Interior view of a suite in Kate's Lazy Meadow Motel, co-owned by Kate Pierson of the B-52s.

Ms. Pierson bought a 10-suite hotel west of Woodstock, N.Y., in 2003. She and her business and life partner, Monica Coleman, recast the retreat with eclectic, 1950s decor and renamed it Kate's Lazy Meadow Hotel. But the renovations took years, forcing them to draw on Ms. Pierson's music earnings. With an average nightly rate of $200, the hotel turned a profit in 2010 and has been improving ever since.

"With the way the economy has been, I don't know if someone who didn't have another primary source of income could survive," Ms. Coleman said.

At Mr. Omidyar's Montage Hotels and Resorts, Chief Executive Alan Fuerstman said the hotels are benefiting from a burst of visits from wealthy business and leisure travelers, especially those from Asia and South America. "There was clearly a tightening of the belt by consumers in 2008 and early 2009. It's all trending very positively now," he said.

Mr. Omidyar owns Montage's properties, but Mr. Fuerstman owns most of the brand and management company.

Among the largest hotel deals by high-profile buyers during the boom came in 2007 when Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's Kingdom Holding Co. and Microsoft's Mr. Gates's Cascade Investment LLC acquired Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts for nearly $3.4 billion.

In the first nine months of 2011, the luxury chain has registered a 9% increase in revenue per room compared with the same period in 2010, according to the company. Sarmad Zok, chief executive of Kingdom Hotel Investments, a unit of Kingdom Holding, described the prince and Kingdom as "delighted" with the Four Seasons investment and added that the prince wants to accelerate the chain's expansion. Cascade officials didn't return calls seeking comment.

Wynn Las Vegas says a group of craps players who won $700,000 in July cheated the system, and the resort is suing them.

According to reports on Onlinepoker.net and elsewhere, the upscale casino took notice when Leonardo Fernandez and Veronica Dabul of Argentina won $145,000 on seven throws of the dice on July 17. On reviewing surveillance tapes, Wynn accused them and accomplices of "dice sliding," or holding dice in a position with winning numbers face up and pretending to randomly throw them out against the back of the table, leading to big-money wins.

The two, who had played at Wynn regularly, were arrested, Onlinepoker says, and Nevada Gaming Control Board enforcement chief Jerry Markling said that "it's not a common form of cheating because it involves a considerable amount of skill and practice." In the court papers, the two are described as playing at different craps tables as part of different teams, with accomplices attempting to distract casino employees at the table during the alleged slides. That would be difficult because craps -- a complicated table game with many possible bets thrown down by many players -- is generally well-policed by more than one staffer.

In the alleged conspiracy to cheat by sliding, defendants left Wynn Las Vegas with "over $700,000" in losses, the lawsuit says.

Vegasinc.com says Wynn surveillance tapes show Dabul and Fernandez playing craps from 10:37 p.m. to midnight, with Fernandez sliding the dice at least seven times without betting, according to its lawsuit. "During the same seven slides in the two hour and 15 minute span, Dabul and/or two unidentified men place bets using Dabul's chips," the lawsuit said. "Defendants won a total of $145,000 from these seven slides alone." Other reports speculate that cheating at craps can happen when a pretty woman exposes cleavage to distract the croupier and other staffers or when staff is in on the con, neither of which has been shown to have happened in this case. Other reports say sliding is difficult because dice are supposed to bounce off the back wall of the table.

Alan Mendelson, who has covered gaming issues and now runs a consumer finance website, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that "dice sliding is so obvious that it is easy to stop. It makes no sense they could get away with that much money unless they had inside help."

Summer used to be a little less flashy and fleshy in Vegas, but with the advent of adult party pools using celeb "hosts" to draw crowds, stars are flocking, and so are vacationers.

Saturday, Holly Madison -- former Hugh Hefner galpal and now the headliner of Vegas' popular Peepshow -- was the lure at the Flamingo resort's GO Pool. She danced, entertaining a crowd partying by a waterfall in lagoons. That girl gets around: Last Fourth of July weekend, she was the draw at MGM Grand's Wet Republic pool.

These events generally are open to the general public, though you usually have to stand in line and hope to be let in and fork over a cover charge.

Fourth of July weekend got off to a bang with singer Nick Lachey's Friday night bachelor party at TAO Nightclub at The Venetian. The revelry included a cake topped with a ball and chain (not so sure fiancee Vanessa Minnillo would find that funny). But she also had a bachelorette party in Vegas recently -- at venues including The Palazzo's Lavo nightspot and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas resort's Marquee Dayclub pool. Temperatures soared into the 100s during the day, and singer Rihanna heated up Saturday night in concert at Mandalay Bay.

Meanwhile, Vegas also is courting the family crowd with a "3 for $54" promotion. That gains admission to three of the following attractions:

• "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition" at Luxor
• "BODIES… The Exhibition" at Luxor
• Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
• "Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat" at The Mirage
• The roller coaster at New York-New York
• Adventuredome at Circus Circus
• "CSI: The Experience" at MGM Grand
• "Spongebob 4D Ride" at Excalibur

For more info on the promotion, click here. In conjunction, Excalibur has room rates starting $34 a night, depending on availability; Circus Circus at $43 per night; Luxor, from $45.

When landing in St. Maarten, on the Caribbean island's Dutch side at Princess Juliana Airport, a certain strip of beach is visible out the plane window.

Of course, it's not just a simple view--planes essentially land on top of beach goers on Maho Beach in order to land safely.

If you've ever done the landing, it's quite jarring.

Out the window, you can essentially see every detail of the semi-worried sunbathers below, right down to whether a bathing suit has polka dots or not.

It's all very "Wayne's World", like when Wayne and Garth park their car near an airport runway to watch the underbelly of an airplane land. Except in this case, it's innocent beach goers.

The beach has gained notoriety for its nearness to the airport and is, it seems, consistently flooded with tourists who want to catch a close-up glimpse of a plane. Note to self: It's REALLY loud.

via:cnn

Havana, Cuba -- What is your favorite neighborhood? Why?

It's a touristy area but one that's really well kept is old Havana so when I haven't been for a while I get in a nice early morning or late afternoon stroll, get a cup of coffee, listen to the bands who play Buena Vista Social Club-style music, which is probably a bit touristy for Cubans but it's really nice.

Where is the best place to people-watch?

By far the best place is the Malecon, the sea wall. Think of it as Cuba's free bar. Every night, especially at weekends, hundreds of Cubans go down there, often with a bottle of rum, to sit on the wall. People promenade; others strum music.

It's crowded and rowdy in some areas and quieter and more romantic in other spots, so depending on your mood you can pick a place that suits.

Where can you get the best view of the city?

There's a building called FOCSA that has a bar and restaurant at the top. I'd skip the restaurant but the view is great, so go up and have a drink and look out over the city.

There's also an old Spanish colonial fort called El Morro on the other side of the bay from Havana. You can get there by car. It has a couple of state-run bars and restaurants. Again, I wouldn't eat there, but it's a nice place to go at sunset, have a drink and enjoy the view of the bay and the seafront.

How do tourists stick out and what's the best way to blend in?

You can't blend in. It's very difficult. And they don't want you to! If you get a tan and don't carry a camera, that'll help, but it's hard not to stand out.

What's the biggest misconception about your city?

Maybe the old cars. There are a lot of old cars but most people are surprised when they come that probably the most common are 1980s Russian Ladas because of Cuba's closeness to the Soviet Union. So you see lots of boxy cars driving around, and plenty of new cars.

The old American classics aren't disappearing, but so many other cars have hit the roads that they aren't as obvious as they used to be.

Where should people stay in Havana?

There are two ways to do Havana: hotels and private homes. All hotels are either state-run or joint ventures with big hotel chains.

Depending on your budget and what you're looking to experience, private homes are a great way to discover Cuban life.

From accommodation near old Havana, which can be a bit more basic as demand is higher there, or further afield, where some homes even have swimming pools, for around 25-45 bucks a night you'll get a room with air conditioning and a private bathroom.

Where do you go to relax?

To the Hotel Nacional -- it has an outdoor grassy lawn that overlooks the Malecon. It's a good place to take kids because they can chase the peacocks that wander around and roll around in the grass while you relax with a drink and watch the world go by.

What essential thing should visitors see/experience if they only have a few hours?

Old Havana in the day and the Malecon at night.

What's the biggest tourist trap? Is there a "tourist trap" that's actually worth seeing?

You have to recognize that tourism is an important source of income. You'll stick out, so everywhere you go, people will spark up a conversation with you. Generally they are looking for something -- commission from a restaurant for bringing you there, or to sell you some cigars, that sort of thing. You can't stop it, so recognize it for what it is -- people simply trying to make a living -- and take it with a bit of good humor.

Be aware that in some of the late-night dance places, as in many tourist spots, you can get hustled. If you want to avoid people trying to make a buck off a tourist, try and experiment with some private restaurants that aren't in old Havana -- you may have a more authentic, interesting experience too.

Shasta Darlington is an international correspondent in Havana

What's the food scene like in Havana?

It used to be a joke in the 1990s during the post-Soviet economic crisis that the three main failures of the Cuban revolution were breakfast, lunch and dinner -- that's not true any more.

Since the restrictions on private enterprise were relaxed last year, more businesses are opening up and the number of restaurants is mushrooming, so there are suddenly far more exciting places to visit. Often they're run out of people's homes (establishments known as "paladares"). You'll find good food, good service and it's a really nice experience.

Which restaurant would you take your loved one to for an anniversary or other special occasion?

One that's been around for a few years is La Guarida. It's in a sketchy part of town, a relatively poor part right in the center, but in Cuba everywhere's pretty safe. It's in a very typical Cuban building, the sort that you think of when you think of Havana -- falling down, crowded with people. You walk up three flights of stairs to get there. The movie "Strawberry and Chocolate" was filmed there, then it was turned into a restaurant. It has a great atmosphere, it's very romantic, there's great kitsch décor and you can really feel the culture dripping off the walls.

A new option is L'Atelier in the Vedado neighborhood. It has high ceilings, breezy curtains, very nice food and atmosphere and an outdoor space where you can lounge around on pillows and have drinks. It serves international cuisine that's more original than a lot of restaurants here -- a nice mix.

Are there local specialty dishes or drinks that visitors must try?

One typical dish that I really like is ropa vieja -- it means "old clothes" -- shredded beef with spices, usually served with rice and beans. Cubans do wonderful black beans. Another specialty is malanga fritters -- it's a tuber like a potato and they often mash it with garlic to make these amazing fritters.

The national drink is of course the mojito. Don't leave without trying one - they're delicious. Experiment with rum while you're here, too -- they make everything from cocktail white rum to some very nice dark aged rum that you can drink on its own -- sip that on the Malecon, it's a nice way to spend an evening.

Where's your favorite place to spend a night out on the town?

The best thing to do at night is go and listen to jazz -- there's lots of great Latin jazz in Cuba -- or go salsa dancing. Cubans are great salsa dancers and there are lots of quality venues. For a more authentic experience, go in the early evening, at around 7pm, to a matinee -- it's cheaper and that's often when Cubans go. Later on, towards midnight, you'll find more tourists. Restaurante 1830 is a great place for this. You can watch the dancing while relaxing under a mango tree in the garden.

What is a good local souvenir?

If you're not American, cigars and rum are terrific options. Obviously if you're American you can't bring most things home, but you can still buy art -- that doesn't break the embargo. There are lots of great crafters and artists and if you go to the arts and crafts market in old Havana you can find terrific photos or small paintings that easily cost under $20.

Instead of getting away from it all, go underneath it, and escape to some of the world's unique underwater restaurants and hotels.

You'll have to wear scuba gear and a bathing suit or use a boat to get to some of these undersea retreats.

Jules' Undersea Lodge

Feel like a superstar at this resort. Celebrities such as Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Jon Fishman of Phish and former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau have visited this underwater lodge in Key Largo, Florida.

To reach Jules' Undersea Lodge, you must scuba dive 21 feet down. You'll enter through a 5-foot-by-7-foot opening at the bottom of the lodge, where you'll be greeted with amenities you'd find at an above-ground hotel: a cozy bed, a telephone, books and a VCR/DVD for movies.

You'll breathe easy inside this air-conditioned lodge, which is filled with compressed air to prevent water from flooding the rooms.

Visitors must scuba dive 21 feet beneath the water to reach Jules' Undersea Lodge.

The living quarters include two private bedrooms, a wet room where divers leave their gear and take a shower, and an 8-foot-by-20-foot multipurpose room for dining and entertaining.

One couple named their baby Jules after discovering that their recently conceived child had accompanied them to the underwater hotel. Another couple's visit inspired them to change careers and open a dive shop, according to the owners.

A night's stay costs $400 to $500 per person, depending on the package.

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant sits 16 feet under the Indian Ocean.

Watch sea life swim around you as you dine in this underwater getaway.

Set in a picturesque corner of the Maldive Islands, Ithaa Undersea Restaurant claims to be the world's first all-glass underwater dining establishment.

This luxury restaurant, which has welcomed thousands of diners since 2005, sits 16 feet deep in the Indian Ocean and is surrounded by sea life and a coral reef.

The six-course dinner menu often features French dishes from executive chef Nicolas Boutin and is priced at $320 a person. A lighter three-course lunch menu is available for $195 a person. Both meals include one glass of bubbly champagne.

If you're dining at lunch, don't forget to bring your sunglasses. The sun's rays illuminate the water and make the restaurant so bright inside that diners and the wait staff need eye protection.

Utter Inn

The Utter Inn is located on Lake Mälaren in Sweden.

If you're looking for a simpler underwater experience, consider the Utter Inn in Västerås, Sweden, which is a single-room hotel containing just two twin beds and a table.

This underwater spot, which looks like a small red house above the water, lies nearly 10 feet below the surface of Lake Mälaren and can be accessed only by boat. Panoramic windows in all directions allow guests to watch fish and other aquatic life swim by.

During your stay, hang out on the above-water deck to sunbathe, read or fish. Guests are also invited to use an inflatable canoe to explore a nearby uninhabited island.

No cooking is required at this getaway. Instead, order dinner and have it delivered.

A typical night's stay at the Utter Inn costs $212 per person.

Poseidon Undersea Resort

Poseidon Undersea Resort is scheduled to open in late 2012, according to the developer.

Sleep next to exotic sea life at Poseidon.

This underwater five-star luxury hotel in Fiji, set to open in late 2012, has been marketed as the "world's first sea floor resort."

The 24-room Poseidon Undersea Resort will sit 40 feet below the crystal clear waters of a Fijian lagoon, next to a coral reef.

Guests will be required to spend two nights in the underwater hotel and four nights at a more traditional beach resort and over-water bungalows on a 222-acre island called Poseidon Mystery Island.

The high-end hotel will feature an underwater restaurant, library and theater area.

Above the water, visitors can check out wine-tasting classes and a nine-hole golf course, or be pampered with spa treatments.

Be prepared to open your wallet wide at this resort. The cost for this exclusive experience is $15,000 per person (when sharing a room) or $30,000 a couple.

Forbes Island

Forbes Island in San Francisco offers dining both above and below the water.

Reachable only by boat, Forbes Island off Pier 39 in San Francisco offers above- and below-water dining.

Featured on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," the island was once home to millionaire Forbes Kiddoo.

On the menu are French culinary classics like coq au vin or filet mignon with a truffled Bordelaise sauce, local seafood such as halibut or Pacific Coast salmon, and a large wine list.

In the underwater area, guests can peer through several portholes while dining in a dark wood-beamed room accented by a giant gas fireplace and a large collection of nautical antiques.

Above the water, dine outside or in rooms with spectacular views of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, Coit Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The price range for an entree is about $20 to $39. Wines by the glass start at $9.

cnn

The room service arrived in a canoe and exotic fish frolicked just beneath the floor when Gary Leff spent his honeymoon in Bora Bora.

Life is good when you're in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and even better when you're staying in an overwater bungalow -- that iconic, stilted, thatch-roofed symbol of a tropical paradise.

"It's unique because there's a million beachfront resorts in the world ... but it's much less common to have your room actually be [over] the water," Leff said.

"There's something neat to the story about climbing off your deck into the water, snorkeling right off your deck."

You'll probably have to travel far and open your wallet wide to stay at one of these exotic villas.

There are more than 90 overwater bungalow resorts in the world, but about two-thirds of them are in the Maldives, according to OverwaterBungalows.net, a website that tracks the properties.

The Caribbean has a few such resorts, but it doesn't really lend itself to overwater construction because of hurricanes, said Terry McCabe, national director of leisure for Altour.

Many overwater bungalows, like this one in Cayo Espanto, Belize, feature glass panes in the floor.

The peaceful, shallow lagoons of French Polynesia and the Maldives, on the other hand, offer more hospitable surroundings.

Most overwater bungalows come with "Tahitian television," or glass panes built into the floor through which you can observe the sea life below, McCabe said.

"For everyone, they've come to typify romance, the allure of the South Pacific," McCabe said.

Here are five overwater bungalow resorts to remember.

Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa, Bora Bora

The resort, on Motu Toopua in the lagoon of Bora Bora, has dozens of overwater bungalows, including the only two-story overwater villas in French Polynesia, said Kleon Howe of The Art of Travel in San Diego, an agency that specializes in the region.

Leff, who honeymooned here in 2005, said he enjoyed the privacy the huts provided.

"It's almost like you're alone in the world," he said. "Even when the resort had plenty of people there, you rarely saw people because they stayed in their bungalows."

The resort is also one of the best values for redeeming Hilton HHonors points, said Leff, who shares strategies for making the most of traveler loyalty programs on his website, View From the Wing.

Need another reason to go? Bora Bora Nui was among the winners of TripAdvisor's 2011 Travelers' Choice awards -- chosen by the site's members as one of the top 10 hotels for romance in the South Pacific.

A king overwater deluxe villa goes for about $1,170 a night during the summer with an advance purchase .

Te Tiare Beach Resort, Huahine

About 30 minutes by plane from Tahiti, the two islands of Huahine -- billed as "one of Polynesia's best-kept secrets" by Tahiti Tourism -- are home to archaeological sites, vanilla plantations and mango, banana and papaya groves.

You'll also find the Te Tiare Beach Resort, where visitors can stay in various types of huts, including deep overwater bungalows.

"There are only 11 of these, and all have stunning views of the lagoon and reef," Howe said. "The resort is only accessible by water, which lends a remote and very romantic feel."

All of the bungalows face west, so expect to end your days with spectacular sunsets.

The deep overwater bungalows go for about $830 a night during high season (from June to October) and about $720 for the rest of the year.

For more information, click here.

Constance Moofushi Resort, Maldives

Choose from dozens of water villas on the spectacular South Ari Atoll, which is home to a number of world-class dive sites.

You'll reach the resort by seaplane after arriving in Maldives International Airport and relax in bungalows with gorgeous views of the Indian Ocean.

There's lots to do if you want to leave your hut, including scuba diving, snorkeling, night fishing and other activities.

For an extra fee, the resort also offers a "Robinson Crusoe" experience for couples, allowing them to spend a half-day or a full day on a deserted island.

Rates for the all-inclusive package, which includes meals, drinks and other amenities, start at $705 per night for single occupancy in the water villas. They jump to $1,700 per night during the holidays.

Four Seasons Bora Bora

The resort's 100 overwater bungalows sit on stilts over a turquoise lagoon and feature traditional teak wood furnishings and roofs thatched with pandanus leaves.

You can choose various views, but Howe recommended splurging for the Otemanu-view overwater bungalow with a private plunge pool.

"These are right out at the end of the pontoon and have great views of the main peak of [Mount] Otemanu on the main island of Bora Bora," Howe said.

This type of bungalow goes for about $2,700 a night.

The Four Seasons Bora Bora was among the winners of TripAdvisor's 2011 Travelers' Choice awards -- chosen by the site's members as one of the top 10 hotels for romance and luxury in the South Pacific.

Cayo Espanto, Belize

As mentioned, you won't find a lot of overwater bungalows near the United States, but this five-star resort on a private island in the Western Caribbean is one option closer to home: It's less than two hours by plane from Miami and Houston.

"That's a lovely property," McCabe said. "It's a very private, very upscale resort."

There are seven villas on the island, including one overwater bungalow. You'll find the one-bedroom Casa Ventanas at the end of a dock that stretches more than 150 feet off the island "for the ultimate in privacy," the resort says.

Like many of its counterparts in French Polynesia and the Maldives, the bungalow has a glass panel in the floor so guests can gaze down at the sea life during their stay.

Casa Ventanas is yours for $1,295 per night, which includes meals, drinks and personal butler service. (Prices rise for the holiday season.)

via:cnn

10 tried and tested tips on not falling prey in places where other travelers have.

1. Don't be drunk. 

Large, flesh-eating predators on planet Earth have always had a natural instinct to sniff out sick, injured and weak prey. Nocturnal human predators are no different -- and there's no weaker animal on the Serengeti of nightlife than a wasted foreigner.

This one's obvious, but is also probably the most common slip.

2. Don't look rich. 

This one goes out to Brazil, where literally every horror story I've heard from friends (including one who survived a double gunshot wound in the stomach and the murder of his companion) starts with a display of wealth.

Don't get me wrong -- you can be doing nothing flashy and still get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, in Brazil or anywhere. But you dramatically increase your chances of getting robbed if you look like you might have a lot in your pockets or backpack ... or if you're driving a nice car.

You don't have to strive to look destitute, but you should strive to look like you're not carrying much on you at the moment.

3. The kids don't play.

This rule applies in countries with serious income disparities (like Brazil or Kenya), and especially in urban areas.

Very few children -- regardless of where in the world you are -- will approach you with malicious intent, but poor kids in big cities are different. They may have been hardened early by the street life or acquired very bad role models (usually their accomplice). And in cities like Rio and Nairobi, they're the most dangerous people on the street simply (and sadly) because they have very little to lose.

In Brazil, if a group of adolescent kids (for age, think "Ciudad de Dios") approaches me at night, I feel it's a scheme to pick my pocket, best case. Worst case, they're either about to rob me with a gun or set me up for someone older to rob me with a gun. I cover my pockets, ignore them completely, and walk quickly to a well-lit and highly populated area as fast as I can.

If you stop in the shadows to try to figure out what they're asking, you're about to get got.

4. Watch the people watching you.

Ever seen a Discovery Channel lion spot an unsuspecting herd of gazelle through the tall grass? They get very low to the ground, put their ears back and stare with intent.

Drug addicts are no different, and the majority of people who make bold robbery attempts -- whether violent or not -- are some sort of drug addict. The good news is addicts aren't even close to as smooth as lions.

If you're watching the people who are watching you, they'll eventually break that stare at your video camera and make eye contact with you. It can be a pretty intense moment, but in the end, they'll realize you're not the low-hanging fruit they were hoping for.

Which brings me to the next rule ...

5. Don't be the low-hanging fruit; be the lion.

People who rob people are desperate. They're willing to take risks, but they also calculate those risks because they know the stakes are high.

Suppose you're walking around Madrid, carrying a DSLR camera that's attracting a lot of attention. The minute the schemer shifts his gaze from your camera to your eyes, there's an instant evaluation. Either you're low-hanging fruit, or you're not. If you've ignored rule #1, you're already getting followed and it's just a matter of time before they make their move.

If, on the other hand, you appear sober, aware and confident, they're probably going to pass and wait for something easier. Say you're observing rule #3 and notice you've caught the attention of three kids on the sidewalk ahead of you. Look them right in the eye, make fists, puff out your chest and confidently walk on by. If you know how to say "how it's going" in their language, even better.

You never want anyone to look at you like the low-hanging fruit; you want them to look and think, "there's a decent chance this one would be the wrong one to screw with. I'll just wait for the sicker, weaker, more injured tourist."

6. Root for the home team. 

I lived in the San Telmo area of Buenos Aires, Argentina, for 8 months in 2005. It was extremely safe and I never had a problem.

The barrio next door was La Boca, home to La Bombonera -- a massive stadium where the beloved Boca Juniors fútbol club plays. To get the full effect of the Boca games, I'd sit in the "public section," notorious for fights and in-stadium stabbings, beatings and robberies. I made sure never to bring a camera, wallet, watch, or anything else that made it seem like I had something of value on me.

I also dressed in Boca colors. Sure, I had authentic love for Boca, but whatever my fan affiliation, you couldn't have paid me to walk into that section wearing anything but home team gear.

7. Put expensive stuff where they won't expect.

No, I'm not saying to keep your iPod in your underwear. This is about the stuff you're not taking out of the hotel when you go out at night.

Most people who rob hotel rooms are freaked out -- scared as hell they might get caught -- and as a result, they're usually in a huge hurry. Some are probably high.

They run in with flashlights and take all the big bags and stuff near the outlets. Don't make it easy for them to find your most expensive, irreplaceable items. Store your laptop under a chair or bed when you go out at night. It's not an FBI search ... many rocks will be left unturned.

If you leave all your electronics on the desk, you'll be left with nothing. If you stash them in random places, you'll be short a few beach towels. Worth doing for peace of mind alone.

8. Listen to the locals.

I've never crossed over to "the wrong side of the tracks" and suddenly gotten robbed. But I have been walking between neighborhoods and been told sternly that it's crazy to let my little sister keep her DSLR out to take pictures.

Locals can be overprotective (with kind intentions), but whenever someone sticks their neck out to explain that the street you just turned onto ain't the best for tourists, rules #1-5 should be observed with increased diligence. And it's usually a good idea to heed the advice.

9. Be smart about cabs.

The safest thing to do is call and order every cab you take, but when you're out at a bar in a country where you don't speak the language, finding someone to call you a cab isn't always realistic.

The second best option is flagging down a cab that's driving by. If you get in a cab that's just been sitting there "lying in wait," you're increasing the chances of getting yourself into trouble.

The guys who offer you cabs inside the airport are always super shady, and it's never smart to go with them. Always best to go straight to the professional and hopefully regulated "cab line" at any foreign (or domestic) airport.

Getting in unmarked cabs and cabs that have another dude in the passenger seat is also always a bad idea.

10. Recognize when a bad situation is developing and get out of there.

Not all crime is skillfully premeditated and executed -- oftentimes it's improvised.

Some local punks take note of the fact you're alone or vulnerable and you have something they want. If you're observing rule #4 and you see people talking about you and looking over at you, there's no reason to hang out and see if it's just your imagination.

Always err on the side of caution and get out of there fast as you can, preferably to a well-lit place with lots of people. Nine times out of 10 they'll realize the opportunity has passed and carry on with whatever they were doing before they noticed you.

If the stories circulating around company water coolers are true, frequent-flier miles are worse than useless. Why? Because, the story goes, every time a hapless customer tries to cash in his hard-earned miles for a free trip, airline reps just roll their eyes and respond mock-respectfully, "Sorry sir, we have no seats available for award travel on that flight."

The award challenge in perspective 

How hard is it, really, for frequent flier program members to get what's coming to them?

Unfortunately, there's no central repository of frequent flier data (as, for example, the DOT maintains for arrival and departure data). So there is no definitive answer to the question.

The airlines in recent years have included frequent flier program statistics on their websites, as part of their so-called customer care commitments. As an example, American, operator of the first modern mileage program and one of the largest, reports that AAdvantage members were able to redeem more than 165 billion miles in 2010 to claim almost 7.2 million awards for flights, upgrades and car rentals. Of those, 5,252,293 were free flights on American, and 590,374 were upgrades.

Those are impressive numbers, but they leave the crucial questions unanswered. How many times were AAdvantage members able to book their first choice of award flights? How often were they forced to revise their plans due to award bottlenecks. How many times did they have to redeem twice as many miles for an unrestricted award to circumvent those bottlenecks? And how often were they stymied completely, utterly unable to find any award flights that were both acceptable and available?

Except for the airlines themselves—and they're not saying—no one knows the definitive answers to these questions, either as they pertain to the program of American or to the programs of other airlines.

What we do know, anecdotally, is that miles are not readily redeemable for capacity-controlled awards. And for reasons that aren't difficult to discern—a combination of full flights and slim profits—redeeming them for award flights is harder than ever.

Award-seat allocation: Behind the scenes 

Before turning to specific suggestions for getting an award, let's take a moment to consider the reason award seats can be hard to come by.

On one hand, airlines want to deliver on the promise implicit in frequent flier programs: a free ticket after you've earned the required miles. Indeed, to break that promise too often, to too many customers, would incite a huge consumer backlash, turning a customer-incentive program into a customer-alienation program.

On the other hand, in the interest of fiscal responsibility, the airlines are loathe to give away seats that might otherwise be sold to revenue customers. The direct cost of flying an award passenger from point A to point B is essentially the cost of a meal and some extra jet fuel, less than $25 in most cases. But if that award passenger has displaced a revenue passenger, the cost to the carrier can easily multiply ten-fold or more.

Moderating between these two conflicting considerations is the arcane practice of yield management. The aim of yield management is to squeeze every last dollar of potential revenue out of each and every seat on each and every flight. To that end, airlines employ highly sophisticated software to make seats available for sale at different price points, depending on historical data, current demand, days remaining before the flight closes, etc. It's a dynamic process, with the number of seats available at different fares changing continuously.

Award seats are simply treated as another fare "bucket," albeit a non-revenue one. And because there's no revenue generated by frequent flier tickets, naturally they receive lowest priority in a program designed to optimize revenue. On a flight which might sell out—based on its past performance and current sales—the software will minimize, or eliminate altogether, award seats for that flight. If, closer to the departure date, the flight still has seats available, more award seats might be made available.

To the flexible (or lucky) go the awards 

As already intimated, the key to getting awards is the "F" word: Flexibility. So if at first you don't succeed, try the following, singly or in combination, until "No" gives way to "Yes, madam, we do have award seats on that flight."

Book early or book late 

As with revenue seats, award seats generally become available in CRSs (the computer reservations systems used by airlines and travel agents to book travel) 330 days before the flight date. That's your first window of opportunity and, in theory, the optimum time to request an award. As a practical matter, it's difficult for most travelers to plan a trip almost a year in advance.

At the other end of the advance-booking spectrum, it is sometimes easier to book last minute (within two weeks of the flight date, say), when award seats may be added back into inventory on flights which aren't selling out.

• FREQUENT FLIER DEALS: 

There are opportunities in the middle term as well. Many airlines manually review their seat allocations 120, 90, 60 and 30 days in advance. After each review, depending on the analyst's finding, more (or fewer) award seats may be made available.

Book on off-peak days 

Which days are peak and off-peak? It depends. To a predominantly business-oriented destination like Chicago, peak days will be Tuesday through Thursday, primetime for business trips. Las Vegas or Orlando, because they draw a leisure-focused clientele, see their traffic peak around the weekends.

In addition to the day-of-the-week ups and downs, there are annual cycles. The summer migration to beach cities. Spring break in Florida. Winter holiday getaways to Hawaii. Summer vacation trips to Europe.

The trick is to identify the lows and highs for the flight of your choice, and plan to book award travel during the former and away from the latter.

Travel on holidays 

While it typically ranges from very difficult to impossible to book award travel on the days just prior to and after holidays, you can often find award seats available on the day of the holiday itself.

I have used frequent flier tickets for travel on both Christmas and Thanksgiving. True, I sacrificed some of the time I might otherwise have spent with friends and family. But in both cases, the planes were relatively empty and the ground and cabin crew were in festive moods. And on the Christmas flight, the airline even waived the fee for the movie in economy class.

Be a contrarian destination-wise 

All things being equal, an award ticket to Omaha is easier to snag than one to Oahu. And mid-winter, the difference will be most pronounced. (You may also find that award trips to smaller, less-served destinations represent good value, since the price of a revenue ticket may be higher than on more competitive routes.)

Listen to the airlines 

Sensitive to the need to maximize program members' satisfaction, airlines are increasingly offering members award redemption advice proactively. Example: American, United, and US Airways all publish lists of recommended award destinations, highlighting city pairs with the most award availability over the upcoming months.

Also, it has become standard practice for the airlines to offer periodic award sales, discounting award tickets to selected destinations. The destinations are selected, of course, precisely because they're not in demand, so by taking advantage of them you enjoy both a lower mileage price and a better chance of getting a seat on your first choice of days and times.

Leverage your elite status 

Elite status confers a number of benefits when it comes to award time.

First, many programs systematically give elite members less fettered access to award seats.

• ELITE STATUS: The ultimate frequent flier perk

In addition to the published benefits accruing to elite status, there is the undocumented special consideration that airlines extend to their best customers. A reservations supervisor may be empowered to override capacity controls on award seats, and a caller's elite status might be sufficient reason to do so.

The old "It never hurts to ask" adage is especially true if you're elite.

Fragment the family 

Award travel is flagrantly family-unfriendly. While there may be two award seats available on a given flight, the odds of there being three seats are much lower. Four seats? Not even on a Saturday-night red-eye to Peoria.

If you're a family of three, four or more, consider the following options:

• Divide the family into two or more groups, and try booking each group on separate flights timed to arrive within an hour or two of each other.

• Combine awards and revenue tickets.

• Combine restricted and unrestricted awards (see below).

Pay for help 

The airlines have done a masterful job over the past 10 years of training travelers to make their bookings online. For paid trips, that's fine, since seat availability is rarely an issue. But because of the capacity controls on award seats, and the limits of the reservations software itself, booking free trips online can be a challenge.

When attempts to book award trips online prove unsuccessful, consumers would do well to recall that most airlines still operate call centers, staffed by professionals who solve reservations problems all day, every day. A reservations agent may be able to override the restrictions on award seats on a particular flight, or create an itinerary that makes use of connecting flights via less in-demand airports.

Making award reservations by phone isn't free: there's a service fee ranging from $10 to $20. But that's a small price to pay if it makes the difference between failure and success in booking award travel.

A variation on the "pay for help" theme is to secure the services of a travel agent, preferably one who specializes in making frequent flier award bookings. Once again, there's a fee, but one well worth paying if the agent can get you where you want to go.

Pay the full price 

Lastly, and only as a last resort, consider cashing in more miles—typically twice as many—for an unrestricted award.

Most airlines divide their awards into two categories, restricted (sometimes called saver awards) and unrestricted (known as rule-buster or anytime awards). Reflecting the revenue fares on which they're modeled, restricted awards are cheaper but less flexible, while unrestricted awards cost more miles but have fewer restrictions.

Specifically, anytime awards, as the name suggests, are available without date constraints. And as well, capacity controls are either relaxed or lifted entirely.

While paying double miles effectively cuts in half the value of the miles redeemed, it may be the only alternative to just staying home. In the realm of mileage programs, the best deal isn't always a good deal.

Cirque du Soleil wants to recreate Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch in Sin City.

The Mandalay Bay hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip plans to open a sprawling entertainment complex that includes a Jackson-themed lounge, an interactive memorabilia museum and a theater designed to replicate the iconic refuge of the deceased musical legend, Cirque du Soleil president Daniel Lamarre said Wednesday.

"This place, Mandalay Bay, is going to become the home of Michael Jackson in many, many ways," he said at an announcement at the casino attended by Jackson's older brother, Jackie.

John Branca, co-executor of Michael Jackson's estate, said the attraction will offer fans a permanent place to celebrate, as well as give them the opportunity to see some of the objects displayed at Neverland Ranch.

"Very few fans would ever get to visit Michael's Neverland Ranch because of its remote location," he said.

Plans for the Las Vegas lodestone, set to open in 2013, are part of the budding business relationship between the acrobatic troupe and the pop star's estate.

Cirque du Soleil's homage to Jackson kicks off in October, with the most expensive show in the French company's history. The $57 million Michael Jackson, The Immortal World Tour will open in Montreal and hit 30 cities including New York, Miami, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

The tour's Las Vegas stop at Mandalay Bay will kick off with a fan convention in December as a preview to the permanent Jackson attraction.

Concept art for the touring show's set prominently features a massive tree symbolic of a favorite oak that was outside Jackson's Neverland bedroom. The singer nicknamed it the Giving Tree and had a perch built atop it where he wrote music and sometimes slept.

For Jackson's Thriller, tombstones overwhelm the set in a nod to the music video's horror-film motif and gyrating zombies.

Excerpts from Jackson's music videos will be part of the 90-minute show, with no specific performer representing Jackson. Immortal will also feature as-yet-unreleased songs that Jackson finished before his death in 2009.

The tour then goes to Europe, Lamarre said, while Cirque producers open a more intimate, theatrical show at the new Las Vegas theater.

Jackson's estate and Cirque will each own 50% of both projects and share equally in the cost of putting on the productions.

Tour director Jamie King said he searched for acrobats, dancers and musicians from across the world who could capture Jackson's spirit and showmanship.

"I feel like I am not doing it alone, I feel like I am doing it with Michael as my co-director all the way," said King, who has directed concert tours for Madonna, Rihanna and Celine Dion and is a former Jackson back-up dancer.

Jackson admired the Canadian troupe's work and attended Cirque shows in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. His support, Lamarre said, helped build the company.

Cirque du Soleil has since become as ubiquitous on the Las Vegas Strip as all-you-can-eat buffets or buzzing slot machines, with shows in recent years honoring Elvis Presley, Celine Dion and the Beatles.

Mandalay Bay, long home to Disney's The Lion King musical, has never hosted a Cirque show before.

Mandalay Bay President Chuck Bowling said the Jackson attraction will strengthen the casino's financial health in future years.

The theatrical performance will take over The Lion King stage when that show closes in December, and some venues in the casino will have to be relocated to accommodate the mega attraction.

Lamarre said the changes will be permanent.

"The tradition here is our shows last forever," he said.