A composition competition takes place months before and the winner takes home a $3,000 prize.  All applicants must be age 35 or under and use original work in order to provide Carlsbad and the music world with the next generation of pioneering, world-class music and composers. This year’s winner and featured composer is Andy Akiho, an eclectic composer and performer whose interests run from steel pan to traditional classical music. Akiho came to composition through the steel pan (an instrument which originated in Trinidad) and has subsequently gone on to study music composition at Manhattan School of Music, Yale School of Music and Princeton University. Because of the cutting-edge theme, the festival won the 2010 CMA/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming and has been praised by several world-renowned news sources.

All concerts will take place in the Village of Carlsbad, within short walking distance of each other, as well as the train, beach, restaurants and hotels. The Festival will commence on Friday evening with the fun, free “Village Music Walk”, where the streets are closed down for music lovers to walk along, listen and watch all sorts of diverse original music. Some of the past years most popular composers/bands have included Calder Quarlet, Jacob Cooper and Vicky Chow. Concerts will take place at a variety of venues on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets will be purchased that you may order online at www.carlsbadmusicfestival.org or at the Festival.

Matt McBane started the first Carlsbad Music Festival in the spring of 2004. It has drawn thousands of enthusiastic beach and music lovers to its concerts in the coastal California city of Carlsbad. In addition to the raves of the Festival-goers, the Fest has not stopped receiving wonderful reviews from the artists, press and everyone involved.

While some vacation memories will be forever etched vividly in our minds; other precious ones will slowly fade unless we take the time to capture and carefully preserve those sweet moments in our lives.

Use the Web to Your Advantage

In the past, our parents would have printed out a slew of pictures from their vacations and then left them in shoe boxes or stuck them in clunky albums. Today, we are lucky to have a number of websites, including Mixbook and Shutterfly, available to help us preserve our great vacation moments in clever and attractive ways.

Although Shutterfly and Mixbook are similar in some ways, they do have their differences. Shutterfly is an online photo storage site where you can upload your great vacation pictures and then create different products from those photos at reasonable prices. For instance, if you have just returned from a beautiful destination wedding at a great timeshare resort and want to create a memory book from the images you have captured, Shutterfly offers easy-to-use online tools that allow you to drop and drag pictures and create such an album. Once you have finished creating your book, you can then order it in different sizes and either as a beautiful hardback or soft back book from Shutterfly.

Mixbook offers similar tools, but this website allows you to take pictures from different sources on the Internet where they may be stored, such as Facebook, Picasa or Photobucket. This is an especially handy tool for creating books in collaboration with others. For example, if you are trying to make a memory book of a recent trip but a friend of yours has pictures on Picasa and your photos are on Photobucket, you can use Mixbook to create an album from these images without having to re-upload everything to one site.

Think further than your typical Photo Book

In addition to photo books, you can also make posters and other fun products with your pictures on these websites. Many years from now, you will be glad that you decided to take the time to preserve your precious memories with these website’s attractive products.

On May 3^rd, 2012 ResorTime.com was given an opportunity by Facebook to use the new “Facebook Offers” program for business pages. The new method for reaching our loyal fans and sharing the latest deals seemed like a great opportunity and we took advantage of the new tool immediately.  Unfortunately, Facebook may not have tested the program thoroughly and left ResorTime.com’s fan page and reputation to brunt the force of negative feedback and complaints with the program.

THE DEAL: The day that the new offers program was available, ResorTime.com was offering a promotion for the Red Wolf Lakeside Lodge resort in Tahoe Vista, CA. It was a last minute deal available for a short time period with a studio for $69, one bedroom for $89, and two bedroom condos for $99 per night. A steal at those prices compared to the competition in the local area and for the quality of accommodations offered.

HOW IT WORKS: When we posted the offer, it began appearing in the feeds of our fans right away.

1. Claim offer: Fans clicked to “claim” the offer
2. Receive email from Facebook: Facebook sent an email directly to the users’ registered email address connected to their Facebook profile. The email had more details and a link to the offer.
3. Click the offer link and view deal: The link took people to a page on ResorTime.com that showed where they could book a reservation at Red Wolf Lakeside Lodge for $69/$89/$99.

WHAT HAPPENED: The Facebook Offer began spreading to all of our fans and friends very quickly. Within the first 24 hours period the offer had been claimed more than 300 times. The offer was posted on anyone’s wall who clicked “claim offer” and their friends were able to see and click the deal. The offer spread like wildfire and within 72 hours over 200,000 people had received the offer in their email.

WHAT WENT WRONG

1. Location of Offer: The title of the offer was limited to 90 characters and ResorTime.com did not include the location of the deal which led to people being confused where they could claim the offer for. This posed to be even more confusing because ResorTime.com’s registered address with Facebook is in Carlsbad, CA which was viewable in the offer email, leading people to believe the offer was for Carlsbad instead of Lake Tahoe.
2. Claiming the Offer: When a Facebook user clicked “claim offer” with only the intention of viewing more information, their wall was automatically updated showing that they had indeed “claimed offer” and their friends began seeing the post in their own feeds. Users wanted a way to see more information without publishing it on their wall.
3. No Delete Option: Many users complained that they were not able to “delete” the post from their wall or feed. This means it was not properly tested by Facebook because all posts are supposed to allow a “hide” or “delete” functionality.
4. Complaints: Because of the offer seemingly forcing itself onto people’s Facebook feeds and their friend’s feeds, many people began complaining that ResorTime.com was spamming or scamming them. A common complaint was that ResorTime.com was attempting to gather email addresses which may have seemed like the case since users received an email about the offer when they clicked “claim” but in actuality the email was from Facebook and there is no way for ResorTime.com to access those user’s personal information including email address.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

Not everything was bleak for ResorTime.com, there were some very positive results that resulted from publishing the Facebook Offer for just a few days.

1. New Likes: 4,838 new likes resulted from the Facebook Offer
2. Publicity: Almost 200,000 people clicked “get offer” to receive more details
3. Web Traffic: 271% increase in web traffic to ResorTime.com compared to the week prior.

LESSONS LEARNED

The new Facebook Offers program was both exciting and a little overwhelming, and needs to be used very carefully in the future. Here are a few lessons learned for when we run our next Facebook Offer:

• Specify Destination: The best way to avert some of the problems would be to specifically say where the offer was valid at in the title of the post, not just once people visited our website.
• Details: Add as many details as possible in the limited 90 characters of text allowed in the Offer title.
• More Information: On the ResorTime.com Facebook page, have more details about the offer that people can view before clicking the link.
• Terms & Conditions: Fill out the terms & conditions so when users click “get offer” and receive an email they will see more instructions about the offer, a statement alerting them ResorTime.com does not have access to their information, and that they have not actually “claimed” anything yet but only received a link to more information about the deal exclusively for our Facebook fans.

Every year, California plays host to many popular and well-known events, and 2012 will be no different. If you happen to be in the area during one of these affairs, you should definitely make an effort to attend and enjoy the festivities.

May 26 and 27: The Golden Golden Gate Bridge will turn 75 on May 27, and San Francisco is holding the Golden Gate Festival in its honor. Events celebrating this iconic bridge will be held all around the city’s famed waterfront, including such famous spots as Ghiraradelli Square, the Presidio and Fisherman’s Wharf. The festival will end with an awesome fireworks display.

June 14th: The 2012 U.S. Open, which is one of the four major championships in golf, will be held in San Francisco’s historic Olympic Club. Golfers will definitely be tested by this challenging course, and it’s likely they will also have to deal with the city’s notorious windy and foggy conditions. The tournament is expected to sell out.

September 16 to 22: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) will hold the Hurley Pro at San Diego’s famous surf spot, Trestles. In the past, this contest has attracted some of the best surfers in the world.

November 2 to 3: The 2012 Breeder’s Cup World Championships will once again be held at beautiful Santa Anita racetrack. Every year, this event draws the best thoroughbred horses in the country to compete for huge purses and to prove to the world who is number one.

November 25 (date still to be determined): The Hollywood Christmas Parade is an annual tradition that just celebrated its 80th anniversary. This parade winds down Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards for about three and half miles and usually features a celebrity grand marshal. It’s not uncommon to see other celebrities riding in the parade, as well.

Skiing in the Summer?!

Although most people don’t think about hitting the ski slopes in the summer, they are actually a great vacation destination. Today’s ski resorts are luring summer visitors with golf courses, hiking adventures and spa vacations. In addition, many resorts will carry bikes on their ski lifts to the top of their slopes. Bikers can then head off on various trails or try their hand at some thrilling downhill mountain biking.

The mountains also offer cool relief from the searing heat that so much of the country suffers through during the summer. And because it is the offseason, you can often find great deals on timeshare rental units in ski resort towns like Breckenridge and Steamboat Springs.

Island Paradise

Hawaii is another destination that should be offering some bargain rental units and deals in 2012. In the past, this beautiful island state attracted a lot of free-spending tourists from Japan. But then the economic downturn, followed by the disastrous tsunami and earthquake really reduced the number of Japanese visitors traveling to Hawaii. To make up for the lost dollars, Hawaii’s tourism industry has been working hard to attract visitors with more flights and bargains on attractions and accommodations.

Head South of the Border

Another destination where vacationers can get more for their money right now is Mexico. The country’s tourism industry has been hit hard by the escalating drug cartel violence, which has scared away many travelers. But the Mexican government and travel industry experts want vacationers to know that the tourist towns, such as Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas are safe to visit and that many bargains can be had.

So if you still haven’t booked your 2012 vacation yet, seriously consider finding a timeshare rental in one of these three destinations. Not only will you be getting more for your money, you might even find these places are uncrowded.

Travel package deals are tantalizing. They lure you in with low prices and pretty pictures, promising one-stop shopping for your entire vacation. But are these deals, which typically combine airfare and accommodations into one package, really the bargains they pretend to be?

Too Good to be True?

Unfortunately, too often, these deals aren’t as good as their pretty advertisements make them out to be. Carefully read the fine print. Is the deal per person not per room, and is there a two-person requirement? If so, your hotel room may not be the bargain that you thought it was. Also, look for travel date and room type restrictions. Most basement bargain prices turn out to be for travel during off-peak season times and often for rooms with pretty-sounding names such as “garden view,” that are actually euphemisms for “not the best view” rooms.

Roll Up Your Sleeves

Wise travelers realize that they can almost always get a better deal and better accommodations by doing the legwork on their own. For one thing, the accommodation portion of a travel package is almost always a hotel room. Smart vacationers know that they can get more space for less money by renting a unit at a timeshare resort. Typically, a timeshare room boasts a living room, kitchen and from one to three bedrooms. Many units also have more than one bathroom.

Why not Rent?

Although many people are under the impression that you have to own a timeshare to enjoy its many amenities, this is definitely not always the case. Many timeshare resorts also have units for rent to interested parties.

In addition, you’ll reap hidden savings when you book a timeshare that may not be obvious when you’re comparing vacation packages to booking accommodations on your own. For instance, you can save a lot of money by cooking in a timeshare’s kitchen versus going out for restaurant meals like you would have to when staying in a hotel.

So think carefully and read all the details before jumping at what appears to be a bargain, but may just be a flashy wrap job around a not-so-great deal.

CALIFORNIA BEACHES:

The Golden State boasts approximately 840 miles of beautiful coastlines. Visitors can find every type of beach in this state, from the warm, sandy beaches of Southern California to the rugged and wildly beautiful rocky stretches of its northern and central regions. California is also deservedly famous for its great surfing spots.

For many people, a perfect California vacation means renting a nice timeshare unit near or on a beautiful stretch of beach and then enjoying lazy days sunning on the sands and splashing in the surf. Pure and simple, uncomplicated bliss.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK:

This is one of the most breathtaking and most visited places in the entire state, which is definitely saying a lot. This 747,956-acre national park is filled with forests, idyllic meadows, gorgeous waterfalls, and is home to three groves of towering sequoia trees. Two of the state’s most famous and iconic rock formations, El Capital and Half Dome, and the United State’s tallest waterfall, the 2,425-foot-tall Yosemite Falls, are all located in this park. Yosemite is popular with hikers, nature lovers and anyone who loves spectacular scenery.

REDWOOD NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS:

These parks contain the tallest trees in the world. Until, you’ve stood at the base of these enormous trees — some of which would tower five stories over the Statute of Liberty — it’s hard to get a grasp on exactly how huge these trees are. In addition, the Redwoods National and State Parks also feature nearly 40 miles of breathtakingly rugged coastline.

Although California is often best known for being the home of Disneyland and Hollywood, it is this state’s gorgeous natural wonders that really make it worth visiting.

Savvy travelers have long known that renting a timeshare will typically give them more living space for less money. These smart travelers also know that a person doesn’t have to own a unit to enjoy the exceptional value that can be found at a timeshare resort. In fact, there are many timeshare units that can be rented, not only by the week, but also on a daily or partial week basis at rates typically lower than a comparable hotel room.

Save $$$ on Dining Out

Staying in a timeshare can also help travelers save money on meals. Because most timeshare units feature a fully furnished kitchen or kitchenette, guests can cook meals and store snacks and drinks in their rooms, reducing the number of times they have to go out to eat at costly restaurants.

Enjoy the Extra Space

Another advantage that timeshare units have over hotel rooms is that they are typically much larger and offer many more amenities. The substantially larger rooms of a timeshare are particularly attractive for families. Unlike hotel rooms, where everyone is crammed into one area, most timeshares have anywhere from one to three separate bedrooms, as well as dining and sitting areas. Many units also provide a free washer and dryer.

Fun Activities

Still another reason why timeshares are a better value than hotels are the number of onsite activities and resort features that they typically provide for guests. For instance, most timeshares boast common areas with barbecues, playgrounds, gyms and tennis courts that won’t cost a guest a penny more to use. In addition, most timeshare resorts also schedule free daily activities for the entire family.

Not surprisingly, most guests who discover the value of renting a timeshare rarely want to go back to staying in cramped and more expensive hotel rooms.

First off, make sure to leave a lot of downtime in your schedule. This is as important for teens, as it is with babies and toddlers. Over-scheduling your trip with activities and attractions can leave everyone feeling harried and cranky. Remember, the point of a vacation is to relax and enjoy life, not run from one “fun” attraction to another.

If your vacation involves visiting a large theme park such as Disneyland, Disney World, Sea World or Universal Studios, try to find a rental property close to the attraction. You will find that it works best to hit the parks in the morning before it gets too hot and then return to your room so the kids can rest or go down for a nap and also grab a bite to eat. Once the day begins to cool down again, you can return to the park for more rides and shows. This schedule will also save money, as you won’t have to spend as much on expensive theme park meals.

When you are planning a vacation for kids, remember that half the battle is getting to your destination. Travel DVD players are a great way to entertain children during the boring parts of your trip, but remember to have them off when there are interesting sights to see. These units will also be a blessing in your room, especially if siblings or adults want to watch different programming than, say, a toddler.

Choosing the right type of accommodation will also make a huge difference when planning a vacation for kids. Timeshare properties are typically bigger, so children have more room to spread out and relax. In addition, most of these properties also offer kid-friendly activities to keep everyone entertained on those days you have run out of your own ideas.

These are just a few tips that can help your kids have more fun while on vacation.