I love the smell of testosterone in the morning. Or the afternoon, if you were out late letting that Y-not chromosome off its leash the night before. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do, and we know some good places to do it. Whether you’re in search of a poker game, outdoor adventure, or a sweet fishing spot, you need some time with the boys. So take a break from work, life and yourself (that’s right, you don’t have to shave, bathe or eat your veggies for a few days). You are so money and you don’t even know it.

Alaska flights | hotels | cars
The great outdoors really deserves the word “great” in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. There’s plenty of room for you and your boys to spread out–about 17 million acres, mostly accessible only by air or boat. And the variety of rockin’ bring-your-best-camera-and-plenty-of-batteries terrain includes rainforests (they’re not just for the Equator), fjords, and some of the highest mountain peaks on the continent. Challenge your Bud bod with the steep 10-mile hike from Ketchikan into the mountains on the Deer Mountain Trail. Or just kick back with a cold one and do some fishing - you might catch a halibut that weighs as much as you do. Dig salmon? They run in all the popular colors and styles: red, pink, silver, king and dog. And speaking of dogs, Temsco Helicopters will take you flightseeing to a camp on Denver Glacier for a half-hour of dog sledding - and you can drive. Mush!

Orbitz Package Deal: Alaska adventure: Flight + 3-nts from $881pp

Louisiana - Bring Your Friends flights | hotels | cars

Planning a trip for a group of guys? Consider Louisiana. What better destination than a state known for great food, world famous nightlife, exciting collegiate and professional sports, outstanding outdoors activities - including world class fishing and hunting - 24/7 casinos and Bourbon Street? Suggest Louisiana for an upcoming vacation with your buddies. It’s sure to be a hit.

Utah flights | hotels | cars
You saw “City Slickers,” didn’t you? Pack your midlife crisis in your saddlebag, corral a couple of your favorite urban cowboys and ride out to a dude ranch in the wide open spaces of Utah. Keep it real with a hard day’s work at Rockin’ R Ranch in Antimony or get spiritual in a sweat lodge ceremony at WindWalker Guest Ranch in Spring City. Or do the full-on working vacation by herdin’ dogies and sacking out in the bunkhouse on a real cattle drive at the Box C in Grouse Creek. Just remember: Don’t bring your coffee grinder, keep an eye on Curly and warn your wife before you jump into bed with your spurs on.

Orbitz Package Deal: Enjoy Utah Ski trips starting from $206/pp

Baja, Mexico flights | hotels | cars
Hey, think of the inspiration Che Guevara got from a motorcycle trip. Explore the rugged landscape of Baja by motorcycle, getting closer to nature or to the freedom of two wheels and a whole lot of horsepower. Just a man, his bike and the desert. Or a man, his bike, the desert, a support van, meals, and iPod and a guide. Chris Haines Motorcycle Adventure Company runs 4-to-7-day motorcycle tours from San Diego and Ensenada as far as Cabo San Lucas, where you can chow down on a Fat Boy Burger at the Harley-Davidson Bar & Grill. Streak along the ocean on a BMW, tear up the winding back roads on a Yamaha, or bounce into the sunset on an ATV. Roads? You don’t need no stinking roads. Discover Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, tequila and carne asada. Put your boots up on the patio and crack open a fresh lobster at Restaurant Las Fuentes in Todos Santos. Pop stuffed jalapenos at La Palapaloca in Ensenada - if you come during any of the Baja Races, the joint will be jacked with competitors. Che couldn’t have done better.

Orbitz Package Deal: 3-star hotels in Cabo starting from only $73/nt

Bermuda flights | hotels | cars
In Bermuda, you’re never more than half a mile from water: fishing, diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, water-skiing, parasailing, a few overdressed Europeans and of course money launderers. Drop anchor in Hamilton and head to the harbor to rent a boat, kayak or jet-ski. Fantasea Bermuda will outfit you for catamaran sails, snorkeling, wreck tours, mountain biking and scuba diving and even pour you a drink after. Tobacco Bay in St. George’s Parish is the go-to beach for water sports and mingling, though Church Bay in Southampton Parish has the best snorkeling — and the pink sand that lures bikinis. Gambling is a no-no, but poker tournaments for prizes are held at Legends Sports Bar and Bermuda Bistro in Hamilton. Celebrate your win with a Cuban cigar at Jasmine, the bar at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel. Or go west, young man, to Sandys, and escape the genteel jacket-and-tie vibe in a cabana on stilts at the hip, screw-the-dress-code resort 9 Beaches. Like all the big hotels, they have more recreational equipment than you do, and you can find booze and poker at the Frog & Onion Pub. The Triangle is a sweet place to get wrecked. To avoid cold-water shrinkage, go anytime from May through October.

Orbitz Package Deal: Save $300 on 3+nt vacations to Bermuda

Deals:

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  Tickets to Europe and Beyond.
  British Airways
• Sweet Deal a la Montréal
  Book 1 night, get the 2nd at 50% off, plus great added values.

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Fare Alerts Just Got Better
We’ve heard your feedback and Kayak now offers “date specific” fare alerts to and from your favorite destinations, all at the best prices. By creating a new fare alert, you’ll not only find the best fares on the exact dates you want to travel, but you’ll also see the fare history for your chosen routes and dates. Plans flexible? Create a Buzz Alert to our Top 25 cities or find fares from our popular trip ideas.

Who’s the big winner?

Steve and Paul, Kayak co-founders

If you’re making a list and checking it twice, why not head somewhere that’s, ummm, nice? Nobody says you have to do your holiday shopping in your hometown and does your niece REALLY need another hoodie? Before you roll your eyes, anticipating the same old holiday shopping destinations featuring tr√®s expensive cities such as New York and Paris, read on because we’ve uncovered a few hidden gems that will take your declining dollar a lot further.

Huntsville, AL flights | hotels | cars
Although 99% of lost bags are eventually reunited with their owners (according to the airlines), there are a few pieces of luggage whose owners cannot be located within 90 days (maybe they’re still stuck on the runway). After all tracking options have been exhausted (tapping toes together while repeating “there’s no place like home”), the bags are then sold through exclusive contracts to the Unclaimed Baggage Center just outside Huntsville, Alabama. More than 7,000 new and used items arrive daily at this out-of-the-way warehouse store. There’s something here for everyone on your list including computers, laptops, clocks, and MP3 payers. There are a variety of men’s suits, women’s designer clothes and expensive jewelry. Having a baby? You’ll find infant car seats and strollers at a real bargain. Looking to pick up a new hobby? Choose from tennis rackets, golf clubs, tents, sleeping bags, basketballs, and skis. If you find a Treo with a picture of our CEO in Orlando, please return it. His wife is trying to call.
Orbitz Package Deal: Holiday Hotels in Huntsville starting at $57/nt

Canada flights | hotels | cars
From designer boots to those you can strap to your board, apres ski in Canada offers up more than just burning thighs at the end of the day. With an array of shops at the base, you can shop ‘til you drop in Quebec, Alberta, or British Columbia. Do it all on your next Canadian ski vacation. www.canada.travel/skinow

Nuremberg, Germany flights | hotels | cars
One-stop shopping didn’t start with Wal-Mart, but on European market squares. For a festive medieval shopping experience (as opposed to the Thunderdome atmosphere you’ll experience at Wal-Mart), visit Christkindlmarkt on Hauptmarkt Square in Nuremberg, open through December 23. More than two million visitors from around the world visit this market each year to nibble on the traditional Lebkuchen (fresh-baked gingerbread), sip Gl√ºhwein (a spicy mulled wine) and to wander from stall to stall checking out traditional handmade Christmas decorations, advent wreaths and dried flowers, decorative trees and flower arrangements, candles, Nutcracker soldiers, angels, traditional wooden and tin toys, hand puppets and more. The red-and-white-striped booths are especially festive at night. When you’re ready for something different, veer off from the 200-some stalls in the square, walking along the marked trail to check out the city’s famed Nativity scenes. There are plenty of historical spots to see after you reach your shopping threshold including Kaiserburg Castle which is encircled by a town wall with a total of 80 towers.
Orbitz Package Deal: Willkommen great deals on package trips to Germany

Frankenmuth, MI flights | hotels | cars
If you can’t go across the pond to Germany, head to Michigan instead. Visiting Frankenmuth is sort of like visiting a Bavarian village, complete with Alpine-inspired architecture and restaurants featuring hearty German fare, including potato salad, sausages and sauerkraut. Dozens of shops along Main Street offer everything from cheeses to cuckoo clocks, but the big player in this town founded by German immigrants is Bronner’s. It calls itself the “world’s largest Christmas store”, and it takes hours to check out the 50,000 or so items on display. Outside is a replica of the chapel in Oberndorf, Austria, where “Silent Night” was sung for the first time. It’s especially fun to visit during the Holiday Celebration & Candlewalk November 23 or during Zehnder’s Snowfest, January 23-28, with its full schedule of outdoor fun, including snow sculpting and ice carving competitions.
Orbitz Package Deal: Find hotel travel deals in Michigan’s Little Bavaria

Santa Fe, NM flights | hotels | cars
Despite an influx of new residents from southern California, the capital of New Mexico has managed to keep its quirky charm. In fact, shoppers have converged on the Governor’s Palace in Santa Fe for more than four centuries. A crossroads of cultures, this log-roofed portico on the city’s main square is the epicenter of the silver and turquoise trade. Here’s where Native American craftsmen have been trading their handcrafted jewelry and belt buckles first for goods brought in by Mexican peddlers and, later, Americans following the Santa Fe Trail. These days, the tourists may come by car, but all the vendors are rigorously vetted for authenticity (no “made in China” jewelry!). Not in the market for a concho belt? There’s lots more to browse for in the shops around the adjacent Plaza, including books, clothing, chilies and curios. Just a few miles away is Canyon Road, with art galleries awaiting the discerning eye with a fat pocketbook. There are plenty of places to unwind after a day of shopping. Santa Fe is packed with great spas, charming hotels and plenty of restaurants serving margaritas the size of that new bunch bowl you just purchased for your mother-in-law.
Orbitz Package Deal: Shop and relax at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa from $138/nt

Deals:

• Vacation packages
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• Beijing on Sale
  Visit the Great Wall, from $370* each way.
• Ski Vacations
  From $569, includes flight + 3 nts hotel + 2 day lift
• Sweet Deal a la Montreal
  Book 1 night, get the 2nd at 50% off, plus great added values.
• ALASKA
  Get your FREE Official Alaska State Vacation Guide today!

See more deals

Did you know?
While Santa is busy checking his list to find out who has been naughty or nice, Kayak elves (aka engineers) are busy checking Kayak’s extensive database housing millions of airfare searches. We’ll use this research to prepare an email filled with tips for saving money on your holiday travel. In fact, help us personalize this data for you by answering a few questions about your holiday travel plans. Kayak’s holiday travel tips will be coming to town (aka your inbox) very soon.

Finding out who’s naughty or nice,

Steve and Paul, Kayak founders

It’s Thursday. At Kayak, that means we’ve released a new version of kayak.com. What’s new this week:

A lot of users have asked for this, and we now have advanced technology (the engineers called it “multiplication” and “division”) to show you your flights in whatever currency you want. Got a bank account full of Phillippine Pesos? No problem. Canadian Dollars? Got it. Just sign in and change your profile preferences, and we’ll calculate the price for you. You’ll still have to pay the airline in whatever currency they sell in, but at least you’ll know what you’re spending.

We’ve added a new web site, kayak.es. If you’re Spanish, you can now use Kayak with your language, and search travel sites that will serve you better. Bienvenido!

We also have improved fare alerts significantly. You can now specify exact dates, any trip length you want, any cities you want, and we’ll alert you to the fares.

Here is how you set up an alert:

And here is what you’ll see in your email inbox:

To use this feature, go to your email preferences.

We’ve also made a number of internal changes which should improve the speed and reliability of the site, as we do every week.

If you have any comments or complaints about these new features, or anything else to tell us, please use our feedback system. A real human will read your message and answer you.

Remember those great trips you took before the kids? Back in the day when your hangover woke you up, not a child wanting juice. When the liquid that came in a box was pink wine? Remember when your favorite jeans fit or that nose hair you keep plucking wasn’t gray? While you can’t turn back time (that Cher song is in your head now, isn’t it), you can get away for a long weekend or more with your significant other or a best friend (if you’re lucky, it’s the same person). A recent Kayak survey found that 30% of parents have never taken a vacation without the kids. Everyone needs a break from family, even your kids, so consider one of these guilt-free getaways.

Aruba flights | hotels | cars
Located in the heart of the southern Caribbean, Aruba is the perfect place to soak up some sun with a year-round average temperature of 82 degrees. This island paradise is perfect for parents fleeing the kids, with romantic hotels, luxurious spas, championship golf courses, vibrant casinos and miles of clear blue waves and white sand. Check out cool activities like land sailing, ATV tours, and scuba diving with the fish. No sting rays, we promise. If you’re feeling really adventurous, try mountain biking, customized to your own skill level by a professional tour guide, through the Aruban countryside along donkey trails. After recovering from your uphill trek, kick up your heels at night with live music and street festivities. If you’re feeling lucky, head on over to the Crystal Casino, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with 24 gaming tables and slot machines. Celebrate your winnings with Aruba’s signature cocktail, the Aruba Ariba!
Orbitz Package Deal: Renaissance Aruba Resort for $240/nt

New York City flights | hotels | cars
New York is just a hop, skip, and direct flight away from every major city in the U.S, so pack your bags and drop off the tykes at Grandma’s house. From Broadway shows to the guitar-playing Naked Cowboy in Times Square - New York has it all. Start your morning with brunch at the famous Boathouse Restaurant, nestled in the heart of NYC’s Central Park. Afterwards, check out the scene at the South Street Seaport with more than 100 shops, restaurants and festive outdoor concerts and performances. Feeling frisky? Head on over to New York’s Museum of Sex for shocking and erotic exhibits about human sexuality through the decades. If you need to catch some shut eye in the city that never sleeps - spend the weekend in one of AKA’s luxurious suites. The extended-stay property’s new Sleep School program provides light-sensitive accommodations and a personal sleep screening to help you catch up on your zzzz’s.
Orbitz Package Deal: Visit NYC in style — Air + 2-nts for $455/pp

New Orleans flights | hotels | cars
Let loose in the Big Easy! New Orleans, is steeped in culture, from creole cooking to its long musical history as the birthplace of jazz. NoLa-bound guests can savor the sounds of renowned festivals, like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest or grab a drink at Lafitte Blacksmith, the oldest structure in the U.S. that’s used as a bar. Indulge in the city’s beloved beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe Du Monde, or sip on a mint julep while listening to authentic jazz spilling out from the streets of the French Quarter. The Marriott and Renaissance Hotels of New Orleans are arming guests with the essentials for an Ultimate N’awlins experience by offering street tokens, pralines at turndown, $20 gift cards to Cafe Du Monde, Pat O’Brien’s and Central Grocery and a city map.
Orbitz Package Deal: $421/pp for Flight + 2-nts at 5-star Le Pavillon

Santa Fe flights | hotels |
cars
With an average of 300 days of sunshine, Santa Fe puts vacationing without the little ones in a whole new light. Take advantage of unique & local attractions like the renowned Georgia O’Keefe Museum, the Santa Fe Opera House, and Loretto Chapel, home of the famous “Miraculous Staircase” seen on TV’s “Unsolved Mysteries.” Santa Fe is the second largest art market in the nation, with more than 100 galleries and studios that art aficionados can enjoy during a walk along legendary Canyon Road. After a long day of sightseeing, retreat to the Eldorado Hotel & Spa for a variety of Southwest-inspired amenities ideal for lovebirds. From a candlelit dinner at the award-winning Old House restaurant to a couple’s massage at Nidah Spa, Santa Fe’s premier hotel is the perfect setting for those looking to rekindle the romance.
Orbitz Package Deal: Experience the turquoise mines - from $138/nt

Deals:

• Fly Funjet to Las Vegas
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• Vacation packages 5 days/4 nights for $199
  American Express
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  From $13.95 a day!
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• Four cool cities one hot site!
  Amsterdam, Antwerp, Zurich, Vienna in style!
• Tahiti
  Save $1500 with free dinner & breakfast at Tahiti’s finest resorts!

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Did you know?
Having trouble leaving the kids? Guilty? Babysitter issues? A vacation without the kids is good for parents and children so Kayak.com partnered with Family Travel Expert Eileen Ogintz to provide a list of tips to help make a trip away from the kids easier on everyone.

GET OVER THE GUILT. Making time for yourselves helps you to be more effective parents and happier spouses. You come back rested and revitalized and that’s as good for the kids as for you.

START WITH A LONG WEEKEND GETAWAY. Don’t plan a two week trek across Africa for your first trip away. It will be better for baby and parents to start with a three- or four-night getaway and work your way up to a week or more away.

DON’T VENTURE TOO FAR. In case you want or have to get back in a hurry, choose a destination within an easy drive or direct flight away from your child.
To see all of Kayak’s tips, including advice on keeping the kids happy while parents are taking a break, visit our tips page.

Getting away guilt-free,

Steve and Paul, Kayak co-founders