Want to save gas? Keep down your speed ... and weight, too

This is the year that the price of gas flirted with  $4 a gallon nationwide.  As many prepare for summer driving vacations, they might heed these tips from the June issue of AARP Bulletin:

 *Lose weight. You can save 1 to 2 percent of your fuel by getting rid of an extra 100 pounds.  (You needn't go on a starvation diet. Just empty unneeded stuff out of the vehicle.)

* Keep your speed down. Every 10 miles an hour above 40 or 50 causes you to  lose about 4 miles a gallon. 

* Do all your errands in one trip.  It takes a lot of gas to start a cold engine and get it running at peak efficiency.

*Avoid idling. Drivers who cut idling to no more than one minute can typically make their gas last 19 percent longer.

*Carpool.  An environmental organization in your area might be willing to pay you to not drive alone. (Not that you plan to take strangers or casual acquaintances on vacation with you.)

*Accessorize carefully. Individually devices don’t use up all that much gas, but they all add up.

* Go easy on the air conditioning. In general the AC compressor is a huge drag on gasoline efficiency, so if you’re driving around at less than top speeds, lower the windows.  (Some might argue, however,  that open windows cause their own drag.)

* Check those gas-saving websites. Before you leave the house, check out websites such as GasBuddy.com and FuelMeUp.com that tell you what stations in your area have the cheapest gas.

 For complete details on these tips, click here.


And speaking of saving on gas 
Through Aug. 31,  guests who stay two or more consecutive nights at a Choice brand hotel in a participating area will receive a $25 gas card that can be redeemed at Shell stations. The markets are: Cleveland; Daytona Beach, Fla.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Milwaukee; Mobile, Ala.; and the state of New Hampshire. All Choice Hotels properties within a 50-mile radius of each participating city are also included.  Reservations must be made, by July 13 through ChoiceHotels.com. Participating hotels include Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, Ascend Collection, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn.

Trivial question
 Name two countries that border the Khyber Pass. (Answer somewhere below.)

Beijing, Shanghai, air, hotels and tours for $899
China Spree has put together an eight day Winter Special—A Tale of China’s Two Great Cities—that costs  $899 plus tax in November, January and February. The Beijing/Shanghai package includes round-trip non-stop air from San Francisco ($330 more from New York), fuel surcharge, first-class hotel accommodations, daily American breakfast, four lunches, one dinner, guided private tours and entrance fees. Prices quoted are the cash discount rate per person, double occupancy, are subject to availability and do not include departure taxes. Visit www.chinaspree.com and click China Tours, then Winter Specials, or call 866-652-5656.

Fascinating fact
Thomas Cook, the original travel agency guy, led the first around-the-world tour in 1872-73. The trip took 222 days and covered more than 25,000 miles.

Big celebrities (sort of) to entertain in Waikiki

You can't, and shouldn't, spend all your time on the beach when you're in Hawaii. Accordingly, there's a lot of great entertainment on those magical isles, too. For instance, beginning Dec. 8, the noted tribute artist production Legends in Concert will debut an all-new show at  the Royal Hawaiian Center in the heart of Waikīkī,. Six nights a week,  year-round, artist will pay tribute to and portray the likes of   Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Rod Stewart, Madonna and Prince, enhanced by a live band and dancers. In all, Legends in Concert features more than 80  superstar personas that are rotated through its many venues. Ticket information will be announced.

Worth quoting

"Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quiestest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey." — Pat Conroy

Vrooom! Italy package includes racing events

ItalyVacations.com is celebrating the Superstars International Series and the World Superbike Championship with  three- and five-night packages for three race weekends in Italy: Maserati-Ferrari Superstars Mugello Race Weekend (Sept. 23-26), Ducati Superbike Imola Race Weekend (Sept. 23-26) and Ferrari Superstars Vallelunga Race Weekend (Oct. 7-10). Prices start at $2,299 per person, double and include luxury hotel accommodations, a Superstars Pack VIP Pass, private transfers, and other amenities. Click here. 

Trivial answer

Two countries bordering the Khyber Pass are Pakistan and Afghanistan, both of which are much in the news these days.

Yosemite Valley National Park in California.

Free admission for a week at our marvelous national parks

Some of my happiest travel have come from visits to America's national parks, and I'm certainly not alone. But during National Park Week April 16-24, things get even better because admission is free at all 394 parks and special events are planned at many. Those events may not be earth-shaking but will give you a feel for the what the National Park Service has to offer. Here is a sampling:

* Steamtown National Historic Site, Pennsylvania. Short train excursions will begin on Sunday. These tours are offered on a first-come basis. For more information, call 570-340-5204.

Muir Woods National Monument, California. Celebrate naturalist John Muir's birthday April 21 with a quiet walk through what he called "the best tree-lover's monument in all the forests of the world." Phone the Muir Woods Hotline at 415-388-2595 for program information.

* Stones River National Battlefield, Tennessee.  Parks and volunteers nationwide are dedicating tomorrow to preserving America's Civil War sites. At Stones River National Battlefield and the Civil War Preservation Trust, employees and volunteers will fan out to remove exotic plants, trash, and modern fencing.

* Congaree National Park, South Carolina. National Park Week, National Junior Ranger Day, and Earth Day will all be celebrated tomorrow with guided walks, junior ranger programs and canoe tours. All events are free. For more information call 803-776-4396.

All right, let's get to the free part. For starters, many sites are free year round. But for 100 of the biggest parks, where admissions vary, the savings can be substantial. The waiver includes entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. But they don't apply to other fees such as reservations, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties unless stated otherwise. In addition, many national park concessioners are joining the National Park Service with their own special offers. To see them, click here.

And if you can't visit April 16-24, take heart: Other free days this year are June 21, Sept. 24 and Nov. 11-13.

Search Amazon.com for National Parks 

Trivial question

Only one country that begins with an "A" doesn't also end with an "a." Name the country.

Discover France shrinks size of groups needed for discounts

Discover France Adventures,  specialists in France for cycling and hiking tours, announces that groups of four or more can now get group discounts on self guided cycling tours that previously were only available to groups of 10 or more. The amount of savings increases with the group size. For example, on the Self Guided Provence Vineyards & Lavender Tour, the posted per person rate is 1,335 euros. If four persons book and travel together, a discount of 55 euros per person is possible, adding up to a group savings of 220 euros, or about $320. This offer is valid for bookings through Oct. 31 for the 2011 season only.

Worth quoting

"I had a prejudice against the British until I discovered that fifty percent of them were female.” -- Raymond Floyd

Book a package and save nearly $600

As we've said before, you often can save substantially when booking a package or tour. Here's an example:

TourCrafters, which specializes in Italy travel,has a four-night Rome City Break that costs $1,252 until May 15 and again from Sept. 1-Oct. 31. That price includes a round-trip flight from New York, the fuel surcharge, airport transfer, hotel accommodations, daily buffet breakfast, a half-day sightseeing tour, service charges, taxes and even an ice cream cone in a historic gelateria. (Air fare from other departure cities is additional.)  If you were to book these elements yourself, TourCrafters notes that you would pay $815 for air fare, $420 for fuel surcharge, $99 for airport transfer, $316 for hotel, $72 for breakfast, $49 for sightseeing, $62 for service charges and taxes, and $3 for the ice cream cone — a total of $1,836 and a difference of $584.

Fascinating fact 

The Dominican Republic flag is the only one with a Bible on it. (You have to look carefully to see it, though.)

A chance to win 6.5 million hotel rewards points
Best Western’s “Jumpstart to Summer” promotion kicks off April 17 with a chance for one lucky traveler to win 6.5 million rewards points. That could mean more than two years of free hotel rooms!
 Best Western Rewards members (free to join) who register for the Jumpstart promotion at www.bestwestern.com/jump and stay with Best Western three times between April 17 and June 5 will earn a $50 Best Western Travel Card, which can be used like cash at any of the chain’s 4,000+ properties worldwide.  Those who register are also entered in a daily drawing for a $65 Best Western Travel Card.
Then, those who complete three separate stays at two different "descriptor" hotels (a Best Western, Best Western Plus and/or Best Western Premier) will be automatically entered into a drawing for the 6.5 million rewards points. Five second prizes of $650 travel cards will also be awarded.

Trivial answer

Afghanistan, of course.

15 things you may not know about New York City

 New York is a fascinating city but how much do you really know about it? Gray Line has put together, in question and answer form, some facts that may surprise you. Here goes. 
1. Only one of the five  boroughs that make up New York City is attached to the mainland of the United States. Which one? (answer: The Bronx)
2.  If all the New York Subway system tracks were laid out end to end they would stretch for how many miles? (722)
3. The geographical area of the Bronx is comparable to what major European city? (Paris)
4. The longest running musical in Broadway Theater history is? (Phantom of the Opera)
5.  How many times have the New York Yankees won the World Series? (27 -- Everyone from Boston can now say, "Booooo!")
6.  How long did the Empire State Building hold the title "World's Tallest Building"? (42 years)

 

The World's tallest building -- from 1931-1973

7. From the lower level to the top floor, how many stories are there in the Empire State Building? (102)
8. From the lobby to the 86th floor observation deck there are how
any stairs? (1550) 
9.  The world's largest Gothic Cathedral is located in New York City. What is it called? (Cathedral of St. John the Divine)
10.  What is the largest auditorium in New York City? (ans Radio City
Musical Hall) 
11.  Six U.S. presidents were from New York state. But who was the only one from New York City? (Theodore Roosevelt)
12. From south to north, the three toll-free bridges spanning the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn spell out a luxury car brand. What are they? (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg -- BMW)
13. What is the most frequently visited museum in New York City? (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
14. The oldest house of worship on the island of Manhattan is?  (St. Paul's Chapel)
15. What is the name of the largest park in all of New York City? (Pelham Bay Park, the Bronx -- 2,700 acres)

Trivial question
If you haven't had enough trivia after that New York entry, here's another question. Which countries/states border Italy? (Hint: There are six.)

Spring deals at Vermont's Stowe Mountain Lodge

As the ski season ends and the weather finally begins to warm up, Stowe Mountain Lodge in Stowe, Vt., entices guests with  marble soaking tubs, floor-to-ceiling windows, dual mountain views, a spa, heated indoor access outdoor pool and  farm-to-table restaurants. Another enticement is lowered prices, with these deals among those being offered. They are: Spring Stowecation, with 20% off a 2 night stay and 30% off stays of three nights or more. Rates start at $160/night and are good through June 30. Dinner & Theater Package, with discounted accommodations, prix-fixe dinner for two and two show tickets. Email stowereservations@destinationhotels.com or call 802-760-4755. Spa & Stay Package, for two nights with two 50-minute massages and discounted accommodations.  Rates start at $299 a night and are good from April 1-June 1.  Use booking code SPASTAY.  For more packages, click here or call 888-652-0658.

Worth quoting

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." -- Henry Miller

Win a trip to London during the Royal Wedding

Today through March 31,Travelocity and Virgin Atlantic Airways are offering a chance to win a regal London  getaway for two, including round-trip flights from one of the Virgin Atlantic US gateways to London, in its Upper Class cabin, plus a four-night hotel stay at The Kensington Hotel. Travel dates are April 27 – May 2, giving you a chance to capture the excitement of the wedding of Will and Kate. (Don't expect the prize to include an invite, though.) To enter, log onto http://tvly.com/royalwedding.  

Fascinating fact

New Zealand lays claim to being the first country to give women the vote in modern times. The date was Sept. 19, 1893.

Arctic wonders await Hurtiguten cruisegoers  

Polar bears and Svalbard reindeer roaming icy tundra, the Moffen Island’s walrus colony, and Hornsund Fjord, with its vertical cliffs and glaciers, are among the rare Arctic wonders travelers can experience on  Hurtigruten’s nine-day “Kingdom of the Polar Bear”  cruise. The MV Polar Star, specifically designed to explore areas inaccessible to most other ships, travels round trip from Longyearbyen to the farthest corners of Spitsbergen and explores a  landscape of Arctic tundra,  fjords, national parks and scenic islands. Prices for the voyage, which has 11 departures between June 9 and Aug. 18, range from $6,419 to $10,080 per person, double. Visit www.hurtigruten.us; or call 877-301-3117.

Search Amazon.com for Arctic travel

Trivial answer

Italy is bordered by Austria, France, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland and Vatican City. (Tough one, eh?)

10 sometimes surprising facts about amazing Alaska

The Milepost is an annual publication that modestly calls itself The Bible of North Country Travel. It certainly is filled with facts about Alaska. Here are 10:

* The state's 20,320-foot Mount McKinley/Denali (it has two official names) is the highest mountain in North America. On a clear day, you can see the mountain from Anchorage, some 200 miles away, yet the mountain isn't visible inside Denali National Park until Mile 10 on the Park Road. Visit www.reservedenali.com.

* The access road to the town of Whittier passes through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. At 13,200 feet, it is the longest highway tunnel in North America as well as the longest combined highway/railroad tunnel on the continent.

* The White Pass & Yukon Route railway (oictured) is the farthest north narrow-gauge railroad and has one of the steepest railroad grades in North America.

* Glaciers cover about 5 percent of the state, and dozens are accessible for up-close viewing, by road or by water.
* Juneau is the only state capital in the continental United States that is not accessible by road from the rest of the state. You've got to take a boat or a plane to get there.

* On June 21 in Fairbanks, you can watch a baseball game at  midnight, without artificial lights. The summer solstice offers 22 hours of daylight.

* Anchor River Road on the Kenai Peninsula ends at the most westerly point on the North American continent accessible by a continuous road system.

* The state boasts the second greatest tidal range in North America from Beluga Point on the Seward Highway, just 16 miles south of  Anchorage. (The Bay of Fundy in Atlantic Canada has the greatest tidal range.)

* Alaska has more than 10 percent of the world's volcanoes, and one of the most recently active -- Mount Redoubt -- may be seen from the Sterling Highway on the Kenai Peninsula.

* Alaska has two of the largest islands in the U.S. (after Hawaii). Kodiak,  in the Gulf of  Alaska, is known for viewing the Kodiak brown bear. Prince of  Wales Island, which has the most extensive road system in    southeast Alaska, is a popular sport fishing destination.


For more about the 784-page Milepost, which is also published digitally, visit www.milepost.com.

                                                 Search Amazon.com for Alaska

Trivial question

Where would you find the islets of Langerhans? (Answer somewhere below.)

Cherry blossom package proves spring is coming

This year marks the 99th celebration of the original gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees from the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington, D.C., and the Mandarin Oriental is in there pitching with a exclusive Cherry Blossoms Bloom package. Included are overnight accommodations in a Deluxe room, a buffet breakfast for four in Sou’Wester restaurant,  overnight valet parking, cerry treats from the executive chef and a 20 percent discount on the Cherry Blossom Ritual in The Spa at Mandarin Oriental. Room rates are from $395 per night, and the package is valid from March 25 to April 10. Call 888-888-1778 or visit www.mandarinoriental.com/washington.

Here's more proof -- a Spring Fling offer in Florida

The Atlantic Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has a Spring Fling package available  through May 31. The  package, which requires a minimum three-night stay, begins at $249 per night, double occupancy, and includes accommodations in a  guestroom featuring a private balcony, a fully-equipped kitchenette and an oversized marble bathroom, a  $100 spa credit toward a treatment or service in the Spa Atlantic, 20 percent off any additional spa treatment or service, and two welcome drinks. If you stay five nights, you get a sixth night free. Call 954-567-8020 or visit www.AtlanticHotelFL.com and mention rate code PKGSSF.

Worth quoting

“I dislike feeling at home when I am abroad.” – George Bernard Shaw

Perillo adds culinary tours of Italy to its roster

In April, Perillo Tours will launch 12- and 13-day culinary and cultural tours of Italy  in cooperation with Slow Food Italia. There will be two itineraries to four regions in Italy: Piedmont & Italian Riveria, and Tuscany & Umbria.  The tours will focus on the local food and beverage products of each of the regions. Pricing for the two itineraries, which collectively have 12 departures between June 17 and Oct. 21,  ranges from $4,290 to $4,590 per person, double. Alternatively, individual trips can be booked through ItalyVacations.com for travel at any time of year. For more information, visit:www.perillotours.com/slowfood.

Fascinating fact

The world's southernmost flower can be found where else but in Antarctica. It is a cushion plant with the catchy name of Colobanthus quitensis and appears on a little-known archipelago called the Terra Firma Islands.

Trivial answer

OK, that was a trick question. The islets of Langerhans are found in the pancreas.

All those museums, all that chocolate and all that beer!

Brussels: a capital like no other.

Belgium may be a small country -- it encompasses 11,787 square miles and has a population of 10.7 million -- but big treats are in store for visitors. Here are some of the things they will find: 

* 2,000 chocolate shops.

* 500 types of beer, from 125 breweries.

* 200 museums.

* 35 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

* 3,000 castles, farm-castles, citadels, manors or palaces, giving the country more castles per square mile than anywhere else in the world.

* More than 500 buildings that are fully or partially Art Nouveau, in Brussels alone.

If you need more to whet your interest, consider this: The Belgian Tourist Office says that Brussels -- the capital of the nation and the headquarters of the European Union and NATO -- is less expensive to visit than London, Paris, Amsterdam, and most western European capitals. And wherever you go, you'll be sure to hear lively music. After all, the saxophone was invented in Dinant Belgium in 1846.
For more information, go to www.visitbelgium.com.

Worth quoting

"Laughter is an instant vacation." 

                                               -- Milton Berle.

The wide world of the Web

FlightCaster.com says it can predict flight delays up to six hours before official airline alert notifications, which should help travelers determine if they should change itineraries, notify colleagues, or alter their plans. The data is available free on the Web and through paid apps for the iPhone and BlackBerry.

Forget the heat and think about autumn foliage

The Appalachian Mountain Club is offering an all-inclusive "kid 2-for-1" deal at AMC's five lodges in New Hampshire and Maine throughout New England's glorious peak foliage season, plus a Moosehead Lake package at its Maine wilderness lodges with a cruise of Moosehead Lake. Prices vary but are reasonable.

Click here.

Fascinating fact

In addition to being nicknames the Sunflower State, Kansas has also officially or unofficially been called the Squatter State, the Grasshopper State, Salt of the Earth, the Battleground of Freedom, the Garden of the West, the Cyclone State, the Dust Bowl State, the Wheat State and the Jayhawker State.

Free hotel nights throughout Italy

TourCrafters is offering free nights at many hotels in Italy. In Florence, for example, the new 4-star Palazzo Ognissanti is offering a pay-for-two-nights-stay-for-three deal in August, November and December, cutting a third off the usual nightly price of $224. Rome's centrally-located Hotel Brasile, popular with budget travelers, has a pay-two-stay-three offer in August, November and December. In Venice, the Hotel Malibran ($174 a night)also has a pay-two-stay-three deal in August, November and December. Even on the Italian Riviera, the 4-star Hotel Continental ($284 a night) is offering pay-three-stay-four from September through December. Several villa hotels in Tuscany and other regions are offering similar deals from August through December. Hotels in Bologna, Perugia, Parma and Spoleto are also offering free nights.

For a list of all hotels offering free nights, visit www.tourcrafters.com. For more information and reservations, call 800-ITALY-95.

Disney World Halloween starts Sept. 4

On 24 evenings between Sept. 4 and Nov. 1, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom will be filled with friendly ghosts and goblins during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.Guests of all ages can dress up in their own Halloween costumes if they want, but in any case they get to trick-or-treat around the theme park, collecting candy. Special lighting and music transform areas of the park into haunted (but happy) hollows. The parties will be held Sept. 4, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29; Oct. 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 and Nov. 1, beginning at 7 p.m. and continuing till midnight. The event, which takes place following Magic Kingdom closing and requires a separate admission ($46-$59), also features two entertainment extravaganzas: Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween parade and a “Happy HalloWishes” fireworks spectacular.

Visit www.disneyworld.com/halloween or call 407-W-DISNEY.

Trivia answer

The statue pictured below is of Paul Bunyan and this particular one is located in Bangor, Maine. The question was not that easy because, among other places, you can also find Bunyan statues in Bemidji and Brainerd, Minn.; Westwood and Del Norte County, California; St. Ignace and Ossineke, Mich.; Enchanted Forest Water Safari, New York, and  Eau Claire, Wis. Bunyan, alas, exists only in folklore. Among the wondrous tales told about him is that he and Babe the Blue Ox, his companion, dug the Grand Canyon when he dragged his axe behind him.

Going abroad? These tips may enhance your experience

The Taj Mahal: Never on Friday

Part of the joy of overseas travel is observing the differences in cultures and lifestyles. But those differences can also lead to questions. For instance: When should you avoid shopping in southern Europe or visiting the Taj Mahal?  When is the best time to visit Kyoto, Japan, or the best time of day to see wildlife in Africa?   
 
The U. S. Tour Operators Association, whose member companies send 11 million people annually on vacation,  asked its members for insider tips on trips to various parts of the world.  Below are some of the tips, along with their sources.
 
Southern Europe.  In some parts of southern Europe, shops and restaurants close for siesta  in the afternoon, reopening in the evening and staying open late.  Travelers should plan accordingly so they are not disappointed.  (Avanti Destinations)
 
Italy. The nation's climate in Italy can vary from 15-20 degrees in all seasons.  So  bring a sweater, clothes that can be layered, and an all-weather jacket, plus comfortable walking shoes.  Also, some religious sites may require modest dress to enter, meaning no shorts, short skirts or sleeveless tops. (Gate 1 Travel)
 
Where can you dine at a 350-year-old restaurant in Rome?  La Cisterna, one of Rome’s oldest restaurants, is in the city’s Trastevere section.  The restaurant’s origins date to 1630. (Tauck World Discovery)
 
Ireland and Scotland. To see Ireland on your own terms, choose an open voucher program that provides the first night’s stay at a pre-booked hotel, and remaining nights wherever you want, such as at bed-and-breakfasts. In between,  explore on your own. (Celtic Tours World Vacations)
 
To mark the 250th anniversary of poet Robert Burns' birth, with the celebration going on now through Nov. 30, Scotland is hosting numerous events, including the first annual Homecoming, which focuses on visitors with Scottish heritage. (Go Ahead Tours)
 
Australia.  One U.S. dollar buys $1.25 in Australian currency.  Not only will travelers save money while visiting due to the favorable exchange rate, but the trip itself will cost less.  (Goway)
  
U.S. citizens need a visa for entry into Australia.  But that visa is inexpensive and easy to obtain. (Explorica)
 
Botswana and South Africa. Animals are most active in the early morning and late afternoon, because they avoid the midday sun. (African Travel, Inc.)
  
No immunizations are required for travel to South Africa, unlike other parts of the continent.   And while the official languages of South Africa are Afrikaans and English, there are 11 officially recognized languages.  Guides and bush trackers all speak English well. (International Expeditions)
 
India. Avoid visiting Agra and the Taj Mahal on Friday.  The Taj Mahal is closed every Friday.  (SITA World Tours)
 
Japan and Vietnam. The best times to see Kyoto, Japan,  are during its festive summer season; or visit in autumn to see the foliage.  (Signet Tours)
 
If you’re going to Vietnam, enhance the experience by adding on a tour to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (Brendan Vacations)
 

General advice. Carry all prescriptions and over the counter medicines in their original containers.  (Abercrombie & Kent)   Schedule transfers with your travel agent prior to your arrival in a foreign destination to avoid long lines and language issues. (Travel Bound) On cruises, purchase optional shore excursions before boarding the ship.  Doing so will help you avoid long lines and allow you to disembark earlier than those buying excursions at the  last minute. (Homeric Tours)
 
More Information. For more information on the U. S. Tour Operators Association, and for a list of member companies serving destinations around the world, visit:  www.ustoa.com, www.ustoa.travel, or see a travel agent. 

Worth quoting

"The Americans are a noisy nation. ... They do not seem able to enjoy themselves unless there is a tremendous noise going on about them all the time." 

                                                             -- Canadian author L.M. Montgomery, after a visit to Boston

The fine print in JetBlue's unlimited-flight offer

At first glance, JetBlue's new offer of unlimited flights sounds great, and for many travelers it will be. But here are some things to keep in mind: Flights must take place Sept. 8-Oct. 8; do you have a lot of destinations you want to go to in that time span or will you just be flying to take advantage of the deal? JetBlue flies to 57 destinations, which obviously isn't everywhere you might want to go. If you change your mind after booking, there is a $100 penalty for no-shows. Taxes and fees of up to $127.60 each way are not included for trips to Puerto Rico or international destinations. 

Visit www.jetblue.com or call 800-538-2583.

Fascinating fact

A Boeing 747 can carry 57,285 gallons of fuel.

Facebook fans, how good is your geography?

Geo Challenge, a popular game on Facebook, lets you challenge your friends to see who knows the most countries, flags and cities of the world. 

Click here. 

An Iceland air-hotel package for $499

Icelandair has  announced a $469 per person package in November that includes airfare from New York or Boston, two nights' lodging in three star hotels in the historic center of the capital city of Reykjavik, and big Scandinavian-style breakfasts for two mornings. The same package in October is  $90 more, and although September travel is slightly higher, travel costs are still generally 20 to 30 percent lower than peak season rates. (Of course, there are taxes and other restrictions.)

Visit www.icelandair.com.