Vatican treasures touring the U.S.

The Vatican Museums in Rome attract 4 million visitors a year. About 3.9 million spend so much time waiting in line, that once they get in, they take one of the color-coded routes to the Sistine Chapel and call 'er done. Which is a shame, because the Museums' Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Etruscan, and Renaissance collections are among the finest in the world.

This summer, you can see 2,000 years of Vatican art and history without even crossing the pond. Vatican Splendors from Saint Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Swiss Guard showcases more than 200 works of art, artifacts, and mosaics -- many of which are rarely on display.

Relief finally in sight at Heathrow.

If you’ve flown through Heathrow lately, you know that things could only get better. Between interminable security lines, lengthy delays, and woefully inadequate baggage handling facilities -- British Airways lost an average of 3,000 bags a day in 2006 -- Heathrow seemed ready to implode at any moment.

But the end is finally in sight. On March 14, 2008, the Queen opened the eagerly anticipated Terminal 5, which will welcome its first flight on March 27.

Cruising tips for non-cruisers -- Part 2.

A couple of weeks ago, we posted the first in a series of tips designed to help independent travelers enjoy cruising. European cruises are such a good deal this year, even hardened non-cruisers might want to reconsider.

Our first tip was to get away from the hoards by renting a car. You can read that post at http://www.tripaddiction.com/blog/post.cfm/cruise-tips-for-people-who-dont-like-cruising.

Tip number two is to book a cruise that goes to less frequently visited ports. These off-the-beaten-path destinations are usually more intimate and easier for independent travelers to explore on their own.