1. The closure of the U.S. Embassyin Syria and ongoing violence will limit visits to and may endanger the country's six UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Damascus and Bosra. Poland "will serve as the protecting power for U.S. interests in Syria," the State Department said.
United and American are offering a $241 round-trip fare between LAX and Austin, Texas; taxes and fees included.
If you find Yelp and Urbanspoon — let alone Foodspotting — to be too much work when you're searching for great restaurants in a new town, try a robot.
We just returned from a three-day "staycation" in Ramona, Calif. We stayed at the San Vicente Resort, and I was impressed with what a great deal this lodge is. All the rooms have a balcony overlooking the beautiful golf course. The resort also has lighted tennis courts and an Olympic-size pool. It's a short drive to the Barona Casino and numerous antique shops. We got a AAA rate of less than $80 a night, which includes a $4-per-person (up to two people) daily discount at the on-site restaurant.
Satechi's BT wireless bluetooth speaker looks like a tiny little hovercraft with a pop-up midsection. It won't actually go airborne, but the sound will.
Alan Heller and his wife, Claudia, traveled to Tucson last February for a gem show. On their way, they visited Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in southern Arizona along the Mexican border.
Valentine's Day deals don't come cheaper than this: $14 for a day of skiing at Squaw Valley or a ticket to the tableaux vivants Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach this summer. And really, you could take advantage of both. Isn't that better than chocolates and flowers?
If your plans include conquering Mt. Whitney this summer, you'll need training -- and a $15 hiking permit. This year the annual lottery for the highly sought-after Mt. Whitney Trail permits will be conducted online.
The best time to go whale-watching in Egypt would have been about 37 million years ago. Smithsonian magazine recently profiled the amazing whale boneyard at Wadi Hitan where fossils reveal an important evolutionary tidbit: the whales had little legs and feet.
Travelers interested in participating in the TSA’s expanded pre-check screening, which pre-approves some passengers to pass through checkpoints without removing shoes and belts – should click here for information. The expanded program was announced Wednesday . . . . Hawaii hotel revenue rose 12.7% last year, according to a report by Hospitality Advisors LLC and Smith Travel Research. Occupancy was 73.4%, up from 70.7% in 2010. The average daily rate was about $189.62, up from $174.84 the previous year . . . . Nationwide, only New York City has higher room rates than Hawaii, Smith Travel Research says . . . . The 20th annual Zinfandel Festival takes place in Paso Robles March 16-18, featuring wine from more than 50 vintners. For info or tickets, go to
The U.S. State Department issued a new state-by-state warning for travelers to Mexico that details the more violent areas of the country but also points out popular places such as Cabo San Lucas and Mexico City where travel advisories aren't in effect.
