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7 reasons to lose the booze

Don’t drink and fly.

Cabinet members make many Nevada stops for Reid

The travel industry may be hurting in Las Vegas these days but not for lack of visits from members of President Barack Obama's Cabinet.

Commercial real estate bust looms

That big whoosh you're hearing is the air rushing out of a commercial real estate bubble.

Celizic: Selig’s pandering to TV upsets rhythm of game

Far be it from me to accuse Major League Baseball of stacking the postseason deck in favor of the Yankees. I’ll let somebody else make that accusation and pretend I’m above such scandalous speculation.

Men’s college basketball 2008-09 preview

27-8 (14-2), 1st in Big 12Won NCAA championship.Bill Self, 169-40, 6 years (376-145 overall) 1989

Rolling toward a resurgence in train travel

Seems the airlines aren’t the only ones suffering from a decline in business travel.

7 ways to find excellent customer service

When I think of great customer service, I remember Alamo.

Scoop: Shows won’t hire Jon, even for free

The odds that Jon Gosselin soon could slip into obscurity are increasing, and not just because there’s an end in sight for “Jon & Kate Plus Eight.”

GOP NJ governor candidate's spending questioned

The Republican candidate for New Jersey governor, who has campaigned on a platform of ethical integrity and cutting government waste, regularly spent beyond federal guidelines on business travel while U.S. attorney, records show.

New travel Web sites target niche markets

Got an idea for a new travel Web site? You’re not alone.

AP IMPACT: Obama's favors blue states for travel

For President Barack Obama, it's almost as if the election campaign never ended. Just look at his travel schedule.

Avoid a customer service nightmare

Ask Bonnie Friedman about her worst customer service experience, and she won’t hesitate to tell you about the time she checked in for her flight from Venice to Frankfurt.

Crowdsourcing digital signal strength

AT&T promises "more bars in more places" — but which places? Verizon Wireless proclaims "it's the network" — but does the network cover you well in the places you live, work and travel?

Female writer revisits torture in Iraq

When Haifa Zangana was captured by Iraq's secret police in 1971, she feared she might never see her friends or family again.

House taps foreign visitors for tourism program

How does the House figure to lure more international tourists to the United States? By charging those who visit $10 apiece.

Scoop: Mariah Carey’s no ‘Angel’ on new tour

Mariah Carey is not without flaws, as evidenced by the title of her new album “Confessions of an Imperfect Angel,” but her behavior on her current publicity tour is calling into question the veracity of the angelic claim as well.

6 things you should never do when you’re away

Thinking of throwing a tantrum the next time things don’t go your way when you travel? Consider what happened to Gary Zeune before you do.

More Vine

Hick in New York City, Part 4-- It's all Greek to me!

The next morning, my travel alarm started beeping at 6 am NYC time, which is 5 am Owensboro time. I had just begun to sleep well—typical.

Bette Midler ending Las Vegas show
Source: msnbc.com

Bette Midler will perform her Las Vegas show "The Showgirl Must Go On" for the last time on Jan. 31.

Tool keeps track of frequent-flier miles -- latimes.com
Source: The L.A. Times

AwardWallet is free, as opposed to TripIt's Point Tracker (available in TripIt Pro for $69 a year). AwardWallet keeps track of your frequent-flier miles and other loyalty award program balances in an easy-to-read space.

Wi-Fi in the sky
Source: msnbc.com

There's great debate about the pros and cons of onboard Internet access. Will it ruin flights even more? Will it make life easier? Is it even worth the money? We have the bottom line.

Hick in New York City, Part 3 -- NASCAR racetrack, here I come, doo-dah, doo-dah

Before I get too far along on the Long Island Expressway, let me explain something. My small city had one four-lane road through the middle of the city, and a four-lane bypass, with no traffic on it.

New Zealand is more than adventure tourism
Source: msnbc.com

While Kiwis are known for adventure tourism - including skydiving, bungee jumping, gliding and Zorbing - perhaps the most enriching part of visiting is the cultural aspect.

Most roads closing for winter in Yellowstone
Source: msnbc.com

Roads into the interior of Yellowstone National Park have closed for the winter, limiting access to Old Faithful, Canyon, and Fishing Bridge until the snowpack is cleared from the roads in the spring.

Runway incursion at LAX was minor
Source: msnbc.com

The Federal Aviation Administration has determined a runway incursion at Los Angeles International Airport last week was minor.

The biggest bet in Las Vegas
Source: msnbc.com

MGM Mirage's 67-acre CityCenter is the ultimate test of Sin City's bigger-is-better business model.

Airlines hope wired skies take off
Source: msnbc.com

As carriers nickel-and-dime their customers, it's hard to believe they would offer a cool new amenity at no cost. But that's exactly what's happening with in-flight Wi-Fi.

The Hick in New York City, Part 2 -- How to rent a destroyer

While standing in line at the rental car office, I noticed that everything was moving along with a minimum of fuss. Various businessmen went to the desk, handed over their sheaf of papers, signed a few dotted lines, were given their keys, and left to get their car.

With airlines shrinking, your flight could be cut
Source: msnbc.com

Airlines are cutting money-losing flights during the current travel slump, and that can cause headaches for passengers who bought tickets on those trips.

10 Chinese etiquette tips
Source: msnbc.com

How to bargain, when to smile, who to serve first at a banquet, and other ways to fit in with locals, according to the Chais.

Honeymoon ideas for adventurous newlyweds
Source: msnbc.com

After the months of planning and stress that go into pulling off that perfect wedding fete, nothing's sweeter than boarding the plane en route to the long-awaited honeymoon.

How to find the perfect hotel online
Source: msnbc.com

The abundance of hotel reviews, ratings, mapping sites and more can make hotel hunting an overwhelming prospect. Here are some tips to make it easier to find the perfect hotel online.

Score bargains on winter vacation home rentals
Source: msnbc.com

Winter is a traditionally slow season for vacation home rentals. If you're a would-be renter, you can score terrific bargains on offseason rentals and enjoy a different type of getaway.

The world's quietest places
Source: msnbc.com

Need to get away from the noise? Around the world remain places that are surprisingly accessible where the constant din of civilization simply drops away.

Keeping Track of your Points Programs | Help Me Travel Cheap
Source: helpmetravelcheap.com

I suggest that when you travel you should always sign up for the points program for the brand regardless if you plan to use the brand again. My reasoning is simple. It doesn't cost anything so you don't have anything to lose.

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