For some dog owners, there’s good news on the airline front. United Airlines just removed its embargo on allowing pit bulls and eight other breeds from flying.

The initial concern was that these were so-called dangerous breeds, but public support convinced the airline to change its policy. Now, all nine of these breeds are allowed to fly in reinforced crates.

Then there’s a question of where to stay once you get there: It’s not always easy to find pet-friendly places, which is where sites like Pet Hotels of America, come in handy. The site lists hotels as well as pet-friendly parks, kennels, and events.

Planning to leave your pet behind? You may be able to skip the kennel altogether. A new service called DogVacay allows you to leave your best friend with local residents while you’re out of town.

Prospective hosts are vetted by the company—plus you can meet with them, check out the home in advance, and even buy emergency insurance should something go wrong.

For more information, visit the Travel with Pets archives.

Click here to read more travel tips.

Peter Greenberg: The wildest part of the AAirpass program was that since you paid for the pass, the ticket you got was considered a paid ticket that you even accrued mileage on. It was sort of like nuclear fusion.

Ken Bensinger: American sold the AAirpass in different flavors, but the marquee top of the top was the unlimited lifetime. It wasn’t very well advertised or heavily advertised, but for those with the money and who were in the know it was a heck of a purchase.

PG: They no longer sell the AAirpass. If they had sold it to a guy like me, I would have probably almost single-handedly ended the program because I would have used it every day. Turns out some people did use it every day, tell me what happened?

KB: The AAirpass holders, especially those that bought the companion pass, found that flying becomes more and more important in your when there is a low barrier to entry.

Pretty soon the people who owned these passes discovered that the most important things in their lives was flying. They’d alter their work schedule and their personal schedule to be in a plane and flew an absurd amount.

American was taking stock of these fliers and raising the price of the pass. By the time it stopped offering them in 1994, American was charging over a million for a pass with a companion pass ticket. After the program stopped, the airline kind of forgot about it from a financial point of view. It was only a few years ago when the revenue accounting department rediscovered the program. I got access to emails inside the company that show that they suddenly scrambled to figure out, “What the heck is the air pass and why is it costing us so much money?”

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Taking a page from Peter Greenberg and Michelin’s cutting-edge guide, Cuba…Like a Local, Travel Correspondent Alyssa Caverley set out to explore the white-sand beaches of Cuba.

Watch our local spotlight to see what she found out and what you need to know about the beaches of Cuba.

Looking for more Cuba ideas? You can order your copy of Cuba…Like a Local on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.

For more Cuba travel, check out:

• Cuba Like a Local and Peter’s Top Five Cuba Travel Tips
• Peter’s CBS Early Show Report: How Americans Can Travel to Cuba
• Americans Tour Groups Arrive in Cuba, Diplomatic Thaw Ahead?
• Eight American Airports Cleared for Cuba Flights

To see Peter’s Paris staples and this year’s discoveries, tour the city of lights with Peter and his exclusive photos and stories from the weekend.

Then follow along to the broadcast from the Hôtel Fouquet’s Barrière in Paris, France. You can live stream or download the full podcast right here on PeterGreenberg.com. Click here to see the guest list.

Talk to Peter!  Call 1-888-88-PETER (1-888-887-3837), email peter@petergreenberg.com, or tweet Peter @PetersGreenberg (#askPeter).

Peter will be standing by to take your calls today Monday May 21 starting at 6pm ET.

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My routine, whenever i go to Paris, always tends to be the same: macarons at La Duree. Amazing cheese filled crackers at Fauchon. ANYTHING at Hediard and a stop in my favorite bookstore Galignani. And, in the days when I used to eat meat, the steak tartare at Brasserie Lipp was a must.

If you suffer from breathing issues or allergies, your doctor may have recommended a personal air filter, which is a small device that hangs around your neck. Seems pretty innocuous…right?

Not so. There have been a couple of cases of the lithium batteries exploding inside the device—in mid-air and once in an airport. So most airlines now ban these devices.

However, that doesn’t mean all lithium-powered devices are banned. Medical devices and items that use lithium-ion batteries, like laptops and cellphones, are allowed.

Some airlines also ban filters that attach to the overhead air nozzle.

But here’s the thing…most modern aircraft are supplied with HEPA filters anyway, and those are very effective at capturing microscopic bacteria and viruses.

So for the most part, your biggest concern in the air is to stay hydrated, mobile and wash your hands frequently. If you have severe breathing problems, the airline can supply you with oxygen or you can bring certain brands of Portable Oxygen Concentrators with advance notice.

For more information, visit the Travel & Health archives.

Click here to read more travel tips.

Peter’s new book, The Best Places for Everything–available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound and your local bookstore–has more than 20 of the world’s best whitewater rapids  with opportunities from absolute beginner to extreme expert. Today we’re giving you a sneak peek at just a few. Check back every Friday for a different look at some of Peter’s best places.

1. Salmon River, Idaho

Image Credit: River Time

The Salmon River has created the deepest canyon in North America and has become one of the most iconic whitewater rafting spots. For beginners and families, visit the Main Salmon, which has Class II and Class III rapids. For a guided option, River Time runs multi-day trips.

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Dead or Alive?

Airport security may be in charge of verifying passenger identities, but do they know the identity of their staff?  This week, a Newark Liberty International Airport security supervisor was arrested for using a false identity. Bimbo Olumuyiwa Oyewole had been working at the airport for more than a decade as Jerry Thomas, a New York man who was murdered 20 years ago. In response to this incident, the Port Authority is rechecking their security personnel.

Been There Done That

On Saturday, a 90-year-old man and his 84-year-old wife were escorted off the Seabourn Sojourn cruise after refusing to participate in the muster drill. Prior to their eviction, the caption had announced that anyone who failed to gather at their assigned lifeboat stations would be escorted off the ship. The husband attended the session but the wife wasn’t feeling well and refused noting that she had “done it before.” Unfortunately, “done it before” excuse didn’t pass muster with captain for missing the muster.

Henry Kissinger - India Economic Summit 2008; Copyright World Economic Forum (www.weforum.org) swiss-image.ch/Photo by Norbert Schiller

#alqaedawon

The TSA might need a stronger grasp of American history. This week, TSA agents at LaGuardia airport in New York gave 88-year-old former Secretary of State and Noble Prize winner Henry Kissinger a pat down. Kissinger was traveling in a wheelchair through security and was removed to a screening area for a full pat down. Kissinger passed and was on route to Toronto. Freelance reporter Matthew Cole captured the incident on Twitter with the hashtag, “#alqaedawon.”

Bad Maharaja

Air India, nicknamed Maharaja for the airline’s cartoon mascot, has announced that it’s now $10 billion in  debt. No doubt the 161 cases of theft, fraud and abuse of perks that the government is now investigating has something to do with the financial troubles. Of note, one pilot earned ￡250,000 for simulator training, except he was on sick leave. Another staffer was discovered stealing caviar and 370 mini-bottles of alcohol. Just as the fraud was uncovered, 350 Air India pilot called in sick over airline politics about the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Midair Roaming

If you’re flying on Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330, get ready to hear some one-sided conversations. Last week, Talmon Marco earned an Icarus nomination for his Wi-Fi enabled call on a Delta flight. Next time he flies Virgin, he can make calls once he is 250 miles outside U.S. airspace. Unlike free WIFI calls these calls will cost around $1.60 a minute and require a one sided headset. Virgin plans to expand the service to 20 planes in the end of 2012, though only 10 people will be able to call at a select time.

Toddler or Terrorist won last week’s Icarus Award, see all the winners and loser in our Icarus Award archives. And remember to vote in this week’s Icarus Awards:

By Lily J. Kosner for PeterGreenberg.com

Related links: Time, Huffington Post, MSNBC, New York Daily News, MSNBC

The obvious choice to track your kid’s location is a GPS device. The Amber Alert device, for example, uses GPS and wireless cell phone technology to keep track of where they are. Of course, that works  when it’s within range of a strong signal—it tends to be best in suburban areas but can be tricky in cities.

If you want to take it to the next level then look into SecuraFone for iPhones and Androids. This device not only monitors locations, but also their driving habits.

It senses the vehicle is traveling past a certain speed, it locks text messaging and email applications to prevent distracted driving.

Then there’s the  less intrusive option of Google Latitude, which lets users share locations through Google maps in real-time

For about 10 cents a day there’s something called Mobile Minder for Blackberrys and Android, which sends an alert when your child arrives or leaves a location.

OK, so they may not love it, but for your peace of mind, I say it’s worth it.

For more information, visit the Family/Kids Travel archives.

Click here to read more travel tips.

Find out the answers to these questions and the latest travel news when Peter Greenberg Worldwide broadcasts from Hôtel Fouquet’s Barrière in Paris, France.

Click here to listen to the show streaming live from 10am until  pm ET on Saturday, May 19, 2012.

Have a travel question? Then ask Peter. Call 888-88-PETER (888-88-383), email him at peter@petergreenberg.com, or tweet your questions to @petersgreenberg (include #askPeter). Peter will standing by to take your calls at 6pm ET on Monday January 21.

Featured guests include:

Anne Banas, executive editor for Smarter Travel, lets us in on why this year’s high fees mean travelers should start planning their holiday trips now.

Pascal Payen-Appenzeller, acclaimed French historian and author of Historical Dictionary of Paris Streets, drops by to give a dose of Parisian history and where visitors should visit to explore the landmarks but have the history come to life.

Yannick Bastoni, head concierge at Hôtel Fouquet’s Barrière, shares the history of the hotel, what makes it unique, and its longstanding history with César Ceremonies and French cinema.

Caroline O’Connell, author of Every Woman’s Guide to Romance In Paris, tells her exclusive tips to show how travelers can maximize their time and immerse themselves in the Parisian experience from dining, to shopping, and even some romantic rendezvous.

Cynthia Good, CEO and founding editor of Little PINK Book, gives tips on how to avoid a business travel meltdown, fine tune your networking abilities, and how to extend a business trip into a “bleisure” trip.

Frédéric Saldmann, gastronomy expert, speaks about hidden gems in local eateries, the ever changing Parisian food culture, and his favorite places to eat as well.

Kimberly Richmond, founder and president of Runaway Bride Destinations, explains the intricacies that go into planning a destination wedding and her favorite choices for Paris weddings and honeymoons.

Michaela Guzy, The Travel Evangelist and founder of OhthePeopleYouMeet.com, discusses her volunteering experience in Africa. She tells us about her mission, some tips and tricks she’s learned thus far, and how you can get involved as well.

Doug Mack, author of Europe on 5 Wrong Turns a Day: One Man, Eight Countries, One Vintage Travel Guide, discusses how he tried to travel eight countries living off $5 a day, failed miserably, but got some unforgettable memories to take away from it.  He tells us his reasoning for doing it and some surprises he found along the way.

Howard Frank Mosher, author of The Great Northern Express: A Writer’s Journey Home, tells about his personal account of his 3-month, 20,000-mile sojourn that turned into the love affair to last a lifetime.

Eric Moriceau, bar manager at Hôtel Fouquet’s Barrière, speaks about his favorite creations, where to go and where to avoid, the current trends at bars, and the Drink of Paris.

By Collette Torunyan for PeterGreenberg.com

Recently, Courtyard by Marriott completed its 500th lobby renovation, marking an upgrade of 60 percent of its North American properties.

Win this week’s challenge and you take home a gift card for two free nights (valued at $300) at your choice of renovated Courtyard by Marriott properties across the country. There are more than 500 renovated lobbies currently in 43 out of 50 states–click here to see all the options.

This week’s challenge:

Tell us your worst hotel pet peeve–mood lighting, low-flow showers, resort fees—and how you think hotels should solve that problem.

Enter your answer in the comments section. Then sign up for our weekly newsletter, where we’ll announce the winner on May 24.

Keep reading for more information on the contest

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Rocky Mountain Package Perks

Rocky Mountaineer invites travelers to explore more of Western Canada with its new Vacation Plus offer. From now until June 29, 2012, book a package tours of four nights or more and you will receive added value of up to $500 per person to put towards their choice of activities, extra hotel nights in any destination, added meals or a trip on-board the Whistler Sea to Sky Climb route.  For more information or to book, call (800) 665-7245, or visit their website.

Bonjour France!

Travel with Rail Europe this summer and you can save  over 20 percent off the adult price on a 1st class Adult or Saver France Rail Pass as well as the 5-day France Rail Pass Premium. As a result, you will get five rail travel days for the price of three.  The savings run through June 14, 2012 and the offer is valid for travel for 6 months from the date of purchase. For more information, visit Rail Europe online.

Image Credit: Eric Levin

Revere’s Revolutionary Rate

Revere Hotel Boston Common is running a special rate to celebrate their opening. The Revolutionary Rate is a special introductory rate of $177.50 (normally $399), and it pays reverence to the year 1775 when Paul Revere made his famous ride warning of the British Invasion, and also marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. Reservations for the “Revolutionary Rate” must be made by calling the hotel directly, referencing promo code REV775. This can be booked until May 31, for travel through the end of the year. For more information, please call: 617.482.1800 or visit their website.

A Taste of Capella 

Chefs from around the U.S., including Top Chef Just Desserts Judge Johnny Iuzzini, are heading to the Capella Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas for a 5-day culinary journey. And it’s not just chefs! By booking the Taste of Capella package, guests will spend five unforgettable days taking part in educational gastronomical experiences. Activities include cooking demonstrations; wine and cheese tastings; five-course dinner (each course expertly prepared by a different chef); parties on the beach with chef-prepared food stations, and more. To reserve your package, call 877-247-6688, or reserve online.

Drop It Like It’s Hot!

For a unique savings deal, the staff at L’Auberge de Sedona will record the temperatures of both the hotel’s creek and the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport – the difference between the two numbers is the drop, in U.S. dollars, you receive off your stay! This offer is valid May 29 through Labor Day and rates start at $205 per night. For more information, check out the hotel’s website.

The View from Eco Serenrib, image credit: Steve Simonsen

St. John Savings

In St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Eco Serendib Villa and Spa is offering an additional two nights free when you book five nights. Additionally, for every reservation night, the villa will fund the planting of a native tree at a local beach to both combat erosion and reduce the carbon footprint. The property include eight individual suites as well as a full-service holistic spa and gym, professional Sub-Zero/Wolf chef’s kitchen media library, Zen garden, sprawling pool terrace, etc. To book this deal, call 215-830-8300.

For more travel deals, check out:

• Travel Deals: Summer Adventure Travel
• Travel Deals: Heating up for Summer
• Travel Deals Section
• Budget Travel Section

By Natasha Tadros for PeterGreenberg.com

In 2011, the DOT recorded more than 9,000 complaints against U.S. airlines. Sounds like a lot, right? But when you consider how many millions of people fly each year, it only amounts to a sliver.

The airlines will brag that the rate of lost, delayed or damaged bags has improved from last year. But let’s look at the context: Fewer people are checking bags because they don’t want to pay for it!

Here’s what I do when it comes to rankings. Instead of rating the airline as a whole, I look at the routes.

The best airline from LA to NY is different than the best airline from  LA to Chicago. After all, you wouldn’t rank a hotel based just on its brand name–each property varies by city and location.

But there is one finding from the report that you might agree with. Air passengers are NOT happy with the neverending list of a la carte fees…and neither am I.

For more information, visit the Airlines & Airports category.

Click here to read more travel tips.

Often volunteer travel can be the gateway to a second career working on the ground in developing nations. Did you know that being proficient in French opens up the door to doing significant volunteer work in Africa? Africa has over 30 French-speaking countries and a shortage of French-speaking development professionals.

If your long-term plan is work for organizations like the United Nations, Medecins Sans Frontieres, or The Red Cross in French-speaking Africa and Haiti, the Humanity Exchange has volunteer programs in both Benin and Cameroon, where you can learn French while also giving back.

In Ouidah, Benin, volunteers can work in a variety of community development and educational programs including teaching dance and the arts, working as a public health education or helping to teach at trafficked or vulnerable children.

In Douala, Cameron, volunteers work in community develop, assist local orphanages, provide aid for disabled children, and work as a HIV peer educator.

Since 2009, the Humanity Exchange has given volunteer  on the ground experiences in international development. The organization hosts 50 volunteers a year with a focus on small integrative experiences. The minimum program is two weeks, though most volunteers work on average two to three months.

For more information on the Humanity Exchange visit their website.

By Lily J. Kosner for PeterGreenberg.com

You can talk to him at 1-888-88-PETER (1-888-887-3837), email him at peter@petergreenberg.com,  tweet questions to @petersgreenberg (use #askPeter), or post questions on his Facebook page. He will be standing by to take your calls today at 6pm.

This week, Peter shares his thoughts on the sweet spot for booking flights, the old myth of courier travel and just why travel insurance is so important.

Becky tweeted: We will be flying to Cancun on September 8. Should we book now? Tickets aren’t hugely expensive but I hear that the costs will only go up?

Peter replied: You’re right. Tickets aren’t hugely expensive to Mexico, especially for September, which is an “off” month, which means it’s an “on” month for you. Normally, I caution people that 45 to 65 days out is the sweet spot for purchasing tickets. Buy the tickets now and you’ll be fine. The Mexico fares are not going to go up substantially, but they will after September as we’re getting into the winter season.

For more information on the best time to buy tickets, watch Peter’s video tip.

Evan in Boyton Beach, Florida, asked: I was wondering if you have any information on companies that are still using air couriers I can fly last minute and I live near Miami.

Peter replied: Evan, it’s a myth. Forget it. In the old days, flying as a courier meant that the company wanted you to use your check-in baggage allowance. Back then, if you could fly with one carry-on bag, you could basically fly for free. Then they realized that so many people wanted this opportunity they would charge you $300 to $400 to fly to Bangkok or Singapore. Now, it’s more cheap for the companies to just send items through FedEx or DHL.

For more information on international couriers, check out Peter’s travel tip.

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In late May, Charleston, South Carolina comes alive for the Spoleto Festival, a 17-day performing arts festival that’s among the biggest in the country.

Most events are ticketed, but there’s no cost for the opening ceremonies, a visual art exhibit at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, and one-on-one interviews with festival artists.  So you can get a taste of the festival without having to spend a dime.

Coming up in July is Artscape, one of the largest free arts festivals in the country. That’s right, the entire festival is free.

It takes place in Baltimore, and we’re talking more than 150 artists where you can view outdoor sculptures, photography, performing arts, and concerts.

Art Basel in Switzerland is just around the corner, but we’ll have to wait until December for the big event in Miami. Most exhibition and events aren’t exactly cheap, but pay attention because every year the festival features public programming that’s entirely free.

For more information, visit the Culture & Festivals archives.

Click here to read more travel tips.