Volunteer Perks at San Diego Zoo Global

If you have some free time on your hands, consider volunteering for the San Diego Zoo, or the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.  By volunteering, you can play an active role in their organization and help them make a difference for wildlife. Perks include a fun and engaging environment, unlimited entry to both parks, exclusive training, discounts and complimentary passes based on volunteer hours, recognition and rewards programs and continuing education opportunities. Apply online at www.sandiegozoo.org/volunteer and be prepared to submit two letters of recommendation.

Value of AAA Membership

Are you like me and you have so many memberships to so many things, you forget the perks that go with said memberships? Check out AAA, and get much more from your membership than the peace of mind that it brings. Enjoy discounts for shopping, travel, entertainment and restaurants. We even saved 15% on our airport parking recently by showing our card!

My favorite use of the AAA discount is at the outlet malls, my favorite being the Carlsbad outlet mall. Just show your card at the information center (behind GAP) and they will give you a complimentary discount card to most stores/restaraunts in the mall. You must meet certain requirements to get the discount (like spending a certain amount), but they are reasonable.  For those of you that don't have AAA membership, you can still pick up one of these discount cards, but it will cost you $5.00. If you have a lot of shopping to do, this amount will quickly be made up for with your store discounts and is well worth it. The cards are good for months at a time, so if you don't get around to using it the day you get it, you can always bring it back the next time you shop.

My membership definitely pays for itself in perks, so check out the discounts and see if it would be worthwhile for you to join.  www.aaa.com.

Inexpensive or Free Tuesday Fun in San Diego

Tuesday is a great day Around The Town! Regal Cinemas has dollar kid movies at 10am (Weds as well) and this week they will be featuring Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and Penguins of Madagascar. Tuesday is also FREE entry at select museums at Balboa Park for San Diego residents and there is FREE entry at Oceanside's California Surf Museum.

FREE 2-Hour Shopping Session with Personal Shopper at Fashion Valley Available

Here is a great little nugget for you. Recently I did a giveaway with stylist Jennifer from Style Your Life. What you might not know is that she was hired by Fashion Valley mall here in San Diego to be their official Personal Shopper/Stylist this last August. What does this mean for you? You can book a complimentary TWO HOUR hour shopping appointment with her! Simply email ChLane@simon.com and ask for a personal shopping appointment with Jennifer Rosson. It is a great time to update your spring wardrobe or let her help you with any shopping needs you have.  

Be sure to take advantage of this incredible offer for a complimentary two hours ASAP to ensure you get scheduled. P.S.- yes, this is for real.  http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/nov/11/personal-stylists-not-just-for-the-rich/#article-copy

Morning Lap Swimming at The Wave Waterpark (Vista)

For you lap swimmers, The Wave Waterpark is open for heated morning lap swimming (Mon/Weds/Fri 6am-8am).  Single sessions are $3 or you can buy a 30 visit punch pass for $60.  Passes can be purchased at the gate check-in area on any lap swim morning.

San Diego County Libraries That Offer FREE Yoga Classes

Check the link to see what libraries in San Diego County offer FREE yoga classes.
http://www.yogavista.net/library.html

Getting a Free European Vacation Experience When You Order Your New Volvo

I have asked Around The Towner Denise J. to share with us information on how to vacation on Volvo's dime when you order your new car.  I marveled when she told me about this amazing opportunity years ago, and their family is preparing to take advantage of the program again.  Thank you Denise for sharing your experience with us and doing this writeup! 

You’ve gone on vacation and brought back souvenirs, right?  Did you know you can fly to Europe for free and bring back a Volvo?   Volvo has an Overseas Delivery Program that includes two round-trip airline tickets to/from Scandinavia or London, on British Airways or SAS, transport from the Gothenburg, Sweden airport to your hotel, 1 night hotel stay in Gothenburg, breakfast on the first morning, transport from the hotel to the Volvo Factory, a tour of the Volvo Factory, lunch at the Volvo factory, 15 days of European car insurance, Swedish car registration, and home shipment of your Volvo to your home dealer.  

If you’re interested on traveling to Europe on Volvo’s dime, the first step is ordering a car from your local Volvo dealer.  The car will be made specifically for you with the colors and options you choose.  Ordering occurs 5-6 months prior to your trip by giving a $2000 deposit and choosing your M-F pick up and drop off dates.  Pick up and drop off in Gothenburg is free.  There is a minimum $950 charge for picking up at one of their other 12 locations; dropping off at one of their other 18 shipment locations will cost you a minimum of 50 euros.
   
A week or so after ordering, a package will arrive from Volvo Travel.  This department will book your free flights, any additional flights if needed, and help with any other optional travel packages you may be interested in.  If flying during the more expensive summer months, Volvo will collect a $300 surcharge per ticket.  You get to choose the flight times and US airport that is best for you even if it may be the more expensive option.

Thirty days prior to your Volvo’s pick up date, the car’s final payment is due in full.  This can be paid via financing (Volvo or your own means), cash, check, credit card, etc.  Once your vacation is over, it’ll take 8-12 weeks (usually fewer) for your car to arrive at your local dealer via ship.  
My husband and I picked up our first Volvo, a S40, in April 2007.  We were gone for one week and drove the car from Gothenburg to Copenhagen to Hamburg to Amsterdam and dropped off the car in Amsterdam.  This November, we will take our two teenagers with us to pick up a S60.  Our itinerary includes driving the car from Gothenburg to Copenhagen to Hamburg to Amsterdam to Brussels to Paris, drop off the car in Paris, take a train to London and depart.  We will be traveling for ten days during the kids’ Thanksgiving vacation week.   http://www.volvocars.com/us/buy/sales/overseas-delivery