“It takes a toll on you when you have to keep showing the mess over and over,” sighed Isabelle Cossart. It was past 9 p.m. in New Orleans, and she had just returned from leading a “disaster tour,” taking visitors through the devastated regions of the city. “You’re not showing empty houses. These are families.”

Too exhausted to speak further that night, Cossart, owner and operator of Tours by Isabelle, chatted the next evening while giving her two-year-old granddaughter a bath. “Yes, she was born on Katrina. She gave us a little bit of hope.”

Cossart is just one of the thousands of New Orleans residents who have struggled after the …

It isn’t easy being green. Or at least, that’s what many people thought before Jen Boulden and Heather Stephenson created their easy, breezy Web site, Ideal Bite. Every weekday, a “green” tip lands in your inbox. Voila.

Follow the idea and, in a small way, these “light green” tips can help save the world. These tips are simple to follow, and subscribers–all 150,000 of them–are a little bit greener today because of it.

Some tips include lessons in travel and eco-tourism. “Tourism makes a huge impact on the earth,” said Boulden, “and doing little things like staying at ‘green’ hotel can make a big difference.”

“Small steps can make a big impact,” …

Tokyo is a massive, hyper-modern metropolis with a million and one things to do, and reams of articles could be written about it.

In fact, entire guide books could be written about stuff that isn’t in the guide books. But we’ve got a few experiences that you’re unlikely to stumble across while you’re reading a brochure.

And remember, when in Tokyo, be sure to do some exploring on your own. It’ll be worth it.

For years, boat charters seemed off-limits to vacationers because of
prohibitive prices.

But now, boat charters are getting cheaper–in fact, some might even rival the standard hotel room.

Nowadays, you can charter a 40-ft. sailboat that sleeps four for as low as $700 per person per week.

This rivals a week-long hotel stay of $100 per night.

Of course, the expensive options are still out there.

A more luxurious alternative will cost close to $3,000 per person per week for a crewed 60-ft. motor yacht that can sleep six.

No formal certification is required to sail a charter, other than prior experience.

While a crew may be pricier, it will take your mind off of steep gas expenses, cooking and driving dilemmas.

And one charter website, Sunsail.com, …

Welcome to the first installment of Johnny Jet’s Web Site of the Week.

Check in every Wednesday to see what cool, useful and/or wacky sites he’s uncovered!

Sometimes, it’s all three–like this week.

This week: a.placebetween.us

It’s still not too late to score great Labor Day deals!

See what we’ve got in store for you this holiday weekend and beyond:

Lush Tahiti is offering a set of deals. The St. Regis Resort Bora Bora is offering free upgrades to overwater villas with beach pool villa bookings made through December 21, 2006 (five of those villas have private swimming pools suspended over the lagoon!) The Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort, Le Méridien Bora Bora and Le Méridien Tahiti are all offering free breakfasts and dinner. You can also find low-priced package vacations, such as roundtrip airfare, four nights at the Sofitel Moorea Beach Resort, three nights at the Bora Bora Lagoon …