Bagless passengers who don't need to vie for overhead-bin space—and thus, likely don't care when they board—will now get to board before those with carry-on bags. Isn't it ironic.

Today, American announced that it will allow flyers with just one personal item that will fit under a plane seat (like a purse or tote bag) to board early. Passengers traveling light will get on the plane with group two, the section that boards right after elite flyers.

American first began testing this style of boarding in March at select airports. The revamped boarding process is in effect starting today.

Virtually no one flies without any luggage. So you can board early only if you check your carry-on and pay a baggage fee while clinging to the forlorn hope that your luggage will make it to your final destination alive. Checked baggage fees for domestic flights start at $25 on American.

Is this, then, a good thing? "Yes!" says American. According to a press release from the airline, the revised boarding strategy will help American achieve "a more timely departure and arrival." A spokesperson from the carrier said, "Our tests indicate that this new boarding process will improve our dependability and on-time performance, while being easier and more enjoyable for our customers. It's another example of our promise to put our customers at the center of everything we do."

As usual, a major airline is implementing policy changes because it just wants its customers to be happy. How sweet.

American claims the initial test received "overwhelmingly positive feedback from American's customers," which is strange because our readers loved the idea about as much as they love flyers who recline. Comments left on this site about the new boarding style range from "I'm not sure this is really going to help" to "Stupid idea that contradicts common sense" to "Makes no sense! WHY would you want to board early unless to store a carry-on?"

I don't think anyone is fooled. This new way of boarding  is more a plan to spur additional revenue from checked baggage than a love note to passengers. But the big question is whether other legacy airlines will follow suit. We'll keep you posted.

Read the original story: Pack Light and Board Early on American, by Caroline Costello

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I'm a reluctant sailor. I've never found my sea legs, and even short ferry rides leave me a little green around the gills. Yet I've taken to the water countless times in my life simply because that's how you get to a place. From Whidbey Island in Washington to Anguilla in the Caribbean, sometimes a boat is the only (or at least the cheapest) option.

One of the ways I pass the time in choppy waters is to try out various techniques I've collected for reducing seasickness. I thought I'd share some of those I've had the best luck with, and I'm hoping you'll do the same in the comments below. Because we weak-kneed landlubbers have to look out for each other.

• Perfect Your Personal Climate: A steady supply of fresh air can help keep nausea at bay, as can making sure you're not overheating by sitting in direct sun. On a recent trip in a boat speeding over whitecaps in the Caribbean, I grabbed a seat in a shaded but open area and managed to stay ahead of seasickness even as those around me succumbed.
• Stare at the Horizon: This has always worked really well for me. Fixing your gaze on the horizon helps your body maintain its equilibrium. It also makes you look really philosophical.
• Choose Your Position on the Boat: On smaller boats, when the captains saw me coming, they stuck me in the back, promising there was less movement there. Our sister-site Cruise Critic advises that, on ships, it's best to position yourself in the middle of the vessel, since it's the "natural balance point."
• Travel with Remedies: I recently interviewed naturopathic doctor Dr. Kate Brainard and she had a wealth of recommendations for preventing and treating motion sickness. Some of her top suggestions were PSI bands (also known as sea bands), which you wear around your wrists to stimulate acupressure points, and concentrated peppermint or ginger products. On the pharmaceutical end of the spectrum, there's also Dramamine, Bonine, and Benadryl (these have the added benefit/drawback of making most people sleepy).
• Avoid Strong Smells: If you're next to someone who smells like they bathed in perfume, move. Ditto if you're within sniffing distance of an exhaust-belching boat engine.

These are my favorite tips for avoiding seasickness. What others do you suggest?

Read the original story: Tips for Avoiding Seasickness, by Christine Sarkis

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Los Cabos is on the tip of the state of Baja California Sur—an arid and cactus-filled land, yet fertile due to its peninsular body surrounded by the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. Los Cabos consists of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

High Points: After leaving behind a snow-blanketed Boston, I heartily welcomed the Cabos sun. The warmth set the stage for my five-day trip. From the friendly people to the spicy food, Los Cabos' warmth was like a welcome mat to Mexico.

My time in San Jose del Cabo was spent meandering about art gallery-filled cobblestoned streets, perusing the town's markets and shops, and visiting the Mega (something like a Costco, and what seems like geared for ex-Pats). I found a sketchy water canal with colorful street murals, rode local buses (there are several varieties, including the urbanos, the co-ops, and even some with AC), shopped around for fine tequilas to bring back home, and spoke with several cigar vendors about the famous Habanos. (Did you know Fidel once hired his own personal cigar roller?)

Walking about the town, folks are ready with a quick "hola" and "buenas tardes." I made friends with Tim, the (highly stressed) landscape designer for Hollywood stars at Baja Brewing Co. I chatted up Geraldo the bartender, who's going to make it a point to go running on the beach more often. Then there was Laurel and Sharon, daughter and mother, beachside Malibu residents who's ancestry ties them with the Rockefellers. Oh, can't forget Eduardo, El Encanto Inn's concierge. Ever-helpful, Eduardo promises to show me around where the locals hang out upon my return to Los Cabos—a certain move in my near future.

Low Points: Unfortunately, headlining the news these days is Mexico's rampant drug-affiliated violence. That, however, shouldn't dissuade you from making a trip to Los Cabos. I felt safe in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.

Scarier are the gouging prices. Being in Mexico I expected wares and services to be a lot more affordable than what I encountered: $50 for a bottle of mid-tier tequila, $40 for a one-way cab ride from San Jose del Cabo to Cabo San Lucas (a 20-mile distance on a toll-less road). A typical dinner starts at $15, sans drinks.

Savings Strategy: From cab fares to trinkets, be ready to haggle. It's almost expected of you to do so.

Where I Stayed: I stayed in two hotels while at San Jose del Cabo. The Hotel El Ganzo is hip and artsy. Past guests include Slash of Guns 'n' Roses fame; party-boy Charlie Sheen; Mexican artist Gabriel Macotela; Manuel Pujol Baladas, known as the Young Dali and infamous for falsifying his namesake's work; and one of my fave musicians, Damien Rice (swoon).

For a more affordable and authentic San Jose del Cabo experience, check out Encanto Inn. Take advantage of the hotel's central location for Art Walk. Every Thursday evening from November through June, the town's art galleries stay open late into the evening, enticing patrons with complimentary wines and hors d'oeuvres.

If You Go: Take advantage of the rich marine life that surrounds you and dive, snorkel, kayak out to Cabo's famous Arch and Lover's Beach, fish, swim with whales—whatever it is you prefer, just soak in the surrounds. If you're anything at all like this Northeasterner, it's not often you have an opportunity to try out as many of these marine adventures in a single destination.

For beachside centrally located accommodations in Cabo San Lucas, stay at Casa Dorada. Though I only lunched there, I was blown away by the impeccable service—one of the genuinely friendliest I've ever met.

For the calendar of events, more accommodations options than what is listed above, and general destination tips, peruse the Los Cabos Tourism Board site.

Read the original story: Trip Report: Los Cabos, Mexico, by Patricia Magaña

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Two dollars for a soda? Ten bucks for an aisle seat? If you're confused about airline fees, we can help.

With our Airline Fees: The Ultimate Guide, you'll find a one-stop reference chart for every major airline fee from every major domestic carrier.

Best of all, you can download the airline fees chart in PDF format at no charge. Because unlike the airlines, we don't make you pay for things that ought to be free.

Click on the image above for a free download of Airline Fees: The Ultimate Guide.

"Per-person, based on double occupancy." Look at any package or tour price and you'll likely see some variation of these words hovering nearby, a fine-print head shake to single travelers everywhere. The term "single supplement" sounds so value-added and upbeat, but in reality it can be a major deterrent for single travelers, adding anywhere from a hundred to a few thousand dollars in expenses for the privilege of not sharing a room.

Anecdotally, it seems to me that as stigmas about single travel lessen more avid travelers choose to go it alone rather than not travel at all. Tours and cruises in particular offer a structured and social travel experience for single travelers who don't want to be solo travelers. Conveniently, tour companies and cruise lines are also those most likely to waive single supplements.

Here's a roundup of a few companies currently waiving single supplements:

• Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT): OAT is offering free single supplements on all of its land and small ship trips and pre- and post-trip extensions. Savings range from $500 to $5,000. According to the company, more than a third of its customers book solo. OAT also offers a free matching roommate program.
• Uniworld: The boutique river cruise line is offering waived single supplements on select cruises, including the 15-day European Jewels: Budapest to Amsterdam, and the 10-day Paris and Normandy sailing.
• Avalon Waterways: The cruise line is offering waived single supplements on select Europe river cruises this year, including the eight-day Blue Danube Discovery between Budapest and Nuremburg and the eight-day Tulip Time Cruise that starts and ends in Amsterdam.
• Grand Circle Travel: Grand Circle advertises a "solo traveler price guarantee" that offers price matching and a $500 deduction if you can find a lower price for a solo traveler on any comparable international trip.

Know another company offering waived single supplements? Share them in the comments below!

Read the original story: Ways to Skip the Single Supplement Fee by Christine Sarkis

Do you have trouble meeting dates? Maybe the problem is that you're approaching potential significant others at places where they can easily flee if they aren't interested in reciprocating your advances. Luckily, Virgin America has a solution for you! The airline has introduced a Seat-to-Seat Delivery service, allowing flyers to send a drink, meal, or snack to another passenger on flights. Virgin founder Richard Branson (who would probably send bottles of champagne to attractive strangers, were he ever to fly with the general public), encourages treat-senders to follow up their gifts with a "chat" (using the Virgin America in-flight online chat feature). Or, just pick someone in an aisle seat, and walk down to hover awkwardly over them, dropping your cheesiest pick-up lines for everyone in the surrounding rows to laugh at you!

Most flyers dread getting stuck next to a chatty seatmate on a long-haul flight, but that's usually easily solved by putting in your headphones or pretending to sleep. Now imagine being stuck next to that same seatmate, except the seatmate is sending you free booze, hoping to loosen you up a bit. It's like being trapped inside a flying meat-market bar!

We can also imagine the passive-aggressive orders you could make with this system—hate being stuck next to an obese flyer? Send him or her a salad if they order something unhealthy! Usually glare at people who bring crying babies on a plane? Send the child a whiskey for its bottle! Good times.

Intrigued? Like Virgin America on Facebook, and tell them how you'd "press your luck at 35,000 feet" for the chance to win flights and a stay at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

What do you think of the idea? Tell us in the comments!

Read the original story: Is Virgin America's New In-Flight Feature Cool or Creepy? by Caroline Morse

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Unless you have unlimited resources, chances are you're looking for the best value you can find in a vacation. The overarching theme for many of our suggestions is "flexibility." When suppliers are especially eager to earn your business, they typically offer enticements in the form of cut prices or extras, and it's best to go where and when prices are lowest. But even if you don't have full flexibility, you can still manage to visit the places you want without overpaying.

Seek the Promotions

The first thing you see when you log onto SmarterTravel's Travel Deals page is a handful of promotions that provide exceptional value. Most are for airfares or vacation packages. As I'm writing this, one deal features a four-night air-and-hotel package to Amsterdam for select dates in 2013 at $1,699 per person from New York, compared with $1,250 for the airfare alone. Wherever interests you, you'll find a steady parade of promotional deals throughout the year.

Check the Flash- and Private-Sale Deals

We've reported on a handful of online flash-sale, private-sale, and discount-coupon agencies like Groupon that offer a constantly changing mix of destination deals. For example, our sister site SniqueAway currently posts promotional rates of $299 a night at the elegant Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort in St. Lucia for much of April and May, compared with regular prices of $490 per night. One caution, however: Don't always believe what the agencies say are the "regular" prices—they're often inflated. Instead, compare prices with TripAdvisor or some other good hotel-booking website.

Go Off-Season

Most vacation destinations exhibit at least some seasonality, and many offer low off-season prices. At the posh W Scottsdale, for example, you'll pay up to $349 per night in April but as low as $178 for the same room in July. Low seasons vary by destination: The best prices in the Caribbean are in the fourth quarter of the year. The best prices in mountain resorts are found in fall (before the skiing starts) and in spring (after skiing is over but before the summer prices peak). Low seasons in big cities are the month before and during the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Low seasons at Disney resorts are when kids are in school. If you aren't sure about seasonality, check Hotwire's TripStarter, which tracks average prices for airfare and hotels for many popular vacation destinations. Keep in mind, however, that the vacation experience is often very different in low season than in high: Scottsdale in midsummer is not as appealing as during winter-snowbird time.

Stay Close to Home

You don't have to schlep all the way to France for a French experience: For North Americans, Montreal and Quebec City are a lot closer—and when you compare prices, it's even more enticing to stick close to home. For example, the four-star La Maison Favart in Paris starts at $500 per night in April, while the four-star Hotel Nelligan in Montreal is just $175 per night for the same weekend. Sure, the Alps are spectacular, but so is the Grand Canyon. The U.S., Canada, and the nearby Caribbean and Gulf have a lot to offer without having to fly halfway around the world.

Look for a Bundle

Even absent a promotional price, you will often find that air-hotel, air-car, and air-hotel-car bundles can be a lot less expensive than buying the exact same components separately. Just about everybody is in on the bundle act: airlines, hotels, independent tour operators, and major online travel agencies (OTAs). Often, these bundles allow you to specify exactly what you want: flight, hotel, whatever.

Go for Opaque

By far the best way to enjoy maximum value in hotel accommodations and rental cars is to buy through one of the opaque agencies, where you either "bid" on a room or car or accept a price "blind" without knowing the hotel or rental company until after you make a nonrefundable purchase. The two biggest opaque agencies are Priceline (bid) and Hotwire (blind price), but several other OTAs now offer opaque options. You can pretty much get what you want by limiting hotel choices by star rating and, in big cities, neighborhoods. The prices can be as much as 50 percent off. Opaque agencies also sell airfare, but prices aren't much better and the loss of flexibility is an important factor.

Stay in One Destination

If you elect a city vacation, stay put once you arrive in your destination. Roaming around via rental car, regional plane, or train adds a lot to your daily cost. Boston, Chicago, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Vancouver, Washington, Beijing, Berlin, Budapest, London, Madrid, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, or just about any other major world-class city has plenty to keep you occupied for a week or two.

Seek Out the Local Deals

Wherever possible, use public transportation rather than taxis. Look for day- or weeklong transit passes, museum and attraction passes, senior or student discounts (if you qualify), and any other similar deals. Check with the local visitor office, either before you start your trip or as soon as you arrive, for any specials available to visitors. Use the discount theater booths in London and New York or online ticketing agencies that cover events nationwide.

Go Down-Market

These days, you can travel almost anywhere in the developed world by staying at accommodations that are a cut below your usual preference. If you normally stay at four-star hotels, dropping down to three-star properties won't cramp your style much, and even going from midprice to budget is adequate in most places. Similarly, if you feel the need to hit a three-star restaurant, go for lunch rather than dinner. Also try the "best"-rated places only for one or two meals and settle for second-best for the rest. 

In Europe, Stay in the Country

If you want to enjoy France, Germany, the U.K., or any other European country, you'll find that renting a car and moseying through the countryside is both a wonderful experience and a way to slash your hotel and restaurant bills. Also, consider using a vacation rental in the countryside as a base for day trips.

Eat In, Eat Out

Vacation rentals and "suite" hotels and motels that come with kitchens can cut your daily food bills substantially. Either look for hotels with "free" breakfasts or eat breakfasts in your room. Figure on takeout or picnic lunches where feasible. Buy beverages from a supermarket rather than piling up a big bill in a hotel or restaurant. At all costs, avoid your hotel's price-gouging minibar.

Conquer the Urge to Shop

Typical vacation shopping often results in the accumulation of stuff that looked like a good idea at the time but quickly winds up in the back of some closet or in the trash. For anything practical, the U.S. generally has lower prices than you will find anywhere else. Rigorously apply the "where will this be in six months" test to anything that tempts you. Note that many supposed "bargains" in fashion and tech goods turn out to be counterfeit. If you can't tell the difference between a genuine emerald and a piece of a broken Coke bottle, don't buy emeralds. You get the drift.

Read the original story: 12 Ways to Cut Vacation Costs by Ed Perkins

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Play
The Ghost Trail of York: The Ghost Trail of York takes you along darkened streets at night, while you listen to tales of murder, plague, heartbreak, and revenge beyond the grave. A costumed guide waits in front of the York Minster every night at 7:30 p.m., regardless of weather, to reveal the gruesome and tragic events of York's past. Tickets cost £4.00 (about $6.00 U.S.; check XE.com for current conversion rates) and the tour lasts about one hour and 15 minutes.

Eat
Golden Fleece: When you go to a pub for spirits, it's unlikely you're thinking of the dearly departed variety. The Golden Fleece, however, typically serves both. Built in 1503, you'll find York's most haunted drinking establishment across from the historical Shambles. Skip the drinks and go right to the main attraction of comfort foods, such as homemade Yorkshire pudding. Try not to be too alarmed if you catch sight of Lady Peckett, one of the five resident spirits. For a haunting good time, you can also rent one of the four rooms and spend the night with your newfound friends. Entrees start at £6.25.

Drink
Bettys Café Tea Rooms: Bettys Café Tea Rooms on St. Helen's Square captures the elegance of afternoon tea with absolute precision. Inspired by the founder's maiden voyage aboard the Queen Mary in 1936, the ornate and extravagant interior is reminiscent of the grand ocean liner which, incidentally, is haunted. A cup of the Tea Room Blend costs £2.95, but order Yorkshire Cream Tea, served in a piping hot pot with two scones, preserves, and clotted cream for £7.95, for a truly authentic experience.

To search for flights and compare prices to Leeds, which is home to York’s nearest major airport, please use our price-comparison tool.

(Photo: VisitYork.org)

Stay
Glen Ellen Inn: Looking for a place to hide from the outside world? Look no further than the secret cottages of Glen Ellen Inn. With creekside views, fireplaces, Jacuzzi tubs, and a lack of in-room phones, these private, free-standing bungalows are just the place to lay low. Because of the inn's location close to downtown Glen Ellen and many of the area's vineyards, you can still get in a day of wine-tasting and shopping without having to travel too far. If you decide you never want to leave your little hideaway, the on-site Glen Ellen Inn Oyster Grill & Martini Bar brings the local scene inside with California-fusion inspired dishes paired with regional wines. Prices start at $149 for weeknights and $239 for weekends during high season.

Drink
Valley of the Moon Winery: If you want a different type of escape, take a walk in the Valley of the Moon, where the wines are heavenly. Operating since 1863, this winery is the oldest in Glen Ellen, and pairs contemporary wine making with time-honored traditions. Free tours of the expansive grounds run twice daily, taking you through historical stone buildings, ancient trees, and fertile land. Complimentary tastings are offered between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m, and you'll find classic Sonoma-style reds and whites, as well as a smooth vintage port.

Shop
Oak Hill Farm of Sonoma: Though it sells much of its bounty to local restaurateurs and markets, including San Francisco's famous Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, Oak Hill Farm welcomes visitors to eat off the fat of the land, too. With the Mayacamas Mountains as a backdrop and set among 700 acres of protected wildlands, the Red Barn Store, a 100-year-old dairy barn, sells vegetables, fruits, and herbs, as well as flowers and wreaths produced on its 45-acre organic farm. Prices reflect the quality of the produce, but it doesn't cost a thing to inhale a more agrarian-side of life.

Use our price-comparison tool to search for flights and compare prices to Oakland, San Francisco, and Sacramento, which are home to Glen Ellen’s nearest major airports.

(Photo: Oak Hill Farm of Sonoma)

Play
Bi-Partisan Tour Company: Honor our country's freedom of choice by choosing to be the driver and navigator of your own tour of the nation's capital. The Bi-Partisan Tour Company encourages either side to ride in their very own red-and-blue electrical roadster, in which historical facts and scandalous secrets are revealed at almost every turn. You can even don a rubber mask of your favorite political figure and hit the streets as a true leader. Tours run a bit steep at $75 per person, but the direction-savvy can ride for $40 without the added benefits of GPS navigation and storytelling. Don't forget to bring along your mobile phone, as the company offers free two-to-four minute recorded tours.

Drink
Lounge 201: With dynamite drink specials Tuesday through Friday, this hip Capitol Hill lounge adds new meaning to "happy hour." On Tuesdays, you can choose from a range of sweet and savory martinis to suit almost any taste, including the Tiramisu Tini and the Red Caramel Apple, for half the original price. Grab a cocktail and listen to the lively political discussions by White House aides who hang out here, because you never know what you might overhear. Martinis start at $9, but don't forget to ask about the daily specials to get the best deal.

Eat
Restaurant Nora: America's first certified organic restaurant, Nora has been enticing the District's environmentalists and politicians with fresh seasonal dishes since 1989. It's rumored to be a Clinton favorite. Originally a grocery store in the 19th century, the main dining room has always been home to food. Antique Mennonite and Amish crib quilts decorate the walls as you dine on dishes such as fragrant Amish veal with cashew curry. Entrees start at $25.

To search for flights and compare prices to Washington, D.C., please use our price-comparison tool.

(Photo: Index Open)