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Do you want to take a trip into space? Well you can make your reservations now for the Galactic Suite Space Resort, even though the first trip into space isn’t scheduled until 2012. The much talked about project already has 38 people who have booked their space trip.

Galactic Suite Limited is private company that is developing a space tourism experience that includes an 18-week space travel training program at their space port on a Caribbean island. On the beautiful island, you will go through a brief astronaut training process and learn everything you need to know about heading out into space. After the training is complete, you take off on the Galactic Suite spaceship on 4-day trip that takes you 300 miles into space. Once on their spaceresort orbital station, you will complete 15 orbits of earth a day - seeing the sunrise every 45 minutes or so. Estimated cost is €3 million.

If you always wanted to be an astronaut as a kid, now is your chance. To learn more about the project, visit galacticsuite.com or send an email to reservations@galacticsuite.com to make your reservation. The website doesn’t say how much money you have to put down to hold a reservation, but it’s expected to be 25% of the total cost of the space trip.

If you are planning to travel on Labor Day weekend, you may be surprised by the lack of crowds at airports. According to numerous reports, Labor Day weekend travel by air is expected to drop by almost 6% when compared to the 2007 numbers. Within the United States, the decrease could be as high as 8-10%.

Labor Day weekend in terms of travel is actually judged for the whole week. This year Labor Day is on Monday, September 1. Therefore, travel from August 27-September 3rd is not expected to be as hectic for travelers as this time of year is historically. While travelers should still head to the airport in plenty of time, they should also expect to find quicker than usual lines once in the airport.

Many factors are coming into play that will limit the Labor Day weekend travel. First of all, the skyrocketing fuel prices are forcing airlines to charge more per ticket. Fuel prices are up almost 80% from last year at this time and with most people having less disposable income, that isn’t a good combination. In addition to fuel prices, airlines simply aren’t traveling to as many destinations as they were this time last year.

If you can afford to travel during Labor Day weekend, this year would actually be a good year to travel. With less traffic at the airports and on the planes, you should be able to enjoy your airport experience much more than in recent years.

Modality, the leading company in transforming high quality content for personal handheld media players, announced on Monday that you can now get Frommer’s travel guides on you iPhone and iPod.

Frommer’s travel guides are regarded as some of the best in the business. They have more than 300 types of guides and sell more then 2.5 million of them annually. The Frommer’s books features advice on trip planning, sight seeing, restaurants, lodging and so much more.

The 2008 editions of the Frommer’s New York, San Francisco, London and Paris guides are now available for download on Apple.com via their new Apple App Store and iTunes for $9.99. Modality says more guides will be released later this year. After downloading, the digital editions of these trusted guide books are then stored locally on your iPhone or iPod Touch, allowing you to browse through the ad-free travel content without an internet connection.

As a bonus, the Frommer’s for iPhone features interactive maps, location-based service and web and phone links.

“The Frommer’s titles offer travelers the same high-quality, reliable information as the popular paperback guides, but in a completely new way,” according to S. Mark Williams, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Modality. “Most travelers are already carrying these personal media devices with them. The expanded functionality of the iPhone and iPod offers ease of use and unlimited information at consumers’ fingertips, greatly enhancing their overall travel experience.”

Do you want to catch a nap on the plane? It will cost you!

It was announced on Monday that JetBlue Airways customers will now be charged for pillows and blankets. The company will offer an eco-friendly travel blanket and pillow for $7 on flights two hours or longer.

The blanket and pillow sets are just another of JetBlue’s recently charges to try to offset the rising cost of jet fuel. Customers can also purchase seats with extra leg room, which are expect to generate $50 million to the carrier in 2008. Additionally, there is a $15 fee for a second checked bag, translating into $20 million in revenue, plus a $100 ticket change fee, which should produce another $50 million in revenue this year.

Who knows how long the nickel and diming of airline customers will continue. But as long as fuel prices continue to rise airlines will try to find ways to recoup some of their costs. People are already cutting back on air travel. If prices continue to skyrocket, eventually many vacationers may turn away from air travel altogether, choosing to stay closer to home instead.

One plus is that JetBlue says the blanket and pillow kit will also come with a $5 coupon to Bed Bath & Beyond.

The United States will soon have a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Travelers who are coming to the U.S. from one of the 27 waivers countries which don’t need a visa to fly to the States will have to fill out an online form about their health and criminal background starting January 12, 2009. The form can be filled out by travelers online anytime before their departure date, but it’s encouraged to be at least three days before traveling.

The 27 waiver countries include:

Andorra
Austria
Australia
Belgium
Brunei
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
San Marino
Singapore
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

Though the requirement doesn’t go into effect until January, the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form will begin a testing phase this Friday, August 1, 2008.

The online form is currently free, but it is unknown if that will change in the future. Travelers will be asked questions about contagious diseases, mental disorders, physical conditions, drug abuse, criminal convictions, and if they have been involved in spying, terrorist activities or genocide. The answers will determine whether the applicant is eligible to travel under the VWP and whether the traveler poses a law enforcement or security risk.

Once the form is completed online, authorization will be given immediately in most cases and the permit will be good for two years.

The European Commission will be monitoring the test phase to make sure its not actual a faux visa in disguise. The commission expect to give a report about the ESTA in November.

If you are looking for an exotic unique locale for your honeymoon, the luxurious Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada has a great offer right now.

When you book seven nights at the resort, you get the following as part of their Honeymoon Bonus Offer:

• One complimentary Swedish massage, per adult, at the resort’s Janissa’s Spa
• A sunset cruise along Grenada’s Leeward Coast
• A tropical fruit plate and a bottle of champagne in the room upon arrival

This award-winning beach resort is perfect for romance. It features 64 suites, a full-service spa, fitness center, Oliver’s beachside gourmet restaurant, the Sea & Surf Terrace for drinks, swimming pool, tennis court, shopping and much more.

This offer is valid for all new bookings to the resort of seven nights or more that are made for travel now through the end of 2008. To get the Honeymoon Bonus Offer, call the resort directly at (473) 444-4258.

The resort offers full-inclusive rates that including accommodations, breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, plus afternoon tea and beverages at dinner (including house wine). Also included are non-motorized watersports such as snorkeling, kayaking and sailing. Plus tennis, golf greens fees at the Grenada Golf Club, and concierge and room service are included as well.

Full-inclusive rates per room, per night (based on double occupancy) now through December 15, 2008 are: $635 in an Oleander Garden Suite, $665 in an Oleander Oceanview Suite, $815 in a Seagrape Suite, $865 in an Anthurium Pool Suite, $1,035 in a Luxury Almond Pool Suite, and $1,210 in a Royal Collection Pool Suite, Cinnamon Suite or Saffron Suite. Of course, service charges and government tax are additional fees.

Grenada is a beautiful paradise that is the most southerly of the Windward Islands in the Caribbean. It’s a great place for hiking, sailing, diving and other sports. It’s also a growing honeymoon destination as the unspoiled, picturesque island is perfect for romance. To learn more about the resort and the area, visit spiceislandbeachresort.com.

Photo credit: Spice Island Beach Resort

credit: bonho1962

If you are in a relationship, a romantic vacation is a great idea for an anniversary, birthday or anytime. You can choose from an seemingly endless number of destination for a romantic vacation. On every far reaching part of the globe, there is a perfect vacation spot for couples not too far away.

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Do you want to go on a vacation but want a new and unique experience? Tired of driving or flying to get where you want to go? If you want to see North America in a whole new light while enjoying a fun adventure, consider traveling by train with a trip from GrandLuxe Rail Journeys.
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People come from all over the world head to the small town of Lake Placid to enjoy the great skiing the area has to offer.

Lake Placid is perhaps best known as being a host for the Winter Olympics. In fact, Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics twice–in 1932 and 1980. One of the greatest moments in American Olympic history occurred when the USA upset the USSR in hockey in 1980. That historic game, known as “The Miracle on Ice,” occurred in Lake Placid.

One of the most famous mountains near Lake Placid is Whiteface Mountain. With a base elevation of over 1,000 feet and a peak elevation of nearly 5,000 feet, this large mountain has over 70 trails to choose from. Dubbed “the Olympic Mountain” because of the Olympics events that took place there, Whiteface features a 3,430 foot vertical. With much of the terrain geared toward expert skiers, this is a great place to head to if skiing is your passion and you have plenty of experience.

At the Whiteface Mountain website, you check out the current weather conditions or buy a season pass. Visit the official Lake Placid website for additional information about the area, including places to stay.

The largest ski resort in the United States, at Vail you can experience four terrain parks, seven Back Bowls, gourmet restaurants, world-class spas, amazing nightlife and three hundred days of sunshine a year.

Vail Mountain has three areas - Front Side, Blue Sky Basin and Back Bowls. Together they span over seven miles, making Vail the nation’s premier ski destination. The summit at Vail Mountain is 11,570 feet, while the base elevation is 8,120 feet. There are 32 lifts and more 193 trails. The longest run at Vail Mountain is Riva Ridge at four miles.

Front Side has the largest number of beginner runs of the three areas: 28 percent of the runs are suited for beginners, 32 percent are intermediate and 40 percent are expert. The other two areas–Blue Sky Basin and Back Bowls–don’t have any beginner runs. Blue Basin is about half and half intermediate and expert runs, while the Back Bowls are for the more advanced skiers with 86 percent of its runs for experts.

For newcomers, Vail has more than 1,000 instructors to teach both children and adults.

You can book accommodations at some of the best resorts in Vail by visiting RockResorts.com. Learn more about Vail Colorado at Vail.Snow.com.

(Photo via flickr cc)