Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches of 2010

>Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Fla.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Coopers Beach, Southampton, N.Y.

Coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research and known as "Dr. Beach," announced his 20th annual Top 10 Beaches list on May 28. He has compiled the list annually since 1991 using 50 criteria, including water quality and temperature, cleanliness, weather, sand, safety and facilities. Here are Dr. Beach’s top 10 picks for 2010, along with the No. 1 beaches from the five prior years.

1. Coopers Beach, Southampton, N.Y.: This white-quartz sand beach in the village of Southampton on the south shore of Long Island, N.Y., is a dramatic site to behold. It is hundreds of yards wide, backed by large sand dunes covered by American beach grass and interspersed with extravagant mansions. You’ll find some of the best beach access in the Hamptons here, along with a snack bar serving lunch and drinks.
Slide show text by Robin Dalmas, Bing Travel.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Coronado Beach, San Diego, Calif.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Fla.

2. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Fla.: With some of the finest, whitest sand in the world, this beach attracts sand collectors from all over. Siesta Beach has clear, warm waters that are a swimmer’s dream. A unique underwater formation of coral rock and caves helps create a crescent-shaped beach that is perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. This beach is hundreds of yards wide and is great for volleyball and other recreation.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Coronado Beach, San Diego, Calif.

3. Coronado Beach, San Diego, Calif.: This veritable oasis by the sea is the toast of Southern California. It boasts lush subtropical vegetation, a unique Mediterranean climate and fine sparkling sand. Beachgoers flock here for mild surf and great ship watching. The local landmark, Hotel del Coronado, was built more than 100 years ago and offers spectacular architecture and Old World elegance. Kings, sheiks, actors and actresses have stayed at this property, where food and drinks are served on the beach.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Main Beach, East Hampton, N.Y.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

4. Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks of North Carolina: The country’s first national seashore is a barrier island that bulges far offshore. It provides some of the best board surfing along the East Coast and features the most famous lighthouse in the U.S. Cape Hatteras attracts beachgoers to its historic villages as well as nature lovers who enjoy beachcombing and fishing.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Main Beach, East Hampton, N.Y.

5. Main Beach, East Hampton, N.Y.: Main Beach provides the perfect blend of nature and a manmade environment. Wealthy summertime residents flock here to beaches protected by a conservation easement that dates back more than 300 years. Main Beach is a great place for celebrity spotting; many actors and actresses visit for the idyllic setting in a small village. The big, wide sandy beach made of quartz has towering sand dunes and beautiful clean, clear blue water. Pedal a bicycle to avoid parking and take in the beautiful vista.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Mass.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii

6. Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii: This beach was named in honor of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, a gold-medal Olympic swimmer who is credited with introducing surfing to the outside world. Kahanamoku Beach is bordered by the Ala Wai small boat harbor and the Hilton Hawaiian Village catamaran pier. A shallow offshore reef protects this beach from big waves, making it a great swimming area for families with children.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, S.C.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Mass.

7. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Mass.: This beach, accessible by bicycle or via shuttle bus from the Salt Pond Visitor’s Center, was formed when a sand spit attached to the eroding glacial cliffs. The sand is fairly coarse, so the beach slopes steeply into the water. The picturesque old Coast Guard station still sits atop the glacial bluffs, allowing for a spectacular view of the Nauset Spit barrier system and bay. In summer, beachgoers tend to take quick, refreshing dips in the ocean, as water temperatures only reach 60 to 70 degrees.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, S.C.

8. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, S.C.: This public beach on the southern end of Kiawah Island is approximately 25 miles south of Charleston. Tennis and golf are featured here, as well as interpretative tours of the island’s flora and fauna. This is a nature-lover’s coast, so visitors should pack their canoes and kayaks to paddle through the tidal inlets or walk down to St. Sam’s Inlet to see thousands of birds. The water is not clear here, but it is clean and provides for fantastic seafood. Visitors can also pack their bicycles, since the sand is compact enough to ride along the 10-mile long barrier island.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Fla.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii

9. Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii: Ernest Hemingway once said that Hamoa Beach was the world’s best beach. It’s certainly the most famous of Maui’s Hana beaches. This crescent-shaped beach, a mixture of coral and lava sand, is rimmed by cliffs and covered by coconut palms and flowering vegetation. The beach is actually inside a breached volcanic crater. To get to Hamoa Beach, one has to take the “Road to Hana,” the treacherous drive with sporadic guardrails and drop-offs of more than 1,000 feet. Take it slow on this road, which has more than 50 one-way bridges.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2009: Hanalei Bay Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Fla.

10. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Fla.: This beach at the southern tip of Key Biscayne provides clear, emerald-colored waters and gentle surf. The fine white-coral sand beach is great for swimming, as waves are knocked down by a large sand shoal offshore. In addition, the Cape Florida Lighthouse allows for a breathtaking view of this beautiful beach.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2008: Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Fla.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2009: Hanalei Bay Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Dr. Beach named Hanalei Bay Beach as his No. 1 beach in 2009. Hanalei Bay is a spectacular white crescent-shaped sand beach that is considered by residents and visitors to be the most beautiful beach setting in Hawaii. The two-mile long strand is lined by palm trees and has a backdrop of waterfalls and mountain peaks that range up to 4,000 feet high. One of the best views of the beach is from the Princeville Hotel on the high bluff to the east. The other end of this wide coral sand beach is anchored by a high lava point that extends into the ocean. This panorama has been the inspiration for many paintings and photo shoots. 

>Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2007: Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks, N.C.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2008: Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Fla.

Caladesi Island State Park took the No. 1 spot in 2008. It is north of Clearwater Beach, three miles off shore from Dunedin, and is one of the few undeveloped barrier islands left in Florida. Your imagination can get a vigorous workout here. While walking the three miles of beaches, it's easy to imagine yourself as a 16th-century Spanish explorer looking at the New World for the first time. Or, enjoy the Robinson Crusoe fantasy of having a tropical island to yourself. The Gulf Coast barrier island's unspoiled beauty offers a glimpse of Florida the way it looked centuries ago. Caladesi offers excellent opportunities for swimming, fishing, shelling, boating and nature study.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2006: Fleming Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2007: Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks, N.C.

Ocracoke Island was Dr. Beach’s No. 1 pick in 2007. Big surf and coarse-grained beaches, some of the finest wild beaches in the country, are the rule here. The water quality is at the top of the charts, as there is literally nothing out here to pollute it. This island can be reached by a state ferry from Cape Hatteras. Don't come here expecting to play golf or stay at a resort hotel, however. The main pursuits are swimming (best at the Airport Beach area), shelling (especially on the north end) and general beachcombing along the 16-mile long shore. It's also fun to ride bicycles through the historic village of Ocracoke on the southern end of the island.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2005: Fort De Soto Park, North Beach, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2006: Fleming Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii

Fleming Beach Park was the No. 1 spot in 2006. This popular beach is great for swimming when the ocean is calm, but riptides may develop when the surf rises. The beach is long, wide and sandy and is surrounded by ironwood trees that provide wonderful shade. Take caution when swimming, however, due to the steep slope of the beach that causes a backwash even during calm seas.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2006: Fleming Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2005: Fort De Soto Park, North Beach, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Fort De Soto Park was the No. 1 spot in 2005. It consists of seven miles of beaches and two fishing piers along with picnic and camping areas within its 900 unspoiled acres. The island is easily accessible by a causeway from St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach. A historic fort built during the Spanish-American War can be found on Mullet Key, the largest of the five islands that make up this unique area. The park also features a 235-site family camping area directly on the Gulf of Mexico, with luxury facilities that include picnic tables, grills, water, electricity, washers, dryers, sanitary disposal stations, modern restrooms, showers, play areas and a camp store.

Top New Dining Destinations

Allow us to make some introductions. You'll be pleased to meet (and eat at) these newly opened restaurants.

By Gayot.com for MSN Local Edition

The season yields a bounty of new eateries like Colicchio & Sons.

Restaurants are sprouting up all over the place like pretty spring posies ready to be plucked. We canvassed the country for the best culinary newcomers and weeded out the ones unworthy of your time, pocketbook and tastebuds. Our picks range from renowned chef Thomas Keller's Beverly Hills brasserie to a glam restaurant and lounge offering jaw-dropping views of Philadelphia to an eponymous establishment from Tom Colicchio (where he'll actually be in the kitchen).
Below is a bouquet of dining experiences (just shy of a dozen) harvested from across the country.

French gets fresh at Keller's new Beverly Hill's Bouchon.

Bouchon (Beverly Hills, Calif.)
Beverly Hills' Bouchon perfectly mimics a turn of the twentieth century Montparnasse brasserie. Designed by Adam Tihany, Thomas Keller's new location boasts copious details re-creating la Belle Époque: brass bars around the service station, elegant chairs, a cathedral-high ceiling adorned with a massive brass chandelier that reflects soft light on soaring windows. A battalion of cheerful waiters wearing white aprons animate the vibrant scene. Indeed, this place exudes la joie de vivre. Chef Rory Herrmann of Per Se fame adapted to the standards of this heartwarming eatery. Fare runs the gamut including a seafood platter, leg of lamb, steak frites, roasted chicken with wilted spinach, blood sausage, bouchot mussels, charcuterie, Bibb lettuce with garden herbs, quiches, and croque madame. Read the full review.

Divine dining courtesy of Ceres' Table.

Ceres' Table (Chicago)
Giuseppe Scurato (formerly of Topaz Café in Burr Ridge) opened this serene, blue-walled venture with his wife. From the moment you're seated at rustic, hammered wood tables, their dedication shows. Arancini, oozing with a mixture of Taleggio, artichoke and saffron risotto, are honest and luxurious. Shaved artichoke and mushroom salad with Parmigiano-Reggiano and arugula in truffle vinaigrette captures spring's essence. (Seasonality and local bounty are priorities here.) Pasta dishes range from goat cheese ravioli with rock shrimp, grape tomato, fava beans, leeks and basil to spaghetti alla chitarra. Even the flat-iron steak woos. Add craft cocktails plus a well-matched, approachable wine list, and the result is nothing short of bliss. Read the full review.

Colicchio & Sons (New York)
Colicchio's new eatery has one sure thing going for it: the Top Chef host claims he'll be in the kitchen cooking your meal -- that is, when he's not taping TV shows. The spacious restaurant and Tap Room are understated, putting the emphasis on the plate. Dishes skew Italian with some French influences thrown in: rigatoni with duck, porcini and spring onion, and ricotta ravioli with morels, fava beans and fava leaves. Colicchio creates bold, meaty pairings such as in the tender lamb loin accompanied by merguez sausages and lentils, and loup de mer with pork trotter and sweet-and-sour shallots. Read the full review.

Authentic barbeque done with ease at Community BBQ.

Community BBQ (Decatur, Ga.)
Two guys with strong chef credentials (David Roberts of The Ritz-Carlton and Seeger's; Stuart Baesel of Seeger's) devoted to barbeque can make a difference. Community BBQ's ribs come properly slow-smoked. Mac 'n' cheese is made with large tube pasta that's quite cheesy with a lovely top crust. Their slaw is fresh and delightfully crunchy; we also suggest the collard greens. Dessert might include strawberry shortcake with lemon buttermilk pound cake and whipped cream. Much of Community's ingredients come from local purveyors. Even their lemonade is freshly squeezed. Read the full review.

Il Barone's bleak exterior encases chic décor.

Il Barone Ristorante
(Newport Beach, Calif.)
Located near the John Wayne airport in a generic-looking complex, Il Barone Ristorante is worth the trip to this pocket of Newport Beach. Don't be bothered by the stark exterior. Among the dark woods and modern artwork, business types, lunching ladies, and groups nosh on Franco Barone's Italian favorites. A grilled octopus salad is a good palate-opening course, with its crunchy celery, red onions, bitter arugula and lemon vinaigrette. Opt for homemade pastas like the lasagna parma e tartugo with truffle-infused béchamel sauce. Secondi courses of Italian comfort food include tripe stew, Milanese-style chicken and veal with sautéed mushrooms in a Marsala wine reduction. Both the lunch and dinner menus accommodate discerning vegetarians and no-carb dieters. Read the full review.

Carve out some time to feast at Marlowe.

Marlowe (San Francisco)
Marlowe's rich, moody interior combines elements of an old-world butcher shop and a classic bistro. A roll of butcher paper announces the daily specials. Close tables and low lighting evoke a countryside bistro. Chef Jennifer Puccio's menu hones in on every craving. "Snacks" include alarmingly addictive pistachios coated in a glaze of bourbon, maple and smoked sea salt or wispy Brussels sprout chips. Whole grilled prawns dredged in Bay seasoning could be eaten as is, but come with a jar of "boozy" cocktail sauce. Roasted chicken tastes as if brushed with lavender. And creamy polenta studded with trumpets and chanterelles receives an injection of truffle. Finish with homey yet elegant desserts (apple crisp drenched in bourbon ice cream and a brown butter caramel sauce). Read the full review.
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Related reading from MSN and Gayot.com:
Top 40 U.S. Restaurants
Top Mother's Day Brunch Spots
Top 10 Romantic Restaurants
Top 10 Heart-healthy Restaurants
Top Easter Brunch Spots
Restaurants Near You
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Enjoy food and views that are tops at R2L.

R2L (Philadelphia)
Chef-owner Daniel Stern has reinvented wow dining in Philly with this glam restaurant and lounge on the 37th floor of Two Liberty Place. Diners enter through a street entrance complete with stanchions and a dedicated elevator delivers them directly to the eatery's jaw-dropping view. Stern's culinary sleight of hand keeps you guessing in dishes like venison and caramelized cippolini "cheesesteaks" and lobster cocktail "franks." The menu includes an inventive raw bar -- try the chilled oysters or the striped bass "fish and chip" bites. Desserts by Peter Scarola are favorites with sophisticated twists like the beignets with cinnamon honey, chocolate fondue and caramel, and the sour cream and walnut apple pie with thyme ice cream. Read the full review.

Old fashioned applies to more than a delicious cocktail at Rockwood.

Rockwood Room (Houston)
Michael De Maggi's Rockwood Room strives to reinvent classic cuisine and cocktails from the post-WWII days when dinner began with a Manhattan and a plate of oysters Rockefeller. This sleek, little restaurant in the Tanglewood area doesn't rely on just being retro. Dei Maggi -- who made his mark at Max's Wine Dive -- uses local ingredients and throws in creative flourishes, such as infusing the Texas Kobe burger with butter, glazing his fried chicken with habañero honey, and serving a chipotle dipping sauce with his thick-cut onion rings. Plenty of big steaks and Gulf Coast seafood are on the menu as well as Granny's rigatoni and meatballs. And, yes, they serve oysters "Rockwoodfeller" tinged with applewood bacon and Parmigiano. Read the full review.

Toulouse Petit (Seattle)
A dramatic New Orleans-inspired brasserie, Toulouse Petit celebrates Creole, Cajun and French cuisines. At night, the seductive room glimmers with hundreds of candles; during the day it feels like a quirky art project. The ambitious menu spotlights New Orleans classics such as spicy, rich jambalaya; authentic gumbo; blackened red fish; and crawfish etouffée. Big Easy accompaniments include homemade charcuterie (terrines, rillettes, sausage), bistro salads, soups, poultry prepared four ways -- such as a black pepper-molasses half chicken with wilted garlic mustard greens -- and fresh seafood like Gulf shrimp and bayou crawfish, which are delivered daily. Libations range from classic Southern cocktails to a thoughtful wine selection. Read the full review.

French fusion pioneer Pierre Gagnaire's Twist.

Twist by Pierre Gagnaire
(Las Vegas)
The Mandarin Oriental's twenty-third floor sets the stage for a dining experience that avoids the bells and whistles of many Las Vegas restaurants. An intimate design mixes elegant white cracked-eggshell walls and scattered, suspended pearls of illuminated bulbs while 20-feet-high windows overlook the city skyline. Twist is chef Pierre Gagnaire's (a French fusion pioneer) first venture in the U.S. Spot-on presentation includes artfully plated canapés and a synchronized waitstaff. Opt for the tasting menu -- though items are also available à la carte. Dishes reveal themselves in waves of textures and tastes. Such may be the case with "sea and earth": Santa Barbara prawns, spicy grapefruit syrup and ginger potato salad, and poached duck foie gras, scallop mousseline and baby greens. Read the full review.

揭秘外国国宴：周恩来曾享金日成特设"全狗午宴"

西方国家的国宴通常为晚宴，一般在晚上8-9时开始，持续到午夜结束。虽然礼仪非常隆重，但饭菜却远比人们想象的简单：往往是少许冷盘，一或二道肉类热菜，一道甜食，外加面包和饮料。餐食不丰富，饭量大者很可能吃不饱，但餐具十分讲究，餐桌布置富丽堂皇，每道菜结束必然换上一套新餐具。真像有人说的那样，西餐就是吃餐具。
吃文化
西式国宴工夫多半在饭菜之外，强调的是“吃文化”。比如瑞士的国宴，一般是三菜一汤，一份甜食，但精明的主人善于用五彩缤纷的鲜花和美妙的音乐营造温馨的气氛，让人有宾至如归之感。菜式的设计更是别出心裁，甜点上装饰有瑞士国旗图案，状若熊掌的蘑菇牛排看起来赏心悦目。瑞士的首都伯尔尼被誉为“熊城”，吃了这道菜，从肚子到脑子都再忘不了瑞士和伯尔尼。
法国菜
欧美国家的国宴，以西餐为主。法国菜在西方国家最负盛名，它选料新颖，如蜗牛、鹅肝等非常独特；它加工精细，烹调讲究，有不少名菜传世，如马赛鱼羹、鹅肝冻、巴黎龙虾、红酒山鸡等。而“巴黎牛排油炸土豆丝”，被誉为这个美食大国的国菜，每次都会被端上国宴台面。这道牛排半生半熟，肉呈红色，鲜美可口，土豆丝焦熟适度，嚼起来满口是香、风味独特。法国国宴上另一名菜是烤蜗牛，制作很特别：将蜗牛肉同葱、蒜、洋葱一起捣碎，拌以黄油，调味之后，把肉塞回壳内，放在特制的瓷盘里，送进烤箱里烤，食用时油还冒着泡，十分鲜美。
狗肉宴
亚非拉很多国家非常注重以民族特色的菜肴招待宾客。1970年4月周恩来总理访问平壤时，金日成主席就为他特设了“全狗午宴”。这全狗宴，从冷盘开始到每道热菜均从狗身上做文章：狗血肠、红烧狗肉、清炖狗肉、狗肉汤。烹饪方法不同，香而不腻，美味可口。另外，看似不起眼的泡菜，在朝鲜的国宴上也扮演着不可或缺的角色。朝鲜泡菜风味独特，酸、辣、香、脆齐备，既下得普通百姓的厨房、也上得辉煌的国宴。
烤骆驼
阿拉伯国家国宴最受欢迎的一道菜是烤全羊。烤熟的整羊放在桌上，旁边有切好的生洋葱和其他调味品，任凭客人持刀从整只羊的任何部分切割，拌上调味品享用。
非洲一些国家的国宴受阿拉伯人影响，也常常以烤制品招待客人，如马里外交部招待外国使节的大餐常常是一道烤骆驼。这道菜的特别之处是，骆驼被掏空内脏，一只烤全羊被置于骆驼腹中，一只烤鸡又含于羊腹中，鸡腹中又藏着一只烤鹌鹑，鹌鹑腹中有一个鸡蛋。当客人开始品尝这烤骆驼时，就好像在猜一道妙趣横生的连环谜题，主人的热情与幽默尽在不言之中。
生吃牛肉
埃塞俄比亚的国宴往往是吃生牛肉。生牛肉很鲜嫩，鲜血淋淋的牛肉最受欢迎。吃法有两种：一是将剥去皮的整头牛劈成两半，挂在钩上，客人一手持刀一手拿盘，自己动手去牛身上切割，边切边蘸着佐料吃，不加主食；另一种是把牛肉绞成肉糜，拌上辣椒粉等调料装盘吃，或用一种谷物做成的“英吉拉”薄饼裹着吃。海尔·塞拉西皇帝在位时，宴请我国大使俞沛文以及后来埃塞俄比亚外长宴请杨守正大使，都吃过这种生牛肉。
蝗虫宴
墨西哥人以玉米为主食，他们的国宴都少不了玉米。“托尔蒂亚”是将玉米面放在平底锅上烤出的薄饼，类似中国的炸春卷； “达科”是包着鸡丝、沙拉、洋葱、辣椒，用油炸过的玉米卷。最高档的“达科”用蝗虫做馅。“蓬索”是用玉米粒和鱼、肉熬成的鲜汤。另外，在这个神奇的国家，食用“米邦塔”仙人掌有久远的历史，用它做成的大菜也是墨西哥国宴上的一道主菜。
秘鲁以烤肉串作为国菜，尤以烤牛心、羊心、鸡心为主。烤前将肉串放入酒、醋、盐、蒜、辣椒等原料中腌制数小时，烤时掌握好火候，烤出的肉串芳香四溢。
国宴说起来很严肃，其实不外是一种饮食文化与民风民情的展示。

Budget-minded travelers go online for bargains

 

By Renay San Miguel | Apr 05, 2010

Innovative online travel companies are finding a market for their services despite - or perhaps because of - the weak economy. "Travelers are definitely looking to be more frugal and to cut expenses wherever they can," said Tom Romary, CEO and cofounder of Yapta.com. "You might say that some of the newer online travel companies were born out of the recession."

Many college students have been spending the week on the beaches of Padre Island and other balmy locales, soaking up equal parts sun and alcohol. Meanwhile, the families of America are starting to think about where they'd like to dig their toes in the sand for summer vacations - if they're not already picturing themselves joining the long, sweaty lines at the nation's major theme parks.

What do these two disparate demographic groups have in common this year? A greater reliance than ever before on technology, particularly the online travel companies that have managed to stay busy as the country tries to blow away recessionary storm clouds.

That goes for the web sites for the top airlines or hotel chains in the country, the major online travel aggregators like Expedia and Orbitz, and specialized web sites like Yapta and TripIt, that target hourly changes in airfares or help travelers organize their business or pleasure visits. Add to that mix the relatively new factors of social media networks and smartphone applications, and you've got extremely empowered consumers - along with a lot of jousting for their business.

Changing Game
"What's still happening is a lot of fierce competition right now, and you have got to have the right twists and turns," BestFares.com founder and CEO Tom Parsons said. "You've got a lot more travel gurus out there sitting at home saying, 'I know how to play this game' - but the game changes every hour."

Those changes can mean hundreds of dollars saved on airfares and hotel rates and various packages involving both kinds of costs. Just as travelers are trying to avoid the stress that comes with spending too much money for their rest-and-relaxation trips, online travel companies are also trying to contain costs by enhancing the services they already provide, rather than merging with other companies - or buying them outright.

"I would guess that more travel companies, online and offline, will continue to forge partnerships in an effort to expand their offerings and gain visitors and travelers, but without incurring major costs," said Tom Romary, CEO and cofounder of Yapta.com. The same spirit that led to previous travel connections - such as Expedia buying TripAdvisor, or Travelocity's purchase of Sabre - has been put on hold by the recession.

Latest Online Travel Trends
Necessity - and a recession - being the parents of invention, some new web-based companies have sprung up in response to the greater demand for cost-saving services accessed from a computer or smartphone, noted Romary.

Packlate, which targets last-minute deals in the vacation rental/vacation home market, and GetARoom, which provides the latest information on so-called nonpublished hotel room rates, are two examples.

Yapta, which scans changes in airfare and hotel room prices and alerts customers accordingly, was doing business before the recession, but has still managed to market itself as a resource to cost-conscious travelers.

"While the recession did result in fewer travel dollars being spent, it also thrust services like ours into the spotlight," Romary said. "Travelers are definitely looking to be more frugal and to cut expenses wherever they can. You might say that some of the newer online travel companies were born out of the recession. These sites help fill a need for travelers on a tight budget. Again, it's a sign of the times."

However, the newer companies and their new technology tools may be giving customers a false sense of security, argued BestFares.com president Parsons.

"In the business today, John Q. Public still has to be careful about what system they use," he said. "This year, the consumer is not just relying on the search engines to do their work. The airfares can change three times a day. What you see on Tuesday in the morning can change a couple of times by 5 pm. You have to use a little more common sense other than solely relying on any one of us (online travel companies). You've got to play the game a little bit harder."

Advent of Smartphones and Social Media
These days, if an airline or any other travel-related company doesn't have some form of social media strategy, it's a cause for raised eyebrows, said Dan Levy, editor of Sparksheet.

Twitter and Facebook accounts can help manage public relations crises and alert customers to deals, Levy said, but the ship still hasn't come in yet regarding any real impact on company bottom lines.

"There are a few examples, like JetBlue, which made a bit of a splash when they were the first ones to start giving away cheap seats via Twitter," Levy said. "If you're able to unload extra inventory, then I think that's a clear case of social media being a good business decision."

Southwest Airlines is trying to find a way to measure engagement on its Twitter and Facebook accounts by tracking click-throughs that lead to its ticket-booking services on Southwest.com.

"I got the impression they're not huge numbers, but they are at least tracking," observed Levy. "They are seeing whether people are coming through social media or from organic, direct traffic."

There's more potential in the smartphone application world, in his view, and he hopes that established travel-related companies - be they the web sites of the major airlines, the aggregators like Expedia or specialized web-based companies - will seek out the entrepreneurs who are trying to merge GPS-related services with the needs of the travel industry.

It's still a work in progress, though.

"I think maybe it's a case of the airlines trying to do it all in-house," said Levy, "when there are enthusiastic airplane geeks out there who are developing some really cool stuff that's miles ahead of what the airlines are developing."