Leslie and Hwy 7. The staffs are both professional and helpful. The neighborhood is quiet and beautiful. The in-room Jacuzzi fits 2 people very comfortably.

In constructive criticism point of view, the heater was making a terrible noise. We had trouble falling into sleep. However, the important thing is that they are looking into the problem seriously. Here is a reply from Marriott:

I do apologize for the inconvenience you experienced,... I would like to assure you that this issue has been forwarded to the Engineering Department and resolution is expected. Should there be any concerns or requests at anytime during your stay, please do not hesitate to call the Front Desk. Our priority is to serve you better.

I am awaiting a free voucher from them inviting me to try again. I will post an update.

Great Tang @ Commerce Valley

大唐盛事 Great Tang, a upscale Congee Wong. Beautiful environment and superiour service attitude. My favorite orders include:

• Mixed coffee and tea ice drink. It is comparable to the coffee bubble tea at Go for Tea next doors.
• Tiger shrimp stir fries. The shrimps are really good, big and fresh!
• Love bird fried rice. It is much better than any congee place. Just don't compare with Grand Yatt or Empire court, different price range.
• Wan Ton noodles. This is the correct noodles for Wan Ton! The noodles are elastic but break easily on bite.

A place for us @ 1st Markham Place

杯中蜜, the best bubble tea house in Markham area. A light dinner is less than $10 each, tax and tips included:

• Cold honey milk green tea.
• Shrimp ball Udon.

My favorite snacks include:

• Squid balls. The squid inside is so tender.
• Sweet milk toast. You got to try this. It tastes like Swiss cheese fondue!

Boston pizza @ Warden and Steeles

Boston Pizza, hot crisp pizza for sport fans and family. The daily lunch special (namely Fast Lunch) is only $6.25 + tax. IBMers get 10% off by showing their business cards or badges.

Double TD welcome bonus points for couples

If you read my Free Travel from TD Canada Trust post and you are travelling with your significant other, you may find this hint helpful.

1. Open a Select chequing account to waive the TD Gold Travel annual fee.
2. Deposit $5,000 ($2,500 each) of your emergency cash into the joint account to waive the Select service monthly fee.
3. Apply a TD Gold Travel card for each account holder (provided that both of you qualify).
4. Recieve 2X TD welcome bonus points for the travel.

Free Travel from TD for existing TD Gold Travel card holder

The TD Gold Travel welcome bonus is for new accounts only. Existing TD Gold Travel card holders may be upset and have the card cancelled. Wait! TD still provides the best Travel reward program. Here is a resolution:

1. Open a Select chequing account to waive the TD Gold Travel annual fee.
2. Deposit $5,000 of your emergency cash into the Select chequing account to waive the Select service monthly fee.
3. Call the TD visa card center (the 1-800 number is at the back of the card) to switch the TD Gold Travel card to TD Gold Elite card.
4. Switch the TD Gold Elite card back to TD Gold Travel after 30 days or so.
5. Receive the welcome bonus.

I have confirmed this with TD representative. There is no credit check for doing this. Your credit score is not impacted.

Free Travel from TD Canada Trust

Get 7,500 Bonus TD Points upon approval of your new TD Gold Travel Visa Card, which is equivalent to $112.5 of travel dollar. Follow this link to the TD Gold Travel page.

The $120 annual fee can be waived, if you open a Select chequing account. Be sure to deposit $5,000 of your emergency cash into the account to waive the Select chequing monthly fee. I actually got TD to waive my account fee for 3 months. Follow this link to the Select chequing page.

The booking website is very similar to Expedia. Follow this link to the TD reward center.

You are always welcome to cancel the credit card and Select chequing account after 30 days without punishment if you are not fully satisfy with the services. No question asked.

Hello World

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