Kevin Smith's ejection from a Southwest Airlines flight earlier this month has led to some heavy public debate over "Customer of Size" policies. The film director, who was asked to leave the aircraft because of his weight, stirred up a PR nightmare when he railed against the airline on his Twitter page--rejecting multiple apologies and an offer of a $100 flight voucher. Southwest claims that their actions are consistent with a 29-year policy dealing with heavy passengers.

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.

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.

As of yesterday, the traveling public is now allowed to bring loaded handguns into most of our national parks as long as they follow the local state laws (for permits and whatnot). Hunting, however, still is illegal within national parkland, as is discharging your weapon, as is bringing a loaded gun into a visitor’s center, so I’m a little unsure of what this new law is supposed to achieve.

Last week I was asked to appear on ABC News Now to discuss spring break deals and how to get the best deal on a hotel stay. We also talked about 100 hotels for under $100 and a great deal going on in the Bahamas. The gist of the interview is that you're going to find great hotel deals out there for spring break -- in fact, in addition to giving tips I also name four hotels with rates under $100 per night this spring. You can watch the video here:

Orlando is already renowned for its family-friendly attractions, but Universal Orlando is giving kids--and quite a few adults!--a new reason to book a flight to Florida: a Harry Potter amusement park.

Look, I like slipping into a nice warm bed as much as the next person---especially a hotel bed, and especially when I'm vacationing in a cold destination---but one chain has taken it to an entirely new level. At select Holiday Inns in England, guests can request a "human bed warmer" before they turn in for the night.

Say what?

As part of a pioneering new program, Holiday Inn is offering the service--for free, it should be noted---to guests at one of their properties in London and one in Manchester. When you sign up for a human bed warmer (can you imagine having that on your resume, by the way?), you'll receive a visit from a Holiday Inn employee dressed in a head-to-toe "sleep suit" (which, presumably, is super hygienic) who'll slip between your covers for five minutes and warm up the sheets.

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?

I’ve never been much into the Olympics, but after a trip to Vancouver and Whistler in January I caught a bit of a bug. Anxious to keep the spirit alive as I waited for the Games to begin, I planned an early February trip to Lake Placid, NY, home to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games and a place both entrenched in and proud of its Olympic history. From ‘Miracle Monday’ specials at the famous Dancing Bears Bar to the photos of champion Olympians past hanging on the walls at the High Peaks Resort to the signs all over town wishing ‘good luck’ to local Andrew Weilbrecht, member of the US Olympic Alpine Ski Team -- the Olympic ties practically hit you over the head at every turn in this tiny town in New York’s Adirondacks.

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.

Dear Editors,

I need some information about taking my dog with me on a flight to PA. Can you give me a site I can look at what I need to take the dog with me?

Thank you,

Lucinda

Hi Lucinda,

This is one of those situations that is very common among traveling pet owners. As such, you'd likely think there was a simple-to-understand, uniform policy across airlines that dealt with pet travel. Unfortunately, this is not the case and so there isn't one perfect resource I can direct you to for information. However, I will try my best to help you navigate various airline policies. For general information about pet travel, I recommend PetTravel.com.

When Marilyn Monroe sang the infamous song, it was for John F. Kennedy's birthday. But this Monday it's America's first president who'll be getting the birthday honors. Turn up the volume on your own celebration with a trip to one of the U.S.'s most presidential sights--South Dakota's Mount Rushmore.

Update: This continues to be a very popular post so I thought I'd update the information since airline policies for bereavement fares tend to change. But first I'd like to thank all of the travelers who wrote about their experiences in the comments section of this post. I know that losing a loved one is hard and booking a compassion fare is very stressful. Your advice is wonderful and you're helping other people navigate this challenging period.

General Info: Bereavement or compassion fares aren't always the best option for those traveling at the last minute. Let's weigh the pros and cons.

As I wrote last week in my post about Mammoth Mountain, the Groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter, and, given the Snowpacalypse that’s taken place in the Mid-Atlantic, I’d say Pennsylvania-based Mr. Groundhog has more than earned his prognosticator’s keep (although he may have to worry because I’d imagine that by now several people want to put a bounty out on his head). Unless you’ve been channeling the Groundhog himself and hiding in a burrow all this time, then you’re probably aware that in the Mid-Atlantic, it has snowed ridiculously, copiously, and epically, forcing airports to stop operations, flights to be cancelled, and many neighborhood streets to be impassable.

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.

Travelocity's most recent poll shows a dramatic increase in travel intentions, indicating traveler confidence is on the rise. Travelocity's second Traveler Confidence Report finds that nearly half of respondents plan to increase their travel in 2010 as compared to 2009.  The Traveler Confidence Report gauges travelers' plans and attitudes now as compared to six months prior and one year prior. The following findings are based on the intentions of more than 2,000 North Americans surveyed by Travelocity.

Traveler Confidence Report Highlights:

Hallo there! It's the Roaming Gnome here. I just go back from a trip to Utah, and boy, do I have a recap for you.

Dear Editors,

I am having a hard time trying to figure out which island in Hawaii to visit. My daughter and I want a relaxing vacation - mostly just hanging out near the ocean and pool. We don't want an itinerary, and we would like to stay in a hotel that has everything around it. We do not want to rent a car either. It also has to be a nice hotel that has a lot of amenities. We like our weather on the warmer side.  We would also like transportation to and from the airport.

Katherine

Hi Katherine,

Pop some fresh batteries in the remote and saddle up in your favorite seat--tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday! This year the big game takes place in Miami, Florida, which is expecting a massive influx of travelers. If you're in town for the weekend and need a break from the crowds--or even if you're planning to visit once the NFL fever dies down--gives these alternative attractions a try.

Bike the Everglades
The Everglades National Park isn't the gator-laced hoodoo swamp it's made out to be. Rent a bike (or bring your own), and glide through miles of gorgeous wetland under a full moon. These ranger-led tours take about three hours and cover 15 miles of trail.

If you haven't had time to follow the latest from the world of travel--never fear! This Week in Travel is here to give you a heads up on the biggest stories, the strangest news items, and latest updates on the world of travel.

It's the long-distance traveler's dream: you have a row of four seats to yourself and you can stretch out across them for the entire 14-hour journey. "Why do people bother paying the extra for business class?" you think. "This is wonderful!"

Ah, but not so fast: when was the last time you saw one empty seat on the plane, let alone a whole row? Recent capacity cuts have meant frequently crowded planes, and if you want to stretch out and lie flat in coach these days, you're pretty much out of luck.

Enter Air New Zealand, and its pioneering Skycouch. A row of three seats in economy that folds back into an almost-flat bed, it sounds almost too good to be true, right?

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.

Today is Groundhog Day, which always seems the unofficial point at which most people take a look at Old Man Winter, shake their fists, and say, okay man, enough is enough. It’s clear to me, however, that none of those people have been to Mammoth Mountain, set in the Sierra Nevada, where the fun of winter is very much alive, embraced, and holding sway.

With Presidents Day and school vacations fast approaching, parents may want to consider a ski getaway for their family. Watch this video for tips on planning your ski trip, where to go, where to stay and what to do once you get to your destination.