The weeklong National Day holiday again brought a record number of tourists and retail revenue, despite continued controversy over the decade-old Golden Week vacation system.

For travelers who enjoy getting away from it all, online site for adventure travel iExplore has come up with a list of the world's top 10 hiking and trekking vacation spots.

It's a slogan with a cause. "Turn your vacation into a donation." Cruise to the Bahamas for three days next year and a part of your fare goes to fight cancer.

Rolling terrain with distinctive caves and spectacular views makes the Lincoln Hills-Patoka Lake Recreation Region north of the Ohio River toward Evansville a choice autumn getaway.

A New York-based author recently returned from a free luxury vacation to Costa Rica. The trip, valued at over $3,000, was awarded as grand prize in a travel writing contest meant to evoke the spirit of travel, which was sponsored by travel agency Costa Rican Vacations. Find out more about the winner's experience and how her entry was chosen for such a memorable award. (PRWeb Oct 5, 2008) Read ...

Hawaii visitors face ever-increasing airfares, but current resort specials may make an island vacation affordable. For example, Castle Resorts & Hotels offers fall discounts at Waikiki's Maile Sky Court, where a city-view room can be had for $69 per night plus tax, valid until Dec. 21. (800-367-5004; www.castleresorts.com).

A New York-based author recently returned from a free luxury vacation to Costa Rica. The trip, valued at over $3,000, was awarded as grand prize in a travel writing contest meant to evoke the spirit of travel, which was sponsored by travel agency Costa Rican Vacations. Find out more about the winner's experience and how her entry was chosen for such a memorable award.

BLOOMINGTON -- Georgi Baird has been taking pictures of critters and the countryside since she was a little girl. Ask why, and she'll tell you a story of growing up as an only child in a small town on a dead-end street with not much to do but wander outside looking for bugs, flowers and birds.

Hip and cosmopolitan Portland continues to emerge as a popular urban vacation destination for gay and lesbian travellers, thanks in part to its stellar restaurant scene, liberal social climate, and artsy personality.

Twelve casual friends discover that a structured cruise of Baltic countries is just the ticket.