As this report documents, hotels - like banks - have become very creative in assessing fees for services you might assume are gratis. Here's how to keep an eagle eye on your costs so there's no sticker shock when you check out. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25200077/
Despite the economic downturn worldwide, cruising continues to attract customers and cruise ships continue to expand their fleets--both in size and number. Royal Caribbean plans to launch its Oasis of the Seas in November 2009 and its twin in 2010. Both ships weigh 220,000 tons and feature 16 decks with a retractable exhaust stack, so they can pass under bridges. Thirsty passengers can sip cocktails as they move between decks in the elevator or picnic in a "park" with its own microclimate control that acts as a swimming pool by day and Acquatheatre by night. Read more at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/2154393/Giant-cruise-liner-Oasis-of-the-Seas-to-have-world's-first-bar-in-a-lift.html
Here's an optimistic report on alternatives to our gas-guzzling engines. Electric cars are due to come on line in 2010. Read more at:
http://autos.canada.com/green/story.html?id=f4ef35f2-3681-4a9f-827c-0290db7fbe1f
You don't have to convince naturalists that "less is more." This article in the NY Times reports on a boom in nude-only hotels and resorts for those with the $ to spend.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/travel/27nude.html?_r=1&ex=1209960000&en=6d8613ad47e64926&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin
Using "before and after" photos in 53 countries, UN geographers present for the first time an African atlas of environmental changes in the past four decades that reveal disappearing forests, shrinking lakes, vanishing glaciers, and degraded land. The purpose of the UNEP project, which was requested by African environmental ministers, is to show how vast development, population growth, conflicts, and climate change have affected the natural world and its once-rich resources. Read more at:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nature-laid-waste-the-destruction-of-africa-844370.html
