When you scan internet and TV ads for Sin City hotels, some are listed for as low as $25 a night. However, quoted cheap rates in flashy ads don’t include the inevitable add-ons, such as taxes, resort fees and other unexpected charges. Often, when checking out, you’re in for a surprise. While booking with a travel agent or online, before making your Las Vegas hotel decision, be sure to request the actual total amount you’ll have to pay.

One of the pleasures of travel is to record your journeys so that you, friends and family can enjoy the visual memories later. However, if they look amateurish, blurry, dark and otherwise distorted, your lack of skills will ruin it all.

Photo basics have been around since photographer Matthew Brady followed Union troops into the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. His work is classic, despite the fact he had to lug around a huge box camera, easel, glass plates, processing chemicals and other heavy equipment. All you need is your Smartphone to get sharp images and video, and you can do it in color.

Select your composition, whether you pose subjects or the scene happens just right. Have the sun or other source of light behind you, unless you want a sunset or silhouette. Before you take your trip, read up on Smartphone photo skills. You’ll enjoy results you’ll review with pride.

Now that everyone can take photos and video with their little smartphone boxes, tourists are constantly snapping pix, videos and selfies. Of course, they enjoy posing in front of France’s Eiffel Tower, Italy’s Colosseum, Denmark’s Little Mermaid and other famous world sites.

It’s ok if they use the results as souvenirs to send home to the family or keep them for personal memories to view later. However, it may be illegal to use your results commercially. Examples could be to publish them in a book, magazine article, video travel ad or movie. For detailed comment on the subject, go to www.politico.eu/article/banned-taking-pictures-of-the-eiffel-tower-at-night-copyright-law-eu

When you pick up the phone, it always begins with, “How are you today?” That should be the cue to hang up without responding. With today’s ever-advancing technology, online crooks can record your voice for future scams.

If you do stay on the line, the pitch begins with an offer of a free cruise, or you’ve won a free cruise. It sounds great, but the best response is to slam down your phone. Don’t fall for the phony promises. If you want to sail the seven seas, go online to get the latest info from a legitimate cruise line website, or contact a trusted hometown travel agent.