Des Moines Wealth of Information

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Cheapest & best all inclusive trip to St. Petersburg, Florida!?
   I am looking to plan my first vacation for this coming summer. I am looking to go to St. Petersburg, Florida. I want to go in late July or early August.

   What I need help with is deciding what hotel is ALL INCLUSIVE and a cheap price and is on the beach. My ideal vacation is going for 5 nights in an all inclusive hotel for two people...

   I will be departing from the Des Moines airport in Iowa, United States. Does anyone have any specific all inclusive hotels that are cheaper but still pretty nice in mind?

   Also it has to be all inclusive hotel on the beach or atleast in walking distance.. but very very close, you know? The hotel HAS to be all inclusive.

   Anyone have any bright ideas on hotels or destinations? Any help at all will be greatly appreciated.

   • ANSWER:
     There are a lot of hotels and motels near St. Pete on the beach in Reddington Beach, Madeira Beach and Treasure Island. You can look up ratings at www.tripadvisor.com You can save yourself a lot of money and rent directly from someone who owns a time share there instead of staying at a hotel. You can search at www.tug2.com, redweek.com and http://www.timeshareownerscommunity.com/ Timeshareowners will allow you to put an ad for free to let people know you are looking for a time share in that area. The owners will rent it to you for a lot less than a service. We did this when we went to Hawaii.

2. QUESTION:
   Cheapest & best all inclusive trip to Cancun!?
   Hi my name is Paul and I am looking to plan my first vacation for this coming summer. I am looking to go somewhere like Cancun or something like that. I want to go in late July or early August.

   What I need help with is deciding where to go for the cheapest price. My ideal vacation is going to Cancun for 5 nights in an all inclusive hotel for under 1800 dollars for two people...So far I haven't found an option this cheap.

   I will be departing from the Des Moines airport in Iowa, United States. Does anyone have any specific all inclusive hotels that are cheaper but still pretty nice in mind?

   Also, it doesn't necessarily have to be Cancun, I just want an all inclusive hotel with white sands right next to it, you know? The hotel HAS to be all inclusive.

   Anyone have any bright ideas on hotels or destinations? Any help at all will be greatly appreciated.

   • ANSWER:
     HMMM... let's see here... First, have you tried to go to a "real" travel agency around your area? That is usually the best way to find some good deals. Travel agents are always getting updates and special offers and can usually find you something. If not I will give you a link to a travel site that usually has some good deals and you can search on there for something.
     I just did a search for you (to get an idea) and came up with a few hotels. I don't know if this is the date you want but it's July 29-Aug.3... Again, I was just trying to get an estimate.
     You can search around on the site and choose your own dates and maybe find something else, but I just wanted to give you an idea.
     If you go to the second link and if you scroll down the page you will see that Hyatt Cancún is only 0/person. That is really cheap for that hotel and you will have white sand beaches and all-inclusive.
     Cancún would be the cheapest for you to go to though if you want the white sand beaches. Good luck in finding your ideal vacation!!!

3. QUESTION:
   Is this an unconstitutional infringement of economic liberty, the right for individuals to earn a living?
   I own a small taxicab business in West Des Moines, Iowa. The actual city of Des Moines will not permit me to pick up my customers there. ( two seperate cities) Des Moines itself only has one cab company ( disguised as 2 as to give the false perception of competition.) Unfortunatly Des Moines is where all the big hotels are located as well as the Airport & Greyhound. The city has a rediculous amount of rules and regulations pertaining to taxicabs. (over 35 pages) Starting with: I need to own at least 10 cabs, each cab has to be insured for 1.5 million each. (by the way New York; taxicab capitol of the world only requires ,000 insurance policy per cab) I have to operate a 24/7 staffed facility. The local TV Media did a story on my situation. When they asked a few of the city council members why?, they actually said on film "Why shouldn't we protect our cab company from any competition?" Gary Fox, the traffic control member said on film " We have designed this to keep fly by night cab companies out of Des Moines." Well, I'm not a fly by night cab company!! Over 90% of my business comes from the telephone, 24 hours a day/ seven days a week. My cabs are new and my drivers and myself are english speaking/ hard working Americans. Is there any hope? I have done the research, many have stood infront of city council. None have tried fighting the city council in a court room. Des Moines has not had another taxicab company since the 1940's!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE HELP! This is an unconstitutional infringement of economic liberty, the right for individuals to earn an honest living without arbitrary government interference! Thanks, Aaron Dowell
   I failed to mention: 8 0f the 10 cabs must be manned at all times.

   • ANSWER:
     Contact the ACLU. This sounds like their meat and potatoes.

     Good Luck!

     Doc

4. QUESTION:
   Could I win in court? City has a monopoly!?
   I own a small taxicab business in West Des Moines, Iowa. The actual city of Des Moines will not permit me to pick up my customers there. ( two separate cities) Des Moines itself only has one cab company ( disguised as 2 as to give the false perception of competition.) Unfortunately Des Moines is where all the big hotels are located as well as the Airport & Greyhound. The city has a ridiculous amount of rules and regulations pertaining to taxicabs. (over 35 pages) Starting with: I need to own at least 10 cabs with 8 out on the road at all time. Each cab has to be insured for 1.5 million each. (by the way, New York; taxicab capital of the world only requires ,000 insurance policy per cab) I have to operate a 24/7 staffed facility. The local TV Media did a story on my situation. When they asked a few of the city council members why?, they actually said on film "Why shouldn't we protect our cab company from any competition?" The traffic control member said on film " We have designed this to keep fly by night cab companies out of Des Moines." Well, I'm not a fly by night Cab Company!! Over 90% of my business comes from the telephone, 24 hours a day/ seven days a week. My cabs are new and my drivers and I are English speaking/ hard working Americans. Is there any hope? I have done the research; many have stood in front of city council. None have tried fighting the city council in a court room. Des Moines has not had another taxicab company since the 1940's!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE HELP! This is an unconstitutional infringement of economic liberty, the right for individuals to earn an honest living without arbitrary government interference! Thanks!

   • ANSWER:
     Fight it. It's the mega corporations that are keeping the little guy from making it big. Greedy bast*rds want all the money for themselves.

     Fight him, them. Maybe you'll win and maybe you won't, but I do believe you have a constitutional right infringement case going on here. Look for a big name lawyer and sue for monetary damages if you have to. Most lawyers in such a case will work on a win/percentage basis if they think your case is strong enough. Take it to the surpreme court if you have to.

     Good luck.

5. QUESTION:
   Could I win my case in court? City has a monopoly!!!?
   I own a small taxicab business in West Des Moines, Iowa. The actual city of Des Moines will not permit me to pick up my customers there. ( two separate cities) Des Moines itself only has one cab company ( disguised as 2 as to give the false perception of competition.) Unfortunately Des Moines is where all the big hotels are located as well as the Airport & Greyhound. The city has a ridiculous amount of rules and regulations pertaining to taxicabs. (over 35 pages) Starting with: I need to own at least 10 cabs with 8 out on the road at all time. Each cab has to be insured for 1.5 million each. (by the way, New York; taxicab capital of the world only requires ,000 insurance policy per cab) I have to operate a 24/7 staffed facility. The local TV Media did a story on my situation. When they asked a few of the city council members why?, they actually said on film "Why shouldn't we protect our cab company from any competition?" The traffic control member said on film " We have designed this to keep fly by night cab companies out of Des Moines." Well, I'm not a fly by night Cab Company!! Over 90% of my business comes from the telephone, 24 hours a day/ seven days a week. My cabs are new and my drivers and I are English speaking/ hard working Americans. Is there any hope? I have done the research; many have stood in front of city council. None have tried fighting the city council in a court room. Des Moines has not had another taxicab company since the 1940's!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE HELP! This is an unconstitutional infringement of economic liberty, the right for individuals to earn an honest living without arbitrary government interference! Thanks!

   • ANSWER:
     Maybe. But it is possible for a city to have a legal monopoly.

     You should talk to a lawyer. This would be a 14th amendment due process claim, although I'm not sure that economic liberty is a protected interest.