10 Most Expensive Hotel Suites

(NEWSER) -

1. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks, North Carolina
2. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
3. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
4. Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
5. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

(NEWSER) - Families are traveling more often, and recession-battered hotels are ramping up their kid-friendly offerings, the Boston Globe reports. Rooms occupied by families with children accounted for 27% of the total in 2008, up from 25% in 2004, and lodgings are watching the trend. Whether it's free Wii, a dog to walk, or a theme guest room, the trend is picking up and is no longer relegated to just the summer months. More»

(NEWSER) - The recession is igniting new hotel wars: not battles for customers, but between owners of luxury hotels and the properties’ operators, the New York Times reports. The owners are often struggling to keep up with big debt payments, hindered by a more than 16% average drop in hotel bookings across the sector. But operators are loathe to cut rates or amenities, saying that doing so will diminish a property’s brand. More»

Go it alone for fun

(NEWSER) - Looking to mend a well-trodden heart with a solo adventure? From serene fishing villages to culture-packed cities, several destinations can be just the ticket. For those who prefer to go it alone, IgoUgo readers recommend:

1. Vienna
2. Rio de Janeiro
3. Florence
4. Parque Nacional Volcan Baru, Panama
5. Marseille, France

Delicious food means you don't have to leave the hotel

(NEWSER) - With this sort of room service, why leave the hotel at all? Forbes lists eight hotels that are stand-outs for room service offerings:

1. Four Seasons Washington, DC: Gourmet in-room dinner for two served by personal butler.
2. Ritz-Carlton Chicago: Get whatever you want, whenever you want from the kitchen—prepared to your specs.