The scale starts at one, which means basically no exertion required beyond basic walking, and ends at seven, to which only the ultra-fit should apply.

Eldertreks Tour Company, which specializes in group adventure travel for the over-50 set, categorizes each trip from “easy” to “challenging.”

Easy adventures include tours that transport you by bus and train, while tougher trips could involve trekking in the mountains or a walking safari.

Intrepid Travel, for example, has multiple rating systems for its trips.

One tells you the difficulty level, starting at “relaxing,” and topping out at “extremely challenging.”

As a general rule, be honest with yourself about your needs and limitations.

Go through the itinerary with your tour company to assess how many miles you’ll walk each day, whether there is backup transportation, and if previous travelers have ever had any problems.

If they can’t answer, or try to tell you that all their tours are appropriate for all levels, consider that a major red flag.

Learn more in our Senior Travel category.

Looking for more advice? Click here for more Daily Travel Tips.

It used to be going to a health spa meant eating nothing but carrot sticks and cottage cheese.

But these days, not only does spa cuisine taste much better, but you can learn to make it yourself.

Check out what Peter has to say about the subject in this AARP video:

Check out more videos on AARP.org.

Other great culinary articles you might like include How to Eat Like a Local, Even If You’re Not One as well as Cooking School Vacations.

If you’re vegetarian, don’t miss our Tips for Voyaging Vegetarians.

And don’t miss our Culinary Travel section for more ideas.

Richard Walden from OpUSA offers an update on the situation in Haiti;

Roger Dow, President and CEO of US Travel Association, talking about how critical it is to create jobs in the travel industry;

Jeff Torode, from the South Florida Diving Headquarters, sharing tips about the best places to snorkel and dive;

New York Times sports writer Joe Lapointe discusses the Super Bowl.

Check out more guests from this show here.

For destination information, check out the Ask the Locals City Guide: Fort Lauderdale.

For more destination information, don’t miss our Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Fort Lauderdale, FL, Beaches & Beyond.

Check out other hours of the show here:

• Hour 2
• Hour 3

And don’t miss this amazing slideshow: Rick Sammon’s Underwater Caribbean.

Greg Bennick, a volunteer currently in Haiti, calls in with an update on the situation;

Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com, helping you get in the Valentine’s Day mood with tips on romantic prisons;

Jane Engle, assistant travel editor for the Los Angeles Times, keeping you ahead of the curve with the top travel trends of 2010;

Chef Dean Max, acclaimed chef at 3030 Ocean Restaurant, sharing his picks for top spots to eat in the area and talking about what’s on his menu;

Wil Shriner, a local producer/director and comedian, weighs in on local favorites.

Check out more guests from this show here.

For destination information, check out the Ask the Locals City Guide: Fort Lauderdale.

For more destination information, don’t miss our Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Fort Lauderdale, FL, Beaches & Beyond.

Check out other hours of the show here:

• Hour 1
• Hour 3

And don’t miss this amazing slideshow: Rick Sammon’s Underwater Caribbean.

Walter Kirn, author of the novel Up in the Air, which has been adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film, discussing his book and travel experiences;

Dr. Ray McAllister, local historian and oceanographer, analyzing why there are so many shipwrecks off the coast and the importance of the Hillsboro Lighthouse;

Leigh Gallagher, senior editor at Fortune magazine, discussing Super Bowl travel and what it means for the cities that host the big game.

Ronald Boender, the founder/curator of Butterfly World, talks outdoor and eco-travel experiences in South Florida.

Check out more guests from this show here.

For destination information, check out the Ask the Locals City Guide: Fort Lauderdale.

For more destination information, don’t miss our Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Fort Lauderdale, FL, Beaches & Beyond.

Check out other hours of the show here:

• Hour 1
• Hour 2

And don’t miss this amazing slideshow: Rick Sammon’s Underwater Caribbean.

According to the Transportation Security Administration, a man passed through a security checkpoint shortly before 8 a.m. local time and refused to stop and answer questions from security officers.

So why did the man refuse to stop? Keep reading for more details.

Passengers were evacuated from the area and the terminal was shut down for about an hour. Officers and bomb-sniffing dogs swept the area, finding nothing.

TSA officers originally thought that the man did not respond because of a language barrier, but police say that he did understand English.

The man was not carrying anything suspicious. Officers are currently searching his car and luggage.

After about an hour, passengers were re-screened and allowed to enter the terminal.

The evacuation is the latest example of heightened security measures since Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate a bomb on a Christmas Day flight bound for Detroit. Terminals at JFK airport in New York were evacuated on two separate occasions last month.

By Dan Bence for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related Links: Detroit Free Press, Metro Times

PeterGreenberg.com Links:

• The Travel Detective on New TSA Regulations
• Thwarted Terror Attack Boosts Air Travel Safety and Security
• Full Body Scanners: Security Innovation or Personal Privacy Abomination?
• Airport Security on The CBS Evening News, O’Reilly Factor & The Early Show
• New Security Measures: What to Expect on Your Next Flight

A third-generation photographer, Seth has journeyed to countries on five continents.

His work has been published in magazines and newspapers worldwide, and is currently on display at The Columbus Museum in Columbus, Georgia.

See more of his work on the Web at www.setholivergrant.com.

Click here to view Travel Slideshow: Vancouver 2010 Photos.

Learn more about the 2010 Olympics:

• Olympics Travel section
• Canada Travel section
• Radio show from Vancouver, Jan. 2010
• Ask the Locals Travel Guide: Vancouver, Canada

In the first half of the year, when the effects of the recession first hit, the average price of a hotel room in the US dropped by a whopping 17 percent.

The biggest drops in prices were in New York and Las Vegas, where hotel rates were 30 percent lower than the same time last year.

And smart travelers know that this is the time to pounce on those good deals.

An average New York hotel room rate used to be $281, and now it’s $196; an average Las Vegas hotel rate used to be $116 and is now $82—and since many Vegas hotels are practically ghost towns, you can bet they’ll go even lower.

As for the cities with the most affordable hotels overall, check out Albuquerque, New Mexico; Reno, Nevada; and… Boise, Idaho.

Some of the most expensive hotels can be found in Washington, DC; Boston, Massachusetts; and Honolulu.

But even in these cities prices have gone down as much 16 percent, so chances are you still have a good opportunity to negotiate.

Learn more in our Budget Travel category.

Looking for more advice? Click here for more Daily Travel Tips.

But what if you put your time at the bar to good use and bring home a lifelong skill?

Courtney Crowder reports on hotels around the country where guests can mix it up with a hands-on mixology class.

1. Fairmont Scottsdale - Scottsdale, Arizona

At this sunny resort, guests can enjoy the cocktails created by the hotel’s beverage chairman, Anthony Esparza, and then learn how to make them at home. The hotel is currently offering a Desert Icebreaker Package, which includes one-night accommodations in a Fairmont room, an hour-long mixology lesson for two, plus two signature cocktails per person and a Bloody Mary breakfast. While there, feel free to ask any of the bartenders about their homemade infusions and specialty organic cocktails. The hotel also has an impressive wine list. The package is available through March 31 and starts at $383 per night based on double occupancy. 480-585-4848, www.Fairmont.com/Scottsdale

Check out 5 Classic Regional Cocktails–With Recipes!

2. The U.S. Grant Hotel - San Diego, California

This luxury hotel is currently offering mixology classes in its newly re-opened Grant Grill. Every Thursday at 4 p.m., the house mixologist hosts a “signature sours” class where guests get tips on how to make high-quality sour mixes and other fancy infusions at home. Only 10 people are allowed in each class, so reserve a space ahead of time. The hotel, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2010, will have many other deals and special events throughout the year. The mixology class costs $20 per guest. 800-237-5029, www.usgrant.net

Check out Suzy Gershman’s Bottle Blogs from Napa Valley, CA.

3. The Blackstone, A Renaissance Hotel - Chicago, Illinois

The mixologist at the Blackstone Hotel, Kate Clas, leads a regular selection of classes ranging from the ‘Make Your Own Sangria’ lesson to the ‘Girls Night Out’ party. The Girls Night Out party is held every Thursday and gives tips on the process of infusing, preparing and hosting a successful home cocktail party. The cost is $25 per person for the one-hour class and includes tastings of three different cocktails. Or take the Shopping with the Chef class to get demonstrations on how to prepare cocktails and cuisine for a fruitful dinner party from Clas and in-house restaurant chef Jose Garces. The cocktails and cuisine are always seasonally centered. The class is held every Saturday and costs $125 per person. The rotation of classes changes regularly, so consult the online calendar or front desk for more information on upcoming classes or scheduling a private lesson with Clas, who is known for working with Chef Garces to source obscure ingredients, spices and fruits for concocting her famously culinary-driven cocktails. 312-447-0955, www.theblackstonehotel.com

Learn 5 Secrets To Staying Fit on the Road–Without Skipping Happy Hour.

4. The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows – Beverly Hills, California

The Bar NINETEEN12 master mixology class is similar to a private event and can be booked for 1-5 guests. The class will be taught by various hotel bartenders, most of whom are revered for their mixing skills. The hotel’s talented bartenders will lead students in a one-on-one experience that will include lessons on cocktail mixing based on each customer’s desires. Each class lasts for two hours and costs $250 for two people with an added $50 for every additional group member. 310-273-1912, www.beverlyhillshotel.com

5. The New York Palace – New York, New York

The mixology class at the GILT bar and restaurant is taught by one of their master bartenders, some of whom have been working at either the hotel or in the industry for almost a quarter century. This class can be booked for individuals or private parties of up to five guests. Each class is led by the students, which means they choose what they want to make. Guests may learn how to make the prefect martini, source the flavor of their favorite cocktail or create something entirely original. The two-hour classes cost $200 for two people and $50 per person for each additional group member. 212-891-8100, www.newyorkpalace.com

Forget wine tasting and try these New Alcohol Tours (video).

6. The Liberty Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts

The Liberty celebrates every Friday with special Finally Friday demonstrations. The three female bartenders at the hotel, Jacqui B., Jackie D. and Kelsey, have created a series of health-conscious cocktails that are all fewer than 150 calories—but still pack a mean punch. Every Friday at 5:30 p.m., one of the ladies explains how to create one of their famous cocktails and gives out free tastes. Don’t hesitate to ask them about the other cocktails on the list or pick their brain about the process of mixing drinks in general. Guests can also feel free try other drinks from the Sleek Cocktails list. Hey, they’re so low-calorie, they’re practically healthy! 617-224-4000, www.libertyhotel.com

7. Hotel Commonwealth – Boston, Massachusetts

Boston’s Hotel Commonwealth is now partnering with Eastern Standard Kitchen and Drinks to offer the Cocktails & Dreams package. The package includes weekend accommodations in a junior suite, a master class with Eastern Standard’s bar manager and celebrated mixologist Jackson Cannon, a chef’s tasting menu paired with the bar’s specialty cocktails and a bottle of Eastern Standard’s homemade vermouth. The entire package is based on double occupancy and costs $339 per room. The deal is valid from now until February 28. 617-933-5000, www.hotelcommonwealth.com

For another hands-on experience, check out the Wine Boot Camp Chronicles.

8. Hotel Monaco – Seattle, Washington

Offered through the Sazerac Restaurant, the hotel hosts a mixology class that features a lesson on how to make five martini cocktails. In addition to observing a trained mixologist making guests’ favorite libations, each guest will take home a custom cocktail recipe booklet and a souvenir cocktail shaker. The class runs periodically or by group request and costs $60 per person. 206-624-7755, www.Monaco-seattle.com

By Courtney Crowder for PeterGreenberg.com.

For more culinary fun, don’t miss:

• 5 Classic Regional Cocktails–With Recipes!
• 5 Secrets To Staying Fit on the Road–Without Skipping Happy Hour
• Suzy Gershman’s Bottle Blogs from Napa Valley, CA
• Suzy Gershman’s Postcard from the Fancy Food Show: Cocktails, Pomegranate Fields & Lollipops
• Travel Diets: Balancing Your Calorie Checkbook on the Road
• Wine Shipping 101: Sorry, That’s a Felony

If you’re looking for some help with last-minute Valentine’s Day plans, we’ve got you covered.

Keep reading for some ideas that are sure to please your squeeze, plus the top travel news and feature stories of the week from PeterGreenberg.com.

Just because Haiti isn’t on the front-pages any more doesn’t mean it’s not still front-page news. Our complete Haiti Earthquake Guide has just about everything you need to know including breaking news and analysis, a comprehensive list of humanitarian organizations accepting donations, and tips to help you avoid donation scams.

In one of the strangest stories you’ll see this week, a man has been arrested for allegedly impersonating a government official to bypass airport security and “deport” his distant cousin’s wife to the Philippines. Family drama aside, the man managed to breach airport security by posing as a U.S. Marshal. Click here for more details.

A 38-year-old man died yesterday after he was attacked by sharks while kite surfing in Florida. Although fatal attacks are rare in Florida, what will the attack mean for the state’s beaches? Click here for more details on the shark attack at Stuart Beach.

Children in Haiti returned to school, military airlifts resumed, and some of the biggest names in music are teaming up for a special dedication to the victims of the earthquake. Click here to get the latest Haiti news updates.

Over the weekend, Peter spoke with Jonathan Aiken of the American Red Cross in Washington, DC. Click here to find out how relief organizations are dealing with the many challenges in Haiti.

Police have arrested a suspect in the murder of an American tourist in Antigua. The incident is the latest in a string of violent crimes against tourists on the island that have hogged the headlines in recent years. Is it a safe place to visit? Click here for the full story.

A traffic reporter brought commuters to a stand-still this week when he was forced to make an emergency landing on the New Jersey Turnpike. Check out Miracle on the Turnpike? Plane Lands on NJ Turnpike for the full story.

Are you looking to get close to that special someone this Valentine’s Day? Really, really close? Check out Athena Arnot-Copenhaver’s round-up of six tiny, unique places where you can cozy up with your main squeeze.

There’s more to Australia than kangaroos and didgeridoos. In Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Perth, Australia, Jamie Stringfellow uncovers some hidden gems in the city that’s known as Australia’s best-kept secret.

Bangkok, Thailand is famous for its “floating markets,” where vendors sell crafts and food on the Mekong River. In Postcard from Thailand: Shopping Bangkok’s Floating Markets, Sarah Lahey investigates whether these are an authentically local experience, or a tourist trap to avoid.

It’s not too late to get away this Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re a “prisoner” of passion or it’s just “puppy” love, check out Valentine’s Day Travel: Romantic Vacations for Couples for 10 unique romantic getaways.

In the final installment of Roy Berger’s letters from Pittsburgh Pirates baseball fantasy camp, Roy battles through the pain to play a real game in a Major League-quality stadium.

Over the past several decades, Florida’s Everglades National Park has been the victim of urban pollution. In Everglades National Park: An Eco-Travel Vacation in Florida, Lynn Langway investigates active adventures and scenic beauty in an underappreciated American national park.

Peter broadcast his radio show last week from Half Moon Bay, CA, a notorious golf and surfing vacation spot roughly 25 miles south of San Francisco. In Ask the Locals: Half Moon Bay, California and Beyond, we got the locals to share their favorite hot spots around this coastal getaway.

Check out Travel News Roundups from previous weeks here.

Fort Lauderdale is known for exceptional diving, great seafood, and a rich cultural history, so the locals have plenty to brag about.

Keep reading to find out more …

Jeff Torode, owner of South Florida Diving Headquarters  and a local navigator for the SE Florida Coral Initiative

Greater Fort Lauderdale has 23 miles of coral reefs and is known as the “Wreck Capitol of Florida,” so it’s hard to pick a favorite spot to dive. My favorite wreck would be the Rodeo 25, with its masts reaching to the sky like giant goal posts, and my favorite reef would have to be Anglin Pier Reef, replete with colorful coral and tropical fish.

For those who prefer snorkeling, there’s the “Nursery,” named after the family of nurse sharks that are often seen there and the wreck of the SS Copenhagen that went down in 1900. Just west of the SS Copenhagen site is large area of endangered Staghorn Coral.

Don’t miss this amazing slideshow: Rick Sammon’s Underwater Caribbean.

The sun and sea are notorious for causing swimmers to work up pretty sizable appetites. A great, off-the-beaten path restaurant that has managed to avoid the spread of stucco in South Florida is the Whale’s Rib. I recommend sitting at the raw bar and feasting on oysters, whale fries and a bowl of their famous lobster bisque.

Cap’s Place is another great Old Florida establishment. Built in the early 1900s, the bar and restaurant are covered with ancient pictures. The food is just as good as the atmosphere, and the hearts of palm salad is to die for.

If you’re looking for a great watering hole, try Piranha Pat’s in Pompano, another favorite local hang out. The only thing colder than the beer is North Dakota, the baby back ribs melt in your mouth and the seafood is as fresh as it gets. The owners, the Flannigan family, have been fishing these waters for over 50 years as you’ll note from the aged photos and decor.

Most Fort Lauderdale visitors are familiar with our sugar-sand beaches and glimmering night life, but there’s still plenty “Old Florida” left if you look for it.

Get more information in our Beach Vacations section.

Kitty Oliver, journalist, author, professor at Florida Atlantic University

The historic Black Fort Lauderdale is a new discovery for a lot of visitors looking for a different side of Fort Lauderdale than they may be used to.

Diversity is on the menu at Betty’s Soul Food Restaurant. Politicians, the well-heeled, and the working class dine elbow-to-elbow on oxtails and collards while carloads of Seminole Indian families stop in for takeout.

The Old Dillard Museum preserves the first school house for Blacks during segregation and offers displays on African American culture and Florida history. Upstairs, the Jazz Room has memorabilia on great artists and a cozy after-hours club feel where performers rock the house to standing room-only crowds.

The African American Research Library and Cultural Center features national exhibits like the Smithsonian’s history of African American Indians, oral histories on Blacks, Caribbeans, and Hispanics in South Florida, as well as artifacts from throughout the African Diaspora. Performances, lectures, workshops on tracing family history and children’s activities are presented regularly.

Local families and sports fans frequent the new Central Broward Regional Park to watch cricket matches and Australian rules football in a 5,000 seat arena, enjoy aquatics, boat rides, and meander nature trails. It’s a daylong oasis in the heart of busy Fort Lauderdale for a small entrance fee.

For more on these and other multicultural sites, scenes, and history, visit www.sunny.org/multicultural

Don’t miss Great Black History Month Travel Destinations.

Dr. Ray McAllister, historian and oceanographer

I’m primarily an ocean person, and my main interest in lighthouses—I think they’re beautiful. I had the good fortune to part of a family of lighthouse keepers: my mother and grandfather both kept the historic Hillsboro Lighthouse and no matter where you are in South Florida, you can likely see that beam. The Preservation Society runs tours of the lighthouse between for and six times a year in which we take a catamaran over to the Coast Guard dock. The view from the lighthouse is probably the best in all of Florida, 146 high and 360 degrees of unobstructed views.

I’ve been scuba diving for 58 years, and the creatures here are gorgeous. We don’t have the profusion of colors that the Pacific has, but this area is known for wreck and reef diving. Up here, you see giant sponges, gorgonians (aka sea whips and sea fans), and dozens—even hundreds—of all kinds of marine critters: colored angelfish, butterfly fish, parrot fish, tobacco fish.

There is beautiful diving all the way up the coast from Palm Beach to Key West. South of Palm Beach is a series of islands with passes between them; divers can go between the islands to get to the Florida Bay. Around here, the typical diver will go between Hillsboro Inlet and Ft. Lauderdale Inlet, or Palm Beach, Boynton and Hillsboro inlets. Just north of Ft. Lauderdale there are some great wrecks right off Boynton Beach, including the MV Castor and the MV Beck.

I’m also a fan of Butterfly World, which is the first and largest butterfly park in the country. It’s primarily an outdoor park, sitting on 10 acres of land with aviaries and gardens, as well as a research facility.

For more destination information, don’t miss our Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Fort Lauderdale, FL, Beaches & Beyond.

Find out why Fort Lauderdale’s airport is among America’s Best Alternate Airports.

Check out one of the world’s biggest cruise ships: The Oasis of the Seas Arrives in Fort Lauderdale.

GLBT travelers shouldn’t miss: Airport Incident Angers Gay Travelers, But Fort Lauderdale’s Still Friendly.

Believe it or not, it gets even weirder.

Keep reading to find out all the details, including how this man managed to get past three Transportation Security Administration checkpoints.

The 37-year-old Gregory Denny reportedly showed up at the home of his distant cousin, Craig Hibbard, wearing a U.S. Marshal shirt and brandishing a fake badge and pellet gun.

Denny informed the couple that he was deporting Hibbard’s wife, Cherrie Belle, who was five months pregnant.

Hibbard and his wife have been married for three years, but she had recently canceled her green card after an argument with her husband. The couple claimed that they had since smoothed things out, but Cherrie Belle’s green card status is still uncertain.

Denny then proceeded to handcuff Cherrie Belle and drive her to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection station, where officials told him that they could not take her into custody because there was no warrant for her in their system.

At that point, Denny doubled back to the Hibbards’ home and convinced Craig to go online to buy his wife a plane ticket bound for the Philippines.

Denny then drove Cherrie Belle to San Diego International Airport, where he escorted her through security with his false credentials.

Buried in this bizarre melodrama is the fact that a man was able to impersonate a government official to escort a falsely imprisoned person through airport security.

Get tips on safer travel with Travel Safety & Security Tips on The Early Show.

According to a TSA spokesperson, the supervisor on duty followed law enforcement procedures and will be given additional training on how to spot fraudulent credentials. But nobody has been disciplined for the breach.

A statement released by Denny’s attorney claims that neither Hibbard nor his wife complained or raised any protests throughout the entire ordeal. Hibbard said that he believed Denny the whole time and kept quiet out of fear of arrest.

But according to the statement, Denny believes the incident is one big “misunderstanding” and an investigation will reveal the facts.

Police suspect that Denny was operating under the idea that the family wanted Cherrie Belle to be deported, and that he was doing them a favor.

Denny, who was once a bounty hunter for a bail bond company, has been released on a $50,000 bond and is set for a February 16 court date. Meanwhile, Cherrie Belle is in the Philippines with no legal way to return.

By Dan Bence for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related Links: Southwest Riverside News Network, ABC Los Angeles, Los Angeles Times

PeterGreenberg.com Links:

• TSA Answers for Latest Security Gaffe
• Additional TSA Security Measures: Progressive or Oppressive?
• Travel Safety & Security
• Leapin’ Lizards! Reptile Smuggler Arrested at LAX
• How to Protect Your Bags: Luggage Theft Operation Uncovered in Phoenix

But the quality and size of those facilities can vary widely.

The doctors on board cruise ships are often generalists who can help with minor illnesses and short-term emergency care.

But cruise ships don’t have full trauma units or an ICU.

So if you have a heart attack or get acutely ill in some other way, the onboard doctor can only stabilize you until you reach the nearest port or can be transported to a medical facility.

Your best bet is to be prepared: people with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy are usually required to notify the cruise line before departure.

Pregnant women and people with serious medical problems are not advised to cruise, although expectant women up to 28 weeks are generally allowed onboard.

And remember, not all meds are stocked in the pharmacy, so bring your own.

If you have any medical concerns, consider purchasing special medical evacuation and repatriation in addition to traditional travel insurance, and make sure the policy means you can be evacuated to a hospital of your choice, not just the closest port of call.

Learn more in our Travel Insurance category.

Or learn more about all kinds of cruising in our Cruises section.

Looking for more advice? Click here for more Daily Travel Tips.

But what if we could speed up the process a bit by literally testing those personal-space boundaries?

Athena Arnot-Copenhaver scoured the globe to find six miniscule places to cozy up to your main squeeze this Valentine’s Day.

Ammarin Bedouin Camp: Beihda, Jordan

The folks at Ammarin Bedouin Camp, a village located about 6 miles north of Petra in Beidha, Jordan, understand that the nomadic, communal lifestyle is complemented with wide-open spaces. Featuring a number of traditional Bedouin tents with authentic rugs and mattresses, the Ammarin Camp is the real deal.

With a large common area comprised of airy, shady tents and low-rise tables, all campers cozy-up in the evenings for dancing, drinking, traditional music, and local food prepared and served by the Ammarin people. A bathroom area features running water and toilets, meaning you get all the essentials of modern living, but in a tent! You’ll see some of the clearest night skies available on the planet, and then retire to your mattress to slumber snuggled up to your one and only.

Operated under the Beidha Tourist and Archeological Cooperative, the Ammarin Bedouin Camp offers a range of services to its guests. One night camping in a Bedouin tent, with the whole nine yards of entertainment and meals (with vegetarian options!), runs around €115 (about $160) per person, but you can pitch your own tent if you want and pay extra for access to amenities and services. Trekking, hiking, camel pack trips, and tours of the mind-boggling Petra are all available to guests for additional costs—but the more money you spend, the more you support this ancient way of life for the Ammarin people.
www.bedouincamp.net

Check out more unusual experiences with the World’s 10 Most Unusual Hotels.

The Jane Hotel, New York

Designed with the high-end train cabin in mind, the Jane Hotel in New York City does a remarkable job of cramming luxury into a small pod. Best known as the space where the rescued Titanic crew stayed, The Jane—one a few micro-hotels in the USA—has been revamped into a quirky, modern hotel, with each room packing style and comfort in as if they were meant to be that small. DVD players, iPod docks and free Wi-Fi—among other classy comforts, come standard with each room.

At 250 square feet, the Captain’s Cabins ($209 per night) are the largest available at The Jane, with full, queen or king beds offered for your cuddling pleasure. In fact, the beds are the largest part of the room—aside from the views of the city that can be seen from a private terrace. Captains also squeeze in a private bathroom with rainfall shower heads and marble sinks—not bad for a place you could fit in your living room. Standard cabins, with one single bed and a shared bathroom, run from an easy $79 per night, and the bunk bed cabins (with a shared bathroom) start at $99 per night. www.thejanenyc.com

For more ideas, try Valentine’s Day Travel: Romantic Vacations for Couples.

Clavell Tower: Kimmeridge, United Kingdom

You’ll get an idea of just how desirable this tiny tower is when you try to book a weekend stay… yep, not till January of 2012 is this place available to the two lucky devils who can fit inside.

Sleeping only two, Clavell Tower is a special type of edifice in England known as a “folly,” or, a seemingly random building constructed on someone’s estate purely for the fun of it. Now owned by the UK’s Landmark Trust, a non-profit organization that rescues historically significant or architecturally interesting buildings, Clavell Tower was until recently in a rather derelict state. Dangerously close to the disintegrating cliffs of Kimmeridge, Clavell was tediously dismantled and reconstructed at a safer distance from the precipice.

Today, the happy couple that stays inside this one-bedroom mini-fortress, standing since 1830, will enjoy posh decor, pierced parapets, 12 exterior columns and a wrap-around outdoor viewing area. Split over three modest floors, the tower offers running water, a kitchen, double bed, and sitting room. To get to your wee kingdom, you’ll have to park about 170 yards away and hike up a steep access trail, where you’ll be greeted with 360-degree views of nothing but extraordinarily verdant country-side and rolling seas. Although it’s a self-catering outfit, prices are reasonable: For three nights of isolated, comfortable coziness in your own personal tower, you’ll pay £546 (about $882). And, in typical English tradition, you can bring your hounds.
http://bookings.landmarktrust.org.uk

Don’t miss more Sexy Hotel Getaways and Romance Advice for the Road

Free Spirit Spheres: British Columbia, Canada

Free Spirit Spheres, located 18 miles north of Parksville on Vancouver Island, is something even the most imaginative children might not have conjured in their wildest dreams. Slung from a sturdy web of rope, the two spherical tree houses, christened Eve and Eryn, hang above the ground about 13 feet, and are available for overnight rental.

Couples staying here ascend wooden staircases that wrap around the tree trunks, and then pad across a small footbridge before stepping down into the floating, 10-foot, 4-inch sphere. Once inside the wood and fiberglass orb, couples share a modest bed, a tiny table, and spacious windows—all of which combine to create an air of forest nymph romance crossed with a dash of Robin Hood adventure.

While the spheres are more like palatial nutshells, as the owner describes them, than a self-contained hotel room, the larger campground offers sauna facilities, hot showers, clean towels and bedding. Plus, the eco-friendly compostable outhouses are located just at the base of the stairs so a midnight nature hike is not necessary.

If you fall in love with these curvy abodes, you can buy materials to construct one in your own backyard, but if you just want to test one out, Eryn’s rates start at $175 per night for two people, and Eve is $125. www.freespiritspheres.com

Find more great Eco-Travel experiences here.

Lake of the Ozarks: Houseboating in Missouri

Just two and a half hours from Kansas City and St. Louis, this liquid gem of the Midwest is hailed as one of America’s houseboating meccas.

Three types of houseboats, the largest one totaling 59 feet from bow to stern, with a range of amenities and plush accommodations, are available to boaters. The Deluxe Houseboat has everything your lovesick heart desires, including two refrigerators, a Coffee Maker, a full size range and oven, and two bedrooms.

Whether you decide to sunbathe on the top deck or lounge beside the wet bar, you’ll have your own personal love boat to putter around 1,100 miles of shoreline on the Midwest’s largest man-made lake. Between the two queen beds and queen size sleeper sofa, there’s plenty of snuggle space—even if you take on some stowaways (such as children)—and everything is self-contained. The deluxe houseboat sleeps nine people, with a maximum occupancy of 12, but prices depend on how long your journey lasts, so be sure to call with your ideal trip in mind for more accurate pricing. http://lakeoftheozarksmarina.com

Get more ideas in our Romantic Getaways category.

Treebones Resort: Yurts and ‘Nests’ in Big Sur, California

Among the formidable redwood forests and expansive seascapes of California’s central coast lies Treebones Resort, an eco-friendly, yurt-and-tree-tastic getaway for campers in love not only with each other, but with the natural world. With scrumptious dining options including an outdoor tapas and sushi bar, the romance will have to fit into the remarkably comfortable and spacious yurts.

Visitors can choose from 16 different yurts, all of which come with at least one queen-sized bed (from $190 per night), and all the amenities of modern living, but with the rugged, cozy feel of a tent. Each yurt is stacked with a redwood deck where, of course, you’ll face myriad views, including the Pacific Ocean.

“Yurters” will have to walk to shared bathroom and shower facilities, but you can stop at the heated, outdoor hot tub on your way back. Grab a quickie massage if you’ve really exYURTed yourself on one of the day hikes.

If you’ve done the yurt thing before, instead try the fantastically bizarre yet snug, “eco-sleep” experience: the Human Nest, which is, literally, a sleeping chamber made to look like a bird’s nest. The stick and wood conglomerate, which opens at one end and is otherwise fully enclosed, is raised off the ground so lovebirds use a ladder to get in and out. The Nest is situated on its own campsite, so you can bring some friends, pitch a tent, and have a cookout. There is only one nest, so ask ahead of time for availability. www.treebonesresort.com

By Athena Arnot-Copenhaver for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related links:

• World’s 10 Most Unusual Hotels
• Unusual Valentine’s Day Travel + Romance Experiences
• Sexy Hotel Getaways and Romance Advice for the Road
• Thrill-Seeking Proposals
• The Sweetest Chocolate Tours: Good for the Body and Soul
• Romantic Getaways category

- Walter Kirn, author of the novel Up in the Air, which has been adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film, discussing his book and travel experiences;

- Roger Dow, President and CEO of US Travel Association, talking about how critical it is to create jobs in the travel industry;

- Jeff Torode, from the South Florida Diving Headquarters, sharing tips about the best places to snorkel and dive;

- Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com, helping you get in the Valentine’s Day mood with tips on romantic prisons;

- Jane Engle, assistant travel editor for the Los Angeles Times, keeping you ahead of the curve with the top travel trends of 2010;

- Chef Dean Max, acclaimed chef at 3030 Ocean Restaurant, sharing his picks for top spots to eat in the area and talking about what’s on his menu;

- Dr. Ray McAllister, local historian and oceanographer, analyzing why there are so many shipwrecks off the coast and the importance of the Hillsboro Lighthouse;

- Leigh Gallagher, senior editor at Fortune magazine, discussing Super Bowl travel and what it means for the cities that host the big game.

Call in with your travel questions at 1-888-88-PETER (1-888-887-3837), or email Peter at peter@petergreenberg.com. (Write “ASK PETER” in the subject line so it doesn’t get rejected by our spam filters.)

For destination information, don’t miss our Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Fort Lauderdale, FL, Beaches & Beyond.