Valentine’s Day is the ideal occasion for the modern man or woman to express their love. But when the big day comes along, it can be hard to think of an original destination for a Valentine’s break. HostelBookers, the budget accommodation specialists, reveals their list of the top 5 places to go worldwide for the big day.

Riad Verus, in Fes, Morocco, is located in the Batha neighbourhood of the Old City. It’s a very safe area and close to main monuments such as Bab Beujeloud, the Talaa Kbira and Sghira. All the rooms overlook a large courtyard complete with a fountain in the middle. The large rooftop terrace ‘Happy Times’ has great views over the Zalagh Mount, Rif Mountains and the Medina – the perfect place for sunset drinks. Standard en-suite from GBP26.45pppn.

Dreamtime Travellers Rest is located in Cairns, Australia, behind Cairns Central Shopping Centre and opposite the train station. It boasts lush tropical gardens and hammocks by the sparkling pool where guests can experience the tropical lifestyle. Deluxe doubles from GBP20.21pppn in this Cairns hotel.

In Dubrovnik, Croatia, Hostel Nina is located in the attractive part of Monster Old Town, just a few minutes’ walk to the Old Bridge. It provides clean and comfortable accommodation to travellers, and city tours and excursions in Herzegovina are organised by the hotel. Private doubles are available from GBP9.10pppn.

Krishna Palace in Jaipur, India, is an 80-year-old hotel, repainted in the original style using natural colours from plants. With plenty of open spaces, courtyards, large green gardens and tasty food served in a traditional-style rooftop restaurant, guests are sure to enjoy their stay. Superior double en-suites from GBP9pppn.

In Arequipa, Peru, La Casa de los Pinguinos is a three-storey building in a safe area within walking distance to the Plaza de Armas. All nine rooms have cable TV, wireless internet and private bathrooms. Although the hostel is situated in the city centre, guests can relax in a spacious garden with hammocks, table tennis table and seating area. Private double en-suites from GBP13pppn.

HostelBookers is the leading budget accommodation website in the travel industry not to apply a service charge and is, on average, 8.7% cheaper than its nearest competitor. It features over 20,000 hostels, cheap hotels [http://www.hostelbookers.com/featured/cheap-hotels ] and budget properties on its website in over 3,500 destinations across the world.

Nowadays, many Britons have less disposable income to spend during the difficult economic climate and so the concept of ‘staycations’ and ‘glamping’ are on the rise.

More Brits are holidaying in the UK as opposed to going abroad, fundamentally to save money and keep costs down. The latest trend has led to a boom in buyers of holiday homes in the UK because it takes away the hassle and expense of travelling overseas.

According to government figures released by the National Office of Statistics over the last few years, the number of UK residents choosing not to travel abroad fell by 15%

And in the same year, well-known holiday parks and attractions relished in double-digit growth. Center Parcs’ saw a 5.5% rise and Merlin Entertainments saw UK revenues increase by 10%. What is more, the British Tourist Authority reported that the number of trips taken within the UK surged by 7%.

A recent 2011 survey by Safeguard, a motorhome and caravan insurance firm, revealed that enquiries increased by 10% suggesting Britons were choosing ‘glamping’ over camping.

The notion of luxury camping holidays has really taken off since the TV series of ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ as well as the number of celebrities who were spotted camping in style at many of the summer festivals. ‘Glamping’ has become a popular holiday venture for families who love the outdoors but hate pitching and it is a great way to introduce people slowly to the world of camping.

Top reported ‘glamping’ sites in the UK include Long Valley Yurts, in Cumbria; Comrie Croft, in Perthshire; Dolphinholme Farm, in Lancaster; and Shadow Woods, in West Sussex. So save money this New Year and take a relaxing break from all the stresses of work by holidaying in Britain.

However, if you still do prefer to go further afield, then you can save money with a First Choice, easyJet and Thomson Discount Code [http://www.netvouchercodes.co.uk/discounts/Thomson ].

First Choice has recently launched its 2012 advertising campaign in which the company has announced that it will be changing so that it offers only all-inclusive holidays. Take advantage of the exclusive deal even further with First Choice Discount Codes [http://www.netvouchercodes.co.uk/discounts/First-Choice ] and find a great deal on your next holiday this year.

Most ski resorts have websites. Start the planning process by accessing these websites to determine where you and your family might want to go for your family ski vacation. There are many different things to look for when choosing a resort. The absolute most important thing to look for is a ski school if someone in your family will need instruction. While most resorts do have ski schools, some don’t. Don’t make the mistake of choosing a destination where one or more of your family members won’t have fun, simply because they don’t know how to ski.

Next, take a look at the slopes, lifts, and trails. You want to make sure that the resort has something to offer everyone in your family. If the resort only caters to beginners, an expert skier will become quickly bored. If you have a snowboarder in your group, and there is no snowboarding park or terrain, that snowboarder will not be happy. There are resorts that serve all winter sports – so make sure that your families interests are covered.

Lodging is the next thing to look at. You want to be comfortable, so where you will sleep at night matters a great deal. In most cases, there is a hotel right at the base of the slopes – but this isn’t necessarily the best or most affordable place to stay. Find out what your lodging options are for the area, and choose the one that is right for your family and your budget.

If you will be staying farther away from the slopes, make sure that there is transportation to and from the slopes each day!

Your family will have many more interests that you will need to search for before deciding on a particular destination and resort. Some of those interests may be dog sledding, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or horseback riding. Resorts do offer these activities, but some don’t – so be sure to ask about the winter activities, as well as the planned events during the time that you will be at the resort. This will help you plan a ski vacation that your family will enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives.

Robert B. Diener, President and Co-Founder of Getaroom.com, shares extensive industry experience for travelers who want to get the best deal on hotel stays, flights, and car rentals:

• Consider all of the related fees to see the real cost of flights or hotel stays. Airlines fees for baggage or changing flights can vary substantially between carriers. Consider parking fees, resort fees, internet usage fees and other fees when comparing hotels. Be sure to evaluate all of the extra costs and fees when making your travel decisions.
• Some airlines such as Southwest don’t charge baggage fees or fees for changing your travel plans. Many OTAs don’t include Southwest, so be sure to visit their site at Southwest.com to compare fares if you don’t see their fares on your favorite OTA site. Look for hotels that have freebies. Free breakfast, free internet usage, free gym use and more can add up to a lot of savings.
• Earn miles and avoid fees through an airline-branded credit card. Many airlines will waive baggage fees and offer perks for cardholders which can more than cover the cost of the card’s annual fee.
• Procrastination does not pay when booking travel. The very best rates  at Getaroom.com are for bookings done at least 21 days in advance of your travel date.
• Skip car rental insurance as it is very likely you are covered by your current auto policy or credit card. There is no need to pay an extra $15 to $25 per day on unneeded insurance. You can always do a five-minute call to your insurance agent or credit card firm to confirm.
• Top destinations such as Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. are substantially cheaper during the holidays.
• If shopping in New York, consider the third week in December when hotel rates are much lower than the first two weeks.
• Consider a trip to Las Vegas where first class hotel rooms on the Strip can be snagged from $39 a night. The best deals are for stays Sunday- Thursday.
• Love the points Be sure to rack them up by joining the airline, hotel and car rental company frequent user programs. They are free and often get you additional benefits.

Consumers looking to travel during the holidays and any time of the year can find better rates and a much higher level of service utilizing Getaroom.com and its friendly customer service representatives. The staff at Getaroom.com has access to unpublished rates on hotel stays, giving travelers discounts of typically 10 to 20 percent off compared to other travel booking sites and often much more. The company also features limited-time flash sales, which run for 24 hours or less and offer discounts of up to 60 percent off hotel rates.

“Travelers are often frustrated by the lack of service from the typical online booking site.” said Mr. Diener. “Our 100% US based expert call center agents not only have access to our unpublished rates, but they can also give advice on ideal times to travel and seasonal price fluctuations for popular destinations. We understand that travel costs are a significant piece of any family’s budget, so we work hard to help them save money with our personal service.”

While more than a third (37.1%) of adults would like to visit a real-life haunted house, one in four (27.5%) would like to spend the night in one.

The editors have selected their top 10 most intriguing B&Bs where you can sleep with a ghost:

Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast Resort , Nice, CA: At this B&B, guests stay in one of nine former railroad cabooses. A number of guests have told the innkeepers that at night they have seen a man in striped pajamas either walking around the Celebrations caboose room or sitting on the bed. Due to visits from this ghost, a few guests have actually asked to move their rooms. The innkeepers think the ghost may be the spirit of a former railroad worker.

1872 John Denham House , Monticello, FL : Not only is this 130-year-old National Historic Register B&B certifiably haunted, but guests can also explore another dimension during October Teen and Parent Ghost Hunting Weekends. Enjoy a ghost tour and seminar and learn hands-on skills for ghost tracking, plus how to record orbs and vortexes in audio, video, photographic and temperature formats.

Foley House , (Diamond Collection), Savannah, GA: Legend has it that this house was owned in the late 19th century by a widow who rented rooms to travelers and boarders. One night, a boarder who she thought was suspicious, attempted to strangle her. She grabbed a candlestick, beat him over the head, and ran to another boarder’s room for help. Returning to the bedroom, they discovered the man was dead. Fearful that she would be imprisoned for murder, she asked the boarder to help her conceal the body in return for free rent. On her death bed, she told friends what happened, but never revealed the location of the body.  In 1989, during a renovation, human remains believed to be the boarder that Mrs. Foley murdered were found in a wall.  Today, locals refer to this person as “Wally.” Some have reported hearing the door of the room where the man was killed suddenly open then feeling a rush of air.

Kehoe House B&B , (Diamond Collection) Savannah, GA: Set in a restored 1892 Queen Anne-style mansion, this B&B is reputed to be haunted by the ghosts of the twin Kehoe children who may have died while playing in one of the house’s fireplaces, which is now blocked. The inn’s website speaks of many reported sightings of the ghosts and the sound of children laughing and playing in the dead of night.

Penny House Inn , (Diamond Collection), Eastham, MA : Home to the “Goodnight Ghost” along with other playful spirits, ghost stories from this inn are well documented. One ghost named Charlotte loves to turn the music up full blast in the inn’s on-site spa, so care is taken before every treatment to turn the music down.

Captain Lindsey House , (Diamond Collection), Rockland, ME : Captain Lindsey is still hanging around here, along with 35 other spirits, according to what he told the “spiritologists” on their recent visit to the inn. Included in the band of happy ghosts is the Captain himself, along with T. B. Severence, the 41-year-old who purchased the inn in 1857; a dominant spirit named Ensign; a 5-year-old named Jeffrey and a 4-year-old named Emmy. The majority of the spiritual activity takes place in the parlor, where glasses of water slide across tables, and doors have been known to slam on their own.

1906 Pine Crest Inn & Restaurant , (Diamond Collection), Tryon, NC : Several psychics have visited the inn and said an “energy vortex” is present. People hear voices – the head chef hears a man greet her many days with a “Good morning!” Once, a salad plate spun around and shot across a table and broke, and utensils and furniture have been reported as moving right before employees’ eyes. A former innkeeper reported his dresser was moved in front of the door while he slept and all the clothes were taken out and strewn about the room. In the morning, he accused an employee of sneaking into his room and wreaking the havoc! Late one night, two employees heard something pounding on the inside door of the locked walk in-cooler. Of course, it was empty when they looked inside.

Inn at Herr Ridge, (Diamond Collection), Gettysburg, PA: The former tavern here served as an impromptu field hospital for the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the Battle of Gettysburg. Innkeeper Steven Wolf said that someone once ordered a beer, but no one was there. Odd occurrences regularly happen, including mysterious whispers, calling the names of the employees, cold spots, glasses and silverware flying off tables, even knives and forks falling blade or prongs-first into the floor. Occasionally, computers type gibberish on their own, extinguished lamps re-light, and unexplained crashes occur in the kitchen. Wolf attributes much of the activity to the “house ghost,” Frederick Herr, who purchased the tavern in 1828.

Black Horse Inn , Warrenton, VA : Three ghosts have been accounted for in this former Civil War hospital. The first is a woman believed to have been a nurse in the hospital, who is inclined to laugh only in gentlemen’s ears. The second ghost is known to the whole community as “The Dancer” because his shoes are heard throughout the night as he dances at the top of the stairs. A male ghost makes an impression on the comforter in the Burgundy Room. The Ghost of Christmas tipped over the Christmas tree — breaking all the ornaments — several years so now the tree is wired to the corner of the room.

Green Mountain Inn , Stowe, VT : “Boots” Berry, a tap dancing ghost and former local hero, can still be heard dancing on the third floor of the inn during severe winter storms. The son of the inn’s former horseman and chambermaid, Boots was born in Room 302 in 1840, and he grew up in the inn. One morning, Boots bravely stopped a runaway stagecoach, saving the lives of the passengers. His heroism turned to too many congratulatory drinks, and Boots neglected his duties at the inn. He was dismissed and ended up in jail where he learned to tap dance, earning his nickname. Once out of jail, a storm hit the town, and a little girl became stranded on the roof of the inn. Boots went to the icy roof and lowered the girl to the ground. Just as she reached safety, Boots slipped and fell to his death. The roof he was standing on when he fell was the roof of Room 302.

TripAdvisor

Eighty-six percent of travelers are planning leisure trips this fall, compared to 74 percent that said they traveled for fun last autumn. Fifty-six percent are planning weekend getaway trips this autumn, and 35 percent have one week trips in store.

Travelers Unafraid to Open Wallets

Seventy-six percent of respondents said their fall travel plans are not affected by recent economic news.  Thirty-seven percent of travelers intend to spend more than they did last fall on leisure trips, while 46 percent plan to spend about the same amount.  Nearly half of travelers (48 percent) feel the fall is the most economical season to travel.

Top 3 Fall Trip Types:

1. City trip – 40%

2. Cultural trip – 28%

3. Beach trip – 27%

Top 3 Fall Activities:

1. View colorful fall foliage – 43%

2. Wine tasting/visiting a vineyard – 29%

3. Attend a state/county fair or fall festival – 23%

Top 5 U.S. Destinations Travelers Plan to Visit this Autumn:

1. New York City

2. Las Vegas

3. Orlando

4. Chicago

5. San Francisco

Labor Day Escapes

Twenty-eight percent of travelers intend to travel for Labor Day weekend this year, equal to those that said they planned to in last year’s survey.  Among those traveling for the holiday, 60 percent expect to drive, and 34 percent plan to fly.  Twenty-six percent will take an outdoors trip, 24 percent will take a city escape and another 24 percent will take a beach trip. Forty-seven percent will see family and friends for the holiday weekend.   The worst part of traveling for Labor Day is the traffic, according to 40 percent of respondents, while 16 percent cited it being depressing that Labor Day represents the end of summer.

Other Fall Travel Tidbits:

• Sixty-nine percent said they will stay in a hotel, 30 percent at the home of family or friends and 20 percent intend to stay at a vacation rental for their fall trips.
• Fewer crowds than summer (23 percent) and climate being more pleasant than during summer (22 percent) are the top two reasons travelers enjoy trips in the fall.
• Twenty-seven percent of travelers are planning to travel to a hurricane susceptible destination this fall.
• Sixty-five percent of travelers intend to take a domestic leisure trip this fall, while a further 23 percent will travel both domestically and internationally and 11 percent will take international-only trips.
• Seventy percent of travelers will drive to their fall vacation destinations, while 69 percent plan to fly.

“While Labor Day represents the end of summer vacations for some, it also signals the beginning of shoulder season deals and fewer crowds at popular destinations for travelers able to schedule fall getaways,” said Karen Drake, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor.

For the adventurous vacationer looking to explore new ways of beating the heat this summer, MyWeather.com is sharing its tips for great getaways to escape a season destined for record highs in many parts of the country.

Steering clear of the typical tourist traps, MyWeather has hand-picked 7 domestic destinations (and the unassuming activities that make them cool) that are often overlooked when planning a summer vacation.

The following locations were chosen based on consistent and appealing summer weather, awesome attractions and an array of other appeals that offer something for all types of travelers:

• Breckenridge, Colorado – Average July High: 73 Degrees F
  What’s cool about it: This winter wonderland is more than just a ski town boasting 300 days of sunshine annually with activities to keep you busy all year long. Breckenridge Fun Park features scenic gondola and ski lift rides – 2 miles high – along with plenty of hiking, whitewater rafting, and picturesque views of the Continental Divide.
• Upper Peninsula, Michigan – Average July High: 73  Degrees F
  What’s cool about it: With more than 150 waterfalls, 40 lighthouses, and a terrain that’s perfect for camping, boating, fishing and other outdoor activities, Upper Peninsula boasts 1,700 miles of shoreline along three of the nation’s five Great Lakes. Want to be adventurous? Try taking a glass-bottom shipwreck boat tour.
• San Francisco, California – Average July High: 68 Degrees F
  What’s cool about it: Besides being home to Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Ghirardelli Chocolate Co., San Francisco has the coolest daily summer temperatures among major U.S. cities. In fact, a popular quote (incorrectly attributed to Mark Twain) notes: “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” While wine country and Fisherman’s Wharf are popular tourist destinations, the Monterey peninsula is a less traveled side trip. Though it may be summer, be sure to bring plenty of layers!
• Jackson Hole, Wyoming – Average July High: 81 Degrees F
  What’s cool about it: Breathtaking views, national park access and a whitewater rafting mecca – that’s Jackson Hole. If a leisurely float down the river is more your speed, you can do that, too. Grand Teton and Yellowstone Park offer great hiking, climbing and water activities, with unparalleled photo opportunities. Wyoming’s daytime temperatures run in the 70s and 80s in the summer, but the air cools quickly after sundown and humidity is low year-round.
• Portland, Maine – Average July High: 79 Degrees F
  What’s cool about it: With the Atlantic coast and Appalachian Mountains only a 45-minute drive apart, Portland has the best of both worlds. There’s also fine cuisine in between as Bon Appetit recently dubbed Portland the “Foodiest Small Town in America.” With tours to help you sample culinary delights by foot or by trolley, Maine’s seaside climate creates cool breezes and temperatures which are comfortable and with low humidity all summer long.
• Olympic National Park, Washington – Average July High: 73 Degrees F
  What’s cool about it: Located on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, this million-acre national park encompasses three major ecosystems ranging from rain forest to snow-topped mountain peaks. Here you can walk, backpack, camp, or fish, as well as participate in one of the many ranger-led programs. Summers are fair and warm with highs between 65-75 degrees. Little rain falls during the summer months, although the low valleys are foggy in the morning.
• Chena Hot Springs Resort, Alaska – Average July High: 73 Degrees F
  What’s cool about it: Located 60 miles from Fairbanks, Chena Hot Springs features legendary healing mineral waters, a renewable energy tour, and a working dog mushing kennel. To keep cool you can also visit the Aurora Ice Museum. Maintained by world ice art champions Steve and Heather Brice, the museum began as the only ice hotel in the Americas. Summer days are breezy, dry and warm – perfect for boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities. The area has less than 12 inches of annual rainfall.

A weather application for the Facebook generation, MyWeather.com delivers the most personal and precise suite of weather products for consumers anywhere on the globe offering users completely personalized weather reports tailored for their lives, locations, and interests, whether they’re online or on the go. MyWeather launched its flagship website in May 2011 along with free apps for the iPhone and Android devices. MyWeather is a new consumer brand from Weather Central, the world’s leading provider of interactive weather graphics and data services for television, Web, and mobile.

Hot tips for parents, cool gear for kids for less travel stress

If you and your family are among the 39 million Americans expected to travel more than 50 miles from home this 4th of July holiday weekend, your biggest challenge will be to make the trip fun for the youngsters and less stressful for you.

The three-day weekend kicks off the busy summer travel season, and summer vacations are an annual rite of passage for many families. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), 39 million of us will travel an average of 573 miles by car, plane, train or boat before heading back to work next Tuesday.

“When taking your young children to that special place for an experience you’ve always wanted to share with them or somewhere they’ve been bugging you to go, a few minutes of thought and preparation can keep your dream vacation from turning into a meltdown,” says family travel expert Kim Orlando, founder of TravelingMom.com, an online magazine for moms who travel.

She recommends these top tips to help ease stress for on-the-go parents and kids alike this weekend:

• Be a parent first and a traveler second. A hug, smile and TLC go a long way.
• Plan your journey. Map out your routes ahead of time and take them with you.
• Take favorite toys. Expand playtime and make rest stops frequent and fun.
• Eat healthy. Pack nutritious snacks and an extra bottle of water. Avoid sugary snacks & drinks.
• Take the essentials. You’ll need lots of tissues, wet wipes and a bag for trash.
• Take familiar objects. Pack a pillow, doll, blankie, stuffed animal and/or a special photo.

And when it comes to packing a child’s clothing and all that other essential gear needed for the journey and the destination, parents and kids alike can get a little extra help this summer from a cool new suitcase that’s also a ride-on and pull-along toy.

The carry-on-sized suitcase called Trunki was designed especially for kids ages 3 to 6.  It’s made in the USA by Melissa & Doug, a Wilton, CT-based designer of innovative toys and children’s products.

“Trunki helps make travel fun because it entertains the child on the trip,” said Melissa Bernstein, co-founder of Melissa & Doug. “Whether it’s for a weekend at Grandma’s, a trip across town or a journey around the world, Trunki is designed to make family travel easier and less stressful.”

Lightweight and sturdy and available at specialty retailers for a suggested list price of $39.99, Trunki can serve as luggage, riding toy and travel companion. It sports a pull-along strap, carry handles, secure catches and integrated wheels. It also works as a kid-friendly storage bin at the destination, and back home after vacation.

With this in mind, Lavalife.com, the expert in online dating, offers singles the “must-have” features for a winning stateside travel destination this summer.  Plus, to celebrate warm weather romance, Lavalife.com is offering 50% off membership*.

“Hot weather destinations invariably spark romance and summer flings,” explains Kim Hughes, Singles and Dating Expert for Lavalife.com. “To top it off, the best travel deals usually occur in the summer. Pick an off-season destination – some place that is just too hot for families – grab your best guy and/or girlfriends and get going. And don’t forget to connect with Lavalife members based locally wherever you’re headed using our Advance Search function. Talk about expanding your circle.”

“Must-have” Features for Singles (pick one or a few!):

• A happening pool scene
• 24-hour party spot
• A town on the beach
• A music haven
• Outlet malls

Summer Getaway Destinations:

1) Get Hot in Las Vegas – Nothing says ‘sexy summer fling’ like a great pool scene and here the pools – like everything else – are larger than life.  Plus in Vegas, pretty much anything goes.  The party never stops and the prices in the summer are so low that there is plenty of dough left over to shop and gamble. Find a pool scene with a day-to-night atmosphere (pool volleyball or waterslide during the day and a great DJ or band at night).

Where to stay: The Hard Rock has its own beach. Mandalay Bay, The Mirage and The Wynn offer “Adult Only” topless pools. Planet Hollywood has a sexy nightlife scene.

2) Put on your Dancing Shoes in New Orleans – Laissez les bon temps rouler. Celebrate being single in a destination that is addicted to fun and also seriously back in business post-Katrina. Indulge in fabulous restaurants, 24-hour bar scenes, great music and an endless party.

Where to stay: Book a stay in the French Quarter to be close to the action but don’t miss the local scene on Magazine Street and Julia Street.  Check out unique artsy boutiques like the Thomas Mann jewelry shop – world-renowned artist creating “techno romantic jewelry” – and the House of Lounge for glam lingerie and loungewear.

3) Less is More in Miami Beach – Find a cultural Mecca on the sand and be sure to don your skimpiest swimsuit, teeniest cocktail dress – and men, your tightest pair of jeans and best fitting t-shirt. Spend the morning at the pool or on the beach, the afternoon dining and shopping on Lincoln Road or in Bal Harbour, and the evening hotel-hopping or clubbing. It’s hot but after a few mojitos and a dip in the pool, you won’t even notice. Miami Beach defined the sexy singles scene; go forth and pay homage.

Where to stay: Book a weekend on the sand in South Beach. Stay at the new Gansevoort or Fontainebleau Hotels or go for a classic with The Delano, Shore Club or Sagamore. At any of these places, you don’t have to leave your hotel to find fun – it’s all right there for you.

4) Shop til You Drop in Palm Springs – Think retro cocktail culture, a sultry pool scene, sky-high mountains and warm dry air. Now, surround that with miles of golf courses, spas and outlet malls. It is the bachelor and bachelorette party destination for Southern Californians (yes! Singles!) plus in the summer, the hotels are cheap and the activities are endless.

Where to stay: Try one of the chic hotels that attract a young crowd like the Viceroy or Riviera. Or for chic-on-a-budget, try the ultra-trendy Ace Hotel which attracts a hipster, artsy crowd. For golf, spa, pool and restaurants all in one, try the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa. Take a ride on the Palms Spring Aerial Tramway, make new friends on the way and go hiking in San Jacinto state park.

5) Let your Single Spirit take you to Texas – Calling all free-spirits. Austin offers the perfect mix of nature and classic rock-n-roll. Hit the hiking trails or the Colorado River by day.  And at night, live out your groupie fantasy; Austin is home to more than 200 live music venues. If that isn’t enough to sway you, Austin was recently ranked the sexiest city in America by a Men’s Health magazine reader poll.

Where to stay: There is a solid collection of recognizable brands from Hampton Inn and Hyatt to a posh Four Seasons. There are also some unique gems in town like the Hotel Saint Cecilia, with decor inspired by 60s beat writers like William Burroughs and the historic Driskill Hotel, built in 1886 and located in the heart of Sixth Street. Don’t miss the shops, restaurants and music venues on Sixth Street, and be sure to check out Emo’s, Antone’s Nightclub and the Elephant Room.

*To find what you are looking for go to www.lavalife.com to save 50% off a Lavalife membership with coupon code SUMMER50. Offer expires 9/5/2011

The U.S. Travel Association recently recommended that a trusted traveler program be put in place for domestic air travelers, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is currently considering options for such a program.

The survey, commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association, asked more than 1,000 adults how likely they were to enroll in a trusted traveler program that offered expedited, risk-based screening at major U.S. airports for U.S. citizens who pay an annual enrollment fee of between $100-150 and undergo a background check. Forty-five percent of all travelers were very/somewhat likely to enroll, 61 percent of frequent leisure travelers were very/somewhat likely to enroll, and 75 percent of frequent business travelers were very/somewhat likely to enroll.

“Travelers deserve a trusted traveler program that provides predictable wait times at airports and a screening process that recognizes their low-risk nature,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.  ”We now know that frequent travelers are willing to pay for a better security experience. TSA Administrator Pistole is right to pursue a new approach and we look forward to working with him to develop the details.”

A December 2010 study showed respondents would take two to three more trips per year if the hassle involved in flying could be reduced without compromising security.  Those additional trips would add $84.6 billion in travel spending and support 888,000 additional jobs, according to research from U.S. Travel.

U.S. Travel recommends a risk-based trusted traveler program where travelers can opt-in and voluntarily provide background information to qualify for expedited screening, similar to trusted traveler programs operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The idea of a trusted traveler program is gaining momentum in Congress, and TSA has publicly stated it is considering concepts for such a program.