Get surf conditions around the world with Surfline.

One of the great pleasures of travel is doing things you like someplace new and different – playing golf, tasting wine, shopping for antiques, whatever floats your boat.  Indulging in a favorite activity in another country or another part of the country can really enhance your enjoyment. 

Surfing is no exception.  And Surfline is a great resource for surfers on the move.  The site provides surf reports for 1,269 surf spots in North America, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, the South Pacific, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Indian Ocean.  

Surf cams in 132 of the destinations provide a 30-second live feed so you see the conditions for yourself.  That way, you’ll know if the crowds in Malibu are as big as the swells.   

Qantas fare sale and Australia/New Zealand itineraries.

A few years ago, we traveled throughout New Zealand and Australia in April, and the weather was gorgeous. It’s a lovely time to visit the wineries in New Zealand, and still warm enough to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef.

Right now, Qantas is offering fares from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Sydney, Brisbane, or Melbourne starting at $760 for travel between February 1st and September 21st 2009.  But you have to act fast.  This fare sale ends January 31st.  For more information, visit www.qantas.com

Cruise deals to good to pass up.

Back when the economy was kind of predictable, cruise lines would look at the load factors of their departures and discount fares on sailings that weren't selling according to plan.

If a voyage was really underbooked, they'd start lowering the price to fill up the ship. Big cruise ships are like movie theaters - they make their money on concessions. Because an empty cabin represents a lost opportunity to sell shore excursions, drinks, and poker chips, the cruise lines do what it takes to fill their berths.