It’s been a whole week since you gorged yourself on turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie and you STILL have to unbutton your pants while sitting. Want to lose the holiday weight but you aren’t easily motivated by fitness tapes and diet books? Get inspired by visiting one of the many fitness and nutrition gurus who still takes time to treat people like you and me — and not just via QVC.

Billy Blanks, creator of Tae Bo, has been firming bodies with his signature mix of boxing, martial arts and dance since 1982. Since then, millions of people have bought his exercise videos but you can kick and punch alongside Billy or his daughter Shellie (ripped blond lady in the videos) at his LA gym where he still teaches classes. Since it’s LA, be on the lookout for professional athletes and celebrities that rely on Billy (and their plastic surgeon) to stay lean and mean. Private lessons with Billy are also available and surprisingly affordable.

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Thanks to South Beach Diet founder and cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston, pasta and potatoes are in as high demand as bird flu and tickets to Michael Richards’ comedy show. Take that bacon off the frying pan, South Beach is not a traditional low-carb plan allowing endless quantities of meat and grease. Instead, Agatston steers clients towards lean sources of protein and the right carbs (gasp!!), such as whole grains and certain fruits and vegetables. Buy his bestselling book or better yet, travel to Miami where Dr. Agatston maintains an active, full-time cardiology practice.

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Personal Trainer Bob Greene is responsible for helping Oprah fight her lifelong battle with the bulge. Imagine what he can do for your few pounds of extra holiday weight? Bob promotes healthy weight loss through exercise and sensible eating and since he began working with Oprah, she’s lost 90 pounds, ran a marathon, hiked the Grand Canyon and conquered the free world (latter might not be attributed to Bob). Bob has a thriving personal training practice in Chicago or if your purse strings are tight, call the Oprah Winfrey Show and reserve tickets for one of his many appearances.

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Need to immerse yourself in a diet in order to lose weight? Forget Duke Fat Camp or stop wishing “The Biggest Loser” would call, rather, get yourself on a plane to Paris and nibble your way to a thinner you by eating chocolate and bread and drinking champagne. Too good to be true? In her best selling book French Women Don’t Get Fat Mireille Guiliano reveals the lifestyle ingredients for a lifetime of weight control that has helped centuries of French women stay thin despite a rich and decadent cuisine. From an emergency weekend remedy to everyday tricks like fooling yourself into contentment, Mireille provides the tricks to enjoy food and lose weight. No need to book an expensive speaking engagement, just stop any French woman on the street for a little free advice.

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Get the Fare Buzz for these fitness gurus from your home airport.

Sweatin to the oldies,
Steve and Paul, Kayak.com co-founders

Did You Know? Kayak.com offers more historical airfare data than any other travel site with three industry-leading tools. Best Fare Trend Graph charts pricing for city/date pairs found by Kayak.com users over the past 90 days. To use the graph, click on the “details” link above the chart. Use the date drop down menu to change the departure date and instantly review a new Trend Graph or users with flexibility can find the lowest fare over a month’s time by choosing “any day” which charts “average low fare found” and the “absolute best fare found”.

Everything about Thanksgiving is big. The big turkey, the big game, a big parade hosted by a formerly big Al Roker, a big bloated belly and the big pain (insert in-law of choice). In honor of the holiday that celebrates largess, here are a few BIG vacation ideas. So, get off your big butt and make this your season for a grand escape, a mighty adventure, a towering achievement of a vacation.

It’s hard to think of “big” without envisioning the purple mountains’ majesty and amber waves of grain of the United States. If architecture’s your thing, Chicago (the “city of big shoulders”) serves up the tallest skyscraper in the country as well as a diverse blend of classic and contemporary structures, from Louis Sullivan to Frank Lloyd Wright to Frank Gehry. While in Chicago, indulge in big calories with a slice of deep dish pizza.

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• Stay in a 3-star Chicago hotel from $38/night

For natural wonders, head to the biggest hole in the ground you’ll ever see (we hope). At over a mile deep and up to 18 miles wide, the Grand Canyon’s immensity is almost impossible to grasp. Opt for a helicopter tour or explore the old fashion way, on donkey.

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It doesn’t get bigger than Everest, and you don’t have to be an expert mountain climber to appreciate the Himalayas’ beauty. While late fall is the preferred season for making treks up the mountains, travelers who prefer lower altitudes can enjoy the occasional view of Everest from the busy streets of Kathmandu. The old city is packed with temples, shrines, alleyways, and merchants, each vying for your attention (and money). Or head to Nagarkot, a resort town high up in the mountains, where rooftop hotel bars and balconies offer once-in-a-lifetime views (without the necessity of a sherpa or threat of death).

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If winter in Nepal isn’t your style, how about South Africa in the spring? The weather’s perfect for a jaunt to Victoria Falls, the largest single waterfall in the world. For more big adventures, book a safari and see South Africa’s “big five” - rhinos, lions, leopards, buffalo, and the largest land animal in the world, the African elephant. Oh my!

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Get the Fare Buzz to these extra whopping locales from your home airport.

Large and in charge,
Steve and Paul, Kayak.com co-founders

Did you Know? Kayak’s industry leading sorting and filtering tools make finding the perfect flight fast and easy. Simply use the tools on the left side to filter by number of stops, departure/arrival times, airport, or price. Use the sorting tools at the top of the page to prioritize results. Your results display update instantly because Kayak uses an AJAX application–no sink cleanser, it just means that users can adjust our search results wicked fastah than any other travel site.

Pilgrims, Plymouth Rock, and pumpkin pie. This Thanksgiving, honor the religious rebels that founded America by making your own pilgrimage to some of the country’s top religious spots. Please do try to get along with the locals…

The Washington National Cathedral sits on a hill above Georgetown and serves as America’s national house of prayer. Among its gorgeous stained glass windows sits a piece of the country’s greatest pilgrimage – the Space Window holds a bit of moon rock. If you listen closely, you can hear Republicans praying for new jobs.

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• Stay at the 4-star Washington Court Hotel from $129/night

If meal planning, family obligations and an overdose of holiday togetherness have your head spinning, find your center at the Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, located where else but the West Coast. Take an introductory class at the only Tibetan Monastery in the country, then “om” your way through a peaceful holiday season.

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For a Midwestern getaway, we recommend the beautiful Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. Its lacy decoration, soaring ceilings, and breathtaking gardens are perfect for wandering, just north of Chicago. Gay ga zinta hate.

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For a different take on spirituality, check out the New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple. Make it a Thanksgiving to remember with Priestess Miriam’s African bone readings, palm readings, potions, dolls, and snake rituals, or give “till death do us part” a new meaning with your own voodoo wedding.

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• Stay at the historic Prince Conti Hotel in the French Quarter from $71/night

Get the Fare Buzz for these pilgrimages from your home airport.

We go in peace,
Steve and Paul, Kayak.com co-founders

Did you know? Kayak’s custom locations make it easy to stay near where you work or play. Just type the address in our “custom location” filter and hotel results will be sorted by distance from your home base.

Holidays are just around the corner. In addition to last minute shopping, competitive eating, and extended visits with your in-laws, this time of year brings Oscar movies. True to form, Martin Scorsese has released a three hour epic, which will not win Best Picture. The big screen inspires wanderlust, and a hit movie can do a lot for a country’s tourism from Lord of the Rings to Out of Africa. Get in the spirit by checking out these cinematic scenes.

As soon as you arrive in LA, you’re on a movie set. LAX airport, Laurel Canyon, West Hollywood, Muholland Drive — you’ll be dodging paparazzi and drunken celebrity drivers. Visit Paramount Pictures for a tour of their sets, prop departments, and historic memorabilia. When you’re done snooping through the wardrobe and underwear of the stars, head down to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Grauman’s Chinese Theather to see the infamously cemented handprints of the stars. Once you’ve had your fill of celebrity culture, stop by Venice Beach in Santa Monica for an array of outrageous performers; it’s like live reality TV theater.

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• Save $10 on tickets to the Universal studio tour
• Stay at the boutique Paramount hotel from $199

Kazakhstan has recently emerged as a hot movie destination, thanks to the efforts of its ministry of information. Be sure to visit Kuçzek, where Borat Sagdiyev was born, and the forest outside Astana, where his first wife Nursultan was tragically mistaken for a bear and shot. Nightlife in Astana is usually a family affair and the Kazaks are famously hospitable, so be sure to make friends with the locals. If you are visiting in April, look into the annual dog shoot; it’s world renown!

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Nothing says filmmaking like the Caribbean’s Dominica. Well, perhaps it’s an understated movie themed experience. But this island has something the Hollywood desert doesn’t: Pirates of the Caribbean II. Hang out where Johnny Depp acted like an effeminate Keith Richards. Until Jerry Bruckheimer took over the island, its main film influences were documentary projects and nature shows. Embrace this beauty before the rest of the world finds out about it.

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You can hardly think of the Empire State building without thinking of a love-smitten ape swatting at airplanes for the tiny woman he adores. Whatever warm fuzzies this tower evokes for you, head on over and check out the amazing view from the 102nd floor observatory. Next, skip, hop, and frolic your way on over to Broadway to see The Wedding Singer live. Unlike the movie, you can actually propose on stage at this date. Round out your trip with one of NYC’s many movie tours to see the places made famous by heroes from Spiderman to the Ghostbusters. Remember getting slimed? Your correspondent once thought it was cool too.

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Visit the hub of filmmaking in the south, Savannah. A variety of movie tours will give you an eyeful of locations for Forrest Gump, The Gift, and a slew of other films featuring actors with bad southern accents and sweaty brows. Don’t hold it against Savannah that Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, a rare miss by John Cusack, was filmed here.

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Get the Fare Buzz for these movie vacations from your home airport.

High Five!
Steve and Paul, Kayak.com co-founders

Did you know?

“Pins”, the latest innovation in Kayak’s search results, let you directly edit search results. Click the push-pin icon for your preferred flights and hotels, and the result will move to the top of the page. Kayak will display that result at the top of the page for future searches.

Ever tire of mother’s gentle reminders to take elbows off the table and chew and swallow before speaking? Your Kayak correspondent can relate (sorry mom, elbows still rest on the table). This week’s missive celebrates the best of street food, where good table manners consist of asking for extra napkins. Humble street fare is a great way to get a taste of your destination, especially after a healthy sample of the local nightlife. Pack your TUMS and pay homage at these outdoor culinary temples.

The ultimate in street food must be Philadelphia’s cheese steak. This sandwich is the cornerstone of Philadelphia civic pride, a sensitive subject as Philly sports teams invent new and creative ways to blow games. So important, in fact, that Philly’s cheese stake royalty, cousins Pat and Rick Olivieri, are wrangling in court over the rights to the family trademark. Rather than take sides, your correspondent suggests sharing the love. Pat’s and Geno’s are located across from one another at 9th and Passayunk South. Why pick just one?

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• Find 4-star hotels in Philly from $87 on Hotwire

Street food has been a New York staple since the 1600s, when German immigrants sold potatoes from carts. Early German vendors’ spirit lives on in the ubiquitous New York hot dog stand. The best known is the Hallo Berlin Wurst cart (Fifth Ave. at 54th St.), winner of the 2005 Vendy Award for best street food in New York. If weiners don’t strike your fancy, try the international flavors of the runners-up: the Best Halal (53rd St. at 6th Ave.) for meat-heavy middle eastern, Dosa Man (Washington Square South at Sullivan St.) for vegetarian Indian, or the Dragon (62nd St. at Madison Ave.) for grilled chicken.

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• Stay at the Soho Grand from $304/night

Forget the The Ivy or Spago, LA’s real star is the taco. No one knows tacos in this city better than The Taco Hunt who recommends Tacos Por Vor on the Westside, Cactus Taqueria in Hollywood, Fiesta Taco in the Valley or El Parian in LA which received the coveted five taco review, not to mention props from The New York Times and LA Weekly.

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• Save $10 on tickets to Universal Studios while in LA.

For the truly dedicated, head to the island with the best street food in the world: Penang, Malaysia. Whether you’re looking for Chinese, Malay, Tamil, or Thai food, Penang has it. The city of George Town was recognized by TIME Magazine as having the “Best Street Food” in Asia. TIME recommends “Gurney Drive for char kway teow (stir-fried rice noodles), Balik Pulau for ‘Penang-style’ laksa (more sour than the norm), and King Street for roti panggang-flat bread with coconut jam, toasted on a charcoal grill.” Just stay away from the water.

• Flights to Penang
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Get the Fare Buzz for these street food destinations from your home airport.

Heading for the can,
Steve and Paul, Kayak.com co-founders

Kayak Insider Tip:

Want to include your favorite street food destination in our round-up? Love the Kayak Insider and want to re-live the magic and humor of past issues? Now you can! Kayak’s Featured Forums now archive the Kayak Insider. Plus you can comment on each week’s issue to add your own ideas, dispute our claims, and share the love with your friends.