What is the International Drivers Permit?

The International Drivers Permit is essentially a permit to operate a motor vehicle outside of the United States. The International Drivers Permit translates the U.S drivers license into 10 other languages, making it a smoother process for say foreign police or car rental companies who may not easily understand the U.S drivers license. It is a valid document in 150 countries around the world. The permit is not in itself a license to drive; it must be accompanied with an officially issued drivers license from the states.

There are only two organizations in the U.S. where you can purchase an International permit:

National Automobile Club and the American Automobile Club. The permit fee is $15, and membership to either organization is not required.

Photo courtesy of Wanderus

Gay Pride San Francisco 2008

San Francisco Pride Weekend
June 28-June 29, 2008

Travel Sponsors Include: Virgin America, Air New Zealand, Mark Hopkins Intercontinental, The Handlery, Joie de Vivre Hotels, Hotel Whitcomb, Renoir Hotel, AAA, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Click here for pride weekend information.

Vegas casino burns, but not part of a show

A large fire broke out yesterday at the top of the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Flames and thick black smoke were rising from the roof of the 3,000-room hotel, according to television newscasts. The hotel was evacuated and no injuries had been reported in the three-alarm blaze, which broke out shortly before 11 a.m. Television pictures showed firefighters on the roof of the 32-story hotel and casino shooting streams of water into the building as the flames spread across two wings.




Meanwhile, Anton Nikodemus (Pres and COO of Monte Carlo) stated on the casino website, "Starting today, Monte Carlo employees will receive pay, health and welfare benefits and toke and tip replacement for the lesser of 30 days or the re-opening of Monte Carlo. These payments will be offset if during that 30-day period a Monte Carlo employee accepts another position at another MGM MIRAGE property or company or accepts employment outside MGM MIRAGE. Also, if a Monte Carlo employee accepts a position with a non-MGM MIRAGE company and is subjected to a waiting period before receiving health benefits, then MGM MIRAGE will continue to provide the employee’s health benefits for the lesser of 30 days or the re-opening of Monte Carlo."

When it was built, the massive Monte Carlo was the world's seventh-largest hotel. It's now considerably overshadowed by its high-profile, more theme-intensive brethren. The property recently received AAA's Four Diamond rating and had nearly 3,000 employees.