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And some of these same airlines are now rumored to be looking at bankruptcy again?

Without doubt the balance sheets of most airlines are weak. If fuel prices continue up and/or we experience another global event similar to 911, it's likely the airline industry will race to the courthouse with Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings. At the same time, I believe there are enough positives to suggest recent analyst estimates for the industry are too negative.

Looking at the largest US airlines since 911, United, Northwest and Delta filed bankruptcy. USAir filed twice. American and Continental talked about it before they were able to restructure outside of bankruptcy. Southwest had fuel hedges which provided the cushion to avoid most of the financial turmoil experienced by the rest of the industry.

In my analysis of the airlines that filed bankruptcy and restructured, I calculated some average -benchmarks- that can be used to project the current financial weakness relative to the more recent airline bankruptcies.

The chart below provides the 1st quarter 2009 cash ratios as they compare to the pre-bankruptcy averages (note: not all airlines were used to conclude the averages)

My analysis shows none of the airlines are currently in a critical cash position (Cash includes unrestricted cash and short term investments).

The chart below provides 1st quarter 2009 debt ratios to total operating revenue and assets as a comparison to recent bankruptcies. (Note: not all airlines were used to conclude the averages.

Using debt ratios noted above, some airlines are currently at or below the averages just prior to the more recent bankruptcy filings.

Projecting which, if any, airlines are approaching bankruptcy should consider weakness in both cash and debt ratios.

Before looking into the future for solutions, it's important to review the past.

Year 2008 operating revenues -for the airlines noted above- were around $3 billion more than year 2000. Over the same time period, employee wage/benefits dropped by nearly $6 billion. 150,000 jobs (over 32%) have been lost just from the airlines noted above. It would seem -labor- has paid more than their share to keep this industry alive.

Everyday media articles and some analysts point to a variety of reasons why airlines aren’t profitable. To me, after reviewing airline industry financials, it is obvious air fares are simply too low to support the on-going fixed and variable costs of one of this country's most important business sectors. Safety, schedule reliability and customer service comes at a price. These should not be compromised for cheap fares.

BUT THEY WERE NEXT IN LINE FOR TAKEOFF.

Explanations were in as short supply as food or drink, with the sole restroom soon abrim and two babies screaming periodically. Passengers were not allowed to deplane until 6 a.m., with airport officials insisting they could have been accommodated much earlier if the airline had asked. The flight’s regional subcontractor cited utterly unpersuasive concerns about airport security (for already screened passengers?) and crew time regulations (the passengers couldn’t wait in the terminal for a new crew to be flown in?).

This woeful experience is far too common, despite repeated commitments from airlines and government to protect, not abuse, passengers. According to the latest federal statistics, passengers aboard 278 planes suffered tarmac delays of three hours or more in June alone. The best redress for the nonfliers of 2816 is to demand approval of the Airline Passengers Bill of Rights that has been stalled in Congress in the face of industry opposition.

The merciful measure from Senators Barbara Boxer and Olympia Snowe would force airlines to offer passengers the option of getting off after three hours on the tarmac, and to supply food, water and adequate restrooms during long delays. The proposal, recently approved in committee, is stronger than an industry-friendly House measure. It provides considerably more comfort to travelers than the bags of free pretzels passengers found waiting when they were freed from Flight 2816. A recent survey carried out by Continental Research (July 2009) found that budget airlines are failing to live up to passenger expectations with many complaints relating to hidden costs. Airport Parking and Hotels, the long stay airport parking experts, has put together a comprehensive table highlighting these hidden charges imposed by low-cost airlines, available at www.aph.com/hiddencharges.

WORLD TRAVEL MARKET EXCEL - LONDON SHOW

On the 11th and 12th November, at ExCeL - London, entrepreneurs will gather to pitch their innovations to our Travel Gurus and Investors. Our Gurus are travel industry veterans with a proven history of spotting – and investing in – companies about to boom.

THE CZECH'S TRADITION OF BEER DRINKING

The story of Czech beer and their love for the home-grown tradition of brewing it doesn't always rest on their talent for producing great ale. On the contrary, one of this country's most famous breweries, Pilsner Urquell in the town of Plzen 88 kilometers south-west of Prague - reveals more humble beginnings. In its early days, this town's beer was said to be so bad that it caused a local revolution of sorts.

"Beer was brewed in Plzen for several hundred years but the quality produced here was variable, predominantly bad," says Vaclav Kulle, a guide at the vast Pillsner Urquell Brewery, "This factor brought the medieval beer drinkers and connoisseurs to coin the saying: Pilsner, Pilsner, if you pour a pint in the behind of a swine, it will be squeaking for a week."

These circumstances persisted, he says, until about 1835 when the citizens of the town - so fed up with poor quality beer being produced - simply dumped 36 barrels of the brew in front of city hall for the shame and punishment of the brewers.

The result of the incident was the town's brewers uniting to establish the 'citizens' brewery - the brewery of the Plzners. This gave birth to Pilsner, the ale that has gone on to set the standard around the world.

Today the brewery in Plzen looks more like a sprawling industrial village with its own restaurant, museum, double-arched gate and unending red-brick grounds. Kulle leads tours of this immense complex that includes a nine kilometer underground granite-tiled sandstone fermenting cellar that is lined with oversized old oak barrels. Here you can hoist a few samples that are still made with the same process that was introduced in 1842.

But the tradition of brewing beer here goes back to before the 11th century in the Czech Republic and beer itself holds an almost mythical stature in this central European nation. It appears widely in their literature, culture and is part and parcel of the soul of the nation. Brewing beer is more than a drink but a tradition that includes a brewing process of the simple ingredients of water, malt and locally grown hops.

Wander into the Czech Museum of Hops in the town of Zatec, 60 kilometers northwest of Prague, and if you are lucky you might hear its manager Vladimir Vales singing the time honored hmelobrana, known as the Hymn of Hops. And hops like the ones in the old rickety drying machine at the museum are what made the town of Zatec famous for hundreds of years.

Zatec boasts its own rustic brewery, the Zatecky Pivovar, but is most well known for the growing of hops - the aromatic dried flower used in the brewing process. Some Czechs claim that the bitter taste of their hops is the vital ingredient that distinguishes Czech beers.

"It was almost mandatory when you entered the ninth grade and the state organized a brigade for hop picking," remembers George Stuchal, a retired Czech-American restaurant owner picked hops in his youth, "Outside of Prague, Zatec or close to Karlovivary. It almost grows everywhere here."

But these days the prized Zatec Saaz hops just can't keep up with German and American varieties that produce almost twice as much per hectare. Vales adds that the strong taste of hops has been replaced by either chemical variants, or beer producers look for more cost effective hops from other areas.

"After WWI when importance of hops for the town decreased," says Vales, "But it is important because of the very long tradition of cultivating of hops here. Even as hops loses its importance in the market, that it remains nevertheless a very long tradition here."

Fifty kilometers north-west of the capital the bottles arrive at another historic brewery, the Královsky Pivovar Kru?ovice. This brewery had its origins in the sixteenth century when aristocrats were given permission to brew beer on their own farms. Here, brewer Jiri Birka became legendary for his ale, and running a house where guests drank day and night.

"Water is vital ingredient for brewing beer because of its effect on the whole character of the beer," says Marketing Director Josef Helebrant, who claims that the local water holds the secret, "In the beer 90 percent of the water comes from flows of our Burg wells two kilometers away flowing for a length of one hundred meters. And from the seventeenth century until 1945 this was a spa, and for this reason there is very good iron and magnum in the water."

In the communist era Krusovice, like the bulk of important Czech breweries, became state-owned. During the privatizations of the early 1990s, breweries were re-equipped - as many foreign investors pumped in large amounts of money to modernize them and capitalize on the Czech tradition. This brewer became a part of a German-led multinational consortium.

While the classical Czech brands like Pilsner, Budejovicky Budvar or Staropramen are still staples, micro-breweries in the capital are now producing unique beers that compete with premium wines introduced since the Velvet Revolution.

"We are starting with wheat beer now after the tradition was stopped," says Marek Kocvera is the 20-something manager of Klasterni Pivovar Strahov, not far from the center of Prague, "This brewery was closed between the world wars at the time of the development of the big industrial breweries. Then the small microbreweries closed."

Klasterni Pivovar Strahov was originally a monastic brewery and is one of the smallest and oldest. Today it features both a traditional beer-hall as well as this café-style pub where you can drink the brewery's piquant-and-fruity tasting ale that's unusually distinctive alongside the more classical Czech lagers.

"We had 88 micro-breweries, now we have sixty. But it is now time for some kind of renaissance of micro-breweries."

At Pivovarsky Dum, a small Prague brewery and pub which prides itself on the unusual products like home-brewed banana, coffee, vanilla or sour cherry beers; Frank Kuznik, Editor in Chief of the local English-language weekly the Prague Post comments on the very special place that beer has in the lives of the Czech people.

"It is a religion here," says Kuznik emphatically, "It is the national life-blood. People here call it liquid bread. I think that one of the greatest things about this country is that nobody will ever starve to death. The reason is that that no matter poor or down and out you are you can always scrape together sixty crowns somehow. And with this you can go to a pub and get three or four beers; and that is the equivalent of dinner."

The result is that the Czech's enjoy the highest per capita consumption of beer in the world. And in an age of globalization, and as its producers are taken over by foreign companies, the Czech's continue to be proud of a brewing tradition that they consider their own.

And while the Czechs are a force to be reckoned when it comes to brewing beer, they have not been immune to saber rattling over their ale. The biggest Czech beer dispute is the century-old battle between the Czech state-owned brewer Budejovicky Budvar and their premium lager Budweiser -- and the beer of the same name produced by the beer giant, Anheuser-Busch.

Anheuser Busch of St-Louis, Missouri chose the name back in the 19th century almost at random - just to sound authentic. Yet Budweiser was already a real beer. Anheuser Busch is known to have responded to the legal challenge by the Czech Republic by offering to buy out the brand, but the Czech government has held onto to their cherished brewer.

We took both the Czech Budweiser, and the Anheuser Busch variety on a 'Budweiser Challenge' taste-test to Prague pubs with the young couple Kamil Hecko and Tereza Liscinska, both air-traffic controllers, as our tasters. While Liscinska was a staunch proponent of the Czech variety, her partner Hecko was more generous towards the Anheuser Busch brand.

"The smell is the same, really the same, with no real differences," noted Hecko cautiously, "Not bad taste, but there is some aluminum from the box. Glass would be better but it is normal in the pub. I think that it is not bad. I am a Czech nationalist, but it not bad, really, this American Budweiser."

Others lament at the eventual sale of state-owned brewer Budejovicky Budvar. Martina Kaderova is proud of the Czech brewing traditions, and cherishes the place of beer in the soul of the nation. On a boat-ride with a stupendous view of the city, she explains her nation's attachment to beer.

"We have a very long tradition of making and drinking beer as it became very popular to sit down with your friends and talk politics," says Kaderova, "In the time of communism this was actually the only place where they could openly express themselves, when they met their friends in the pub over a beer to discuss politics".

"It has a long tradition here and even during the communist regime it made people closer to each other by drinking beer and discussing life."

As sun shines over the fabled city of Prague, a balloon hovers in the skies, St-Vitus Cathedral is in the distance - and we pass the majestic Charles Bridge which stands at the heart of the city like a steadfast sentry.

"I think that we are selling our treasures, and it is not good," Kaderova continues, "I think that we should keep it because every country should have something specific, something typical. So far it was said and many people knew that Czech beer is something special. Soon it will be that yes in Prague you can drink beer produced by American, British, SA, or German company. But that is sad, because it is Czech beer."

In ending we decided to give the last word to one who we figured would know: the Oscar winning Czech film director and director, Jiri Menzel. Most of his characters drink beer like water, and many literally see life through glass of a beer mug.

The only problem, we found, was that he doesn't drink beer - and the author of most of his films, the noted writer Bohumil Hrabal, was even ashamed to walk into a pub with Menzel as he cringed when the director ordered a glass of wine.

The moral of the story, however, is that in the Czech Republic a certain reverence towards beer culture is not a matter of choice. In this part of Europe one will often be told simply, "these are our traditions".

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LATEST TRAVEL DEALS

Funjet is offering hotel/air packages to Puerto Vallarta resorts from $359. Prices quoted are per person based on double occupancy. A fuel surcharge of $95-$120 is included in the price. Sample prices include Los Angeles and San Francisco from $414, Salt Lake City from $519, Denver from $399, Dallas/Ft. Worth from $359, Houston from $514. All rates are subject to change.

Two new amenity packages and two award classes have been added to Holland America Line 's 2010 Group Advantage Program (GAP). New features include Girls' Night Out and Guys' Night Out Package amenities, as well as an option for personalized 45-minute martini classes. For more information see HAL's free guide "Developing Group Business."

In honor of Alaska's 50th anniversary of statehood, Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Conference Center and Westmark Baranof in Juneau are offering a fourth night for $59 when reserving three nights at regular cost. More promotions lasting through Dec. 31st can be found on the company's Web site.

After a $2 million renovation doubled St. George's Caye Resorts' accommodations and added private oceanfront cabanas, the resort is offering new value deals. Five-night fishing and seven-night diving packages, based on double occupancy, start at $1,999, per person.

Elbow Beach Bermuda is offering an affordable Bermuda family vacation through Dec. 31. The Family Friendly Package includes daily breakfast, four day passes for the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, Kid's Club access and four hours of babysitting. Rates begin at $360 per person, including two children under 12.

The Summer Sale from Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St. Thomas offers savings up to 40 percent off nightly EP rates when booking a minimum of three nights at the resort. Clients must book by Aug. 31 for travel now through Dec. 22. Agents must call 800-524-4746 or e-mail reservations@bolongobay.com and mention the name of the promotion to lock in the rate.

All four Sandos Hotels & Resorts on the Riviera Maya have launched the Kids Free promotion, which allows up to two children (12 years old and younger) to stay and eat for free when sharing accommodations with two paying adults. Each all-inclusive resort has a Sandos Kids Club and Teen Club for children ages 2 to 17 years old with age-specific activities. The promotion valid for travel through Aug. 31.

In honor of Charles Darwin's 200th birthday, G.T. Tours Inc. is offering deals on the Galapagos Islands until Dec. 31. A cruise of the islands on the M/V Santa Cruz is $1,500, per person, for four days. Free airfare between Quito or Guayaquil is included.

Courtesy of Tara Tours, through Dec. 31, a six-night stay at the Decameron Beach Resort is priced at $997 per person, including roundtrip airfare between Miami and Cartagena. Meals at the resort's five restaurants, a daily choice of activities and more are included.

In celebration of the South American culture, the Globus family of brands has created many new itineraries and is offering $300 off person on the air-inclusive price of any 2010 Globus, Monograms or Avalon South American vacation between now and Oct. 13. Promoted destinations include Brazil, Argentina, Chile and others.

Value World Tours has expanded their special "2 for the price of 1" discount to include Sept. 7 or Sept. 17 sailings with fares as low as $999; savings for a couple can be as much as $2,498 depending on cabin category. The 11-day "Russian Waterways" cruise sails between Moscow and St. Petersburg aboard the 260-passenger Konstantin Korotkov. Airfare from New York starts at $700.

With its "The More the Merrrier" promotion, MSC is offering special deals on the seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Poesia departing Dec. 20 with roundtrip travel from Ft. Lauderdale. The regular early booking rate applies on the first stateroom with a 50 percent off the early booking rate on a second stateroom; if they are booked in different categories, the 50 percent discount applies to the lower category. Rates are from $699 in the first stateroom, $349.50 in the second.

American Safari Cruises is offering a savings of $500 per person on a special wine and culinary sailing of Safari Explorer on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Cruises must be booked by Aug. 21; savings are also applicable on two regular river cruises, Sept. 30 and Oct. 8. The nine-day, eight-night cruise Oct. 16-24 from Lewiston, Idaho, to Astoria, Oregon starts at $5,295.

Windstar Cruises is offering 31 a complimentary group tour conductor credit to agents who book a new group of five full-fare berths on select winter 2009 and 2010 sailings by Aug. 31. Applicable sailings include select Wind Spirit, Wind Star and Wind Surf cruises.

MSC Cruises is offering more than 60 percent in savings on balcony staterooms cruising on the new Fantasia and Splendida for bookings made during August. Special balcony rates begin at $1,099 per person for a balcony stateroom on select 8, 10, and 11-night Mediterranean cruises. Children ages 17 and younger sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults.

Clients who book three nights in an oceanview Parlor or Master Suite will receive a fourth-night free at the all-inclusive, family-friendly Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort in the Riviera Nayarit. Room rates start at $300 per adult, per night, and two children up to 16 years of age can stay and eat for free when staying in their parents' suite. Taxes and gratuities are included. This promotion is valid through Oct. 30 and restrictions apply.

Stay three nights at One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico, and save 30 percent off published rates. Guests will also receive complimentary continental breakfast daily, roundtrip airport transfers, a tequila and fruit welcome amenity and daily wellness classes. The offer is good for travel from Nov. 1 through Dec. 18. Rates start at $525 per night. The promotion excludes a 10 percent tax and 18 percent service fee.

The Unlimited Spa Package from Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun includes four, 25-minute spa treatments per day, per person. The package is available through Dec. 23 to commemorate the opening of the resort's new $2 million Secrets Spa by Pevonia. The 13,835-square-foot spa has a hydrotherapy circuit, ten treatment rooms, a full-service beauty salon and more. Room rates for the Unlimited Spa Package start at $220 per night.

Atlantis Navatek Cruises recently added new wedding and vow renewal ceremony options to its sunset dinner cruises, providing couples with a romantic way to say "I do."

The wedding package includes a wedding officiant, champagne, souvenir glasses, leis and a photo for $400. The vow renewal package offers the same enhancements, except that the ship's captain performs the ceremony for $185. Both rates are in addition to the cost for Navatek's Sunset Dinner Cruise.

Ohana Hotels and Resorts is extending its travel agent Mahalo Special through Dec. 21. Agents can stay at the Ohana Waikiki West, Waikiki East and Waikiki Malia for $50 per night and at the Waikiki Beachcomber for $75 per night. Ohana's free amenities include Internet access, phone calls, an in-room safe, coffee and tea, a daily newspaper, a beach tote and Waikiki Trolley rides.

For nearly two decades Ethiopia was virtually sealed off from Western visitors. The northern highlands with their rich history of Christianity, remote rock churches and a culture untouched by the outside world remained out of bounds. As its doors have slowly opened discover a people and culture that, unlike the rest of Africa, refused to succumb to European colonialism. The 17-day program departs October 3 and starts at $6,180 per person.

Make the most of your summer getaway with a stay at a first-class Princess hotel. Stay for just $99 per night, on select dates, all summer at Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge. Enjoy accommodations on the banks of the beautiful Chena River and take advantage of this great peak-season deal! Rates are available on select dates through Sept. 15.

Explore three spectacular regions of Australia's Top End with Connections Travel. Itinerary includes canoeing through Katherine Gorge, swimming at Edith Falls, camping at a once working cattle station, a visit to the eclectic Bark Hut Inn, waterfalls at Litchfield National Park, learning about Aboriginal rock art, accommodation in comfortable permanent tents, applicable park entry fees and most meals.

Book a two-night stay at a participating hotel and Tourism Portland will sweeten the deal with some valuable perks, including complimentary overnight parking and continental breakfast for two; a copy of the discount-packed Portland Perks coupon book; and a $75 American Express Gift® card.

With the beauty of the Central American jungle of the Cayo District to the cayes in the Caribbean, Belize blends adventure and a Caribbean paradise perfectly. Avanti Destinations is featuring an 8-day Cayo District package, starting at just $790 per person, which features 2 nights in a Cayo District Hotel, 5 nights in an Ambergris Caye Hotel, a snorkel tour in Ambergris Caye and inter-island flights. Hotels offer free accommodations for kids.

With Chile's ski season underway, Santiago Adventures is offering a new 10-day tour that combines powder skiing high in famous Andes mountain resorts with a visit to historic San Pedro, the world's driest desert -- all while sampling some of the finest wines found anywhere. The Skiing, Wine & San Pedro Tour includes meals, lodging, ski passes, wine tastings and lunches, transfers and ground transportation with an English-speaking driver. The cost of the 10-day tour, which includes stays at the Ritz Carlton in Santiago and the Termas Jahuel in Aconcagua, ranges from $3,554 to $4,592 per person.

Gutsy Women Travel offers a 9-day Costa Rican Traditions trip that includes all of Costa Rica's top sites in an eco-minded and soul-stirring adventure. The trip departs Nov. 7, 2009. Rates start at $2,599 per person and include round trip air, 2 nights at The Alta Hotel in San Jose, 2 nights at the Mountain Paradise Hotel in Arenal, 2 nights at the El Establo Hotel in Monteverde, 2 nights at the Tango Mar Hotel & Resort in Tambor and most meals.

The Aer Lingus Vacation Store has introduced its "Ireland 3-City Package" is the perfect way to explore the rich Irish culture and history at an affordable price. Starting at just $899, this six-night journey includes 2 nights at Old Ground Hotel, Clare, 2 nights at Scotts Hotel, Killarney, 2 nights at the Maldron Cardiff Lane Hotel in Dublin, round-trip airfare From New York or Boston to Shannon, full Irish breakfast daily, and a weekly manual car rental with unlimited mileage.

Dooley Vacations is now selling Florence Fling getaways. Florence, the capital of the Tuscany region, is the birthplace of the Renaissance, and is home to the statue of David by Michelangelo, Piazza Duomo, and Uffizi museum. Four-night packages start at $599 per person and include round-trip, economy-class airfare, four nights accommodations at Hotel Meridiana and daily buffet breakfast.

The perfect way to sample Reflection Bay at Lake Las Vegas, designed by Jack Nicklaus and rated one of the nation's finest golf courses. Rates start at $229 per night and include overnight accommodations at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas, one rounds of golf per night, valet parking and resort fee

Enjoy Las Vegas' only striptease spectacular, Peepshow, at Planet Hollwyood. Ultra Hot Packages include accommodations at Planet Hollywood, two front orchestra tickets to Peepshow, VIP seating at Koi or Strip House, and spa and casino savings. Rates start at $149 per night, weeknights.

The Opposite House — Beijing's spacious 108-room hotel, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma — is offering a Third Night Free promotion through Sept. 30. It includes breakfast for two on weekends, a guided cultural walk of Beijing on a Saturday, complimentary Internet access and more. Rates begin at approximately $285 per night.

Nothing says summer like a ballgame. Omni San Diego Hotel, the only hotel in the U.S. connected to a major league ballpark via sky bridge, is offering baseball fans two tickets to see the San Diego Padres and a great nightly rate of $149/night, which represent more than a 50% savings. To make a reservation, ask for the "FREEBASEBALL" promotion when calling 800-THE-OMNI or by typing in the promotional code "FREEBASEBALL" when booking online.

London's Notting Hill Carnival is a highlight of the summer season, and in the spirit of carnival, the Radisson Edwardian will treat your clients to a refreshing Mojito with every booking until Sept. 6. Offer includes full English breakfast, mojito for two and a collection of leisure offers at London's favorite attractions.

Enjoy up to 20 percent savings on early booking deals at Barcelo Hotels & Resorts in Mexico. Relax on Mexico's beautiful beaches, enjoy gourmet dining, entertainment and family fun. Great savings in Cancun, Ixtapa, Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Cuernavaca and Huatulco for bookings made through Dec. 23. .

Melia Cabo Real Beach Golf & Resort is offering special summer values this season. Book a Deluxe Golf View, Deluxe Ocean View or a Deluxe Ocean Front for a minimum of 3 nights and get it all, including free airport hotel transfers, free guaranteed upgrade, a hotel credit of US $ 50.00 per room (for phone and laundry only)

When booking Morongo Casino Resort & Spa's summer special, Hot Dates & Cool Rates, guests can enjoy a luxurious room for just $69 or a lavish suite for $139. A two night stay is required and the package comes with a $50 resort credit good at any restaurant, bar or the Sage Spa. The offer is only valid Sunday – Thursdays.

Silversea Cruises Offers a 60% Silver Savings discount off the published fare for new bookings on all 2010 sailings aboard Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit. Prince Albert II provides Silver Savings of up to 50% in 2010. In addition, free roundtrip air with transfers is available from 22 gateway cities in the U.S. and Canada on most 2010 cruises, with special pricing for 50 more cities. The Silver Savings incentive eliminates early-booking and advance-payment programs, although Venetian Society Savings for past guests, Onboard Savings on bookings during the cruise, Extended Voyage Savings (combining two or more consecutive voyages) and the Solo Travelers fare will continue to be offered.

Affordable travel is at your fingertips with Starwood Hawaii's Sunsational Savings offer. Book a stay at any of Starwood Hawaii's 11 hotels and resorts and receive the 3rd night free as well as a $75 dining credit at the Oahu locations or free daily breakfast for two at properties on neighboring islands.

SeaDream Yacht Club is offering extraordinary value for 7-15-day cruises in the Mediterranean, Aegean and Adriatic this summer, including a cruise from Alexandria to Barcelona October 3-18 priced at $6,448 instead of the brochure price of $16,800 and one from Venice to Athens September 16-26 down from $11,400 to $6,999.

Travel Discounts and Carnival Cruise Lines is offering spectacular rates on its shorter itineraries departing from Long Beach and San Diego. Early Saver rates, available up to three months before sailing, start from $169 per person on three- and four-day mid-week sailingss aboard Carnival Elation from San Diego, as well as four-day cruises on Carnival Paradise from Long Beach. The special fares include all stateroom types, including suites, and come with a rate protection feature if rates later drop below what the consumer originally paid.

The Crowne Plaza Acapulco is knocking 20 percent off its best available rate for the European plan, which includes room accommodations, with room rates starting at $69 per night, plus tax (based on double occupancy). The offer is good through Dec. 20.

The Fairmont Acapulco Princess is offering a third night free when booking two nights, with room rates starting at $215 per room, per night, plus tax (based on double occupancy). This promotion is valid through Sept. 30.

The all-inclusive Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort is offering the Grand Velas Spa Package, which includes one 25-minute massage treatment per person per day, one 60-minute guided Grand Velas Ritual (a variety of hydrotherapy treatments), a parlor or master suite with ocean view and VIP airport pick-up service. Rates start at $352 per person per night. The package is available through December.

The Cabo Azul Resort in Los Cabos is offering four days and three nights in a fully appointed one bedroom villa, two fifty-minute Paz Signature massages, two fifty-minute full facials and unlimited use of the fitness center for a package rate of $1,299. Offer valid through September 30. Taxes and gratuities are not included.

CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta's Sand Dollar package provides deluxe guestroom accommodations with a private balcony, daily breakfast for two and the third night free. Rates start at $170 per night double. The special is available for booking now through October 31. The booking code is S29.

Carnival Cruise Lines is offering Early Saver rates from $169 per person on three- and four-day mid-week voyages aboard Carnival Elation from San Diego, and four-day voyages on Carnival Paradise from Long Beach. Early Saver rates are available up to three months prior to sailing date for cruises of five days or less and up to five months prior to sailing date for longer length cruises. Special fares include all stateroom types, including suites, and are protected if rates later drop below what the consumer originally paid.

The Grand Traverse takes you right into the heart of New Zealand's most isolated and rugged country: the Greenstone and Routeburn Valleys. The walk passes through two national parks in the South Island's high country: Fiordland and Mount Aspiring, both of which are part of Te Wahipounamu, the Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area. Rates for 2009 begin at $895 per person, land only.

Long considered one of Maui's premier, luxury condominium resorts, The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach has re-launched with a fresh, new look. To celebrate the completion of 18 months of construction. Aston Hotels & Resorts invites guests to rediscover The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach with a Summer Preview Rate starting from $259 for a Studio Garden View. Rates are available through Aug. 23.

Orion Expedition Cruises is offering free round-trip economy fare from Los Angeles for new individual bookings to the great wilderness of the Kimberly in northwest Australia. Rated the best expedition ship in the Southern Hemisphere by Berlitz, the 106-guest Orion's itineraries combine land and sea experiences, from the historic pearling town of Broome to the rugged Kimberley coast, fascinating aboriginal culture and ancient indigenous artwork.

Cruise West has introduced two three-night Alaska cruise weekend packages that include airfare from 14 western cities: Glacier Bay Highlights and Glaciers of Prince William Sound for $1,499 ($999 cruise fare and $500 airfare). The package is available from Boise, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Ontario, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle and Spokane.

Travel Discounts is offering great deals to Hawaii. With 60 plus properties to choose from, luxury travel has never been easier or more affordable. Book through Travel Discounts by Aug. 31 for travel before Dec. 20 and receive savings up to $500 off airfare to the Hawaiian Islands. Some offers are combinable with other deals for extra savings.

Enjoy 15% off a stay of two or more consecutive nights along with a valuable Offer from T.G.I. Friday's® Restaurants this summer when staying at select Country Inns & Suites By Carlson this summer. The offer requires a three day advance reservation and is available through Sept. 13 at participating U.S. properties. Country Inns & Suites By Carlson offer amenities such as complimentary hot breakfast, free high-speed Internet access, swimming pools and weekday morning newspaper.

General Tours World Traveler has announced complimentary stateroom upgrades on all 2009 departures of its eight-day Splendid Waterways of the Czars cruise & tour between Moscow and St. Petersburg aboard Volga Dream. Pricing is from $2,299 per person and guests who book a Cabin Deck stateroom will receive a free upgrade to the Main Deck, a $2,600 per cabin value. With this offer, staterooms on the Promenade Deck are now $3,599 – a $2,500 per cabin savings.

SeaDream Yacht Club is offering up to 60 percent savings on cruises in the Mediterranean, Greek Islands and along the Dalmatian Coast, from now until the end of October this year. Examples include an unusual sailing from Alexandria, Egypt to Athens, October 3-10, from $3,299 per person with an extension from Athens to Barcelona, October 10-18, for an additional $3,149 with the10 percent savings on back-to-back voyages.

Race fans can take part in the "Ultimate Indy Racing Experience" this September at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For $599, participants receive back-to-back experiences around the famed 2.5-mile oval with a 3-lap drive followed by a high-speed, 2-lap ride in the Indy Racing Experience 2-seater. The promotion marks the first time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that fans can pilot an IndyCar machine that actually raced in the Indy 500 and then immediately step into the backseat of the popular 2-seater for a spin at speeds of up to 180 miles per hour. The retail price for the ride and drive programs is $499 each, creating a savings of nearly $400 with the promotion.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is offering 2010 Pay-In-Full and Early Booking Discount programs in which couples who book a 2010 Europe river cruise and pay-in-full for their trip before September 30 can save up to $2,000 ($1,000 per person) on select programs in Europe. And those who place a deposit on a 2010 river cruise can save up $600 per couple ($300 per person) by booking and depositing by Nov. 30, 2009.?

Through Oct. 31, Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resorts and Spas is offering a Stimulus Package at select resorts in which guests receive 35 percent off standard room rates, plus kids stay and eat free. Participating properties include Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Resort & Spa, Pueblo Bonito Rose Resort & Spa and Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas, as well as Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan and Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay Resort & Spa in Mazatlan.

The Royal Lahaina Resort on Kaanapali Beach, Maui offers Aloha Special Rates in Garden, Partial Ocean and Ocean View accommodations from $149/night; and the oceanfront Royal Kona Resort on Hawaii's Big Island offers every 3rd night free in the remodeled Alii/Lagoon Tower rooms from $106* average/night. Offers valid through Dec. 21, 2009. Subject to availability.

General Tours World Traveler has announced complimentary stateroom upgrades valued to $2,600 per cabin on all 2009 departures of its eight-day Splendid Waterways of the Czars cruise and tour between Moscow and St. Petersburg aboard the 58-cabin Volga Dream, priced from $2,299 per person.

Hapag-Lloyd's Europa has a 10-day cruise out of Venice with rising young singers from opera houses in New York, Toronto, Hamburg, Dresden, Zurich, London, Milan and Paris competing for judges and guests. Prizes include a performance at the Vienna Opera House, €15,000 in cash and a test recording with Deutsche Grammophon. Pricing starts at $5,780 and guests receive a category 4 suite at a category 0 price, saving more than $1,800.

Grab the entire family and head to The Signature at MGM Grand for its "Summer Splash" promotion, available through August 31. The Signature is a non-smoking, non-gaming environment, so the whole family can enjoy to a stress-free getaway. Parents can indulge in spa treatments and lounge poolside, while the kids take advantage of the numerous activities steps away at the MGM Grand. Rates start at $129 per night for a junior suite and include daily breakfast for two, while children 10 and under eat free.

If you enjoy being the life of the party, this is the package for you. Start off with a glass of champagne upon arrival at the hotel. After settling in, take a guided nightlife tour and get VIP access to the Passion Club. Next morning treat yourself to an in-room breakfast and then unwind at the spa where all treatments are 30% off. Packages start at $275 per night with a 4-night minimum through December 31, 2009. .

Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa is offering newlyweds or couples celebrating an anniversary the new "Free Honeymoon Package" including fresh flowers, fruit and bottle of sparking wine, special turndown service, a champagne breakfast in bed, and 15% off all spa treatments. Complimentary with any length of stay through December 23, 2009 with room rates starting at $470 per night. Valid marriage certificate required. 1-866-237-3267

The 7,000 sq. ft. Oasis Spa at the Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort allows guests to enjoy more treatments because with every room booked per day, they will receive a $50 spa credit. Valid until December 31, 2009, this package is available for any length of stay with room rates starting at $220 per night.

Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino on St. Martin is offering a four-day Great Bay Diving Package with on-site scuba training, multiple dives and a shark sightseeing excursion. For $1,055 per person, per night, the package includes four tank dives, two days of diving, a resort dive-certification training course, daily breakfast for two in the Bay View restaurant and a $20 match play per person, per day at the Golden Casino.

Any guest who books at least a three-night stay over their birthday at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort will receive their birthday night free. Also, birthday guests who dine at one of the resort's restaurants will receive a complimentary cake. Valid ID, including proof of birth date, required. Valid through Dec. 31.

One of the few hotels facing the lava-flowing side of Arenal volcano, the Lost Iguana Resort & Spa is offering guests up to 20 percent off stays through Dec. 15, including a complimentary welcome dinner at its open-air Blue Hibiscus restaurant. The resort is also currently paying travel agents 20 percent commission.

Parkwood Inn and Suites, in Anchorage, is offering 30 percent off the nightly rate between now and Sept. 15. Centrally located close to downtown and the airport, Parkwood Inn offers large rooms with kitchenette, balcony and walk-in closets. To receive this offer, agents must book directly with the hotel at 800-478-3590 and reference PARK09.

Book through December 15 and provide your clients with amazing offers from more than 200 properties and a variety of world-class experiences including villas, yachts, river barges and luxury trains. Spain's Hotel Villa Padierna. for example, is offering daily breakfast for two and tickets to the Picasso Museum. Three nights in a Classic room starts at $479 per person.

The new Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort in Phuket, Thailand is offering a Honeymoon Celebration package. The package includes a two-night stay, breakfast in bed, a 60-minute spa treatment for two and several other perks, including canapes with a Thai twist, accompanied by juices, herbs and spices. This package starts at about $525 and is valid through Oct. 31.

Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resorts and Spas has announced a Stimulus Package of various incentives and discounts, which include lower rates, a kids stay and eat free program, spa credits and free nights at any of its seven resorts in Mazatlan, Riviera Nayarit and Los Cabos. The Stimulus Package is good through Dec. 31 and can not be combined with other offers.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced its BookSafe Travel Protection Plan, in which guests departing on or after May 1 are eligible for reimbursement of any cancellation fees if insured guests lose their jobs, as long as the person has been an active employee at the same company for at least one year. In addition, the plan offers trip cancellation/trip interruption protection, medical protection, baggage protection and more, from $29 per person, depending on the cruise fare paid.

Pleasant Holidays is offering free access to the Cancun International Airport Business Lounge at Terminal 2 and 3 to all customers staying at selected Karisma Hotels & Resorts in the Riviera Maya. Amenities of the business lounge include television, massage chairs and complimentary Wi-Fi, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and snacks — a $30 value per adult. Travelers must book by April 30 for travel through Dec. 22.

Peter Deilmann Cruises offers $1,500 per person savings and $99 roundtrip air with a package of shore excursions on the Deutschland's two new 14-day fall foliage cruises. The Oct. 6 departure focuses mostly on Canada and the Oct. 20 sailing on the U.S., but both are roundtrip Montreal, calling in Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney and Quebec. Fares are reduced to $4,200 to $15,500 per person, double, a savings of up to 26%, and the $99 roundtrip air package from dozens of North American gateways plus shore excursions and transfers represents a $600 value. Passengers arranging their own air can deduct an additional $750 from the cruise fare.

Through Dec. 20, Elite Island Resorts is offering a Romance and Privacy add-on option to packages at Antigua's The Verandah Resort & Spa, St. James's Club & Villas, Galley Bay Resort & Spa and the Grenadines' Palm Island Resort. The $830 add-on option includes a champagne sunset cruise, an in-room dinner, a couples' massage and matching bathrobes. Nightly rates vary at each property and range from $580 to $965 per night.

Wildlife viewing in three ecosystems. Two nights at Khwai River Lodge, Moremi Reserve; Savute Elephant Camp, Chobe Park; and Eagle Island Camp, Okavango Delta. A helicopter ride at Eagle Island and one night at the Orient Express' Westcliff Hotel in Johannesburg are also included. Land costs start at $5,675 pp. (800) 421-8907.

Located in Fairbanks, Alaska, along the Chena River, Pike's Waterfront Lodge offers hotel rooms and cabins with scenic views, a steam room and sauna, riverside deck, restaurant, free wireless Internet throughout the hotel, free airport and train shuttle. Pets welcome. Special $99 rates are available Fridays and other select dates through September 30, 2009.

Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk is offering a Suite Romance package for gay couples in search of an intimate getaway. The offer includes a partial oceanview suite and a lomilomi massage for two in the privacy of their suite. Complimentary services and Hawaii-inspired amenities also include daily cooked-to-order breakfasts, signature desserts and a Hawaiian-music CD to take home. Prices start at $299 per night and the package is valid through Dec. 21. For reservations, agents should enter promotional code "LUV".

Amanyara resort in Turks and Caicos is giving clients free meals throughout their stay. To qualify, clients must book four nights or more in one of Amanyara's Pavilions or Villas for travel through Oct. 31.

Oceania Cruises is celebrating its fifth anniversary with additional bonus savings off existing 2 for 1 Cruise Fares, resulting in up to 72% on more than 40 sailings. Exceptional savings will be offered on cruises in Europe, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, South America and the Caribbean, starting January 7th. The line also offers free airfare from 20 North American gateways.

BERLIN: EXCITING EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS

The outstanding cultural landscape develops in a breathtaking speed. Many great new attractions and openings will take place in the following months.

From June until October the Pergamon museum presents the fascinating exhibition “Babylon” documenting the roots of European civilization and the reception of Babylon in Europe’s cultural history.

Another outstanding large-scale exhibition series is “The Cult of the Artist” in October 2009 with different exhibitions about important artists.

This Fall, the “Temporäre Kunsthalle” (temporary art hall) will open at Schloßplatz where the historic city castle is planned to be rebuild in 2010. The white cube pavilion, illuminated in different colors, will host contemporary art.

The Berlin WelcomeCard (from 16,50 €), a combination of a local transport network ticket and a guide, is the Tourist-Ticket to explore Berlin - and, upon request, Potsdam too. Your clients will easily discover the city by using the public transport and provides an enormous range of on-the-spot discounts - they benefit from discounts up to 50 % at 130 highlights in Berlin. A guide with city map accompanies during the discovery tour.

GETTING AROUND CENTRAL EUROPE'S STAR CITIES

The borders are open. The infrastructure is outstanding: modern airports, excellent rail lines, smooth highways.

FLY
Flights are very quick and frequent: for example, 8 daily flights connect Munich and Budapest in only 80 minutes of flight time. Great bargains are often offered by long-established carriers, and by many low-cost airlines; Air Berlin connects several of the Star cities; SkyEurope serves Bratislava, Budapest, Prague & Vienna.

RAIL
Travel by train is stress-free, frequent, punctual, with scenery to enjoy en route, and transports from city center to city center. Just over 2 hours train travel connects Dresden - Prague, Munich - Salzburg, Berlin - Dresden and Bratislava - Budapest. Prague - Vienna are only 4 scenic hours, and Berlin - Prague takes just 4.5 hours. Rail passes for multiple countries sell for bargain prices.

DRIVE
Excellent highways, a broad array of rental car companies and vehicle classes, and the freedom to depart and stop on the way when one wishes makes driving a choice for the spontaneous. Travel times are similar to taking the train.

BOAT
The 2 closest cities, Bratislava & Vienna, are connected by bus (40 miles), train (1.5 hours) or hydrofoil on the Danube River, the speedboat version in under 75 minutes. A traveler can also opt for the Danube hydrofoil between Budapest and Vienna, an interesting trip of 5.5 hours operating 3 times daily between April and October. Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

VIENNA: SUMMER MUSIC

At the Vienna City Hall Square you can enjoy acclaimed operas and operettas, concerts and ballet performances free of charge on a giant screen every evening – and savor the most delicious international specialties at refreshment booths. (Music Film Festival, July 12 – August 31, 2008). www.vienna.info

The Theater an der Wien OperimSommer program 2008 includes the zarzuela Luisa Fernanda with star tenor Plácido Domingo in July and Mozart's Magic Flute in August. (July 7 – August 19, 2009). www.theater-wien.at

And the Vienna Jazz Festival is one of the leading festivals of its genre today – not only due to top international musicians but also to its main venues, the Vienna State Opera among them. (June 27 – July 13, 2009). www.viennajazz.org

This rover ticket grants 72 hours free travel on the subway, bus and streetcar, and up to 210 benefits on everything that makes a visit to Vienna special for only EUR 18.50.

You will get discounts at museums, sights, theaters, concerts, shops, restaurants and cafés.

The Vienna Card is available at the airport, most of the hotels in Vienna, at the Tourist Information Center on Albertinaplatz, and at public transportation ticket counters.

If you like to offer the Vienna Card to your customers, please contact your Vienna partner hotel or incoming travel agent or the central sales office Global Refund Austria GesmbH at viennacard@at.globalrefund.com

SALZBURG: SUMMER OF CULTURE AND ART

The story of the singing Trapp Family will be staged with marionettes, the premiere will be on May 9, 2009 and from then on the program regularly. www.marionetten.at

Since 1920 every summer the city of Salzburg transforms itself to the musical capital of the world during the Salzburger Festpiele from July 26 – August 31, 2009. www.salzburgfestival.at

As during the past, locals and guests will be able to watch current and former Festival productions daily, free of charge, on a large, open-air screen set on the Kapitelplatz in the city center during the Siemens Festival Nights (July 26 – August 17, 2009). www.siemens.at/festspielnaechte

The archiepiscopal Residence will offer precious objects of art from August 8 – 17, 2000 at the "Salzburg World Fine Art Fair". The splendid rooms will serve as the setting for art from antiques to objects by modern designers. Notable gallery owners and antiques dealers will present exclusive sculptures, furniture, silver, porcelain, paintings and jewelry. www.salzburg-faf.com

The inexpensive way to explore Mozart's city! Purchase your SALZBURG CARD at the Salzburg City Tourist Office and get commission!

Complete free admission (not just reductions) to all sights and attractions and free public transportation within the city limits – starting from EUR 21 – for 24 hours!

BRATISLAVE: SUMMER OF CULTURE FESTIVAL

Bratislava City Card is a valuable and handy tool in getting to know Bratislava, offering a wide range of different discounts and free services ranging from free public transport use and free or discounted guided city tours to discounts on culture, leisure time, shopping and much more. Besides interesting opportunities in Bratislava itself the card offer includes sights and services outside Bratislava.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL BARCELONA TO OPEN BY YEAR'S END

The Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona will be located on Paseo de Gracia, in city center, near such tourist attractions as Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter.

The 98-room property, to be situated in a restored, mid-20th century building, will offer a 10,763-square-foot spa and several restaurants and bars. Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

DRESDEN: "1756" DRESDEN" - A TIME TRAVEL

In the Panometer Dresden an arresting 360 degrees panorama painting awaits you depicting the electoral Saxon residence in all its glory and in unusual detail. In addition, music sounds and light effects intensify the amazing impression of arriving in the year 1756 as a time traveler. Augustus the Strong transformed the medieval small town into a Baroque synthesis of the arts.

When you have returned to the present time, enjoy the surprise of déjà vu mysteriously suggesting a previous existence.

• 2 nights incl. breakfast (for select dates, also "3 for 2" – stay 3 nights and pay for 2), available in 50 hotels in different categories
• DRESDEN-CITY-CARD for 48 hours
• 1 admission ticket for the Dresden Panometer (closed on Mondays)
• Price per person in double room from 133,00 €

For more information, visit www.dresden.travel or email sales@dresden-tourist.de.

Dresden is a city that is constantly in motion. The best way to explore its many sights is with the Dresden City Card. It offers free public transport, free admission to the world famous Dresden Art Collections and many discounts (valid for 48 hours, 21 euros).

PRAGUE

Originally a Gothic citadel founded in the middle of the 14th century, Ctenice Castle was open to the public in 2005 after a general reconstruction.

The permanent exposition "Under Muttonchops and Frock Coat - The Habsburgs and the Czech Lands 1791 - 1914" and an exposition on the reconstruction of castle can be seen here.

The Carriage Hall presents a permanent exhibition of old carriages, gigs, stage-coaches and other coaches from the 18th, 19th and from the beginning of the 20th century. Among others, the Prague archbishop celebration coach (around 1720), which was used for the coronations of the Czech kings, is an extraordiary, toplevel baroque work of art.

In the enchanting castle park, romantic weddings can be arranged by the Euroagentur agency. Within the castle area horse riding is also possible and professionally-led horseback riding classes can be taken.

Entrance fee:
Castle 60 CZK/reduced entrance fee 40 CZK
Coach House 60 CZK/reduced entrance fee 40 CZK

The Prague Card is a four-day admission card to over 50 monuments and museums throughout Prague. It is possible to complete this card by buying a tourist travel permit for the city public transport. The Card is accompanied by a color six-language brochure with information on buildings and with coupons.

SOME GREAT DESTINATIONS FOR SUMMER TRAVEL

Memorial Day has a different meaning for everyone, so we have some ideas for some well-rounded trips to satisfy all of your travel desires. If you want to walk through battlefields, pay your respects to war heroes, experience the speed of drag racing, or simply watch beautiful sunsets over the Atlantic, the right adventure is waiting for you.

Gettysburg, PA
Step back in time with a trip to where one of the largest battles of the Civil War transpired. Fly into Baltimore or Philadelphia and drive two hours Gettysburg and stay in one of many charming bed and breakfasts like Shepherd Mansion. Mingle with confederate and union soldiers (don't worry, they're actors), and notice the plaques on historic buildings describing their role in the Civil War. When you're ready to head into battle, tour the battlefields and memorials like the Eternal Light Peace Memorial and the National Cemetery, where Abraham Lincoln gave the famous Gettysburg Address.

Normandy, France
With so many memorials, beautiful beaches and picturesque towns, Normandy is a perfect place to remember our heroes. Fly into Paris and then drive two hours to Le Havre, a UNESCO World Heritage site located at the mouth of the Seine. Climb the Tower of Hotel de Ville and watch artists be inspired in the St. Vincent district. Be sure to visit the cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, which contains rows of identical white crosses and Stars of David to honor American soldiers. Round off your trip with a visit to Mont Saint Michel, just two hours from LeHavre.

Charleston, SC
Enjoy some southern hospitality and history in this South Carolina destination. Start at Fort Sumter and see the starting place of the Civil War. Check out the Piccolo Spoleto Festival featuring music, art and theatre. After the festivities, enjoy some fine dining at Magnolia's (try the Low Country Bouillabaissee and Parmesan Crusted Flounder). For a home-style experience, stop by any of the Piggly Wiggly grocery locations and order some fried chicken and macaroni and cheese, then hang out at the Isle of Palms, whose front beach offers volleyball, surf shops, ice cream vendors and more.

Indianapolis, IN
Race to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the famous Indy 500! If you prefer to be behind the wheel, head to O'Reilly Raceway Park where you can drag race your own car. Put on your brakes with activities like walking through the streets of historic Lockerbie or paddleboating down the White River Canal. Be sure to visit the Soldiers' & Sailors' Monument which and pay your respects at the Crown Hill Cemetery, the third largest in the U.S. which can be explored by foot, car or bike. Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

NETHERLANDS LAUNCHES GAY-FRIENDLY CAMPAIGN

COSTA RICA PROGRAM WITH PLEASANT HOLIDAYS

PLEASANT HOLIDAYS TO THE MEXICAN CARIBBEAN

MUNICH: FUN FOR ALL GENERATIONS

Visitors step back in history to celebrate Munich's 850th anniversary between June and August with parades, exhibitions and festivals.

Everyone can feel royal in the Residence Palace, or in Nymphenburg, the summer palace.

Young "scientists" are wild about Munich's Deutsches Museum with its 53 exhibitions, from a huge model railway to a spaceship they can climb.

A family picnic in the Olympic Park is memorable, or in the English Garden, where a carriage ride can follow.

Visit Munich with your family in "Adventures by Disney" Germany Family Vacation.

LAS VEGAS GETS CONNECTED

The monorail’s expansion currently includes five proposed stations with two stops at McCarran — the first at Terminal 1, the existing main terminal, and a second at the soon-to-be-built Terminal 3. The entire airport extension will be 4.2 miles long — slightly longer than the existing stretch between the MGM Grand and the Sahara. Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

KIDS FLY FOR $110 TO HAWAII THIS SUMMER

SWITZERLAND AT YOUR OWN PACE

• Swiss flowers, cowbells and alpenhorns
• Dramatic mountain views and hikes
• Beautiful little lakes throughout the region
• Great transportation throughout all of Switzerland via the Golden Pass Lucerne-Interlaken train line
• Your wonderful "home" city of Lucerne is an excellent hub to see all of Switzerland by train

* One or two weeks in a private apartment or chalet, each with a fully equipped kitchen, often with spectacular views of the lakes and the mountains.
* Optional round-trip airfare from New York (other cities available at extra cost) to Zurich.
* An 8 or 15-days Swiss Saver Rail Pass valid on trains, buses, lake ships; free entry to over 400 museums in Switzerland.
* Lots of pre-planning advice from our US staff who have not only seen the apartments but also stayed in them.
* Our staff will meet most flights at the airport for the escort down to your location. An orientation will be given the following day by our expert English-speaking staff, many of whom have been welcoming Untourists to their country for over 25 years.
* A Swiss Dream Book and Hiking Guide - publications researched and written by Untours staff, chock-full of suggestions for scenic hiking trails and day trips.
* An Untours-sponsored group activity such as a visit to a high alpine valley to meet the locals at their typical Swiss festival, City tour or a visit to an alpine cheese makers hut where cheese is still made the traditional way without any mechanization.
* A dinner party (selected dates) in an authentic Swiss restaurant with new and old friends.
* Welcome supplies of bread, milk, cheese, eggs so you don’t have to look for a grocery store right away.
* On-site support services and emergency contact when you need it.
* Kids 15 and under stay free on this Untour in qualifying apartments (please call for details).

Prices: Arrivals on September 9, September 16, and September 23. All prices are for double occupancy. Prices also available for singles or parties up to six persons.

2 weeks with air from New York: $2599/person
2 weeks without air from New York: $1599/person
1 week with air from New York: $2339/person
1 week without air from New York: $1319/person

THIS WEEK'S HAWAII DEALS

Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort, Puerto Vallarta. Beauty and luxury await at this all-inclusive AAA Five Diamond resort. 3 nights from $1,175.

Kaua‘i - Hawai‘i's Island of Discovery. Experience an island full of activities from relaxing to exhilarating. 3 nights with air from $575.

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa. This spectacular resort is set on fabulous Ka'anapali Beach. Ocean View Room. 3 nights from $619.

CORPORATE - PLEASANT HOLIDAYS ADDS JETBLUE AIRWAYS NATIONWIDE SERVICE

ORIENT EXPRESS HOTELS

TRAVEL DEALS THIS WEEK WITH TRAVEL DISCOUNTS

Las Vegas. Head to Las Vegas with our wide variety of vacation options, from budget trips to luxury escapes. 2 nights with air from $135.

Tahiti - SAVE up to $500. Amazing deals on vacations to Moorea, Bora Bora and beyond for your clients. 7 nights from $1,999.

The Caribbean. Explore a sunken shipwreck in Aruba or bask in the sun in Jamaica - the options are endless. 3 nights with air from $435.

CRUISE VACATIONS

NCL Hawaii Cruise Vacations
Cruise Hawai'i your way. Experience paradise. Island by island. It goes without saying that Hawaii is full of amazing places to explore. Active volcanoes, deep, lush canyons, endless beaches. Or, relax and enjoy the view from one of our balcony staterooms or Suites & Villas.

TAHITI Aranui Cruises
Have you ever longed to hop a freighter to the romantic South Seas? Well, now you can, with Aranui Cruises—a delightful alternative to the more sumptuous cruises in and around Tahiti.

• Roundtrip airfare
• 1 night at the Manava Suite Resort Tahiti
• 13 nights Aranui Cruise

Since its first cruise over 50 years ago, Blue Lagoon Cruises has been operating world-famous cruises through Fiji’s mystical Yasawa and Mamanuca Islands.

• Roundtrip airfare
• 2 nights at the Sheraton Fiji Resort
• 3 night Gold Club Cruise

BOOK YOUR HONEYMOON ONLINE

With breathtaking ocean and mountain views, this perfect Caribbean island destination is one of the premiere St. Thomas hotels.

Save $300 on airfare! Includes 4th Night Free, $50 in attraction coupons, $50 dining coupon, daily breakfast for two PLUS Kids 17 & younger stay FREE. (Must be booked by 10/15 for travel by 10/30)
4 nights from $445

Each suite is tastefully decorated and features marble floors, a spacious bathroom, and a private terrace with an ocean or partial ocean view. One Bedroom Deluxe Suite. All-Inclusive includes all meals, drinks and activities. 3 nights from $459

Royal Hideaway Playacar, Riviera Maya
All-inclusive and designed to please discriminating travelers with six à-la-carte restaurants and bars, three pools, three relaxation pools and a host of water sports. Adults-Only all-Inclusive includes all meals, drinks and activities and more! 3 nights from $995

Majestic waterfalls, blue lagoons and lush tropical surroundings distinguish this deluxe Hawaiian resort. Just relax by the 26,000-sq. ft. pool or enjoy any of the many activities available, including a variety of shops, restaurants, spa services and complimentary Hawaiian activities. 3 nights from $749

The Kahala Hotel & Resort, O‘ahu
This luxury resort features 343 spacious rooms, six distinctive restaurants and lounges, including the award-winning Hoku's and private beach cabanas. 3 nights from $865

FIJI
Westin Denarau Island Resort
Vacation includes: round trip airfare from Los Angeles (LAX) on Air Pacific, 5 nights accommodations in Nadi, daily breakfast and meet & greet with shell lei and round trip airport transfers. 5 nights from $1,119 Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

BLUE SKIES OF OAHU ECO

A string-of-pearls full of stunning sights awaits you on this special tour. Your expert Blue Hawaiian pilot will show you Honolulu Harbor, graced by picturesque Aloha Tower; continue on to Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head; heart-tugging Punchbowl, the National memorial Cemetery of the Pacific; and gorgeous Hanauma Bay. gliding eastward, it's like you've gone to another world; you'll ooh and aah at the spectacular coastline, Sandy Beach, the Makapuu Point and lighthouse area, Sea Life Park, Mount Olomana, and incredible Nuuanu Pali. Finally, circling back you'll say Aloha to Pearl Harbor, the Arizona memorial, and the Battleship Missouri. Tour Duration: 30 minutes

Neighbor Island One Day Trips Oahu to Big Island- #H1 Grand Circle Island via Hwn Air

POLYNESIAN ADVENTURE 1DAY TOUR FRM OAHU TO KONA. Experience all the wonders and excitement of the Big Island of Hawaii. We'll take you from lush tropical rain forests to the rim of awesome Kilauea caldera.

POLYNESIAN ADVENTURE 1DAY TOUR FRM OAHU TO HILO. This one day tour to the Big Island of Hawaii features the closest approach to the recent lava flows allowed by the Civil Defense. If conditions permit, you may be able to go right to the edge of a 2000 degree F molten lava flow!

POLYNESIAN ADVENTURE 1DAY TOUR FRM OAHU TO KAUAI, This highly personalized scenic tour is fully narrated by specially trained driver/guides and includes Waimea Canyon and the Wailua river cruise.

POLYNESIAN ADVENTURE 1DAY TOUR FRM OAHU TO MAUI. Expertly narrated tour to the summit of spectacular 10,023 foot high Haleakala, visit the unique Iao Needle, located in lush Iao Valley State Park. Visit the town of Wailuku, see flower farms and fields of pineapple and sugar cane.

POLYNESIAN ADVENTURE 1DAY TOUR FRM OAHU TO MAUI - LUNCH INCLUDED. The lush beauty and constantly changing vistas of the Hana Coast are world famous and best experienced in the company of one of our driver guides.

POLYNESIAN ADVENTURE 1DAY TOUR FRM OAHU TO MAUI. The lush beauty and constantly changing vistas of the Hana Coast are world famous and best experienced in the company of one of our driver guides.

At Sea Life Park, Hawaii's marine life come alive in a dazzling display that will entertain and delight. Located just 15 miles from Waikiki on Oahu's beautiful and scenic Makapuu Point, Sea Life Park is a world-class marine attraction.

Located on Oahu's sunniest coast, Hawaiian Water's Adventure Park is Hawaii's only Water Theme Park. Admission ticket includes an all-day passort to all attractions (Except Da' FlowRider). Transportation is not included and food may be purchased inside the park.

At Sea Life Park, Hawaii's marine life comes alive in a dazzling display that will entertain and delight. Located just 15 miles from Waikiki on Oahu's beautiful and scenic Makapu'u Point, Sea Life Park is a world-class marine attraction.

Battleship Guided Tour ***NOTE:valid with any discount offers. By purchasing this product you authorize MMA to charge your credit card. Cancellations/refunds are available 48 hours prior to specified tour date***

Includes 1) Admission to Wet'n'Wild Hawaii 2) Roundtrip transportation from Waikiki (no seat reserved for a child 2 yrs and under, free tubes & life jacket included) 3) Unlimited Body Board rides on Da FlowRider 4) Unlimited Soft Drinks 5) Body Board Lesson at our Mega Wave Pool, "Kapolei Kooler" and 6) BBQ Lunch.

Includes roundtrip transportation from Waikiki (no seat reserved for a child 2 yrs and under, free tubes & life jacket included) and passport to all the attractions.(Except Da' FlowRider), Unlimited Soft Drink. Lunch is not included, but may be purchased at the park.

This tour includes General Admission. Not valid with any discount offers. By purchasing this product you authorize MMA to charge your credit card. Cancellations/refunds are available 48 hours prior to specified tour date*** *Note: Please check in at the USS Bowfin Submarine

ATV 2 hour ride 3:00pm ATV riders must be 16 years of age or older. Covered Shoes required for ATV Rides. All riders must read and sign a liability release form prior to participating in event. The 2 Hour ATV rides venture into green pastures discover World War II facilities see Magnificent views of Mountains and the Pacific Ocean Explore sites where Movies such as Jurrasic Park, WindTalkers, Pearl Harbor, Godzilla, Blue Crush and many more were filmed.

18A Beach & Waterfall Adventure After an exciting hike through lush rainforests to a hidden waterfall, boogie board or sunbathe at Hawaii's best beaches

Full day Hawaiian Experience package choice 4 tours. Ocean voyaging, Hawaiian Fishing & Garden Tour, Movie Sites & Ranch tour, Jungle Expedition, or Paliku Exploration. Each tour is approx. 1 hour long. Also Includes a Buffet Lunch.

Kualoa Ranch Hawaiian Experience HALF DAY HALF Day Hawaiian Experience Tour: 2 choices of either Ocean Voyaging, Hawaiian Fishing & Garden Tour, Movie Sites & Ranch Tour, Jungle Expedition, or Paliku Exploration. Each tour is approx. 1 hour long and also includes a Buffet lunch.

Enjoy a guided walk to the 760 foot summit of the world's most famous crater where breathtaking 360 degree views await you. On this adventure you will learn interesting information about the craters geology, history, archeology, flora and fauna.

#01/B -9:30AM Diamond Head Crater Adventure Enjoy a guided walk to the 760 foot summit of the world's most famous crater where breathtaking 360 degree views await you. On this adventure you will learn interesting information about the craters geology, history, archeology, flora and fauna.

Spectacular 2000 foot jagged cliffs tower above as you walk into the lush Koolau mountains that rise above Kaneohe Bay. We visit a picturesque rainforest waterfall and enjoy Hawaii?s unique rainforest plants and birds.

Visit Paiko Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary, world famous Hamauma Bay, "From Here To Eternity" beach, Halona Blowhole, Makapuu Lookout, Kaupo lava flow and tide pools, Waimanalo Bay, Enchanted Lake bird refuge, ancient Hawaiian temple.

#05 Mountain Rainforest Adventure Journey to the scenic mountains high above the shimmering waters of Pearl Harbor to a place that time has passed by. In this beautiful setting we walk into a forest that includes Hawaiian honeycreepers, scarlet-flowered Ohia and majestic Koa trees.

#06 Valley of the Rainbows Adventure Travel with us to the enchanting, lush rainforest located deep within the beautiful Valley of the Rainbows. Here, nestled below towering jungle trees and surrounded by seven waterfalls is one of the worlds premier Botanical Gardens, Lyon Arboretum.

Escape the hustle bustle of Waikiki and journey with us to the lost coast of O`ahu, a place where your fantasies of a tropical island paradise come true. Lanikai, Moku Lua, Coconout Island, Kaneohe Bay, Chinaman's Hat, and other beautiful locations await you...

#08 North Shore Adventure An exciting journey of discovery to the famous North Shore of Oahu. Over the Ko'olau Mountains to the windward side, then on to the North Shore featuring Byodo Temple, Turtle beach, Banzai Pipeline, historic village of Haleiwa and much more.

Horseback 2 hour ride 3:00pm Horse back riders must be older the 10 years old and Height Min: 4 feet 6 inches, Weight Max: 230lbs. 2 Hour Horsback ride ventures to the South side Of Kualoa Ranch where you will surly be amazed at the Beautiful Land Once owned by the Great King Kamehama the III. Includes roundtrip transportation from Waikiki.

Airport Standard Lei - Oahu The perfect way to say "Aloha and Welcome to Hawaii" is with a fresh and lovely single strand of dendrobium orchids. When in season, this flower lei may be combined with sweet smelling yellow plumeria or dleciate and colorful carnation. ****48 hours notice needed, Lei Greetings are only 8:30am and 9:00pm****

10 AM Ambassador Luau MOTORCOACH 12:00 admission to 7 villages, long canoe pageant, Imax (TM) presentation, PREMIUM seating at the night show, Pineapple Delight Dessert, canoe rides, tram tour of La'ie, Ambassador dining or Ali'i Lu'au, "Free within Three" offer, small group guided tour, consolidated motorcoach pickup and drop off in Waikiki

12 PM Ambassador Luau MOTORCOACH 12:00 admission to 7 villages, long canoe pageant, Imax (TM) presentation, PREMIUM seating at the night show, Pineapple Delight Dessert, , canoe rides, tram tour of La'ie, Ambassador dining or Ali'i Lu'au, "Free within Three" offer, small group guided tour, consolidated motorcoach pickup and drop off in Waikiki

Ambassador Luau NO TRANSPORTATION 12:00 admission to 7 villages, long canoe pageant, Imax (TM) presentation, PREMIUM seating at the night show, Pineapple Delight Dessert, canoe rides, tram tour of La'ie, Ambassador dining or Ali'i Lu'au, "Free within Three" offer, small group guided tour.

Paradise Cove Luau Buffet The Paradise Cove Luau Hawaiian Buffet Package includes transportation to and from Waikiki, a shell lei and Mai Tai greeting, shower of flowers, hukilau ceremony, Royal Court procession, imu ceremony and the Paradise Cove Extravaganza.

Paradise Cove Luau Deluxe-Front Stage Package The Deluxe Package includes all of the Orchid Service features, but with 2 standard &2 premium drink coupons, a souvenir arrival photo and VIP seating in the Front Stage seating during the Luau dinner, table service and show.

Germaine's Luau - The Original Beach Luau The ultimate in enjoyment...entertainment...and "hang loose" Hawaiian-style fun on the beach at Germaine's "Too Good To Miss" Luau. An unforgettable evening filled with the old-fashioned Spirit of Aloha!

The One Day Tour - Volcano Tour and Lava Walk is the ideal way to explore more of Hawaii, beyond Waikiki. Your One Day Tour includes door-to-door pickup at your hotel, roundtrip airfare to the Big Island, and all tour admissions on the Volcano Tour and Lava Walk.

One Day Tour Hawaii Grand Circle Island. Commonly called the Big Island, Hawaii is anything but common. It is almost twice the size of all other Hawaiian islands combined and is proud to be the youngest and largest of the islands. It has the largest ranch in the US, touches the southernmost point and has the most active volcano. A special place with surprises at every turn. Includes round trip airfare to Hawaii, the Big Island, and bus transportation to and from the airport.

One Day Tour Maui - Hana Experience waterfalls, verdant rainforests and breathtaking views winding over steep valleys on the road to our Hana adventure. Includes round trip airfare to Maui and bus transportation to and from the airport.

One Day Tour Maui - The Valley Isle During this 9-hour tour you'll go to the top of the world at Mt. Haleakala, a dormant volcano, see beautiful Iao Valley and Iao Needle, and the old whaling town of Lahaina. Includes round trip airfare to Maui and bus transportation to and from the airport.

One Day Tour Kauai - The Garden Isle Fill your senses with a visit to the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific", Waimea Canyon, followed by a ride up the famed Wailua River to the mystical Fern Grotto. Includes round trip airfare to Kauai and bus transportation to and from the airport.

#03/A -8:00AM Hawaiian Waterfall Hiking Adventure. Spectacular 2000 foot jagged cliffs tower above as you walk into the lush Koolau mountains that rise above Kaneohe Bay. We visit a picturesque rainforest waterfall and enjoy Hawaii's unique rainforest plants and birds.

Back Roads of Oahu Back Roads of Oahu is an interactive and educational experience that takes you off the beaten path. Take a unique journey through time which blends culture, history and agriculture beginning with native Hawaiian living to Hawaii's plantation days of yesteryear through today's farming culture.

Creation Polynesian Cocktail Show. Simply the finest show on the island of Oahu...in the Ainahau Showroom Come spend an evening in true Hawaiian style at the lavish Creation, A Polynesian Journey

Paradise Cove Orchid Luau Buffet. Orchid Luau Buffet features a fresh flower lei and Mai Tai greeting, preferred seating and all you can eat buffet dinner and 2 standard & 1 premium drink coupons. Be treated like Royalty at our Hawaiian Luau feast!

10 AM Admission Lu'au Show MOTORCOACH Consolidated Motorcoach pick up service from Waikiki and 12:00 admission to 7 villages, Canoe Rides, Canoe Pageant, Tram tour of La'ie, Imax(tm) film, Ali'i Lu'au dinner and show, preferred seating at night show and fresh flower lei.

10 AM Admission Show MOTORCOACH. 12:00 admission to 7 villages, Long Canoe Pageant, Imax(tm) film presentation, reserved seating at night show, canoe rides, tram tour of Laie, "free within three" offer. Motorcoach consolidated Waikiki hotel pickup is included.

10 AM Super Ambassador Motorcoach Kukui nut shell lei greeting, four fine dining entree selections, personal guided tour, Imax(TM) presentation, reserved seating in each village presentation and canoe pageant, private canoe tour, back stage evening show tour, front row seats in the evening show, private dining area, souvenir video DVD and program.

12 PM Admission Lu'au Show MOTORCOACH 12:00 admission to 7 villages, Canoe Rides, Canoe Pageant, Tram tour of La'ie, Imax(tm) film presentation, Ali'i Lu'au dinner/show, preferred seating at night show, fresh flower lei, "Free within three" offer, Consolidated motorcoach pickups from Waikiki.

12 PM Admission Show MOTORCOACH. 12:00 admission to 7 villages, Long Canoe Pageant, Imax(tm) film presentation, reserved seating at night show, canoe rides, tram tour of Laie, "free within three" offer. Motorcoach consolidated Waikiki hotel pickup is included.

CAN'T BUY ME LOVE IN HAWAII

“Oahu is traditionally the most economical island in Hawaii so, typically, couples have been able to book an Oahu vacation more cost effectively than the other islands “But one thing that clients have always commented on was how expensive the food and drink portion of the trip can be. So, I always suggest a list of cheap local eats where people can go and get good Hawaiian staples like plate lunches, ahi poke and shave ice to cut down on their food expenses.”

Couples are also more independent than ever, which can help lower sightseeing costs, he said.

“The desire for activity and adventure remains, but everyone is looking to stretch their dollars. Couples are willing to sacrifice eating at higher-cost restaurants so they can save money to spend on activities.

“For instance, the Aston Waikiki Sunset is located just a couple of short blocks from the beach. To stock the refrigerator, clients can visit the Kapiolani Community College farmers’ market on Saturday mornings. There, they will find plenty of fresh, locally-grown produce and island-made products.

We advise couples on a budget to rent a car and explore Oahu using TourTalk Oahu, an entertaining, educational self-drive audio tour.

“While giving directions to significant sites of the past and present, it tells stories of the island’s culture and history. Imagine having a private tour of Oahu for only $24.95.

Since all the beaches in Hawaii are free, you can stop off at any one that calls to you. Snorkeling remains high on the list of romantic budget Oahu activities.

If you bring your own snorkeling equipment from home, this is a no-cost activity.

Another of my favorite romantic activities is walking the two-mile paved trail up to the Makapuu Lighthouse, with fantastic views of the windward side of Oahu and Molokai in the distance. During whale season (December-April), it provides a great vantage point for spotting humpbacks.

Waikiki, meanwhile, is loaded with free or cheap programs with appeal to couples. Lessons in lei making, Hawaiian language, hula and ukulele are everyday activities at Mana Hawaii on Lewers Street and the Royal Hawaiian Center on Kalakaua Avenue. Complimentary music and dance programs take place at the International Marketplace and Waikiki Beach Walk. A timeless treat for couples is riding the waves in an outrigger canoe with a Waikiki beach boy. The cost is small and the ride includes catching two waves. At cocktail hour, couples can learn how to make a mai tai at Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber, which presents free mixology classes twice a week.

Come evening, couples can continue to save money while creating memories. On Fridays, for instance, the Hilton Hawaiian Village puts on a free fireworks display. One weekend each month, free movies are shown on Waikiki Beach on a giant screen.

Put down a beach mat, watch the sun go down in a gorgeous setting, look for the green flash at sunset, dine on some local carry-out food, enjoy the live entertainment and watch a first-run movie with the stars twinkling overhead.

Guests of the Outrigger Reef on the Beach or Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach can partake in a free vow-renewal ceremony on Tuesday and Friday mornings. The non-denominational Hawaiian ceremony is performed by a practicing kahu (Hawaiian minister). The ceremony includes a welcome chant, music, a renewal of vows in Hawaiian, a blessing and the Hawaiian Wedding Song performed with hula. Friends and family can take part in the ceremony as well.

Couples can time their romantic trip with any of the scores of Oahu festivals featuring free parades, crafts, music and hula. Examples include the Honolulu Festival in March, Lantern Floating Festival on Memorial Day, Kamehameha Day in June, Prince Lot Hula Festival in July, Aloha Festivals in September and holiday celebrations at year’s end.

To keep in touch with all that Oahu has to offer couples can tune into OVB’s Webinars, presented multiple times per week. To sign up, e-mail Alford at stacey@visit-oahu.com.

Driving on Oahu is a breeze, roads are nice, attractions are properly marked, and it’s really hard to get lost on an island surrounded by water.

When it’s time to venture out, couples should visit one of Oahu’s many ABC Stores and buy a fold-up beach mat for $2.99.

TRUMP'S NEW WAIKIKI HOTEL IN WAIKIKI

Introductory rates for the hotel’s 462 hotel rooms and suites range from $255 per night for studio accommodations to $8,000 for a penthouse suite.

The 38-story building is situated on Waikiki Beach Walk, a new center of dining, entertainment and shopping. The design of the high-rise promises to blend the indoors and outdoors, incorporating traditional Hawaiian building techniques that take advantage of prevailing winds and natural cooling.

Native plants have been brought into the hotel to create indoor public spaces. The ground floor lobby showcases Egyptian marble, onyx and Hawaiina koa wood. The hotel’s sixth-floor lobby, which opens to a view of Fort DeRussy Park and the ocean, features custom wood panels and commissioned hand-painted Hawaiian murals and paintings.

Clients can choose from a variety of room and suite categories providing options for couples, families and multi-generational travelers. Many units come with full kitchens with Bosch, Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, and clients guests will have the option to ask a hotel chef to prepare a meal in the privacy of their suite.

The hotel's dining options include BLT Steak, chef Laurent Tourondel’s first restaurant in Hawaii, as well as a lobby bar and outdoor café. The Spa at Trump offers signature and island-inspired services and treatments. In a proactive approach to personalized service, a Beach Attaché attends to the needs of guests taking part in oceanfront activities. Other amenities include a library, waterwall, infinity plunge pool and state-of-the-art fitness center.

Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk plans to offer a cultural program, while Trump Kids addresses the wants and needs of younger guests.

“We look forward to welcoming our first guests before the end of the year,” said managing director Scott Ingwers. “Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk intends to redefine the luxury standard for Waikiki and we look forward to welcoming new guests to this area.”

MANDALAY BAY INTRODUCES DIVE WITH THE SHARKS

Throughout the four-hour experience, participants learn about shark health and behavior as well as Shark Reef Aquarium research projects that aid in the preservation of endangered species. To make the experience more intimate, the program is limited to two participants and one dive per day. Every dive is different as the sharks' needs change daily. Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

LAS VEGAS PALAZZO UNVEILS AZURE DAYTIME POOL EXPERIENCE

Culinary offerings at AZURE include appetizing fare by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. Crisp Calamari with Grilled Zucchini and Oven-Roasted Tomato, Smoked Salmon Pizza with Black Caviar, and Maine Lobster Salad accompanied with Heirloom Tomatoes along with Avocado are just a sampling. Guests can pair their dining selection with wines or champagne-by-the-glass. Magnum bottle service consisting of Dom Perignon, Perrier Jouet Fleur, and Veuve Clicquot is also available.

Adding to the fine line-up of amenities, AZURE will present ABSOLUT® Vodka Saturdays, exclusive daytime pool events consisting of stylish entertainment, beautiful models, celebrity guests, acoustic performances, live DJ’s and ABSOLUT Vodka signature cocktails, such as the Spiked Bellini.

High-style fashion shows featuring apparel and accessories from the likes of Barneys New York, Diane von Furstenberg, Tory Burch and other luxury retailers of The Shoppes at The Palazzo will take place twice a day each Saturday at AZURE. Canyon Ranch SpaClub® will also have an exclusive menu of relaxing signature spa services, including complimentary SPF lotion application, available to guests during pool hours. Featured on the menu will be Champagne on the Rocks, a 50-minute cooling and invigorating massage treatment that combines cold stone placement, a cool mint foot mask, and a Blanc de Blanc champagne body oil massage, designed to protect the skin while preventing sun damage.

Guests of AZURE will be greeted at the entrance to the pool by a VIP host and escorted to a lounge chair, daybed, or cabana. A selection of complimentary amenities including fresh fruit, beverages, ice towels, Evian water mistings, and samplings of delectable cuisine will be passed throughout the day by one of the “amenity butlers and butlerettes.”

AZURE will be open from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Friday through Sunday for guests 21 and over.

CASCAIS PORTUGAL

Enjoy your weekend at this unique hotel located in Cascais (Portugal), on the Atlantic Ocean front.

A three night stay in double room (Sunday included and free of charge)
Buffet breakfast in "Navegantes" restaurant
VIP Service at arrival
Early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability)
Dinner in the Belvedere restaurant (drinks not included)
Unlimited use of the gym
One visit to the Spa area (Turkish bath, sauna and Thalasso treatments)
Package prices per person
Standard double room: € 387,50
Standard single room: € 650,00
Valid: 31st December 2009

A CLASSIC SEDONA PROPERTY COMPLETES RENOVATION

Guestrooms have been fully upgraded with new carpeting and bathroom fixtures. Other recent additions include flat-screen televisions, new bedding and individual climate controls in each room. Additional amenities include complimentary, locally ground coffee and local and regional newspapers available daily in the lobby. The exterior of the hotel has also been enhanced to reflect the beauty of its environment. Decorative red and brown rocks line the pathways while indigenous plants add natural beauty.

“We are looking forward to showing off our upgraded accommodations and amenities to new and returning guests,” said Joe Mottershead, general manager of Orchards Inn. “Orchards Inn has earned a loyal following of guests who love the hotel's central location, spacious rooms, affordable rates, friendly service and, above all else, magnificent views. We are sure our new contemporary design will quickly become one more reason for guests to return.”

BIG ISLAND LODGE SERENELY

"From the very beginning, we were committed to creating this as a sustainable facility," said Jeanne Sunderland, the retreat's co-owner and lead therapist. "It's always been important to us to show that sustainable living and gracious living are indeed compatible, because there are a lot of preconceptions that to be sustainable, you have to give up something. In truth, you just have to be smarter about how you do things."

Electricity for the retreat's impressively appointed eight-room lodge is provided entirely by 40 photovoltaic panels. A cleverly designed system of cross ventilation and ceiling fans keeps the building comfortable year-round. The on-site well supplies the necessary water, which is also heated with solar energy and then conserved with low-flow toilets and showerheads.

"It's where we are unconscious that we waste," Sunderland said. "But if you're mindful when you leave a room and you turn off the lights and the fans, or you try to use only the water that you need, it really makes a difference."

Much of the food prepared in the kitchen is grown in the 50-acre property's organic vegetable gardens and fruit orchards. Grass-fed cattle, sheep and goats provide meat and dairy products. There are free-range chickens for eggs; a local fisherman supplies fresh fish. Jeanne's husband and co-owner, Robert, has even begun work on an outdoor bread oven. And anything that can't be produced at the retreat itself comes from nearby farmers.

Many of the retreat's distinctive spa treatments also make use of indigenous plants grown at the property.

"This property was actually used for this very same purpose 100 years ago," Sunderland said. "There was a kahuna [priest] here who grew medicine plants, and people would come to him for healing, so it's just been waiting to do that again."

Sunderland, who's lived in the Kohala region for more than 30 years, began studying laau lapaau, the Hawaiian art of healing with native plants and herbs, in the late 1970s. She later pursued a massage therapy license and worked at spas in the Hyatt (now the Hilton Waikaloa Village) and the Ritz-Carlton at Mauna Lani (now the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii) for nearly 13 years.

During her time at the Ritz, Sunderland organized on-site health and wellness retreats, but before long, a dilemma became increasingly apparent.

"People would become distracted," Sunderland said. "Because with 1,000 people in the hotel, 30 to 40 people would sort of get lost in all that energy ... and instructors would come to me and say, 'I can't seem to hold people's attention.'"

Sunderland said developing the Hawaii Island Retreat started out as a solution to some of those larger hotel spa shortcomings as well as a desire to create an upscale experience where people could escape and focus.

"I think it was probably 10 years ago that Robert and I looked at each other and said, 'We can do this,'" Sunderland said. The Hawaii Island Retreat opened this spring.

Moments from the powerful surf and towering cliff faces of the Big Island's rugged north shore coastline, the lodge hosts up to 40 people and features an open-air, garden-side dining room; a yoga studio; a massage and therapy room; a saltwater pool; a sauna; a hot tub; a fitness room; a large, WiFi-equipped library and media center; and several outdoor spa bungalows.

Home to many culturally significant sites, including a ring of stones where King Kamehameha often held council with his closest advisers, the property is full of meandering hiking trails, lush vegetation and awe-inspiring ocean views.

Fantastic for couples looking for a romantic alternative to the Big Island's larger resort properties, and downright judicious for small weddings, conferences or executive getaways, the retreat's accommodations include second-floor suites, complete with spacious, private balconies, beginning at $400 a night. Ground-floor, gardenview rooms start at $275.

SONESTA GREAT BAY BEACH RESORT & CASINO OFFER FREE WEDDINGS

Couples who book 10 rooms or more (room-only and all-inclusive) for a minimum of seven nights enjoy a complimentary wedding "with all the works," according to officials at the 257-unit resort in Great Bay Harbour near Philipsburg.

The package includes services of a wedding coordinator, a marriage license, a wedding cake, flowers for bride and groom and a room category upgrade.

Room rates start at $205, double occupancy, per night for stays through Dec. 19, and from $275 from Jan. 3 through April 3. All-inclusive rates are also available.

Call (602) 904-5584, email Sonesta Great Bay Wedding Sales at weddings@greatbaybeachresort.com or visit www.sonesta.com/greatbay.

7 BEST LUXURY LODGE EXPERIENCES FOR YOUR MONEY

Part of the greater Sabi Sands Reserve, Mala Mala Game Reserve constitutes the largest privately owned Big Five game area in South Africa. The reserve's unfenced 19 mile boundary with Kruger National Park serves as crossing point for a continuous stream of game.

The breathtakingly beautiful Rattray's merges original bushveld style with daring ideas that run the risk of seeming out of place, but instead work surprisingly well. Eight opulent khayas (think Tuscan villas) with spacious his-and-her bathrooms, dressing rooms, and private heated plunge pools blend well with the surrounding bush. Each villa's entrance hall decorated, with art by distinguished African wildlife artists such as Keith Joubert, leads to a huge bedroom with wooden four-poster bed, and beyond, a lounge scattered with deep sofas, comfy armchairs, padded ottomans, writing desks (for those crucial nightly journal entries), antique Persian rugs, and a dining nook. Bird and botanical prints grace the walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows with insect-proof sliding doors face the Sand River and lead to massive wooden decks where you can view the passing wildlife.

The main lodge includes viewing and dining decks, an infinity pool, lounge areas, and tantalizing views over the river. In the paneled library, with plush sofas, inviting leather chairs, old prints and photographs, and battered leather suitcases, the complete works of Kipling, Dickens, and Thackeray rub leather shoulders with contemporary classics and 100-year-old bound copies of England's classic humorous magazine Punch. After browsing the Cellar's impressive fine wines, have a drink in the bar with its huge fireplace, antique card table, and polished cherrywood bar.

The Moremi Game Reserve, which is bordered by Chobe National Park in the northeast, covers much of the Okavango Delta's eastern side. Sometimes it seems as if a large proportion of Botswana's 70,000 elephants have made their way here, particularly in the dry winter season.

On Mombo Island, off the northwest tip of Chief's Island, this legendary camp is surrounded by wall-to-wall game. Although there is plenty of surface water in the area (marshes and floodplains), it's strictly a land-activity camp. The camp has exclusive use of a large area of Moremi, so privacy is assured. Its great wildlife, including all of the large predators, has made this area one of Botswana's top wildlife documentary locations—National Geographic and the BBC have both filmed here.

The stunning camp has identical guest rooms divided into two distinct camps: Mombo has nine rooms, Little Mombo only three. These camps are among the best known, most expensive, and most sought after in Botswana, so be sure to book months in advance. Each spacious room is built on a raised wooden platform with wonderful views over the open plains (you're almost guaranteed to see game as you sit there), and although the en-suite rooms have a tented feel, they are ultra luxurious. The dining room, lounge, and bar are also built on big wooden decks overlooking the magnificent animal-dotted savanna. The atmosphere is friendly, and the personal attention, food, and guides all excellent.

One of only three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tanzania (the other two are the Serengeti and Selous Game Reserve), Ngorongoro Crater is often called the eighth wonder of the world. It lies in the Biosphere Reserve of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which covers 3,204 square miles in northern Tanzania.

Imagine walking into a Hollywood film set where the spectacular setting is literally "Great Zimbabwe ruins meets SS Titanic baroque." Clusters of stilted rooms with woven conical banana-leaf domes and fancifully carved stone chimneys cling to the crater's rim and somehow blend in with the natural surroundings. Your palatial abode has polished wooden floors, leather armchairs, and a dramatic mix of furniture and styles including crystal chandeliers and hand-wrought local lamps. Ceiling-high swaths of silk taffeta drapes frame a small veranda with some of the world's most awesome views. Hand-carved doors lead to a massive bathroom with fresh cut roses, a freestanding tub, and a tessellated tile shower straight out of a Roman villa. The main dining room has a 1920s ocean liner stateroom feel, but the adjacent lounge comes straight from an old English country house. It's a daring glamorous mix of competing styles and themes that somehow works. However, the standards of food and service don't quite match the boldness of the architecture and opulence of the interiors.

Located in the wildly beautiful part of northern Zululand, Thanda is one of KwaZulu Natal's newer game reserves. Rangers often have to work hard to find game on this 37,000-acre reserve, but the rewards are great.

There's a palpable feeling of earth energy in this magical and exquisite lodge that blends elements of royal Zulu with an eclectic pan-African feel. Beautiful beehive-shaped dwellings perch on the side of rolling hills and overlook mountains and bushveld. Inside, contemporary Scandinavian touches meet African chic—from the "eyelashes" of slatted poles that peep out under the thatch roofs, to the embedded mosaics in royal Zulu red and blue that decorate the polished, honey-color stone floors. Creative light fixtures include chandeliers made of handcrafted Zulu beads and lamps of straw or filmy cotton mesh. A huge stone fireplace divides the bedroom area from the comfortable and roomy lounge. Each chalet has a different color scheme and is decorated with beaded, hand-embroidered cushions and throws. Dip in your personal plunge pool after an exciting game drive, sunbathe on your private deck, or commune with the surrounding bushveld in your cool, cushioned sala (outdoor covered deck).

Later, after a meal that many a fine restaurant would be proud to serve, come back to your chalet to find a bedtime story on your pillow, marshmallows waiting to be toasted over flickering candles, and a glass of Amarula cream. Or dine alone in your private boma by the light of the stars and the leaping flames of a fragrant wood fire. The spacious, uncluttered public areas—dining decks, bomas, library, and lounge—are decorated in restful earth tones accented by royal Zulu colors, beads from Malawi, Ghanaian ceremonial masks, and Indonesian chairs.

Separated from Kruger National Park by the Sabie River, this family owned and operated reserve, part of the greater Sabi Sands Reserve, has 10,000-acres of undisturbed wildlife that's available only to its guests. Lodge Review

If you seek the ultimate in luxury, privacy, and relaxation, look no further than this gorgeous lodge. Suites are really more like villas, as each has their own private entrance, separate sitting room, and bedroom that are joined by a breezeway. Superb views overlooking the Sabi River and Kruger beyond are had from every point, especially on the decks, which come equipped with telescopes—you actually never have to leave your suite to catch views of incredible wildlife.

The simple, elegant suites are decorated in contemporary African-European style with wood burning fireplaces, an indoor and outdoor shower, and a free-standing tub in which to relax at the end of the day. You'll also have plunge pool to cool off in and a personal butler to look after your every need, including delivery of your morning tea. Relax with intimate dinners and on-the-spot spa treatments, sample some of South Africa's finest wines in the on-site cellar, or head out on a game drive in a private vehicle with your own personal ranger. You won't even know if Brangelina or Ewan is in the next villa. TIP: If you're looking for something even more special and over the top, inquire about spending the night at the Chalkley Treehouse.

One of Namibia's best-kept secrets, the Strip lies in northeast Namibia (and is sometimes simply referred to as northeast Namibia) at the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe rivers. It serves as a gateway to Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls and Botswana's Chobe National Park.

East of Susuwe Island Lodge is the breathtaking, daringly beautiful Ntwala Island Lodge. Only 80 km (50 mi) upstream from Victoria Falls, the four art deco–meets-Africa chalets are built on an untouched Namibian cluster of small islands linked by floating wooden walkways. You can fly in from Namibia or Botswana, but there's also a road option. Drive to Kasane in Botswana, then board a small boat that skirts rapids and dodges hippos as it takes you to your very own Treasure Island. A gray, mosaic-edge, kidney-shape pool surrounded by white sand shimmers outside your cream-color, tile-roof chalet, just a couple of yards from the rushing Zambezi. The braying of trumpeter hornbills, the liquid notes of the robins, and the startled calls of francolins greet you.

The chalets are spectacular by any standard, with huge rooms, circular wooden canopies echoing the circular bed platforms, carved half-moon chests, handwrought light fittings of metal feathers, and bathrooms big enough to host a party. Freestanding canvas and wooden screens are topped by metal Prince-of-Wales's feathers, matching the metal curlicued towel rails and bath accessories trolley. Try your hand at tiger-fishing, marvel at the industry of the reed cormorants as they continuously crisscross the sky carrying nesting material to their heronry, or watch the sunset herds of elephants and buffalo. You might also glimpse the unique Chobe bushbuck, or a group of impala, or if you're really lucky (in the dry season) some thirsty lions.

About 171 miles southwest of Nairobi, Masai Mara covers an area of 702 square mi and is demarcated by the Serengeti in the south, the Loita Hills in the east, the Esoit Oloololo escarpment in the west, and the Itong Hills in the north. It's also part of the Serengeti ecosystem that supports one of the largest populations of animal groups on earth.

Kichwa Tembo, which means head of the elephant in Kiswahili, is one of Kenya's most sought-after camps in Africa. Perched on the edge of a riverine forest below the Oloololo Escarpment, the camp lies directly in the path of the migration. The en-suite tents are spacious and have seemingly never-ending views of the plains from the verandas. You'll be surrounded by the unforgettable sounds of the African night as you drift off to sleep. During the day you can take a dip in the shady pool between activities or just relax on your veranda while you fi ll out your bird and mammal lists. Don't forget to keep an eye out for passing animals: there'll be predators galore, as well as blue- and red-tailed monkeys, the mischievous banded mongoose, and if you're really lucky, the endangered black rhino. The candlelighted dinner on the banks of the Sabaringo River is a must-do for anyone. The staff here is attentive and charming, and the seductively stocked curio shop will have you swiping that credit card in no time.Holland America Line will charge between $30 and $75 per day for use of private cabanas on the 2,014-passenger Eurodam, the line's first Signature-class ship, slated to debut in July. The ship will feature private tented cabanas on two decks: the Observation Deck in an area called the Retreat, and around the midship pool on the Lido Deck. Cabanas will be furnished with woven chaises, ottomans and upholstered settees and will be stocked with bathrobes, towels, handheld fans, an Evian spray mister and iPods preloaded with music. Chilled water and iced fruit skewers will be available to cabana guests in the morning, and in the afternoon they will get frozen grapes, chocolate-covered strawberries and a glass of champagne. The Retreat, a quiet, spa-themed outdoor area, will have 14 cabanas that will cost $45 on port days and $75 on sea days, while the eight Lido Deck cabanas will go for $30 on port days and $50 on sea days. Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

TOP 10 TRAVEL GADGETS UNDER $50

From iPods to noise-canceling headphones, from digital cameras to GPS trackers, they take up space, can consume electricity and distract us from actually enjoying the trip. Gadgets also tend to be expensive, small and easy-to-lose. But gadgets can be both useful and cheap — they can help even budget travelers make the most of their adventures. Here is a list of the 10 gadgets, all under $50, that I either own or have been lusting after.

1. Last summer, when I was hitchhiking across northern Cyprus, a British couple wanted to give me a ride from our hotel. The problem: Their car wouldn’t start. Luckily, I was carrying a Leatherman Skeletool CX, which has pliers, which I used to tighten the battery leads and get the car going. Now I don’t go anywhere without a multitool. I’ve used it to slice goat cheese in Monaco and reattach a suitcase wheel in Vilnius. This week, however, I’m planning to lay aside my Skeletool for the Leatherman Juice C2, which not only costs less ($31.99 at Amazon) but has more tools, including a corkscrew.

2. Caving in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Camping in Oregon. Reading a book on an overnight train from Istanbul to Bucharest. Couldn’t have done any of that without a flashlight. Now, forget about old-school incandescent bulbs — LEDs are the way to go, and from the reviews I’ve read, Cree brand LEDs are both more powerful and less expensive than other brands. The Fenix LD01 ($42 from Amazon) is ridiculously tiny but throws off 80 lumens from a single AAA-powered

3. Pickpocketing is a major concern of travelers, whether they’re carrying loads of cash or 50 euros that need to last the next two weeks. My solution is to put aside the wallet, often bulky and usually carried in the back pocket, and switch to a money clip, which is slimmer and fits in the harder-for-thieves-to-reach front pocket. It’s not 100 percent foolproof, but I haven’t been robbed in the decade I’ve been using one. I got mine for $10 at a Miami flea market, but if I were getting a new one — and didn’t care about its hideous “Star Trek: The Next Generation” styling — I’d try the Memorex Money Clip Flash Drive ($17.99 at Target stores), which builds in a one-gigabyte USB drive.

4. Whether you’re securing your belongings at a hostel or lashing up your snowboard, a retractable cable lock is a lightweight essential for travel. Make sure to get one with at least a three-foot cable. The Master Lock 4605D costs about $10 at Amazon, but the $18 Kryptonite R4 has a detachable LED flashlight (no word on whether it’s a Cree).

5. How do you fit a month’s worth of clothes into a 22-inch carry-on? By sucking the air out with vacuum packing bags. Travel Space Bags look like a good value — $7 for two medium bags, $8 for two large at the Container Store — and my fellow travel writer John Rambow tells me he likes them. (I’ll be testing them out on my next trip.) While you’re at it, it never hurts to bring along a half-dozen Ziploc-style bags, too.

6. It used to be that whenever I went abroad, I never had enough adapter plugs for all my devices: laptop, camera charger, cellphone charger and so on. Then, last summer, one of my readers suggested what I should’ve realized all along: If you bring a power strip, you only need one adapter. Since then, I’ve used the Belkin Mini Surge Protector, which has three outlets and two USB jacks (great for MP3 players and cellphones) and costs $25. (Full disclosure: My wife’s cousin works for Belkin.)

7. Whether you’re a snap-happy amateur or a DSLR-toting pro, stabilizing your camera will make for better pictures. Most mini-tripods, however, need a flat surface to rest upon. Not so the Gorillapod, which has flexible, multijointed legs that let it balance just about anywhere, even around vertical poles, tree branches or wherever you want to prop the camera. The original, good for compact cameras, costs $21.95 from its manufacturer, Joby, while a larger version, which can handle the weight of an S.L.R., is $39.95.

8. I don’t even remember where I got my travel first-aid kit, but over the years it’s provided me with bandages, painkillers and other essential tools for dealing with the bumps, scrapes and hangovers associated with long-term budget travel. It’s almost depleted now, so I’m getting REI’s seven-ounce Adventurer Medical kit ($24.95), which has all the usual bandages and tablets, plus safety pins, duct tape, sting-relief wipes and protective nitrile gloves. I almost can’t wait to get hurt! Grundig Mini 300 shortwave radioA Grundig Mini 300 shortwave radio.

9. The most important gadgets, in my opinion, are not those that let us travel more easily but those that let us connect with other people. A deck of cards is always in my bag, and I have friends who won’t leave home without a Frisbee. Those aren’t exactly gadgets, though. Speakers for an iPod are nice to have along — the lightweight, $29.99 iSymphony is what I own — but I sometimes feel like iPods promote egotism: Everyone wants to be the D.J. Instead, I love my $30, 4.7-ounce Grundig Mini 300 shortwave radio. It may not have the greatest receiver or speaker, but I remember one night, sitting in the foothills of the Himalayas with a new friend, tuning in to music and news broadcast from India, England, China, Russia, Vietnam and beyond, marveling at how isolated and yet how connected we felt. Nice.

10. Some gadgets are newfangled and exciting, others time-tested and true — which is why, wherever I go, I carry a notepad and a pen. Moleskine is the ultra-popular choice, but I prefer Ecojot’s 3-by-4-inch recycled-paper notepads (about $5), which are smaller and more flexible, but with enough backing to provide a stable writing surface. As for a pen, I buy Muji’s 0.38-millimeter gel-ink ballpoints, $1.25 apiece.

So there you have it, the gadgets no frugal traveler should be without. (And, no, I’m not getting paid to promote any of this stuff.)

Of course, your ideal gadget list will also depend on what kind of frugal traveler you are. Hikers and campers may want headlamps instead of flashlights, or hand-crank radios instead of battery-powered, while urbanites might see little use for a first-aid kit. On top of that, the particular brands and models matter less than what the devices actually do — you may prefer Kryptonite locks over Master, and you know what? That’s O.K. Just bring a retractable cable lock. I’d hate for someone to run off with your tripod, shortwave radio and first-aid kit.

CLUB MED IXTAPA PACIFIC

HOW TO GET UPGRADED AUTOMATICALLY - WITHOUT EVEN ASKING FOR ONE

Why they do this is one of the biggest mysteries in air travel. But it doesn’t matter why. The fact is if you know which aircraft do this, you can reserve a coach seat in rows 7-10 and you’ll be flying Business Class! Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

$28 PER NIGHT IN NEW YORK'S HOSTEL

Dormitory rooms:
Rates for dormitory beds start from $28 up to $45 depending on the season.

Private rooms:
Private rooms with shared bathrooms rates will start from $ 89 up to $ 135, depending on the season.

Studio Apartments:
Studio apartment rates start from $109 up to $ 179 depending on season and room type .

Please kindly note that this is a co-ed hostel! Guests booking into dorm rooms must be 18 years or older. For private rooms, guests under 18 years must be accompanied by an authorized adult.

They provide all linens, NO towels for dormitory rooms and all rooms have lockers.

Hostel only accepts cash or traveler’s checks and a foreign passport is required upon check-in.

A subway station is located at the end of the block and the B and C train stop there.

Central Park Hostel - 19 West 103rd Street near Central Park West New York, NY 10025 tel: (212) 678-0491 fax: (212) 678-0453 info@centralparkhostel.com Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA

There is a small town named Big Sur, but the term more often refers to a section of coastline that stretches for 90 mi/145 km, from just north of San Simeon to just south of Carmel. Take in the scenery and enjoy good hiking or beachcombing in the area's excellent state parks. The vistas are grand. Who could ask for more?

Some on-foot exploration is mandatory. But once you're out of your car, heed warnings about unstable cliffs and treacherous wave action and offshore riptides. Some people die unnecessarily in and around Big Sur each year simply because they underestimate the genuine wildness of this environment. Even Big Sur's history sounds a warning: It took 15 years for Chinese laborers and workers from the state's prisons to build Highway 1 through this inhospitable terrain, and in the process many lives and much equipment were lost to the sea.

All is not so severe there, however. A classic stop for the road weary is the striking seaside restaurant Nepenthe, almost as legendary as Big Sur itself. (Weather permitting, take in the sunset views from the upper deck.) Unfortunately, Nepenthe and the rest of Big Sur can be overwhelmed by sightseers during the summer and on warm-weather weekends. September and October are usually good months for a visit.

The town of Big Sur has an appropriately relaxed attitude—except in pricing: Lodging and dining bills can run a little high. You'll notice signs of development, but all in all, Big Sur is more protected than it was at the turn of the 20th century. The town of Big Sur is 100 mi/160 km south of San Francisco. Click Here For Flight & Hotel & Car Rental Information

BEST VEGAS ATTRACTIONS COMBINES RESOURCES

"BODIES…The Exhibition": Showing at Luxor Hotel and Casino, this exhibition features actual human specimens and allows people of all ages access to sights and knowledge normally reserved for medical professionals.

Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas: Located 36 miles south of Las Vegas in Primm, Nev., the outlets feature more than 100 stores with up to 75 percent off designer fashions.

Hard Rock Café: This summer, expect Las Vegas’ second Hard Rock Café location. The new café will feature an extensive retail shop, a “LIVE” venue, private function and meeting rooms and a grand cafe restaurant with patio dining and entertainment overlooking the Strip. The (original) Paradise location will keep on “rockin’ away” with Hard Rock Café’s classic dining and retail items.

Las Vegas Monorail: The Las Vegas Monorail is a quick and convenient connection to the Las Vegas Strip, linking riders to the city’s world-class restaurants, shows, shops, clubs, hotels and casinos. In just 15 minutes, Monorail riders can travel from one end of the Strip to the other in a clean, climate-controlled environment – without the hassles of traffic or wasted time. The Monorail’s electric, zero-emissions trains arrive every few minutes at each of the seven stations: MGM Grand; Bally’s/Paris Las Vegas; Flamingo/Caesars Palace; Harrah’s/Imperial Palace; Las Vegas Convention Center; Las Vegas Hilton and Sahara.

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas: Located in front of the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas offers guests the unique opportunity to ‘interact’ with incredibly life-like iconic figures from the celebrity worlds of film, TV, music, sports and politics. Guests can ‘grab hold’ of their favorite stars with our many interactive experiences. With more than 100 wax figures, guests can take pictures, touch and get up close and personal in a themed setting. The attraction is open 365 days a year starting at 10 a.m.

Papillon Airways, Inc.: Papillon Airways, Inc and Grand Canyon Airlines/Scenic Airlines since are the largest “flightseeing” companies in the world, with nearly 70 state-of-the-art helicopters and airplanes, specifically designed to reveal the area’s amazing panoramic views. The only companies that fly the entire Grand Canyon including the South and West rims, the companies also offer tours of Las Vegas, Page/Lake Powell and Monument Valley. Tours afford maximum flight time, enabling guests to fully discover Grand Canyon’s great wilderness and scenic attractions.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition: Featuring more than 300 artifacts, as well as breathtaking replicas from the famous ship, the Titanic exhibit truly brings history to life inside Luxor Hotel and Casino.

“We were all going after the same consumers, practically tripping over one another to secure business. We are like-minded businesspeople and had all thought at one point or another, ‘there has to be a better way to do this.’ Ultimately, we realized we are stronger together,” says Robert Graff, vice president of marketing, Papillon Airways, Inc. “This partnership provides us with a platform to implement marketing, advertising, databases and sales strategies in an impactful and cost-effective way, expanding our reach beyond what we could accomplish as individual companies. Through this consortium, we are targeting customers through wholesale and tour operators, travel agents, airline partners, concierges and many more.”

The group developed rack cards discount and referral booklets, all branded as Best Vegas Attractions. The referral program officially began in May 2009 and provides cash incentives to concierges and front desk representatives’ and discounts to visitors. More than 40,000 booklets are being distributed to more than 113 resorts. To incentivize both visitors and tour and travel representatives, the program is designed to save visitors up to $500 and concierge and front desk representatives to receive up to $100 per booklet in cash-back incentives.

KEY WEST ATTRACTIONS

At the leisurely pace of a beach-cruiser, clients can best experience the active, but low-key feel of Key West. Alcohol is as enjoyed in the tropical island as fresh seafood and key-lime pie, but mainly by retired folk drunk on the inspiration of past residents Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams. While famous for being only “90 miles to Cuba,” the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys offers clients at least five different reasons to stay on American soil:

Checking off classics in the “must-read-before-I-die” list is a classic vacation activity made easy in Key West, where Ernest Hemingway’s presence is felt even at the beaches. A must-see in Old Town, The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is the site in which the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winner wrote 70 percent of his work, including For Whom the Bell Tolls and his only novel set in America— To Have and Have Not, which takes place in depression-era Key West. His intact writing studio is not the only room worth seeing, as the Spanish Colonial style home contains Key West’s first pool and much of the exotic furniture — chandeliers, head boards, and benches — that Hemingway’s second wife Pauline imported from Spain, Italy, and Portugal during their stay in the 1930s. Fans of the author — such as those who flock to the island during July’s annual Hemingway Days festival to participate in inspired activities like deep sea Marlin fishing and a three day look-alike contest — will be happy to know that “Papa” is kept alive by a throng of cats descended from the author’s own polydactyl cat and a knowledgeable cast of look-alike tour guides.

Rick’s/Durty Harry’s Entertainment Complex is comprised of eight venues and 12 bars, but a balanced combination of Rick’s Downstairs bar and Rick’s Upstairs bar is the perfect recipe for a great night. Rick’s Downstairs offers cheap drinks and the chance to prove the potency of said drinks with free karaoke, while Rick’s Upstairs — complete with a DJ, a 1,500 square foot dance floor, balconies, and a ring of bars — is one of Key West’s only spots to dance to top 40 hits. For those left teased by the nude bar across Duval Street called Garden of Eden, Rick’s Red Garter Saloon offers free entry to its adult entertainment.

MANHATAN HOTELS FILL ROOMS WITH LOW RATES

In June, the average occupancy rate nationwide was 54.6 percent — by far the worst performance since Smith Travel Research of Hendersonville, Tenn., began keeping track in 1987. Distress is rampant, with increasing numbers of hotel owners surrendering control of their properties to their lenders.

As often happens, however, the Manhattan hotel market is a special case. Hotels in Manhattan also lost business in the financial crisis. But in April, rooms began filling up, sending the occupancy rate back over 80 percent. In July, 83.3 percent of the rooms were filled, a 5.6 percent decline since last year but still the highest occupancy rate in the nation, preliminary Smith Travel data shows.

But to attract business, Manhattan hotel operators have slashed room rates by nearly one-third since last year, to an average of just under $200 a night. “I know I could come across sounding like the convention bureau, but New York really is a good buy right now,” said John A. Fox, a senior vice president at the New York offices of PKF Consulting, a national research and hotel advisory firm.

Though bargains can be had all over the country, the national decline in room rates from June 2008 to June of this year was a much more modest 9.7 percent. Analysts say that is because room rates in most places never soared the way they had in Manhattan. Nationally, the average rate was $96.77 a night in June.

Manhattan’s discounted rates are proving a great deal for visitors but are taking a huge bite out of hotel revenue. Revenue per available room, the standard industry measure, has fallen by one-third, Smith Travel and PKF data show. Industry specialists say a decline in room rates results in a correspondingly larger drop in profits because hotels have so many fixed costs.

In New York, as elsewhere, luxury hotels have been affected by the outcry last fall when American International Group, the insurance giant that had to be rescued by the government, spent more than $400,000 on a corporate retreat at an Orange County, Calif., beach resort.

Since then, business executives have been reluctant to book rooms at hotels whose names evoke images of self-indulgence, analysts and brokers say. “What’s really scaring people is the prospect of getting dragged in front of a Congressional hearing,” said Bradley W. Burwell, a senior associate at CB Richard Ellis Hotels. Last month, the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, the site of the A.I.G. retreat, was turned over to its mezzanine lender, Citigroup.

Some hotel specialists said the so-called A.I.G. effect influenced the rate-cutting in Manhattan. President Obama singled out Las Vegas, and did not mention Manhattan, when he decried corporate junkets “on the taxpayers’ dime” earlier this year. Yet Manhattan hoteliers interpreted his remarks as applying to all high-end hotels, said Mark V. Lomanno, the president of Smith Travel Research. “They completely panicked,” he said. “They said, ‘We just have to get the hotels filled.’ ”

Drastically cutting room rates is a short-sighted strategy, Mr. Lomanno said. “I understand why it happens emotionally, but statistically speaking, they leave a lot of money on the table,” he said. “Of course, they need to lower their rates some, but the level of discounting is far above what they need to do.”

Rather than adding to the demand for hotel rooms, the bargain rates simply encourage people who already planned to travel to choose a different destination, he said.

One problem for New York, Mr. Lomanno said, is that in many cases, the discounted rate is now lower than previously negotiated corporate rates. He said corporate meeting planners were already beginning to demand further reductions.

Hotel specialists say that it could take years for room rates to reach their former level, which, of course, is good news for travelers. “Once you get a $149 rate in Manhattan, it will be difficult to charge $349 for that room next year,” said Thomas P. McConnell, a senior managing director at Cushman & Wakefield.

Keeping occupancy high may have helped most New York hotels from experiencing the defaults that are occurring elsewhere — at least so far. “When you’re filling 84 percent of your rooms, you should be generating enough cash flow to cover your debt service,” said David Loeb, a managing director at Robert W. Baird & Company, a financial services firm based in Milwaukee.

Around the country, owners of more than 1,000 noncasino hotels, including some well-known properties on the West Coast, have defaulted on $16.8 billion in loans, and many more are expected to follow suit, according to Real Capital Analytics, a New York research company. The distressed properties include the W Hotel in San Diego and two prominent San Francisco hotels: the Renaissance Stanford Court and the Four Seasons.

But a few Manhattan hotels have also run into trouble. Among them are the Dream Hotel, a 220-room luxury boutique hotel on 55th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue. In April, the owners, Hampshire Group and a partner, notified their mortgage servicer that they were unable to continue making payments on their $100 million securitized mortgage, said Frank Innaurato, a managing director at Realpoint, a credit ratings agency in Horsham, Pa.

Manhattan Hotels Fill Rooms With Low Rates In December, Horizen Global, which was developing the Vu Hotel, a boutique hotel with sweeping views of the Hudson River, on 11th Avenue at 48th Street, lost control of the property to its construction lender, U.S. Bank. Renamed Ink 48 — a reference to the building’s former role as a printing house — the hotel is scheduled to open in September, 18 months behind schedule. Despite its untested location, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, the managers of the hotel, had set rates at $429 a night. But for now, the hotel will offer an introductory rate of about $223, said Jorge E. Trevino, a vice president. Skip to next paragraph

Though hotel projects that were not under construction last fall have been postponed indefinitely, several new hotels are expected to open in the next few months, including the 220-room W Hotel on Washington Street, in Lower Manhattan.

The Surrey hotel, on 76th Street at Madison Avenue is reopening later this year after undergoing a top-to-bottom renovation that added 58 rooms, for a total of 190, said Ellen Brown, an executive vice president of Denihan Hospitality Group, the hotel’s owner. She said that given travelers’ skittishness about luxury brands, the upscale Surrey is likely to benefit from not having an instantly recognizable name like Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton.

As they cope with lower revenue, hotel operators are trying different strategies for holding down costs. Hersha Hospitality Group, which owns or manages 10 hotels in New York under brands like Hampton Inn and Candlewood Suites, no longer places newspapers outside the door and now offers breakfast from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., instead of 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., said Neil Shah, the president. “We’re doing things on the margin to keep down costs,” he said.

Hotel owners have to find ways to trim expenses without alienating customers, said Ms. Brown, whose company also owns or manages eight other hotels in Manhattan, including the Benjamin Hotel on East 50th Street.

“Guests can be very forgiving of a hotel room that has not been recently renovated as long as it’s clean, and as long as the service is good,” she said. “Obviously it’s hard right now to keep your guests happy. It’s tough for every hotel manager in this environment.” Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information .

PERU 15 DAYS DEPARTURES ON SUNDAY

Day 1 Sun: Arrive Lima
Day 2 Mon: Lima / Iquitos
Day 3 Tue: Iquitos – Cieba Tops Jungle Lodge
Day 4 Wed: Cieba Tops Jungle Lodge
Day 5 Thur: Cieba Tops Jungle Lodge (Canopy Walkway)
Day 6 Fri: Cieba Tops Jungle Lodge – Iquitos / Cuzco
Day 7 Sat: Cuzco (Urubamba Sacred Valley)
Day 8 Sun: Cuzco (Urubamba Sacred Valley)
Day 9 Mon: Cuzco / Machu Picchu
Day 10 Tue: Machu Picchu / Cuzco
Day 11 Wed: Cuzco ? Puno (Lake Titicaca)
Day 12 Thur: Puno - Suasi Island
Day 13 Fri: Suasi Island – Puno / Lima
Day 14 Sat: Lima / Ica (Nazca Markings) / Paracas
Day 15 Sun: Paracas ( Ballestas Islands ) – Lima / Departure

Lima Country Club Hotel
El Dorado Plaza Hotel, Iquitos
Ceiba Tops Jungle Lodge
Monasterio Hotel, Cuzco
Sanctuary Lodge, Macgu Picchu
Esteves Libertador Hotel, Puno
Casa Andina Suasi Island Hotel, Puno
Las Dunas Hotel, Paracas

Not included: Gratuities of any kind; airport departure taxes; meals unless included in the itinerary.

Please inquire about our special airfares on AMERICAN AIRLINES and LAN for this program. See "Airfares" .... consolidator flights that save you 40%. Once you have the airfare... we will send you land cost.... Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

FIJI AIR DEAL

This Fiji getaway offer coincides with the South Pacific destination recently ranked among Forbes.com’s top 15 affordably-priced countries for American travelers.

The full-service carrier offers Boeing 747 non-stop flights to Fiji from Los Angeles four days a week, and from Honolulu two days a week with convenient, comfortable and competitive travel options. It operates service to 18 destinations in 11 countries worldwide.

Pacific Sun, Air Pacific’s sister airline, operates a combination of ATR42-500’s, De Havilland Twin Otter’s and Britten Norman Islander’s on Fiji domestic routes with the ATR42’s also servicing regional sectors between Suva, Tonga and Funafuti, as well as between Nadi and Port Vila.

The 20 percent devaluation of the Fijian currency in April 2009 provides U.S. travelers with a unique opportunity for an exceptional exchange rate. Air Pacific and resorts throughout the Islands are offering attractively-priced packages that are available on the airline’s Web site (www.airpacificholidays.com).

Air Pacific, Fiji’s international airline, operates service to 18 destinations in 11 countries worldwide. The airline offers direct flights originating in the U.S. from both Los Angeles and Honolulu to Fiji with connecting services to Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Kiribati.

FLUFFY TOWELS, MEMORABLE MEALS, PERKS OF SUPPORTED CYCLING

Dee Real's group takes a break in front of Chief Mountain in Montana during a supported bike tour.

You needn't schlep 40 pounds and more of gear on your bike. A van will deliver your street clothes, your iPod, your Tom Clancy novel and the rest of your needs to your next destination.

Your lodgings could be a motel or hotel, instead of a tent. There might even be gourmet dining: succulent salmon if you are riding in the Pacific Northwest, perhaps roast pigeon if you are cycling in France, followed by a glass or two of Muscat.

"Supported bike touring" is a departure from traditional bike touring, which generally has meant roughing it. Organizers provide creature comforts, sometimes even luxuries. Velo Classic Tours, a New York City-based company that operates tours in Europe, offers lodgings that include a manor in France, a converted guild house in Belgium and a four-star hotel in the Dolomites.

For any supported bike tour, all you have to do is ride, leaving the logistics to the specialists.

That seems to be especially appealing to Baby Boomers and cyclists in their 40s.

"We're at that age where we appreciate a nice comfy bed, and the fluffy towels," said Dee Real, a 44-year-old veteran cyclist who has organized supported bike tours for friends in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

Bike riding for fitness and recreation has been on the upswing over the past several years.

The number of road bikes sold grew from 10.8 percent of all bikes in 2004 to 17 percent in 2006, according to U.S. Commerce Department figures cited by the National Bicycle Dealers Association on its Web site. Don't Miss

* America By Bicycle
* Velo Classic Tours
* National Bicycle Dealers Association
* World Wide Bicycle Tour Directory
* National Bicycle Tour Directors Association

Road bikes are favored by fitness cyclists because they are lightweight, fast and responsive on corners -- Maseratis of the velo world. They are also the two-wheelers of choice among folks who are drawn to supported bike tours.

"This is an industry that's here to stay. As the Boomers get older, they are looking to do outdoor things," said Doug Torosian, president of America By Bicycle, a commercial operation based in Atkinson, New Hampshire, that organizes coast-to-coast bike tours.

People who sign up for supported tours are generally not neophytes. Many rack up thousands of miles each year on day rides, and add a supported tour lasting a week or more during the summer.

As appealing as supported bike tours are for fitness and environmental reasons, they can be pricey.

You can get a road bike with an aluminum frame for $1,000. But aluminum can be jarring on long rides. Steel is another option, but it tends to be heavy. Many long-distance cyclists instead opt for titanium or carbon fiber frames and kit them out with ultralight Dura-Ace or Campagnolo components, resulting in a price tag that can easily exceed $4,000.

An 11-day tour of Belgium organized by Velo Classic Tours costs $5,195. That doesn't include airfare, but it does cover lodging at four-star hotels, and watching professionals compete in both the Tour of Flanders and the Paris-Roubaix, a race as famous in Europe as the Tour de France. Dining includes frequent close encounters with Michelin chefs.

But you can also find loaded tours closer to home for a fraction of those costs.

Last year, Dee Real took some friends on a tour of the North Cascades in Washington state that cost them $800 each. That included eight nights at hotels.

She invests hours into Web-researching scenic routes that would be good for bikes. Then she and her husband, Mike, drive to the area to check out the roads, hotels and restaurants.

"We want riders to have a stress-free good time ... eat, sleep, ride. It's the journey that matters. All without a single worry so that they can really enjoy themselves and the area that they are riding in," says Real.

Cyclists can burn several thousand calories a day on a trip like that. And it's a good thing, given the attention tour organizers sometimes pay to food.

TEL AVIV IS WHERE THE ACTION IS

To fully grasp the powerful influence of Bauhaus School founder Walter Gropius and his clan, who migrated down from Weimar, Dessau and Berlin, Germany, during the war in 1933, I started at the Bauhaus Center on Dizengoff Street. It’s a wonderful place to pick up a few books on the subject before you set out on a two-hour guided walking tour of the more prominently designed buildings that have been coined the White City. More than 4,000 Tel Aviv buildings were constructed in cubist, sculptural, economical and functional styles by many of the 100,000 new inhabitants during that period, creating an open museum of architecture and ultimately, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.

The recent Annual White Night Festival turned the clock back to 1909 — when the modern Mediterranean city was founded — with music, exhibitions, dancers, costumes and vintage cars rolling along Rothschild Boulevard all the way to the newly restored Manshia Train Station for theatrical performances ending with concerts and a sunrise party at Tzuk and Alma Beaches.

There is something entertaining happening every night of the week in Tel Aviv. The locals love to party as much as they like to debate politics or religion, so clients are in for a passionate night on the town either way.

I strongly suggest you try some of the many new wine bars the city has to offer. One of the best to be found is Pri Hagefen by Golan Dor, owner of Nana House for Food & Beverages. At the bistro-style restaurant we feasted on family-style lamb kebabs, eggplant salad and tahini and then walked across the street for an impressive wine tasting in the cozy lounge bar with a selection of more than 70 local vintages.

Seeking something a little more boisterous might want to join the revelers at La Champa for Catalan food and plenty of flowing cava (sparkling wine), or check out a Las Vegas import, Sushisamba, which combines Brazilian, Peruvian and Japanese cuisine, music and design. Lima Lima is a favorite bar with a dance floor and on any given night you’ll find a young, hip crowd and great people watching with a backdrop of house music. Clients can’t go wrong in the Lilenblum area, where most of the popular places seem to be clustered. They should plan to eat dinner late and stay out even later; like New York, this city never seems to sleep.

Personally, I preferred the scene at Nanuchka a local favorite with more of a cafe culture vibe located in an old house. We could have been in West Hollywood or Moscow (the owners are Georgian) on a Saturday night as we squeezed through the front door past red velvet drapes to the main lounge area where beautiful young women were dancing on the bar — sometimes three at a time. Luckily, we were able amble past the other range of 20- to 40-something patrons squashed up against the ruby-colored walls to a table in the back room where we could order champagne cocktails and watch all the action through a service window off the bar.

While Tel Aviv’s fashions will never rival those of Milan or Paris, it was surprising to see the mix of expensive designer jeans, tight black frocks and strappy gold or silver gladiator sandals that many women were sporting. One of the best places to pick up one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories finds is in the first neighborhood of the city called Neve Tzedek. Here, we walked along charming, leafy streets — a welcome change from the traffic logged and commercial Rothschild Boulevard. We also stumbled upon a unique jewelry store from native Ayala Bar. Her pieces are truly works of art blending mineral stones, glass beads and assorted metals into a mosaic of earrings and necklaces that have proved to be great conversation starters whenever worn.

To experience some of the best new shopping and dining the city has to offer, the revitalized Tel Aviv Port area is a great place to walk for hours on a balmy night. It was hard to decide whether to stop at one of the many high-end clothing boutiques or to dine at one of the endless restaurants and lounges along the boardwalk from the sprawling, multi-level Whiskey a Go Go lounge to a multicourse traditional mezze meal at Boya.

While there are many cool galleries in Old Jaffa and crafts to be found in the flea market, the Joseph Bau Museum, located in one of the cities residential areas, is actually the famous painter/illustrator’s former studio, run by his two colorful and hospitable daughters Clila and Hadasa. We viewed and purchased a book with the work of the country’s first cartoonist while hearing heartfelt stories of Bau’s time during the Holocaust in Poland to his commercial success in Israel. It was one of the most personal glimpses into a deceased artist’s life that I have ever experienced.

For film-buff, e suggest the 82-room Cinema Hotel off Dizengoff Circle where doubles are priced from $180 per night. The old classics are alive and well in this thematic and entertaining Atlas-owned hotel that celebrates the history of the moving picture. It reminded me of a mini version of the American Film Institute with old projectors, movie posters and screenings taking place right in the lobby complete with a bag of popcorn at check-in. While clients might have trouble tearing themselves away from “Gone With the Wind,” the rooftop terrace has stunning views of the city.

Tel Aviv is definitely on the brink of becoming a cosmopolitan force to be reckoned with. Whether you are enraptured by its architecture, art, fashion, food or wine is your passion, they won’t leave this buzzing seaside city uninspired. Click Here For Flights to Tel Aviv & Hotel Information

GROUSE MOUNTAIN LODGE, MONTANA

Overlooking Whitefish Lake Golf Course, this beautiful lodge has an exterior detailed with massive beams that support a plethora of colorful flowerpots in the summer.

The lobby, furnished with wood furniture, overstuffed chairs, brass lamps and glass tables, is an excellent spot for writing postcards, reading, or using the wireless Internet access to check e-mail by laptop—especially if one sits in front of the 35-ft-high river-rock fireplace. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the golf course.

Another fireplace is highlighted in the restaurant that specializes in fish and game. An outdoor dining terrace has been added, overlooking the golf course and the mountain. With an extensive wine list, the Wine Room provides an intimate setting for a limited number of diners. Click Here For Flights to Montana & Hotel Information

POZNAN, POLAND OFFERS CHARMING HISTORY

Standing in the charming cobble stone square that lies at the heart of Poznan, Poland, in the quaint Stary Rynek (Old Market Square) about to witness the age-old spectacle that occurs in the clock tower of the Renaissance Town Hall. At precisely noon each day, a pair of mechanical tin goats (Koziolki) make their way out from behind a wooden door above the clock’s face and engage in a ritualistic head-butting battle; their rhythmic blows sync to the chiming of the hour before they retreat and await the next rematch.

While the Koziolki date back to 1551, Poznan’s historical roots — not to mention its importance to Poland’s past — reach much further. Located along the Warta River in the western-central region of the country, Poznan is cozily situated on the route from Berlin to Warsaw and is Poland’s fifth largest city, home to almost 600,000 inhabitants. It is also the capital of the Wielkopolska (Great-Poland) region, a province that has played a pivotal role in Poland’s political and cultural development. But the fact most likely to be appreciated by history buffs is that, in 1025, Poland’s first king — Boleslaw the Brave — was crowned in Poznan, creating the original kingdom of Poland.

Stary Rynek is a good starting point for exploring what Poznan has to offer. Framed by enchanting, colorful architecture, this central location boasts a wide variety of restaurants, cafes and pubs that are sure to satisfy the grumbling stomachs of those who have just watched the famous goats perform. Whether you’re looking for a traditional plate of Polish pierogi dumplings coupled with a cold pint of Zywiec (a traditional Polish beer) or simply a cappuccino, you won’t be let down.

The bustling square is also a prime location for people watching and, as Poznan is a university town, the population is generally young and vibrant.

Those with an interest in music will be pleasantly surprised to find small artisan booths set up and live music. Stary Rynek also houses the Museum of Musical Instruments, where visitors can see a striking collection of old and rare instrumentals from all over the world.

If museum-hopping is more your thing, Poznan offers many options, such as the National Museum, the Museum of Ethnography, the Museum of Arms and multiple art and literature museums.

A short walk from the square, through cobblestone alleys, can take you to the site of Poland’s very origins: the Archcathedral Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul on the bank of the Warta River. Built in the second half of the 10th century, it is Poland’s oldest cathedral. It was here that Boleslaw was crowned king, and also where his father, Mieszko I, was baptized in 966 A.D. Both historical figures are buried in Poznan.

If by now you’re ready to take a brief hiatus from sight seeing, Lake Malta is the ideal destination. Also only a few miles from Stary Rynek, this manmade lake and surrounding grounds are alive with visitors boating and sunbathing in the summertime and skiing and ice-skating on an artificial slope and ice-rink in the winter. The location also hosts musical and cultural events, and Poznan’s zoo is located close by.

If you’re looking to do some shopping, check out the Stary Browar (Old Brewery), and receive some unique art and architecture free of charge. The brewery was converted into an award-winning shopping mall, where you can find boutiques, shops, cafes and contemporary art exhibitions in place of developing ales and fermenting yeasts. It is also home to the nightclub SQ, a hotspot for Polish nightlife and an electronic music scene that regularly hosts international disc jockeys.

In general, there is much to see and do in this rich city tucked away in the heart of Poland. It is Wielkopolska’s charming secret, though not for long. Tourism to the city has been on the rise and, this past December, Poznan hosted the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which attracted scientists and activists from across the globe.

So, while it may not be first on the list of typical travel itineraries, Poznan is easily accessible by train for those heading east from Berlin, who wish to wander Poznan’s fairytale streets.

AQUA INTRODUCES WAIKIKI PEARL

In 2007 and 2008, Pacific Business News ranked Aqua Hotels and Resorts eighth among Hawaii’s 50 fastest-growing companies. As if to illustrate that point, the Honolulu-based management firm has added another link to its rapidly-growing chain of accommodations, and this one looks to be a real gem.

On July 13, Aqua introduced the Aqua Waikiki Pearl as part of its boutique brand. Previously known as the Honolulu Prince Hotel, the property recently went through a $5 million refurbishment that turned it into a 135-room boutique hotel.

“It was exciting to watch the Aqua Waikiki Pearl evolve from a neglected property into a stylish, modern hotel in central Waikiki,” said Richard Mandel, president of Ramsfield Hospitality Finance, the New York-based owner of the hotel. “It was literally a top-to-bottom refurbishment process.”

Local interior designer Kory Wong-Oglesby oversaw the design elements of the renovation.

“The challenge was to take dated and tired guestrooms and infuse them with some energy and warmth, as well as bring them up-to-date through the finishes and furnishings,” said Wong-Oglesby. “Although it is not located on the ocean, every effort was made to bring the ocean and tropical flavor to this small property. Keeping simple clean lines were inspirations throughout, from the carpet to the furniture to the bath vanity design.”

To enhance the overall warmth of the rooms, Wong-Oglesby said she used wood tones and paint colors accentuated with bright tropical patterns on the bed scarf.

“The upholstery patterns have very organic free-flowing designs that help to balance the clean lines of the furnishings and cabinetry,” she said. “This fluidity is also carried over into the artwork, where various surf and ocean scenes were utilized and printed in a sepia tone.”

New roofing, exterior paint and renovation of street-front retail spaces were completed early on. Retail tenants have started moving in.

“Aside from rooms in the standard category, Aqua Waikiki Pearl offers some of the largest rooms in Aqua’s inventory and excellent options for families and extended-stay guests,” said Aqua sales and marketing vice president Elizabeth Churchill.

Accommodations range from 451-square-foot standard rooms and 722-square-foot one-bedroom suites to 986-square-foot two-bedroom suites. Many rooms also have sizeable lanais.

Free amenities at the hotel include Wi-Fi in the lobby, daily local newspaper and use of the in-room safe. In their rooms, clients get free high-speed Internet access, free local calls, blackout drapes, a mini-refrigerator, microwave and coffeemaker or a full-kitchen. Aqua Waikiki Pearl is pet-friendly and non-smoking.

Staying at the Aqua Waikiki Pearl by Sept. 30 can take advantage of one of the following value-added incentives:

• Pearl in the Oyster at Pick-a-Pearl: For each booking, clients receive 50 percent off a pick-a-pearl opportunity at one of three Waikiki locations.
• Cultured Pearl: Clients get an exclusive discount on “Creation: A Polynesian Journey,” the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani’s dinner show.
• Fresh Water Pearl: Aqua Waikiki Pearl guests who buy an admission to the Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaii water park can ride as many times as they want on Da Flowrider, a multimillion-dollar wave machine.

FIRECRACKER FESTIVAL IN TAINAN

If you’ve bungee-jumped off Victoria Falls or run with the bulls in Pamplona and you’re looking for your next adrenaline rush, make a bee-line for Taiwan on Feb. 27 and 28, 2010. This is when hundreds of celebrants will converge on the small town of Yan Shui in Tainan County, Taiwan, for what is officially called the Yan Shui Fireworks Festival but more commonly referred to as the Beehive Rocket Festival.

The tradition started in 1885, when the townspeople of Yan Shui suffered a vicious outbreak of cholera. Things got so bad that they set off firecrackers in hope of summoning the Kuan Kung, the Chinese god of war to come to their aid. The cholera outbreak diminished in the wake of the firecrackers, and an annual tradition was born.

Today, the event has grown into a night of thrills rather than a religious festival, during which hundreds of thousands of bottle rockets are set off in a single night — all of them pointed directly at the crowd. The rockets are launched from beehive-like structures as big as an SUV. The structures contain trays of bottle rockets that, once lit, resemble a screaming, smoking swarm of bees attacking the crowd.

I had been invited to Taiwan to witness the calm and beautiful Taiwan Lantern Festival, which occurs around the same time as the Beehive Rocket Festival.

A crazed-looking master of ceremonies began to excite the crowd, shouting in Taiwanese, something like, “Are you ready to rumble!” This went on for a few minutes until there was a pregnant pause. Then, the bottle rocket fuses were simultaneously lit. In seconds, the street was enveloped in clouds of thick smoke and a cacophony of explosions. What looked like pieces of fire began zipping en masse toward crowd. This was about as close to a battle as this non-soldier would ever get. People ran and jostled each other while others hunkered down to see how close they could get to the beehive.

The ritual was repeated throughout the night, with the crowd learning the location of the next exploding beehive and then rushing several blocks to get there.

The next day, we learned that there had been some serious injuries — not from the bottle rockets, but from the stampeding crowd. Several people had to be rushed to a hospital when a food vendor’s cart filled with hot oil was knocked over.

Taiwan isn’t necessarily getting the word out about the event. But that’s also part of the festival’s charm; it’s not a tourist experience, but a local one. As the world shrinks, there are fewer of these local traditions still in play, making them all the more cherished when a traveler is lucky enough to catch one on the fly.

THE MYTHS OF INDIA

Would you (with your middle-class upbringing) be shamed about going shopping or sightseeing or would the beg-gars you've had heard so much about be disconcerting?”

These concerns are not unusual, even for an experienced American globetrotter such as you. But here’s where perceptions of India runs into a reality check: Americans are traveling to India in droves. The number of U.S. visitors to the country has more than doubled in the last five years. In 2003, U.S. visitors totaled 410,803. In 2007, the number of American arrivals was 799,062, surpassing the number of visitors from the U.K. for the first time.

However, when speaking with prospective travelers to India, I find that many Americans are curious about India yet hesitant to commit to the journey. According to tour operators and guides, several common concerns emerge prior to a first-time visit. I call them the “myths of India.”

Myth: I’m going to become ill.
The stories of Westerners going to India and developing “Delhi belly” are almost legendary. But Indian sanitation standards have improved markedly during the last decade. Most people who travel to India and follow a few simple precautions come home without ailments.

Nathaniel Waring, president of Cox & Kings USA, said the hotels where his guests stay all take measures to have clean water and high standards of kitchen hygiene.

For instance, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts and Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces process their tap water through a plant where it is chlorinated and zapped with ultraviolet rays. And, surprise audits are conducted by independent food-safety auditors for Taj properties.

“Absolutely all of the hotels we put our clients in, even the three-star hotels, have been inspected to make sure that food is being served in a hygienic manner,” said Max Aly, director of operations at Sita World Tours.

In truth, some visitors do experience health issues. Bacteria may be present in street food and even in meals served in some secondary Indian restaurants, as is the case in other developing countries. Tour operators recommend checking in with the guide whenever there are questions about where to eat or what to drink. Visitors touring India independently, without the services of a guide, must be cautious with fruit that cannot be peeled and with raw vegetables (Indians don’t typically eat uncooked tomatoes or lettuce). In remote areas, Waring suggested sticking to vegetarian dishes; the majority of Indians don’t eat meat, so vegetarian preparations are more traditional.

Then there is another, less-heralded issue confronting Western stomachs: the style of cooking. Indian food is spicy, but not in the sense that Mexican food is spicy (as in hot). Instead, spices such as turmeric, coriander seeds and cardamom are used in great quantity. When combined with ghee (clarified butter), the result is a meal that is unusually rich in flavor for Westerners.

Mumbai-based Rashida Anees, a guide with Cox & Kings USA, said she cautions her clients to not overeat.

“Most of the time, if my guests have stomach problems it is not from what they eat, but how much. I recommend they start off their trip eating less,” she said.

At least four weeks prior to departure, clients should visit a travel clinic to get any shots they might need. Routine vaccinations for such ailments as diphtheria, tetanus, chicken pox and polio should be up to date; hepatitis A and B vaccines are also recommended.

Depending on the dates of the trip and the itinerary, a travel clinic may prescribe an antimalaria drug, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.

“There are very, very few cases of malaria in India today,” said Aly. “There are certain times of year, during monsoon and immediately after, from May through mid-September, when mosquitoes breed.”

Without question, travelers to India will encounter beggars, most frequently at the entrance to important monuments. Some of them will be unbearably crippled. Along the sides of busy roads, clients will likely witness a more extreme example of poverty than they have previously known.

“People have to be prepared,” said Antonia Neubauer, president of tour operator Myths and Mountains. “India is a country that feeds your soul and tears your heart. But one of the things India teaches you is the difference between pity and compassion.”

With a population nearing 1.2 billion and an average income well below Western standards, the number of Indians getting by on a few hundred dollars a year is astounding. But India’s annual gross domestic product growth currently hovers near 7.5 percent, making it the fastest-growing economy in the world. Its per-capita income levels are expected to double over the next decade. The number of people in India living below the poverty line decreased from 60 percent of the population in 1981 to 42 percent in 2005. While that is still a huge number of people, tour operators say much of the perception is defined by perspective. In many Western societies, the poor live relatively out of sight.

“Poverty is a universal issue,” said Aly. “You just don’t see it as openly in America as you do in India.”

Aly and other tour operators discourage guests from offering handouts to beggars.

“Ninety percent of the time these are scams,” he said. “Twenty years ago, you saw a lot more beggars but, today, the government is very efficient about unearthing these scams. If tourists want to contribute something they can bring school supplies, which we’ll arrange to give to a teacher or principal.”

“What do people really consider poverty?” Neubauer asked. “Just because someone doesn’t have a car or television doesn’t mean they’re poor. You can examine it and begin to understand the systems that go into creating the poverty.”

Australian adventure tour operator Intrepid Travel goes further than most to embrace India’s economic truths.

“We do not attempt to try to hide the reality of the destination, we want our customers to experience it,” said Steven Larkin, Intrepid president. “Part of that is the poverty, and it will be memorable. In turn, we support the communities we visit through The Intrepid Foundation.”

Clients are able to make additional donations to the fund, matched dollar-for-dollar by Intrepid. Contributions are used for grassroots efforts by non-governmental organizations in countries where the tour operator works.

Similarly, Myths and Mountains started Read Global, a foundation that builds libraries in rural villages. The company has built five in India and even has a 12-day tour designed around visiting the library communities, priced from $4,630 including internal airfare and a $300 Read Global donation, giving clients a way to be a small part of the solution to ending India’s poverty.

Today, most travelers demand creature comforts that extend beyond flushing toilets and air conditioning. Your clients expect dependable and erudite guides, efficient air connections between cities and resorts with lavish spas and multiple dining options. And India delivers.

Domestic carriers Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines are making the country easier to get around. In 2008, three of Oberoi’s resorts — Rajvilas in Jaipur, Udaivilas in Udaipur and Amarvilas in Agra — were ranked among the top six hotels in the world by readers of Travel + Leisure. The only problem: The phenomenal growth in moderate and high-end visitors during the last decade has been faster than India’s tourism industry could accommodate.

Aly said India seems expensive, compared to Thailand or China, because supply has not kept up with demand.

“The infrastructure is not very robust,” Aly said. “The number of tourists we can accommodate at any given time is very limited, allowing the hotels to be able to charge a much higher price.”

Aly estimated that accommodations represent 60 percent of the cost of a typical India package.

In 2001, guests staying at the Lake Palace in Udaipur, an iconic resort managed by Taj, paid rack rates starting at $230, based on double occupancy. Today, Lake Palace rates start from $722. At Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, entry-level rooms were $205 eight years ago; today, rack rates start at $625. These comparisons aren’t entirely apples-to-apples: Both hotels benefited from major renovations in the last few years.

The point is that the price for staying at the top properties in India’s most desirable cities has risen dramatically. And with the Indian economy booming, even today, prices for meals, transportation and guides have also spiked.

Packages incorporating these hotels range from $600 per night and up, per person. However, mid-priced tours can also be attractive. Sita’s entry-level package is Incredible India, an 11-day tour which ranges from $2,755 to $4,275 per person, including airfare from New York and internal flights. The fast-paced trip visits Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Agra, Jaipur and Mumbai, staying at Taj hotels throughout.

Intrepid’s flagship package is Classic Rajasthan, a 15-day tour traveling out of Delhi through Agra, Rajasthan, Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park, Bundi, Bijapur, Udaipur and Pushkar. Accommodations are in small, locally owned hotels and include one night in a homestay. The price is $1,005 per person, commissionable at 10 percent, plus a local payment of about $250 on arrival.

Many Americans are oblivious as to just how large India is: The country covers about one-third of the territory of the 50 United States. Furthermore, India’s travel infrastructure is still developing, meaning transportation links — even between major cities — aren’t as comprehensive as found in Europe. So, the potential for a demanding travel experience certainly exists.

But India doesn’t have to be grueling, and flight connections from the West Coast are better than ever, with swift connections to Delhi on American Airlines and Continental Airlines as well as routings via Asia and Europe.

“The difficulties can be alleviated by proper planning,” said Waring. “India has a perfectly good and growing air industry, and getting from Mumbai to a major tourist site like Agra seems like it should be easy,” Waring said. “But it’s not: You have to go through Delhi and trying to do it all in one day is difficult.”

Clients must also allow time to secure a visa and, if traveling during peak season (October-March) they should be prepared to reserve well ahead of time.

“During high season, the top hotels and guides book up long in advance,” said Neubauer.

Prospective visitors should select a chunk of the country to visit, rather than trying to cover it all in one gulp. Most tour operators recommend Rajasthan to first-time visitors.

“It has many of the iconic images we associate with India and it’s more developed in terms of the travel infrastructure,” said Waring. “Southern India is great for a second visit.” Click Here For Flights to Bombay & Hotel Information

INAUGURATION OF THE TWO COSTA SHIPS

For the double christening, Costa Pacifica’s theme of peace and harmony was manifested in music and appropriately represented by her godmother, Israeli vocalist Noa, a strong peace advocate. The elegance of the Costa Luminosa was echoed by godmother Valentina Vezzali, an Olympic fencing champion, at her christening.

While both vessels are more conservative in decor than recent Costa vessesls and carry the line’s signature art collections, each ship is as distinctive as her godmother. The Costa Luminosa weighs in at 92,600 tons and carries 2,826 passengers, and the Costa Pacifica is 114,500 tons and carries 3,780 passengers.

Pacifica is the third ship in Costa’s Concordia class, a sister to Costa Concordia and Costa Serena, and has many of the class’ successful features, including the Samsara Spa, with its staterooms and separate dining room elements that launched the whole spa stateroom concept in the cruise industry.

Staterooms are comfortable, with calming colors and clean lines. Of the 1,500 berths, 505 standard outside staterooms and 70 suites have balconies.

The Pacifica’s two main dining rooms — New York, New York and My Way — offer larger tables to accommodate the numerous families and groups that sail with Costa. The Lido buffet is so huge and varied that it is crucial to look at the whole range of national cuisines before choosing, as lunchtime is marked by grumbling passengers regretting the selections they hadn’t seen.

The gourmet Club Blue Moon, open only for dinner, functions like a normal a la carte restaurant, although at prices markedly lower than those normally charged for the work of Michelin-starred Ettore Bocchia.

Both European and American tastes are reflected in the breakfast menus, and a late-riser spread is set up in the Ipanema Grill — an important feature since the disco, packed with beautifully turned out guests, only starts up around one or two in the morning and rocks until dawn.

Children’s activities are not as heavily programmed as those of most mass-market lines’, although there’s plenty to do; European families tend to spend more time together than their American counterparts. A new entertainment feature is Playstation 3 consoles in every stateroom, along with Playstation Nights on the outdoor movie screen.

The Pacifica’s musical theme permeates every public space and corridor; in fact, passengers can determine their location by the music they hear. The ship has a recording studio where guests can record a one-hour session with extensive post-production that can make a frog sound like Maria Callas, all for around $50. Miles away from karaoke, the end result is a CD for passengers to take home with them.

Both Pacifica and Luminosa have swimming pools with retractable magradomes, Grand Prix driving simulators and two-level Samsara spa complexes, with special elevators for spa stateroom access and dedicated spa dining rooms. But different from the Pacifica, the Luminosa is the first ship to offer a Kinesis Room by Technogym, with equipment specially designed to improve health, fitness and muscle tone that can be used individually or in

The smaller Luminosa feels more like a premium-class ship. Known as the “Ship of Light,” it is the first in an elegant new class. Public rooms are lit by 120 Murano glass chandeliers and mosaics are scattered throughout the ship. Onboard, 288 original pieces of art adorn the walls, along with 4,733 reproductions. In the atrium, a large bronze sculpture is polished by guests who stroke her derriere. Staterooms are also rich in art, and 68 percent have balconies, giving Luminosa the highest proportion of balconies in Costa’s fleet.

In the a la carte Costa Luminosa Restaurant, passengers had very complimentary comments about the dishes they saw prepared in its open kitchen, a feature that is new for Costa. Other new features include a top-deck skating track where “Skorpion” skates are worn attached to shoes and an 18-hole championship golf course simulator that offers a choice of 37 courses. There is also a 20-seat, 4-D movie theater with several different shows, which is fun for all ages. One show features a trip through an abandoned mine, during which theater seats sway along with the car, a cobra projection comes at viewers and “spits” in their faces and other surprising effects that are reminiscent of the classic film “House of Wax.”

This fall, the Pacifica will sail seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises out of Rome (Civitavecchia) visiting Savona, Italy; Marseille, France; Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Tunis, Tunisia; Malta; and Palermo, Italy, priced from $649.

Luminosa offers 11-night sailings from Savona, Italy, calling in ports in Spain, Morocco and the Canary Islands, from $1,629.

Unlike many lines, Costa is not slowing down its newbuild program; in fact, at the naming, Pier Luigi Foschi, chairman and CEO, announced an investment of $789 million in the company by the European Investment Bank to finance four new Costa vessels to be launched between 2009 and 2012. The next will be Costa Deliziosa, debuting in winter 2010. Date: Daily

PERILLO UNCORKS NEW SICILY TINERARY

Inclusive land prices begin at $2,690, per person, double, and the itinerary includes three nights in Palermo at the Grand Hotel Wagner and two nights in Taormina at the Grand Timeo.

The package also includes daily breakfast buffet and five dinners and one lunch with wine. Other highlights include a wine tasting in Marsala and visits to the ancient Greek city of Selinus and the aristocratic fourth century Villa Romana del Casales in Piazza Armerina.

10 DREAMY CARIBBEAN PRIVATE ISLANDS AND REMOTE RESORTS

Though you'll have to make more of an investment in the way of travel time and expense, these isolated island retreats are worth the effort. Expect extremely personalized service and exclusive beach access.

Once said to be a hideout for pirate Calico Jack Rackham and his lady cohorts Mary Read and Anne Bonny, the 1,000-acre cay, between Fort George Cay and North Caicos, is now the site of an ultraexclusive hideaway resort.

Parrot Cay Resort. This private paradise—a favorite for celebrities and other jet-setters—comes with all the trimmings you'd expect for the substantial price. Elaborate oceanfront villas border the island, and their wooden, Asian feel contrasts with the rather bland hillside terracotta–and–stucco building that houses the spacious suites. Suite and villa interiors are a minimalist yet sumptuous mix of cool-white interiors, Indonesian furnishings, and four-poster beds. Expect sorbet, cold bottled water, and cold, lemon-scented refreshment towels around the beach and pool. Service is unmatched in its ability to anticipate and meet your needs. The villas are the ultimate indulgence, with heated lap pools, hot tubs, and butler service. The giant Como Shambhala Spa takes destination spas to a whole new level with Indonesian and Balinese therapists. www.parrotcay.como.bz

Halfway down the Grenadines chain, this tiny boot-shape island—just 3. mi (5.5 km) long and 1.25 mi (2 km) wide—has only about 1,200 residents. But don't let its historically slow pace and quiet ways fool you. Canouan (pronounced can-o-wan), which is the Carib word for "turtle," has a modern airport with an extended runway suitable for small to mid-size jets, and boasts one of the region's largest and most exquisite resorts, with a championship golf course, a world-class spa, and a casino! Canouan also claims four of the most pristine white-sand beaches in the Caribbean, and it's a busy port for yacht charters and diving expeditions to the Tobago Cays. Mount Royal, the highest point on the island at 900 feet, offers panoramic 360-degree views of St. Vincent, all the Grenadines, and even St. Lucia on a clear day.

The vast bulk of the guest accommodations at the region's premier resort are in 60 villa-style units sprinkled around 300 acres of the 1,200-acre resort in an amphitheater setting. Several private villas are perched on the 900-foot hillside, next to the golf course. Rooms are spectacularly huge (each no less than 600 square feet) and have superb decor, amenities, and views. Center stage is an 18th-century Anglican stone church (popular for resort weddings), along with the Galleria Complex—which houses reception, two restaurants, lounges, boutiques, a modern health club (with a boxing ring!), a hair salon, meeting rooms, and a golf pro shop to go with the Trump International Golf Club just outside. Looking for more action? Head for the Villa Monte Carlo, high on the mountainside, which houses the European-style Trump Club Privée casino, La Varenne French restaurant, and a ballroom for private functions. www.canouan.raffles.com

Although Peter Island is home to the resort of the same name, it's also a popular anchorage for charter boaters and a destination for Tortola vacationers. The scheduled ferry trip from Peter Island's shore-side base outside Road Town runs $15 round-trip for non-guests. The island is lush, with forested hillsides sloping seaward to meet white sandy beaches. There are no roads other than those at the resort, and there's nothing to do but relax at the lovely beach set aside for day-trippers. You're welcome to dine at the resort's restaurants.

Peter Island Resort. Total pampering and the prices to match are the ticket at this luxury resort. If you want to while away your days at the beach, enjoy a morning at the spa, stroll the lushly planted grounds, and relax over dinner with other like-minded guests—and you have the money to afford the steep rates—this is a good place to do it. For more active types, there are tennis courts and water sports galore. Peter Island is a half-hour ferry ride from Tortola, but once you arrive, you're in another world. The rooms are gorgeous, with thoughtful touches like showers with a view. Three villas sit above the hotel rooms. www.peterisland.com

Pine Cay's 2.5-mi-long (4-km-long) beach is among the most beautiful in the archipelago. The 800-acre private island is home to a secluded resort and around 37 private residences.

Meridian Club. You might feel unplugged when you step onto Pine Cay, since there is no TV, telephone, or traffic to be found on the tiny private island. The charm of this resort, which was built in the 1970s, is that it never changes; it prides itself on simplicity rather than celebrity. The simple beachfront cottages, most of the staff, and what is perhaps the world's smallest airport (in truth, a gazebo) have all stayed pretty much the same for years. On some nights, you can drive your golf cart to the runway for Drive-In Movie night. The 2.5-mi (4-km) stretch of beach is deserted, and instead of roads, you find nature trails and sun-dappled paths that crisscross the island, which can be explored by bike or on foot. Cuisine is excellent, with fresh seafood and delicious cakes and tarts served at lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea. Here you'll feel not isolated, but part of a small community. Guests are mostly overstressed executives, mature couples, and honeymooners; a large percentage of guests are repeat visitors. Children are welcome only in June and July. www.meridianclub.com

Guana Island sits off Tortola's northeast coast. Sailors often drop anchor at one of the island's bays for a day of snorkeling and sunning. The island is a designated wildlife sanctuary, and scientists often come here to study its flora and fauna. It's home to a back-to-nature resort that offers few activities other than relaxation. Unless you're a hotel guest or a sailor, there's no easy way to get here.

Guana Island Resort. Guana Island is a nature lover's paradise, and it's a good resort if you want to stroll the hillsides, snorkel around the reefs, and swim at its six beaches, and still enjoy some degree of comfort. Rooms are simple but charming, with rattan furniture and tile or painted concrete floors, and are open to the tropical breezes. Once you're here, you're here. You can spend your time dining and socializing with the other guests or immersed in that book you never got around to reading. You can rent the entire 15-room resort if you'd like to vacation with a group of your friends or family. The hotel's launch picks you up near Terrence B. Lettsome Airport on Beef Island (Tortola's airport) for the short hop across the water to the resort. www.guana.com

This upscale haven, 18 mi (29 km) southeast of St. Vincent, is 3 mi (5 km) by 1.25 mi (2 km) at its widest point. The island is hilly and has several green valleys, each with a sparkling white-sand beach facing an aquamarine sea. The permanent population is about 300. Britain's late Princess Margaret put this small, private island on the map after owner Colin Tennant (Lord Glenconner) presented her with a 10-acre plot of land as a wedding gift in 1960 (Tennant had purchased the entire 1,400-acre island in 1958 for $67,500). A pair of cotton-candy-color, gingerbread-style buildings, the centerpiece of the tiny village, houses a gift shop and clothing boutique. There's a delicatessen-grocery to stock yachts and supply residents with fresh Brie and MoÃ«t; an antiques shop is filled with fabulous objets d'art to decorate those extraordinary villas—or to bring home.

Cotton House. Mustique's grand hotel, the main building of which was once an 18th-century cotton warehouse, has oceanfront rooms and suites with private walkways leading to the beach, a quartet of elegant ocean-view suites, and three poolside cottages with sunken baths, king-size beds with gauzy netting, and terraces affording stunning views. Full unpacking and pressing services upon arrival are included in the rates, as is a weekly sunset cruise. The beachfront spa offers body treatments and has a fitness center on the ground floor. www.cottonhouse.net

A private speck of land (only 135 acres), exquisite Palm Island used to be an uninhabited, mosquito-infested swamp called Prune Island. One intrepid family put heart and soul—as well as muscle and brawn—into taking the wrinkles out of the prune and rechristened it Palm Island. The family cleaned up the five surrounding beaches, built bungalows, planted palm trees, and irrigated the swamp with seawater to kill the mosquitoes. The rustic getaway existed for 25 years before Palm Island's current owners, Elite Island Resorts, dolled up the property, and now it's one of the finest resorts in the Caribbean. Other than the resort, the island is populated only by a handful of privately owned villas. Access is via Union Island, 1 mi (1.5 km) to the west and a 10-minute ride in the resort's launch.

Palm Island Resort. Perfect for a honeymoon, rendezvous, or luxurious escape, this palm-studded resort offers five dazzling white-sand beaches, a calm aquamarine sea for swimming and enjoying water sports, nature trails for quiet walks, a pool with waterfall, sophisticated dining, impeccable service, and exquisite accommodations. Picture-perfect Casuarina Beach runs the entire length of the western side of the island. Choose a room in a beachfront cottage, a palm-view room in the garden, a plantation suite (ideal for families), or a beachfront island loft that's set on stilts. All have wicker and bamboo furniture, rich fabrics, wooden louvered windows (with screens) on three walls to catch every breeze, and original artwork created by a resident artist, Dr. Patrick Chevalier. www.palmislandresortgrenadines.com

Though these properties are easier to get to than the islands listed above, they're still well off the beaten track.

Peninsula House. If you can afford it, a stay here will reset your thinking on what a small luxury property can be; this is one of the best bed-and-breakfasts in the Caribbean, if not the world. The gorgeous Victorian-style plantation house with wraparound verandahs overlooks miles of coconut palms down to the ocean. It's family run and showcases generations' worth of museum-quality sculptures, paintings, and objects d'art, many of which were acquired from the Far East and the Middle East. The art elevates the rooms and common areas to a fascinating visual experience. Dinner, available only to guests, takes place in the central open-air brick courtyard. Dishes, linens, even the stationery you'll find here is refined; to mention that rooms come with flat-screen TVs (the only ones on the SamanÃ¡ Peninsula at this writing) would be missing the point. No expense has been spared. For heaven's sake, the pool house has a world-class collection of African masks. Admittedly, more than $500 is a lot for a room, and it does not have full-fledged "resort" amenities, but we'd recommend that you consider saving now. In terms of international high-end travel, this is a real steal. The house opened in 2007, doesn't advertise, and the secretive entrance is unmarked from the road. www.thepeninsulahouse.com

Pirates Point Resort. Nestled between sea grape and casuarina pines on a sparkling sweep of palapa-dotted sand are 11 bungalow-style rooms, some air-conditioned, others swept by crosswinds through louvers. Walls duplicate the soft colors of a Caribbean dawn; floors and furnishings are immaculate. You'll likely become fast friends with effervescent owner, Gladys Howard, whose down-home welcome belies her upscale meals served with fine wines (not to mention heaping helpings of bon mots and bonhomie). Gladys trained with Julia Child, James Beard, and Jacques Pepin, as well as at the legendary Cordon Bleu in Paris, and still supervises everything with an eagle eye, while finding time to host weekly champagne parties on the verandah of her adjacent home and play dominoes after dinner. Somehow Gladys always wins, slamming tiles down with classic Caribbean vigor. www.piratespointresort.com

Strawberry Hill. A 45-minute drive from Kingston—but worlds apart in terms of atmosphere—this exclusive resort was developed by Chris Blackwell, former head of Island Records (the late Bob Marley's label). Perched in the Blue Mountains, it's where the rich and famous go to retreat and relax. The resort has an infinity pool, Aveda spa treatments, and pure relaxation in Georgian-style cottages. This is one Jamaican property not for beach buffs but for those in search of gourmet dining thanks to its onsite restaurant which, on a clear day, offers unbeatable views over the capital city. The cottages survey the Blue Mountains from expansive porches, most with an oversize hammock. www.islandoutpost.com Click Here For Flights & Caribbean Hotel Information

FLORIDA AND NEVADA ARE GETTING BLACKLISTED

In a letter to Gene Dodaro, acting comptroller, the representatives requested a Government Accounting Office probe of a recent report that several federal departments have issued a directive banning government meetings in some destinations that might be considered "too leisurely or resort-oriented."

"If true, these serious allegations call into question federal agency decision making concerning travel and locations of off-site meetings and conferences," the letter said. "Such ‘blacklisting’ of specific destinations could result in a waste of taxpayer dollars and is counterproductive to ongoing efforts to strengthen the American economy."

The request for the probe comes on the heels of correspondence between the White House and Nevada Sen. Harry Reid about alleged blacklisting by government agencies. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel earlier this month in letter to Reid said the administration believes government travel should focus on the cost benefit of travel rather than the perception of a location.

After receiving that response, Reid sent a letter to a letter to cabinet secretaries and the head of every federal agency, requesting they reject or reverse any travel policy that discriminates against specific U.S. cities, including Las Vegas and Reno.

Las Vegas and Orlando have been especially hard-hit by the so-called AIG-effect that has prompted many companies and government agencies to scale back travel and meetings.

Many groups canceled meetings at resorts and cities known for entertainment, such as Las Vegas, after media and political backlash against reports that AIG planned to hold an off-site meeting at a luxury resort after getting billions of dollars in bailout funds last year.

President Barack Obama fueled the backlash when he remarked, "You can't take a trip to Las Vegas or down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayers' dime."

The travel industry responded with a heavy lobbying campaign. Hotel executives met with Obama to express their concern about the impact such statements were having on the travel industry.

The executives came away from that meeting saying they believed they had an ally in Obama. And on Wednesday, Roger Dow, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, applauded the Obama administration for planning an off-site staff retreat that the White House said was being modeled after similar corporate events.

"Face-to-face meetings are often the most productive ways to strengthen relationships, develop strategies, increase productivity and achieve organizational goals," Dow said. "We applaud the Obama administration for employing this productive and proven technique to enhance its activities.

"The Obama Administration is leading by example, and the business community, media and policymakers should take note. During difficult economic times, all expenses should be reviewed, but beneficial travel and meetings must continue.”

This year, meetings business domestically has fallen more than 20%, according to Smith Travel Research.

Obama has screwed our industry for years to come. It is sad to see our industry spokemen suck up to the person that basically has driven our industry into hibernation! Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

RENT A BIKE IN EUROPE

Last summer, Paris launched a bicycle-sharing program, called Vélib' —a pun on "free bicycle." Budget Travel noted the program in its July/August issue.

After the program started, we learned that the kiosks that unlock the bikes only recognize credit and bank cards with microchips in them. Americans were, in effect, banned from renting Vélib' bikes because most U.S. credit and bank cards lack these chips.

Since then, JCDecaux, the company that set up the bike system for the city, has been working to accommodate non-chip credit cards in its kiosks.

In a terrific first step, the company updated its kiosks to accept U.S.-issued American Express cards (with and without chips), according to a recent New York Times article.

Our own sources tell us that some hotels may begin selling short-term subscriptions (described below) to American guests.

Below you will find details on Paris's program, along with a rundown of similar bike-sharing and bike-rental programs in Lyon, Brussels, Vienna, Helsinki, Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Drammen, and Copenhagen.

As part of its new Vélib' program, Paris is rolling out bikes by mid-July for the public to use. First you have to subscribe for the city bicycle service on a daily (€1), weekly (€5), or (€29) yearly basis. These subscription plans get you all the half-hour rentals you can handle; keeping a bike longer incurs fees. The bikes will be available at more than 750 stands around the city, and the system will expand through the year.

For daily and weekly subscriptions, go to a curbside meter at any station—there will be one every three or four streets—insert your bankcard, and type in your personal identification number. The machine will ask you to create an access code (instructions are in eight languages), and then it'll spit out a Vélib' card.

Wave the card in front of the screen at a bike stand; then punch in your access code. The machine will list the available bikes at that station. Choose one and then race over to it: You have about a minute to press the button that detaches it from the stand. There's no charge for the first half hour of each "rental." The second half hour costs €1, the third €2, and every half hour thereafter is €4. There's no limit to the number of times you can rent a bike, but kids under 14 aren't allowed to use them.

CONSOLIDATORS WORKING WITH TRAVEL DISCOUNTS

In addition to the discount airfares we offer exclusively from our airline suppliers, Travel Discounts will show you the lowest price available from a wide range of airlines. Showing you these regular airfares lets you compare our discounts so you can make the right flight choice for your trip. We'll even tell you how much our discount airfares will save you compared to the lowest published fare available, so you can book with confidence. Click Here For Consolidator Flights & Hotel Information

ROBBERS OF AMAZON RIVER SHIP CAUGHT - PASSENGERS GET A FREE CRUISE

The Aqua, owned by Lima, Peru-based Aqua Expeditions, was boarded Sunday by six armed bandits who robbed passengers of money and valuables. There were 24 passengers, including six Americans, and 21 crew members onboard at the time of the incident.

Peruvian authorities say noted Peruvian chef Gaston Acurio and some relatives were among the passengers robbed by gunmen, the Associated Press reported.

The ship, which runs three-, four- and seven-day river cruises along the Peruvian Amazon, was scheduled to return Monday to the port of Nauta, where passengers were to disembark and transfer to Iquitos, the capital of Peru’s Amazon region.

Aqua Expeditions said it is offering a refund to all passengers and is handling all their travel arrangements. The company is also offering the affected passengers a free cruise at a future date of their choice.

Aqua Expeditions said security measures have since been put into place on its cruises as well as on the Amazon River near Iquitos.

The Aqua is fully operational and set sail Tuesday night with 20 guests, 21 crew, Aqua Expeditions CEO Francesco Galli-Zugaro and two national police investigators onboard.

AIRLINES ENLIST GOURMET CHEFS TO DRAW FIRST-CLASS FLIERS

Travelers flying to South America or Japan on United Airlines can feast on award-winning chef Charlie Trotter's appetizer of sauteed prawns and crispy short rib wontons with organic Thai barbecue sauce and chilled sweet-and-sour cucumber relish. Going to Europe on American Airlines? Try the rosemary-scented shrimp drizzled with garlic sauce and served with lemon rice and artichokes.

"Everything has been upgraded," says Stephan Pyles, who is known for his creative Southwestern cuisine and has signed on as one of American's three culinary celebrities. "Just as the customer in a restaurant has become more sophisticated, refined and demanding in terms of their food, that demand has filtered to the airlines."

For Delta, hot Miami chef Michelle Bernstein came up with entrees such as roasted chicken breast with goat cheese and pepper pesto crust served with polenta and ratatouille. Pair that with a wine picked out by the airline's sommelier or shake it up with a "Mile High" mojito from Rande Gerber's signature cocktail menu.

Thanks to financial pressures that began with the 2001 terrorist attacks and have only worsened as fuel prices have soared, complimentary coach meals have become an endangered species. Continental is the only major U.S. airline that still offers complimentary meals -- designed by their "Congress of Chefs" -- in economy class for domestic travel.

While most of the gourmet action is in first class, Delta Air Lines enlisted celebrity chef Todd English to design its fee-based coach meals -- a chicken bistro salad with goat cheese crostini and organic spinach for $8 -- available on certain flights longer than 2 ½ hours.

Preparing and presenting airline food still has its challenges that even celebrity chefs can't alter. Airline meals are prepared cafeteria-style hours before they are served, and food 30,000 feet in the air doesn't behave the same way it does on the ground.

Others, however, have seen more promise. "This was probably the best meal I've had in an airplane," a business-class flier going from Newark to Honolulu wrote. "The steak, though slightly overcooked, was tender and juicy, the vegetables were fine, the risotto cake was delicious, and the sauce accented the meal nicely."

If it's not quite restaurant quality, don't blame the chefs. Aircraft pressurization can make food dry and flavorless, says Guillaume de Syon, a history professor at Alleghany College who has written about the history of airline food. Pressurization can affect passengers, too.

"Your taste buds change, your breathing changes, you get stuffed up and it affects how things taste. You become very thirsty and people tend to drink alcohol, when they should be drinking water," de Syon says.

And while the meals are designed by a celebrity chef, they certainly aren't made by them. The thousands of meals served each day are prepared at airport catering companies like LSG SkyChefs or Gate Gourmet.

US Airways and Northwest decided not to join the celebrity chef trend. Instead, US Airways announced last fall it has upgraded its first class and fee-based coach menus to provide healthier and better quality food.

"We don't think that customers really care who 'designed' their meals or that they choose which airline they're going to fly because of the celebrity chef. They just want the meals to taste good," US Airways spokeswoman Valerie Wunder explained in an e-mail.

This isn't the first time airlines have turned to celebrity chefs to dazzle passengers -- the trend has come and gone through the decades, Oliver says. Opting out may be a smart money-saving move for airlines.

"The travel decision is based on three fundamentals: pricing, schedule and frequent flier card," he says. "I just don't see food being in the top three."

English understands the in-flight challenges, but says the food doesn't have to suffer because of the environment.

"It's 30,000 feet in the air, but now people can get a decent organic salad and a cheese and fruit plate with a nice glass of wine," he says. "How hard can that be?" Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

CRYSTAL ENHANCES PRE-, POST-CRUISE PROGAMS IN EUROPE

Available with the Crystal Serenity's Mediterranean, Black Sea and Canary Islands cruises through October, the three- to five-night programs depart from Barcelona, Venice and Rome.

The tours showcase the region's architecture, history, villas, castles and other attractions at World Heritage sites and Europe's vacation playgrounds. Guests will dine at renowned restaurants and stay at some of the world's most sought-after hotels, like Villa d'Este and Prague's Carlo IV Boscolo.

In Spain, for example, extended land programs include Castile Kingdom Splendor, which explores the legend of Don Quixote and visits Madrid and Spain's World Heritage sites of Segovia and Toledo. Or clients can choose Costa Brava Exploration, which features Spain's "wild coast," set against the Pyrenees Mountains and Catalonian villages, as well as Salvador Dali's birthplace.

"Crystal's Extended Land Programs are designed to provide seamless transitions from the luxury cruise experience to equally luxurious land experiences," said John Stoll, director of land programs. "The popularity of these programs continues to grow as more guests seek to expand their travels and experience destinations further ashore, without sacrificing the quality and luxury they find with Crystal."

The Crystal Serenity's Mediterranean cruises depart from Athens, Barcelona, Istanbul, Lisbon, Monte Carlo, Rome and Venice. Celebration fares start at $3,535 per person, double occupancy, and offer an All Inclusive-As You Wish shipboard credit. Fares for Crystal's Mediterranean Extended Land Programs start at $4,499 per person, double occupancy.

THE GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND

Grand Bahama, the fourth-largest island in the Bahamas, lies only 52 mi off Palm Beach, Florida. The Gulf Stream's ever-warm waters lap its western tip, and the Little Bahama Bank protects it from the northeast. Grand Bahama offers many opportunities to enjoy solitude and nature. As far as nature-lovers are concerned, two spots in and around Freeport shouldn't be missed: the Bahamas National Trust's Rand Nature Centre and the Lucayan National Park.

THE NEW PROVIDENCE ISLAND IN THE BAHAMAS

THE OUT ISLANDS IN THE BAHAMAS

The quiet, simpler way of life of the Bahama Out Islands, sometimes referred to as the Family Islands, is startlingly different from Nassau's and Freeport's fast-paced glitz and glitter. Outside New Providence and Grand Bahama, on the dozen or so islands that are equipped to handle tourists, you'll leave the sophisticated resorts, nightclubs, casinos, and shopping malls behind. If you love the outdoors, however, you'll be in fine shape: virtually all the Out Islands have good to excellent fishing, boating, and diving, and you'll often have endless stretches of beach all to yourself. For a complete list of hotels and prices and descriptions ... Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

BAHAMAS HOTEL REVIEWS

The homey, friendly little spots will probably not be on the beach-and you'll have to go out to eat unless you have access to a kitchen (although some inns will prepare meals for you on request). On the flip side, your stay is likely to be relaxing, low-key, and less removed from everyday Bahamian life. The plush resorts are big and beautiful, glittering and splashy, but they can be overwhelming. In any case, these big, top-dollar properties generally have more amenities than you could possibly make use of, a selection of dining options, and a full roster of sports and entertainment options.

THE 5 BEST FAMILY BEACHES ON THE WEST COAST

The beaches found along the Mendocino Coast, which includes Fort Bragg, are the opposite of their Southern Cal counterparts. This quiet northern coast offers a tranquil environment with breathtaking views and is perfect for young explorers. Along the rocky coast, tide pools capture numerous species of ocean life and wonderful coastal trails wind along the coastline. The most famous of the area's beaches is Glass Beach, a treasure hunter's delight. Glass Beach is named for the smooth, dull glass pebbles scattered along the shore which are actually leftovers from the time it was a town waste site (closed and cleaned in the 1960's). Other family-friendly area activities include Skunk Train (keep an eye out for deer and other wildlife), Mendocino Botanical Gardens, thirteen Giant Redwood parks and the ultimate summer treat locale, Cowlick's Ice Cream.

AKA Surf City USA, Huntington Beach will give you the epitome of an action-filled summer experience. It's a mishmash of surfers, people parasailing in the distance, kite-flying and kids' sandcastles. Away from the baethc, the strand is lined with rental shops offering everything you need for a day at the beach (surrey cycle anyone?). Be sure to stop and watch the fishermen (and "fisherkids") on your way to lunch at the 1940's style Ruby's Diner, which sits at the end of the Huntington Beach Pier. Orange County online guide »

If a beach can be elegant, award-winning Coronado Beach is it. Reached by a short ferry ride or a quick drive over the San Diego Bay Bridge to Coronado Island (actually a peninsula), this beach is best known for its famous 120-year-old red-shingled roof landmark, Hotel Del Coronado. Shell-seeking is great fun along this stretch (I've scored some fantastic finds) and families can enjoy a typical day on the beach between splashing in the waves, body surfing, and hermit crab hunting. San Diego online guide »

Cannon Beach possesses one of the most memorable coastal scenes I can think of. This four-mile coastal stretch displays numerous giant rock monoliths jetting up from the water, the most famous being the colossal 235-foot Haystack Rock. Cannon Beach earned its name from the cannon that made its way ashore in 1846 after a US Navy shipwreck. Today this artist village is considered a lovely resort getaway with plenty of family-friendly restaurants and inns. Cannon Beach online guide »

Olympic National Park and its 922,000 acres are the epitome of nature in all its glory. And if you're looking for a beach in the area and a place to pitch a tent for the night, but still desire access to amenities (showers and bathrooms) as well as family-friendly things to do, Salt Creek Recreation Area is the perfect choice. The first thing you'll notice is the panoramic views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Crescent Bay, and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, but then you'll realize how much there is to do and explore. Between the playground for the tots, horseshoe courts and volleyball court to the tide pools, kayaking and history of the WWII-era Camp Hayden, this 196-acre park appeals to all ages. To learn more about Washington's Olympic Peninsula, my friend and fellow Traveling Mama, Jen Miner, recently wrote about several of the area's family-friendly stops. Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

CRUISE NEWS

Costa rolls out online check-in
Guests sailing with Costa may now check in online at the cruise line's website.

MSC Cruises to slow growth
Fast-growing MSC Cruises is putting the brakes on its rapid expansion.

Woman allegedly killed by husband on Carnival ship
A man sailing on the Carnival Elation was taken into custody on Thursday after allegedly killing his wife during a dispute. Click Here For Flight, Cruise & Hotel Information

NEWS FROM HAWAII

Aqua takes over Honolulu Prince Hotel
Aqua Hotels & Resorts took over management of the 135-room Waikiki property previously known as the Honolulu Prince Hotel.

Funjet offering agents free flights
Funjet is offering its travel agent partners the chance to fly to Hawaii for free. Agents who book three Hawaii reservations through Aug. 6 will receive a free seat to Hawaii via United Airlines.

Mokulele, United reach ticketing agreement
Passengers flying on United to Hawaii can now book tickets and check their baggage directly to their final destination on interisland carrier Mokulele Airlines Click Here For Flight & Hawaii Hotel Information

WHAT'S NEW IN THE CAROLINAS AND GEORGIA

The New South is in no way mired in its plantation heritage. In fact, it's one of the fastest-growing and most rapidly changing regions of America. Here's a preview of some recent developments.

Outer Banks--The 5.2-mile-long Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge, the longest bridge in the state, opened in August 2002, providing a much-needed--and some say more efficient--alternative transportation link between the mainland and the barrier islands.

In Kill Devil Hills, the centerpiece of the 2008 First Flight Centennial celebration of the Wright Brothers' December 17, 1908, aeronautical feat will be a re-creation of the original flight in what is being touted as the only accurate reproduction of the Wright Flyer.

In Duck, the oddly named Advice 5¢ (tel. 800/ADVICE-5 or 252/255-1050; www.advice5.com ) is being discovered as an affordable B&B alternative to the more expensive and long established Sanderling. It's a small place but choice.

On Ocracoke Island, the Back Porch (tel. 252/928-6401) has emerged as the island's finest choice for dining, serving a superb cuisine of local seafood. The grilled yellowfin tuna is memorable.

Durham--In the Piedmont section of North Carolina in the city of Durham, Pop's (tel. 919/956-7677 ), is attracting attention to its renovated warehouse setting and its hearty and hip Italian cuisine. It also makes the city's best pasta platters.

Asheville--The biggest hotel news in the state is the opening of the Inn on Biltmore Estate (tel. 800/858-4130 or 828/225-1600; www.biltmore.com/inn ), on the most lavish estate in the South, erected at the turn of the 20th century by the Vanderbilts. North Carolina's most elegant inn has every modern amenity yet is imbued with traditional charm. Its cuisine is also among the finest in the western part of the state.

The city was gearing up for the fall 2009 reopening of the historic Grove Arcade Public Market, 1 Page Ave. (tel. 828/252-7799; www.grovearcade.com ). This circa-1929 structure, closed for more than 50 years, will reopen as a public market, with food stalls, restaurants, crafts stalls, and more.

The century-old golf course at the Grove Park Inn Resort, 290 Macon Ave. (tel. 800/438-5800; www.groveparkinn.com), reopened after being closed for a year for a $2.3-million restoration.

Charleston--A sleek, modern departure from the antebellum B&Bs of Charleston, The Inn at Middleton Place (tel. 800/543-4774 or 843/556-6020; www.middletonplace.org ) is nonetheless a winner. A striking luxury hotel, it lies on the grounds of Middleton Place, an 18th-century plantation that is one of the area's most intriguing sightseeing allures. Situated on the Ashley River, with its old oaks, the hotel is filled with Southern charm and grace in spite of its modernity.

Hilton Head--Taking over from the tired Hyatt Regency, Hilton Head Marriott Beach & Golf Resort (tel. 800/228-9290 or 843/686-8400; www.marriott.com ) has poured $23 million into restoring this resort, and today it's better than ever. Standing at Palmetto Dunes, it borders the oceanfront.

Pawleys Island--One of the premier places to stay along South Carolina's Grand Strand is the new Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club (tel. 800/367-9959 or 843/237-6009; www.pawleysplantation.com ). Elegant structures border a nature preserve, and the retreat, 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach, has the aura of a private club. Guests are housed in one-, two-, or three-story luxury villas.

Columbia--The once-sleepy capital of South Carolina is on the rise, especially in its newly emerging Congaree Vista neighborhood. More and more intriguing restaurants are opening, such as The Bull Market & Taverna (tel. 803/343-2855), serving a curious but tasty medley of Greek and Southern cuisines.

Atlanta--In historic Inman Park, King-Keith House Bed & Breakfast (tel. 800/728-3879 or 404/688-7330; www.kingkeith.com ) has opened in a restored Queen Anne-style home from 1890. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The place is ideal for a romantic retreat yet is convenient to the heart of Atlanta.

One of Atlanta's hottest master chefs, Joël Antunes, has opened his own chic little French brasserie--named simply Joël (tel. 404/233-3500; www.joelrestaurant.com ) after guess who? Head here for the finest in French and Mediterranean cuisine and a selection of imaginative dishes found nowhere else in Atlanta.

Adairsville--At last, North Georgia has a top-of-the-line resort to compete with those anywhere else in the South. A German prince has restored the old Barnsley Gardens and opened the Barnsley Inn & Golf Resort (tel. 877/773-2447 or 770/773-7480; www.barnsleyinn.com). Its 18-hole golf course has already been proclaimed the best resort course in Georgia by Golf News. The setting, the food, and the accommodations are without rival in this part of the sate.

Thomasville--This historic town in southern Georgia, where the first screening of Gone With the Wind took place, now has a full-fledged resort called Melhana--The Grand Plantation (tel. 888/920-3030 or 912/226-2290; www.melhana.com). The resort lives up to its namesake. It's modern but traditional, Old South yet with 21st-century comforts and diversions.

St. Simons Island--One of the best resorts to open in the Golden Isles in many a year, The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club (tel. 866/GOLFLODGE or 912/634-4300; www.seaisland.com ), is a golfer's delight. Connected with Georgia's most deluxe hotel, the Cloister, the lodge overlooks Rees Jones' Plantation Golf Course and offers deluxe, beautifully furnished rooms.

Tour Riga and St. Petersburg, Including Airfare, Hotels and Trains
Dates: Through April 23, then again from October 1-December 14

TravelDiscounts.com brings you the Baltic now through April 23. The lowest base price is $898 for departures out of New York, Newark, Boston and Philadelphia for airfare and six nights' accommodations in first-class hotels in Riga, Latvia and St. Petersburg, and rail transportation between the two cities. Additional daily departures are available from Atlanta from $929, Chicago from $939, Dallas from $969, Los Angeles and San Francisco from $1,019 and seven other U.S. cities. Prices are per person based on two people traveling together, and don't include extra costs including taxes, security fees or Russian travel visa. If you can't make it by April 23, the trip becomes available again from October 1 through December, excluding the Thanksgiving holiday.

Additionally, there is an optional opportunity to take part in an evening or afternoon visiting the Bulduri Family Care Centre under the auspices of the Kids First Fund, a non-profit organization that benefits children around the world. This add-on runs an extra $150, and it's an excellent opportunity to meet and interact with Latvian children, making your experience--and theirs--richer. To learn more about the Kids First Fund, go to www.kidsfirstfund.org.

HOTELS WORKING WITH TRAVEL DISCOUNTS

$609 - 3 NIGHTS AT THE ATLANTIS, PARADISE ISLAND CORAL & BEACH TOWERS

Includes reduced rate & Kids 11 & younger stay FREE.
Valid for travel: Select Thru 09/14/2009 - 10/25/2009
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

THE PORT OF COSTA MAYA

FROM JAPAN TO CHINA

The From Japan to China’s Yangtze tour begins in Tokyo where clients will visit the Imperial Palace Plaza and the new Roppongi Hills City View Observatory, as well as learn about the Japanese tea ceremony. After ascending the forested slopes of Mount Fuji, clients will reach Hakone where they will cruise across Lake Ashi and take a cable-car ride up Mount Komagatake.

A 180-mile per hour ride on Kyoto’s Bullet Train will then take clients to Kyoto, where they will see the more then 600-year-old Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion; the Heian Shrine; and the 1,001 statues of Buddha in the Sanjusangendo Temple. Clients will also have the chance to walk along the lantern-lined paths of the Lasuga Shrine and wander among hundreds of tame deer at Nara’s Deer Park.

“This is the only fully escorted tour combining Japan’s Golden Route, the highlights of China and a Yangtze cruise, and our clients love the unique cultural excursions we include,” said Bob Drumm, president of General Tours.

In China, clients will sail and sightsee their way down the Yangtze River from Yichang to Chongqing, enjoying views of the Three Gorges Dam Site in San Dou Ping and an excursion through the Daning or Shennong River tributaries to the Small Gorges.

While in Beijing, clients will scale the Great Wall of China; visit the Ming Tombs; see the Olympicsaquatics center, also known as the Water Cube; and will travel through a hutong where a resident family will talk about life in the older neighborhoods of China.

Making their way through Xian, clients will explore the excavation site for the Terra-Cotta Warriors. In Shanghai, clients will stop at the Yu Yuan Gardens and take a trip to the Shanghai Museum.

The From Japan To China’s Yangtze tour begins at $5,299 per person, based on double occupancy, including sightseeing and port charges, all transportation in Japan and China and three internal flights within China. International airfare, including the flight between Kyoto and Beijing, is not included. Single supplements begin at $1,300.

Rates for the Yangtze Sampler tour begin at $2,199 per person, based on double occupancy, and include complete sightseeing and port charges, as well as on-tour transportation and flights within China. International airfare is not included. From September through April 2010 the program will be available from $2,399 per person.

KENYA TOURISM INDUSTRY IS SET TO IMPROVE IN THE YEAR 2009

Many tour operators are making trips to the tiny Nyan'goma Kogelo village in Alego Siaya with visitors. We at Victoria Safaris, we have been sending visitors to Kogelo Village since President Barack became a Senator. In addition to this we are opening the Western Kenya tourism Circuit. This is a circuit with many unexplored touristic sites and rich in Cultural and Community activities.(www.victoriasafaris.com)

This package is meant for those clients willing to make direct flights to Kenya from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta direct to Dakar in Senegal and then to Nairobi Kenya as from June 2009. Victoria Safaris is set for the launch and is ready for tourists willing to visit the Kenya's wilderness which include the famous Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, Tsavo National Parks, Coastal beaches including Mombasa, Watamu, Malindi and Diani in Mombasa South Coast of Kenya and lastly to The 44th USA President`s Barack Obama's ancestral home in Kenya`s Kogelo and the Virgin tourist treasure in Kenya , that is Western Kenya Tourist Circuit.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) is the first major U.S. carrier to operate scheduled services to Africa. It has announced it will launch direct flights between Nairobi`s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, via Dakar, Senegal effective 3 June 2009. The four-times weekly flight will be the only service to the United States from Kenya operated by a U.S. carrier and will offer passengers convenient connections via Delta`s Atlanta hub to around 150 business and leisure destinations throughout the United States including Washington, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, as well as destinations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, this new flight will improve connections between the African nations of Senegal and Kenya, by providing passengers with the option of travelling to Dakar.

Kenya reduces VISA fees by 50 % for foreign tourists and encourages Family tourism in Kenya

The Kenya government has reduced visa fees for children less than 16 years coming to Kenya as tourists. The move is aimed at stimulating demand for family travel. Kenya's tourism Minister Najib Balala said; "With the above stimulus package among other measures, we expect that tourism will grow at between 10 - 15 % in 2009 despite the global financial crisis", He was speaking on Saturday in Berlin, Germany where he was leading the Kenya delegation to the International Tourism Bourse (ITB). Kenya was represented by 26 industry players that includes hoteliers, tour and travel operators. The above package comes shortly after the government allocated some extra-budget resources of Ksh 250 million (2.5 million Euros) to the Kenya Tourist Board for enhanced marketing efforts recently.

The economy of Kenya relies heavily on agriculture, tourism and remittances from abroad from its kenya citizens in the Diaspora for economic growth and much-needed foreign exchange. The announcement of the latest government incentives packages was received well by participants at ITB which is the biggest tourism trade show in the world with about 200,000 visitors from all over the world. Kenya's participation in this world's famous tourism expo was aimed at establishing international business contacts, cementing trade relationships, reviewing old acquaintances and identifying possible areas of co-operation in the Kenya tourism industry. The number of tourists visiting Kenya fell 30.5 % in 2008 following post-election violence at the start of the year. Last year 729,000 people visited Kenya, down from 1,048,372 in 2007 and 954,335 in 2006. Click Here For Flight, Tour & Hotel Information

SEX TOURISM SPURRED BY WEAK CURRENCY AND CHEAP FLIGHTS

The problem is already so acute that Yuriy Lutsenko, Ukraine's interior minister, declared on national television earlier this year that "The country is becoming a paradise for sex tourism before our eyes." And with the economic crisis hitting Ukraine harder than most countries in Europe - unemployment has soared by more than 50 percent in the past year - rights groups are concerned that desperation is causing more women to make decisions like this. "The problem was bad before the crisis, but now it's booming," says Anna Hutsol, head of the nongovernmental women's rights group FEMEN.

Ms. Hutsol says that foreign men are taking advantage of the fall of the national currency, the hryvna, which has lost around 40 percent of its value against the dollar and the euro since the start of the crisis. They are also attracted by the visa-free regime for US and EU citizens introduced in 2005, and the advent of cheap flights from EU countries.

The number of visitors to Ukraine has surged in recent years - last year alone saw an increase of 2 million - and although there is no way of tracking them, both the authorities and rights groups note that the number of sex tourists is mushrooming. A police estimate in February forecast that the sex industry is set to more than double in value, going from $700 million in 2008 to $1.5 billion this year.

Some hotels are, as Hutsol puts it, "basically brothels" - last year saw two concierges arrested at two of the city's elite hotels for allegedly helping guests find prostitutes. Dozens of websites play on Ukrainian women's reputed beauty, advertising girls with price lists for the "services" they offer as well as testimonies from clients. They also offer tips to get girls past hotel security late at night.

Many websites peddle the myth that prostitution is legal in Ukraine. It isn't, but punishment is meted out only to prostitutes themselves - not clients - in the form of fines ranging from $6 to $30. A bill introduced in parliament in February proposing fines for clients was quietly dropped.

Not only do the police lack the legal means to tackle the problem, Kyiv's police chief charged this past winter that some also provide "cover" for prostitutes and brothel owners. "We have information that [brothels] are 'protected' by police officers," said Vitaliy Yarema in December. "When you drive along the street and see prostitutes, I am sure that this is impossible without [the help of] the police."

There are concerns that the authorities are not taking the problem seriously. Mykhailo Andrienko, head of the interior ministry's department for combating human trafficking, says that "statistics show" that prostitution is on the wane because potential clients can't afford to pay. He declined to give specific figures, and added that sex tourism "is not as big a problem as people think."

But Hutsol says prostitution is not limited to those advertising themselves as such. Visit any one of the bars and clubs in downtown Kyiv frequented by expats and the likelihood is high of encountering scantily clad girls. "It often starts off with a cocktail, then dinner," says Hutsol. "Then, before she knows it, the girl is in bed. She has become a prostitute without even recognizing it herself."

Some haunts are renowned for their "ladies' nights," where women can enjoy free drinks with no men around, before the horde is unleashed later in the evening. "Foreigners take advantage of girls' poverty and lack of education," says Hutsol, who says Ukraine never experienced women's emancipation. "Why book a prostitute when you can just buy a student a cocktail and promise to take her to Paris?"

A survey last autumn by FEMEN revealed that an astonishing 67.5 percent of women in Kyiv between 17 and 22 had received an offer from foreigners of money for sex. And with the Euro 2012 soccer tournament fast approaching, when thousands of male fans are expected to descend on the country, concerns that the problem is not being taken seriously enough by the authorities or society led FEMEN to take to the streets to draw attention to the problem.

FEMEN, which was founded last year and is mostly made up of students, has organized a number of colorful protests in Kyiv's main square, with girls dressed up as prostitutes holding signs in English, German, and Russian reading, "Ukraine is not a brothel," and, "Sex is not for sale." At a protest on Sunday, the participants ignored catcalls from a group of drunken Ukrainian men.

FEMEN hopes to spread across Europe to raise awareness of the human trafficking that has resulted in Ukrainian prostitutes populating brothels throughout Europe. But for now at least, the group has its work cut out in Ukraine. Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

TRAVELERS UNITE TO STOP CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING IN PERU

A coalition of five non-profit groups has launched a campaign to highlight the plight of children in Peru’s sex trade. The effort, spearheaded by Berkeley-based Ethical Traveler, will send hundreds of letters from concerned travelers to Peru’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Araoz. The letters will urge Ms. Araoz to use her influence to end child sex slavery in her country.

“Child sex tourism is a threat to Peru’s status as a world-class travel destination,” says Jeff Greenwald, Ethical Traveler’s Executive Director. “If the practice is allowed to continue, travelers of conscience may be reluctant to support the government with their travel dollars.”

Sex tourism is a flourishing industry in Peru, where tourists have easy access to vulnerable children. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child estimated that there are up to 500,000 child victims of sexual exploitation and violence in Peru. But the Peruvian government’s efforts to eradicate the sex slave trade have been stalled by corruption, insufficient law enforcement, and apathy.

“Tourism is a major economic force in Peru, and inbound tourism is increasing by 10% every year,” says Greenwald. “This means that more children will fall victim to sex slavery, unless we take action now. By joining our voices, travelers can convince Peru to protect these children.”

Ethical Traveler’s campaign against child sex trafficking in Peru is being waged in partnership with Global Exchange, Not for Sale-Peru, Generacion and Peruvian Net Against Child Pornography.

RHODES, GREECE

Once you land at Rodos International Airport, or by sea on a cruise ship or local ferry, they will want to choose a hotel that matches their every wish. We’ve gathered some options.

Near the Historic Center
The Nikos and Takis Fashion Hotel is located right in the center of medieval Rhodes. Visitors walk along the Street of the Knights, past the impressive Great Magistrate’s Palace, to get to this artsy, elegant hotel, with fine details like stonework and iron lights from the medieval period.

Each room is non-smoking and has different decor designed by fashion designers Nikos and Takis. It’s a place for the hip and trendy, as its name suggests. Around the square you can find many fashionable boutiques and jewelry shops.

For you “America’s Next Top Model” starting this year Nikos and Takis have even started a school for models.

Based in the old city center, your clients will have easy access to follow in the footsteps of Saint Paul along cobblestone streets, across drawbridges and through ancient arched gates. A visit to the Archaeological Museum, the Art Gallery and the Museum of Popular Art is a must.

Outside the medieval center, at the Rodos Park Suites Hotel, guests have views of the Castle of the Knights of St. John in one of 30 tastefully decorated suites with Jacuzzis. Located in the most beautiful part of the city, just outside the medieval town and close to the modern city center, this prestigious five-star boutique hotel will cater to your clients as if they were royalty.

Throughout the year, a number of artistic events take place in the city of Rhodes, including the Sound and Lights performances at the Palace of the Grand Masters, and Greek tragedies and folk dances at the Medieval Theatre.

Hit the Beach
Rodos Palladium, a luxury hotel on Kallithea’s Beach, is famous for its variety of services, including rose-petal baths, Greek dancing lessons, kids’ club, babysitting, Wi-Fi and large tropical pools, as well as elegant restaurants with fine Greek and Mediterranean fare. Lindos town, in the south, boasts one of the most interesting archaeological sites in Rhodes and it attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world.

For beachside villas, you should try the Atrium Palace Thalasso Spa Resort & Villas, located on Kalathos Beach, near the historic town of Lindos on the peaceful east coast of the island. It is close to Kalathos town, about three miles from Lindos and only 30 miles from the city of Rhodes. The hotel derived its name from an impressive internal atrium, featuring a water garden.

By day, organized excursions are available to Lindos, the Acropolis of Lindos, Rhodes Old Town and castle; trips around the island, the ruins of ancient Kamiros and to many monasteries and ancient churches. Sailing trips are also available to neighboring islands and to Marmaris in Turkey.

About three miles from Lindos, Lindian Village resort will exceed all your luxurious expectations with its island-style village surrounded by colorful tropical flora and the glistening sea.

If you want to stay amid a lush garden of tropical flowers and trees, walk by a river, lie by a lake, smell the flowers, take in a day at the Oriental Day Spa or dine on sumptuous food in a Thai restaurant — all in a deluxe resort setting, Lindian Village will be a slice of heaven.

Mountain Hideaway
The Elaphos and Elaphina, the “deer and doe,” is a mountain hideaway and a historical monument, and one of the top sights on Rhodes. Perched on the mountainside of Profetes Elias Mountain, close to the Byzantine monastery, it is near the village of Archangelos, just 15 miles south of Rhodes.

This historic villa has been refurbished and has reopened as a quaint hotel with just 20 rooms and three suites. It was built in 1929 during the Italian domination and was the former headquarters for Mussolini. It had been closed for 25 years and it has its original stone walls, wood window frames, verandas and high-pitched roofs in a picturesque wooded area with incredible views of the island. Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

ASIA - TAIWAN'S ADVENTURES

One of Taroko Gorge’s three visitor centers is located in Tienhsiang, where many of the park’s more popular trails are located. Tienhsiang is also home to the park’s only five-star hotel, the Grand Formosa Taroko, which cuts into a mountainous shelf overlooking the Liwu River.

The Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail
Taroko’s must-see trail is the Tunnel of Nine Turns, a man-made path blasted directly into the granite cliff. The views here are beyond stunning, and each turn reveals completely distinct scenery. The 1.2-mile path follows the contours of the marble canyon, which is divided by the Liwu River below. This walk is a gentle one, although it can sometimes be a near-claustrophobic experience, as the divided canyon walls are only separated by 30 feet at their narrowest point.

Lyushui-Holiu Trail
Lyushui Trail’s eastern entrance isn’t located too far from the Nine Tunnels Trail, and the two can easily be combined for an afternoon excursion. The hour-long walk, once an aboriginal pathway, is the park’s first self-guided walk. The park’s diverse topography, including dense forests, cliff terrain and a mini-waterfall are highlighted along the trail’s gentle but noticeable slope. A suspension bridge offers the best views of the Liwu River below, but the faint-of-heart may need some convincing to cross the bridge. The trail also passes through a 100-foot tunnel. So, a flashlight is highly recommended.

Baiyang Trail
The watery Baiyang Trail is the park’s most popular route, taking about 1½ hours to complete the round-trip excursion. This trek is an easy walk over flat grade and is highly recommended for first-timers. The trail was originally built in 1984 by the Taiwan Power Company during early stages of a plan to tap into area waterfalls in order to develop hydropower. The plans were eventually scrapped, but the trail remains. Visitors pass through a number of tunnels, some with a light at the end, but many curving into pitch blackness (a good flashlight is advisable). The path’s main attraction is the Baiyang Waterfall, which plummets into jade-colored pools at the bottom of the canyon. Bathing suits are advisable for the final tunnel, known as the Water Curtain, as travelers will get drenched from the spring water falling from the tunnel roof.

Wenshan Hot Springs
The Wenshan Hot Springs is another one of Taroko’s not-to-be-missed attractions. This natural hot spring is comprised of three vibrant, all-natural soaking pools situated on the canyon floor. Visitors must cross a suspension bridge and climb down 300 steps to get there, but the trip shouldn’t take longer than 45 minutes. There is a changing booth along the way, but most visitors wear their bathing suits beneath their traveling gear. The three pools feature water temperatures that range from hot to hottest, and each is a popular meditative spot for locals. In the pools, a slippery scramble will access the prime locations.

Accommodations
Taroko National Park offers many accommodation options, ranging from Haulien city hotels to youth hostels and campgrounds inside the park. The most luxurious option is the Grand Formosa Taroko, a five-star property overlooking Tienhsiang’s natural splendors. The hotel is located near many of the park’s best-known scenic areas, and it operates a shuttle bus that transports guests to and from these locations.

The hotel is across from one of the park’s three visitor centers, which provides an excellent assortment of information, most of it available in English. The hotel’s front desk staff, however, are also excellent park ambassadors.

The hotel has a number of fine restaurants, and breakfast is usually included with most packages. For the adventurous, and budget-conscious, there are several small, local restaurants next to the visitor center, which offer point-and-pick Chinese menus at affordable prices.

Transportation
Taroko Gorge is easily accessible via bus, train and express train from Taipei. An express train ride takes about two hours to Hualien and passes through stunning landscapes, an eclectic mix of mountains, fields and ocean.

The trains are comfortable and convenient, and station signage is clearly marked in English and Chinese. Onboard train announcements are also made in prerecorded English and Chinese, making the ride a stress-free way to see the northern part of the country.

Once in Hualien (Hsincheng is the closest stop to the park), the park entrance is still an hour’s drive away. Taxis are available, but guests checking into the Grand Formosa can take the hotel shuttle. Click Here For Orient Flights & Hotel Information

A USERS GUIDE TO AUSTRALIA'S GREAT BARRIER REEF

Stretching for 1,250 miles along the Queensland coast, the reef shelters 400 species of coral and 1,500 types of tropical fish. The only problem: choosing how to do the Great Barrier Reef. Unlike the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (lining Mexico and Belize) the outer edge of Australia’s reef lies far off the coast, requiring at least 90 minutes of travel in each direction via high-speed catamaran.

One strategy is to be based on one of the 26 resort islands located inside the reef. Each caters to a slightly different agenda: There are resorts devoted to honeymooners and some for families; islands that target a party-hearty crowd; and those that revel in quiet wildlife.

Just three miles off the coast is 160-room Dunk Island, offering moderately priced lodging in a lush setting with coves of soft golden sand. The island is reached by a 45-minute flight from Cairns, but the mainland proximity means it’s still a 65-minute cruise from Dunk to the outer reef.

Alternately, the Whitsunday archipelago — 74 islands in all, and all but seven uninhabited — offer enough diversions on Hamilton Island that guests might overlook the nearby reef. The airport receives jets from Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns, yet the island is small enough that golf carts and shuttle buses provide ample transportation. The beaches aren’t great, but outstanding ones are on neighboring islands. Hamilton has more than a dozen restaurants, retail shops, superb sailing and five lodging options with about 800 rooms, including the new, top-end Qualia.

Honeymooners gravitate to Lizard Island, a 40-room outpost located a 45-minute flight north of Cairns. The isolated island is ringed by pristine reefs and two-dozen crescent beaches, prompting guests to grab a picnic basket and motorized dingy to transport them to a private cove. Some of the reef’s best dive sites are a short boat ride away. The impressive rates are all-inclusive.

For some visitors, Lizard’s seclusion is limiting; Americans may consider a beach resort to be low priority for a busy Aussie holiday, but along the Queensland coast there are several transportation hubs for day trips to the outer reef. Most famous is Cairns, the beachless city rife with T-shirt emporiums, chain hotels and ample landlubber lures. Forty-two miles north is airportless Port Douglas which, with just 4,800 residents, has its small-town ambience intact and dense tropical rainforest nearby.

A number of Cairns and Port Douglas operators handle day trips to the reef. Quicksilver is the big one, using wave-piercing catamarans that travel at 35 knots. Their smallest boat, Silversonic, holds 85 passengers and is geared to “adventure” lovers and divers — that is, people who have a comfort level with the water and want maximum time near the reef. Quicksilver also has trips to a private semi-permanent pontoon with an underwater viewing station and helicopter pad (using boats that carry 300 to 400 passengers).

For those who want to snorkel only, Wavelength is recommended; you’ll still visit the outer reef, but on a smaller vessel with biologist-guides who give personalized attention. Calypso also offers reef trips on a boat limited to 60 divers. All of these operations can be booked stateside and provide agency commissions.

AIRPORT TRAFFIC: FLAT GROWTH IN 2008

ACI World Director General Angela Gittens comments, “With overall passenger numbers hovering at 4.8 billion in both 2007 and 2008, we are a long way from the dynamic 6.8 percent growth witnessed in 2007. The relentless climb of oil prices which spiked in July and the turbulent financial and economic climate, which emerged in the second half of 2008, countered positive results achieved in first two quarters of the year. These two key factors sparked a negative trend that has continued into 2009.”

Cargo results
Global industrial production began to contract in July 2008 followed by a sharp drop in global trade volumes in the last quarter leading to a collapse in global air freight peaking in December 2008. As a result cargo volumes worldwide fell by 3.7 percent in 2008. Domestic freight dropped more sharply by 5.4 percent whereas international freight suffered from a milder 2.4 percent contraction.

Looking at some key markets, for the year, the Asia Pacific region lost 25% of its previous year volume in December. The U.S. remained by far the largest air cargo market in the world accounting for a third of the global volume even though it shrank by 9.1 percent both in domestic and international freight. China (including Hong Kong) ranked second accounting for 13 percent of global air shipments. Total freight in China grew by 1.8 percent, with almost equal growth levels in the domestic and international markets.

Gittens comments, “The downward spiral for cargo year-end has yet to be reversed, with cargo results tied down by the slow resurgence of global trade. Traffic results for the first half of 2009 show that freight remains strongly depressed relative to the first quarter of 2008, with only timid indications of market stabilization beginning to emerge.”

Aircraft movements
Aircraft movements worldwide reached 77 million, which given the larger sample this year actually represents a decline of 2.1 percent compared to 2007. This figure includes cargo, military, general aviation, combi flights and passenger aircraft movements. Passenger/combi aircraft movements - a category of particular interest for commercial purposes - decreased by 0.5 percent to 55.8 million. That translates into 87.3 passengers per movement, which is actually an improvement of 0.7 percent over 2007.

The largest decrease of passenger/ combi aircraft movements was registered in the U.S., down by 4.2 percent. General Aviation and military flights in the U.S. were down by 10.7 percent.

Regional analysis
The impact of crude oil prices on the industry and of the global financial economic recession on production and trade varied by geographical region. North America, particularly susceptible to high oil prices as oil is trading in US Dollars, suffered traffic declines as early as the close of the first quarter. Other regions registered declines later in the year - Asia Pacific starting in July, while Europe and Latin America followed in September. Africa had only two negative months during the year (September and December), whereas the Middle East sustained its growth trajectory during the 12 months.

Due to its early contraction in 2008, North America was the only region with negative overall result in 2008 (-3.1 percent). The Middle East was the region registering the largest growth at 5.8 percent followed by Africa at 4.8 percent.

The 5 fastest growing passenger airports in 2008 were Abu Dhabi (UAE), Istanbul (Turkey), Sharjah (UAE), Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) and Bahrain (Bahrain). The top 25 includes airports from Brazil, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Peru, Russian Federation, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam - a mixed list from large and small airports, developed and developing nations.

Andreas Schimm, ACI World’s Director of Economics Director and editor of the report, says, “Historically, air traffic tends to outperform GDP, but that was not the case in 2008. This year there is a significant gap, with worldwide growth traffic at 0.1 percent, whereas worldwide GDP grew by 3.1 percent, thanks to a strong 6 percent rise in GDP in emerging/developing economies. With advanced economies generating about 75% of global traffic and sub-GDP traffic growth in some key emerging markets, the disparity was accentuated. In China, GDP rose by 9 percent, yet traffic was only up 3.8 percent; Brazil’s GDP rose by 5.1 percent with traffic up by only 0.9 percent; India’s GDP was up by 7.3 percent, with traffic down by 2.3 percent.”

BERLIN ON A BUDGET - 10 TIPS

1. Make the most of a museum pass
"My husband and I just spent five nights in Berlin and found it to be a very good value destination--particularly if you enjoy art museums. We bought the 3 day Schaulust Museum pass for 19 Euro and saw six museums, including the Pergamon.

2. Hop on the bus
"The public bus no. 100 is the perfect hop on/hop off sightseeing bus. It drives from Alexanderplatz along Unter den Linden to Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten with many attractions on the way. Total driving time is 26 min. If you have the Welcome Card the drive is free, otherwise it costs 2.10 Euros per person."

Berlin-Christmas-Markets-ethan-lindsey.
Save during the holidays. "If you go to Berlin at Christmas, it is free to walk around the Christmas Markets. Gluewein at these Chrismas markets is usually 1 euro per cup. Get drunk on cheap wine, but watch you don't fall into the Spandau with your bag of Christmas Balls."

4. Take a cruise
"Any pass for public transportation is also good for the several ferries run by BVG, Berlin's Transit Authority. You will get a free 20 minute "cruise" across Lake Wannsee from S-Bahn station Wannsee to the other side of the lake, where you can take an express bus back to the city center."

5. Search the web for good hotel values
"For an excellent hotel at a cheaper summer rate, book Mercure Hotel Berlin an der Charité at booking.com. Summer special: 3 nights with breakfast: 240 Euros / per double room (not person!) This is a modern, quiet hotel with 4 star breakfasts. I stayed there last year and would stay again."

6.Stock up on groceries
"The Galleria department store in Alexanderplatz (Berlin) has a fantastic food department on the ground floor - lots of great stuff for picnics or stocking an apartment, and plenty of souvenirs (chocolate, mustards etc) - all for much less than you'd pay at the Ka De We food department."

7. Be a card carrier
"We purchased a Berlin Card that gave us unlimited transportation for the 3 days we were there. We rode the #100 bus many times getting off and on as we did our touring about. We also took a walking tour of Berlin and got a discount because of the card. The tour was excellent and a great starting point for our stay." -

8. Priceline works over there too
"I feel like a broken record, but try Priceline. Just got back from a weekend trip to Berlin yesterday, and paid $85 per night. For that money, we got the Movenpick, which is a step above what you would expect in that price range." -- travelgourmet

9. Eat where the locals eat
"In Berlin, if you happen to be out by the Wannsee, stop at Lorretta am Wannsee. It's near the S-Bahn station on the corner of Potsdamer Chaussee. There is a biergarten and you can get a brat, potato salad, wine, beer, and even a crepe for dessert for very reasonable prices."

10. Work the taxi system.
"For taxi rides in Berlin (maybe some other cities, too), if you are going under 2 km you can request a short trip (Kurzstrecke) rate--3 euros as long as the trip is under 2 km. You must hail a moving cab-- request the fare before the cabbie activates his meter. It can even be less expensive than public transport depending on where you are going and the number of people in your group." Click Here For Flights to Germany & Hotel Information

EXPERIENCE MUNICH

As Munich is the world capital of beer and beer culture, you should definitely try some of the local brew, either in one of the larger, noisier beer halls or in a smaller Kneipe, a bar where all types of people get together for basic meals and beer. When the first spring rays of sun begin warming the air, Müncheners flock to their famous beer gardens, where tourists and locals alike gather in the shade of massive chestnut trees. The city's most famous festival, the beer-soaked Oktoberfest, started as an agricultural fair held on the occasion of a royal marriage and has now become one of the biggest public festivals in the world, spawning imitators around the globe.

The other Munich is one of refinement and sophistication, high-fashion boutiques and five-star restaurants. Various "all-nighter" events throughout the year celebrate museum-going, literature, and musical performances. The city's appreciation of the arts began under the kings and dukes of the Wittelsbach Dynasty, which ruled Bavaria for more than 750 years until 1918. The Wittelsbach legacy is alive and well in the city's fabulous museums, the Opera House, the Philharmonic, and much more.

Munich's cleanliness, safety, and comfortable pace give it an ever so slightly rustic feeling, despite the fact that it's a relatively large, prosperous city. This, combined with broad sidewalks, endless shops and eateries, views of the Alps, and a huge green park that easily gives Central Park a run for its money, the English Garden, makes Munich one of Germany's most enjoyable cities. Click Here For Munich Flights & Hotel Information

JET AIRWAYS AND KSTDC ANNOUNCE THE LUNCH OF 'GOLDEN JET ESCAPES'

These new holiday packages will target both international and domestic travelers from metro destinations such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Goa and Kochi in India, while on the international front, the offer is valid from New York, New Jersey, Toronto, London and Brussels.

Specially packaged fares have been provided by both the Golden Chariot and Jet Airways to offer a seamless travel experience that combines the air travel from a gateway city with the Golden Chariot experience that will showcase Southern India’s historic regions and sights such as Kabini, Mysore, Sharavanabelagola, Belur, Halebid , Hampi, Badami Caves, Pattadakai and Goa. The holiday packages have been especially created around the concept of time travel. Starting with 21st century Bangalore, travelers will be taken back in time to the 6th century Badami Caves, each destination offering chapter in history of this region.

Jet Airways with its extensive network in India and in key gateway cities in the US, UK and Europe will also market this to new target audiences encouraging them to experience and relive the rich cultural diversity of Karnataka’s heritage. This offer that is available for both Premiere and Economy class on Jet Airways.

Tourism Minister Sri. G. Janardhana Reddy, said, “The Government is interested in coming up with more such initiatives where marketing is jointly done with leading private sector players. Especially when the partners are popular and accepted it augurs well for the destination. With this initiative, Karnataka has spread its marketing initiatives firmly on the international and national markets.”

According to Mr. Sudheer Raghavan, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways, “Jet Airways has always sought to promote tourism both internationally, as well as within India, by leveraging its unmatched pan-India and growing international network. We are delighted to partner with KSTDC to launch the ‘Golden Jet Escapes’ initiative, as part of our ongoing efforts to boost domestic travel and tourism. We are confident that the compelling value proposition on offer will spur more travelers to visit Karnataka this year.”

On this occasion, Sutradhar, The Golden Chariot’s on board magazine was launched by Sri. Siraj Sheikh, Chairman, KSTDC. Speaking on the occasion he said that Karnataka is a land full of exciting stories and they can be seen and heard at every turn, in every destination. “Sutradhar, will narrate the stories of this land in an exciting manner that will be presented by the Sutradhar of ‘The Golden Chariot’. This will be yet another piece of showcase literature for travelers to Karnataka to read.” Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

'OVER 45s' RE-VISITING HOLIDAY FUN FROM THEIR YOUTH

The survey, which polled 1,000 over 45s, indicates surprising similarities between what people enjoy most now and when they were child-free. Top answer was ‘exploring the holiday destination’ (61 per cent) replicating responses from earlier in their lives (59 per cent). This was followed in both instances by ‘chilling out’, ‘drinking lots of alcohol’, ‘adventure sports’ and even ‘going on the pull’.

What’s more, despite the current rise of the UK ‘staycation’, Spain is still the most popular destination, although the poll revealed an increasing preference for places like Turkey (tripled in popularity from 4 per cent to 12 per cent) and The Algarve (six per cent to 11 per cent).

It also appears that rather than curbing people’s holiday plans, the credit crunch actually appears to be bringing families closer together, with more over 18s choosing to join Mum and Dad on holiday.

Lucy Black, Marketing Manager at Jet2holidays.com, said: “These results are interesting as people show more of a preference for re-living the delights of younger days - nearly a third (28 per cent) now use holidays to re-visit their youth and recreate the experiences they couldn’t do with kids in tow.

“However, there has been an increase in the number of over 18s holidaying abroad with their parents, which could be to save cash or experience destinations they might not usually choose. Either way, it seems the credit crunch is helping promote good old traditional family holidays.”

In addition, two in five (39 per cent) claimed their age group got the most enjoyment out of holidays – with their view being the 31-44 age group gets the least enjoyment (11 per cent).

Top of people’s holiday enjoyment: Youth
1. Exploring the destination (59 per cent)
2. Chilling out (28 per cent)
3. Drinking lots of alcohol (5 per cent)
4. Adventure sports (4 per cent)
5. Going ‘on the pull’ (4 per cent)

Over 45s
1. Exploring the destination (61 per cent)
2. Chilling out (36 per cent)
3. Drinking lots of alcohol (2 per cent)
4. Adventure sports (1 per cent)
5. Going ‘on the pull’ (0 per cent)

Most popular holiday destinations:
Youth
1. Spain (43 per cent)
2. Greece (20 per cent)
3. The Canaries (16 per cent)
4. The Balearics (11 per cent)
5. The Algarve (6 per cent)
6. Turkey (4 per cent)

Over 45s
1. Spain (26 per cent)
2. Greece (24 per cent)
3. The Canaries (19 per cent)
4. Turkey (12 per cent)
5. The Algarve (11 per cent)
6. The Balearics (8 per cent). Click Here For Flight & Hotel Information

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