Advice on where to find your place in the sun

Advice on where to findyour place in the sun
NEW YORK -- For some travelers, the arrival of cold weather means it's time to escape to someplace warm. Outside magazine's December issue lists six ways to find the sun -- along with a combination of relaxation and adventure -- this winter. Some are:
UJungle Bay Resort & amp; Spa in Dominica, a tropical getaway that offers yoga, aromatherapy and other calming pursuits along with whale-watching, hiking and mountain-biking. A seven-day stay starts at $1,400. Details at http://www.junglebaydominica.com or (767) 446-1789.
UThe Mesoamerican Reef in Belize, the world's second-largest barrier reef, home to 500 species of fish and 60 species of coral. The World Wildlife Fund offers an eight-day cruise there that includes land adventures, snorkeling and French cuisine, beginning at $4,400; details at http://www.worldwildlife.org/travel or (888) 993-8687.
UA seven-day trip on the 160-foot Arabella yacht around the Caribbean, from $1,295, double occupancy, including most meals and some excursions; (800) 395-1343 or http://www.cruisearabella.com.
Tips from the flight crew
MANASSAS PARK, Va. -- Frequent fliers and anybody else who's ever had a complaint, question or confession after getting off an airplane will enjoy "Air Travel Tales From the Flight Crew." The $14.95 book, from Virginia-based Impact Publications, is written by A. Frank Steward, a pen name for James Wysong, who has worked as a flight attendant for 17 years. It contains practical advice on everything from minimizing jet lag (drink a lot of water to compensate for dehydration during flight, and try to adapt to the new time of day when you arrive), to avoiding germs during the flight (point the nozzle of your fan toward a seat mate who's sneezing to direct airborne germs away; wash your hands; don't use blankets or pillows unless they come wrapped in plastic; and never go into the lavatory without shoes on).
Newport holidays
NEWPORT, R.I. -- Revisit the splendor of Christmas during the Gilded Age by seeing the famed mansions of Newport, exquisitely decked out for the holidays. At The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House, you'll find more than 2,000 poinsettias, 20 Christmas trees, and dining tables set with period silver and china. The mansions are open daily for tours of the holiday decorations through Jan. 1. Special events include Sunday afternoon musical programs and visits from Santa. New this year is a "Holiday Evening Duet" ticket that provides admission to both The Elms and Marble House on Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., for the price of one. Details at http://www.NewportMansions.org.
Japan pet hotel
TOKYO -- A Japanese company has a perfect way to keep vacationing pet owners out of the dog house -- check your furry friends into a four-star pet hotel. The Pet Inn Royal at Tokyo's Narita International Airport just opened with 170 "rooms" to keep dogs, cats and other small animals in the lap of luxury while their masters are away. Staffed 24 hours a day, it even has veterinary and grooming services. "Enjoy your travel overseas knowing that your pet is in good hands," Pet Inn Royal says in a statement on the airport's Web site.
The hotel can also accommodate rabbits, hamsters and ferrets, and advertises "deluxe rooms and suites" among the housing options for the four-legged set.
Saving reef from starfish
SYDNEY, Australia -- Tourism operators will be paid to kill giant coral-chomping starfish on the Great Barrier Reef in a move to protect its fragile ecosystem, the Australian government has announced. Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell said a $440,000 grant would fund a two-year program to eradicate crown-of-thorns starfish from some of the reef's most popular patches of coral. The Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators will be in charge of the program to remove the spiny starfish -- which can measure nearly 3 feet in diameter -- from the reef.
Crow tourism
AUBURN, N.Y. -- Some 60,000 crows spend each winter in the upstate New York town of Auburn. Some people hate the birds and the mess they create so much that finding ways to get rid of them has become an annual tradition.
But at least a few local activists say the birds should be turned into a tourist attraction. To help demonstrate potential interest in the birds, the Citizens Respectful of Wildlife (also known as CROW) sponsored a tour of the crows' roost in downtown Auburn on Nov. 26, The Post-Standard of Syracuse reported.
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