Cabo San Lucas Resort - Honeymoon


After all the planning and preparation, the wedding ceremony in Gatlinburg Tennessee and the reception back in Michigan, Karrie an i left for our honeymoon in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  We ended up picking a hotel which was part of a whole all inclusive vacation package in Cabo San Lucas.  We got the idea after seeing the deal online, then talked with Karrie's mom and my aunt who had been to Cabo before, they both said it was great, so we booked it. 

We ended up having a great time over the 7 days.  
cabo san lucas, honeymoon, pueblo bonito, hotel, rose, pacifica, sunset

The hotel in Cabo San Lucas we decided to stay was The Sunset Hotel.  The 4 options for hotel's in that area were, Pacifica, Sunset, Rose and Blanco.  They were all owned by the same Pueblo Bonito company, and the cool part was that they were all interconnected.  The order that i listed them is how the hotel's are rated in order of cost and also "niceness".  So by deciding on The Sunset Hotel we felt that we got a really nice hotel, probably the second best resort in Cabo.

As far as the flight's went, we flew on US Airways from Detroit to Phoenix.  Then had a 1.5 hour layover and flew from Phoenix to Cabo San Lucas Mexico.  The flights were 4 hours and 2 hours respectively.

We had arranged to have a shuttle pick us up from the airport and take us to the hotel.  The cost was $22 per person one way, so for both of us it cost $88 to get a ride from the airport to the hotel, then a week later a ride back to the airport.

MEXICO CUSTOMS
When we got off the plane we had to go through customs.  It actually wasn't too bad, we just picked up our bag, waited in line, then walked right through without having our bags checked.  Now here is the big warning i'm going to give you.  Immediately after leaving customs you walk through 2 sliding door.  The next room you enter is filled with guys wearing golf shirts.  We thought, and they told us, that they were there to help us get our shuttle to the hotel.  THEY ARE NOT.  They are in fact people trying to sell time-shares and sign you up for activities.  What ever company they work for they must have paid the airport a ton to set up there.  They will give you a map and tell you that your driver is out there, and try to pretend like they are just giving you information.  Then they will try to sell you a voucher for free zip-lining or something.  This made us a little mad after we realized that we just wasted 15 minutes after 2 flights of 6 hours.  So we walked out of that room and entered another that looked exactly the same.  This time someone approached us saying that he worked for the travel board of Mexico.  3 minutes in to him talking we realized that he was ANOTHER time-share salesman person.  Now i was really mad.  It was very much like they were trying to trick or fool us and because we still thought we were in the Mexican customs area we were in that sort of complying attitude.  As we walked out of that room through another pair of sliding doors i thought that if there's another group of guys trying to sell something, i was going to go crazy.  Luckily there wasn't and we got outside, found our shuttle and rode for an hour to our hotel.

THE SUNSET HOTEL - CABO SAN LUCAS
The Sunset Hotel is one of the nicest and more secluded hotels in the area.  Sunset and the Pacifica are located away from the downtown on the Pacific Ocean side of the coast.  It's gated off and is at such a distance that you can't really walk in.  The shuttle dropped us off and we went to check in.  Here's a little outdoor atrium near the main office.
sunset hotel, cabo san lucas, mexico, main office

We originally had signed up for a typical room that looked nice, but Karrie noticed on their website that if you tell them that you are on your honeymoon they can give you an upgrade.  I wasn't expecting it to work but we asked.  At first it didn't seem like they would upgrade our room, but we asked again, the woman helping us checked with the manager and then said a nicer room was available.  We had to swipe a credit card so that if anything happened or if we wanted to charge our room.  The 2 credit cards i had didn't work.  I'm guessing it's because never called the credit card companies that i would be out of the country.  Luckily Karrie's card worked.

They told us to go outside and one of the golf carts would take us to our room, which was in one of the 20-25 buildings on the property.  Immediately after turning away from the counter there was someone holding a laminated card asking us if we wanted to buy a time share.  At this point we had been awake for many hours and had absolutely no time for that.  Then we realized something wonderful.  The woman asked us if we were over 30 years of age.  Karrie said no, and the lady then proceeded to ignore us and walk away.  We realized that they don't want to or can't sell time shares to people under 30.  So anytime someone came up to us at the hotel we just said we were 29 and they walked away.

The ride from the main office to our hotel building was great.  The Sunset Hotel has these little golf cart like vehicles that hold 6 people and they drive you any they drive you anywhere on the property.  It's kid of crazy though because the steep and winding paths only have room for 1 cart at a time so it's always an adventure when there are dozens of carts on site.  Here's what it looks like flying around one of these things at night.
riding golf cart, cabo san lucas, all inclusive, resort, hotel

SUNSET HOTEL - PUEBLO BONITO - ROOM VIEWS
But we made it to building 24 which was actually the largest building at Sunset.  We went up to the 5th floor and found our room, and our room was amazing.
view of room, sunset hotel, cabo san lucas, mexico, resort, upgrade, honeymoon

The upgraded room meant that we actually got a "double room".  Had we not been able to get the honeymoon upgrade, the room would have been pretty standard, just bed, bathroom and balcony.  But by asking we got that room on one side then a door connecting it with a dining room/living room, full kitchen and 2nd bathroom.
mexico resort, all inclusive, room upgrade, honeymoon suite

During the time we were there we used the kitchen and refrigerator and ate breakfast at the table.  The terms of our all inclusive stay meant that we could get room service any time for just $5 per order.  So when we woke up we would call down and have our breakfast delivered.  However we did realize that it took at least an hour for room service to get delivered.  So we tried to wake up a little early, call then lay back down for an hour until it arrived.  It was perfect because it meant we weren't having to get ready, ride down to one of the restaurants to eat, we could just have it show up at our room.  We both agreed that having breakfast was one of the most peaceful times during the time we were there.  From the table we could look out the glass door toward the balcony.

And here was the balcony, the width of both of the rooms.
balcony view of ocean, pacifica, sunset, rose, hotel, cabo san lucas

This was our view of the ocean from the balcony.  The sun set right between two peaks of the nearby mountain.
sunset in mexico, pacific ocean

From the beach here is the Sunset Resort in Cabo San Lucas.  Our building was the large yellow one with the brown roof on the left side of the picture.
sunset hotel complex, resort, all inclusive, beach view

One big downside to the hotel was the Wi-Fi.  You have to pay something like $80 to use the Wi-Fi for 3 days.  On the website they said that there's a couple of places on the property where you can use Wi-Fi for free, The Manilla Bar and Sunrise cafe.  We tried going to 2 of those locations and yes there was a Wi-Fi signal but it was terrible.  Dozens of people sit out in chairs trying to get access but it's such a slow connection that we were never able to do anything.  Karrie saw that people had posted wedding photos to Facebook.  It took us 15 minutes to look at 8 pictures.  There's also the "internet cafe" but that's only a store with 2 desktop computers in it.  And it cost $5 for 30 minutes of usage.

The cool thing about the hotel was that it was located right on the Pacific Ocean.  That meant that swimming was NOT allowed.  The waves were huge and there were several workers on the beach to warn you to keep away from the water.  And it was especially windy and wavy the first full day we were there because a small hurricane/tropical storm hit Cabo San Lucas.  But we walked along the beach anyway to check it out.
walking along the beach, pacific ocean, cabo resort, all inclusive

You can see that looking back down the beach there was lots of sand blowing in along the shore.
hurricane in mexico, pacific ocean

 2 days later i went back out to the same rocky area and it was much nicer.  But the waves were still super big and swimming was still not allowed.  In the area where the waves hit the shore, the sand was actually very steep.  So if a wave knocks you over it would be hard to get up and back to shore.  For this picture i used my homemade polarizing filter and it really brought out the difference in color between the sky, water and beach.
pacific ocean waves, beach, mexico

But the hotel does have several different pools on the resort property.  There was the main pool which was huge with a bridge, bar and room for hundreds of people.  This was taken at night after everyone was gone and this is only one little part of the huge main pool.
main pool, sunset hotel, cabo san lucas

They also had a kids pool, adult pool and sky pool.  We went to the sky pool on the second day and it was really nice.  It got it's name because of where it is located, at the top of the mountain overlooking the property.  We were able to order right from poolside for any drinks and food we wanted.  So we got lunch there before heading back to the room.  This is the adult pool, it was full of a bunch of old people that would complain to the staff when a kid walked by. 
adult pool, sunset hotel, cabo san lucas, free drinks, resort

But it was really quiet and nice.  We sat there 2 different days just having lunch and reading.
relaxing by the pool, mexico all inclusive resort


PUEBLO BONITO - RESTAURANTS
That second night when looking for a place to eat we realized that the hotel wasn't very helpful with restaurants.  There are several places on the property that we could have gone, but they never told us what or where they were.  After several calls from Karrie to the front desk they finally brought us up a sheet showing the restaurants and the times they are open.  We decided to go to The Bistro.  I was expecting it to be like some buffet style cafeteria but it was really nice.  We at outside on the balcony and the food was great.  But we learned another bit of key information that night.  No matter where you go to eat, YOU MUST MAKE RESERVATIONS.  Even if they say you don't need a reservation, make one, or else you will have to wait for an hour.  That night we decided to make reservations for the whole week.  Some restaurants require reservations and also a $10 or $20 additional fee on top of the all inclusive package.

The cool thing about the all inclusive package is that it's good for more then just the restaurants at our hotel.  We were able to go to any restaurant (except at the Pacifica) and eat for free.  I think the easiest way to put it is like when stores say "buy one and get another for equal or lesser value."  You were allowed to eat at your hotel or any of lesser value.  Since the Pacifica was the nicest we weren't allowed to go there.  But we were allowed to eat at Rose, and Blanco.  So we made reservations for dinner for every night.  Here's a list of the places, which hotel it's at and my opinion of the restaurant.

THE SUNSET HOTEL
The Bistro - free - surprisingly nice - good food and a decent selection - we ate here for dinner a couple of times and it was great

La Frida  - $20 per person - men must wear collared shirts (i had to go back to the room to change) - the service was really nice but the food wasn't any better then any other place, although they had a lot more to pick from

This was our view of the restaurant from our seats on the balcony.
la frida restaurant, sunset hotel, pueblo bonito, cabo san lucas

Villa 17 - free - we only ate here one night and it was for Asian food night.  It was ok, the food was served buffet style, nothing fancy.
villa 17, pueblo bonito, free food, resort, all inclusive

ROSE / BLANCO HOTELS
Mare Nostrum - free - outdoor restaurant, buffet style, lots of bird flying around pooping on the chairs.  good for a quick lunch
mare nostrum restaurant, pueblo bonito, map, location, food

These were the birds that flew all around the chairs and tables at Mare Nostrum.  For the first 10 seconds it was cute and funny, after that it was annoying.
birds watching us eat at restaurant, 3 birds

Fellinis  - $20 per person.  We got a great table on the balcony, probably the nicest dinner we had.  Food was really good
food at fellinis restaurant, cabo san lucas

Here's a panorama view of the beach just outside of the Rose hotel near Fellinis restaurant.  This was the day the beach was closed due to the hurricane, usually it's full of people and locals trying to sell you stuff.
cabo san lucas, cove, ocean, swim, arch, beach

Now to get from one hotel to the other you can either call for a cab or take the free shuttle.  The shuttle is a bus which leaves The Sunset Hotel on the hour.  It drives to the Rose Hotel and leaves there every half hour.  Again, YOU MUST MAKE RESERVATIONS.  Reservations are made at the front counter of the main building, they print you off a paper receipt you show the bus driver.  One thing to note though is that the bus doesn't pick you up at the main building but at the Sunrise Cafe.  The cool thing was that our hotel building was right next to the Sunrise Cafe.  So 5 minutes before the bus left we could just walk outside and hop on.  Usually reservations must be made that morning or a day in advance.  Although a cool trick is that there's always people who make reservations and don't show up.

We realized that our hotel was mainly full of old people that had been to Cabo San Lucas several times and usually owned a time-share at the hotel.  They were usually rich, retired, and liked to complain about poor service by the hotel staff.  When we got to the Rose and Blanco hotels we realized that there were mostly family's with kids there.

Early on in the vacation we went to the Rose and Blanco hotel's.  That was also when the hurricane hit Cabo San Lucas.  IT rained a ton and you could tell that they weren't used to getting rain there.  The streets were flooded.  But Karrie actually remembered to bring rain ponchos so we walked around downtown and went in the shops.  Something to know is that all the shops there sell the exact same thing.  They all have hats, jewelry, toys and your typical vacation souvenirs with "Cabo" written on them.  They all sell those things for basically the same price.  However the flea market is a place where you can get a better deal.  It's much more run down with blue tarps acting as the roof.
cabo san lucas mexico flea markets

Every stall you walk by has a person telling you to "come look, best deal anywhere".  Karrie eventually bought some stuff on the last day of the trip.  A rule of thumb is that if they are asking for something that costs $30, you can probably bet them to sell it for $22-$20.  It depends on the person and amount of traffic around them.  The quieter and less busy the better.  Just an example, i saw a straw hat, the lady said 200 pesos.  I said "na that's ok."  She then offered it to me for 150 pesos then 120 pesos.  That was her best deal, 120 pesos which is about $12.  The conversion rate was about 11-1 but it was just easier to move the decimal one place.


CABO SAN LUCAS - ACTIVITIES TO DO
The 2 activities that we decided to do were snorkeling and something called SeaTrek.  We didn't want to do scuba diving because it looked daunting.  But for $70 per person we did SeaTrek which consisted of walking on the ocean floor.  We made reservations and paid through the corsage at our hotel.  They called and checked on available times.  We got picked up by a van at our hotel and they drove us to the pier where the company was.  The ride cost $20 total.  Once getting to the office we had to sign a waiver and then ride in a boat to a floating raft.
sea trek platform, boat, price, cost, deal



gear, how to, sea trek, equipment, cost


We put on wetsuits and Crocs as they went over the safety rules.
getting ready for sea trek, cabo san lucas mexico, underwater

I brought the GoPro camera that Karrie got me for my birthday.  It was perfect for the SeaTrek.  We were in a group of 6 and i was chosen as the first one to go.  I climbed down the ladder and then just before going under, they put the 30 pound air helmet on.  Here's the video:

SeaTrek - Cabo San Lucas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnl9qmT53MY&feature=share&list=UUGqF5ktj2oAlwm3HPaWbDOQ

For the full 25 minutes of video, check out my Youtube page:  https://www.youtube.com/user/notitlerequired

One thing that did bother me was the pressure on my ears.  Every step down put more and more pressure on them and at first i couldn't get them to pop.  But i went all the way down to the bottom, 20 feet from the surface.  Karrie came down next, and she immediately loved it.  Once everyone made it to the bottom we all held onto a rope and walked along a path.  It was just under a half hour at the bottom of the ocean.  They showed us starfish, several different puffer fish and all the other animals that swam around.  We got to touch the animals and fish they showed us.
underwater sea trek, cabo san lucas, seatrek

It was really cool, scary but fun at the same time. 
petting a puffer fish

Before we went down i reminded Karrie that if anything happens you can always throw off the helmet and swim to the surface.  But after 5 seconds you realized that it was going to be fine.  Having that bubble of air around your head is totally different from having a snorkel air tube in your mouth.  Karrie and i both really liked it.
under the ocean, fun, how to sea trek

Afterwords you get a boat ride back and have lunch at the taco place next door.  It was pretty good and we had a great time.

The second activity we went to the next day was snorkeling.  Before we went on the boat we walked to the end of the pier where all the boats left from.  Here's the panorama of the pier in Cabo.
cabo san lucas pier, panorama

But it wasn't just snorkeling, it was snorkeling from a pirate ship called the Caribbean Queen.  You can see that it's a pirate ship.
cabo san lucas, pier 1, boat, caribbean queen, location, map

This is what the boat looks like.  All the sail stuff is for show.  But it was great, and really fast.
caribbean queen, boat, snorkel, cabo, mexico

It cost $50 per person since we booked it through our hotel, it's $55 normally.  We boarded the boat at Pier #1, which we had to ask to find out where it was.  The whole trip took over 3 hours and we had a great time.  First they take you out to The Arch, which is the famous location at Cabo San Lucas.  It is the stone structure at the very tip of the Pacific Ocean.  The pirate ship drove out the The Arch and spent about 20 minutes for people to take pictures.
the arch, cabo san lucas, mexico, visit, tour, boat, how to, see

Here's a panorama view of the area.
panorama, the arch , cabo san lucas, mexico, ocean, boat, tour

Then the ship drove for about an hour to a beach further up the coastline.  It was a public beach and there were other boats already anchored.  That's when we found out that in order to snorkel we had to jump off the ship and swim into shore.
pirate ship, snorkel tour, fish, swim, jump, plank
 
It was a long way to shore.  But again i brought my GoPro underwater camera with us.
gopro, underwater, snorkeling, ocean

Paddle boarding.
how to paddle board, ocean, first time

Here's a video i made, combining the best video's of the snorkeling trip.

Pirate Ship Snorkeling - Mexico

http://youtu.be/Xnl9qmT53MY

If you want to see all of the video's you can go to my Youtube page and check them out, there's about 20 of them in total.     https://www.youtube.com/user/notitlerequired

It was really fun and i enjoyed the paddle boarding a lot.  It took a lot more balance then i thought it would.
paddleboard and snorkel tour, trip, vacation, mexico

The last day of the trip we spent at the hotel pool.  We checked out at 11am then hung around until 2pm, waiting for our van to pick us up and take us to the airport.
cabo san lucas, mexico, sunset hotel, adult pool, view, room, hotel

It was another sunny relaxing day sitting around, reading and going for a swim.
what to do in mexico, all inclusive, resort, cabo san lucas

Overall i would say that we had a great time.  Sure there's some annoying parts where people are trying to sell you time shares and lack of communication about the hotel, but overall it's great. 
ocean view from hotel, sunset, cabo

Car Donation: Vital Facts Worth Considering Before You Donate Your Car

Anybody who has a used old car in his or her parking lot can donate such car to charity. The incidence of risking your privacy in trying to sell your very old car is completely eliminated through car donation because you are going to get some monetary value through tax deduction and the receiving charitable organization comes to your doorstep to tow this gift from you. Apart from cars, you can also donate your old trucks, vans, boat, even airplanes and mobile homes. These are gladly accepted by the charity organizations that take these car donations and convert them to cash through auction sales. Are You Going To Be Involved In Actual Car Sale?The Answer is absolute no. All you will do is get the appropriate IRS form filled and have a written handover note signed by the recipient charity firm. Doing this will help you to pursue your tax deduction claims from the Internal Revenue Service. You do not need to even know where the car you donate will be sold. The charity organization you donated your car to will give you details of the sale within a period of 30 days so that you will file the necessary tax deduction rights you are entitled to. Types of Car Donation ProgramsIt is important to note that these days, there are several firms that are saddled with the issue of receiving and auctioning car donations for various charitable organizations for a fee. The charity firms need to sign up with these car donation programs who handle all the issue relating to any car that donor wants to give them. The slight disadvantage in this kind of car donation program is that the firm or middleman who handles the car donation process for the charity organization will definitely take some percentage from the proceeds of the car auction as their service fees. This can be avoided by asking the recipient charity firm if they can directly take your car donation or asking what percentage will accrue to them after the middle men must have deducted their service fees. On the contrary, the entire issue of having some

How Can Online Resources Help You Donate A Car?

Selling a car would require you to repair and maintain the car by bearing huge expenses to earn only small benefits. On the other hand you can donate a car to get involved in charity and save yourself from expensive repairs. Tax deduction advantages act as bonus when you consider the old vehicle for donation. Internet is one good medium that can help you make this donation in a time saving manner. Apart from this, there are many more advantages of carrying out car donation process online. The following discussion will make you familiar with the process of donating a car online.

Selecting the Recipient

Sitting across the computer, you can easily find a good charitable organization or a car donation centre online. In fact, you might come across a full array of organizations that support causes for poor and homeless people, small children and individuals suffering from deadly diseases. Within a limited time period, you can prepare the list of some top organizations that can help you in donating your vehicle.

Online Form Filling

If you select a car donation centre, you can consider it a small process to fill the forms online and ask for the services from the car donation centre. These centers act as bridge between the car donors and the recipient charities. Here are some advantages offered by these car donation centers:

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Google Alert - donate your car

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Goodwill Car Donation Now Accepting New Jersey Car Donations ... Sacramento Bee
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What do I have to do to donate a car?

To donate a car is probably the easiest way for you to get rid of your car for various reasons. People who do not have time to sell their car and those who could not get their car’s worth also prefer automobile donation.

You surely deserve to be congratulated, if you have the noble intention of donating your car to a charity. But the process to donate a car to a charity is not as easy as you might think. It can be a tedious process.

There are many things you need to consider before you can actually do anything to donate a car. Here are some essential things you need to do, if you have decided to donate:

Find a Charity That Accepts Car Donations – It is important to choose a charity that accepts cars without charging a large removal fee.

Do a little research, and don’t simply give your automobile away to any charity. Remember you are making a charitable donation, so find a high-performing charity. Make sure it is a registered 501(c)(3) charities that does the kind of work you like, in the region you wish to target, and does that work well.

Find Out the fair market value of your car – If your car is worth $5,000 or more have it appraised by a certified professional. You can also use IRS publications. You can try either “Charitable Deductions” or “Determining the Value of Donated Property”. The Kelley Blue Book also comes in handy.

Transfer the Car Correctly – Follow state regulations in getting a tax receipt with the charity’s name and federal tax ID number. It must also include the donor’s name, date of donation, as well as the year, and make and model of the donated car. You also need to notify your insurance company that you no longer own the car.

Complete The Paperwork – Keep all the completed transaction papers and have them ready for tax time. It is really important to keep these documents for your own good. You need to remember that if you do not have the complete document for the automobile donation, you could be held responsible for any parking tickets that are subsequently incurred. Worst, you will also be liable, if the car you donated is used in a crime.

Find the right time to donate a car – It is true that the biggest winner in the car donation game is usually the donor, and not the charity recipient. But we can all emerge victorious if you take your time. Thus you need to find a high-performing and a reputable charity that will make the most of your donation. Thus, you need not be impulsive in order for you to have a real good automobile donation.

You need to have all these in mind if you are planning to donate your vehicle. These are just a few of the essentials things you need to consider if you have finally decided to donate a car.

Are you ready to donate a car, then go to http://www.songsoflove.org . We help sick kids. Our foundation provides personalized songs for kids facing tough medical conditions. Do you want to help us with your car donation? If so, go to donate a car, and we will show you how to process your car.

A Used Car Donation Gift: Its Enormous Benefits

Giving is always better than receiving and it has proved to be a door opener for so many across the world. A little gift you give to someone may be the saving grace for that person and reward to you is always in many folds. Giving makes the world a better place because wealth is not equally dispersed to different individuals. The haves are bound to give to the less privileged.

Can You Give and Receive at the Same Time?

The answer is absolute yes but it is not in every situation. There is one unique giving opportunity many of us have and it is not farther than our various driveways. Some people prefer to just give and walk away without expecting anything in return but some may want to be uniquely appreciated for their gifts. Some people also do not know that they can gain tax deduction just by giving a car donation to the needy. This is one aspect of car donation that many has not been able to tap into in recent times.

Who can receive your used car Donation?

You can donate your car to a charity home, or elderly people’s home or a grocery store that caters for the less privileged in the society. The use to which they put your used car donation may include but not limited to ferrying old people who can no longer drive to meet their medical appointments, delivering food items to such persons e.t.c These are some relieves that car you leave abandoned in your driveway can offer to people who are not as fortunate as you are in the society. Your used car donation may be a solution to some people’s mobility problem and it will not just add these values to these beneficiaries but will also help you to gain some financial benefits in form of tax reduction.

How Kelly’s Blue Book Can Attract You Some Funds through Used Car Donation

The benefit of your used car donation is mutual in the sense that it benefits not just those charity concerns that receive the car from you but you gain some tax write-off after itemizing your tax deductions and tax bracket permits. This is even more pronounced if the charity used your used car donation for its works. Kelly’s Blue Book can be used to determine the fair market value of the assignments your used car donation is used for. But if the car you donated to the charity is sold off, the entire amount of the sales proceeds can be deducted. This amount has to be less that the Blue Book value before the deduction can take place.

Determine If Your Used Car Donation Qualify For a Deduction

It is vital to determine if your used car donation qualifies for a deduction by checking to see if the Charity firm is recognized as a non-governmental organization according to section 501 of IRS Tax Code. You will get useful information from the officials of IRS. Their website is a good first port of call and if you do not get the desired answer, you can seek for alternation routes.

Filling of IRS Form 8283 is mandatory if your car’s value is between $500 and$5000. You will get the details at the IRS website but remember that it is much better to donate your used car to the charity and get tax reduction than leaving the car in your driveway to continue to rot away.

Donating Your Used Car? Important Points To Note

Car donation has come to stay and is really popular these days. For more reasons than one, car owners will readily donate their old used car to charitable organizations instead of going through the hassles of car sale or auctions especially if the car is relatively old. Another attractive factor in used car donation is that the donor gets some tax reduction after his donated care must have been auctioned.Comparing Used Car Donation vs. Trying To Sale Same Car When you donate your used car to charitable organizations, you have the peace of mind that you have positively contributed to the causes of the less privileged in the society. You also get some tax reduction when the value of the car you donated is calculated. You would be troubled with the stress of finding a potential buyer for your used car which may or may not be too old to attract any reasonable monetary value. The issue of some unforeseen buyer complications is completely erased. These simple points can save you a lot of time when dealing with your used old car and once you had made up you mind to donate it to charity, there are some tips you need to know.Important Points to Know While Donating Your Used Car to Charity The first thing you must do is to familiarize yourself with how Internal Revenue Service recognizes car donation and the tax deductions that attains to donors based on other relevant laws. The next step is for you to find charitable organization that works in the direction you are passionate about. You may also want to donate to charities in your locality. You can find the comprehensive charity listing online or simple look through your locality to see which charity you will donate a car. Make sure that proper record of the donation is taken so that you can be able to claim your tax deductions from the Internal Revenue Services

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Couple donates car to Humane Society WALB-TV
And Williams says donating the car or scraping it were not the Larosa's only options. "Could have traded it in on a new one or sold it or anything like that. And it's ...
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Goodwill Car Donations Now Accepting All Chicago Car Donations Watch List News (press release)
Goodwill Car Donation provides the perfect opportunity for those wondering where to donate a car in Chicago. With Goodwill Car Donations, old unwanted ...
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Detailed Benefits Of Donating A Car In United States

It is not always best to sale off your car to the junk yard because what you will realize in most cases will not be worth the effort or time. Donating your used car to charitable organizations is a very smart and appealing decision. Apart from the fact that the donation is stress free, you touch lives through the car gift and you also get some tax reduction too. As a matter of fact you will be more fulfilled as an individual when you know that the car you have donated will go along way to affecting positively the lives of the less privileged.

The Process of Car Donation

The simple process of car donation starts by the donor contacting the charity organization of his choice maybe through their website and fills the relevant car donation page on their site. Some questions such as date of production of the care, year, model, mileage e.t.c should be expected and then the donor will be asked the most convenient time for the receiver to pick up the car. The receiving charity firm then sends a towing van or driver

Few Benefits Of Using Car Donation Charity Centers

Some people donate a car for the charities, whereas others do it for tax benefits. If you are selling your car for tax benefits, it is better to consult with a car donation charity center. The good thing is that there are several such centers over the internet. The availability of these car donation centers has made it extremely easy for people to donate their car and get maximum tax benefits.

There are several benefits of these online centers. The biggest benefit is that they allow you to donate your car from the comfort of your home. If you sell your car on your own, you have to place an advertisement or bear other expenses. This is not the case with online sites. These sites are available to help you in the most efficient way. The great thing about these online centers is that they pick your car for free. It means you don’t have to spend any money to taking your car for donation. This is a good option for those who think their car is not in a very good condition.

The ease of using these services is another reason why you should opt for these centers. As everything is done over the internet, the evaluation process is simple and quick. There are simple forms available at these sites. You have to fill them up to make those professionals ring your bell for your car. The good thing is that these forms don’t ask for financial information. Though you need to give your address and car related information, there is nothing really to worry about. Another important thing is that you are asked to mention your car’s condition at the time of filling out these forms. This is to get an idea about the value of your car. And, when you provide this info, it becomes easier for them to find a better client for your car.

This is another benefit of using these sites. If you sell your car on your own, you can not judge its total value. This is not the case with these car donation centers. They know the value of your car in the market and that’s why they cut the best deal. This is something that helps you become eligible for maximum tax benefit.

So, the fact of the matter is that there are several amazing benefits that are associated with car donation charity centers. The easy availability of these centers has made it possible for everyone to help them with tax deduction along with helping charitable organizations with their money. Just make sure you opt for the best charity center, as it is important to get the best value for your donation.

Where To Donate Your Car

If you have done any research into the area of used car donation programs then you will know that there are many charities that are able to receive your car as a donation.  Many are eager to take your vehicle from you but you can’t decide which one is right charity to donate to.  After all you only have one car to donate and you want it to make a difference.   So how do you choose which charity is going to be the worthy recipient?  There are a few different approaches you can take.  You could: Pick a random charityThe dartboard approach may be as good as any, especially if you believe that all charities are equally deserving of the money and will all put it to good use.  Then your only choice is whether you would prefer to select a national charity or one that is solely focused on the state or city you live in. If this strategy appeals then bring up a list of charities that accept car donations for the region you’re interested in and settle on the first name that jumps out at you.Select one you have an affinity withIf your Aunty Betty died from cancer then you may feel that donating your car to a cancer research foundation to enable them to continue the ongoing search for a cure is a meaningful outcome for your used car donation.  Or perhaps you have had a health scare yourself and would like to think that if you did happen to develop the disease that all available resources were being devoted to a cure or remedial medicine.  Or perhaps you have dabbled in drugs and know what a slippery slope that can be and so decide on a charity that runs drug rehabilitation programs.Choose the used car charity donation program with the simplest conditions If your vehicle is not running then that may limit the charities that you choose to donate your car to.  You may want to check out their pickup service to see if it is going to be convenient to use the charity you’ve selected.You could pick the charity that will handle your car in a way you feel comfortable withMost charities will sell your car and use the proceeds for their organization’s programs but some will use the car to give to others that are unable to afford a motor vehicle.  If you like the idea of your car being used by someone else that needs it to get to work then look for charities that handle car donations in this way.Unless you have a firm choice in mind then you are best to read up as much as you can about car donation in general, then focus on charities that accept car donations and come up with a shortlist of say 3-4 charities.  Next get on the websites for each of the charities on your shortlist and narrow down the field to one based on their car donation program conditions, how you feel about the work that they are doing and your overall feelings about the organisation.

Google Alert - donate your car

News 2 new results for donate your car
Low startup cost fund raiser ideas: Car washes, garage sales ... Telemanagement
Now you may think you will not make as much with a free car wash, but when it is free people will be more willing to offer a donation. You will want to pick a spot ...
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American Red Cross Vehicle Donation Program turns clunkers into ... Catoosatimes
The American Red Cross vehicle donation program, a partnership with Insurance Auto Auctions, that converts unneeded vehicles into American Red Cross ...
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Donate A Car And See How Far It Can Go

People have been donating for hundreds of years; only it was not always thought of the same way that is now. Back in the day a donation would have been classified as hand-me-downs from older siblings to the younger ones or even from neighbor to neighbor. People would donate their unneeded belongings to someone that they knew because back then the last thing a person wanted to do was throw it away. Money was not easily obtained back then and everything was used to its fullest potential. Nowadays, people still partake in the ways of our past and we continue to give our unneeded things to those around us who have a need for them, but we have taken it a step farther. There are now different organizations that have been set up and donation stores, where people can take the items that they do not need any longer, but have nobody in mind to give it too. Nobody wants to waste something like a car donation when it is still in perfectly good condition, he or she would rather know that their money was well spent and think that somebody else is getting some good from it. There are so many different things that people are able to donate. The most common thing is clothing of all sizes; it is always in demand and often times the owner grows out of their clothes long before they wear them to pieces. Then there is of course furniture; things like cribs, couches, tables, and even the bathroom sink. Many people who take care of their belongings and it is always a nice thing to find their items for sale; they are hardly used. One of the newest additions to the market of lending a hand is the ability to donate a car. That is right, there is now a way to donate a car to charity so that a needy family or organization is able to have a form of transportation. Many of these companies will actually do all the work on the car that is needed to get it back up and running and then donate it to someone in need.

Car Donation Charities in California

Car Donation Charities in California
The act of donating a car to charity is one of the most rewarding things you can do. When you donate your car, you do more than just support a charity. You actually help to improve someone's life. To help a needy person, please donate a car to one of these respected charities in California.

Established in 1946 in Davis, California, Freedom From Hunger has been fighting chronic hunger and poverty in the world through innovative programs designed to help families achieve long term food security. Their programs are serving over 18 million people in some of the poorest countries in the world. They are both nongovernmental and nonsectarian and they have been given an A- rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy.

Car Donation Charities in California Teach for America works to ensure that children in low income areas get an excellent education. Less than half of the children in California are on grade level for reading and math, and it ranks 48th in academic performance. In the Bay Area, Teach for America has been providing great education for over 10 years. In Los Angeles, they have operating since 1990. Teach for America works to recruit leaders who work to expand educational opportunities in low income areas and then teach for two years in those areas.

The Guthy Jackson Charitable Foundation is dedicated to the treatment and a cure for neuromyelitis optica. NMO is a very rare disease that can affect the optic nerve and spinal cord. People with this horrible disease can develop vision loss, or weakness, numbness, and sometimes paralysis of the arms and legs along with sensory disturbances and loss bladder and bowel control. Although there are some treatments available a lot more research is needed to find better ones and a cure.

A Home Away From Homelessness is dedicated to supporting and nurturing the needs of homeless and formerly homeless children and families in San Francisco and Marin. Their homes provide a physical, emotional and spiritual break for children along with educational, social and recreational opportunities.
Family Builders believes that every child has the right to grow up in a permanent, nurturing family regardless of the child's age, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or medical, physical or emotional condition. Family Builders educates the community about the needs of waiting children, advocates on their behalf and places the children with permanent, secure families through adoption.

Car Donation Charities in California
You can donate your car
The car donation process is easy and the pickup is free. You can donate your car even it no longer runs or is in poor shape. You just need to have a title for your car and it needs to be where the tow truck can easily get to it. In return for your car donation, you will get a valuable tax deduction and a sense of pride knowing you have done a really good thing.
(collectibles)

Taking Advantage of Local Used Car Dealers

You can’t actually take advantage of your local used car dealers but you can get a better deal from them than from an out of town dealer that you may never visit again. Local used car dealers are in business to sell cars and to make a living selling them. They have a reputation to maintain if they want to continue to sell cars to their neighbors like you. Local used car dealers are owned by men and woman too, that attend city council meetings. They participate in local charity functions. They donate to the boy scouts. They are your neighbor.An out of town used car dealer couldn’t care less where you live or work, other than the fact that you are employed so you can make the car payment. If you buy a used car from them they probably won’t be too concerned if it breaks down on the way home. You are less likely to return to an out of town used car dealer to get repairs done or buy new tires when needed.This is why you can take advantage of a local used car dealer. Buying local means you are helping keep your local businesses in business so you don’t have to go out of town to make your purchases. The local used car dealer knows this. Because he wants to maintain a good business presence he should be willing to give you a better deal on the car you buy from him. You certainly can remind him of this.Probably you both have kids that attend the same school or play on the same sports team. So you are already buddies with him or his wife. You may attend the same church. Again an advantage you have when shopping for a used car from him. He certainly doesn’t want to be embarrassed if you tell someone that the car he sold you was a lemon. Nope. He wants you to tell your friends what a good deal he gave you on that used car.Your local dealer wants you to return to his car lot to have your maintenance done on your new vehicle. He wants you to buy your new tires when you need them from him. He wants to continue to make money from you. And you don’t have to go out of your way to drive past his lot every day. And when you drive by, he wants you to be happy with your purchase.Do make sure you compare prices before you buy a new used car. If you are forearmed with this knowledge you are in a better bargaining position. Also make sure you know how much that out of town dealer will sell you a used car for. And don’t be afraid to let your local dealer know it. Even thought he is a neighbor you will probably still need to negotiate that final price down. Or at the very least, get some upgrades on the vehicle you buy!

Advantages Of A Used Car For Your Teen

Choosing the first car for your teenage driver can be a difficult decision. You want a car for them that is practical, safe, and something they will enjoy driving. Unfortunately, most teens want a brand new car that is expensive and in style. However, you should buy a car that is safe and practical for a first time driver. First time drivers are still processing that driving is a responsibility and a privilege. A lot of car accidents are caused by teens that are inexperienced. There are many advantages of buying a used car rather than a brand new one because of those reasons.One of the best advantages of buying used rather than new is there will be less worry from the parent about damage. New cars are very expensive and even more expensive to fix. Used cars cost less, yet run just as great as new, and the repairs are usually less expensive. If you buy an older used car that you plan on having your teen only drive through high school, you will be less likely to worry about any minor damages from backing up too quickly or not making the smoothest of turns. There are bound to be small nicks and dings from a new driver. You can always sell or donate the car and not lose a lot of money since the car was used and not brand new.Another great advantage of a used vehicle is the cost factor. Used cars have less depreciation as a newer car and cost considerably less. Insuring a teenage driver is also very expensive, and the new the car the higher the rates. Older cars are more affordable, and you have to calculate for insurance being more expensive at the start because of the age of the new driver. There is no reason for a 16 year old to be driving a $70,000 vehicle and pay hundreds of dollars every month in insurance. You can purchase a used one for much less money that is still safe and properly functioning.Older vehicles are usually a little bigger and safer. It is common for a new driver to get into a minor fender bender or back into something. Your teen will be safer in a bigger vehicle and will be likely to only damage the car and not themselves. Older cars still have the same safety features as new cars such as dual air bags. A lot of new cars are made with light, thin materials so they will go faster. Speed is not so great for a new driver as it is for the more experienced.Used cars are great because if anything was wrong with it, the previous driver would have gotten it fixed. New cars are unpredictable and can have a lot of repairs because it is the first time they are being driven. If your teen is paying for the maintenance of the vehicle, they will save money by owning a used one. Properly maintained used cars run just as smooth as a new car and cost half the price.

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