Ready to plan your winter family holiday getaway? Amie O’Shaughnessy, editor of family travel site Ciao Bambino! shares her top tips to make your family travels smoother, and rounds up some great holiday escapes.

Never again.

Those were the last words out of my mouth when I planned our last extended family Christmas vacation to Mexico two years ago.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a steel worker or the owner of the steel mill; nobody likes to pay retail for their golf vacations.

Right now, that’s not too hard. The economy has golf courses and resorts wheeling and dealing for your business. But that’s not going to last forever.

So, whether your budget is Myrtle Beach or Pebble Beach, and whether the economy favors you or the hospitality industry, Craig Better of Golf Vacation Insider suggests five ways to save on your golf vacations.

When Floridians need a beach vacation they often head straight to Palm Beach County.

Also called the Gold Coast, this county in south Florida is known for its beautiful beaches and great wealth, but for smart travelers, it can be bargain hunter’s paradise, particularly in the off-season.

Kathy Baruffi reports on her findings.

Hawaii, America’s 50th state, is celebrating its birthday today, though celebrations will be muted as protesters agitate for self-governance and the state’s primary industry, tourism, continues to suffer as a result of the economic downturn.

Even before Hawaii officially transitioned from territory to state in 1959 it was a mecca for vacationers who reveled in the laid-back tropical atmosphere. The tourism industry has long been the lifeblood of the islands, and in 2008 Hawaii received more than 7 million visitors.

However, over the last year …

The days of do-it-yourself online travel booking may be on the wane, according to a new study by a well-known research firm.

Frustrated with the sometimes difficult and time-consuming process of trying to find the lowest prices and best deals on the Internet, many travelers are increasingly turning to old-fashioned bricks-and-mortar travel agents to navigate the maze of options, fees and restrictions.

But should you?

In an effort to remind the public that traveling doesn’t have to be expensive, discount bus company Megabus launched a massive $1 fare sale today that runs for two months this fall.

The company is offering 50,000 seats at the rock-bottom rate between September 14 and November 19, with the hope that it will encourage wary travelers to hit the road again.

There has rarely been a better time to be a hotel guest, nor a worse time to be a hotel owner.

News that Starwood Hotels and Resorts – owner of Sheraton, W, Westin and other brands – will slash room rates at two-thirds of its properties by 50 percent through October is a boon to travelers, but makes other industry players nervous.

Even though hotel occupancy rates have been dropping at alarming rates over the past year, to a near record low of 55.1 percent in May, most hoteliers feel that the way to woo back customers is by offering perks and value-added services rather than reduced room rates.

This is probably the best summer in a decade to visit Europe. Why? The deals are incredible and the tourist crowds are thinner.  

Our friend Kathy McCabe, editor and publisher of the subscription travel newsletter Dream of Italy, fills us in on why this August may be a better time to visit Italy than you think.

I have never seen airfare deals like the ones I have seen to Italy this year. In many cases, the prices are half what they were at the same time last year.