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MiamiHerald.com: Travel

• Cradle of faiths
  Jerusalem sings with history, conflict and unexpected harmony.
• Miami's smart new hotels
  So what'll it be? The place with the six infinity-edge swimming pools or the one with the bathroom chandelier that doubles as a shower head? You've gotta hand it to Miami. What other city would double down on conspicuous consumption in these perilous times?
• New ship puts new twist on Dutch treat
  Holland America is a cruise line steeped in 125 years of tradition. But don't think its ships are stuck in the past. The company has given its signature upscale tradition an update aboard its latest liner, the Eurodam.
• Travel Troubleshooter
  Advocate Christopher Elliott reviews problems, reveals solutions
• Share...
  <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/382/story/49381.html">Travel tales</a>, <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/382/story/49354.html">Photos</a> and <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/382/story/49368.html">Student stories</a><br/>
• Postcards From the U.S.A.
  Marjie Lambert visits North Carolina
• South Florida flyers' guide
  Direct flights make escapes a breeze
• For Writers
  If you want to be a travel writer, here's where to start.
• For PR Pros
  Contact us with your travel news
• Tourism Offices
  Going somewhere? Get tourist information for your destination.
• Online Booking Guide
  How to book online -- and get the best savings!
• Travel Tools
  Handy links for traveler information.
• Packing Light
  With airline fees going sky-high, packing light pays.
• Cradle of faiths: Jerusalem sings with history, conflict and unexpected harmony
  ''Don't you want to go to Bethlehem?'' the taxi driver asks. Most restaurants are shuttered on this Jewish holiday of Shavuot, and taxis are few. But Avi, a Palestinian Christian, shadows the tourist haunts, hoping for business.
• Every day is Christmas for aptly named towns
  Douglas Taylor became postmaster of Noel, Mo., the week before Thanksgiving last year. ''I came from California,'' he said. ``And I had no idea.''
• Minnows can swim with the whales in Vegas
  Things are noticeably quieter on the Las Vegas Strip these days, and casinos usually known to boast excess are dropping prices to cope with a bad economy that has hit Sin City particularly hard.
• Not to be putting down the Ritz, but its little neighbor's got a lot to offer
  In the shadow of the impeccable, five-star Ritz-Carlton, the Vanderbilt Beach Resort glistens like the sea that laps into its sandy shoreline.
• Dealing with space invaders in the air
  One pervasive plane problem is when the person in front of you puts the seat back in the full recline position and leaves it there for the whole flight, which is particularly aggravating on a long intercontinental journey.
• Fuzzy math on vacation refund
  Q: I'm at the end of my rope. I recently I booked a trip to Mexico online through Apple Vacations for my wife, daughter, son-in-law and myself. As always, I also bought an insurance package.
• Water works in Florida, rocking in Mexico
  FLORIDA: WATER WORKS Atlanta artist Hans Godo Frabel's Reflections of Glass on Water has opened on the ponds at the McKee Botanical Garden in Vero Beach. A series of special events are planned in conjunction with the exhibit, including Frabel by Twilight, an opportunity to see the work illuminated at night, from 6-8 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month.
• Deals, deals and more deals
  The New Yorker Hotel in midtown Manhattan is offering rooms for $139 a night (plus $22 taxes) single or double, including continental breakfast. Deal is good for travel in January and February; blackout dates Feb. 5-10 and 13-18. Rooms usually range from $149 to $209 a night (plus taxes), and breakfast costs $12 per person. 800-764-4680, www.newyorkerhotel.com. If reserving by phone, request Surprise Winter Rate.
• Florida events
  Dec. 27: Way Down Upon the Suwannee Trail Ride, Live Oak. At Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. 386-364-1683; www.musicliveshere.com.
• Lightening Ascent snowshows makes clomping fun
  A SHOE IN: Clomping through the snow, can be a lot of fun with the lightweight (about 3.5 pounds) Lightening Ascent snowshoes from Mountain Safety Research (MSR). The frames' serrated aluminum blade provides excellent traction. An innovative heel lifter reduces calf fatigue when walking uphill. The 3-strap step-on binding fits a variety of boots, and the hinged steel crampon increases stability. Comes in men's and women's sizes (the women's model is slightly lighter and narrower). Add a pair of MSR's...
• Carnival fourth-quarter profit rises 4 percent
  Carnival, the world's largest cruise operator, reported a better-than-expected 4 percent increase in fourth-quarter earnings Thursday, but lowered its 2009 outlook as consumers put off booking vacations for next year.
• What's new aboard all those new ships
  The economy may be sailing slowly these days, but that hasn't stopped South Florida's cruise lines, which are introducing a half-dozen new ships here this fall.
• No tux? No problem
  Casual-dress men, take heart: When you sail the seven seas, you can now leave that tux at home. Instead of a ''formal'' night, Carnival Cruise Lines now offers a ''cruise elegant'' evening. Other lines offer casual-dining alternatives for those who don't want to change out of their shorts. Still other lines have tossed the dress-up concept into the ocean.
• Simply elegant aboard line's next big star
  Celebrity's new ship, Solstice, is as simple, and as sophisticated, as walking barefoot in the park. Literally. One of the hallmarks of the first in Celebrity's new series of ships is a broad carpet of genuine grass, developed over a half-dozen years to withstand the salt and wind that go with sea voyages. And while it may seem like a gimmick -- will vacationers able to pay premium prices this year really hang out in the grass? -- the Lawn Club, as it's been dubbed, is a tangible symbol of the kind...
• Fun ship atmosphere has passengers tickled pink
  Marie Gable, a Fort Lauderdale retiree, has sailed on nearly every cruise line. Carnival, she says, is her favorite. ''It's more fun,'' she said, sailing recently on Carnival's new 113,000-plus ton superliner, Carnival Splendor. ``I like the food, and they seem to get a younger group of people. The ships are gaudy, and I love gaudy.''
• New ship puts new twist on Dutch treat
  Holland America is a cruise line steeped in 125 years of tradition. But don't think its ships are stuck in the past. Its new Eurodam -- recently arrived in South Florida for winter cruises -- features honey-colored woods and a bright ambience. Still, the rich paneling, earth-tone colors, tasteful furnishings and Dutch art give the ship a traditionally elegant feel -- at least in most areas. In stateroom hallways, neon-colored swirls in the carpet seemed more fitting for sister company