Job Search Trends
As 2007’s crop of college graduates find work or decide to further their education, it leaves one question open for debate: How hard will it be to find a job this fall? According to industry experts and the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, the average American holds nine jobs between the ages of 18 and 34, when compared to Baby Boomers who held around 10. This indicates a huge shift in the attitudes of younger employees in their job search process.
To begin with, more employees are bouncing among different jobs, trying out several career paths and bettering their skills in diverse industries. Who wants a blank resume when they can decorate it with five work experiences, all teaching them new things and requiring different responsibilities? For this reason alone, the job market should see improvement, as employees are more open to change, leaving room for prospectives to take their place when they leave.
Many Baby Boomers and their counterparts are coming close to the age of retirement, if they haven’t given in their two-weeks yet already. This leaves the younger labor force with even more of a chance to excel where their elders passed the torch. Education, health and business services are expected to see the most growth in employment opportunity, according to government statistics.
With promising job market statistics in effect, a beneficial way to land these careers is through job search engines. Technologically-driven graduates are using mega-job search sites such as Monster and CareerBuilder to sift out potential career possibilities that match their skills and interests.
StarReviews.com reports that Monster even gives job-seekers the benefit of using online networking tools, mobile phone job updates, resume uploads and virtual career advice. In this day and age, complete career resources are available via the Internet. When combined with a new wave of job openings, workers and recent grads are sure to reap the benefits.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Student Expenses: Save on College Textbooks
Last minute cookouts and three-day-weekends are signaling the end of summer, and many college students are making the dreaded trek back to campus. Moving in, meeting the roommates and deciphering one’s new schedule are enough tasks to handle for any student. When expenses like college textbooks and meal plans are tacked on, the new school year is enough to make any student want to run back to mom and dad’s.
However, cutting costs doesn’t have to be too painful. Before you get images of semester long Ramen-noodle dinners in your head, there are ways to save your cash, such as utilizing college textbook services. The average college student spends around $700-$1,000 a year, according to a Student Financial Assistance Advisory Committee report. While this may be the norm for university-level textbooks, students and parents alike must deal with the financial aftermath.
College textbook services like eCampus provide free shipping if you spend around $50 on their site, reports StarReviews.com. Besides offering virtual campus bookstores and massive clearance sections, this service allows students to resell their used textbooks to other students who may need a particular title. This not only saves the buyer some cash, it gives the seller a chance to redeem a few bucks on last semester’s books.
When it feels like endless piles of bills are stacking up on your dorm room desk, the last thing on your mind is studying. Inevitable nights out on the town and living independently contribute to the estimated $28 billion a year spent on entertainment by college enrollees. When textbook costs alone are added into this equation, the burden placed on any student can be heavy. Using a college textbook service will prove to be cost-efficient in the long run and will even save you from that long line down at the bookstore.
Last minute cookouts and three-day-weekends are signaling the end of summer, and many college students are making the dreaded trek back to campus. Moving in, meeting the roommates and deciphering one’s new schedule are enough tasks to handle for any student. When expenses like college textbooks and meal plans are tacked on, the new school year is enough to make any student want to run back to mom and dad’s.
However, cutting costs doesn’t have to be too painful. Before you get images of semester long Ramen-noodle dinners in your head, there are ways to save your cash, such as utilizing college textbook services. The average college student spends around $700-$1,000 a year, according to a Student Financial Assistance Advisory Committee report. While this may be the norm for university-level textbooks, students and parents alike must deal with the financial aftermath.
College textbook services like eCampus provide free shipping if you spend around $50 on their site, reports StarReviews.com. Besides offering virtual campus bookstores and massive clearance sections, this service allows students to resell their used textbooks to other students who may need a particular title. This not only saves the buyer some cash, it gives the seller a chance to redeem a few bucks on last semester’s books.
When it feels like endless piles of bills are stacking up on your dorm room desk, the last thing on your mind is studying. Inevitable nights out on the town and living independently contribute to the estimated $28 billion a year spent on entertainment by college enrollees. When textbook costs alone are added into this equation, the burden placed on any student can be heavy. Using a college textbook service will prove to be cost-efficient in the long run and will even save you from that long line down at the bookstore.
How Spyware Spies
More and more PC owners are realizing the impact of spyware in their operating systems and are taking the necessary actions in undoing the damage by installing spyware removal software. But what is the real reason we need such software and how does spyware actually trace our cyber behavior? There are plenty of fundamentals to know before choosing anti-spyware software.
For starters, spyware records your every activity, from keystrokes and file sharing activity, to what you say in your emails and IM’s. Most of the time, these aren’t for malicious purposes and are tagged ‘adware.’ In many cases, your web browsing activity is useful to advertisers in their marketing campaigns, as they can track your purchase decisions and scope out their competitors.
However, spyware can be malicious and can be transmitted through ‘bundling’ or Internet browser deficiencies. In other words, a security flaw can open doors for spyware programs to attach themselves to your PC or your information is given to software publishers by spyware companies themselves for payment.
6StarReviews.com reports that popular anti-spyware software STOPzilla targets spyware from all directions. This program not only scans for commonly known and discreet adware and spyware, it prevents browser hijacks and phishing attempts, which are typical when spyware is prevalent in your operating system. In order to protect your important files and confidential information, it’s vital to implement spyware removal software.
More and more PC owners are realizing the impact of spyware in their operating systems and are taking the necessary actions in undoing the damage by installing spyware removal software. But what is the real reason we need such software and how does spyware actually trace our cyber behavior? There are plenty of fundamentals to know before choosing anti-spyware software.
For starters, spyware records your every activity, from keystrokes and file sharing activity, to what you say in your emails and IM’s. Most of the time, these aren’t for malicious purposes and are tagged ‘adware.’ In many cases, your web browsing activity is useful to advertisers in their marketing campaigns, as they can track your purchase decisions and scope out their competitors.
However, spyware can be malicious and can be transmitted through ‘bundling’ or Internet browser deficiencies. In other words, a security flaw can open doors for spyware programs to attach themselves to your PC or your information is given to software publishers by spyware companies themselves for payment.
6StarReviews.com reports that popular anti-spyware software STOPzilla targets spyware from all directions. This program not only scans for commonly known and discreet adware and spyware, it prevents browser hijacks and phishing attempts, which are typical when spyware is prevalent in your operating system. In order to protect your important files and confidential information, it’s vital to implement spyware removal software.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Online Bill Pay Services
Paying the bills each month isn’t exactly an enjoyable experience, but it can’t be overlooked. Whether you’re paying for this semester’s classes or sending in your utilities bill, the process requires some organization and prior planning. Online bill pay is a great way to ensure those water and cable bills are sent in on time, especially when your life is as hectic as the next person’s.
What exactly is online bill pay? Think of this service as a virtual checkbook, as you can balance your finances and send out payments directly from the Internet. Many sites allow you to select payees and coordinate scheduled payments, so there’s no chance you’ll incur any late fees.
6Star Reviews.com notes that one bill pay service, Quicken, will even cover your back up to $50 in late fees if their service contributed to that overdue letter you received from Comcast. Some services like Quickbooks, while attuned more for small business, allow you to pay any company or anyone in the United States. Have multiple invoices from one vendor? You can combine them into one and lighten your paperwork load.
When choosing an online bill pay service, it’s a good idea to check out which features you cannot live without. For example, if you’re one to forget bills frequently, choose a service that allows you to schedule payments up to a year in advance. You can also save money by choosing a site with many listed payees and late payment coverage. Since we all lead busy lives, paying and organizing our bills online sure beats running to the mailbox to send out a check that was due a week ago.
Paying the bills each month isn’t exactly an enjoyable experience, but it can’t be overlooked. Whether you’re paying for this semester’s classes or sending in your utilities bill, the process requires some organization and prior planning. Online bill pay is a great way to ensure those water and cable bills are sent in on time, especially when your life is as hectic as the next person’s.
What exactly is online bill pay? Think of this service as a virtual checkbook, as you can balance your finances and send out payments directly from the Internet. Many sites allow you to select payees and coordinate scheduled payments, so there’s no chance you’ll incur any late fees.
6Star Reviews.com notes that one bill pay service, Quicken, will even cover your back up to $50 in late fees if their service contributed to that overdue letter you received from Comcast. Some services like Quickbooks, while attuned more for small business, allow you to pay any company or anyone in the United States. Have multiple invoices from one vendor? You can combine them into one and lighten your paperwork load.
When choosing an online bill pay service, it’s a good idea to check out which features you cannot live without. For example, if you’re one to forget bills frequently, choose a service that allows you to schedule payments up to a year in advance. You can also save money by choosing a site with many listed payees and late payment coverage. Since we all lead busy lives, paying and organizing our bills online sure beats running to the mailbox to send out a check that was due a week ago.
Popular Bill Pay: Quicken
When thinking of online bill pay and balancing our finances in general, Quicken definitely topped our list of 'Must Look At.' We noticed how this service is easy to use, even for beginners, and effectively allows users to complete all of their bill paying as long as they have Internet access. We must note that the online bill pay service is readily available under the “Products & Services” tab, with a link to important resources towards the bottom.
Their live chat function and email support were both efficient, as well. Telephone support is geared towards placing orders and not general customer inquiries. They do charge for technical support, so be sure to consider this. For all of their features, they earn our Top Rated spot with 6.0 Stars!
When thinking of online bill pay and balancing our finances in general, Quicken definitely topped our list of 'Must Look At.' We noticed how this service is easy to use, even for beginners, and effectively allows users to complete all of their bill paying as long as they have Internet access. We must note that the online bill pay service is readily available under the “Products & Services” tab, with a link to important resources towards the bottom.
- Free 1 month trial
- Schedule payments up to a year in advance
Their live chat function and email support were both efficient, as well. Telephone support is geared towards placing orders and not general customer inquiries. They do charge for technical support, so be sure to consider this. For all of their features, they earn our Top Rated spot with 6.0 Stars!
QuickBooks Bill Pay Review
If you’re a small business owner, QuickBooks online bill paying service is really made for you. The service is easy to master for users already comfortable with QuickBooks, but can take some getting used to for everyone else. Paying too many bills through the service can become expensive, but you do have the ability to pay anyone in the United States.
Prices are a little high, but when considering this service is geared towards businesses, $15.95 a month isn't that bad. If you need customer service, it's necessary to utilize CheckFree Web's support hotline, which was friendly and efficient. Their email support responded to us within 24 hours. There are always FAQs on the QuickBooks page if you so need them. Overall, QuickBooks offers enough features and service to make it a good choice for small business owners as long as the price fits your budget.
They earned our Most Popular spot with 5.0 Stars!
If you’re a small business owner, QuickBooks online bill paying service is really made for you. The service is easy to master for users already comfortable with QuickBooks, but can take some getting used to for everyone else. Paying too many bills through the service can become expensive, but you do have the ability to pay anyone in the United States.
- Free for either 30 days or 20 payments
- Provides online bill pay service through CheckFree.com.
Prices are a little high, but when considering this service is geared towards businesses, $15.95 a month isn't that bad. If you need customer service, it's necessary to utilize CheckFree Web's support hotline, which was friendly and efficient. Their email support responded to us within 24 hours. There are always FAQs on the QuickBooks page if you so need them. Overall, QuickBooks offers enough features and service to make it a good choice for small business owners as long as the price fits your budget.
They earned our Most Popular spot with 5.0 Stars!
MyCheckFree Online Bill Pay
We needed to look at the MyCheckFree website in our online bill pay reviews. The user interface was very easy to use and adapt to, which is a huge advantage for anyone needing to get their bills sent.
Customer support could improve here. While the live chat was great, the lack of a response by email and the inability of the customer service representative on the phone to give us an answer were troubling. Overall, though, MyCheckFree is a good online bill paying service to use as long as most of your payees are involved in the program and you don’t mind some incurred costs when using your credit card for payments. We recommend them for their usability and convenience alone. Overall, we feel this warrants them 4.5 Stars!
We needed to look at the MyCheckFree website in our online bill pay reviews. The user interface was very easy to use and adapt to, which is a huge advantage for anyone needing to get their bills sent.
- Small business and individual plans
- Guarantee up to $50 late payment coverage (restrictions apply).
Customer support could improve here. While the live chat was great, the lack of a response by email and the inability of the customer service representative on the phone to give us an answer were troubling. Overall, though, MyCheckFree is a good online bill paying service to use as long as most of your payees are involved in the program and you don’t mind some incurred costs when using your credit card for payments. We recommend them for their usability and convenience alone. Overall, we feel this warrants them 4.5 Stars!
MSN Bill Pay Review
While StarReviews was impressed with the reasonable price of the MSN Bill Pay service and the Checkfree guarantee, other problems seemed to overshadow those benefits. We noticed how difficult it was to obtain any information about the online bill pay service before we actually signed up. This concerned our team, since anyone interested in paying their bills through MSN would probably want clear access to information.
While StarReviews was impressed with the reasonable price of the MSN Bill Pay service and the Checkfree guarantee, other problems seemed to overshadow those benefits. We noticed how difficult it was to obtain any information about the online bill pay service before we actually signed up. This concerned our team, since anyone interested in paying their bills through MSN would probably want clear access to information.
- First 3 months FREE
- Guarantee of up to $50 late payment coverage (restrictions apply)
MyEZBills Bill Pay Service
StarReviews had high hopes for MyEZBills considering it replaced the now defunct Status Factory. They offer most of the same features, although you may need to be a Total Bill Management subscriber to receive most of them, including email reminders which are fairly standard elsewhere.
The subscription costs aren’t outrageous, but there are way too many options when it comes to pricing plans. Why not just have two or three options to pick from instead of eight?
StarReviews had high hopes for MyEZBills considering it replaced the now defunct Status Factory. They offer most of the same features, although you may need to be a Total Bill Management subscriber to receive most of them, including email reminders which are fairly standard elsewhere.
The subscription costs aren’t outrageous, but there are way too many options when it comes to pricing plans. Why not just have two or three options to pick from instead of eight?
- CD On-Demand available at an extra cost – keep a copy of all your transactions
- SmartBalance- Integrate and balance your online banking information with your MyEZBills account, so you’ll always know how much money you have available to pay your bills.
Paytrust for Online Bill Pay
StarReviews liked what Paytrust offers, overall. The site is easy to use and allows you to plan all of your bill-paying details the way you want to, such as including personal notes in your payment history.
Customer support wasn't the greatest. If you’re going to trust them to handle your bill paying, then you should receive more than a cookie-cutter email response and unfriendly phone support. While Pay Trust does offer some nice features, their features are pretty standard in comparison to other bill pay services. They receive 4.0 Stars!
StarReviews liked what Paytrust offers, overall. The site is easy to use and allows you to plan all of your bill-paying details the way you want to, such as including personal notes in your payment history.
- Receive virtual bills
- Email overdue bill alerts, set automatic recurring payments, late payment coverage through no fault of your own.
Customer support wasn't the greatest. If you’re going to trust them to handle your bill paying, then you should receive more than a cookie-cutter email response and unfriendly phone support. While Pay Trust does offer some nice features, their features are pretty standard in comparison to other bill pay services. They receive 4.0 Stars!
Yahoo! Bill Pay
StarReviews.com was not really impressed with the Yahoo! online bill pay service right from the start. We did, however, like some features such as email reminders sent to ensure your bills are paid on time. This is definitely convenient.
Our team did like the two-tiered pricing available here, but the free service was so limited it might not be worth using for some people.
We tried a general email support address, and got a response within 24 hours, but we didn't feel it was accurate according to what we read on the site. Combined with the lack of a guarantee, we couldn't give Yahoo! Online bill very good marks compared to similar services. We feel they should receive 3.0 Stars!
StarReviews.com was not really impressed with the Yahoo! online bill pay service right from the start. We did, however, like some features such as email reminders sent to ensure your bills are paid on time. This is definitely convenient.
Our team did like the two-tiered pricing available here, but the free service was so limited it might not be worth using for some people.
- Receive e-bills from 100 to 200 different billers.
- 3 Months Free Premium Service
We tried a general email support address, and got a response within 24 hours, but we didn't feel it was accurate according to what we read on the site. Combined with the lack of a guarantee, we couldn't give Yahoo! Online bill very good marks compared to similar services. We feel they should receive 3.0 Stars!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Anti-Virus Software for Back to School
As parents, college students and kids alike prepare for the back-to-school season, there are plenty of things on everyone’s minds. While university enrollees prepare to throw down hundreds on college textbooks, younger students are getting their school supplies lists from new teachers. However, there is one item that should be on every new school year list: anti-virus software.
These days, most every student uses a computer for homework, research and we cannot forget about games and music downloads. Using a PC is nearly mandatory in anyone’s daily life in the 21st century, especially a student’s. For many college students, heading back to campus means connecting their wireless routers to the university network, which may pose a greater threat than the Web connection from the comfort of your home.
The Information Age has opened doors to countless benefits, but also pitfalls. More students are expected to email professors or teachers with file after attached file of book reports and research papers. What about online classes? Many college campuses require students to participate in Web portal classroom discussions and work critiques, which utilizes file sharing.
Anti-virus software is a key component of any student’s desktop or notebook PC, mainly because of the high volume of downloads, emails and files that are sure to make their way into each and every computer.
According to a consumer survey, about 78% of respondents intend to spend the most on school supplies, coming in over apparel and book bags. While school supplies used to mean folders, pens and post-it’s, items like anti-virus software are becoming the norm and the necessary. After all, the more you use a computer, the better your security and virus protection must be.
As parents, college students and kids alike prepare for the back-to-school season, there are plenty of things on everyone’s minds. While university enrollees prepare to throw down hundreds on college textbooks, younger students are getting their school supplies lists from new teachers. However, there is one item that should be on every new school year list: anti-virus software.
These days, most every student uses a computer for homework, research and we cannot forget about games and music downloads. Using a PC is nearly mandatory in anyone’s daily life in the 21st century, especially a student’s. For many college students, heading back to campus means connecting their wireless routers to the university network, which may pose a greater threat than the Web connection from the comfort of your home.
The Information Age has opened doors to countless benefits, but also pitfalls. More students are expected to email professors or teachers with file after attached file of book reports and research papers. What about online classes? Many college campuses require students to participate in Web portal classroom discussions and work critiques, which utilizes file sharing.
Anti-virus software is a key component of any student’s desktop or notebook PC, mainly because of the high volume of downloads, emails and files that are sure to make their way into each and every computer.
According to a consumer survey, about 78% of respondents intend to spend the most on school supplies, coming in over apparel and book bags. While school supplies used to mean folders, pens and post-it’s, items like anti-virus software are becoming the norm and the necessary. After all, the more you use a computer, the better your security and virus protection must be.
Car Rental Tips
For those of us who have booked a vacation and needed a rental car, we know that finding one is no small task. Although there are plenty of car rental services to choose from, sometimes the car we want isn’t available at our nearest Hertz location. There are plenty of tips and tricks to snag a vehicle that fits your budget and style preference, without requiring you to take a cab 100 miles to pick it up.
First off, you may want to look for a car rental site that actually helps you save money. 6StarReviews.com mentions Budget, for example, a service that provides customers with a frequent renter program, giving them discounts when they rack up numerous rentals. If you are one that utilizes car rentals on every vacation, this would definitely be a wise choice.
Another way to save yourself any vacation-planning hassles is to choose broad search criteria when signing up for a car rental. You will often be asked to choose the dates you need the car, what type of car you want, and where you’d like to pick it up. When searching for a car on the Alamo car rental website, for instance, it may be necessary to enter diverse search criteria in order to obtain results you can work with. For example, you may need a car stationed 20 miles from your hotel, but by entering 40, you better your chances of getting what you’re looking for.
Besides broadening your car search criteria, an important tip to remember is to check out what special rates car rental services have. Avis, for instance, provides discounts of up to 25% for American Express cardholders. And, of course, planning ahead and keeping up to date on your reservation status are beneficial ways to ensure a positive vacation experience.
For those of us who have booked a vacation and needed a rental car, we know that finding one is no small task. Although there are plenty of car rental services to choose from, sometimes the car we want isn’t available at our nearest Hertz location. There are plenty of tips and tricks to snag a vehicle that fits your budget and style preference, without requiring you to take a cab 100 miles to pick it up.
First off, you may want to look for a car rental site that actually helps you save money. 6StarReviews.com mentions Budget, for example, a service that provides customers with a frequent renter program, giving them discounts when they rack up numerous rentals. If you are one that utilizes car rentals on every vacation, this would definitely be a wise choice.
Another way to save yourself any vacation-planning hassles is to choose broad search criteria when signing up for a car rental. You will often be asked to choose the dates you need the car, what type of car you want, and where you’d like to pick it up. When searching for a car on the Alamo car rental website, for instance, it may be necessary to enter diverse search criteria in order to obtain results you can work with. For example, you may need a car stationed 20 miles from your hotel, but by entering 40, you better your chances of getting what you’re looking for.
Besides broadening your car search criteria, an important tip to remember is to check out what special rates car rental services have. Avis, for instance, provides discounts of up to 25% for American Express cardholders. And, of course, planning ahead and keeping up to date on your reservation status are beneficial ways to ensure a positive vacation experience.
Budget: Car Rentals Made Easy
We really liked what we found on the Budget car rental website, and have to say you will save money here. If you're on a budget, then Budget is definitely the right car rental site for you.
Their website navigation was fairly simple to grasp and we didn't have too hard a time getting around their site. The signup process for your next car rental should be a snap too, as you can fill it out in about a minute.
We really liked what we found on the Budget car rental website, and have to say you will save money here. If you're on a budget, then Budget is definitely the right car rental site for you.
Their website navigation was fairly simple to grasp and we didn't have too hard a time getting around their site. The signup process for your next car rental should be a snap too, as you can fill it out in about a minute.
- Frequent Renter Program -Extra perks and discounts for loyal customers.
- Make two car rentals and get two lbs. FREE Dunkin Donuts coffee
6Star Reviews admired the Budget car rental service for offering low prices and a variety of options. However, we did notice that finding a local Budget rental location was a small challenge. Their customer support should be mentioned, as well, as their email support was one of the only ones in our reviews to send us back a reply. Telephone support was helpful and intuitive, as were the bevy of frequently asked questions. They snagged themselves 5.5 Stars!
Popular Car Rentals on Alamo
Alamo is definitely serious about its car rentals. Anything you may need is laid out clearly for you to find. They are a no-nonsense website and there is an abundance of car rental guides and special offers here. When we tried to find a car in our designated location, we noticed how difficult it was. We were looped through an online form and consistently noticed that Enterprise had cars where we wanted them, but it took longer to find availabilities with Alamo.
Alamo is definitely serious about its car rentals. Anything you may need is laid out clearly for you to find. They are a no-nonsense website and there is an abundance of car rental guides and special offers here. When we tried to find a car in our designated location, we noticed how difficult it was. We were looped through an online form and consistently noticed that Enterprise had cars where we wanted them, but it took longer to find availabilities with Alamo.
- 10% discount for pre-pay car rentals
- Customer kiosks for quick check-in times.
6Star Reviews likes that Alamo made a name for itself in the car rental world. We didn't like that alot of their rentals came in at higher rates than some of their competition. However, there are tons of promotions and special offers here, so coming out at a lower rate shouldn't be too difficult. When our email customer support experience left us wanting more, the telephone support saved the day and even tried to help us save some money in the reservation process. What a shocker! We really appreciated their down to earth customer support, which is why we assign them 5.5 Stars!
Hertz: Great Car Rentals
We had to look at Hertz in our car rental reviews and we're definitely glad we did. They offer some great selections, such as high-end rentals like Hummers, Corvettes and other fun rides.
Upon entry to the Hertz website, we noticed how visually appealing it was, with bright, bold colors. It made us want to dig deeper and some of their competitors' can learn a thing or to from their site design!
We had to look at Hertz in our car rental reviews and we're definitely glad we did. They offer some great selections, such as high-end rentals like Hummers, Corvettes and other fun rides.
Upon entry to the Hertz website, we noticed how visually appealing it was, with bright, bold colors. It made us want to dig deeper and some of their competitors' can learn a thing or to from their site design!
- $1 from every Green Collection rental goes to the National Park Foundation
- Free tank of gas with a week-long full-size rental
6Star Reviews likes that Hertz tries to appeal to a more progressive crowd, with their cool rental options and charity-focused Green Collection. With that being said, we noticed that their prices came in a bit higher than some of the other car rental sites we reviewed, which didn't impress us much.
But, reserving your car rental should be a snap and we liked the special perks like the #1 Club membership, where members can get special discount rates. The FAQs database was very helpful, as was telephone customer support. But, email support could definitely use a lesson in effective customer service. Overall, we feel they should receive 5.0 Stars!
Compare Car Rentals: Thrifty
Before we close out our car rental reviews, we had to take a look at the Thrifty website. After all, they're practically a household name. In all seriousness, we liked what we found through their car rental website. A cool feature we liked was the 'You Pick the Wild Card' option, where you are guaranteed a mid-sized vehicle for paying less than a 'mid-size price.'
Before we close out our car rental reviews, we had to take a look at the Thrifty website. After all, they're practically a household name. In all seriousness, we liked what we found through their car rental website. A cool feature we liked was the 'You Pick the Wild Card' option, where you are guaranteed a mid-sized vehicle for paying less than a 'mid-size price.'
- Get 10% off of any car rental with your American Express card
- Free Blue Chip membership for money-saving opportunities
Ok, but let's really dish some dirt. We had a tough time finding car rentals because the website navigation itself kept looping us to error pages. This definitely took a toll on our patience, as we have plenty of reviews to get to! Pricing is good here, with lower rates than several of their competitors' price ranges. Live chat and telephone customer support were friendly, and there is a FAQs database, so you aren't left in the dark. We feel this warrants them 5.0 Stars!
National Car Rental Service
We thought you'd appreciate some car rental reviews, so we had to look at National for their features and pricing. Ok, right off the bat, we noticed how expensive they were. They definitely had some of the highest rates we encountered when comparing their pricing to their competition. But, we must say that they had a plethora of special promotions and great deals on last minute specials.
We thought you'd appreciate some car rental reviews, so we had to look at National for their features and pricing. Ok, right off the bat, we noticed how expensive they were. They definitely had some of the highest rates we encountered when comparing their pricing to their competition. But, we must say that they had a plethora of special promotions and great deals on last minute specials.
- Earn one free day for every two rentals
- FREE Emerald Club membership
6Star Reviews liked the variety of special promotions available through the National car rental website. Searching for car rentals in geographic locales we were interested in took some time, as we were presented with 'Sold Out' when we entered our criteria. It took us a few times to find what we were looking for. National had some of the highest car rental prices we came across, which we didn't appreciate. There is a detailed FAQs section and efficient telephone support, though. In the end, we feel they earned 4.5 Stars!
Avis Car Rental Review
We had to check out the Avis car rental service, as they pride themselves on being your best choice when you just need that car to get around in. It was a breeze to navigate this website and our team truly appreciated the numerous specials and car rental guides we unearthed on this site. We also loved the GPS navigation equipment available with most rentals.
We had to check out the Avis car rental service, as they pride themselves on being your best choice when you just need that car to get around in. It was a breeze to navigate this website and our team truly appreciated the numerous specials and car rental guides we unearthed on this site. We also loved the GPS navigation equipment available with most rentals.
- Up to 25% off for American Express cardholders
- Car rental guides, special offers & promotions.
6Star Reviews wasn't blown away by the Avis website, as it wasn't the most groundbreaking in design. However, it was functional and we liked the home page search mechanism where all we had to enter was location and dates we'd need a car. Their pricing was good, with comparable rates to other car rental services. We also noticed how good their selection was, with many options in our geographic area. Customer support is a joke here, as we never heard back from email support and the telephone rep was really unfriendly to us. They deserve 4.0 Stars overall.
Enterprise Car Rentals
Enterprise definitely impressed us with its low prices on car rentals. They surely had the lowest rates in comparison to all of their car rental competitors. Weekend rentals are a dealbreaker here, as you can save up to 50% off weekly rates. You can even buy a car on the Enterprise website, if you feel so inclined.
Enterprise definitely impressed us with its low prices on car rentals. They surely had the lowest rates in comparison to all of their car rental competitors. Weekend rentals are a dealbreaker here, as you can save up to 50% off weekly rates. You can even buy a car on the Enterprise website, if you feel so inclined.
- Up to 50% off the weekly rate for weekend rentals
- Long-term car rentals available
6Star Reviews appreciates any site that saves you money, and if you're headed on vacation or simply need to rent a car, then Enterprise is just the place to look. There are several rental options here, like business rentals, commercial truck rentals and long-term rentals. We also noticed how they consistently had car rentals available in the geographic locations we needed. Their customer support experience was pretty good, but email support kind of disappointed us. Telephone support was really helpful, so that put us in a better mood. All in all, they receive 4.0 Stars!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Best Student Loans
College can be expensive, it’s no hidden secret. Between room and board, textbooks and semester after semester of classes, the costs can really add up. Student loans are a route many take just to get by while still working towards their degree. But, sometimes it’s tough to know which loan to apply for or where to go for information.
Student loans are almost like credit cards. You have your interest rates, grace periods and maximum amounts, similar to any typical credit card. However, there are undergraduate loans and loans designated for those attending grad school. If your credit isn’t the greatest, consider signing up for a student loan with a cosigner, such as a parent or spouse. That way, if they are in better standing with the credit bureaus, you have a better chance of snagging lower interest rates.
6StarReviews.com reports that one student loan provider, NextStudent, provides instant pre-approval, as well as an online application. Many similar sites allow you to compare and contrast student loans right on the Web, letting you shop around for loans fitting your financial needs. Another popular company providing student loans is Sallie Mae, which houses some great resources on scholarships, financial aid and grants.
Like NextStudent, they allow you to sign up for and manage your loan right on your PC. About 50% of college graduates hold some form of student loan under their belts and the average student has around $10,000 to pay off. Education is vital in this day and age and these numbers reflect that sentiment. When signing up for a student loan, it’s important to consider interest rates, minimum and maximum loan amounts and repayment time periods. There are plenty of options to choose from, it’s simply a matter of wearing the shoe that fits.
College can be expensive, it’s no hidden secret. Between room and board, textbooks and semester after semester of classes, the costs can really add up. Student loans are a route many take just to get by while still working towards their degree. But, sometimes it’s tough to know which loan to apply for or where to go for information.
Student loans are almost like credit cards. You have your interest rates, grace periods and maximum amounts, similar to any typical credit card. However, there are undergraduate loans and loans designated for those attending grad school. If your credit isn’t the greatest, consider signing up for a student loan with a cosigner, such as a parent or spouse. That way, if they are in better standing with the credit bureaus, you have a better chance of snagging lower interest rates.
6StarReviews.com reports that one student loan provider, NextStudent, provides instant pre-approval, as well as an online application. Many similar sites allow you to compare and contrast student loans right on the Web, letting you shop around for loans fitting your financial needs. Another popular company providing student loans is Sallie Mae, which houses some great resources on scholarships, financial aid and grants.
Like NextStudent, they allow you to sign up for and manage your loan right on your PC. About 50% of college graduates hold some form of student loan under their belts and the average student has around $10,000 to pay off. Education is vital in this day and age and these numbers reflect that sentiment. When signing up for a student loan, it’s important to consider interest rates, minimum and maximum loan amounts and repayment time periods. There are plenty of options to choose from, it’s simply a matter of wearing the shoe that fits.
NextStudent: Compare Student Loans
If you're looking for a student loan to help you pay off all of those years of tuition and housing, the NextStudent website is a great place to begin. Although we weren't blown away at first sight, we appreciated its simplicity. We weren't incredibly blown away at first glance, but did they know how to pack their site with resources! Not only can you be pre-approved instantly for a student loan, there are plenty of resources and tools available to aid you in the process.
If you're looking for a student loan to help you pay off all of those years of tuition and housing, the NextStudent website is a great place to begin. Although we weren't blown away at first sight, we appreciated its simplicity. We weren't incredibly blown away at first glance, but did they know how to pack their site with resources! Not only can you be pre-approved instantly for a student loan, there are plenty of resources and tools available to aid you in the process.
- Scholarship search engine
- School directory & financial aid advice
6Star Reviews appreciated how the NextStudent student loan website not only catered to college students and grad students, it thought of the parents! There are plenty of resources here for those that may end up footing the bill for their child's academic career. The repayment period for student loans runs from 6 to 12 months post-college graduation.
Minimum and maximum loan amounts depend on the type of loan applied for. Telephone and customer support are nearly unbeatable, great service here. They are certainly a step above their competitors when fulfilling customer needs. We think they should get our Top Rated spot with 6.0 Stars!
Sallie Mae: Popular Student Loans
We couldn't do student loan reviews and not make mention of Sallie Mae. This company offers some of the most comprehensive student loan resources we encountered and they give you the option of comparing student loans side by side. You may also locate grant and scholarship information, which can greatly assist anyone needing some help in the student loan process.
Navigating this website may prove to be a small challenge, as it's quite extensive and rich with resources. However, for any detail-oriented individual, they will feel right at home here.
We couldn't do student loan reviews and not make mention of Sallie Mae. This company offers some of the most comprehensive student loan resources we encountered and they give you the option of comparing student loans side by side. You may also locate grant and scholarship information, which can greatly assist anyone needing some help in the student loan process.
Navigating this website may prove to be a small challenge, as it's quite extensive and rich with resources. However, for any detail-oriented individual, they will feel right at home here.
- Student loan consolidation
- Grants, scholarships, & financial aid
6Star Reviews appreciates when big-name businesses really stand behind their services, and Sallie Mae is no exception. There are plenty of tools and informational guides to walk you through the loan signup process, as you are able to compare and contrast which work for your financial needs. Minimum and maximum loan amounts depend completely on which type of loan applied for.
The repayment period runs from 6 to 12 months after a student graduates. Telephone and email customer support are very efficient here, and the FAQs section is comprehensive. When compared to other student loan sites, their willingness to serve their customers truly shows. They deserve our Most Popular spot with 5.5 Stars!
Best Student Loans: CampusDoor
If you're looking for a simple student loan application and a user-friendly website interface, then CampusDoor may be the perfect site for you.
Not only can you wait until 12 months after graduation to make any payments on your loan, you can win cool prizes like VIP concert tickets at Six Flags theme parks. Now that is some incentive to choose their student loans!
If you're looking for a simple student loan application and a user-friendly website interface, then CampusDoor may be the perfect site for you.
Not only can you wait until 12 months after graduation to make any payments on your loan, you can win cool prizes like VIP concert tickets at Six Flags theme parks. Now that is some incentive to choose their student loans!
- Simple, three-step student loan application
- Online approval in minutes
6Star Reviews was definitely impressed by the student loans offered through the CampusDoor website. While there isn't a whole lot of information on federal assistance or grants, you do receive the resources you need. You should have no problem navigating their website, as it's very fluid and clearly set-up. Minimum loan amounts are $500 here and you max out at $250k, which is a fairly average loan range. Customer support was great, both by way of online form and telephone. We feel they earned 5.5 Stars!
Chase Student Loans Review
We were in awe of the Chase Student Loans website and were immediately hooked once we saw how much information was available at our fingertips!
If you, like many college students or post-grads, have no idea where to begin applying for a student loan, Chase makes it easy. You can utilize their student loan profiler to see which is the perfect loan for your financial needs.
We were in awe of the Chase Student Loans website and were immediately hooked once we saw how much information was available at our fingertips!
If you, like many college students or post-grads, have no idea where to begin applying for a student loan, Chase makes it easy. You can utilize their student loan profiler to see which is the perfect loan for your financial needs.
- Loan calculators & Interest rate information
- Instant online loan application
6Star Reviews always applauds websites that take their customers and visitors' diverse needs into mind. Chase Student Loans definitely gets this, and their plethora of targeted resources like 'College Students,' 'Medical Students,' and 'Continuing Education' demonstrate how much information you can find. Once approved, you are also able to check and manage your student loan from their website.
Minimum loans begin at $100 and max out depending on what loan you're applying for. Telephone customer support was efficient, but it took us five days to hear back through email. This wasn't impressive. Overall, they should be rated at 5.0 Stars!
Education Finance Partners for Student Loans
We really liked what we found at the Educational Finance Partners website and definitely think there are plenty of resources available for most any student or post-grad needing a loan.
There are tons of resources on financing and scholarships, which can potentially aid you in winding your way out of debt or money messes. There is also a comprehensive student loan index which is a great way to learn the ropes of a treacherous, yet necessary subject matter.
We really liked what we found at the Educational Finance Partners website and definitely think there are plenty of resources available for most any student or post-grad needing a loan.
There are tons of resources on financing and scholarships, which can potentially aid you in winding your way out of debt or money messes. There is also a comprehensive student loan index which is a great way to learn the ropes of a treacherous, yet necessary subject matter.
- Student loan calculators and compare student loans
- User-friendly online student loan application
6Star Reviews really likes that Educational Finance Partners aims to educate their customers on all things finance and loan-related. They are much more than a student loan service, and this shows in their wide array of resources. You may compare, sign up for or even consolidate student loans here, which is good news for those looking for a one-stop student loan site.
Minimum and maximum loan amounts vary by loan type and the repayment period goes into effect 6 months after graduation, which is shorter than some of their competition's time spans. Telephone customer support is great, but email left something to be desired. Overall, they earned themselves 5.0 Stars!
ThinkFinancial for Student Loans
Our team thought ThinkFinancial is a good choice for anyone interested in a student loan. There is a pretty simple-to-complete online application that will have you pre-approved in about 15 minutes. If approved, you can compare and manage your loans via their website.
Ok, so there aren't as many resources on student loans and finance in general here, but they do focus on getting you the loan you need and making it easy for you to check the status of and manage it once approved.
Our team thought ThinkFinancial is a good choice for anyone interested in a student loan. There is a pretty simple-to-complete online application that will have you pre-approved in about 15 minutes. If approved, you can compare and manage your loans via their website.
Ok, so there aren't as many resources on student loans and finance in general here, but they do focus on getting you the loan you need and making it easy for you to check the status of and manage it once approved.
- Student Loan Blog
- Pre-approval in as little as 15 minutes
6Star Reviews would have liked to see more grant and scholarship information made available on the ThinkFinancial website, as most college students, grads and even parents are curious about this kind of information. If you are already 'in the know' on finance and student loans, then this site is perfect for you.
Keep in mind that the maximum loan amount caps you at $40k, so if you need more assistance than that, this probably isn't your best choice. Telephone customer support was excellent here, but the online help and email support could stand for some improvement. But, all in all, they receive 4.5 Stars!
Student Credit Card Reviews
Anyone who has been through college can relate to the incalculable number of university enrollees out there vehemently working to manage their finances. Unfortunately, many college students aren’t aware of the options they have in student credit cards, which are essentially designed just for them.
We know what comes to mind when you hear the phrase ‘student credit cards.’ You may be envisioning a drab piece of plastic without any special perks, rewards or cash-back bonuses attached. But before you fall prey to common thought, consider one of the many credit cards that include these benefits.
StarReviews.com discovered one student credit card, the Discover Student Monogram Card, which gives cardholders the chance to earn 5-percent cash back on qualifying purchases, as well as the opportunity to double rewards when credits are used at partner merchant stores. Target and Circuit City, anyone?
Discover isn’t the only card issuer recognizing the needs of those out there in academia. The Chase Student Flexible Rewards Card doesn’t charge an annual fee while giving cardholders a point for every dollar spent with the card. Rack up a good amount of points? Students can trade them in for lattes at Starbucks or redeem all kinds of goods through popular retailers like Best Buy and Blockbuster.
Student credit cards not only assist college students with building their credit ratings, they offer infinite possibilities with cash back or rewards programs. Although nearly 2/3 of college students carry some kind of debt, credit cards designed specifically for them can make a huge difference. You may receive a limited credit line and might be asked to produce evidence of non-delinquent accounts, but when used wisely, these credit cards will be worthwhile.
Anyone who has been through college can relate to the incalculable number of university enrollees out there vehemently working to manage their finances. Unfortunately, many college students aren’t aware of the options they have in student credit cards, which are essentially designed just for them.
We know what comes to mind when you hear the phrase ‘student credit cards.’ You may be envisioning a drab piece of plastic without any special perks, rewards or cash-back bonuses attached. But before you fall prey to common thought, consider one of the many credit cards that include these benefits.
StarReviews.com discovered one student credit card, the Discover Student Monogram Card, which gives cardholders the chance to earn 5-percent cash back on qualifying purchases, as well as the opportunity to double rewards when credits are used at partner merchant stores. Target and Circuit City, anyone?
Discover isn’t the only card issuer recognizing the needs of those out there in academia. The Chase Student Flexible Rewards Card doesn’t charge an annual fee while giving cardholders a point for every dollar spent with the card. Rack up a good amount of points? Students can trade them in for lattes at Starbucks or redeem all kinds of goods through popular retailers like Best Buy and Blockbuster.
Student credit cards not only assist college students with building their credit ratings, they offer infinite possibilities with cash back or rewards programs. Although nearly 2/3 of college students carry some kind of debt, credit cards designed specifically for them can make a huge difference. You may receive a limited credit line and might be asked to produce evidence of non-delinquent accounts, but when used wisely, these credit cards will be worthwhile.
Discover Student Monogram Card: Best Student Credit Card?
The Discover Student Monogram Card is one of the only credit cards to offer students a personalized credit card experience. This student credit card is also tough to surpass, as it offers students without a huge credit past a great cash-back rewards program.
To fill out the one-page credit application, you shouldn't run into too many roadblocks. It's really user-friendly and our team had no problem filling out the basic personal information it asked for. Your application will be processed in no time.
The Discover Student Monogram Card is one of the only credit cards to offer students a personalized credit card experience. This student credit card is also tough to surpass, as it offers students without a huge credit past a great cash-back rewards program.
To fill out the one-page credit application, you shouldn't run into too many roadblocks. It's really user-friendly and our team had no problem filling out the basic personal information it asked for. Your application will be processed in no time.
- No annual fee and 0-percent APR for 6 months
- 16.99% variable APR
We think the Discover Student Monogram Card is a great choice for college students with a pretty good credit rating prior to account signup. You can earn up to 5-percent cash back on qualifying purchases and, to sweeten the deal, you can even double your cash-back rewards if you redeem your cash back at participating merchants. Target and Circuit City are two of your choices. Offering a pretty common grace period of 25-days and excellent customer support, we had to give this student credit card 5.5 Stars!
Discover Student Tropical Beach Card
The Discover Student Tropical Beach Card is clearly a winner from the get go. With up to 5-percent cash back (and the option of doubling that to 10-percent by redeeming at participating merchants) how can you go wrong?
Boasting a snazzy student credit card design and an effortless application process, it's definitely going to be a breeze for you college students to sign up.
The Discover Student Tropical Beach Card is clearly a winner from the get go. With up to 5-percent cash back (and the option of doubling that to 10-percent by redeeming at participating merchants) how can you go wrong?
Boasting a snazzy student credit card design and an effortless application process, it's definitely going to be a breeze for you college students to sign up.
- No annual fee and 0-percent APR for 6 months
- 16.99% variable APR
6Star Reviews liked the Discover Student Tropical Beach Card because it not only offers your average student a chance to build their credit scores, they offer a great cashback and rewards program. There is a 25-day grace period here, if you should need to utilize it, but this card is best for those planning to pay off their balance each month. Telephone and email customer support were both commendable, but be aware that a loopy automated call line will greet you. If you're patient, you will reach a friendly representative. There is a FAQs database for any quick references you might need. We feel their card warrants them 5.0 Stars!
Discover Student Card: Student Credit Card Review
While there are other student credit cards on the market that offer a lower interest rate, the Discover Student Card is one of the only ones to offer cash-back rewards. This makes this card a top pick for students who plan on paying their balances off in full each month.
When we signed up for this student credit card, we came across a pretty straightforward and simple, one-page application. It was very self-explanatory and all necessary terms and conditions were laid out in plain view.
While there are other student credit cards on the market that offer a lower interest rate, the Discover Student Card is one of the only ones to offer cash-back rewards. This makes this card a top pick for students who plan on paying their balances off in full each month.
When we signed up for this student credit card, we came across a pretty straightforward and simple, one-page application. It was very self-explanatory and all necessary terms and conditions were laid out in plain view.
- No annual fee and 0-percent APR for 6 months
- 16.99% variable APR
6Star Reviews really liked how the Discover Student Card offers college student cardholders cash-back rewards and no balance transfer fees. There is a 25-day grace period available, if you should need it. If you have a tainted credit history, this might not be your best card choice, as Discover requires a somewhat established credit rating in order to approve you for this card. But, if you plan to pay your balance in full every month, check it out. Customer support is efficient through telephone, email and FAQs database. We think this card earns 5.0 Stars!
Discover Student Clear Card
Overall, we really liked the Discover Student Clear Card and recommend it to the more responsible student. While the interest rate is a bit higher than other student credit cards, there are some great cash-back bonuses, which you'll probably love.
The credit application is very easy to fill out and should take you no time at all to complete. If you should need resources such as Contact information, it's best to visit the Discover website itself, as this information isn't available right on the card's site.
Overall, we really liked the Discover Student Clear Card and recommend it to the more responsible student. While the interest rate is a bit higher than other student credit cards, there are some great cash-back bonuses, which you'll probably love.
The credit application is very easy to fill out and should take you no time at all to complete. If you should need resources such as Contact information, it's best to visit the Discover website itself, as this information isn't available right on the card's site.
- No annual fee and 0-percent APR for 6 months
- 16.99% variable APR
6Star Reviews likes that this student credit card offers cardholders cash-back bonuses of up to 5-percent on purchases made with the card. You can either get the money sent to you via check or have it credited to your credit card account. You can also choose to double your bonus by redeeming it at participating merchants.
We like these choices that Discover gives you. They also have a 25-day grace period like most other cards of their caliber. Customer support is unbeatable all-around, but you may have to deal with a looping automated telephone line. Hey, it's just modern technology for you. The Discover Student Clear Card gets 5.0 Stars!
Chase Student Flexible Rewards Card
We were pretty impressed with the Chase Student Flexible Rewards card, especially their rewards program and benefits, which included things like travel and emergency assistance services and purchase protection.
For every dollar you spend on this student credit card, you earn a point. These points may be redeemed for merchandise and gift certificates at popular retailers like Blockbuster, Starbucks and Best Buy. The credit application is simple to complete, but forget about applying if you have filed for bankruptcy or have delinquent accounts on your credit reports, as Chase won't even consider your application.
We were pretty impressed with the Chase Student Flexible Rewards card, especially their rewards program and benefits, which included things like travel and emergency assistance services and purchase protection.
For every dollar you spend on this student credit card, you earn a point. These points may be redeemed for merchandise and gift certificates at popular retailers like Blockbuster, Starbucks and Best Buy. The credit application is simple to complete, but forget about applying if you have filed for bankruptcy or have delinquent accounts on your credit reports, as Chase won't even consider your application.
- No annual fee and 0-percent APR for 6 months
- 18.24% variable APR
6Star Reviews appreciates how the Chase Student Flexible Rewards card provides a good rewards program and 0-percent APR Introductory offer for college students. This isn't too common for cards of their kind, which made this card stand out among its competition. There is a 20-day grace period, which is a shorter time span than some other student credit cards, but let us remind you that this card works best for those who plan to pay their balance in full each month. We decided to award them 4.5 Stars!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Pre-Paid Credit Cards
Credit cards are a staple in most of our daily lives. Not only are they quick and convenient, but they’re practically mandatory if you wish to book a hotel room, rent a car or to secure most any online purchase. The problem is, many of us don’t have perfect credit, so it’s all too common for our credit applications to be declined time after time. This is where the prepaid credit card rescues us.
What is a prepaid credit card? Well, much like anything coined ‘prepaid,’ you must deposit your own money into the specified account in order to gain access to the service. It behaves nearly identically to a debit card, but unlike draining that bank account without any reward, some prepaid credit cards put you in favor with the credit bureaus.
6Star Reviews.com found one prepaid credit card, the Eufora Elite Credit Builder Prepaid MasterCard, that will put your credit in good standing and allows you to earn cash for every cardholder you refer. It’s important to consider annual and monthly fees, however, as recovering from an atrocious credit background may come with a cost.
There are some big perks to signing up for a prepaid credit card, such as a lack of interest rates or having to remember to pay your bill. You may really only spend what you deposit, so only spend what you have…literally. There are associated fees for deposits, so it’s vital to check out and compare prepaid credit cards to find one that fits your financial situation.
Credit cards are a staple in most of our daily lives. Not only are they quick and convenient, but they’re practically mandatory if you wish to book a hotel room, rent a car or to secure most any online purchase. The problem is, many of us don’t have perfect credit, so it’s all too common for our credit applications to be declined time after time. This is where the prepaid credit card rescues us.
What is a prepaid credit card? Well, much like anything coined ‘prepaid,’ you must deposit your own money into the specified account in order to gain access to the service. It behaves nearly identically to a debit card, but unlike draining that bank account without any reward, some prepaid credit cards put you in favor with the credit bureaus.
6Star Reviews.com found one prepaid credit card, the Eufora Elite Credit Builder Prepaid MasterCard, that will put your credit in good standing and allows you to earn cash for every cardholder you refer. It’s important to consider annual and monthly fees, however, as recovering from an atrocious credit background may come with a cost.
There are some big perks to signing up for a prepaid credit card, such as a lack of interest rates or having to remember to pay your bill. You may really only spend what you deposit, so only spend what you have…literally. There are associated fees for deposits, so it’s vital to check out and compare prepaid credit cards to find one that fits your financial situation.
Eufora Elite Credit Builder Prepaid MasterCard
We must make mention of the Eufora Elite Credit Builder Prepaid MasterCard in our prepaid credit card reviews. After all, they offer some great perks while still reporting to two credit bureaus, so credit nightmares can become a thing of the past.
Boasting a resourceful and user-friendly website interface, finding the information you need and filling out a credit application should be pretty simple here. You can also refer a friend, which earns you a commission on every approved, new application filed. But, be aware of the associated fees with this card.
We must make mention of the Eufora Elite Credit Builder Prepaid MasterCard in our prepaid credit card reviews. After all, they offer some great perks while still reporting to two credit bureaus, so credit nightmares can become a thing of the past.
Boasting a resourceful and user-friendly website interface, finding the information you need and filling out a credit application should be pretty simple here. You can also refer a friend, which earns you a commission on every approved, new application filed. But, be aware of the associated fees with this card.
- $99.95 annual fee
- $2 ATM withdrawal fees, no application or processing fees
6Star Reviews really liked the Eufora Elite Credit Builder Prepaid MasterCard despite their hefty annual fee. We do understand, however, that this all but makes up for the lack of an application and processing fee. Keep in mind that there is a $6.95/month fee for your first year as a cardholder. We liked the special perks such as travel insurance, identity protection and monthly drawings which aren't always common with prepaid credit cards. Telephone and email customer support are both commendable here, offering us efficient and friendly responses. All in all, we decided they should receive 5.5 Stars!
Eufora Preferred Credit Builder Prepaid MasterCard
Our team took a glance at the Eufora Preferred Credit Builder Prepaid MasterCard and applaud them for offering cardholders some unique benefits while still building them credit with the bureaus.
You shouldn't run into too many problems navigating the Eufora website interface, as it is very basic, yet resourceful. The customer support contacts, terms and conditions and fees are all diplayed pretty clearly. Make note of the following fees.
Our team took a glance at the Eufora Preferred Credit Builder Prepaid MasterCard and applaud them for offering cardholders some unique benefits while still building them credit with the bureaus.
You shouldn't run into too many problems navigating the Eufora website interface, as it is very basic, yet resourceful. The customer support contacts, terms and conditions and fees are all diplayed pretty clearly. Make note of the following fees.
- $59.95 annual fee
- No application or processing fees
6Star Reviews thinks it's great that the Eufora Preferred Credit Builder Prepaid MasterCard offers cardholders some benefits such as purchase protection and travel insurance. These aren't too common with prepaid credit cards, so we had to make mention of them. While there is still a $6.95 per month participation fee, it is only valid for a year. Eufora has excellent customer support options, with a detailed FAQs section, speedy email support and professional, friendly telephone support. We feel this warrants their card 5.5 Stars!
Account Now™ Vantage Debit Visa® Prepaid Card
We really liked what we found when we came across the Account Now™ Vantage Debit Visa® Card. Not only did they boast an intuitive website interface, it was simple to fill out the prepaid credit card application.
6Star Reviews likes simplicity, and the absence of a credit check and security deposit made this card a great contender when stacked against its competition.
We really liked what we found when we came across the Account Now™ Vantage Debit Visa® Card. Not only did they boast an intuitive website interface, it was simple to fill out the prepaid credit card application.
6Star Reviews likes simplicity, and the absence of a credit check and security deposit made this card a great contender when stacked against its competition.
- Free credit builder program.
- No annual fee or processing fees
Our team enjoyed that we'd be able to build up our credit while still using this card like a debit card. While there is an application fee of $29.95, this isn't the highest we've seen for this type of card. Please note that there is a $9.95 a month participation fee, which should be considered. But, there aren't any account inactivity fees if you're not one to use credit cards all the time. Customer support is efficient, but the live chat can be improved, as we never heard from a rep twice. Overall, they should get 5.0 Stars!
Eufora Associate Prepaid MasterCard
It was refreshing to come across the Eufora Associate Prepaid MasterCard, as they were one of the first prepaid credit cards we encountered sans monthly participation fees. Operating under Bankfirst, this credit card's website is super user-friendly with important resources made clearly available.
We really liked that this prepaid credit card lets cardholders earn some cash through their credit referral program. There's nothing like earning some extra money and Eufora understands this. See what fees you can expect for this credit card.
It was refreshing to come across the Eufora Associate Prepaid MasterCard, as they were one of the first prepaid credit cards we encountered sans monthly participation fees. Operating under Bankfirst, this credit card's website is super user-friendly with important resources made clearly available.
We really liked that this prepaid credit card lets cardholders earn some cash through their credit referral program. There's nothing like earning some extra money and Eufora understands this. See what fees you can expect for this credit card.
- No application or processing fees
- $29.95 annual fee, $2 ATM withdrawal fees
6Star Reviews applauds the Eufora Associate Prepaid MasterCard for its low annual fee and lack of maintenance fees. However, we must remind you that this prepaid credit card doesn't report to the credit bureaus, so if building up your credit score is important, this might not be your top choice. With that being said, we liked some special perks like a monthly drawing for a free car per every $100 spent on the card. Eufora offers great customer support by way of telephone and email, so rest assured if you have any questions. They snagged themselves 5.0 Stars!
All-Access® MasterCard® Prepaid Card
The All-Access® MasterCard® Prepaid Card immediately caught our eye because of its user-friendly and basic website interface. You will have no problems applying for this prepaid credit card, either.
If you like the idea of paying as you go, NetSpend will let you pay per transaction for a lower fee. However, you can spend an unlimited amount, as long as you have enough money transferred in the account to act like a debit card.
The All-Access® MasterCard® Prepaid Card immediately caught our eye because of its user-friendly and basic website interface. You will have no problems applying for this prepaid credit card, either.
If you like the idea of paying as you go, NetSpend will let you pay per transaction for a lower fee. However, you can spend an unlimited amount, as long as you have enough money transferred in the account to act like a debit card.
- Free wireless account alerts and balances
- Referral program-receive $5 per card activation attributed to you.
Our team at 6Star Reviews likes any prepaid credit card that gives cardholders the chance to earn some extra cash, as well as the added convenience of perks like the wireless account alerts. There is no annual fee and no listed application fee, but be aware that you may be charged up to $19.95 for card fulfillment charges (shipping and handling).
There is a monthly participation fee of $9.95 for unlimited transactions, but if you choose to pay-per-transaction, you can forgo that fee. Customer support limits you to a FAQs database, while very detailed, is not enough to make up for other forms of customer service. They deserve 4.5 Stars!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Travel Booking Online
Labor Day is here, marking the unofficial end to the summer travel season. Barbeques and lazy days at the beach aside, the fall season is still a great time to travel. Booking travel online can be a useful way to land lower rates and utilize special promotions, as more families get ready for ‘Back to School’ and say goodbye to Bermuda.
Ok, so even if traipsing through autumn-gold leaves in Maine isn’t your perfect travel pick, there are plenty of options to consider when going on a fall getaway. StarReviews.com notes that popular online travel agency Orbitz is offering Norwegian Cruise Line sales and upgrades for the fall and winter season.
If sailing through the Caribbean or Mediterranean isn’t your thing, they also reported that Expedia is offering a Fall sunshine sale for the state of Florida. If you didn’t make it to Disney or Key West this summer, why not save up to 25% on travel in the Sunshine State? Expedia is also launching a Fall air travel sale, with discount flights from all airlines.
Summer travel may have its perks, but more families are realizing the benefit of postponing their vacations and getting huge savings in return. Remember, when booking through discount travel online, it’s important to book early, as many people want to save through special sales. Also, consider booking for the Winter season as well, as many sales are extended into the colder months. There are endless opportunities when using the Internet for your travel needs.
Labor Day is here, marking the unofficial end to the summer travel season. Barbeques and lazy days at the beach aside, the fall season is still a great time to travel. Booking travel online can be a useful way to land lower rates and utilize special promotions, as more families get ready for ‘Back to School’ and say goodbye to Bermuda.
Ok, so even if traipsing through autumn-gold leaves in Maine isn’t your perfect travel pick, there are plenty of options to consider when going on a fall getaway. StarReviews.com notes that popular online travel agency Orbitz is offering Norwegian Cruise Line sales and upgrades for the fall and winter season.
If sailing through the Caribbean or Mediterranean isn’t your thing, they also reported that Expedia is offering a Fall sunshine sale for the state of Florida. If you didn’t make it to Disney or Key West this summer, why not save up to 25% on travel in the Sunshine State? Expedia is also launching a Fall air travel sale, with discount flights from all airlines.
Summer travel may have its perks, but more families are realizing the benefit of postponing their vacations and getting huge savings in return. Remember, when booking through discount travel online, it’s important to book early, as many people want to save through special sales. Also, consider booking for the Winter season as well, as many sales are extended into the colder months. There are endless opportunities when using the Internet for your travel needs.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Internet DVD Rentals
What used to be a Silver Screen phenomenon has taken over our living rooms. Ok, so maybe it feels like we’ve been renting DVD’s for in-home Friday night hangouts for years, but finding the best Internet DVD rentals may prove to be a small challenge. There is a huge assortment of DVD rental sites, all characterized by unique ways to rent out The Godfather, as well as fun features.
StarReviews.com reports that Netflix houses over 80,000 movie titles and doesn’t charge you shipping or late fees. You can even receive select titles within one business day, so guessing where your movie is shouldn’t be an issue. Some DVD rental services like Blockbuster provide countless flicks in all genres imaginable, with the option of returning in-store or by mail.
If you’ve tried renting from the more popular services, a brand-new site you may wish to check out is iLetYou. Whether you have a dozen or upwards of a thousand DVD’s just collecting dust, you can literally open your own rental shop and make some cash.
As more movies emerge out of Hollywood each day, many wish to forgo spending $20 for a flick they might never watch again. Internet DVD rentals allow you to see Shrek without wondering why you ever wasted your money five months down the road. Most rental sites give you countless membership options, so you won’t be stuck with a plan you cannot afford. You might even get to utilize a free trial, if you’re lucky.
What used to be a Silver Screen phenomenon has taken over our living rooms. Ok, so maybe it feels like we’ve been renting DVD’s for in-home Friday night hangouts for years, but finding the best Internet DVD rentals may prove to be a small challenge. There is a huge assortment of DVD rental sites, all characterized by unique ways to rent out The Godfather, as well as fun features.
StarReviews.com reports that Netflix houses over 80,000 movie titles and doesn’t charge you shipping or late fees. You can even receive select titles within one business day, so guessing where your movie is shouldn’t be an issue. Some DVD rental services like Blockbuster provide countless flicks in all genres imaginable, with the option of returning in-store or by mail.
If you’ve tried renting from the more popular services, a brand-new site you may wish to check out is iLetYou. Whether you have a dozen or upwards of a thousand DVD’s just collecting dust, you can literally open your own rental shop and make some cash.
As more movies emerge out of Hollywood each day, many wish to forgo spending $20 for a flick they might never watch again. Internet DVD rentals allow you to see Shrek without wondering why you ever wasted your money five months down the road. Most rental sites give you countless membership options, so you won’t be stuck with a plan you cannot afford. You might even get to utilize a free trial, if you’re lucky.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Magazine Subscription Service Reviews
No matter what your hobby of choice is or if you even enjoy reading at all; there is a magazine available for your interest and literary level. Magazine subscription services have stormed the Internet in popularity, as more readers realize the benefits of subscribing through a subscription site, as opposed to buying directly from an issue-provider.
Maybe you enjoy catching up on world news in Time or even flipping through celebrity gossip in Us Weekly to find out if Katie and Tom are planning a sister for Suri. Whatever your niche, online magazine subscriptions give you plenty of reasons to sign up from the comfort of your home.
First of all, many online magazine sites provide customer reviews and ratings, so those of you readers foreign to magazines will know that Maxim is not coffee table material before you subscribe. Another added perk in subscribing online is the ability to snag the lowest rates possible. When purchasing issues from the newsstand, you may get the benefits of a quick-buy, but at a higher price.
StarReviews.com notes one subscription service, MagazineAgent, allows customers to search for magazines by category, top sellers or price range. When searching through the category “Food & Gourmet,” numerous results popped up, giving potential customers several choices in this specific search.
You are even given a 90-day-risk-free trial in case doubts arise or the first issue of your annual subscription doesn’t sit well with you. In any case, magazine subscription services give readers the opportunity to shop and compare simultaneously, without a worry.
No matter what your hobby of choice is or if you even enjoy reading at all; there is a magazine available for your interest and literary level. Magazine subscription services have stormed the Internet in popularity, as more readers realize the benefits of subscribing through a subscription site, as opposed to buying directly from an issue-provider.
Maybe you enjoy catching up on world news in Time or even flipping through celebrity gossip in Us Weekly to find out if Katie and Tom are planning a sister for Suri. Whatever your niche, online magazine subscriptions give you plenty of reasons to sign up from the comfort of your home.
First of all, many online magazine sites provide customer reviews and ratings, so those of you readers foreign to magazines will know that Maxim is not coffee table material before you subscribe. Another added perk in subscribing online is the ability to snag the lowest rates possible. When purchasing issues from the newsstand, you may get the benefits of a quick-buy, but at a higher price.
StarReviews.com notes one subscription service, MagazineAgent, allows customers to search for magazines by category, top sellers or price range. When searching through the category “Food & Gourmet,” numerous results popped up, giving potential customers several choices in this specific search.
You are even given a 90-day-risk-free trial in case doubts arise or the first issue of your annual subscription doesn’t sit well with you. In any case, magazine subscription services give readers the opportunity to shop and compare simultaneously, without a worry.
Magazines Quick for Magazine Subscriptions
Overall, we felt that Magazines Quick was simple-to-navigate and offered a pretty decent selection. However, many of our favorite titles were nowhere to be found, a definite downside in a magazine subscription service.
We liked how they offer a price guarantee, so if you should come across a lower subscription rate elsewhere, submit a link where you found the rate and you will matched for the difference.
Turn auto renewal on/off and order subscriptions for multiple years at once.
Overall, we felt that Magazines Quick was simple-to-navigate and offered a pretty decent selection. However, many of our favorite titles were nowhere to be found, a definite downside in a magazine subscription service.
We liked how they offer a price guarantee, so if you should come across a lower subscription rate elsewhere, submit a link where you found the rate and you will matched for the difference.
Turn auto renewal on/off and order subscriptions for multiple years at once.
- Bestsellers - See what made Magazines Quick’s top 10 title list…you may just discover a magazine you never thought you’d enjoy.
6Star Reviews demands a great selection from most any service, but especially when it comes to magazine subscriptions. We were disappointed that Magazines Quick didn't have popular women's interest magazines Glamour and Marie Claire. Ok, so you guys may not care, but if they lack two top titles for the ladies, it's not a good sign. Their subscription costs were pretty average when compared to other sites. Customer support was mediocre, with an email response taking three days...which is a bit long for our liking. They receive 5.5 Stars!
Magazine Subscriptions on netMagazines.com
Overall, we felt that netMagazines had a lot to offer the inner reader in many of us. They boast an incredible title selection and let you sign up for bundle package deals, which definitely saves you some money.
Every day they have a different ‘Today’s Deal,’ so check it out to find special savings on featured titles. They even offer international subscriptions, so if you’re going to Australia for the summer, you can still get your hands on People to see what Britney Spears did now.
Overall, we felt that netMagazines had a lot to offer the inner reader in many of us. They boast an incredible title selection and let you sign up for bundle package deals, which definitely saves you some money.
Every day they have a different ‘Today’s Deal,’ so check it out to find special savings on featured titles. They even offer international subscriptions, so if you’re going to Australia for the summer, you can still get your hands on People to see what Britney Spears did now.
- Create your own package-Mix and match different categories to create a personalized magazine assortment akin to your liking, all while saving cash.
- 120-day money back guarantee
6Star Reviews was pleased with this magazine subscription service, from its effortless navigation and search functions to its extensive title collection and discount subscription rates. Many of their magazine subscriptions came in lower than their competition. There are many bonuses and incentives in subscribing through netMagazines as well. While the Customer Service Center took a long time to load, it was completely innovative in its technology. We give them 5.5 Stars!
Mags4Cheap Magazine Subscription Service Review
Mags4Cheap doesn’t necessarily have the most visually appealing website interface, but don’t judge a book by its cover. They offer an extensive database of magazine titles and low prices. We really liked the number of customer reviews and recommended titles, as this helps make your purchasing decisions that much easier.
Navigating the site itself was a little difficult, as the fonts on their links were tiny and cluttered together. If you cannot find your desired magazine in the long category list, opt to do a keyword search or sort by price in the dropdown menu. Both will bring up good results.
Mags4Cheap doesn’t necessarily have the most visually appealing website interface, but don’t judge a book by its cover. They offer an extensive database of magazine titles and low prices. We really liked the number of customer reviews and recommended titles, as this helps make your purchasing decisions that much easier.
Navigating the site itself was a little difficult, as the fonts on their links were tiny and cluttered together. If you cannot find your desired magazine in the long category list, opt to do a keyword search or sort by price in the dropdown menu. Both will bring up good results.
- Special Package Deals - Save on similar title packages when purchased together.
- Match Guarantee-If you subscribe and see a lower offer, Mags4Cheap will not only match the authorized price, they will throw in a FREE subscription to another magazine!
6Star Reviews wouldn't complain if Mags4Cheap decided to revamp its website. However, we must admit that their subscription rates were quite a bargain, continuously coming in lower than some of their competitors' pricing. There is a really extensive title selection here, so finding what you need should be painless. Customer support by way of online form and telephone were good, but they lacked a FAQs section. We reward them with 5.0 Stars!
Compare Magazine City to Magazine Subscription Services
The Magazine City website was a bit lackluster, which immediately decreased our desire to continue browsing through it. But, we mustered enough courage to keep wading through the website. We enjoyed how this magazine subscription service had a pretty comprehensive title selection, boasting over 1600 titles! Although they had a great collection of magazine categories, we felt they could have been arranged in a more organized, simple-to-browse through manner.
The Magazine City website was a bit lackluster, which immediately decreased our desire to continue browsing through it. But, we mustered enough courage to keep wading through the website. We enjoyed how this magazine subscription service had a pretty comprehensive title selection, boasting over 1600 titles! Although they had a great collection of magazine categories, we felt they could have been arranged in a more organized, simple-to-browse through manner.
- Special Packages-Order like magazine title packages such as the 'Stylish and Elegant' package including Vogue & Glamour and save!
- International subscription delivery
6Star Reviews thought this was a mediocre magazine subscription service and didn't admire their search mechanisms. The magazine categories themselves looped us through several links and pages to find what we wanted. But, as impatient as we were, we liked the images and descriptions of each title, once we found them. Prices are a bit higher here and there's a $1 processing fee, which we didn't really see a need for. Customer support could definitely stand to see some improvement. For this, they get 4.5 Stars!
ValueMags Magazine Subscription Service
Overall, we felt that ValueMags was a basic, yet fairly comprehensive magazine subscription service. If you can live without too many bells and whistles, this site will be a great choice for you. However, if you enjoy a lot of graphics and fun images, it may not be your cup of tea.
Selection was good, with most titles we were interested in popping up. However, pricing seemed a bit high, as we found lower rates in our other magazine subscription service reviews.
Overall, we felt that ValueMags was a basic, yet fairly comprehensive magazine subscription service. If you can live without too many bells and whistles, this site will be a great choice for you. However, if you enjoy a lot of graphics and fun images, it may not be your cup of tea.
Selection was good, with most titles we were interested in popping up. However, pricing seemed a bit high, as we found lower rates in our other magazine subscription service reviews.
- Free Gift Cards - Include a free gift card with gift magazine subscription purchases
- 1,200 magazine titles available
6Star Reviews has to tell the truth: we weren't blown away by the unappealing site feel on ValueMags. We're used to images and cool graphics, which were pretty much absent on this one. The title listings were arranged in miniscule-font lists, leaving us wondering if we'd need to take a trip to the eye doctor. Pricing was steep too, but we did like how easy it was to change your subscription address or add multiple addresses for free. Their customer support was good, though and we wanted to give them 4.5 Stars!
Friday, August 10, 2007
Hotel Reservation Reviews
Say your wife’s been hinting about a romantic rendezvous to Paris this summer, yet you have no idea where to begin. Planning that perfect weekend or dream getaway may be a challenge in itself, but finding the right hotel can pose an even greater obstacle for travelers. Hotel reservation services are an answer to anyone’s cry for help when struggling to find a decent hotel room with loads of features.
Hotel booking sites are taking the hotel reservation process to a whole new level, as more and more sites recognize people’s desire for convenience. No one wants to get the shock of their life when stepping in a one-diamond rut they expected to be reminiscent of the Waldorf Astoria. StarReviews.com makes note of one reservation service, Hotels.com, which offers vacation bookers options like 360-degree room tours, extensive customer reviews and local maps and activities so there won’t be any unpleasant surprises upon check-in.
Many hotel reservation services offer those booking hotels options like travel insurance, comparable price matching and vacation packages unavailable elsewhere. Ok, so maybe a romantic getaway to France doesn’t fit your bill, but skiing is your hidden passion.
There are many ski resort packages for your inner athlete, and if you have kids, many hotel reservation sites offer Disney vacations at amazing rates. Booking through online hotel sites allows travelers the flexibility they need to compare pricing, find special add-ons and sort hotels by price, hotel class or even category.
Imagine a virtual collection of every hotel listing in every city in the world, complete with color photos, ratings and unbeatable sales. This is what a run-of-the mill hotel reservation service provides you with, so your next beachside weekend in Nantucket is just what you had in mind.
Say your wife’s been hinting about a romantic rendezvous to Paris this summer, yet you have no idea where to begin. Planning that perfect weekend or dream getaway may be a challenge in itself, but finding the right hotel can pose an even greater obstacle for travelers. Hotel reservation services are an answer to anyone’s cry for help when struggling to find a decent hotel room with loads of features.
Hotel booking sites are taking the hotel reservation process to a whole new level, as more and more sites recognize people’s desire for convenience. No one wants to get the shock of their life when stepping in a one-diamond rut they expected to be reminiscent of the Waldorf Astoria. StarReviews.com makes note of one reservation service, Hotels.com, which offers vacation bookers options like 360-degree room tours, extensive customer reviews and local maps and activities so there won’t be any unpleasant surprises upon check-in.
Many hotel reservation services offer those booking hotels options like travel insurance, comparable price matching and vacation packages unavailable elsewhere. Ok, so maybe a romantic getaway to France doesn’t fit your bill, but skiing is your hidden passion.
There are many ski resort packages for your inner athlete, and if you have kids, many hotel reservation sites offer Disney vacations at amazing rates. Booking through online hotel sites allows travelers the flexibility they need to compare pricing, find special add-ons and sort hotels by price, hotel class or even category.
Imagine a virtual collection of every hotel listing in every city in the world, complete with color photos, ratings and unbeatable sales. This is what a run-of-the mill hotel reservation service provides you with, so your next beachside weekend in Nantucket is just what you had in mind.
Hotels.com: Popular Hotel Booking Online
Overall, we loved Hotels.com for its extensive listings, great features, and sales. This hotel reservation service consistently produced the most results in our hotel searches in various cities.
Although their total booking costs usually ranked higher than some of their competitors’ pricing, they offered the most for their customers in the planning process. The low-price-guarantee does help you snag lowest rates per night, but the service fees are usually why costs go up.
Overall, we loved Hotels.com for its extensive listings, great features, and sales. This hotel reservation service consistently produced the most results in our hotel searches in various cities.
Although their total booking costs usually ranked higher than some of their competitors’ pricing, they offered the most for their customers in the planning process. The low-price-guarantee does help you snag lowest rates per night, but the service fees are usually why costs go up.
- 360-degree virtual tours , images, customer reviews
- My Itineraries-Keep track of your vacation planning and purchase activities all in one spot.
6Star Reviews was very impressed with Hotels.com and their plethora of features. We loved how select hotels were advertised with special pricing and discount rates, which continuously change everyday. No matter what city you visit, Hotels.com will provide you with huge listings and great rates. Understand that while the service fees may be a bit high, you can cancel your hotel reservation at anytime. With amazing customer support and its user-friendly site interface, Hotels.com wins our Top Rated spot with 6.0 Stars!
Book a Hotel Room with GTA Hotels
Overall, we felt that GTA Hotels offers a pretty good hotel reservation service. You cannot really expect the world, however, as not all hotels you may be interested in are available on this site. We had trouble finding any rooms at all at two, well-known hotels in two major cities.
But, we did like the pricing on many of the hotels that were listed with this site. Effortless booking processes and free membership with discounts sent straight to your inbox are also an added bonus.
Overall, we felt that GTA Hotels offers a pretty good hotel reservation service. You cannot really expect the world, however, as not all hotels you may be interested in are available on this site. We had trouble finding any rooms at all at two, well-known hotels in two major cities.
But, we did like the pricing on many of the hotels that were listed with this site. Effortless booking processes and free membership with discounts sent straight to your inbox are also an added bonus.
- International rates & booking
- Customer testimonials
6Star Reviews liked how straightforward this site was, although those accustomed to bells and whistles may not be impressed. However, if you're simply looking for a room for a night, you won't be let down. Customer support was efficient, but as always, we would have been happier if there was a listed toll-free telephone support line. Sometimes you just need to speak to a live rep! We decided to award GTA Hotels with 5.0 Stars!
Compare All-Hotels.com to Hotel Reservation Services
If you enjoy alot of options when booking your hotel rooms online, then check out All-Hotels by any means. This site is based in the UK, so anyone who enjoys European excursions will truly appreciate their broad hotel listing directory.
Prices are low as well, but we were a little shaken over the fact that each hotel reserves the right to make their own cancellation policy. This may explain why service charges are higher on other sites—they protect your reservation and refund you if need be. However, we navigated the site fairly effortlessly and found tons of available options.
If you enjoy alot of options when booking your hotel rooms online, then check out All-Hotels by any means. This site is based in the UK, so anyone who enjoys European excursions will truly appreciate their broad hotel listing directory.
Prices are low as well, but we were a little shaken over the fact that each hotel reserves the right to make their own cancellation policy. This may explain why service charges are higher on other sites—they protect your reservation and refund you if need be. However, we navigated the site fairly effortlessly and found tons of available options.
- Specialized Hotel Listings-Choose destination getaways, such as skiing or golf.
- 120,000 hotel listings worldwide
6Star Reviews loves how many features are available for travelers on All-Hotels! Not only can you browse through extensive hotel databases, you can receive helpful travel information and even check out cool perks like currency converters if going overseas for awhile.
Prices are great through this site, but keep in mind that individual hotels can make their own cancellation policies. There is no telephone support, which we didn't like, and email support is on point, but is only available during their UK office hours. Overall, they deserve 4.5 Stars!
Hotel Booking Online: Hotel Discounts
Offering travelers a no-fuss, basic hotel reservation service, Hotel Discounts proves it can withstand most anything their competitors throw at them. They consistently offered some of the lowest rates we encountered, with room rates at Wynn Las Vegas running you about half the price of what you’d pay on other sites. This is a definite plus! If you don’t mind a lack of fun, community features, room images, tours, and reviews, then this site is for you.
Offering travelers a no-fuss, basic hotel reservation service, Hotel Discounts proves it can withstand most anything their competitors throw at them. They consistently offered some of the lowest rates we encountered, with room rates at Wynn Las Vegas running you about half the price of what you’d pay on other sites. This is a definite plus! If you don’t mind a lack of fun, community features, room images, tours, and reviews, then this site is for you.
- Rooms for Soldout Dates - Hotel Discounts delivers; Even where so many other hotel reservation sites left us hanging, they snagged us all the rooms we wanted.
- Hotels, Suites, and Vacation Rental bookings
6Star Reviews liked how simple the reservation process was on this site, getting you through in a snap. You can also book by phone if you have any reservations...no pun intended. There were a bunch of listings available through this site and we liked how their prices were consistently lower than some of their competitors' price ranges.
There are always great deals and specials going on at Hotel Discounts and while customer service is slow, they will provide you with a thorough answer. We assigned this hotel booking service 4.5 Stars!
The-Hotels for Hotel Reservations
We felt that The-Hotels was a decent hotel reservation service, although kind of drab and not offering even a quarter of the features and advice that other websites of their kind provide.
We really appreciated how extensive their hotel listings were, but once again, were disappointed in the dead links in their main search box. This was a huge turn-off right off the bat. We also noticed that their rates were a little higher than some of their competitors’ prices, but made up for it with their no-cancellation fees.
We felt that The-Hotels was a decent hotel reservation service, although kind of drab and not offering even a quarter of the features and advice that other websites of their kind provide.
We really appreciated how extensive their hotel listings were, but once again, were disappointed in the dead links in their main search box. This was a huge turn-off right off the bat. We also noticed that their rates were a little higher than some of their competitors’ prices, but made up for it with their no-cancellation fees.
- More than 35,000 properties in 8,000 locations
- Top 10 Destinations
6Star Reviews wasn't thrilled with what we found on The-Hotels and definitely think they offer bare minimum in features. In fact, we struggled to find any available features, period. Ok, so we always like to keep the glass half full, so we will note that this hotel reservation service found most of the hotels we were interested in reserving.
Lowest prices? Not by a longshot. But, the site was easy to navigate and even a novice user could get through this one. Customer support could improve by adding a FAQs database or travel tips, but their email support and telephone line were pretty helpful. They receive 4.0 Stars!
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Genealogy Services & Family Tree Creators
For many of us, comprehending our family’s rich and diverse history may not be the easiest task at hand. Many extended families are marked by numerous divorces and separations, the conjoining of several lineages and even adoption. While figuring out one’s family tree may look intimidating, genealogy services are a reputable source in untangling even the most complex family background.
A genealogy service allows inquisitive individuals to enter their family names and scour through results in the family tree database. While every service is unique in its search mechanisms, one popular genealogy service reported by StarReviews.com is Ancestry.com. Ancestry gives users access to fun facts like the meaning of surnames and international record collections for paying members.
Say you’re a “Smith” and you feel like the quest for your true family background may be worthless because of the prevalence of your last name. One genealogy service, One Great Family, allows members to utilize special family tree software and link their lineage with global ancestry links. That way, you’ll be able to browse through existing records and have your family tree updated automatically for you.
There is no feeling quite like knowing where you came from and discovering a hidden family secret, such that you’re related to Abraham Lincoln or Marilyn Monroe somewhere down the line. While relying on Uncle Barry’s word that you’re delineated from royalty may be trustful on your part, a genealogy and family tree service can truly divide fact from fiction.
Unique Family Tree Creator: One Great Family
The One Great Family genealogy service has alot to offer curious family tree aficionados. Ok, so even if you’d just like to know a little about your past, there is something for everyone here.
Typical genealogy service features like surname indexes and ancestry learning tools are all included on this site. Our team loved how effortless the navigation process was, and definitely feel this was one of the most polished and professional family tree services we encountered.
The One Great Family genealogy service has alot to offer curious family tree aficionados. Ok, so even if you’d just like to know a little about your past, there is something for everyone here.
Typical genealogy service features like surname indexes and ancestry learning tools are all included on this site. Our team loved how effortless the navigation process was, and definitely feel this was one of the most polished and professional family tree services we encountered.
- Family Tree Connection-Integrate your own family tree into a worldwide network of ancestral background.
- Free 7-day trial
6Star Reviews cannot get over how easy and fun it was to spider our way through the One Great Family website. It was truly enjoyable to use the online demos and see high-tech footage of some of their top features. We like sites that are proud of their services! If you should enjoy your one-week free trial, you can become a member for $14.95 a month, which is comparable to their competition's pricing schemes.
There is no telephone support and FAQs aren't clearly displayed, but email support was pretty good. There are countless resources and Help guides along the way, should you find yourself in a rut. They snagged themselves our Top Rated spot with 6.0 Stars!
Ancestry Genealogy Service Review
You may have seen some television commercials for Ancestry, but how much do you really know about this genealogy service? Overall, we thought Ancestry lived up to our expectations.We liked how user-friendly their website interface was and found most everything we expected from a site such as their own.
We liked the fun features they offer such as OneWorldTree, the audio storytelling function and a great, two-week free trial. Many of their competitors do not offer very long or any free trials at all, which we applaud Ancestry for considering.
You may have seen some television commercials for Ancestry, but how much do you really know about this genealogy service? Overall, we thought Ancestry lived up to our expectations.We liked how user-friendly their website interface was and found most everything we expected from a site such as their own.
We liked the fun features they offer such as OneWorldTree, the audio storytelling function and a great, two-week free trial. Many of their competitors do not offer very long or any free trials at all, which we applaud Ancestry for considering.
- Add photographs and personal stories into family trees
- US Census Collection, detailed learning center, upload existing family trees.
6Star Reviews admires the extensivity available through Ancestry and appreciated the online demos and informative genealogy articles. We must make mention of their online store, where customers can purchase all things family tree-like books, photographs, atlases, journals, etc. Monthly membership sits at $19.95, which is a little high, but we understand how all-encompassing this genealogy service is, and expected a fee such as the latter.
Customer support through email and live chat were thorough and accomodating all in all. For all of their incredible features and commitment to superiority, we give Ancestry our Most Popular spot at 5.5 Stars!
Kindred Konnections Family Tree Creator
We think that Kindred Konnections is a great online genealogy service for those who simply wish to create a family tree and have no clue where to begin. The user interface was fairly simple to browse through and you are given tons of options and features to take a gander at. For those who wish to begin building their family trees, excess amounts of information might make it a bit intimidating.
We think that Kindred Konnections is a great online genealogy service for those who simply wish to create a family tree and have no clue where to begin. The user interface was fairly simple to browse through and you are given tons of options and features to take a gander at. For those who wish to begin building their family trees, excess amounts of information might make it a bit intimidating.
- Legacy 6.0 software-research your ancestral roots with this professional program.
- Social Security Death Index, Customized family tree charts, Ellis Island Genealogy
6Star Reviews tends to favor websites that offer numerous features at a low price. We commend Kindred Konnections for catering to a genealogy-serious crowd, but really would have liked to see a free trial offered, as it's sometimes hard to get the hang of a site. There is a limited, free membership, but your access is very basic.
A 10-day subscription is $7 and it's $15 for a month. This is pretty common for sites of their kind. Customer support can improve, as the FAQs are limited, but email support was on point. They earned themselves 5.0 Stars!
Compare Genealogy to Family Tree Services
Genealogy.com has a lot to offer those seeking their family’s deepest secrets or maybe just a curious individual who wants to design a family tree. There were a lot of resources available here, but we can see how an inexperienced Internet user might be intimidated, as they were pretty in-depth.
Overall, our team didn't encounter too many problems when navigating their website. If you aren't familiar to family tree terminology, it can be a little confusing. But, this site definitely provides enough resources and tools to make the process nearly painless.
Genealogy.com has a lot to offer those seeking their family’s deepest secrets or maybe just a curious individual who wants to design a family tree. There were a lot of resources available here, but we can see how an inexperienced Internet user might be intimidated, as they were pretty in-depth.
Overall, our team didn't encounter too many problems when navigating their website. If you aren't familiar to family tree terminology, it can be a little confusing. But, this site definitely provides enough resources and tools to make the process nearly painless.
- Celebrity Family Trees -You know you're dying to unearth Donald Trump's family history.
- Virtual Cemetery-Add, Edit, or Browse through burial information.
6Star Reviews loves some of the features on Genealogy.com, such as the Learning Center and free genealogy classes. This site truly recognizes the niche-following and vitality of ancestry and worldwide familial roots. We discovered a really cool way of keeping track of your family tree, images, and data through the MyGenealogy.com feature. How convenient!
Although prices are a tad higher than some of their compeitions' at $69.99 for a year, it is worth it for serious family tree creators. Customer support had long wait times through telephone and email support contradicted what they told us. So, all in all, they get 4.5 Stars!
Genealogy Today Family Trees
We weren't awestruck by the Genealogy Today online genealogy service, but we did like some things like their audio podcasts, war ration indexes, funeral cards and criminal records. Many of their services are sponsored and provided by other family tree sites, like Ancestry, so pricing relies on outside sources.
We didn’t have too much trouble navigating the site, as it was pretty straightforward. However, finding pricing and contact information wasn’t the easiest.
We weren't awestruck by the Genealogy Today online genealogy service, but we did like some things like their audio podcasts, war ration indexes, funeral cards and criminal records. Many of their services are sponsored and provided by other family tree sites, like Ancestry, so pricing relies on outside sources.
We didn’t have too much trouble navigating the site, as it was pretty straightforward. However, finding pricing and contact information wasn’t the easiest.
- Adoption Articles -If you were adopted or know someone who was adopted, you will appreciate these.
- WWII Ration Book Index, Criminal Records, Funeral Cards
Prices vary by product and service, but there is a family tree CD-rom for sale at $24.95. Customer support is great via email, but not so memorable by way of telephone or FAQs. They receive 4.0 Stars!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Online Movie Tickets
It’s impossible to deny the popularity of movies in America and worldwide. Whether you rent, borrow, or go to a theater to see them, there is nothing like watching a flick with a friend or family member. The Internet is transforming the very methods in which we watch movies, so why not how we buy movie tickets? It’s a breeze to find movie tickets online, but it can be confusing to know where to go.
StarReviews.com reports that Fandango is one of the top movie ticket services, as they offer direct ticket purchasing right on their site. You can also view high definition movie trailers, rate your favorite flicks and check out behind the scenes tours of the hottest new Hollywood films.
Another movie-saturated website, Moviefone, really amps up their multimedia by providing visitors with interactive celebrity news and gossip clips, cast interviews and customized theater listings for your zip code. You can even get advanced screenings and exclusive video clips through Moviefone, another benefit of Net movie listings.
In an industry where millions are grossed in sales each day, it’s vital for the Web to stay on top of current trends and provide features for all the film buffs out there. Fandango’s audience and customer base grew about 16% last year, totaling out around 4 million visitors. More people are recognizing the convenience of online movie tickets and are looking past a minimal $1 surcharge to avoid long lines and disappointing sell-outs.
It’s impossible to deny the popularity of movies in America and worldwide. Whether you rent, borrow, or go to a theater to see them, there is nothing like watching a flick with a friend or family member. The Internet is transforming the very methods in which we watch movies, so why not how we buy movie tickets? It’s a breeze to find movie tickets online, but it can be confusing to know where to go.
StarReviews.com reports that Fandango is one of the top movie ticket services, as they offer direct ticket purchasing right on their site. You can also view high definition movie trailers, rate your favorite flicks and check out behind the scenes tours of the hottest new Hollywood films.
Another movie-saturated website, Moviefone, really amps up their multimedia by providing visitors with interactive celebrity news and gossip clips, cast interviews and customized theater listings for your zip code. You can even get advanced screenings and exclusive video clips through Moviefone, another benefit of Net movie listings.
In an industry where millions are grossed in sales each day, it’s vital for the Web to stay on top of current trends and provide features for all the film buffs out there. Fandango’s audience and customer base grew about 16% last year, totaling out around 4 million visitors. More people are recognizing the convenience of online movie tickets and are looking past a minimal $1 surcharge to avoid long lines and disappointing sell-outs.
Find Movie Tickets Through Fandango
We really enjoy how Fandango broke the barrier between box office and theater, making it fun and simple for customers to buy their movie tickets.
But they don't stop at being just an online movie ticket service, they also feature trailers, film reviews, celebrity interviews, fan ratings and other great features. They offer movie tickets for many theaters across the nation and even if you can’t find some at a specific theater, you can opt to purchase at another local theater.
We really enjoy how Fandango broke the barrier between box office and theater, making it fun and simple for customers to buy their movie tickets.
But they don't stop at being just an online movie ticket service, they also feature trailers, film reviews, celebrity interviews, fan ratings and other great features. They offer movie tickets for many theaters across the nation and even if you can’t find some at a specific theater, you can opt to purchase at another local theater.
- Fandango Mobile - Sends instant advanced movie ticket alerts & more directly to your cell phone.
- Fan Buzz-Top 10 rated fan flicks with reviews
6Star Reviews loves how Fandango goes above and beyond selling movie tickets and really captures the whole cinematic experience for you. We must applaud them for offering diverse convenience fees, at around $.75-$1.50 per ticket. While tickets vary according to theater and location, some of their convenience charges come in lower than their competitors'.
Boasting tickets for 1,300+ theaters nationwide, you're sure to find a local theater near you. Telephone customer support was good, as was support by email, but you will have to register before you can ask away. Overall, we felt they deserved our Top Rated spot with 6.0 Stars!
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