Kim Kavin – författare

Tips for Booking Trips on All Budgets-from $1,000 to $1,000,000

"Kavin compares cruise ships and yacht charters to showcase the biggest advantage of the latter: personalized comfort."-Soundings

"Charter cruising comes in many flavors, from fully crewed luxury megayachts to pilot-your-own bareboats, and Kim Kavin has sampled just about all of them."-Offshore

Say good-bye to lengthy security lines, overpriced pia coladas, and jam-packed shore excursions. Never again will your cruise vacation include jostling with crowds, squishing into a kiddie-filled swimming pool, or rushing back from a land tour in time for a pre-assigned dinner seating on a massive, impersonal ship.

Dream Cruises introduces you to the joys of private yacht charter vacations, a fast-growing and often surprisingly affordable alternative to cruise ships. With charters, you get the whole boat for your family and friends, with a crew catering only to you, and you go wherever you choose-from Alaska to the South Pacific.

Based on first-hand experience as well as advice and information from sixty charter-industry experts worldwide, Dream Cruises explains which kinds of yachts are available, where to book them, how to find a trustworthy broker, what you can expect to pay, and much more.

Why book another cabin when you can have the whole boat for yourself?

From the fashionable beaches of Capri to the awe-inspiring ruins of ancient Rome, Italy has something for everyone. This guide will help you get the most out of your trip to this beautiful country. Whether you want to discover the rural beauty of Tuscany, take a gondola ride through Venice, or admire the glory of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, this all-new guide shows you how!Here you''ll find the latest on:The best places to stay and dine in every region of ItalySample itineraries for trips ranging from a day to two monthsMust-see ruins, museums, and natural wondersUseful Italian words and phrases to make the trip go smoothlyA guide to world-famous Italian wine and cuisineFilled with practical tips and exciting travel suggestions, this guide contains all the information you need to plan the Italian vacation of your dreams.

Are you exhausted just from thinking about planning your next family vacation? Does your spouse seek adventure while you just want to relax? Does your teenager sleep until noon and then nap by the pool while your toddler is and running up at the crack of dawn? Is it impossible to choose a restaurant that will satisfy everyone in your family?Then book a cruise! Cruise ships have something for everyone—indoor and outdoor pools, all-you-can-eat buffets and fine dining rooms, children’s playrooms and nightclubs. With The Everything Family Guide to Cruise Vacations, you’ll find the perfect cruise for your tough-to-please family.Embark on exciting shore excursions at these hotspot destinations:Tropical CaribbeanBalmy BahamasBermuda’s BeachesExotic Mediterranean SeaAlaskan WildernessThe Panama CanalAnd more!Chock full of info on cruise lines, ships, day trips, and pricing, this one-stop cruise resource has everything that you need to sail off into paradise, kids and all!

A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.

There are more timeshare options available now than ever before, from waterfront condominiums to luxury villas to hotel suites. The Everything® Family Guide to Timeshares is your comprehensive handbook for choosing, purchasing, using, and selling the “perfect” timeshare.You’ll learn how to: • Separate the deals from the scams • Choose the right timeshare location for your needs • Negotiate a successful contract • Swap timeshares with other owners This all-inclusive guide includes information on exchange companies, free timeshare vacations, top properties, and unique timeshare opportunities such as yachts and recreational vehicles. Whether you’re looking for ideas on where to buy your first timeshare or tips on selling or trading up, The Everything® Family Guide to Timeshares is just what you need!

From the beautiful coastline of Monterey to historic Fort Bragg to the spectacular scenery of Lake Tahoe, northern California has something for everyone. In this book, readers will find up-to-date information on the entire area, including: San Francisco’s popular family-friendly attractions; annual events in Napa Valley and Sonoma County; the natural beauty of redwood forests, beachside cliffs, and stunning mountains; the Gold Country, scene of California’s famous Gold Rush; national and state parks, from Big Sur to Redwood National Forest, and more! This travel guide gives readers all they need to plan a vacation to remember—California style!

We love them with all our hearts, but do we really know where our dogs came from? Kim Kavin, author of Little Boy Blue, reveals the complex network behind the $11 billion-a-year business of selling dogs. A must-read for the benefit of all dogs, everywhere.In what promises to become an Omnivore's Dilemma for dog lovers—breed devotees and adoption advocates alike—The Dog Merchants is the first book to explain the complex and often surprisingly similar business practices that extend from the American Kennel Club to local shelters, from Westminster champions to dog auctions. Without judging dog lovers of any stripe, The Dog Merchants makes it clear that money spent among these dog merchants has real-world effects on people and canines. Kavin reveals how dog merchants create markets for dogs, often in defiance of the usual rules of supply and demand. She takes an investigative approach and meets breeders and rescuers at all levels, shedding much-needed light on an industry that most people don't even realize is an industry. Kavin’s goal is to advance the conversation about how all dogs are treated, from puppy mills to high-kill shelters. She shows that a great deal can be improved by understanding the business practices behind selling dogs of all kinds. Instead of pitting rescue and purebred people against each other, The Dog Merchants shows how all dog lovers can come together with one voice as consumers, on behalf of all our beloved companions.