Current Events in December 2017

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) toys have become increasingly popular in recent years for their purported ability to spark an early interest in coding and electronics.

Industry experts say STEM-focused toys can teach children important concepts -- such as cause-and-effect, programming, coding, mathematics, physics, chemistry -- in a fun and accessible way.

When STEM toys are involved, playtime can double as a time to learn skills that are becoming “integrally important in both their future careers and daily life in our modern world,” explained Ali Mierzejewski, Senior Editor of the Toy Insider, in an interview with ConsumerAffairs.

Integrating the basics of STEM learning into early play is important, she says, because it can help kids build a foundation for topics that might be difficult to master later in life.

“It makes these seemingly daunting concepts much more approachable when they’re introduced during playtime because most STEM toys are designed to entertain kids as much as they are to educate them,” she said.

“The earlier they are introduced, the more of a foundation they are able to build.”

STEM gifts

If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect gift for a child on your holiday shopping list, here are a few toys that can help kids develop (or sustain) an interest in STEM concepts.

• Circuit Cubes (ages 8-12). These electronic building blocks (for kids ages 8-12) fit into LEGO projects or creations from household items, like toilet paper rolls or pool noodles. They’re designed to teach kids the basics of circuitry through hands-on play. The blocks’ transparency lets kids see the connections they make when they light an LED, power a motor, or activate a switch.

• LittleBits Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit (ages 8-12). Kids can build their own R2D2 and even modify it by incorporating some household items. When they’re finished, the Droid can be controlled through a companion app and sent on missions.

• Lego Boost Creative Toolbox Building & Coding Kit (ages 7-12). This kit (for kids ages 7-12) lets kids build five different robots out of traditional Lego bricks and robotics bits and pieces. Bots that can be built include a purring cat and a robot called Vernie, who can be programmed to tell jokes, make sound effects, and perform other actions.

• Amazon STEM club toy subscription (ages 3-13). This monthly subscription service delivers hand picked, high-quality STEM toys for $20 a month and targets kids across three different age ranges (3-4, 5-7, and 8-13). Toys include math games, chemistry sets, and robotics kits.

• Sphero (ages 8 and older). Sphero programmable robotic balls have been on the market for more than five years now, but the latest model (SPRK+) includes a companion app that lets kids control and program the device using different systems. Kids can start with basic line drawing and hone their coding skills until they’re able to progress to more advanced systems like Javascript.

Facebook recently announced that it will roll out a standalone messaging platform for children called “Messenger Kids,” for users ages six to 12 to safely chat with family and friends.

Much like Facebook’s existing messenger app, Messenger Kids will include a video call option including playful filters, sound effects, and age-appropriate GIFs. Most importantly, Messenger Kids users will only be able to interact with individuals their parents or guardians approve first.

The social network says its new kid-focused app is the result of more than a year of research, as well as advice and insight from online safety experts and roundtable discussions with parents. A common thread in the discussions? Parents wanted more control over their kids’ online experiences. 

To protect the privacy of its youngest users, Facebook says it will collect “little data” from those who use the app. Additionally, kids won’t be able to access their parent’s Facebook accounts and won’t be searchable within the app. The app will also include tools to report or flag inappropriate content and block users. 

Cybersecurity experts like CyberGhost CEO Robert Knapp are skeptical.

"The problem with targeting children is that companies like Facebook and Google and for that matter less sophisticated organisations do not have the capacity to secure their users; we have seen this recently where children were targeted on youtube platforms, and, despite Google's best attempts, they were not able to fully protect children on their platform," he told ConsumerAffairs.

"The risk beyond getting children hooked on these companies' platforms at a young age is that putting all the young users in one place actually increases the risk of them being targeted," Knapp said.

Parent-controlled 

Parents must set up their child’s Messenger Kids account and approve who their kids can communicate with on the app. Parents can also see what their children are saying in their chats. 

“None of the messages disappear or can be deleted, so parents can look at their kid’s device at any time to see their messages (this was a strong point of feedback we heard from parents),” a Facebook spokesperson told ConsumerAffairs.

“Many of us at Facebook are parents ourselves, and it seems we weren't alone when we realized that our kids were getting online earlier and earlier,” the spokesperson said. “We want to help ensure the experiences our kids have when using technology are positive, safer, and age-appropriate, and we believe teaching kids how to use technology in positive ways will bring better experiences later as they grow.” 

Knapp's recommendation is to simply limit time a child spends using any social media platform. "I believe the longer you can keep children away from the screens the better, and especially when it comes to social interaction," he said. "Encouraging them to communicate with their friends through online communication is an extreme step, especially when powered by the largest social network, which is powered by data."

Potential safety risks

Despite its heavy focus on safety and privacy, the app is likely to draw criticism -- especially in the wake of safety flaws recently discovered in other apps geared toward young children. 

Back in November, inappropriate cartoons were found on the popular YouTube Kids app, even after the company updated the app to include enhanced parental controls and other key safety measures. Meanwhile, Snapchat -- the social media platform most known for its disappearing messages -- recently made news for being used by child predators.

Children’s online safety experts say it’s hard to predict how a new app is going to be used and what unintended consequences there might be. But Facebook says Messenger Kids was created with the goal of providing a safe online experience tailored to kids’ needs.

Discover Financial Services and Discovery Education have launched a new financial literacy program aimed at helping high school students with money management.

The program, Pathway to Financial Success in Schools, is offered to schools at no charge and uses interactive instruction to teach students and their families how to manage debt, live on a budget, and save for the future. Schools can access the program at PathwayinSchools.com.

"We feel promoting financial education is the right thing to do," Matthew Towson, director of community affairs at Discover, told ConsumerAffairs. "Educating students on how to manage money and make good financial decisions is an important step in helping set up the next generation for long-term success."

Gaps in financial knowledge

As we reported last month, only five states currently require at least one semester-long course in financial literacy in order to graduate high school.

Surveys have consistently revealed a significant financial literacy gap among consumers of all ages. Earlier this year, financial services company Financial Engines reported that 94 percent of the consumers who took its online financial literacy quiz failed to score a passing grade.

Credit card companies often deal with the consequences of this knowledge gap when consumers overspend and can't stay current on their credit card accounts. The St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank reported in September that credit card delinquency rates are slowly climbing back to their pre-2008 Recession levels.

Towson says the Discover financial literacy program is a way to get much needed financial education curriculum and resources into U.S. high school classrooms. Other credit card companies are making similar efforts.

Similar efforts

Visa has been particularly active in this area. Its primary initiative is Practical Money Skills for Life, a free program to help parents, teachers, students and consumers of all ages learn the basics of personal finance.

The company also teamed with the NFL to create a financial literacy video game called Financial Football. The game is available as a free download for iPhones and iPads.

American Express and Mastercard also support financial literacy through their own programs and grants to non-profit organizations.

John Ganotis, founder of CreditCardInsider.com, says credit card companies face a fine balance between preventing delinquency and encouraging customers to carry a manageable balance, even though that can be expensive.

"From my experience, many credit card users don't understand the massive interest fees they pay when they don't pay their credit card bills in full, or only pay the minimum due," Ganotis told ConsumerAffairs.

Ganotis says he would like to see credit card companies emphasize how interest works, showing how much extra consumers will pay if they don't pay on time and in full.

The proposed merger of CVS Health and Aetna is more than the joining of two large players in the healthcare industry. It's an ambitious plan to change how consumers receive healthcare services.

Executives at both companies say consumers will be the beneficiaries, finding more health services that are easier to access and cost less. They envision CVS's 9,700 retail locations as "community-based health hubs" that will provide everything from basic health services to prescription drugs and health insurance.

CVS currently operates 1,100 Little Clinics staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Services include treatment of common illnesses, minor injuries, and skin conditions. The clinics also provide vaccinations, physical exams, and health screening services.

'Like Apple's Genius Bar'

If the merger is successful, CVS and Aetna envision an expansion of the Little Clinics and the services they provide. In a conference call with investors, Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini suggested CVS retail locations would become something similar to the Genius Bar at Apple, with customers able to walk into a store and get help.

“I think this is the kind of idea we want to create in the stores,” he said.

Both CVS and Aetna say their vision would result in lower costs for consumers, as well as savings throughout the healthcare system.

"This will be achieved, for example, by helping patients avoid unnecessary hospital readmissions," CVS said in a statement. "Twenty percent of Medicare patients are readmitted to the hospital soon after being discharged at significant annual costs, much of which is avoidable."

Skeptics weigh in

There are plenty of skeptics on that count. Lynn Quincy, a consumer health care analyst at consulting firm Altarum, says CVS currently has the ability to reduce costs through its pharmacy benefits management system.

"We already see that pharmacy benefit managers don't really use their clout in service to consumers," Quincy told NPR. "Nothing about this deal says that's going to change."

Gerald Anderson, a professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, says when health care entities get bigger, they often get more expensive.

"It's not that there are economies of scale here, it's basically the bigger you are, the higher prices you can charge, and everyone has to play with you," Anderson said in an interview.

How it might work

But economist Joel Naroff, of Naroff Economic Advisors, believes the combination would have the objective of bringing together dispersed pieces of the healthcare system, and in doing so the combined companies could improve outcomes and lower costs.

"Patients don’t get or take the medicines they need, and being a pharmacy, they can coordinate that care," Naroff told ConsumerAffairs. "To the extent that care is spread across a variety of providers, the pharmacy/insurer/payer can become the central clearinghouse and depository for medical information that can lead to better distribution of patient information and more complete coordination across providers."

In theory, if patients get well faster and remain healthier longer, they would use the system less. Creating a more efficient system, the argument goes, would result in better information to providers, allow for better follow up with patients, and reduce the need for additional care.

"If that happens, they would indeed lower healthcare costs," Naroff said.

As Senate and House conferees work on reconciling their two versions of the tax bill, real estate industry leaders are voicing concerns about how the final version could affect the housing market.

That's because both versions make changes to the longstanding tax benefits for homeowners, and Danielle Hale, chief economist at realtor.com, warns a lot of homeowners will see their taxes rise.

"One of the advantages for homeowners under current law is they can take advantage of the mortgage interest deduction," Hale told ConsumerAffairs. "The interest that they pay on a mortgage can be written off on their taxes so that it subtracts from their income and lowers their taxes."

Lower taxes mean more money that's available for a monthly mortgage payment, and Hale says if you have more money at your disposal, you can afford to pay more for a home. If you have less money, you can't afford as much house, and that is likely to put downward pressure on prices.

Changes to the mortgage interest deduction

The mortgage interest deduction could change drastically in the final version of the tax bill. The Senate bill leaves the maximum interest deduction at $1,000,000, but the House version drops it to $500,000.

Hale says that reduction would likely have little to no effect in markets where the median home sells for around $250,000; most homeowners in that segment would still be able to write off all their interest. But it would likely affect homeowners in the most expensive markets.

Hale says another change, present in both versions of the bill, would actually reduce the value of the mortgage interest deduction to millions of middle income homeowners.

"Under current law, in order for it to make sense to itemize your deductions, your total deductions need to be more than the standard deduction, which right now is around $12,000 for couples," Hale said.

If a couple had $10,000 in interest, a couple of thousand dollars in state and local taxes, several thousand dollars in other assorted deductions, it makes sense to itemize those deductions on their tax return.

Rising standard deduction

But in both versions of the tax bill, the standard deduction rises to $24,000 for a couple, meaning many homeowners would pay less tax if they just claimed the standard deduction. That change makes the mortgage interest deduction less valuable.

Both versions of the bill cap the current deduction for state and local taxes at $10,000. Hale says that will hit homeowners who live in high-tax states like California, New York, and New Jersey.

It will also hit homeowners in markets where property values are high, since expensive homes usually have high property taxes. The result will be higher taxes because a home will not be the tax shelter that it is now.

Since the end of World War II government policy has encouraged homeownership. Hale says there is a very good reason for that.

"Homeownership is one of those things that government has specifically tried to encourage because it has what economists call positive externalities, which means homeownership provides benefits, not just to the people who own the homes but to the greater community as well," she said.

Hale says she doesn't think the changes in the two versions of the tax bill diminishes the importance politicians place on homeownership, but she admits they are "promoting it less directly" in the tax bill.

On December 14, 2017, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and chairman Ajit Pai vote on the controversial move to repeal net neutrality rules that have been in place since 2015. 

As we detailed in an earlier article, existing net neutrality rules ensure that your internet service provider (ISP) cannot manipulate your pipeline to the internet by gating off legal content or interfering with your Internet speed.   

The reason ISPs cannot control that pipeline is the Internet’s classification under Title II in the Communications Act of 1934, making it a “common carrier” for communication purposes.

Pai and the FCC’s vote on the “Restoring Internet Freedom” proposal will likely weaken these net neutrality laws to deregulate much of the Internet. 

The hope, at least for Pai, is that this will give smaller ISPs more of a chance to compete with larger companies.

However, consumers and small business owners are skeptical of this prospect. Many people feel that this move will invest more authority in already powerful ISPs to charge more money for access to legal content or throttle Internet speed if you use certain search engines. 

How do small businesses feel about net neutrality?

Back in June, 40 smaller ISPs sent a letter to the FCC voicing their support for the current laws protecting neutrality. “Without a legal foundation to address the anticompetitive practices of the largest players in the market, the FCC’s current course threatens the viability of competitive entry and competitive viability,” they write.

On Monday, November 27, 2017, another group of Internet companies wrote a similar letter urging Pai to reconsider his position. Companies behind the letter include not only small Internet companies but also companies like Twitter, Pinterest and Reddit.

This decision could further impact smaller businesses that depend on Internet visibility for customers. Even small analog businesses depend on an open Internet to access or sell their services or products. Without net neutrality, larger competitors could easily buy faster lanes from ISPs to get more consumer traffic than smaller businesses.

What to expect if net neutrality ends?

If the vote this December repeals net neutrality laws, ISPs will be able to change how they do business. They could gate off content and services like Netflix, Facebook and Spotify by charging these companies additional internet access fees, which could make consumer prices rise.

There’s no guarantee ISPs would do this, of course, and many have released statements saying they won’t gate off legal content. 

Comcast, for example, has written numerous times that the company will not discriminate against lawful content, though recent changes to this pledge suggest that the company may create paid “fast lanes” for their service.

While predictions of a post-vote internet are purely speculative, we can be sure that the repeal of net neutrality will be a long process. 

Companies in favor of net neutrality can petition to review the FCC’s decision. If companies file lawsuits to review the decision, we could see a long legal battle before any final law is instated. 

It’s hard to tell where the fate of net neutrality will ultimately be decided. Conceivably, the issue could be debated in the Court of Appeals or even the Supreme court if the fight lasts long enough.

So what can you do now?

The vote on December 14 may be one step among many to get rid of current net neutrality laws, but that does not mean it’s a trivial one. 

In fact, Pai recently said that the number of comments the FCC received about net neutrality was so vast that he had to dismiss them outright, largely because some comments were likely the products of spambots and automated messages.

If you have strong feelings about net neutrality, let the FCC know how you feel about net neutrality by contacting your senators and representatives. Tell them that you support or don’t support net neutrality so that your voice can be heard.  

You can contact the FCC directly by following this link. In the “Proceedings” box, type Restoring Internet Freedom (17-108). Then, you can make your comments below. They will be part of FCC’s records of this proceeding.

CVS Health has announced it will acquire Aetna, a major health insurance provider, in a deal worth an estimated $69 billion. It's subject to approval by company shareholders and U.S. regulators.

If completed, the deal would combine one of America's largest drugstore retailers with a health benefits provider, giving the combined companies’ additional leverage in negotiating drug prices from pharmaceutical companies.

Appearing on CNBC hours after the deal was announced, Larry Merlo, the CEO of CVS Health, said consumers would benefit from lower costs. Merlo said the merger will result in a healthcare platform that is "easier and less expensive for users."

But that doesn't mean you'll have access to the care you might prefer. Gerald Anderson, a professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, says consumers would end up with fewer choices as the result of the merger.

"If you have insurance through Aetna most likely you are going to be going to a CVS and one of their Minute Clinics for healthcare," Anderson told ConsumerAffairs.

Amazon factor

Both Merlo and Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini say the deal didn't happen overnight, pointing out the two companies have had a business relationship since 2010. But recent events just might have sped up the process.

Amazon has disrupted one retail business after another, and in recent months has made moves toward entering the prescription drug business. In October, it got the green light from 12 states to become a prescription drug wholesaler.

Should that happen, Amazon could sell prescription drugs for less. If it were to lure customers from brick and mortar drug stores, not only would those stores lose prescription drug sales, they could see a drop in store traffic that often results in non-drug sales.

Health benefit companies like Aetna have enormous bargaining power with pharmaceutical companies. Combining that leverage with its own, CVS Health may strengthen its competitive position in the marketplace, even against the likes of Amazon.

Changing the system

According to The New York Times, a CVS-Aetna combo would make a big change in how consumers get their health services. In addition to its nearly 10,000 drug stores, CVS also operates in-store clinics, where consumers may receive basic health services.

While Anderson believes Aetna would use these clinics and pharmacies to provide services directly to policyholders, he says the jury is still out on whether this would be a transformational deal copied by other players in the industry. But he admits it's a possibility.

"We're already seeing hospitals and insurance companies merge," Anderson said. "Everybody is trying to get bigger, and when they get bigger they almost always get more expensive."

The two companies say they hope to close the deal in the second half of 2018, but a lot may depend on how government regulators view the merger.

When Aetna attempted to purchase smaller rival Humana, the Justice Department blocked the deal, calling it anti-competitive. But the two companies were in the same business -- CVS and Aetna are not.

In the past, so-called "vertical" integration deals between non-competing entities often encountered little regulatory resistance. However, the Trump Administration is currently trying to block a vertical merger in the communications industry -- AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner -- so there may soon be recent precedent for regulatory denial.

An international study presented at suggests being addicted to a smartphone can create a chemical imbalance in the brain.

To assemble the subjects, the researchers used standard tests to measure the extent of attachment to and dependence upon a mobile device. Dr. Hyung Suk Seo, professor of neuroradiology at Korea University in Seoul, identified a small group of young people as being "addicted" to their smartphones. 

He and his team then used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure their brains’ chemical composition.They found that, compared to healthy control subjects, smartphone-dependent subjects showed higher ratios of gamma aminobutryic acid (GABA) to glutamate-glutamine (Glx).

GABA is a neurotransmitter that slows brain signals, while Glx increases neuron activity.

"The increased GABA levels and disrupted balance between GABA and glutamate in the anterior cingulate cortex may contribute to our understanding the pathophysiology of and treatment for addictions," Dr. Seo said in a release.

Moreover, Dr. Seo expressed concern for the clinical implications this imbalance could have on young people’s anxiety and depression. More research is needed, but the team’s smartphone-dependent subjects showed marked improvement following cognitive behavioral therapy.

Designed to be addictive?

Adam Alter is author of the book about smartphone addiction, "Irresistible." On the NRR Program "Fresh Air" in March, Alter said technology is designed to be addictive.

"If I'm addicted to, say, World of Warcraft, the minute I start firing up the game ... my brain will look [in a scan] very much like the brain of someone who's addicted to heroin and is preparing the next hit," he told interviewer Dave Davies.

Management consultant Simon Sinek agrees that certain technology is addictive. But the most addictive technology, he says, is the one that connects people.

"We know that engagement with social media and our cellphones releases a chemical called dopamine," Sinek says in a video interview that has gone viral on YouTube. "That's why when you get a text, it feels good. Dopamine is the same chemical that makes us feel good when we smoke, when we drink, and when we gamble."

Nomophobia

Science has even come up with a name for smartphone addition -- nomophobia, an abbreviation of “no mobile phobia”. And it's not a recent discovery.

As early as 2012, 84 percent of consumers in a Time magazine poll said they couldn't go a single day without their mobile phones. One in four told survey-takers they check their phones at least every 30 minutes.

But experts say that, in itself, may not signal addition. A sales person constantly using a phone to check email from clients and stay in touch with the office may only be maximizing an important tool, which is different from someone checking Instagram every 30 minutes.

Psychologists have developed a number of tests designed to reveal smartphone addiction. Tell-tale indicators include the number of times a person checks his or her phone during a given period, whether a phone interferes with relationships with family and friends, and sleeping with the device.

BMW of North America (BMW) is recalling 32,000 model year 2014-2018 BMW i3 electric and hybrid electric vehicles.

The vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Unbelted, small adult drivers may be at a higher risk of neck injury in the event of a front end crash.

What to do

BMW will notify owners. The remedy for this recall is still under development.

The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018.

Owners may contact BMW customer service at the dedicated i3 recall number 1-855-269-3361.

The countdown to Christmas is officially on -- and if you’re reading this, chances are you still have a few gifts left to buy.

If you’re stumped on what to get a particular member of the family, check out the ideas below. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, you can use ConsumerAffairs’ product reviews to help you make the best product choice possible in terms of both price and quality.

For mom

For yogis, a new yoga mat could make a home run gift. If you’re willing to splurge, we recommend the Jade Harmony Professional Yoga Mat. For the biggest bang for your buck, check out the Aurorae Premium Classic Yoga Mat.

Other gift ideas for mom include a cozy new bathrobe (see our top picks here), a digital photo frame for displaying those priceless holiday memories, or a new coffee maker.

For dad

A stylish pair of over-ear headphones could make a nice gift for music lovers or dads who travel frequently. For dads who are dedicated to capturing family memories, a digital camera or camcorder could be a perfect holiday gift.

Other gift ideas for dad include heated gloves, a bluetooth speaker, or a smartwatch.

For teens

Got a teen who loves their fidget spinner? A smooth-rolling magnetic fidget toy may be the perfect upgrade (especially in light of research showing some fidget spinners may contain high levels of lead).

For drone enthusiasts, ConsumerAffairs has ranked the Phantom 4 Professional Quadcopter as the best of the best.

For kids

For younger members of the family, a few toys have earned spots on many hot holiday toy lists. One such toy is Fingerlings (toy animals that wrap around your child's finger and respond to noise, touch, and motion).

Another toy kids are clamoring for this year is the FurReal Friends Roarin’ Ivory, the Playful Tiger Pet from Hasbro.

For the family pet

Has your pup been sporting the same collar for years? If so, this holiday season may be the perfect time for an upgrade.

We recommend the Soft Touch Luxury Real Leather Padded Collar or the Coastal Pet Latigo Leather Collar. For cats, check out our recommendations for the best cat houses, cat beds, and automatic cat feeders.

Now that the holiday shopping season is officially underway, don't forget that gifts can include experiences as well as things.

Giving family members a gift of travel might be a refreshing and rewarding change from gadgets and gift cards. A 2016 study by Cornell University psychologist Thomas Gilovich concludes happiness is derived from experiences, not things.

"We remember experiences long afterward, while we soon become used to our possessions," Gilovich writes. "At the same time, we also enjoy the anticipation of having an experience more than the anticipation of owning a possession."

Travel companies are offering deep discounts and travel bargains to gain a share of the holiday shopping budget. It's providing some attractive offers that aren't normally found for winter-time destinations.

Wyndham Extra Holidays put a number of destinations on sale during Black Friday week and is still offering some attractive travel packages in the U.S. and Canada.

Among them is the the Wyndham Grand Desert in Las Vegas, one of the growing number of family oriented resorts in the gaming capital of the U.S. The facility consists of three towers providing views of the city's skyline, as well as mountains in the distance.

A free shuttle moves guests around the city, including to stops along the Strip. The one- and two-bedroom suites sleep four to eight guests and range from 612 to 1,325 square feet. They come with a mini or full kitchen and a washer/dryer, which adds comfort and economy for an extended visit.

Caribbean destinations

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, the Jamaican resort Half Moon is rolling out five new packages at what the company describes as "attractive rates."

"We are delighted to debut a diverse array of new travel packages as there is truly something for every traveler to enjoy at Half Moon, from an authentic taste of Jamaican cuisine and culture to spa to golf and so much more," said Sandro Fabris, general manager at Half Moon.

Among the five packages is "Bed & Breakfast," which provides guests complimentary breakfast during the length of their stay, transportation to and from the airport, and 10 percent off the best available rate for ocean view rooms and suites. Rates start at $258 per night with a two-night minimum.

Discount travel sites are rolling out their winter bargains as well. For example, CheapCaribbean.com is currently promoting an all inclusive stay at Jamaica's Riu Montego Bay -- five nights with air transportation from $859.

The resort has 681 rooms spread across the property. Rooms include a balcony or terrace, satellite TV, mini bar, and electronic safe.

The site is also promoting four nights, all inclusive with air transportation, to Barcelo Maya Beach & Caribe. The package is marked down from $1,589 to $669.

Cruise packages

Royal Caribbean is offering a variety of packages on some of its on some most popular cruises over the holidays. During "Cyber Week," it marked down its four-night Western Caribbean Cruise to a starting price of $195 per person, leaving from Galveston aboard Vision of the Seas.

A three night Bahamas cruise leaving from Port Canaveral aboard Enchantment of the Seas starts at $213 per person.

Automakers displaying their latest products at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week are emphasizing full-size SUVs, as well as all-electric vehicles and hybrids.

Nissan, Hyundai, Lincoln, Lexus, and BMW introduced a full range of SUVs, including full-size models and the popular compact SUV segment. Ford's new Expedition drove off with Kelley Blue Book's Best Buy Award in the full-size SUV/crossover category.

At the luxury end, Lexus used the LA show to introduce the RX 350L SUV, a roomy vehicle with three rows of seats. An LX version comes without the third row of seats but with more cargo room.

Nissan unveiled the 2018 Kicks, a compact SUV/crossover. That gives Nissan six SUVs in its fleet. Hyundai took the wraps off its new compact crossover, the Kona.

Subaru introduced the Ascent, a vehicle geared toward families. The three-row SUV is bigger than the typical Subaru but is more fuel efficient than previous large SUVs.

The star of the show

Brian Moody, executive editor at AutoTrader, has covered the LA show all week and says the star of the show has been a vehicle that isn't even available yet -- the Future Toyota Adventure Concept, or FT-AC.

"That looks like the coolest thing here," Moody told ConsumerAffairs. "It resembles the (Toyota) 4Runner in some ways, but more like a 4Runner from the future."

Moody says the styling is aggressive and it looks like it was designed for the great outdoors. Its small package is in line with the current popularity of small SUVs.

"Imagine if you took all the positive attributes of a 4Runner, like off-road ability and truck suspension and tough look, shrinked the package a little bit because everyone's into small SUVs now, and market that as a tough, small, off-road capable utility vehicle -- I think people would go crazy for it," Moody said.

Taking the cool factor to another level, the vehicle has infrared cameras on the side mirrors to record trail runs. The cameras can be removed and carried on hikes.

The vehicle's integrated Wi-Fi hotspot automatically uploads footage to cloud-based storage where real-time editing and posting can be accessed using a mobile device.

Automotive trends

Moody says he's picked up on a couple of automotive trends this week. Lincoln has changed the name of its popular MKX SUV to the Lincoln Nautilus.

"I hope this is the start of a trend in which carmakers stop using letters to name their vehicles and start using words again, like Mustang and Impala," he said.

Automakers are also electrifying more of their fleets. Increasingly, Moody says consumers will be able to purchase existing models in a variety of electric formats, from hybrid, to plug-in, to a combination of the two.