Candyce H. Stapen

Apps can go a long way toward making your trips easier and safer. The new generation of hotel apps allows you to reserve rooms, check in, request items and services, and also check out. You don’t need to interact with the hotel staff unless you want to. Third-party apps also seek to improve your travel experience. Discover apps that reveal local recommendations, translate phrases into scores of languages and provide information on safety in destinations around the world. 

Both hotel and travel apps promise information and services literally at the touch of a screen. Choose the right app and you’re likely to get your needs met, whether it’s reserving dinner, booking a massage, finding a reduced-price hotel room, obtaining a translation or assessing a destination’s safety. Consider the following handy apps before leaving on your next trip.

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Convenience appeals to both tech-savvy millennials accustomed to instant gratification as well as to Baby Boomers looking for fewer hassles on the road. Most big chain hotels proffer their own apps.

Marriott appears to be leading the pack with its well-designed, easy-to-use, and functional app. Just tap to find and book a hotel, check in before you arrive at the property, unlock your room, request standard items — dental kits, towels, soap, track loyalty points, and check out. Use text messaging to request additional items from phone chargers to luggage assistance.

Like the company’s website, this app enables you to find a discounted hotel room, manage your reservations and track your rewards points.

With this app, you can search Booking.com’s more than 800,000 listings. Helpful filters allow you to search by city, landmark, price and other users’ reviews.

Safety remains a primary concern for travelers. GeoSure aims to help by synthesizing safety data from sources such as the UN, World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, and Interpol with crowdsourced reports and other data to provide GeoSure Safety Ratings, “the most granular, trusted safety ratings in the world,” according to the app’s description. While that remains to be seen, an app that provides more than the U.S. point of view, utilizes big data to analyze situations, and incorporates real-time, local comments is certainly worth a try, especially when traveling overseas. 

 This app uses locals in various destinations to recommend their favorite restaurants, shops, bars, and hotels so that users can (possibly) experience the city as a local would. Localeur currently covers more than 40 U.S. cities as well as Toronto and Vancouver. As always, user beware. An expert touting a specific gym or shop could be related to the owner, have little background to make a judgment, or, the localeur could have just tipped you off to a hidden gem.

Want to introduce yourself to your new Slovakian friends but don’t speak Slovak? No problem. With Google Translate, type in the words, phrase or sentences you need, and the app translates your statement into one of 100+ languages. Some users find Google Translate easier to use than iTranslate, another translation app.

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Put the latest apps to work for you on your next vacation. GeoSure uses crowd-sourced data to determine whether a location is safe. Localeur will help you find restaurants and activities favored by locals. And Google Translate will help you break down any language barriers you may encounter.


Handy Hotel and Travel Apps

Check out the largest known T-rex fossil at the Field Museum in Chicago while attending the Midwinter Meeting. Image source: Field Museum

Chicago’s world-class museums are well-worth exploring. Discover the largest ever T-rex fossil at the Field Museum. Browse works by the giants of contemporary art at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), and meet some 32,000 creatures that inhabit the water at the Shedd Aquarium. During the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, you can delve even deeper at these facilities’ special exhibits and events. Learn the why and how of tattoos at the Field, watch performances choreographed by Merce Cunningham at the MCA, and sleep with the fish at the Shedd Aquarium.   

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: At the noted natural history museum, meet SUE, whose bona fides include being the largest, best-preserved, and most complete 

 ever discovered. The famous fossil stretches 40.5-feet from tail to snout, is 13-feet high at the hip, and snarls open-mouthed, the better to show off her 58 pointed teeth. Additional Field highlights include a walk-through a replica of an ancient Egyptian tomb, a hall of ancient jade objects, and a working DNA lab.

 explores the 5,000-year-old art form. Learn about the tools, techniques and cultural meanings of tattooing and peruse 15 life-size, elaborately decorated silicone torsos. Although the exhibit includes a working tattoo parlor with live clients being inked, no artists will be applying tattoos at the facility February 23 to 25. Through April 30, 2017.

You can see the Merce Cunningham retrospective, "Common Time" at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Image source: Jaques Moatti

This major contemporary art museum showcases art in all media from from the 1920s to the present. The permanent collection features works by Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Robert Rauschenberg and many others. The building remains open during its current renovation to create more public space.

Special exhibits and events: “Riot Grrls”

 presents the work of 10 pioneering female artists. “In a challenge to the boys’ club sensibility that has historically shaped abstract painting, the female painters featured … achieve a level of mastery, innovation, and chutzpah that doesn’t need external validation,” reads the website. The artists include Mary Heilmann, Charline von Heyl, Judy Ledgerwood, and Joyce Pensato. Through June 18, 2017.

 is a retrospective of the world-renowned choreographer and his company that focuses on the artist’s multidisciplinary projects. Discover how Cunningham’s innovations in combining music, movement and art influenced modern dance and other artists. The exhibit contains videos, sets, costumes, Andy Warhol’s “Rainforest,” as well as Charles Atlas’s “MC9,” and video clips covering decades of Cunningham pieces. Through April 30, 2017.

 former Cunningham collaborators present “slices” of Cunningham’s and his partner John Cage’s works. February 25 and February 26. Tickets required.

Click to the next page for special family events at the Shedd Acquarium.

You and your children could even spend the night at the Shedd Acquarium. Image source: Shedd Acquarium

  The aquarium features 32,000 creatures. Meet beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters, sea lions, turtles, and schools of fish that live in a diversity of habitats.

Consider “Asleep with the Fishes,” February 24, 2017, if traveling with children ages 5 through 12. During this overnight at the museum, you and your budding oceanographer eat a pizza dinner, explore the exhibits after-hours, go on a scavenger hunt, watch a Caribbean Reef dive, create crafts, and listen to animal stories before bedding down at 11 p.m. in front of the giant tanks.  Breakfast is at 7 a.m. and you depart the aquarium by 8:30 a.m. Overnight fees range from $75 to $100 per person. With a higher price ticket, you can bring air mattresses (recommended) and receive VIP seating for the presentations. You can attend the fun evening activities but return to your comfortable hotel room for $40 per person. Museum members receive discounts. Reserve tickets in advance.

Take advantage of your free time in Chicago while attending the Midwinter Meeting to explore the city's noted museums. See the largest dinosaur fossil. Admire the work of world-class contemporary artists. Meet beluga whales, turtles, piranhas, Caribbean reef fish and penguins. You can even sleep overnight at the Shedd Aquarium if you've brought your 5- to 12-year-old child with you.

Toronto offers many perks to American tourists, such as a favorable exchange rate, lovely scenic views, and a rich cultural experience.

Canada is on the rise as a tourist destination. Interest in visiting Canada nearly doubled in 2016 for Americans and Germans, according to 

. For Americans, our northern neighbor comes with a number of plusses. The gorgeous country can be easily accessed, the natives primarily speak English and the U.S. dollar buys nearly 30 percent more in Canada. As of posting this story, $1 U.S. gets you $1.31 Canadian. In addition, the nation celebrates its 150th birthday in 2017 with special events, festivals and exhibits. City-lovers should consider lively Toronto.

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Toronto’s population hovers near 2.8 million within town and balloons to more than 5.5 million when counting the suburbs, making Toronto Canada’s largest city. Many consider Toronto to be “the New York City” of Canada, a thriving financial center with top museums and a sophisticated theater scene.

Among the city’s must-see museums are: 

, with more than 800 interactive exhibits that make play out of scientific principles.

, which explores diverse topics from dinosaurs, Canada’s First Peoples, Africa, and, starting March 11, 2017, blue whales.

, which is actually a museum, is noted for its extensive collection of Henry Moore sculptures plus works by Canadian and European artists. A retrospective of Georgia O’Keeffe runs April 22nd to July 30, 2017.

· Not a must-see, but more of a you-will-be-surprised kind of place, the 

 presents history and culture from the vantage point of footwear. What you walk in depends on your geographical location, your culture and, often, your economic position. That becomes clear when viewing items such as the nine-inch chopines worn by wealthy women in 16th century Venice, as well as the seeing the warm, practical and prettily decorated footwear of Arctic dwellers.

Harbourfront Centre, a 10-acre site on the shores of Lake Ontario, hosts thousands of events a year, from classical and rock concerts to a HarbourKIDS circus with juggling and magic acts. Take in the free Toronto Storytelling Festival, April 2, 2017, and check the calendar for upcoming events. A waterfront walkway along the lake makes strolling scenic. New grassy areas provide places to sit.

The iconic waterfront park has been under renovation for several years. With luck, the first phase, which includes the development of waterfront trails, should reopen in time for Canada’s July 1 birthday fête.

The train ride from downtown Toronto to Niagara Falls — the Canadian side, of course – takes two hours. Once there, you have enough time to get thoroughly drenched aboard one of the boats that gets you close to the thundering waters. Dry off while taking in the scenic views from the White Water Walk boardwalk.

Canada is becoming increasingly popular among tourists. Its favorable currency exchange rate and scenic beauty make it particularly attractive to Americans. If you're thinking of making the northward journey, Toronto is a wonderful spring or summer destination. The city is packed with museums, and it's a two-hour train ride away from Niagara Falls.


Toronto Makes for an Idyllic Budget Vacation Destination

Violet Hour, Three Dots and Dash, and Barrelhouse Flat, among others, offer delicious cocktails for attendees of the Chicago Midwinter Meeting.

Chicago is happily in the throes of a cocktail revival. In a world where spirits come stirred, shaken, jiggered, and infused, Chicago proffers choices. You can pick your evening’s ambiance from elegant lounges, cozy hideaways, gastro-pubs, tiki bars and fine restaurants that fashion molecular cocktails. Here’s a round-up of some of Chicago’s best cocktail bars.

: The Logan Square tavern sets a cozy mood with plush settees, two fireplaces and a roster of gin-centric cocktails, from staples to seasonal infusions. The pub grub — burgers, fries, etc. – is reasonably priced.

: Popular Violet Hour in Wicker Park posts a few rules. Among them: “No cell phones, no baseball hats, no reservations, no Budweiser, no light beer, and please do not bring anyone to the Violet Hour that you wouldn’t bring to your mother’s house for Sunday Dinner.” The result, along with the décor, is a somewhat refined atmosphere within which to savor the seasonal cocktails that contain house-made bitters, juices and garnishes.  

: If you like tiki drinks, come to Three Dots and a Dash. At what the owners call “an island-themed getaway,” sample the menu of mostly rum cocktails served in coconut shells or glasses with skulls, hula girls or other tiki figures on them. You can choose from a menu of classic or updated cocktails crafted for “modern-day beachcombers” as well as punches that will quench the thirst of your posse. 

: This Lincoln Park cocktail bar serves some 60 different cocktails created from bourbon, rye, scotch, gin, rum and sparkling wine. The first floor is typically crowded while the upstairs lounge is quieter. Fried pickles, popcorn, mac and cheese and burgers provide sustenance. 

: At the Aviary, mixologists apply the noted restaurant’s skills in molecular gastronomy —manipulating the ingredients’ states of matter – to create fanciful cocktails. You might need a glass straw to pull the solid rum balls into your mouth or a slingshot to break an ice egg that releases the spirits. Reservations required.  

: Located in the River North neighborhood’s Hotel Palomar, Sable Kitchen and Bar, conjures the élan of 1940s America. Mixologists create modern takes on Prohibition-era cocktails.

: Perched on the roof of the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, Cindy’s draws crowds for its views of Lake Michigan and Millennium Park. The décor channels a Great Lakes beach house and the place’s popularity can result in a nice thrum or too much noise, depending on your perspective.  Nonetheless, come here to enjoy the cocktails, some tweaked with unusual ingredients, and the view.

The perfect way to fend of the chill at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting is with an artfully crafted cocktail. There's no shortage of hotspots in the Windy City. There are options for all tastes. If you're into prohibition-era gin or whiskey-based drinks, or if a tiki bar is more your style, or if you're just looking to sip and enjoy some scenery, Chicago has you covered. Here's where you'll find some of the best drinks in Chicago.

Breathing in the fresh salt air on an ocean voyage feels invigorating. But can the sea air be harmful? The Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU), a German environmental association, thinks so. Passengers on deck might be inhaling harmful pollutants in concentrations 60 times higher than in land settings. For the French documentary television series Thalassa, a journalist sampled the air at various locations on deck shortly after a cruise ship left Marseille. NABU analyzed the samples.

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· The concentration of harmful ultra-fine particles was up to 200 times higher than in natural, fresh air surroundings.

· The harmful air was 20 times worse than in city centers of some port cities such as Marseille, Hamburg and Barcelona.

· A fresh sea breeze — not from a cruise ship – typically contains 1,000 to 2,000 harmful particles. A sea going sample taken over a 50-minute time period revealed 60,000 particles per cubic centimeter of harmful pollutants.

· The sun deck and jogging decks had the highest concentration of air pollutants.

· Harmful pollutants include dust and soot from the cruise ship funnels as well as nitrogen oxides and heavy metals emitted by the combustion of marine diesel fuel and heavy oil.

· Diesel exhaust is as carcinogenic as asbestos, according to the World Health Organization.

· The German Lung Association and the German Pneumologists Association have warned passengers against lingering on a ship’s open decks.

· Cruise ships could improve air quality by switching to less polluting fuels — road diesel or natural gas – and by installing particulate filters.

Representatives of the cruise industry questioned the accuracy of the findings and dismissed the study for its small sample. The German director of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) questioned the study’s methodology and results, saying that the cruise industry has invested $1 billion in new technologies and cleaner fuels to reduce ship air emission.

NABU’s findings, even though the study was far from comprehensive, give cruisers something to ponder. Did the ship sampled employ anti-pollution mechanisms and use less contaminating fuels? Is the sample indicative of what passengers encounter throughout a voyage, or is rate of 60 times more polluted than land areas only a problem soon after sailing?

In any case, savoring the sea air from a deck chair is one of the prime pleasures of an ocean voyage. But not if the air may be harmful. Cruisers and environmentalists should follow this issue, and, if necessary, advocate for cleaner air at sea.

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Breathing in the fresh salt air on an ocean voyage feels invigorating. But can the sea air be harmful? The Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU), a German environmental association, thinks so. Passengers on deck might be inhaling harmful pollutants in concentrations 60 times higher than in land settings.

Danger at Sea? Report Highlights Poor Air Quality Aboard Cruise Ship

This new report from Travelzoo predicts that Americans will eschew international vacation destinations in favor of beaches in the U.S.

Security is the number one concern for U.S. travelers, according to 

, an online travel deals and booking site. As a result, a majority of travelers plan to vacation closer to home in 2017, according to Travelzoo’s Spring Travel Trends 2017. Sixty percent of respondents said they are likely to stay within the U.S. Most U.S. travelers plan to book their trip between January and April and take those vacations between May and July.

Terrorism, anti-American sentiment, political unrest, crime and anxiety about personal safety topped the list of negatives affecting travel choices. Worries about Zika ranked lower than uneasiness about safety and security. A large number of respondents — 72 percent – said they would pay more for their vacation if that would result in increased security.  

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 Those planning a vacation rated a U.S. beach destination as high on their list, with many contemplating trips to Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Canada ranked among the close-to-home destinations. Travelzoo predicts that Canada will continue to experience increased tourism. In 2016 interest by Americans and Germans in Canada nearly doubled, according to Travelzoo.

For Canadians, Canada tied with the Caribbean as the top vacation spots in 2017. British Columbia rated as the most popular province, Ontario came in second and Alberta came in third. 25 percent of respondents planned to travel within Canada twice in 2017 and 29 percent said they would take four or more trips within Canada in 2017.

 “U.S. travelers showed some caution over international travel this year, but it is encouraging to see 88 percent of those surveyed still plan to take a proper vacation in 2017,” said Michael Stitt, Travelzoo president for North America. “This may be an opportunity for those going abroad—a strong dollar and the need for travel companies to spur demand may create some of the strongest deals we’ve seen in years.”

For its Spring Travel Trends 2017 Survey, Travelzoo analyzed the responses of 1,068 consumers in the U.S. who responded to an online questionnaire distributed by research agency Toluna.

Discover more Dentist's Money Digest Lifestyle coverage here.

Security is the number one concern for U.S. travelers, according to Travelzoo, an online travel deals and booking site. As a result, a majority of travelers plan to vacation closer to home in 2017, according to Travelzoo's Spring Travel Trends 2017. Popular intended destinations include beaches in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Security Concerns Will Keep Americans in the States for Vacation, Report Says

Chicago is a city with a rich African American history and culture. Many blacks settled in Chicago as part of the Great Migration, a massive relocation of some six million African Americans from the rural South to the industrialized urban centers of the North between 1915 and 1975. People came for jobs and better lives for themselves and for their children.

February marks Black History Month across the U.S.  Take advantage of your February visit to the Windy City to discover the story of the Chicago’s African Americans and to take part in Chicago’s celebration of African Americans.

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Located in Washington Park, the museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, presents exhibits on the African American experience in the U.S. and in Chicago as well as showcases art by African Americans. The facility is named for Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, a Haitian-born trader who settled in 1780 in what became Chicago. DuSable is credited with being the area’s first non-native resident. The museum presents exhibits on slavery; Egyptian royalty; blacks in the military; former Chicago mayor Harold Washington, Chicago’s first black mayor; and African American artists.

Those who love textiles and history shouldn’t miss “Unpacking Collections: The Legacy of Cuesta Benberry, an African American Quilt Scholar.” Not only beautiful, the scores of quilts add to the story of quilt work as art and reveal something of the women who crafted them.

The statue by Alison Saar depicts a man facing north, carrying a suitcase. His right hand is raised in a greeting to his new home. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and 26

Erected in 1927 in the Bronzeville neighborhood, the monument honors the Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard, an African American unit that served in France during World War I. 3500 S. King Drive.

: For more than 100 years, Green Mill Cocktail Lounge has hosted jazz musicians and the place still does. During Prohibition Al Capone and his friends hung out at the Green Mill. 4802 N. Broadway Avenue.

Jazz and swing fans should stop by Andy’s. One of Chicago’s noted jazz clubs, Andy’s has been showcasing the city’s great music for 50 years. 11 E. Hubbard Street.

: For 40 years the Black Ensemble Theater has staged plays, musicals, dances and other productions. In 2011, the theater moved into its new facility on the North Side. The theater hosts “My Brother’s Keeper: The Story of the Nicolas Brothers” the weekend of February 23 to 25. Reserve ahead for tickets. 4440 N.  Clark Street.

Chicago is a city with a rich African American history and culture. February marks Black History Month across the U.S. Take advantage of your February visit to the Windy City to discover the story of Chicago's African Americans and to take part in Chicago's celebration of African Americans.

Chicago Midwinter Meeting: Discover A Rich African American History

Fans of Chicago craft beer want you to know that nothing pairs better with a snowy midwestern day than a frosty IPA. While attending Chicago Dental Soceity's Midwinter meeting, be sure to check out the Windy City's craft beer scene. Image credit: Joe Hannan

Chicago features so many craft breweries that the city hosts brew festivals, but none, alas, during the Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting. But don’t worry, Midwinter Meeting attendees. There’s plenty of beer on tap and plenty of taverns to try. Consider these noted breweries and guided pub crawls.

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 Located in Lakeview on Chicago’s north side, DryHop loves “hop-centric” ales. The place has gained fame for its IPAs and Pale Ales. Shark Meets Hipster is one of DryHop’s signature brews. The pub is also known for its burger, a blend of brisket and short rib laced with chile-tomato jam and aged cheddar.

 Created by the same group that crafted DryHop, Corridor Brewery & Provisions is a craft brewery and restaurant in the West Lakeview neighborhood. The master brewer focuses on farmhouse ales and “hop-forward beers.” He describes Wizard Fight as a true Chicago IPA. Much more fun than apple cider, Corridor’s Master or Be Mastered is brewed with Persian pear to infuse a hint of apple pie.

: The tasting room, with its white marble bar and blue velvet armchairs, is more designer chic than basic brewery. And that’s part of the charm. The rest comes from Moody Tongue’s interesting mix of flavors. Chocolate and beer? Try the Caramelized Chocolate Churro Baltic Porter. Like lemon meringue pie? Drink hints of that sweetness with the Steeped Emperor’s Lemon Saison.

 The Lincoln Square/Ravenswood brewery is named after the dovetail joint, which the owners call “the classic symbol of quality and craftsmanship.” So it fits that the relatively new facility launched with classics: a lager, a hefeweizen and a rauchbier.

: On Chicago Detours’ Historic Chicago Pub Crawl tour, your guide provides tidbits about Prohibition and the town’s gangsters, the influence of the Jazz Age and Chicago’s early breweries. But it’s not all talk. During the 2.5 hour tour, you walk .75 miles and stop at three bars. The $36 fee covers appetizers and the tour. You should bring cash for drinks; 2.5 servings of beer cost $20; wine costs $22, soda $6 and water $3. Tours start at 5:45 p.m and are available February 23, 24 and 25 as well as other times. Reserve ahead.

: Chicago historian Liz Garibay shares Chicago history on her tavern tours, including Diving into Chicago’s Dives (February 9), Scofflaws and Speakeasies: A Prohibition Tavern Tour (February 18), and Stout Me Up! Irish Pub Tour (March 4). Garibay also does private tours for groups. Consider gathering your gang and drinking with friends. Contact her at liz@historyontap.com. 

Chicago features so many craft breweries that the city hosts brew festivals, but none, alas, during the Chicago Dental Society's Midwinter Meeting. But don't worry, Midwinter Meeting attendees. There's plenty of beer on tap and plenty of taverns to try. Consider these noted breweries and guided pub crawls.

A good deal on an airline seat always makes passengers happy. To begin with, airlines over the years have come to offer travelers less and to charge more. We must now pay for certain seats, pay for booking these ahead of time, pay for baggage, pay for snacks and often pay for the airline’s horrible meals. So when prices go low, travelers like me are on a high.

After all, great airfares make a difference. Lock down a deal and we end up with more money to spend on the fun part of the trip — sites, adventures, upgraded hotel rooms, shopping and dining.

So check out these deals. As always, be aware of the booking deadlines, the applicable flight dates and any extra service charges. Then, enjoy your deal. It’s always great to start a vacation with extra money in your pocket.

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: With Airberlin’s February sale, Europe becomes even more affordable. 

 for economy class travel from March 1 through June 15, or for business class travel from April 1 through August 2017.  Among the U.S. cities that serve as Airberlin  gateways are Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Kansas City, Missouri; New York City, New York; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Orlando, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Tucson, Arizona; and Washington, D.C.

Sample roundtrip fares with taxes are from $469 for economy class seats and from $2,599 for business class seats. From New York City’s JFK airport, roundtrip fares are from $513 to Zurich; from $484 to Geneva; from $492 to Helsinki and from $506 to Florence.  

: In conjunction with partners British Airways, Iberia and Finnair, American Airlines is offering new routes and some deals. The new routes can deliver exceptional savings if frequent flyer miles seats are available because not all potential passengers know about the routes. We once nabbed a business class seat relatively last minute from D.C. to Auckland because we found out about the new route.

In addition, to promote the new service, the airline might offer inaugural discounts. American is offering savings up to 25 percent for flights booked by 

 from Dallas Forth Worth to Amsterdam, beginning May 2017 with a return by July 15, 2017.

New nonstop routes include: New Orleans to London Heathrow, starting March 27, 2017; Dallas Fort Worth to Amsterdam, starting May 5, 2017; Dallas Fort Worth to Rome, starting May 5, 2017; Chicago to Barcelona, starting May 5, 2017; San Francisco to Helsinki, starting June 1, 2017; Fort Lauderdale to London, Gatwick, starting July 6, 2017; and Oakland to London Gatwick, starting May 28, 2017.

: To save money on Southwest’s spring flights, 

 for domestic travel between February 28 through June 14, 2017. Travel to and from San Juan, Puerto Rico, is valid from April 18 through May 18, 2017. International travel is valid from April 18 through May 19, 2017.

Sample fares: $116 one-way from Newark/NJ to San Juan, Puerto Rico; $156 one-way from Chicago to Cancun, Mexico; $134 one-way from Spokane WA, to Phoenix, AZ.

A good deal on an airline seat always makes passengers happy.  To begin with, airlines over the years have come to offer travelers less and to charge more. So when a budget-saving fare comes along, it makes perfect dollars and sense to book the deal.

Airfare Deals Too Good to Miss

When planning your spring and summer vacations, consider 

 Wow destinations, places where the global travel site says Americans will find the best value. Travelzoo based its picks on three trends that the site believes will influence travelers the most in 2017.

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“Increased choice for flights to New Zealand will likely spur air sales,” said Michael Stitt, Travelzoo’s president in North America. “A strong U.S. dollar will make destinations, including Peru, Paris and the United Kingdom more affordable than ever for Americans. And hotel openings, particularly in D.C. and on Florida’s Gulf Coast will result in increased supply and more hotel deals.”

Travelzoo’s 2017 Wow Deal Destinations 

Because visitors can fly into the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport or the nearby Tampa airport, airlines often offer sales to attract passengers. In addition the opening of seven new hotels in 2016 in the Clearwater area plus Clearwater Beach’s Wyndham Grand Resort slated to debut in 2017 creates competition that’s likely to result in good rates.

In 2016 the number of passenger seats to New Zealand doubled. American Airlines, United Airlines and Air New Zealand launched direct flights from the U.S. The result is a reduction in packages. Travelzoo says that a hotel and air package that formerly cost $2000 per person, sells for about $1,300 per person.

Paris costs should be lower than typical in 2017 because of: a loss to hotels of 1.8 million visitors for the first 10 months in 2016 compared to 2015; favorable exchange rates with the dollar; and an increase of low-cost airline options. A new high-speed train between Paris and Bordeaux opens in summer 2017, making access to the noted wine region more convenient and affordable.

Seven airlines fly nonstop from the U.S. to Lima, creating competition and the U.S. dollar is at a 10-year high compared to the Peruvian sol.

The British pound, which was at a 31-year low in June 2016, continues to be relatively weak compared with the U.S. dollar. According to Travelzoo experts, a luxury 5-star hotel in Central London now costs 24 percent less than it did two years ago.

Room rates in D.C. will likely be lowered because of the area’s many new hotels — 14 properties opened in 2016 and 16 should debut in 2017. In addition, many of the District’s museums, including the new National Museum of African-American History & Culture, are free. To visit that museum, it’s best to obtain a free, timed-entry pass months in advance.

When planning your spring and summer vacations, consider Travelzoo's Wow destinations, places where the global travel site says Americans will find the best value. Travelzoo based its picks on three trends that the site believes will influence travelers the most in 2017.