Sliced in two by the mighty Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul is literally a bridge between two continents. It’s where East meets West, and its unmatched location has made it a cultural crossroads.

Inhabited as early as 3000 BC, Istanbul’s connection to the past is still evident in both the architectural masterpieces from both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires that stand at its center, and the silhouettes of the many famous mosques that dominate its dramatic skyline. Tourists already awestruck by the age of landmarks in Western Europe will be shocked to realize that in Istanbul such “ancient” structures would be considered relatively new.

Istanbul’s unrivaled sights and attractions—the great Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Byzantine Cistern, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar to name a few—are truly not to be missed. Yet the attraction-packed epicenter of Sultanahmet is not all the city has to offer.

Halloween is a great time to take the kids trick-or-treating and visit houses bedecked with spooky trappings—cobwebs, tombstones and ghosts, galore.

If you’re someone who prefers more tricks than treats, then spend a whole night, if you can, at a haunted hotel, where objects levitate, electronics go berserk, doorknobs rattle, nearly sub-audible voices resound, and ghosts reflect in your bathroom mirror.

Check out these hotels where you’re likely to get plenty of ghostly tricks along with your hotel treats.

Sure, every travel guide in the world will talk about places to eat and sights to see.

But not many travel guides talk about where you can go — to the bathroom.

But our tech-savvy travel pal Johnny Jet has found a Web site that will not only tell you where you can go, but how clean you can expect that bathroom to be.

Read on to find out more about this virtual outhouse-finder.

Make holiday shopping fun this year by turning the chore into a vacation. Stay at one of three Kimpton-Seattle properties, all with easy access to downtown shopping, and take advantage of the “Take the Elevator Home” rate, a savings of 20 percent off their best available rate. Rooms start at $139 plus tax at the Monaco, $115 at the Hotel Vintage Park, and $140 at the Hotel Alexis. There rates are available through January 31, so you can shop for family and friends before the holidays or for yourself after! 206-516-5097, www.kimptonhotels.com

Looking for a last-minute romantic getaway? Book the “secret rendezvous” promotion through Couples Resorts in Jamaica and …

Pick your next travel destination based on what’s going on in the sky, not on the ground.

With a solar eclipse approaching next year, several companies are offering trips built around experiences that are literally out of this world.

Keep an eye on the sky when you embark on an astronomical tour. One company called TravelQuest is arranging a tour to Siberia for about $3,000, and promises to offer the best views of the total solar eclipse in August of 2008.

For about the same price, Phoenix Travel is offering 10 and 14-day trips to Mongolia that will set up travelers in special eclipse viewing camps next summer.

For a more affordable alternative that’s a little closer to home, skip …

Think that cruises aren’t possible with young children?

These days, cruise lines have introduced programs to keep even the fussiest toddler occupied.

For parents that want to take their kids on the ship, but don’t want to run after them, cruises now offer babysitting programs, even for infants.

Royal Caribbean has “Aqua Babies” for kids aged 6 to 18 months, which offers interactive classes such as musical inspiration, babies gymnastics and games, all developed by Fisher-Price experts.

Cunard Ships Queen Mary and Queen Victoria have a nursery and a children’s center supervised by fully trained nannies and youth staff.

However, children must be at least a year old to go there without parental supervision.

Disney Cruises has live shows, character experiences, movies, and much more for …