Over the past week, the airline industry has been hit with a triple whammy. Oil seems to have settled into a comfortable range of trading at over $105 a barrel, three U.S. airlines bit the dust, and the annual Wichita State Airline Quality Rating once again named the airline industry as a disaster.

What does this mean to you as a consumer? You will need to open up that wallet just a little bit wider. The airlines, already struggling financially, will be negatively impacted by all three events, resulting in cutbacks and the airlines needing to find creative new ways to generate revenue.

The recent loss of Aloha Airlines, ATA and Sky Bus shouldn't have much of an impact on the global traveler but certainly has and will continue to affect the regional traveler. Perhaps the hardest hit will be intra-island traffic in Hawaii. Fortunately, both Hawaiian Airlines and Go have been picking up the slack in this area. But when three airlines bite the dust at the same time, you can be sure that what is left is a large number of both unusable tickets and irate travelers.
Rebounding from increased fuel costs and competition, not to mention a distrustful public, is hard enough without the Wichita AQR Report adding to the burden. While the published results on the quality of the airlines shouldn't be big news to most travelers, I personally find the report dubious, as historically the AQR is decidedly pessimistic.

The real news is the behavioral shift taking place in the airline industry. This shift is giving consumers low fares, while dinging them on the back end in terms of ancillary fees or a la carte pricing.

Over the years the airline industry has done one thing very well--shifted the buying habits of consumers. Think of online ticket sales: Airlines have successfully oriented buyers in the direction of online travel. PhoCusWright estimates that for the first time, online U.S. travel bookings will surpass offline bookings, while eMarketer estimates that 41.3 million U.S. households will book travel online. According to eMarketer, online travel sales will climb from $79 billion in 2006 to over $146 billion in 2010.

Remember those bulky paper tickets you waited for in the mail? Well, no more waiting. The paper airline ticket will become extinct by May 31--less than two months from now. According to the Air Transport Association, three years ago worldwide electronic tickets accounted for only 16% of all airline tickets; today the number is over 84%, and rapidly increasing toward 100%. As a side note, it is estimated that consumers save an average of $21 per ticket when booking online.

All of this directly impacts the cost airlines incur to get you on the plane. In the past, airlines relied on travel agents to sell their wares. No more, as online is the norm. Likewise, in the early days (a mere few years ago), airlines relied on third-party Web sites to sell tickets. No more, as airlines' propriety sites have become better than most secondary sites.

The act of shifting buying patterns away from travel agents to airlines' Web sites is estimated to have saved airlines billions of dollars annually--sorely needed at a time of record-high oil prices. Likewise, electronic tickets have reduced the cost to generate a ticket from $10 to $1.

Cutting distribution costs is an action that has become the airline industry's best friend. This has been the one area where airlines can lower operating costs without rocking the boat. Labor costs are hard to attack, due to unions and the collateral damage of unhappy employees, and fuel costs are inviolate and difficult to gauge.

Logically, the next step in cutting distribution costs is making a full-frontal attack on credit cards. This topic has been on my mind recently as I prepare to present at the Airline Payment Summit in Toronto this week. It is estimated that for each ticket booked with a credit card, airlines are charged a merchant fee ranging from 2% to 3%, or around $10 to $15 per ticket, roughly $3 billion for the world's airlines.

What's the solution? Get ready for your airline to charge you next time you use a credit card. Will this result in a revolt among travelers? Probably not. This is just another example of how adept airlines have become at getting consumers to switch to behaviors that benefit the airlines. The newest entry in the unbundling of what used to be included in fares or a la carte pricing, are fees for checking in more than one bag. Many carriers now charge up to $25 to check in a second bag. Check in a third bag and expect to pay up to a whopping $100. This opens the doors for more fees down the road.

However, all is not lost, as imposing a surcharge for using credit cards is going to require some creative thinking. Although a Truth in Lending ban on surcharges expired in 1984, both Visa and MasterCard prohibit surcharges, while American Express discourages them. However, a small number of carriers do charge "handling fees" for credit card payments made on their Web sites. These airlines include Qantas, Singapore Airlines and the U.K. trio of British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and BMI British Midland. Singapore Airlines' site says "a small number of payment-card issuers may charge a transaction fee for booking on our Web site." My best bet is that airlines will find a way to structure some sort of surcharge to recoup costs associated with credit cards.

What can you do as a consumer? If past history is any precedent, then there will most likely be a few ways to avoid these fees. The key is to adhere to a mantra I've been crying about for years and detail in the new edition of the Penny Pincher's Passport to Luxury Travel, which is to build loyalty with one airline and strive for at least the minimum level of elite membership.
The formula is simple: Airlines reward those who are loyal and disproportionately penalize those who are not. Many of these unbundled fees do not apply to elite members or those flying in first class. While sitting up front takes a little work, achieving elite membership is fairly easy for most fliers. In fact, it's now possible to earn most of your qualifying miles on the ground, as is the case with Delta Air Lines' American Express SkyMiles card, which can yield 20,000 of the necessary 25,000 annual qualifying miles. Another possible route for avoiding credit card surcharges is to use an airline's co-branded credit card. In their quest to maintain vertical markets, I suspect that you'll find using your co-branded card a bigger benefit than imagined.

When it comes to air travel, consumers have certainly been in the driver's seat. Competition has bred low fares, allowing travelers to fly across the lower 48 states for less than $200 or across the Atlantic or Pacific for only $500. Recent changes in operating costs will force airlines to rethink and retool their revenue streams. Rather than increase fares, it is more likely they will increase the number of a la carte items that travelers pay for. Remember when you could get food aboard a flight for free?

A la carte pricing is bound to sting. Fortunately, immunity can be found with a little loyalty. The choice of paying now or later is up to you.

A lot of noise has been made recently about the coming consolidation of the airline industry and the doomsday effect such mergers would have. In my typical style, if I can't add much more than a rehash of current events, I'll remain sidelined, which I have done until now. With ongoing news reports that the fate of airline mergers is moving in the direction I predicted, it's time to speak out.

By now, most consumers understand the disadvantages of widespread consolidation among the remaining legacy airlines (American Airlines, United Air, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and U.S. Airways). Along with this understanding, many would-be airline patrons are masked in the darkness of the unknown. The many questions left unanswered at this time include: What will happen to the advance fare I purchased, my frequent-flyer points, service to and from my destinations, the loyalty I built over time?

My educated guess: Simply nothing.

The reality, in my opinion, is that despite the major airlines' best efforts to come together in a blessed union, it's not going to happen. Basically, there are too many competing interests in this game that will railroad any efforts toward larger airlines.

The highly discussed merger between Delta and Northwest has more than a few sticky points. The primary nuisance for executives bargaining for position between Atlanta and Eagan, Minn., headquarters for Delta Air lines and Northwest respectfully, is the much beleaguered issue of seniority. Seniority, to airline employees, is paramount to getting the best routes, flying the best planes, having prime vacation days and higher pay and generally enjoying better perks and benefits.

The blending of two airlines requires piecing together a large puzzle. Historically, the most difficult pieces to fit together have been seniority, especially among the ranks of pilots. For example, Northwest is still figuring out how to blend pilot groups from their merger with Republic Airlines back in 1986--22 years ago. Likewise, U.S. Airways and America West are still working on a joint seniority plan three years after their much-touted boondoggled merger.

One issue impacting the discussions between Delta and Northwest is that Northwest's pilots tend to be older than their Delta counterparts. Many senior Delta pilots bailed out before their 2005 bankruptcy filing. Senior Northwest pilots did not do the same prior to their filing, primarily due to the difference in how their pension plan was structured. This leaves many Delta pilots in a vulnerable position, possibly losing rank and going back to flying older, slower, smaller planes--all translating into smaller paychecks. This might be one reason why Northwest pilots remain hopeful that a merger will transpire. The same goes for flight attendants. One Delta flight attendant told me that her 12 years of service will become meaningless if a merger goes through. This means no more prized international routes, and longer days with less pay.

Although airline employee groups might intellectually understand the economics of airline mergers, emotionally they can't take the toll of another shrinking paycheck. The years since Sept. 11, 2001, have been tough on airline employees who have made concession after concession to keep their airlines alive. I think this time around it's going to be a hard sell to tell employees to take a de facto pay cut through seniority reduction or other methods.

Besides the challenges of blending together employees, the merger puzzle requires a delicate process of operationally bringing two airlines together. Here again, history does not promise much guidance for airlines. Since the airlines were deregulated in 1978, dozens of mergers have taken place with iconic names such as Pan Am and TWA. Most analysts consider these mergers to have been unsuccessful, with many of the acquiring airlines divesting acquired routes and being crippled by strikes and other forms of labor strife. The recent merger of U.S. Airways and America West remains an episode many executives and customers wish they could rewind.

Everything from employee moral to customer service to frequent-flyer programs have suffered as a result of blending these relatively minor airlines. Bringing together the mammoths of Delta and Northwest, resulting in the largest U.S. airline, or the other rumored merger of United and Continental, will be a significant undertaking--one I'm not sure the airlines are up to.

Of concern to travelers will be airfares, frequent-flyer points and their inherent loyalty with an airline, which is very similar to the seniority issue among employees. Despite prognostications of higher airfares, probably much won't change. Over the past 30 years, airfares in real terms have decreased, and in spite of high oil prices, airlines don't have much pricing power. The minute they try to raise prices, a competitor will come in and lower them. Frequent-flyer points and programs will be little changed by a merger between Northwest, Continental and Delta, as the three have almost identical programs. Any mergers outside these programs could lead to the confusion U.S. Airways and America West fliers are still experiencing after their 2005 merger.

Perhaps the biggest losers among any merger are the die-hard loyalists--the elite frequent flyer who has sacrificed to maintain allegiance to one airline. Elite fliers can suffer much the same way that employees will suffer from reduced seniority. The newly merged airline will transport a larger pool of elite fliers with reduced capacity, meaning that the real prize of elite membership--first-class upgrades--will become harder to get. Essentially, any airline merger will downgrade elite membership with over-capacity, upsetting the already tenuous relationship between elite frequent flyer and loyalty programs. This could led to a loss of loyalty that airlines can ill-afford.

In the off chance that an airline merger gets through employee groups and customer ire, a bigger and more powerful player has to sign off--the U.S. government. Maybe a few years ago congressional approval for a larger-scale airline merger would have passed. But in today's environment, I say no way.

The largely Democratic House and Senate will fight hard and examine any anti-trust issues and the possibility of fare increases. Furthermore, the issue of lost jobs, which the airlines vehemently state would be avoided, will face close scrutiny. Likewise, the loss of local and regional routing is a major concern to lawmakers from rural districts.

The shining light for consumers is the difficulties a relatively simple merger, between Sirius Satellite and XM Radio, has had in recent months. If this merger--which has had widespread support--can't gain approval, is a merger of airlines ever likely to see the light of day? The prospects for all parties to a merger getting together in agreement are not good--and this is good news for consumers.

Instead of growing bigger and taking on more problems, airlines should pay attention to the mistake of Doug Parker's U.S. Airways-America West merger and focus on delivering top-notch customer service. If they deliver on that proposition, the rest will take care of itself.

These laptop-toting experts, many of whom openly despise all things airlines, have shifted the collective psyche of a generation of travelers into believing that airlines are the devil of the day. Yet, all too often, self-styled airline pundits fail to address the ripples of prosperity from the economic forces of the airlines.

Air transport is closely linked with economic development, driving activity locally, regionally, nationally and globally. A 1998 study attributed 6 million jobs globally to the aviation industry. A decade later, that figure is believed to widely exceed this count. These jobs include high-paying positions directly attributable to civil aviation, such as service providers, manufacturing and service industries, which in turn depend on numerous suppliers.

Rather than recognize the merits and benefits of a strong and viable air transportation system, travel writers resort to a game of political foes attacking their enemies. And enemies they are. I like to think of this group as a grumpy gang of travelers. Those who seemingly believe that airlines are to serve at the whim of the consumer without any consideration toward generating a profit to sustain their business, pay their employees and return value to shareholders.

One longtime critic of the airlines, Joe B., recently wrote a column proclaiming that he "began to dislike and distrust the big airlines on Feb. 1, 1987, a date that still lives in business-travel infamy. Like thousands of others, I, too, was stranded by Continental Airlines on the day it attempted a 'big bang' merger with its Peoplexpress, New York Air and Frontier Airlines subsidiaries." Wow, this was 20 years ago and the guy still holds a grudge. I'll steal a line here from Cameron Crowe's 1989 Say Anything, and tell him: "You must chill. You must chill."

In the words of Joe B., "Continental's terminal was overwhelmed with angry, abandoned travelers, mishandled luggage, and dazed and confused employees." But the untold story is that Continental was losing over $1 million a day (that's 1987 dollars or nearly $2 million today).

Organizational restructuring is a tough game, but what rational individual can blame a company for changes when it's bleeding that kind of money? What speaks most to this long-ago event is that Continental is a thriving airline today with relatively strong customer service marks.

Most likely as a result of the bash-all-thing-airlines brigade, pedestrian crusaders have entered the fold. The latest incarnation of these evangelists seeking to impose their will on an entire industry is Kate Hanni, a real estate broker from the Napa Valley who had a bad flight and formed the Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights (CAPBOR). And why not form a coalition, since it has made her the Cindy Sheehan of air travelers. Expressing angst against airlines is a sure mode toward popularity, with this real estate agent's anguish propelling her to a seat before Congress and onto a number of cable news programs.

Possibly the most disingenuous anti-apostles of airlines are those whose view of a plane comes from the screensaver on their computer monitor. To me, travel writing is inspired from the trenches--to know travel you have to get down and dirty. Think of a war correspondent reporting from the safety of a Manhattan office--not very credible. One writer, a troubleshooter of sorts, solves the world's travel problems, mostly airline-related, from the comfort of her home. Often her headlines will read "This Is Not The Airline For You" or "Airlines Playing Games Again."

To be fair, airlines certainly have contributed to consumers' apprehension. Without a doubt, a plane full of travelers will remember the long hours they spent on a runway without food and water or use of bathrooms. I concur that no one should have to endure such conditions. However, airlines got the message and, for the most part, instituted change.

For example, about a year ago JetBlue plummeted into one of its worst PR disasters since starting operations in 2000. Storms in the Northeast paralyzed JetBlue's operations, stranding JFK passengers on nine planes for up to six hours. The story that often is not told is how then-CEO, David Neeleman, issued a public apology, stating that he was "humiliated and mortified" by the system failures and promised to introduce a "Customer Bill of Rights" and compensation for passengers inconvenienced from this act of nature (which JetBlue had no control over).

Other than security screening, which really is a TSA process, airlines have been working hard to enhance the flying experience. For example, airlines such as Delta have responded to one of the biggest gripes of consumers--award seats. According to Jeff Robertson, Delta Air Line's director of the Sky Miles programs, "Providing greater transparency in award seat availability is a customer benefit that also gives them greater control over their travel experience." By adding access to Continental, Northwest and Air France award seats on its Web site, Delta.com, Delta's customers have access to more than 95% of all redeemable seats.

Likewise, mainstream airlines such as American Airlines and United Airlines have bumped up their in-flight services with enhanced meal choices, including meals prepared by notable chiefs, state-of-the-art entertainment systems and lay-flat seats on select flights.

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In the last 15 years, I have accumulated 3 million miles of air travel, many of them during the summer months. In fact, I took 24 flights this past June alone, so I know the challenges well. My best advice is to follow the three P's of summer travel: plan ahead, be proactive and have patience.

Plan ahead. We were sitting on a rain-pelted runway in New Bern, N.C., and the pilot kept delaying our takeoff. As time wore on, I knew I might miss my connection in Atlanta to Memphis, so I called the Westin Memphis, which was holding my reservation, and told them that I might be delayed or even stuck in Atlanta overnight. The clerk said that since I'd called, the hotel would hold my room but not charge me a no-show fee if I didn't make it. One base covered. I then called a favorite hotel in Atlanta, the Grand Hyatt, and explained the situation. Same deal: The hotel agreed to hold a room in case I needed one but would not charge me if I made it to Memphis. I was covered either way, with no cost to me but a couple of phone calls. When I arrived in Atlanta, my flight was indeed canceled, but I knew exactly what to do and where to go.

Be proactive. During a weather delay in New York's La Guardia airport, I came across a friend who wearily told me he had been waiting in line for two hours trying to rebook his canceled flight. At the same time, he was on his cell phone, trying to reach a phone representative. My friend was doing everything right, but he could have cut his wait time with two easy steps -- if only he took advantage of the airline's special programs.

1. With even the lowest frequent-flier status, my friend would have been given a special toll-free number that would allow him to bypass the public reservations line. When I gave him my own Delta SkyMiles number, he instantly reached an agent, who rebooked him on a flight for the next day.

2. A membership in an airport lounge can also get you out of a jam. While trying to get to Memphis on another occasion, my first flight from Atlanta to Memphis was canceled. I immediately went to Delta's Crown Room, where the agent rebooked me on a flight two hours later, and I snagged the last first class seat.

Reaching elite status on most airlines is not very difficult. A co-branded credit card can usually give you a head start. For example, with Delta's Platinum SkyMiles credit card, you can earn up to 20,000 of the required 25,000 "Medallion Qualification Miles" with credit card charges instead of air travel. Similarly, you can usually purchase a day pass to an airline's private lounge for a nominal fee of $25.

Be patient. If you are patient and can keep everything under control, you will remain calm and collected -- and that's half the battle in summer. Review the terms and benefits of your frequent-flier program carefully before you travel, then calmly ask for assistance from the airline agents whenever you need it.

Here are a few more tricks I've learned.

* Have a car ready to go. If your destination is within a day's drive, and you're faced with another day at the airport or missing your meeting or a vacation day, look into a one-way rental. Often the cost is more reasonable than the cost of a night at a hotel.

* Buy a one-day lounge membership. Not only can you get rebooked more quickly in the lounge, it is also a nice place to wait out a flight delay. In fact, if your flight is delayed three hours or more, $25 for a one-day pass might be money well spent; in Delta's Crown Room, for example, you'll get free drinks, and those add up. You can usually get a guest admitted on the same pass, as well. Another nice benefit is that most lounge memberships allow you to go through the preferred security line, making your airport transition much less stressful. Many airlines now allow you to purchase a one-day pass online or at the ticket counter. I know a guy who has one for each of the three airlines he flies, each set aside for an emergency or when he needs to get through security in a hurry.

* Be in the know. On a recent Friday night, while trying to get home to Orange County, Calif., my flight was delayed due to a delayed incoming flight. When I asked the agent when the flight was going to arrive, she told me, "Five minutes." I walked to the gate, only to find out that the flight hadn't even left the departure city! This time, I fired up my computer and tracked the flight on the airline's Web site, knowing precisely when it departed and when it would arrive at the gate.

* Book directly with your airline. When you book through a third-party Web site, or even through a travel agent, you may find that the airline cannot directly access your ticketing record, thus impairing their ability to rebook a flight for you.

If you plan well, act proactively and keep your patience, the road bumps of summer travel won't take such a toll.

First, there's the question of taste and priorities. How do I know that the reviewer and I want the same things from a hotel? Perhaps the reviewer wants a pool and a sports bar, while what I want is timely room service.

Then there's the problem of the reviewer's motivation. The more reviews you read, the more you notice how they tend to cluster at the extremes of opinion. On one end, you have angry reviewers with axes to grind; at the other, you have delighted guests who lavish praise beyond believing. You will probably not be surprised to learn that hotels sometimes post their own glowing reviews, or that competitors line up for the chance to lambaste the competition. So, how can you know which reviews are authentic, or whether one traveler's experience is representative of many others'?

Here's what I suggest.

* Look for balance. The best reviews are the ones that focus on both the good and the bad, providing an objective picture of the hotel and of the reviewer's experience there.

* Look for recent reviews. Last year's stellar hotel might not be operating with the same zest for service this year. Changes in management, or in behind-the-scenes ownership, can almost instantly affect a hotel's performance -- especially when the changes also involve budget cuts related to service. Even a new general manager with a different management style can render older reviews obsolete.

* Call the hotel. The best way to learn about a property and its service is to call it directly and judge the staff's responsiveness for yourself. How long does take for a clerk to answer the phone? Does the operator answer your questions? If you are transferred to another department, how long does it take? Are you disconnected? How do the various employees treat you? Do they seem friendly? Also ask some basic questions, such as how long the current manager has held the position, whether you can make dinner reservations before you check in, or whether you can speak to the spa manager.

* Ask around. Have any of your friends, co-workers or colleague ever been to this hotel? What was their impression? Do they have the same taste and interests as you? How long ago was their visit? Would they go back?

* Talk with a travel agent. But find one who has actually been to the property or has sent a number of long-term clients to the hotel. If the agent tries to direct you to another property, find out why.

Whether you travel for business or for pleasure, the right hotel can make a big difference. To increase the odds that a hotel will meet your exceptions, be a proactive consumer. Take a select look at travelers' reviews, but don't stop there. A few extra steps can save you from some nasty surprises.

Still, lots of people are expected to hit the road over the next three months, in part because there is pent-up demand for travel and in part because this is the only season that some people can travel. That means full planes, oversold hotels and lots of crowds -- especially at airports.

The way I see it, you have two options this summer: travel despite the high cost, or postpone travel for a more opportune time. If you absolutely must go, consider these cost-savings tips.

* Shorten the trip. Instead of taking a seven-day vacation, reduce it to four or five nights. This will save on hotels, food, car rentals and other related costs.

* Have the patience of an elephant, then pounce like a jaguar. Travel providers have raised prices in anticipation of a record number of summer travelers. If these expectations are not met, look for prices to drop and specials to appear.

* Think short. While many airlines have increased fares on popular long-distance routes, many have reduced fares on shorter routes. For example, Alaska Airlines recently reduced fares by as much as 76 percent for a number of short flights.

* Cash in your miles. Now might be the time to use those miles you've been hoarding -- even if you have to redeem at twice the usual rate. You'll save more money if you can find a package that includes air travel, hotel stay and car rental.

* Look local. Think of the opportunities in your own backyard. If you're in Baltimore, take a weekend and explore the Inner Harbor. If you're in Philadelphia, revisit the museums and the Liberty Bell. Check into a nearby luxury hotel for the weekend and treat yourself to a wonderful meal, a round of golf or a daylong spa treatment.

* Get two days for the price of one. Looking for a weekend escape on the cheap? Try booking a room with an early check-in for Saturday night then, once you arrive, ask for a late Sunday check-out. That way you'll get two full days for the price of one.

If you decide not to travel, think about putting the money you save to good use.

* Get out of debt. Pay off that nagging credit card with the 20 percent interest rate.

* Treat yourself to something new. A special piece of jewelry or a new outfit will continue to please you long after the summer is over.

* Go to the bank. Investing for the future is a good idea in any season. Maybe you'll pick a stock that will pay for your next vacation.

Remember, things can change. The weak dollar will eventually gain strength, and I believe air fares and hotel rates will settle down. In the meantime, keep your eye on the travel pages and be ready to pounce on those destinations and fares that offer reasonable value. Remember, too: That prized vacation spot will still be there next year.

Friends rave about their relaxing days at sea experiencing cruise-ship luxury and fabulous food, but I don't see the appeal. I originally balked because being stuck on a boat for days at a time just isn't my cup of tea. I'm more of an out-and-about kind of guy. But after the recent rash of stories about such cruise-industry problems as noroviruses, missing passengers, pirates and sinkings, I think my chances of taking a cruise are now slim to none.

Am I being too hard on the cruise industry? Are the stories all overblown? I don't think so. In fact, I think my landlubber resolve is well warranted. I am concerned about both health and safety aboard ship. I also think cruising is costly, inconvenient and environmentally unfriendly.

Let me tell you why.

Disease and danger

Reading recent news reports, it's hard not to see cruise ships as anything but bacteria-filled tubs. In just the past two years, reports of cruise passengers falling ill have filled the pages of newspapers and travel blogs. Many of the reports center on noroviruses, a group of viruses that causes gastroenteritis, whose symptoms are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. According to a fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cruise ships are frequently affected by outbreaks of norovirus because they dock in countries where sanitation can be poor and because the tight quarters aboard ship facilitate transmission of the virus. Further, the boarding of "new and susceptible passengers every 1 or 2 weeks" creates a condition where the disease can be sustained over successive cruises; in fact, the CDC says that outbreaks extending beyond 12 successive cruises have been reported.

Not even the iconic grand luxury liner Queen Elizabeth 2 is immune from the virus. CNN reported in January that 276 passengers and 28 crew members on an around-the-world cruise aboard the ship experienced symptoms of norovirus -- that was 17 percent of the passengers, a particularly high number according to the CDC. One Web site that tracks the cruise industry states that there were 53 reports of norovirus aboard cruise ships in 2006, sickening 6,698 passengers and crew members. Another 117 passengers and crew were reported to have been afflicted with E. coli infections.

Safety is another big concern. Indeed, a litany of dangers might await you on your voyage -- everything from sinking ships to missing passengers. In April, a Greek cruise ship sank off the coast of Santorini, and just last week a U.S. cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Alaska, forcing the evacuation of all the passengers. And what about pirates? No, I'm not kidding. According to ABC News, pirates wielding machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades attacked the Seabourn Spirit off the east coast of Africa two years ago but were foiled when the ship took evasive action and sounded an ear-splitting alarm.

As for missing passengers, who can forget George Smith, the honeymooner who disappeared from a Royal Caribbean ship two years ago, leaving blood behind on a metal overhang. Despite claiming that the family's lawsuit was false and frivolous, Royal Caribbean settled with Smith's wife for nearly $1 million in January 2007. Commenting on the case during a congressional hearing in 2005, Rep. Chris Shays, from the couple's home state of Connecticut, said, "We think that people are not aware of some of the challenges [on cruises] and some of the potential problems they encounter."

I think that's putting it mildly.

Another pressing but often unreported problem is the rising incidence of sexual assault on board cruise ships. During a March 2007 Congressional hearing, Professor Ross Klein of Memorial University of Newfoundland, who monitors the cruise industry, used the industry's own numbers to demonstrate that cruise passengers may have a 50 percent greater chance of being sexually assaulted aboard ship than on land. According to the International Cruise Victims Organization, many incidents of shipboard sexual assault go unreported because passengers "often feel alone and frustrated by the jurisdictional uncertainties and poor treatment by cruise companies."

Money matters

If you're lucky enough to make it off your cruise ship alive and in good health, you might want to check your wallet for damage. Many people think cruises are "all-inclusive" vacations, but that's actually not the case. Things like shore excursions, cocktails, sodas, gambling, and onboard shopping can end up costing as much as five times your fare. On top of that are the mandatory tips imposed by some cruise lines, which can add as much as $40 a day to your bill.

The pocketbook gouging is not limited to shipboard activities. You can get clobbered in port, too. I know this from personal experience. When I was shopping for a rug in Istanbul a few years back, a shopkeeper made it very clear that cruise travelers get special treatment in the local shops -- and it's not the special treatment you'd like. The shopkeeper asked if I was from the ship that was in port, and when I told him no, he said, "OK, follow me." He took me into a special room, where I was treated to tea and shown a number of high-quality rugs and told their origins and history. From here I could hear other salespeople pushing inferior rugs on shoppers from the cruise ship -- and quoting them much higher prices.

Similarly, in Monte Carlo the cruise ships dock in front of a street littered with T-shirt shops, cheap-souvenir stands and overpriced restaurants. Venture a few blocks away and you'll find better food at better prices, with nary a T-shirt in sight. Too bad the cruise passengers can't get here -- they have neither the time nor the transportation. Both a recent Tripso.com column ("Suckered in Santorini") and a recent article in the Arizona Daily Star ("Gullible Travels: Art Sales at Sea") address similar issues of shady dealings in port and aboard ship.

Another salient issue these days is the green factor. Let's face it, cruise ships are heavy polluters. Consider the following average daily outputs: 11.5 tons of garbage per day; 23 gallons of toxic waste generated per day; 270,000 gallons of "graywater" from washing per day; 30,000 gallons of "blackwater" (sewage) per day; and 7,000 gallons of oily bilge water per day. What's more, a single cruise can release as much air pollution each day as 12,000 automobiles.

Cruise ships can also adversely impact animal life. For example, three humpback whales died in southeast Alaska after a cruise-ship collision in 2002; harbor seal populations have been known to decline in frequently cruised areas; whales and porpoises are thought to become disoriented by ship noises; and large sections of coral reefs in the Caribbean have been damaged by cruise-ship anchors.

So why in the world are cruises so popular?

Two reasons, I think. First, because they're so easy. You jump on the ship and leave everything to the crew. Second, because travel agents push them. And why do they push them? Because cruise lines still pay commissions on cruise bookings -- not to mention booking bonuses and performance incentives. In fact, cruising is one of the last sources of income for travel agents. Not surprisingly, a 2006 survey by Taylor Nelson Sofres PLC (TNS) found that almost 80 percent of cruises are booked through travel agents. Perhaps more telling is this statistic: 56 percent of those surveyed believe they could have gotten a better deal if they had booked on their own.

For many people, cruising presents a wonderful and romantic opportunity to sail the high seas. It's a chance to explore new places and meet new people without a whole lot of effort. But when I look at the issues of health and safety, add up the costs, and consider the environmental impacts, I come to another conclusion.

Cruising? No thanks, not for me.

1. Plan, plan, plan. The best plan is to think ahead. Look for flights that are less full, days when hotels have lower occupancy, and times when rental cars are sitting idle on the lot. If you don't have this information, call the reservations line and ask; after all, every company wants to maximize the use of its inventory. You can also check sites like ExpertFlyer.com, which can tell you when flight upgrades are available.

2. Pay a little more. Increasingly, travel providers are blocking the lowest airfares and room rates against upgrading. In these situations, even the most generous gate agents and reservations clerks cannot override the computer's block without losing their jobs. The good news is that the difference between the lowest fares and the upgradeable fares is often as little as 5 percent. In other words, if you pay just $10 more, that $200 airfare or hotel room could become eligible for an upgrade. Again, be sure to call ahead to confirm with a reservations agent that the fare you have selected is upgradable.

3. Use your points. My longtime advice has been to use your miles or points for upgrades, not for cheap tickets and hotel rooms. To my mind, the upgrades give far greater value. Many domestic airfares can be had for $200 to $250 with a little advance planning, and hotel rooms priced under $200 are easy to find. But a first-class domestic plane ticket runs between $1,200 and $2,000, and prime hotel suites go from $350 to $900 per night (even more in some places). Clearly the value of your miles lies in leveraging them for the upgrade.

4. Think hotels. If you can upgrade only one aspect of your trip, go for the hotel upgrade. With luxury hotel rates rising at a faster clip then airfares, hotel upgrades are the better value. This is especially true if your flight is relatively short (under four hours) and your hotel stay is relatively long (more than three days). It has been my experience that a good room in a luxury hotel makes any trip special.

5. Leverage your loyalty. As the economy settles down, companies rely more and more on their best customers. This means you don't have to be in an ultra-elite category of membership to get the goods. Even the first tier of membership should give you an extra edge, so don't be afraid to ask.

Upgrading takes some knowledge and a little effort, but an upgrade can absolutely make the difference between a great trip and a lousy one.

Earlier this year, when I was given the opportunity to face down my wine anxiety, I took it. I signed up for a four-day food-and-wine event, The Masters of Food & Wine, South America, which took place at one of my favorite hotels: The Park Hyatt Mendoza, in Mendoza, Argentina. Mendoza is one of the world's most important wine regions, and Argentina is one of my favorite places, so it seemed an auspicious place for me to get a little more wine-savvy.

What I liked most about this event was how accessible and comfortable it was for amateur wine buffs and newbies. I had been nervous about fitting in, but I needn't have worried. The Masters staff organized us into small groups then sent us out on a series of day trips to vineyards. We also enjoyed "culinary excursions" (lunches and dinners) consisting of perfectly matched wines and foods selected by the event's international roster of sommeliers and chefs. The combination of small-group intimacy and professional attention made for a very personal event, entirely devoid of class consciousness and snobbery. In fact, a nice fellowship sprang up among the attendees, who engaged in many lively discussions of the philosophies behind winemaking and good food.

Many participants made new friends at the Masters, including me. I fondly remember the kindness of the editor of Eno City and Wine Guides, who took me under her wing at many of the wine tastings and vineyard tours, explaining to me the intricacies of wine, viticulture, oenology and the social aspects of wine. Another new friend is the founder of Women & Wine, who shared her passion for identifying wines by grape variety, origin and vintage. She's the one who taught me the ABCs of color, smell and taste -- I even learned a thing or two about tannins.

All this eating and drinking and fellowship took place against the background of the spectacular surroundings of Mendoza. As Julie Brosterman, of Women & Wine puts it: "Lunch isn't just lunch in this town of over 900 wineries. It's a celebration of family, friendship, good food and fine wine -- but mostly an appreciation of what has happened in this land at the base of the Andes mountains."

The architect of the inaugural Masters of Food & Wine, South America, was Carl Emberson, general manager of the Park Hyatt Mendoza, a wonderful host and a respected hotelier. Because of his unique position, the event drew participation from distinguished chefs from celebrated kitchens ranging from New York and Buenos Aires to Tokyo and Paris. Their talents were abundantly displayed on the last evening at the exclusive Wine Spectator Gala Dinner, an eight-course meal of fabulous dishes, each with a perfectly paired wine.

I feel lucky to have participated in the first Masters of Food & Wine, South America, where I came to prefer a fine Malbec to my usual single-malt scotch. I'm confident this event will draw crowds in years to come, as it is truly an extraordinary gastronomic experience. Next year's event will be held at the Park Hyatt Mendoza from Feb. 14 to Feb. 17. It would make a wonderful Valentine's gift.

Finding the best contrarian travel opportunities requires a lot of footwork -- or in my case, seat time. This is because contrarian destinations are constantly changing, as once-unheard-of destinations offering travel value become voguish and expensive (as is currently the case with Croatia and the Balkans) and new, off-the-radar destinations come to the fore.

For me, a true contrarian destination must meet three criteria: (1) It must offer a good exchange rate; (2) it must offer great travel value; and (3) it must offer an appealing environment. I recently found such a place: South Africa. While this is not a new place for travel, it is fast becoming a vibrant travel region as Johannesburg and surrounding cities prepare to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup of Soccer. This event is the Superbowl and Olympics of soccer rolled into one, and will draw thousands of new travelers to the region. In my opinion, the time to visit is not three years from now, but right now.

Although South Africa is an ocean and a hemisphere away, new airline service from Delta Air Lines makes the trip a relatively easy jaunt. Departing from Atlanta, the 17-hour flight stops in Dakar, Senegal, before continuing on to Johannesburg. Delta's flights are reasonably priced and offer an above-average level of service and videos in each coach seat. For a little more comfort, I suggest purchasing an upgradeable fare and redeeming 25,000 miles each way to experience Delta's superior Business Elite service, which offers an excellent array of meal choices, new entertainment systems and, beginning next year, a lie-flat seating configuration.

South Africa occupies a huge swath between the Atlantic and Indian oceans, and its landscapes are vast and beautiful, comprising everything from desert dunes and white-sand beaches to savannahs and subtropical forests. The Western Cape has one of the richest floral kingdoms in the world, and the country's game viewing is among the best in Africa (where else can you find both penguins and elephants -- and more than 1,000 bird species?).

I started my visit in Johannesburg, where I stayed at the Park Hyatt Johannesburg, an idyllic property in the tree-lined, upscale neighborhood of Rosebank. Its outdoor conservatory is a wonderful place to relax in comfort, get over jet lag or have a drink after a day of touring or business meetings. In the evening, many of the hotel's guests head to the nearby Sandton neighborhood, which has a rich nightlife and many popular restaurants.

Through the Park Hyatt, I booked a "Freedom Trip" to Soweto, only a short drive from the hotel; on the way I passed the yellow hills that were once the city's main gold mines. The tour also took me to the Apartheid Museum, which presents the history and struggle of South Africa during the 20th century. The museum is filled with reminders of the divide between the elite Whites and the Black and "Coloured" South Africans, who were declared second- and third-class citizens. It paints a vivid picture of an awful past, and is a must-see for anyone interested in human nature. It left me both sobered and enlightened.

I also took a moving tour of Nelson Mandela's house, which is just up the street from the home of another South African Nobel Prize winner, Bishop Desmond Tutu. My guide pointed out the bullet holes in the front wall of the house, where government agents tried to assassinate Mandela's wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Inside the house, I sat in the same room where world leaders visited after Mandela became president of South Africa. This modest house is a living memorial and testament to a man who triumphed over evil and who today is revered for his grace, statesmanship and good will.

My second day in Johannesburg involved a leisurely one-hour drive to Kruger National Park, a wildlife park that ranks among the best in Africa. Established in 1898, the park now encompasses nearly 2 million hectares, and is home to monkeys, baboons, lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, spiders, snakes, scorpions and white rhinos.

If you're after African artifacts and souvenirs, Johannesburg will not disappoint. A short walk from the hotel brings you to the daily African market, which showcases handmade crafts, prints and baskets. On Sundays, look for the Rooftop Market, which offers a grander selection of African-made goods. I have long been an admirer of the artwork in Frasier Crane's apartment in the hit TV show "Frasier," and I was able to find similar works in the Johannesburg market for a fraction of what I would pay at home.

Beyond Johannesburg, South Africa offers a world of exploration, and my next trip will include a visit to the coastal city of Durban (which has wonderful beaches) before continuing on to Cape Town and the "African Riviera." Instead of flying to Cape Town, I plan to take the Blue Train from Pretoria, a 27-hour journey of pure luxury that affords the opportunity to view some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery on the African subcontinent. Cape Town is said to be a beautiful place -- a city embraced by a blue ocean on one side and 300-year-old vineyards on the other. I can't wait to go.

The vastness of South Africa requires more than the few days I had there. Although my time was limited, I truly found it a magical place of history and natural beauty at home in the sleek, modern world of the 21st century. Knowing that the good value of South Africa won't last for long, I am heading back to explore more and report back on the further wonders of this part of the world.

London is a favorite destination for many Americans, especially those venturing off to Europe for the first time, but it has never much appealed to me. I had been there just once -- 14 years ago, on my own first trip abroad -- and I found it boring and bland. But recently I made a return trip to London, enticed by a highly discounted business class fare on Delta Air Lines, and now my opinion of the city has changed completely.

What was different about this trip? The hotel.

I spend probably 210 days a year traveling and I know my choice of hotel can affect everything from my mood to my ability to recover from travel fatigue. To my mind, there is no better place to bed down than at a Four Seasons hotel, and this certainly proved true in London.

The first thing I noticed about the Four Seasons Hotel in London was the warm welcome I received from the staff. Now, "warm" and "welcoming" are not qualities I usually associate with London (in fact, "stuffy" and "pretentious" more readily come to mind), but I felt like the royal red carpet had been laid out for my arrival -- and I'm no prince, just a regular traveler.

I especially appreciated the nice welcome on this trip, because I was squiring my daughter, who was celebrating her 18th birthday at the hotel. And what a celebration it was! The hotel manager really made her feel special. He filled her room with birthday balloons and sent up a delicious chocolate cake with a nice card. In fact, this is one of the most enthusiastic GMs I've ever met. He loves his hotel and truly believes in his product and the employees who deliver it. His passion for service fairly radiated through the halls.

The Four Seasons' cachet carries outside the hotel, too. For example, when we went out to dine at the trendy Nobu restaurant on a very busy Saturday night, I mentioned that I was a guest of the Four Seasons; those magic words moved me to the head of the queue. When I wanted tickets to a sold-out play, the concierge pulled a few strings and got me fourth-row, center-aisle seats -- not bad! Now, I did pay a $30 surcharge, but it was worth it. Even the sometimes-jaded drivers of the ubiquitous black cabs perked up when I jumped in and said, "The Four Seasons, please." My experience at the Four Seasons completely changed my experience of London.

It isn't only the Four Seasons that comes through with service like this. Last year I got exceptional, maybe lifesaving service at the Grand Hyatt Santiago in Santiago, Chile. In the middle of my visit to that wonderful city, I fell seriously ill. The Hyatt immediately provided me with an in-room nurse, who stayed with me until the crisis passed. This year, after several busy days in neighboring Mendoza, Argentina, I had nothing more on my mind than getting a few spa treatments, sitting by a beautiful pool and dining on some wonderful cuisine. So where did I decide to stay? The Grand Hyatt Santiago, of course. Santiago has several other exceptional hotels, including a Ritz Carlton, a Starwood Luxury Collection hotel and a Marriott, but after taking such good care of me last year, the Hyatt has earned my lifetime loyalty.

This year did not disappoint, either. In fact, for the first time in my hotel-staying life, I could find absolutely nothing to complain about (and those who know my high standards for service will know this is saying a lot). Everything was perfect -- from the three-story view of the Andes on the club floor to the food in the Italian, Thai and sushi restaurants.

Here are some tips for booking the best hotels.

* Book direct. Booking direct gets you the best rates and gives you the opportunity to learn about off-the-radar discounts.

* Stay within your favorite hotel group(s). Loyalty reaps rewards. When it came to getting extra service, it didn't hurt that I was a past guest of both the Four Seasons and Hyatt hotels.

* Get to know the hotel before you get there. Call the hotel and see how its agents respond to your questions. If they are hasty or dismissive, consider it a red flag. When I called the Four Seasons, the clerk was responsive and enthusiastic -- even though it was 3 a.m. in London.

* Send an advance e-mail. Bang out a quick note to the hotel's guest relations staff and mention any special needs you have.

In today's world of travel, the most distinguished experience travelers receive is from their hotels; don't cheat yourself by choosing the wrong place to hang your hat.

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