Having just returned from an international trip, I was amazed that “tipping” is still an issue for me – I simply never know what is appropriate or what is expected.  I have been in the “travel” business for most of my career and have had the opportunity to travel extensively.  So, why can’t I figure out what tipping policies are in the most frequently traveled to cities in the world?  I can’t even imagine what first time travelers go through!

Like many people, I often forget to do my research beforehand.  It is not until I am faced with my first unfamiliar tipping decision that I realize I haven’t a clue what is appropriate or, more importantly, what could be offensive.  Of course, if I ask fellow travelers how much to tip, I usually get several answers and very strong opinions as to what is the “right” thing to do.

Thankfully, there are online resources designed to help.  For the traveler, cheapflights.com has a great page that provides you with the Top 10 Tips in 10 locations around the world.  While not as specific as other sites, this is one of the best tipping resources for a good global perspective. .  Travel Sense also has a guide to tipping while traveling.

Of course, travel tipping guides are  not the only tipping guides on the web. There are tipping sites for just about every person and every need.  In 2010, Coupon Sherpa posted suggested tips for 63 different services. CNN/Money offers a tipping guide too. Moving.com has a whole story about how to tip your movers. Travel Sense has a guide to tipping while traveling.  Even The Frugal Bride acknowledges that some wedding vendors also must be tipped. Holiday tipping is an art form of its own.

The continued economic “challenges” has made tipping even more important because so many people now rely on these gratuities to make ends meet or as their only source of income.  But there are also times that tipping is no longer our choice – mandatory service charges are everywhere it seems.  But, by the same token, you don’t want to tip so little that you end up being followed out of a restaurant by an upset waiter, or worse, end up on the List of Bad Tippers.

Finally, New Orleans is not immune.  Tipping musicians, mimes, etc. in New Orleans is a discussion on tripadvisor’s New Orleans forum and Tripsmarter.com has its own page for New Orleans Tipping Tips.

When in doubt, tip more than you think you should as long as you can afford to. Remember than an extra dollar or two can turn an okay tip into a tip-to-talk-about for your server.  If that extra couple bucks won’t hurt you, it can make a bellman’s day.

Automotive exhaust is very hard on the environment. The high cost of gasoline is very hard on the budget as well. Driving smart in today’s economy and struggling environment means driving “green”. Here are a few eco-friendly driving tips that all of our drivers here at Limo Livery follow that you can also follow to keep your environmental footprint light without lightening your wallet.

Plan Your Trips

Driving green starts before you ever leave your initial destination. Plan your daily driving to include all of the trips you have to make whenever possible. Schedule your appointments to line up so that you can go from one to the other in a straight shot without backtracking when you can. These types of plans help cut down the mileage you travel each day and cut down the impact on the environment and your finances.

Start out Right and Control Your Speed

Modern cars do not require a warm up. Drive responsibly and obey the speed limits. Use your cruise control on long stretches of a consistent speed as well. Maintaining a level speed helps the car run more efficiently. Don’t drive during heavy traffic times when you can avoid it. Long idling in stop and go traffic uses a lot of extra energy.

Condition for Clean Driving

Replace your tires with low resistance tires and keep them filled to the appropriate level. Keep a regular check on the tire pressure. Keep your car tuned up according to the recommendations in the user’s manual to ensure proper performance. Some points to consider when maintaining your vehicle:

• Change the oil frequently.
• Check the brakes to make sure they are not dragging.
• Get a full tune-up including spark plugs, air filters, and transmission fluid if you notice a decrease in performance.
• Get your tires rotated and alignment checked when you bring your car in for other maintenance.
• Have your car’s emission system checked yearly.
• Don’t put off warnings. Too often drivers put off getting repairs made when they notice fuel consumption going up a little, or hear noises. Prompt action will reduce the impact on the environment.

Feed Your Car Intelligently

Don’t top off your tank. Stop filling your gas tank when the pump automatically quits pumping. Avoid the desire to pump those last few drops into the tank. When gas gets hot it expands and could leak out. Leaking gas costs you money and is very hazardous to the environment.

Roll up the Windows and Cover It Up

Do not drive with the windows down. Having your windows open decreases your car’s aerodynamics and creates a drag that uses extra fuel. If you are driving a pickup or other auto with an open back cover it with a bed cover. Wind sweeping down into the bed of a truck and hitting the back pulls against your revving engine. If you cannot buy a cover leave the pickup bed door down to alleviate the resistance.

Keep It Light

Clean out any junk in the trunk. Letting unnecessary items build up creates extra weight for your car to pull around. More weight means more fuel consumed. If you have winter weights in the back of your automobile or truck don’t forget to unload them in the springtime.

Sitting Around

Finally, whenever you are out turn off the ignition when idling for long periods of time. Whether you are waiting for a rider, pickup, or other appointment or standing still at a railroad crossing turn off that engine to cut fuel consumption and damage to the ozone.
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Automotive exhaust is very hard on the environment. The high cost of gasoline is very hard on the budget as well. Driving smart in today’s economy and struggling environment means driving “green”. Here are a few eco-friendly driving tips to keep your environmental footprint light without lightening your wallet.

Plan Your Trips

Driving green starts before you ever leave your initial destination. Plan your daily driving to include all of the trips you have to make whenever possible. Schedule your appointments to line up so that you can go from one to the other in a straight shot without backtracking when you can. These types of plans help cut down the mileage you travel each day and cut down the impact on the environment and your finances.

Start out Right and Control Your Speed

Modern cars do not require a warm up. Drive responsibly and obey the speed limits. Use your cruise control on long stretches of a consistent speed as well. Maintaining a level speed helps the car run more efficiently. Don’t drive during heavy traffic times when you can avoid it. Long idling in stop and go traffic uses a lot of extra energy.

Condition for Clean Driving

Replace your tires with low resistance tires and keep them filled to the appropriate level. Keep a regular check on the tire pressure. Keep your car tuned up according to the recommendations in the user’s manual to ensure proper performance. Some points to consider when maintaining your vehicle:

• Change the oil frequently.
• Check the brakes to make sure they are not dragging.
• Get a full tune-up including spark plugs, air filters, and transmission fluid if you notice a decrease in performance.
• Get your tires rotated and alignment checked when you bring your car in for other maintenance.
• Have your car’s emission system checked yearly.
• Don’t put off warnings. Too often drivers put off getting repairs made when they notice fuel consumption going up a little, or hear noises. Prompt action will reduce the impact on the environment.

Feed Your Car Intelligently

Don’t top off your tank. Stop filling your gas tank when the pump automatically quits pumping. Avoid the desire to pump those last few drops into the tank. When gas gets hot it expands and could leak out. Leaking gas costs you money and is very hazardous to the environment.

Roll up the Windows and Cover It Up

Do not drive with the windows down. Having your windows open decreases your car’s aerodynamics and creates a drag that uses extra fuel. If you are driving a pickup or other auto with an open back cover it with a bed cover. Wind sweeping down into the bed of a truck and hitting the back pulls against your revving engine. If you cannot buy a cover leave the pickup bed door down to alleviate the resistance.

Keep It Light

Clean out any junk in the trunk. Letting unnecessary items build up creates extra weight for your car to pull around. More weight means more fuel consumed. If you have winter weights in the back of your automobile or truck don’t forget to unload them in the springtime.

Sitting Around

Finally, whenever you are out turn off the ignition when idling for long periods of time. Whether you are waiting for a rider, pickup, or other appointment or standing still at a railroad crossing turn off that engine to cut fuel consumption and damage to the ozone.

Whether you’re in the mood for some classic Beatles or the fizz of pop’s Britney Spears, New Orleans has you covered this weekend!  And Limo Livery is your dependable ground transportation provider.  Our chauffeured limo service gets you to and from the concerts, leaving you to enjoy the best of New Orleans music!

This weekend, there are some outstanding concerts and festivals, from  Britney Spears at the New Orleans Arena on Friday, July 15; Davell Crawford at Snug Harbor on Saturday, July 16 and also on Thursday, July 21; and Sonny Landreth and Tab Benoit at Rock ‘n’ Bowl on Saturday, July 16.

Here’s a round up of the upcoming week’s New Orleans area musical talents, reported by Times-Picayune music writer Keith Spera:

On Friday, July 15, the ninth annual New Orleans Beatles Festival features The Topcats, Chuck Credo IV, Thaddeus Richard (who toured with Paul McCartney’s Wings as a member of its horn section), the Molly Ringwalds, Beatin Path, Rockin Dopsie Jr., Jimmy Robinson and more at the House of Blues.

The New Orleans Bingo! Show is featured for the free weekly Foundation Fridays show at Tipitina’s.

Hoodoo funk guitarist Papa Mali, who recently moved to New Orleans, kicks off two nights at the Maple Leaf.

Former R.L. Burnside slide guitar wizard Kenny Brown leads his own group at d.b.a., following an early set by the Hot Club of New Orleans.

The Creole Stringbeans do New Orleans favorites at Rock ’n’ Bowl, with Los Po-boy-citos also on the bill.

World-pop bnad Royal Teeth celebrates a new CD at Republic New Orleans.

Glen David Andrews has the late shift at Three Muses.

Britney Spears headlines the New Orleans Arena, on a bill with Nicki Minaj and more.

The Dave Jordan Band renders Americana-style rock at Le Bon Temps Roule.

No Fuego tops the bill at One Eyed Jacks.

Alt-rock bands the Beams and Chef Menteur team up for an early show at the Eiffel Society. The Beams play first, starting around 8:15; both bands will play over a screening of “Bladerunner.”

Former Ellipsis singer Craig Paddock fronts his self-titled new band at Carrollton Station, with the Acadias.

SATURDAY, JULY 16

Irma Thomas, Gina Brown, Michael Baptiste, Jo “Cool” Davis, Judy Spellman, Naydja CoJoe, Ceasar Elloie, Sharon Martin, the Mystikcs, the Brass-a-holics and more perform at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts in a benefit for the St. Jude Community Center. Show time is 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $35 through Ticketmaster.

It’s a big night of guitar at Rock ‘n’ Bowl when Sonny Landreth and Tab Benoit team up. Blues guitarist and vocalist Owen “Big Daddy O” Tufts leads his New Revue at Ruby’s Roadhouse in Mandeville. The Parish of the House of Blues hosts a “Be Aware, Stop the Violence” benefit concert featuring fast-rising local R&B vocalist Kourtney Heart and — irony alert — veteran rap duo Partners-N-Crime. One Eyed Jacks hosts the Lost Bayou Ramblers; Vagabond Swing also is on the bill. Mahayla rocks Tipitina’s. John Boutte sings early at d.b.a., followed by the Joe Krown Trio featuring Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Russell Batiste.

Keyboardist Davell Crawford holds court at Snug Harbor. Johnny J & the Hitmen hit the Banks Street Bar. Papa Mali returns to the Maple Leaf. Streetcar Samba celebrates a new CD with an early show at Cypress in Metairie. Guitarist Carl LeBlanc showcases early at Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta, followed by the Kinfolk Brass Band at midnight. Singer-songwriter Kelcy Mae is on early at Maison on Frenchmen Street, followed by the Pinettes Brass Band around 10 p.m.

SUNDAY, JULY 17

Tyga, House of Blues, 7 p.m.

The roster of Lil Wayne’s Young Money Records features at least one rapper whose ink rivals that of the boss: Tyga. Of Haitian-Vietnamese descent, Michael Stevenson-Nguyen grew up in Compton, Calif., that hotbed of West Coast ’80s gangsta rap. As Tyga, his style isn’t nearly as confrontational. His debut, 2008’s “No Introduction, ” sold only moderately, despite a popular party single, “Coconut Juice, ” featuring the Gym Class Heroes’ Travis McCoy. In 2009, he appeared with his labelmates on the collaborative “We Are Young Money.” His second full-length, “Careless World, ” is due this year; the first single, the ballad “Far Away, ” already is out.

Meanwhile, he’s on the road headlining the Closer to My Dreams Tour, presented by popular BET hip-hop video countdown show “106 & Park.” The bill also includes Lil Twist (last seen in these parts posing for pictures on a concourse of the New Orleans Arena after guesting with Lil Wayne), Mindless Behavior, Jawan Harris, Diggy Simmons and Trevante.

For more events and the full article, click here.