Well what do you know:  This spring, Americans are going places 

Hooray! Americans are leaving their recession mentality behind and getting ready to travel agan. According to a new AOL survey, 72 percent of respondents said that, compared with last year, they have more (31percent) or the same amount (41 percent) of money to spend on spring travel. What's more:
 
* More than  60 percent of travelers are spending between $500 and $2,000 on their spring outings.
 *  Sixty-one percent of women are planning to spend less than $1,000, while just 42 percent of men are.
 *  With less than two months until spring break season, 75% of travelers had yet to book their flights, though 57 percent had chosen their destination.
 *  75 percent of travelers plan to stay within the United States, with sunny Florida being the top destination. (Pictured: Miami Beach.)
 *  Eighty percent of those surveyed will travel more than 250 miles and 58 percent will travel more than 500 miles.

Trivial question

What city is nicknamed The City of Saints? (Answer somewhere below.) 

Haven't had enough snow? Where to find more

Snowlink.com, the website of SnowSports Industries America, has plenty of tips on where to go and how to get started,  along safety tips, gear and  fashion information, resorts info, and a photo gallery of the hottest trends. Myself, I'll take warm places without a speck of snow.

Fascinating fact

The greatest snowfall in North America within 24 hours occurred in Silver Lake Colo. A grand total of 76 inches  fell on April 14-15, 1921.

Golf card means savings in the Poconos

Several of the more than 35 golf courses in the area will participate in Pocono Mountains Golf-Around Card, which will provide discounted greens fees throughout the 2011 season. Cards can be purchased later this spring for $40 at participating courses, with  rounds based on availability. The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau plans to unveil the card in March. Visit www.poconosgolf.com.

Worth quoting

“The major advantage of domestic travel is that, with a few exceptions such as Miami, most domestic locations are conveniently situated right here in the United States.” -- Dave Barry

There's nothing rough about six new Rough Guides

Not everyone relies on their smartphones when deciding what to see and where to go. The popular Pocket Rough Guides has released six new volumes for London, Paris, Barcelona, New York, Prague and Rome. The books, a little bigger than pocket size actually, tell what's hot and what's not, detail the sites and give advice on where to eat, drink and stay. And inside the back covers, you'll find pullout maps. If, on the other hand, you are into smartphone apps, Rough Guides has them, too. Visit www.roughguides.com.

Trivial answer

Salt Lake City is nicknamed The City of Saints. (And you thought it was New Orleans.)

 

New ships, deals and prices 

Here, from Orbitz, is a look at the 2011 cruise scene:

* In the next six months, cruising in the Caribbean is expected to hit all-time highs. In the latter part of the year, cruise lines will be moving ships to focus on European excursions.

* Several new ships in the Caribbean (including Celebrity Eclipse [pictured] and Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas) means 2011 will present many opportunities to score a great deal because of heavy competition.

* The Western Caribbean is expected to be this year’s most popular destination, and the average cost of a cruise will be down about 5 percent from 2010 levels.

* Miami and Port Canaveral, Fla., will be the most popular ports of departure in the U.S., with average cruise prices of $1,270 and $1,199 respectively.* Cruises departing Boston will cost about 34 percent more than they did in 2010, while those leaving Charleston, S.C. are about 40 percent cheaper when compared to last year’s rates.
* The least expensive U.S.-based cruises will be departing from Mobile, Ala.; Long Beach, Calif.; and Jacksonville, Fla.

 Search Amazon.com for Cruises

Trivial question

What is Germany's third-largest city? (Answer somewhere below.)

Unlimited golfing in Tuscany 

Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort,  in Tuscany’s picturesque Maremma region, has a new Golf Unlimited package that features unlimited greens fees and use of the driving range, along with accommodations, cuisine,  a welcome amenity, and complimentary use of the resort’s thermal pool . From April 1-July 31, the resort will have a three-night package with rates starting at €699 per person,  double occupancy (about $950) and a five-night packagewith  rates starting at  €999 per person (about $1,365).  For more information, visit www.termedisaturnia.it.

Win one of 10 free vacations to Virginia 

The Virginia Tourism Corporation has launched  the Follow Your Heart to Virginia Sweepstakes featuring nine first-prize trips and one grand prize that allows the winner to build his or her dream vacation.  Each prize trip puts centers on things you love, be it amusement parks, wineries, museums and special experiences.  The sweepstakes is open to U.S. residents 21 and older who enter at www.Virginia.org/sweeps through Aug. 25.

Fascinating fact

Reykjavik translates to Bay of Smokes.

Your car dines for free with this offer

With the price of gas expected to rise some more, the Greenbelt Marriott has a Cars Eat Free promotion that lets guests to earn up to $75 in gas cards ($25 per night for up to they nights) when they stay at the hotel, which is in Greenbelt, Md., near Washington..

 Rates for the  free gas promotion range from $119 to $169 per night, include a $25 gas card for each night of stay, and must include a Friday or Saturday night stay.  This promotion is effective from now through Memorial Day, Monday, May 30,  and does not include taxes. To book this offer, you must mention promo code TRS.  Call 800-228-9290. The website is www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-deals/wasgb-greenbelt-marriott/

Trivial answer

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is Germany's third-largest city.

Friday's trivia answer

Domodedovo International Airport is in Moscow. According to Wikipedia, Domodedovo is the largest airport in Russia in terms of passenger and cargo traffic. A total of 20.43 million passengers used Domodedovo in 2008, a 9 percent increase over 2007. The airport is 22 miles south of the center of Moscow, and is one of the city's three major airports, along with Sheremetyevo International Airport and Vnukovo Airport. My principal memory of Domodedovo is being told that I could not eat my take-out sandwich within the security zone.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Florida hotel and resort savings

Book the Boca Family Holiday Package from the Boca Raton Resort & Club and get two rooms for the price of one and a half-day session for your child at Camp Boca. Available holidays are Memorial Day (hurry, hurry), May 25; Father's Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4;and Labor Day, Sept. Rates begin at $199 per room with a second room free. There is a two-night minimum with one night including the holiday.

Call 888-495-BOCA. For resort details and other packages, visit http://www.bocaresort.com.

*

Palm Beach County is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding with what it calls the Deal of the Century. We wouldn'ty go that far, but you can get a room for $19.09 in 75 hotels, resorts and B&Bs. But first you have to stay two, three, or four nights at regular rates.

For the offer, click here. To learn about the area, visit http://www.palmbeachfl.com.

It's all relative

You don't need a deep understanding of Einstein's theory of relativity to know why, although the same amount of miles are covered, the ride home seems at least twice as long as the ride to your vacation destination. Going there, you are filled with thoughts of new sights, entertainment, and good food. Coming home, your are filled with thoughts of dirty laundry and bills in the unopened mail.

'Concierge packages' at a New England inn

The historic Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Mass., is introducing something called Concierge Packages, designed for those seeking shorting vacations or "staycations." The packages, for two guests, can be for three, four or five nights and include a full breakfast each morning in the inn, and dinners at night either at The Red Lion or Rouge Restaurant and Bistro in neighboring West Stockbridge. Also included are two “American Icons” passes entitling guests to visit three of the four nationally known museums in The Berkshires, including Hancock Shaker Village; Chesterwood, the summer home of Lincoln Monument sculptor Daniel Chester French; The Mount, Edith Wharton’s estate and gardens; or The Norman Rockwell Museum. The inn also includes a picnic lunch. Prices, based on two guests, range from $1,125 for a three -night stay to $2,185 for five nights in a suite. All taxes and gratuities are included. Packages are available Sunday through Thursday nights.

Call innkeeper Michele Kotek at 413-298-1656. For inn information, visit http://www.redlioninn.com/.

What’s in a pronunciation?

Calais, France, is pronounced Cal-lay but Calais, Maine, is pronounced Cal-iss.

A Super Pass for golfing in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is introducing the Golf Salt Lake Super Pass. Each pass includes an 18-hole round for one to four players, golf cart(s), complimentary range balls and a 10-20 percent discount on rental clubs per player. In addition to playing some of Utah's top public courses, the pass allows groups of two to 12 players to make tee times 60 days in advance, as opposed to the typical seven-day advance booking policy.

For information, click here. To learn more about the area, go to http://www.visitsaltlake.com/.