This weekend I got a taste of the trouble the new three-hour limit on tarmac delays may cause when it goes into effect on April 29—and it was sour stuff. The bitter pill? If you get to the three-hour mark and your flight isn't canceled, it will at least be much more delayed.

I was on a flight trying to leave JFK Airport during heavy storms on the East Coast, so a delay came as no surprise. But when we reached the three-hour milestone on the tarmac—marked with loud complaints from folks around me as they realized they’d already missed connecting flights—the pilot explained we’d be returning to the gate in deference to the upcoming rule (and to refuel).

Good news for any woman who, like me, appreciates a good bathroom in the sky: Japan’s All Nippon Airways is rolling out ladies-only restrooms this month. Next time you have to powder your nose on ANA, ladies, the seat will be down and your spirits (the airline hopes) will be up.

Dear Editors,

Does Mexico charge a departure tax when returning to the U.S.?  If so, what is the tax and does it have to be paid in pesos?

B in Phoenix

Hello Phoenix Traveler,

I thought I’d heard it all after learning about no-pants subway rides and nude flights. But those underdressed endeavors seem tame compared to naked skiing and sledding: neither wind, nor snow, nor hail can keep these sports' cold, bold athletes from careering down mountains in the buff.

Among the best ski resorts for nude skiers are, evidently, Squaw Valley; Telluride; and Obertraun, Austria, where clothing-optional cross-country trails have earned it the mantle “Europe's nude ski mecca.” It sounds like one awkward après-ski scene to me.

Last weekend I turned a page in my addiction to Amazon.com’s travel bookstore: I decided to take it to the street. I set off on a self-styled walking tour of New York City’s brick-and-mortar travel bookshops to see what they had to offer, and I was thrilled with what I found. From now on, I’ll be taking all of my visitors to these spots so they can read up on NYC and plan their next trip. And the next one. And the one after that.

I'll admit it: I’m a sucker for forbidden-fruit destinations and travel taboos. I love finding beauty in places that were no-goes for travelers not long ago; my two favorite trips of 2009 were to the charming countries of Colombia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. But one mysterious land that I’m not sure holds much mystery for me is North Korea—and its government is sending out the invitations.

Nicholas Wolaver is a PR man by day and an Olympics superfan and historian by...well, also by day. He’s managed to marry his interests with a career that’s sent him to a half-dozen Olympic Games—experiences he blogs about at Olympic Rings and Other Things. From his temporary post in Vancouver, he talked to us about his travels, Vancouver and Whistler tips, and social media at the Olympics.

I’m not sure why, but putting a piece of food on a stick always puts a smile on travelers’ faces. Maybe it’s because we associate skewered snacks with childhood pleasures like lollipops and popsicles; maybe it’s because sticks make for easy cleanup when we’re on the go.

Either way, certain destinations are held in high esteem for their unforgettable (for better or for worse) meals on sticks. Here are 10 picked especially for brave travelers—stick it to your friends when you complete one of these challenges.

It’s c-c-c-c-cold outside--and not only here in New York, where you can count on January being bitter. Huge swathes of the U.S. and Europe are being battered by arctic air this week, catching some sun-seekers by surprise. When I watched a video this morning of three children swimming at an icy Florida beach, I decided I had to offer up some tips for enjoying a trip even when the mercury drops. (For one thing, get out of the water!)

So here are the five things I always pack to keep warm--the items that I think make the most difference when it comes to staying comfortable in cold weather. I’ve used all five of these things in cities and in the backcountry, in wind chills that have dipped to -40 degrees. I even wore two of them on my walk to work this morning.

With body scanners certain to become standard security fare in airports following last week’s failed bomb plot, the controversy over their use is heating up, again: are they a necessary step to protect passengers or an intrusive tool stripping passengers’ privacy?

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, one of the places where the most recent terror suspect cleared security, will have scanners in place in about three weeks, and I, for one, think it’s a good plan. Scanners certainly seem less intrusive than body searches—which is what Amsterdam passengers who skip the scanner will endure—and only scans that are flagged by a computer will advance to human eyes.