The Atlantic Hotel, overlooking Fort Lauderdale, Florida's beaches, has introduced its Shopping & Spa Sojourn package, just in time for Mother's Day. Available from May 8 through August 31, 2009, the Shopping & Spa Sojourn package is priced at $299 per room, per night, based on double occupancy, with a two-night minimum, and includes:

• Grand Deluxe Oceanfront Room – Measuring 600 sq. ft., each room features terraces overlooking the ocean, granite kitchenettes, expansive five-fixture bathrooms, BOSE sound systems and wireless Internet service.
• $50 credit per person to Spa Atlantic – The 10,000-sq.-ft. Spa Atlantic provides a rejuvenating experience that is as therapeutic to the mind and spirit as it is to the body.
• $100 Neiman Marcus gift card – Guests can get an extra style boost from Neiman Marcus, renowned for its specialty fashion and quality products, located in The Galleria Mall at Fort Lauderdale just minutes from The Atlantic Hotel.
• Lunch for two at Neiman Marcus – A cozy-chic, in-store eatery, The Mermaid Bar®, located inside Neiman Marcus, offers a diverse menu with the ambience of a whimsical, modern diner.
• Neiman Marcus in-room welcome amenity
• Personal shopping services available – Guests can experience Neiman Marcus’ unparalleled customer service with personal shopping assistants available.

December 9, 2008 – Holiday shopping procrastinators now have a day designed especially for them. The inaugural Free Shipping Day (www.freeshippingday.com) - which is set for December 18, 2008, and will be an annual event - is a reward for people who wait until the last minute to cross those final gifts off their list.

On Free Shipping Day participating merchants give free shipping to online shoppers with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve.

Retailers have embraced the idea, which was hatched by Luke Knowles, founder of FreeShipping.org (www.freeshipping.org), a one-stop destination for consumers to find online retailers that offer free shipping deals. Participating merchants include brands like Amazon.com, Bloomingdale's, Brookstone, Circuit City, Coldwater Creek, Crate & Barrel, Endless.com, Nordstrom, Sur La Table, Target and Zappos. Read more

The Internet is the world's shopping mall, but be aware: Virtual pickpockets lurk everywhere. Of course, you can find legitimate online vendors who offer quality merchandise, generous return policies, "in-store security" and ample privacy. You just need to know where to shop, what to look for and how to get in and out with a good deal and your dignity intact. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Shop stores you know

Start by shopping in stores you know. J.C. Penney or Wal-Mart, for example, have online stores you can trust (www.jcpenney.com, www.walmart.com) with the same make, model and quality of products you’ll find in their brick-and-mortar stores. Make sure any such sites are, in fact, the genuine Internet counterparts to those stores. To do that, go to http://hoovers.com/free, which lists companies and provides quick information about them. Use the search engine at the top and click "Search Now" to find J.C. Penney, for example. Click on "J.C. Penney Company, Inc." in the search results. At the top of the next page, the website address is listed. Read more