Travelers

"HOT London deals on Virgin Atlantic -- $516." "Fares for less than $200 round-trip! -- $83." "Fly anywhere and save! World-wide fare sale: Roundtrip from $95+." These were just a few of the deals advertised on popular travel Web sites in the past few weeks. All of them came with a good amount of fine print detailing blackout dates or other restrictions. Not one of them was actually available when put to the test in a recent search. And each of them was easily bested by comparing rates on other Web sites or simply by widening the search to include other airlines on the same Web site.

For those who want to see the planet but fret about the harmful environmental effects of driving and flying, a growing list of companies are offering a chance to "offset" the journey. They're called carbon offset programs, and they aim to reduce the threat of global warming that scientists say are caused by greenhouse gases emitted when burning fossil fuels. Using the offset programs, most available online, travelers can calculate how much carbon dioxide their trip produces and pay to generate an equal share of renewable energy such as wind or solar power.

ROME CELEBRATED WEEKENDS The Stars' Guide to the Most Exciting Destinations in the World Rutledge Hill Press, $24.99 In 1990, writer Mark Seal began writing the "Celebrated Weekend" feature in American Way, the magazine of American Airlines. Over the years, he has interviewed more than 300 celebrities about their favorite cities. Now the chats are in book form. Here you will find Edward Norton discussing his favorite things to see and do in Baltimore as well as Mark Wahlberg on Boston, John Cusack on Chicago, Harry Connick Jr. on New Orleans and Tony Bennett on San Francisco (but of course)

BudgetOne way to save on a Florida vacation is to use the free green Traveler Discount Guide to Florida. The guide provides auto travelers with low rates on hotels and resorts. The guide is free at 12,000 locations, or may be ordered by calling 800-332-3948. A $3 shipping charge is made on telephone orders for the first guide, with a cost of $1 for each additional guide; credit cards are accepted.BusinessThe National Sleep Foundation conducts studies on travel-related sleep disorders. Last year, Hilton Hotels published results of several surveys that the foundation has conducted over the past four years.

The last thing travelers need is to get ripped off at an airport. But it happens. Airport thieves are a skilled lot, targeting unsuspecting men and women and relieving them of luggage, laptops, purses and other valuables. If you're not careful, these airport thieves, who tend to look like ordinary travelers, can make off with your billfold, your phone card, your credit card, all in a wink.When travelers leave home or when they return from a trip, the last thing on their minds is becoming a victim.

NEW YORK -- Travelers Group Inc., the No. 2 U.S. financial services company, said yesterday that its first-quarter earnings rose a bigger-than-expected 25 percent, led by gains in its Salomon Smith Barney Inc. securities unit.Travelers, which agreed two weeks ago to a $70 billion merger with Citicorp to form the world's biggest financial company, said profit excluding gains from investment sales rose to a record $1.01 billion, or 84 cents a diluted share, from $806.2 million, or 66 cents, a year ago.Profit exceeded the 76 cents that analysts expected, according to First Call Corp.

Keeping their distance: Give business travelers a choice, and they'd rather sit with a colleague than a boss while flying. That's the finding of a national survey of 1,000 business travelerscommissioned by the Shuttle by United. Eighty-seven percent of the respondents said they prefer to sit with another employee rather than a supervisor. East Coast passengers are more likely than West Coast travelers to ask to sit near the boss. Airline executives theorize that because flights in the East tend to be shorter, traveling with a boss is more palatable.

With a record 259,000 travelers projected to pass through Baltimore-Washington International Airport over the Thanksgiving holidays, this is not the time to tune out that standard reminder: Leave ample time to get to the airport, park and check in."We're just seeing continued growth," said airport spokeswoman Marilyn Corbett. "Some people may be tempted to cut it close, but they need to allow enough time. They can't cut it close at Thanksgiving because everybody's going to be flying."From the Wednesday before Thanksgiving through the Monday after, airport officials expect to see 10 percent more travelers than the 236,000 who flew in and out last year.

WASHINGTON -- Travelers Group Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sanford I. Weill made $220.2 million last year exercising stock options, collecting one of the biggest annual payoffs ever for a U.S. executive.Travelers, the insurance company that owns Salomon Smith Barney and other financial units, also paid Weill $49.9 million in salary, bonus, restricted stock and options, almost double his 1996 compensation of $26.8 million, according to Travelers' proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A broader swath of America's viewing public is about to learn that BWI is just a spit away from Washington.In its first national television ad campaign, Baltimore-Washington International Airport will begin a series of 30-second commercials this month on the Weather Channel, CNN and CNN Headline News."

I traveled to London for official purposes. Unfortunately, all my money was stolen at the hotel. I don't know what to do or where to go. I didn't bring my phone, and the hotel telephone line was disconnected during the robbery, so I have access only to e-mails. Please, can you send me 1,500 pounds today so I can return home? As soon as I get home I would refund it immediately. I want you to send it through the Western Union outlet. And I want you to quit sending these ridiculous letters.

It may seem early to book for Presidents Week. But whether prompted by rising airfares or the specter of fewer available flights, tour operators say travelers have been booking unusually early this year. "We've already booked a large number of our guests for '09," said Edward Piegza, president of Classic Journeys, an adventure travel company based in La Jolla, Calif. Just last month, he said, a family of 18 booked a Costa Rica trip for a year-end vacation - in 2009. "That's 18 months in advance," he pointed out. Spotting an opportunity, tour operators are rushing the release of their 2009 brochures and prices particularly early this year to capture early-bird reservations - along with deposits.

Amtrak trains had empty seats. Cab drivers at Baltimore's Penn Station were standing around wondering where everyone was. Traffic on local highways chugged along for much of the day. And through midafternoon, the lines never seemed more than 20-deep at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The lost-baggage offices were nearly empty, and the Starbucks had two more workers than customers. Yesterday was an oddly drama-free day for many travelers, who had braced for a wild, woolly Thanksgiving rush but found themselves ahead of schedule and far less harried than they expected.

Commercial air travel may be in a downward spiral as flight delays, mishandled luggage and crowded planes become more common. But there is one place where airlines are making things easier for travelers: Web sites. Just last month, American Airlines changed its site to make it easier for online shoppers to choose flights by price and schedule. Delta Air Lines, which last year began allowing customers to search for flights up to three days before or after their chosen travel dates, is now focusing on making its site a one-stop shop for car rentals, travel insurance, airline club passes and other extras.

I had a knee replacement a few years ago. Now when I go through security, the metal in my knee sets off the alarm, and I am spirited away for the inevitable frisking. I am required to leave my purse and hand luggage unattended near the conveyor belt while this is going on and worry that my belongings will be stolen. Is there some way I can take my stuff with me? Yes. If you have an artificial joint or a pacemaker, you're among the lucky ones, at least when it comes to security. Those medical devices almost always set off the airport metal detectors, which means you'll consistently get yanked out of line.

"HOT London deals on Virgin Atlantic -- $516." "Fares for less than $200 round-trip! -- $83." "Fly anywhere and save! World-wide fare sale: Roundtrip from $95+." These were just a few of the deals advertised on popular travel Web sites in the past few weeks. All of them came with a good amount of fine print detailing blackout dates or other restrictions. Not one of them was actually available when put to the test in a recent search. And each of them was easily bested by comparing rates on other Web sites or simply by widening the search to include other airlines on the same Web site.

Cruise fares have fallen so sharply in recent months that travelers waiting for their ship to come in may find that it's just on the horizon and sailing toward them at full speed. "There are some fantastic deals out there," said Emerson Hankamer, president of discount agency Vacations to Go. "They're the lowest prices I've ever seen." Many cruise experts agree that 2007 is shaping up as a banner year for budget travelers, with some trips costing as little as $55 to $70 a day - a surprisingly low figure, given that cruises include a cabin, meals, entertainment and other amenities.

ROME CELEBRATED WEEKENDS The Stars' Guide to the Most Exciting Destinations in the World Rutledge Hill Press, $24.99 In 1990, writer Mark Seal began writing the "Celebrated Weekend" feature in American Way, the magazine of American Airlines. Over the years, he has interviewed more than 300 celebrities about their favorite cities. Now the chats are in book form. Here you will find Edward Norton discussing his favorite things to see and do in Baltimore as well as Mark Wahlberg on Boston, John Cusack on Chicago, Harry Connick Jr. on New Orleans and Tony Bennett on San Francisco (but of course)

LONDON THE KNOT GUIDE TO DESTINATION WEDDINGS Clarkson Potter / $19.95 Thinking about getting married on a distant beach? A new guide answers your questions about planning. The Knot Guide to Destination Weddings details more than 200 locations for weddings, from Hawaii to Mexico, with tips from experts and lessons from couples who have been through it. Carley Roney and destination wedding expert JoAnn Gregoli break down the process of planning from afar, from etiquette to local laws.

CHICAGO -- On Valentine's Day, a major storm in Pennsylvania tied up traffic along 50 miles of Interstate 78 and adjoining highways. Many travelers were stranded for as long as two days. One driver needed 12 hours to go 100 miles. So I've got an idea: Enact a federal bill of rights for highway motorists, guaranteeing that they will never again be stuck in a weather-related traffic jam for more than three hours. Does that sound crazy? No crazier than an idea that is being taken seriously in Washington these days: an airline passengers' bill of rights, which would require planes to return to the gate after three hours.