On the morning of 9/11, I remember repeatedly thinking to myself, “things are never going to be the same again.” But here we are nearly 10 years later, and things over the past decade have been creeping back to sameness. Yes, the Twin Towers will never again punctuate the skyline of New York City, but rebuilding in the region takes place 24/7, shops are back in business, and commerce is flowing. Perhaps one of the biggest indicators of this return to normalcy is the announcement that a brand-new hotel is using its Ground Zero location as a unique draw to bring in tourists.

Editor's Note: Inspired by Follow Friday on Twitter, I am profiling (in far more than 140 characters) travelers who you, too, should follow!

Sleep better with: Anya Orlanska
Follow her at: @SleepConcierge

After returning from a 10-day stint on the road (and not sleeping a wink), I was ecstatic to climb into my very own bed and get a good night's sleep on my plush mattress and super flat feather pillow. Heaven! As much as I love to travel, the new environment, the time changes and the busy agendas keep me up at night, but Sleep Concierge Anya Orlanska says it is possible to sleep as well, if not better, while you're on the road.

Travelocity’s most recent poll of over 2,000 North Americans revealed that despite the troubles faced by the hotel industry in 2009, the vast majority of travelers felt service was the same or better than the year prior.

69 percent of respondents felt service was “about the same” in 2009 compared to 2008, while 23 percent felt service levels had improved. Topping the list of ways service had improved was shorter lines, more free amenities, and improvement in room cleanliness.  Just eight percent felt service was worse.

Travelocity’s most recent poll of over 2,000 North Americans revealed that despite the economic recession of 2009, the vast majority (76 percent) continued to tip hotel employees as they had in the year prior. 11 percent reported tipping less while the remaining 13 percent reported tipping more.

Good news for hotel employees, especially if you’re a bellhop or maid. Why bellhop or maid, you ask? Because of hotel staff encountered during their visits, these are the two employees most likely to get tipped by guests. Who is the poor soul at the bottom of the hotel tipping hierarchy? The pool attendant. Somewhere in between fall the valet, concierge and doorman.

There was a time, not too long ago, when you paid for an airline ticket and with it were able to check two bags, get a snack onboard the flight, and reserve any seat in the class of cabin you paid for. In just a few short years, airlines have moved from a more-or-less inclusive model to an a la carte pricing structure – and have made billions by doing so. What if hotels follow?

A look at spring travel data tells us that average hotel rates are still down slightly over last year, hovering around $156 for a domestic hotel stay and $218 for an international hotel stay. When you compare these numbers to hotel prices in 2008 and see that they're down 14 percent and 11 percent respectively, you can't argue that they're a real steal.

The relative inexpensiveness of travel at this point in time makes my job as a bargain hunter and tips guru, well, easy. Everything seems to be a deal right now, but a thrifty shopper looks for lower-than-average hotel stays. We decided to make the hunt easy for you, listing 100 Hotels Under $100.

If there’s one thing women know about, it’s romance. And if there’s one thing the staff of The Window Seat Blog know about, it’s travel. With that in mind, the bloggettes came together and picked nine hotels in North America they would recommend for Valentine’s Day or a romantic getaway any time of year. For great deals on hotel stays for Valentine’s Day, visit Travelocity.com/romance.

Highly subjective and listed in no particular order, the Window Seat Bloggettes' most romantic hotel picks:

El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa

Farjardo, Puerto Rico

If you read this blog, you're probably a lot like us, constantly planning your next trip, collecting passport stamps like medals of honor, and always looking for that next peak to climb. The older I get the more keenly I feel that if I love travel this much, I also have a responsibility to preserve beloved destinations for my children and my children's children.

Responsible or green travel is at heart a conservation movement, a desire to keep pristine places around the world as they are--or even restore them to how they were. Here are 10 green travel resolutions you can make for Mother Earth. I've listed them from simplest to most ambitious so you can choose where you'd like to start. If we all make a pact to do just one of these resolutions, I think you'd be surprised at the huge impact it would have over time.

I think it’s safe to say that the holiday season is here. Mall perfume counters are battling with the crisp scent of pine trimmings, and hundreds of homes showcase tinsel-trimmed trees. But the real heavyweights--the luchadores of winter decoration--are the hotels.

And around the holidays, they do decoration in a massive way.

Take the Westin St. Francis, for instance. The second you walk in, you're faced with an unbelievably tall confectionary castle--purportedly one of the largest in the country--built specifically for the holiday season. Another San Francisco giant, The Fairmont, boasts a similar baked behemoth--a two-story gingerbread house whose icing alone weighs 550 pounds. That makes even fruitcake sound light.

Even if budgets are a little snug this year, travel hopes remain high. Here's a list of affordable travel gifts for the globetrotter on your list. The best part? All of the items are $60 or less (and in many cases, much, much less). Happy holiday shopping!

For the Green Globetrotter

VeloPouch $45

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