Travel

Buried under two months of winter in Buffalo, N.Y., Kim Kramer could take no more. "I came home and said, 'I've got to get out of here,' " said Kramer, a 44-year-old teacher. Two weeks later, she was awash in sunshine here on Mexico's Caribbean coast, sipping a midday Hurricane and looking pleasantly thawed. Before Kramer got on the plane to Cancun, though, she made sure to check: Was it dangerous to go there?

In the worst economic storm in decades, a Beverly Hills company has an ambitious plan to build a $1.1-billion cruise ship, set to cast off in 2013. But instead of offering four- or five-day excursions as typical cruise lines do, the business plans to sell half the cabins as floating homes. Opulent cabins aboard the ship Utopia now range in price from about $3.7 million to $26 million. But even at these prices, a key draw will be location. During the Cannes Film Festival, the ship is slated to drop anchor near the south of France in the Mediterranean sea. During the carnival celebration in Rio de Janeiro, the ship plans to dock off the coast of the Brazilian city.

Without too much effort, even a novice can snare a great fare on a one-way repositioning cruise. Such cruises have become increasingly popular in recent times, especially among cruisers who enjoy time at sea rather than at many ports. For the do-it-yourselfer, websites can provide a wealth of information, so much so that the info sometimes can be overwhelming. Both the cruise lines and online sellers of travel have websites offering various pricing options. A search engine such as Google or Yahoo can help locate such sites.

The air is already laced with diesel fumes as the conductor shouts, "All aboard!" The engineer sounds the whistle, and the locomotive lurches forward. Squeals of delight emanate from the passenger cars. This train ride is a first for many of the children. The adults share their excitement because they are setting off on a unique international adventure.

Colin Markland relishes the feel of an ocean breeze as it musses his white hair. The 80-year-old retired doctor lives in Charleston, S.C., not far from his beloved Atlantic Ocean, a sea he has crossed by ship more times than he can remember. His first sailing -- from Liverpool to Boston -- was in 1953, when the young Englishman immigrated to America for an internship. Cunard charged him 50 pounds -- the equivalent of $140 back then -- for a bunk in steerage. Fifty-six years later, I met Markland on another transatlantic crossing.

EVERYONE told me the world is round. But last month I had to find out for myself. I started in Paris and flew east to Nepal by way of Bahrain on Gulf Air. From Katmandu, Nepal's capital, I took Royal Nepal Airlines to Bangkok, Thailand, then Thai Airways to Chiang Mai in the northern part of the country and back. In Bangkok, I caught a Cathay Pacific flight to Los Angeles, changing planes in Hong Kong. Then I flew Alaska to Washington, D.C., and United back to Paris.

FOR AGES, there seemed to be nothing in Rome between expensive luxury hotels, such as the Hassler at the top of the Spanish Steps, and the dirt-cheap pensions around unlovely Termini railway station. But in 2000, when the Eternal City prepared for an influx of pilgrims celebrating the Roman Catholic Church Jubilee, the municipal tourism agency tried to better categorize and promote lodgings offered by religious institutions and encouraged Romans to open bed-and-breakfasts.

THERE are two things I call "baby": my dog and my bicycle. For practical reasons, I couldn't take my pooch along on a trip to Florida to visit family. But I decided to take my custom-fitted road bike. Bad enough I had chosen a sport that requires wearing Lycra. But taking my bike meant I had to obtain an appropriate packing box, learn how to disassemble (and reassemble) the bike, budget for extra baggage fees and figure out where to ride at my destinations. I was determined, though.

The kids may still be in school and the calendar may still say winter, but vacation time will be here before you know it. For single parents trying to fill two roles, however, a vacation may seem more like work. Travel agents, resorts, touring companies, hotels and cruises have recognized single-parent travel as a niche market and are beginning to cater to them, offering special rates and package deals and eliminating single supplement fees.

IRELAND 'Emerald Castle Package' On the Aer Lingus Vacation Store's six-night "Emerald Castle Package," you get round-trip airfare and a full week's car rental to explore the Emerald Isle. For lodging, you get a night at Dublin's Croke Park Hotel, three at your choice of bed-and-breakfasts, one at Ireland's renowned 13th century Ashford Castle and a final night in Dublin. Itinerary: Dublin to County Mayo and back Dates: Available through March 10 (or through Oct. 31 at higher prices)

The Los Angeles Athletic Club is offering an exclusive Valentine's Day deal through DowntownLA.com, which has collected an assortment of Valentine's Day-related activities and special offers. The deal: The Los Angeles Athletic Club Valentine's Day package is priced at $275, pretax. It includes accommodations in a deluxe king room, Champagne breakfast for two, four-course dinner for two and discounted parking. As a bonus, facilities at the private health club are available to all hotel guests (even nonmembers)

Maryland Delaware Virginia Answer below. Source: National Geographic Bee

Sometimes our biggest enemy in travel is not our time or our budget but our imaginations. For a moment, envision seeing the world through a prism that refracts the sights in a different way. There is the French Riviera, and then there is . . . the Albanian Riviera? By cruise ship? There is going to Carnival in Rio, and then there is . . . dancing with your samba school as part of the official celebration? In a costume? Yes, yes, yes and yes. Here are five ideas that can turn a traditional trip on its head.

We're packing the mobi for a madcap trip across Europe to see as much as we can in 18 days. If this trip goes badly, it's our daughter's fault. This is her idea, pitched from her apartment in downtown Antwerp during a call months earlier. "Come visit us," she said. "And rent a mobi and travel around," the boyfriend added. "It'll be cheaper than hotels and restaurants." "I'll come too," Cassie said. The last time Cassie joined my wife, Jeanne, and me on a camping trip she dismissed it as uncivilized and swore her allegiance to resorts.

If you go THE BEST WAY TO THAILAND From LAX: Connecting service (change of planes) to Chiang Mai is offered on Thai, Eva and Korean. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $820. The Thai Elephant Conservation Center is in northern Thailand, about 375 miles north of Bangkok. The nearest major city is Chiang Mai, about 45 miles to the northwest; the closest town, Lampang, is 20 miles southeast; The center is on Highway 11, which connects to Chiang Mai and Lampang.

All of the above. Monticello in Charlottesville, Va., pictured above.

It was, unquestionably, the best $2.55 I've ever spent on vacation. For less than the cost of a Double Whopper, I spent a day in the company of 55 whoppers -- domesticated Asian elephants being rehabbed after lives of labor. No chains, no enclosures, often no distance at all from behemoths within touching range. For an animal lover like me, it was a pachyderm paradise for the price of peanuts. As for the elephants, it was probably just another routine day at the 300-acre Elephant Conservation Center in northern Thailand.

SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN A room with a view If you book Royal Caribbean's "7 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise" through eCruises.com by Feb. 28, you'll get upgraded to a balcony room. Aboard Adventures of the Seas, you'll glide over azure waters and disembark onto no fewer than five of the region's most attractive islands. Itinerary: San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curacao; Roseau, Dominica; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and back to San Juan.

KANSAS Charming B&B in 'Little Apple' If you are ever in Manhattan, Kan. (a.k.a. the Little Apple), stay at the Morning Star Bed & Breakfast. The food is excellent, and accommodations are quite comfortable and charming. Morning Star Bed & Breakfast , 617 Houston St., Manhattan; (785) 587-9703, www.morningstaronthe park.com . Rooms from $99. Cheryl Kohr Redondo Beach

ASIA Slide show Traveler Ronald Dunlap will present a photographic tour of Bali, Cambodia and Thailand, including the ancient site of Angkor Wat, Balinese temples and Bangkok. When, where: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Distant Lands, 56 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Admission, info: Free. RSVP to (626) 449-3220. ETHIOPIA Slide show Mort Loveman will present "Ethiopia: Queen of Sheba Story." When, where: 1 p.m. Wednesday at Roxbury Park Community Center, 471 S. Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills.