The Avanti Group Inc

Always the perfect gift! Send someone special a travel gift certificate. Our certificates look beautiful and can be personalized with a note from you. Perfect for any occasion, here are a few of our ideas: - Birthdays - Weddings & Showers - Anniversaries - Graduations - Employee Appreciation - Thank You Gifts - Valentine's - Holidays - Teacher, Coach Appreciation Gift giving couldn't be easier. Our certificates can be purchased in amounts of $30 or more and are valid for one year from date of issue. Any unspent monies will be refunded less a service fee of 15%. For more information or to purchase your gift certificate, please email info@avantitraveladvisors.com.

The Watchdog is still in vacation mode. I just got back from a family trip to Florida. We had a blast. This is the time of year when your mind may be on vacations, too. If you're looking ahead to a lazy summer trip, don't relax too much because unfortunately, scammers will hound you while you plan and even follow you on the road, too. The state attorney general's office recently warned about travel scams, a few of which were news to me. One involves pizza deliveries, of all things. Who hasn't had a craving for pizza after checking into a hotel in an unfamiliar city where you don't want to hunt for a decent place to chow down. You pick up the menu that's conveniently been slipped under your door and order away. The scam is that the menus have a phone number that connect with an identity thief, not a pizza parlor. You won't get your large pie, and the thief will live large by running up charges on the credit card you provided for payment. The attorney general's office recommends contacting the hotel's front desk or concierge for take-out suggestions. You also can look on your smartphone or in the phone book. Speaking of phones, if your hotel room phone rings in the middle of the night and the caller identifies himself as the front desk needing to verify your credit card, hang up.

And to celebrate we are offering a Leader reader the chance to win a trip for two to New Zealand including return flights and five nights in Wellington plus $2000 spending money. The lucky winner will also get a private guided tour of the National War Memorial, Wellington, plus a digital camera to record the experience. Australia will commemorate 100 years since WWI between 2014 and 2018. Michael Zsolt, Manager Philatelic, Australia Post, said the organization helped deliver letters between WWI soldiers and home, and was intrinsically linked to the Anzacs, a connection which it hopes to honor through this commemorative stamp issue. "During the next five years of commemoration we hope to join all Australians in honouring the contribution made by our Anzacs and hope that these stamps serve as a symbol of our appreciation to those who made the ultimate sacrifice," Mr Zsolt said. Each of the five stamp issues has been developed in conjunction with the Australian War Memorial to encompass key events, battles and individuals relevant to each year of the centenary. The WWI Centenary stamp issue comprises a mini sheet, stamp pack, first day cover, maxi cards, medallion cover, booklet of 10 x 70c self-adhesive stamps and two postal and numismatic covers. The stamps and associated products are available now from Australia Post retail outlets, via mail order on 1800 331 794 or online at auspost.com.au/stamps.

The end of school marks the start of the summer travel season. With the cost of travel rising, consumers are susceptible to vacation travel fraud. The Better Business Bureau is warning vacationers to beware of travel clubs. Complaints to the BBB show that many travel clubs promise huge discounts on hotels, airfare and cruises, but fail to deliver these discounts to members despite the high cost of joining. "Consumers are looking for vacation bargains," said BBB President Tom Bartholomy. "Unfortunately, they are being seduced by slick presentations from high-pressure sales people who promise great deals that do not exist."