Whether you’re dreaming big with a #bestsummer Bucket List adventure to the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan, or fancy a charming weekend escape to Pennsylvania Dutch country, we’ve got wallet-friendly and super easy-to-plan options for everyone.

TL;DR Dive into the list below and zoom in on whatever sparks your interest! But first, we’ve got some handy tips for smooth sailing with special needs on your trip, plus all the insider info on snagging those sweet, sweet airfare deals. Let’s make this summer legendary!

1. Fantastic Family Fun: Vacations for Everyone

Traveling with loved ones who have special needs can be incredibly rewarding, and with a little planning, it can be a breeze! Understanding and preparing for everyone’s needs ensures a happy and smooth experience for all. Amazing organizations like Special Needs Group and Flying Wheels Travel are experts in providing tailored services and equipment.

Flying? The TSA Cares helpline is there to assist travelers with disabilities – just give them TSA notification card, which can be a real time-saver during security.

There’s also a growing world of support for families with members on the autism spectrum. Check out travel agencies like Travel Able Vacations and Magical Storybook Travels, both founded by moms who truly understand accessible travel. And for fantastic, supported getaways, Autism on the Seas offers “staffed cruises” on Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruises, along with resort stays designed for families with kids, teens, and adults with autism and other developmental differences.

Even airlines are stepping up! Many have dedicated accessibility teams to help with boarding and airport navigation. Some even offer sensory kits packed with noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, and calming cards for travelers with autism. When it comes to where you’ll be staying, don’t hesitate to call the front desk and ask for exactly what you need. Loads of hotels now have accessible rooms with features like wheelchair-friendly bathrooms and lower counters. Just be sure to request these when you book.

Your best summer vacation idea may be a family reunion at the beach. Go for it! Photo by Tyler Nix for unsplash.

2. Soar into Savings: Finding the Best Airfare Deals

Get ready to embrace the wonderful world of low-cost carriers (LCCs)! If a road trip or vacation deal isn’t in the cards, these budget-friendly airlines can make flying to your dream destination super affordable. To really stretch your airfare dollars, set up price alerts on handy websites like Hopper, Kayak, and Google Flights. Timing is key too! A recent study by NerdWallet revealed that the cheapest day to buy a domestic flight is often Sunday for a Saturday departure, while for international trips, aim for a Saturday or Wednesday departure.Keep an eye on deals from Spirit, Frontier, and Breeze Airways. For Caribbean and Central/South American adventures from Boston, check out Arajet. Celebrate savings with JetBlue, which just turned 25! They fly to over 100 destinations and were pioneers of cool perks like seatback TVs with live entertainment, free Wi-Fi, and yummy brand-name snacks. A family favorite? Their in-flight Pantry is usually open for drinks and extra treats throughout your flight.

Globetrotters should explore PLAY, connecting Baltimore, Boston, and New York to 33 European and Turkish cities via Iceland. French Bee, Norse Atlantic, and Neos also offer low-cost flights to Europe from select US cities. Within Europe, budget giants like Ryanair and EasyJet, along with many smaller carriers, provide affordable travel options.

Pro Tip: Before you cash in those credit card points for tickets, see if you can snag an even better deal by transferring them to an airline and using those airline miles instead!us.

USA! USA! Awesome American Adventures Await!

The good ol’ US of A is the top pick for American families this summer, with beach getaways leading the charge. But there’s so much more to explore, from relaxing barge trips to epic road adventures and charming mountain towns where you can splash around without emptying your wallet. Let’s dive in!

Classic red canal boat on the Erie Canal, New York. Photo c. Erie Canal Adventures.

3. History Afloat: Celebrating 200 Years on the Erie Canal

History buffs, even non-cruise fans, will find the Erie Canal in upstate New York special. This summer, Erie Canal Adventures offers 3-7 night rentals of fully equipped 1BR or 2BR barges, allowing families to explore the New York State canal. Prices start at $2,625 for three nights (varying by date and boat size). Their team teaches steering and lock navigation to adults and responsible teens (16+). Enjoy onboard cooking and explore nearby port towns with restaurants, breweries, and bakeries (bikes included). Pack comfy clothes and games for a unique, historical vacation. Read more about our Erie Canal barge vacation.

For a faster pace, consider the annual Parks & Trails Cycle the Erie Canal Trail ride (July 12-20, 2025). All cycling levels can ride the 400-mile route from Albany to Buffalo with supported camping. The four-day tour to Syracuse costs $800 (adult), $500 (ages 6-17), and $200 (under 6). Alternatively, Discovery Bicycle Tours offers inn-to-inn cycling on the Ohio to Erie Trail.

City explorers will enjoy Buffalo celebrations, including museum exhibits and a replica Canal boat. During the World Canals Conference (September 20-24, 2025), the replica Seneca Chief will recreate Governor Clinton’s 1825 Bicentennial journey, stopping at 28 ports from Buffalo to New York Harbor.

For 48 more summer vacation ideas, please visit our #bestsummer roundup of the latest travel deals and savings packages at Family Travel Forum! 

How to Get Free Flights on Spirit Airlines

It's not often that Spirit Airlines, the notoriously cheap low cost carrier, gives anything away.

In fact, they like to boast that, on average, their fares are 30% less than other airlines. They love to promote their "unbundled, stripped-down Bare Fare" and "Frill Control" which allows fliers to pay only for the options they choose – like bags, seat assignments and refreshments.

Photo courtest Spirit Airlines

And maybe the Bare Fare is the most relevant to this story, as on a recent flight, a passenger gave birth to a baby boy. We'll let Spirit Airlines share the happy story.

"Experiencing a little turbulence during air travel is not uncommon.  But giving birth to a baby during a flight is a whole different kind of turbulence.  That’s what took place on a recent Spirit flight.  Originally, Spirit flight 971 was to go from Ft. Lauderdale to Dallas/Ft. Worth. But about thirty minutes into the flight, Cristina Penton of Phoenix, Arizona, who was 36 weeks pregnant, told flight attendants she wasn’t feeling well and asked for medical assistance.

“Everything started happening very quickly,” said Penton. “I didn’t think I was having the baby because it was too soon, but after a few minutes I knew I needed medical attention. The flight attendants contacted doctors on the ground and they advised the flight attendants to see if there were any medical personnel on board.  As it turned out there was a pediatrician and a nurse.  Soon after that, it was clear I was having my baby, and I was in pure panic.”

According to Spirit's PR team, the flight was diverted to New Orleans Louis Armstrong Airport (MSY), and emergency medical crews were summoned to meet the plane upon arrival.  However, before the plane could land, baby Christoph Lezcano was born on the aircraft.  He weighed in at an even 7 pounds and was 19.5 inches tall. Both were taken to Ochsner Medical Center in Kenner, Louisiana.  Both mother and baby are fine.

“A baby being born during a flight is very rare,” said Spirit spokesman, Paul Berry.  “But our flight attendants are trained to handle medical emergencies in flight and they have access to doctors on the ground via inflight communication.  In this case we were fortunate to also have a pediatrician on board who brought even more care and comfort to the situation.”

“The Spirit crew was very attentive and took care of me throughout the flight,” added Penton.  “They helped make what could have been a terrible situation as good as it could possibly be.”

Today, representatives from Spirit Airlines met Cristina and baby Christoph at Ochsner Medical Center in Kenner, Louisiana, to deliver some gifts including free flights for Christoph and a guest to anywhere Spirit flies on his birthday, for life. The airline is also planning a special sale in honor of Christoph.

Now that's a happy ending for him, his family, and the rest of the flying public.

8 Tips to Turn Airport Security Into the Best Part of Your Vacation

On your way to the airport with a Samsung Galaxy Note7 in your pocket? If so, you need our travel tips on better packing and ever-changing security rules. Everyone needs them, because making the airport experience less painful means smoother travels, especially during the frantic holiday season.

Travel light and keep smiling, the best airport advice we have.

1. Research what the FAA considers Hazardous.

FAA forbidden hazardous materials include the rubber cement (banned) your kids will use to make glitter Christmas cards for grandma, the old camping stove (banned) you’re cooking the goose on, the aerosol spray starch (banned) for ironing your holiday outfits. But not the aerosol sunblock (approved) your teen bought for his Cancun tan. Go figure.

2. Research the TSA Rules and Remain Flexible.

The TSA Prohibited Items list is totally different than the FAA’s and ever-changing, so you’ll have to check it, too. Kids can carry their scooters aboard, but drones will be disapproved – even from checked luggage -- if their lithium ion battery is 100Wh (watt-hour rating) or more. At present, pies, cakes and turkeys are okay to carry on, but cranberry sauce, dips, jams, and gravy must be checked.

Note that at many airports, there are slow security lanes for families and infrequent travelers, where extra screening is available for infant formula, baby essentials and medications. For questions about other special needs, call TSA Passenger Cares (855/787-2227).

3. Don't giftwrap things.

With security level alerts changing all the time, your day will come when airport personnel want to hand inspect your belongings. During the holidays, several airports including Heathrow (London), La Guardia (New York), and San Diego International provide giftwrap after security, either free of charge or to benefit charity.  Or, carry decorative folding gift bags with you.

4. Pack lightly.

Study up on how to fit everything in with “How to Pack for Any Trip” (Lonely Planet, 2016.) Funny illustrations show how to best fold garments, with packing tips for every type of traveler, every climate and myriad situations.

Avoid packing hassles altogether with clothing full of pockets from Scottevest.com; their men’s Off The Grid Jacket ($215) has 29 pockets to hold your laptop or iPad, an RFID-blocking pocket for a passport or other smart ID and space to fold in clothes. And, with the increase in extended stay hotel brands, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham and other hotels now have on-site laundry facilities so you don't need to pack as much. That's true on cruise ships, too.

5. Carry on luggage.

In 2016, six checked bags were lost for every 1,000 passengers –- a number that’s declining thanks to self-checking bag kiosks, but a holiday nightmare nonetheless.

Buy yourself and the kids new rollaboards. Even the youngest children are able to carry their weight with Buddy Balls ($19.95), soft and cuddly stuffed teddy bear animals with a secret zippered pocket for storing toddler essentials. It also folds into itself to become a soft-sided ball that little ones can safely play with in a hotel.

6. Don’t bother locking checked luggage.

The TSA, Customs and Border Patrol, and any foreign customs officer will open whatever they want to inspect. Yes, things to get stolen, even when you check your bags at a hotel concierge because your room isn’t ready. Buy travel insurance to cover loss of any belongings.

7. If you do have to check more than one bag, ship your luggage.

Services like SendMyBag.com and the SHYP app can be much cheaper than paying a second bag fee.

8. And smile.

It's contagious.

New Travel Survey says 79% will Trade Privacy for Shorter Security Lines

A July 2016 travel survey conducted by ExpertFlyer.com reveals that the majority (81%) of travelers believe taking a vacation is very important. 

Interestingly, the survey was conducted among about 1,200 travelers who had already downloaded the ExpertFlyer.com app, which provides seat alerts, flight deals and other travel tools -- typically to frequent business travelers.

Like most travelers, these road warriors claim that exposure to beauty, culture, and new people are the biggest benefits of traveling during vacations. 

So how much time does it take for frequent travelers to plan a trip full of beautiful new experiences? 

According to ExpertFlyer.com, 51% of those polled said they spend a minimum of 2-3 hours over multiple days hunting down airfare deals. 

Nearly one-third of survey respondents spent in excess of 4 hours over multiple days to find the cheapest flight. 

That doesn't mean that frequent travelers like to waste time.

We were surprised to learn that 79% of this tech-savvy travel bunch said they would relinquish some privacy to expedite security checkpoints.

With autumn vacations, long weekend holidays and the Thanksgiving travel rush on the horizon, we can all expect to encounter more delays and hassles with airport security. Would you give up more of your personally identifiable  information to speed the way?

Here's an infographic with more of their findings.

ExpertFlyer Infographic: Infographic (PRNewsFoto/ExpertFlyer.com)

What do you think of the findings? Share your thoughts in the comments field below.

The Flight Experience Is Getting to Feel A Lot Like Christmas

Call it a seasonal malaise or a charitable act but somehow, despite ascending prices and descending service, we are actually seeing a bit of airborne Christmas cheer this year.

A few airlines must have been overcome with sympathy for the suffering of their passengers, perhaps because this year's Thanksgiving Week spurred an estimated 3.14 million Americans to fly, according to AAA.

Christmas Cheer at JFK, American Airlines Terminal

Give Me Composure, Style & a Charging Station

It's true; there is a Recomposure Lounge now on trial at Dallas’ enormous airport, where just changing gates is an exhausting pursuit. Thanks to Springhill Suites by Marriott and the enterprising DFW Airport management, passengers traveling through the airport's security checkpoint at Terminal E, E18 will experience a comfort zone approved by the TSA. According to their press release (and I’ll see for myself in December), the design at security features “stylish decor, soothing wall art, vibrant lighting and relaxing ambient music.”

Okay, you may not get the Pre-Check breeze-through-security that you deserve, but they are promising hotel style lounge seating after the checkpoint so travelers can gather their belongings, their dignity, and get redressed in comfort after being frisked.  The three-month pilot program is labeled "The Next Level Experience."  Best yet, wait times for security are automatically calculated and displayed on monitors!

Volante Restaurant in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

Give Me Back In-Flight Service

There is hope for sky-high customer service. We’ve watched as Emirates Airlines, the Dubai-based carrier known for its award-winning service and luxurious in-flight experience — including Sky Nannies for passengers with children — has partnered with JetBlue and then Virgin America, two of the top airlines for customer service in the United States.  Already recognized for its innovation, both on board and on the ground, we are hoping that everything that Emirates does right will wear off on the rest of the industry.

Make My Transit & Baggage Claim Less Painful

In more recent news, Delta has announced they're putting out Holiday #CheerCarts in "busy locations throughout New York City, Seattle, Atlanta and Los Angeles" through December 21st.  Really? Did we need this and the elaborately staged video (see below) or would we, their customers, have preferred waived baggage fees or more cheer up in the air?

But, to their credit, Delta has finally finished the walkway between their newly renovated Terminals C and D at La Guardia Airport.  No more sloshing around outside in the rain to take a bus 200 feet between buildings to get your luggage.

And while we’re talking about LaGuardia Airport, following their success at New York’s JFK (Yellow Lot, Ground Level by Terminal 5), five electric vehicle charging stations have been installed at the Terminal B P2 lot, Ground Level. Woohoo!

Use Social Media to find #CheerCarts from Delta

Help Me Maintain my Humanity While I Wait

So happy to hear that MSP, the primary airport for the Minneapolis - St. Paul metroplex, has just won the ACI-NA award for best food and beverage program in the US. Managed by OTG in MSP’s Terminal 1-Lindbergh, who were committed to providing passengers with locally sourced food from the top reginal chefs, are restaurants serving Asian (Shoyu); Italian (Volante); Pizza (Vero); French (Mimosa); American (TwinBurger, Mill City Tavern); and other cuisines, each with an iPad at your seat for ordering, working and playing.

While their BarBQ is legendary, we like that no one will be singing the blues in Memphis this winter.  The Memphis International Airport just announced that in partnership with the Memphis Music Foundation to have live musicians greet passengers as they arrive at the Concourse B Rotunda, Concourse A (Southwest Airlines), and Concourse C (American Airlines, US Airways and United Airlines).  The Thanksgiving concert schedule includes Soul, rockabilly and a middle school choir, so we are really excited to learn more about their December schedule.  And best yet here, they’ve programmed recorded music to play in the parking lots 24/7 through the holidays!

Surprise Me with Random Acts of Kindness

And now Southwest, an airline whose wonderful, family-friendly makeover of Dallas Love Field should be a model for all regional airports, has announced their holiday gift to passengers.

To kick off a fun twist on their partnership with Nintendo, the airline gave out 100 Wii U consoles to passengers aboard a November 26th flight from New Orleans to Dallas. A Mario character was waiting to greet everyone and pose for photo ops with grateful passengers.

Mario greets a young fan at DFW over Thanksgiving Week

To make the holiday flight experience more “fun” (their word not ours), Nintendo is setting up Wii U Gaming Lounges in some of Southwest's most heavily trafficked airports between now and December 22, 2013. Passengers can pass the time before boarding by playing Super Mario 3D World and other newly released games, if their travels take them through the following airports: Dallas Love Field, Chicago (Midway), Denver, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and St. Louis.

Families take note:  Up to four players can join the fun at each game kiosk for free.

Now that's a holiday gift in our house.

For more ideas on fun ways to kill time at the major airports, see the Family Travel Forum Guide to Great Layovers.

Kayak Analyzes Historical Data to Produce Big Airfare Savings

The metasearch airfare booking engine Kayak.com reports that they have analyzed more than 1,000,000,000 search queries from 2012 to discover the cheapest flights, busiest airports, most popular destinations and best travel values. Thanks to their blog post, we can share tips on when and what to book for flight plans so you can take advantage of historic savings.

KAYAK'S CHEAPEST MONTHS TO FLY

Domestic
- September was the cheapest month to travel.
- January and October had the next lowest average airfares.
- August was the least expensive month to travel in the summer.

International:
- February and March were by far the cheapest months to fly.
- International airfares increased in April and May, but domestic airfares dropped.

POPULAR DESTINATIONS THAT OFFERED GREAT VALUE

- Toronto, Canada was the only popular destination where airfare decreased in 2012.
- Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Tokyo, Mumbai and Nashville all increased in popularity in 2012 but did not see a large spike in airfare.
- Las Vegas was the most popular destination and also the fifth cheapest. Other cheap popular destinations included Orlando, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale and Denver.

POPULAR DESTINATIONS WITH RISING AIRFARES

- Anchorage, New Orleans and Beijing rose in both popularity and airfare.
- London was the 10th most popular destination and saw a 30% increase in average airfare.
- Lima saw the greatest airfare increase (up 33%), even though its popularity dropped by 16%.

MORE ADVICE FROM KAYAK.COM

Keep in mind that Kayak.com also determined that the lowest average domestic airfares were found 21-35 days prior to departure. To learn more about their analysis and where you'll find the next airfare bargain, visit the Kayak blog

Panda Family Flies to Scotland for the Holidays

Talk about holiday surprises.  First it was the Ruby Slippers coming to town for a pre-Christmas showcase at New York's toney Plaza Athenee Hotel.  All done up and polished for a High Tea designed to inspire Mother-Daughter Lovefests.  And perhaps a shoe shopping spree at Manolo, Jimmy and Christian's...

Now it's our favorite cuddly, one we loved on our family vacation to China:  the Panda!

Working in conjunction with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) in China, two pandas from Sichuan Province in China are being brought to Edinburgh for the pleasure and admiration of zoo-goers.

To make the trip safe and comfortable for them (and that's a must), our trusted FedEx Express will fly them non-stop from Chengdu Airport in China to Edinburgh Airport in Scotland on a specially-chartered Boeing 777F known as the "FedEx Panda Express."

The traveling panda family includes Tian Tian (甜甜, aka Sweetie), an 8-year-old female and Yang Guang (阳光, aka Sunshine), an 8-year-old male panda from Chengdu's Bifengxia Panda Base.  According to FedEx, who's been charged with loading them onto the world's largest twin-engine aircraft (see video this Boeing 777F being transformed for the flight), this is the first time in more than 17 years that giant pandas will reside in the United Kingdom. The UK's last giant panda, Ming Ming, left London Zoo to return to China on October 26, 1994.





Currently, conservationists estimate that only 1,600 pandas remain in the wild. Both Tian Tian and Yang Guang are part of global giant panda conservation programs, designed to increase the panda population.  These pandas are also part of a lucrative "rental" business between the China conservation groups and Western countries, says The New York Times, who can pay millions to have the crowd-pleasing creatures on multi-year contracts in their zoos.

For now, follow the Panda Family Blog  blog.fedex.com/panda-express at We'll come back to you with more of the load in process, family farewell departure and arrival of these two giant pandas soon...  Will there be bagpipes?

Guess Who's Coming to America? DOC Has the Answers

All year long, the U.S. Department of Commerce interviews tourists flying to U.S. airports to find out why they're traveling and where they're going.  They surveyed more than 34,000 visitors coming to America in 2010 to collect data about what's known as Inbound Tourism.

Lufthansa's new A-388 Airbus transports more than 600 passengers to the US several times each day.

After DOC studies the states, cities, and territories that most benefited from overseas travelers to the United States, this information is used to calculate the value of tourism. The good news is that in 2010, overseas arrivals to the United States posted an 11 percent increase compared to 2009.

New York State Leads, followed by Florida & California

New York State was the most visited state by overseas travelers in 2010 for the ninth consecutive year. Although visitation to New York increased eight percent, its market share slipped slightly since its growth was less than the national average. Florida maintained its second position, with a 10 percent increase in visitation. California remained at third position, however increased its market share by experiencing a 21 percent increase in visitation. Nevada, Hawaii, Guam, Massachusetts, Illinois, Texas and New Jersey rounded out the top 10 states in visitation estimates.

Of the 20 states/territories for which estimates are available, double-digit increases were experienced by 10 states. This was a reversal from 2009 results in which 10 states posted double-digit declines. Nevada and Washington States posted stunning 32 percent increases, respectively, in their visitation estimates, the highest growth among all states.

The cities most visited by overseas travelers in 2010 were New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Washington DC, Honolulu, Boston and Chicago. Thirteen states posted double-digit increases in 2010 compared to 10 cities that registered double-digit declines in 2009. The largest visitation increases were experienced by Los Angeles, Seattle and Las Vegas, all over 30 percent. Los Angeles regained its spot as the second most visited city in the U.S.

Why are these Tourism Statistics always changing? 

According to DOC, changes in a state or city’s visitation estimate vary from year-to-year due to changes in origin market ‘demand side factors’ and shifts in traveler characteristics. For example:

• New York State was up eight percent overall, however travel to the state from Asia, Oceania, South America were up 35 percent, 18 percent, and 17 percent respectively. In contrast, New York State experienced a one percent decline in visitation from W. Europe which accounted for 50 percent of its overseas visitation.
• Florida state visitation was up 10 percent. W. Europe, which generates 46 percent of Florida’s overseas visitors, was only up five percent, however, South America, accounting for 30 percent of visitation, was up 20 percent. The Asia and Pacific regions also posted strong growth, but contributed five percent or less of the visitors to the state.
• California state visitation was up 21 percent due to 28 percent increase from Asia (35 percent share), and a 40 percent increase from Oceania (11 percent share). W. Europe (40 percent share) registered a 14 percent increase in visits to the state.

Travelers change too.  Changes in key traveler characteristics may also influence visitation, such as, business versus leisure travel, the number of destinations visited, and/or the traveler’s use of transportation within the country.

Some of the key shifts in traveler characteristics that occurred in 2009 compared to 2010, and over the past several years, that can impact the destinations visited include:

• Increases in leisure travel as a purpose of trip, up two percentage points to 67.9; the highest share since OTTI started the survey in 1983.
• Business travel’s share dropped slightly in 2010, to 20.2 percent. The share of business travel has declined for three straight years and was down from a high of 30.2 percent in 2000.
• After five straight years of declines in tour package travel, the share increased to 16.9 percent, the highest figure since 2006.
• This year, the percent of travelers who only visit one state dropped to 67.1. This is only the fifth drop in this metric in the last 15 years. In 1995, only 61.7 percent of overseas travelers visited only one state. So, we are seeing a long term trend of staying put once they arrive in the country. The high was just over 70 percent and this was reached in 2003, 2004 and 2006.
• Likewise, there has been a trend in the declining use of automobiles (rental cars, company/private autos) as a mode of transport within the United States. Rental car use was up in 2010 (30.2%), but it has been down seven of the last nine years. Access to private autos has declined seven years in a row, which also impacts secondary destinations. However, there has been a slight shift in inter-city transportation (airlines, rail and buses).
• Increases in the share of first time travelers to the United States increased in five of the last eight years; it dipped slightly in 2010.
• Women travelers as a percent of the total have increased to over 44 percent in 2010. Their share has increased nine of the last eleven years.

Learn more about the OTTI and its statistics on inbound tourism.

Nassau Resort Adds $100 Credit and Free Night to Bahamas’ Fly Free Promotion

In an unusual confluence of good deals, families dreaming about a summer tropical getaway can take advantage of the Bahamas’ $300 Instant Air Credit promotion and a new offer now available at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort. The trick here is it must be booked by May 9, 2011.

If you act now, though, you can combine the island nation’s free airfare offer (actually a $300 credit towards flights) with the hotel’s Sunsational Savings package.

With this new combined package, guests who book a flight and a minimum four-night stay at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort by May 9 -- remember, for travel April 24 through December 22, 2011 -- will receive:

• 4th night free
• $100 food and beverage credit for stays up to five nights or $200 for stays of six nights or longer
• Complimentary non-motorized water sports including snorkeling, sailing and wind surfing

And, last but certainly not least, vacationers booking this package will get a $300 instant air credit. You can see the rules (lots of fine print) about this credit, valid for $300 per room with a 4N minimum booking, when you visit the hotel’s booking page.

If you’re not families with this resort on Cable Beach, please read this family review of the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort. The “Love Your Family” program offers complimentary daily and nightly activities for kids and adults. Also nearby and available to guests are the Crystal Palace Casino and Cable Beach Golf Club.

To book the Sunsational Savings package in conjunction with the $300 Instant Air Credit offer, travelers should visit www.sheratonnassau.com/Free-Companion-Airfare and use promo code BAH300F.

Cheap Flights to Haneda - Tokyo's Hip New Nearby Airport

The buzz in Tokyo is about the new Haneda Airport, the former domestic-only Tokyo airport that began receiving international flights a few months ago. Among the 13 international destinations connected directly to Haneda, three US (American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines) and two Japanese (Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways) carriers serve non-stop routes from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit, Honolulu and New York's JFK Airport.

What really counts for now:  ANA, Delta, JAL and other airlines and tour operators are introducing special rates and air - hotel - transportation packages in honor of the new route. 

In addition to value, here are 7 good reasons to fly into Haneda instead of the long popular Narita.

• Haneda is more conveniently located for most tourists to Japan, because it's near the heart of Metropolitan Tokyo.
• On arrival, instead of investing in a whopper taxi bill or waiting for a group bus, you  can hop on the futuristic Tokyo Monorail, which provides a bird's-eye view of Tokyo Bay as you travel to Hamamatsucho Station in just 13 minutes.
• Using the monorail is quick, easy, fun and green, because it's powerwed by solar energy
• Haneda provides the easiest access to continuing domestic travel within Japan without any inter-airport transit time.
• It's new and traveler-friendly with fun attractions and shops, like a cool observation deck
• Haneda has the world's first airport planetarium, Starry Café Planetarium, where you can eat and watch 40 million stars.
• The airport's 4th floor Edo Market is designed like Old Tokyo with narrow alleys and stores offering Japanese souvenirs, crafts, noodles and more.

Visit JapanTravelInfo's Haneda Specials for more information and discounts offered by various airlines flying this new route.

Save Money, Pack Lighter on Your Next Ski Vacation

Getting ready to take that winter break ski or snowboard vacation?  Just in time for your holiday reading, here is a handy list of packing tips to help you get your big and little athletes, and all their gear, on that planned flight.

Thanks to Cheapflights.com’s "How To Pack for a Ski Vacation" guide for these practical, money-saving tips:

· Pack with purpose: Tuck small items, such as ski socks and gloves, inside your ski boots to maximize space. Wrap your goggles inside a ski hat and make sure they're well cushioned in case of bumps. If you are bringing your skis or snowboard, pack clothes around them in the ski bag - provided that’s not expressly forbidden by your carrier. Cram as much as you can into your hand luggage.

· Consider renting equipment: Do you really need to haul your skies on the flight or can you rent your skis there? Some airlines will throw in free ski carriage but other carriers will charge extra. If your prospective airline charges, weigh up the costs of carrying skis compared to renting. As a guide, Cheapflights.com has created an easy table outlining the Costs of Carrying Skis on Flights for various airlines.

· Consider renting clothes: If you are really trying to keep baggage costs down you could rent some clothes for your stay at the resort. A growing number of resorts provide this service.

· Wear as much on the flight as you can: Some hard-core bargain flyers suggest wearing your ski boots too. Wearing a helmet in the cabin might be pushing the bounds of acceptability but it’s an item that many slope-bound travelers will pack in their hand luggage.

· Don't forget your paperwork: Pack your printouts for booked lift tickets, rentals, lessons, and, most importantly, your travel insurance policy.

The complete How-to Guide with additional tips is available at http://news.cheapflights.com/2010/12/how-to-pack-for-a-ski-vacation/.

Cheap Warm Last Minute - Sound Like Your Kinda Vacation?

When you work at a travel website, and you try to stay in touch with old friends, pretty often you get an email, txt, FB message, tweet or skype like this one from Steve, my NYC neighbor with 2 adorable girls.

"Any advice for a last minute getaway somewhere fun and sunny, but reasonable. We are so last minute…J"

Of course, I ignore all deadlines and I try to find him a deal, because that's what friends do, . And there are great ones out there now, since Christmas travel is looking at little wan...

I tell Steve and I will tell anyone out there who's interested:

There are tons of discounted fares to Orlando now. I just did a search on the FTF site's booking engine for vacation packages -- click on Advanced Search and put in MCO, the main airport as your destination, and you'll see lots of offer. (By the way, the booking engine is operated by EAN/Expedia, and if you use it to book, we get a whopping $2 commission!!)

We love Orlando for its value, so I remind Steve: "You can fly to Orlando, the 4 of you, and stay 3 nights in a condo hotel, for about $255 each. You don’t have to go to the themeparks, there are lots of other things to do there like an airboat ride in the Everglades  – weather should be pretty good. All you need is a rental car."

If you’re going to go to the themeparks, splurge to stay at one of the Universal Resort hotels and go to see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – everyone says it’s amazing and a day there, without any other parks, is plenty.

But Steve really wanted to get outside the United States with his family, and if you're like him, you can benefit from these other travel bargains I've recently seen.

Try CheapO Air – lots of good flights -- and they are more reliable than some of the other steep airfare discounters.

If you keep in mind that Hogwarts is outside the United States, you can look at CheapO's great value deal to Orlando, where you can save up to 42% Universal Orlando Resort and experience The World of Harry Potter!.

Last but not least, because I really do have to finish up some work, is an unusual deal from Priceline. Blind auction sites are not my family's favorites, but they sometimes offer up great deals with enough detail that I think I know what I'm getting. 

Priceline's deal is soooo Cheap Warm Last Minute and it's valid for travel through the spring. Go to the Priceline site, and remember it has to be booked soon. But, you'll see after you login (skip the login if you're not a regular user) that you can get a $300 - $400 air credit per room booked towards a cheap Bahamas vacation.

I remind Steve and you, "You can choose a cheap resort, then take the girls to Atlantis / Paradise Island for the day, costs about $100 for a day pass but it’s amazing… Or, pay more up front at Priceline and stay at the Atlantis for yourself…"

And here's the travel professional's standard wisdom: If you want to go closer to Xmas, book the week before, flying  home the 25th for the best rates….

Now, please leave your comments and I'll get back to you after I've met my deadline....

Travel in Luxury to Malaysia for only $1,299

THE INCREDIBLE VALUE

 For those interested in traveling to Southeast Asia, the timing could not be more ideal. Tourism Malaysia and Singapore Airlines Vacations have partnered together to offer travelers an unbelievable deal. Tourists can visit one of Asia’s most fascinating and multicultural cities, Kuala Lumpur, for five nights starting at only $1,299*. The offer includes roundtrip airfare, accommodation at a five-star hotel, local transfers, daily breakfast, and a half-day city tour inclusive of lunch. With this amazing value, the time to get-away is now.

 A two-night extension to one of four destinations is available for only $299*! Destinations include Penang, Kuching, and Langkawi in Malaysia, or Singapore.

 FARE

 For a limited time only, this special fare of $1,299* must be purchased by
October 10, 2010. Travel period between September 8 - November 30, 2010 and
January 1 - March 31, 2011, should the package be purchased by
October 10, 2010. Round-trip Economy Class airfare is provided on award-winning Singapore Airlines. Departure airports include LAX, SFO, JFK and IAH.  Airline fuel surcharge is included. The two-night extension offer includes economy class airfare from Kuala Lumpur to destination airport, accommodation at deluxe hotels, daily breakfast and local transfers for only $299*.

 *Price per person based on twin share. Taxes not included.

For more information on Malaysia visit the Family Travel Forum article, "Malaysia Adventure's."

Spirit Airlines... Penny Fares but Pay for Carry-On Bags

Ultra low cost leader Spirit Airlines is lowering fares even further. Spirit today introduced PENNY PLUS fares¹ and reduced its checked bag fees exclusively for its $9 Fare Club members. The airline reduced its lowest fare by over $40 each way on average in this unprecedented move. Members of Spirit’s $9 Fare Club now pay as low as a penny plus fuel, taxes and fees for their reservation.

“Our new PENNY PLUS fares¹ are the best value in travel, and with over one million seats available, they are not hard to find!” says Barry Biffle, Spirit’s Chief Marketing Officer.

In order to continue reducing fares even further and offering customers the option of paying only for the services they want and use rather than subsidizing the choices of others, the low fare industry innovator is also progressing to the next phase of unbundling with the introduction of a charge to carry on a bag and be boarded first onto the airplane.

Members of Spirit’s $9 Fare Club who pre-reserve their carry-on bag in advance online receive a $10 discount compared to non-members and pay only $20 for their carry-on. In addition, checked bag fees for $9 Fare Club members have been reduced to $15 for domestic flights and $20 for international flights, both a $10 savings compared to non-members. The baggage discounts will be available for purchase by July 1, 2010, for travel August 1, 2010 and beyond.

“In addition to lowering fares even further, this will reduce the number of carry-on bags, which will improve inflight safety and efficiency by speeding up the boarding and deplaning process, all of which ultimately improve the overall customer experience,” says Spirit’s Chief Operating Officer Ken McKenzie. “Bring less; pay less. It’s simple.”

The new carry-on bag fee is effective for reservations purchased after April 5, 2010, for travel August 1, 2010 and beyond, and will be available for purchase on or before July 1, 2010. The fee applies to carry-ons to be placed in overhead bins and includes priority boarding in Zone 1. Personal items that fit under the seat are free.

Examples of Spirit Airlines PENNY PLUS Fares¹ Exclusive to $9 Fare Club Members and available in most non-stop markets:

	Ticket	Fuel**	Taxes & Fees***	Total
Atlanta – Myrtle Beach	1¢	$12.32	$18.70	$31.03
Boston – Myrtle Beach	1¢	$27.57	$18.70	$46.28
Detroit – Fort Lauderdale	1¢	$36.49	$18.70	$55.20
Detroit – Las Vegas	1¢	$54.22	$18.70	$72.93

Spirit recently introduced its Fuel Pass Through Calculation (www.spiritair.com/howmuchismyfuel) to ensure transparency in fuel costs, making sure customers know how much of their reservation is for the fuel to cover their trip. “With Spirit’s Fuel Pass Through Calculation, we are not just the low fare leader, but now also the transparency leader,” says Biffle.

Spirit Airlines Bag Fees

(available for purchase by July 1, 2010, for travel August 1, 2010 and beyond):

DOMESTIC	$9 Fare Club Member (Online in Advance)	All Other Channels Except at Gate	Gate Only
Personal Item°	FREE	FREE	FREE
Carry-On	$20	$30	$45
Checked (1st)	$15	$25	$45
Checked (2nd)	$15	$25	Not Available
INTERNATIONAL	$9 Fare Club Member (Online in Advance)	All Other Channels Except at Gate	Gate Only
Personal Item°	FREE	FREE	FREE
Carry-On	$20	$30	$45
Checked (1st)	$20	$30	$45
Checked (2nd)	$20	$30	Not Available

°Personal item must fit under the seat in front of customer as space is not guaranteed in an overhead bin.

All bags purchased at gates must be paid by credit card; no cash accepted at gates.

Carry-on Personal Items (Under Seat Space):

Personal items that fit under the seat are free, such as a purse, briefcase, backpack or laptop computer. Dimensions must not exceed 16 inches by 14 inches by 12 inches. New personal item bag sizers will be available at Spirit airport locations.

Carry-on Bags (Overhead Bin Space):

Dimensions for paid carry-on bags for overhead bin space must not exceed 22 inches by 18 inches by 10 inches.

Exceptions to the carry-on bag fee are: umbrella, assistive devices, outer garments (coats, hats, wraps), camera, car seat/stroller, infant diaper bag, medicine, pet container, reading material for the flight, or food for immediate consumption.