Hi,

We have enjoyed listening to [you] on satellite and have taken much of [your] advice.

Would you please address the issue of Christmas travel: when to book, where to look — are there any bargains left?

Those of us with college children only have this time for a vacation, but are already paying college tuitions, so cost is a factor. Any help [you] can give would be appreciated.

Thanks.

-Lisa T

If you’re a woman who travels alone — or know one who does — check out these important safety tips. Some safety tips for women travelers apply even at home.

But others are travel-specific, like knowing what it means if you look someone in the eye in certain foreign countries.

Look into local dress before you start packing, respect local customs, and when in doubt, take your cues from the women around you.

Reach out to people when you travel, not necessarily men, but other women.

Check out GutsyTraveler.com or SoloLady.com for women-centric travel resources.

And don’t forget our favorite: wear a wedding band, even if you’re not married. Some women even go prepared with pictures of their fake husband!

Check out …

Great literature is supposed to spark our imagination, but it can also inspire many of us to travel.

In fact, many of us can’t help but want to take a pilgrimage to the settings of our favorite novels or poems.

You may have read the works of legendary American authors Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain and Edgar Allen Poe. But now you can do more than just visit the places where their famous works are set; you can also take a tour of the places where they were written.

The following are just some of the many places you can visit to perhaps get a closer, more inside view of the life of some great American …

Planning a Caribbean getaway, but still want to stay connected? Find out which islands are high tech - and which ones aren’t. One of the most connected islands in the Caribbean is Puerto Rico, which boasts dozens of Wifi hotspots and Internet cafes. Jamaica has seen a recent, rapid expansion of connectivity, and now doubles the Caribbean average. Many businesses, from cafes to car washes, are now offering free Wifi to attract well-heeled customers.

Barbados is also a standout in the Caribbean, with free Wifi at the airport, and many hotel lobbies. In fact, hotels are a great source of free Wifi on many islands, since most are so laid-back, they don’t worry if someone is quietly using their …

Want to make sure the bedbugs don’t bite while traveling? Find out what you need to know about the increase in bedbugs in hotels — and how you can avoid them. Before going to bed, look around the headboard and mattress in your hotel room. If you see dark blood spots — evidence of bedbugs — request a different room, or even a different hotel, immediately.

As a general precaution, don’t leave your clothes on the floor or near the bed, and the same goes for your suitcase. Bedbugs will often hide in items of clothing, which can transmit the bedbug problem from the hotel room to your own bedroom. So put your suitcase on a luggage rack as far …

Time in Bangkok

From backpacking soul seekers to cosmopolitan business travelers, Bangkok is a mecca for adventure seekers worldwide. The city pulsates with modern life but is inextricably linked with a deep sense of tradition.

You can spend one day scoping brand names in a glitzy shopping mall and the next haggling with local vendors in the marketplace. Rickshaws rattle alongside buses crammed full of commuters, while the reliable and dependable SkyTrain zips you around the central city. You’ll find yourself alternately dealing with massive commotion and moments of zen, and loving every minute of it.

When to Go
You’ll often be blessed with warm, tropical weather …