One sign marking the end of conflict is the resumption of tourism. This week, we feature four places that moved beyond conflict and that have significant cultural and historical draws for travelers.

Croatia flights | hotels | cars

In Croatia, the conflict of the 1990s has faded into history, and travelers are rediscovering its delights. must be one of the top European summer destinations. First fly into the city of Zagreb and spend a few days soaking up the ambiance and checking out the art scene at museums like Mimara Museum. The museum houses a collection comprising of more than 1500 exhibits, including works by Rembrandt, Delacroix, and Renoir…

Nicaragua flights | hotels | cars

In the 1980s, Nicaragua suffered from a civil war; today it offers an array of tropical excursions. Fly into the capital city of Managua and then burn rubber as you drive 20 kilometers to the Xiloa Lagoon for swimming, windsurfing, and scuba diving. Next, head to the colonial town of Granada and trade in your wheels for a boat. Cruise around the 365 islets of Lake Nicaragua as freshwater sharks race along side you…

Sierra Leone flights | hotels | cars

A trip to this West African country is like opening a treasure chest filled with wildlife, history and sapphire blue beaches. The city has prevailed as a cultural jewel with glimmering architecture like Fourah Bay College, established in 1827 and the oldest European-style university in Sub-Saharan Africa. Bronze yourself at Lumley Beach, then take in some history at Bunce Island, the largest British slave castle…

Vietnam flights | hotels

Vietnam is one of the fastest growing destinations, with travelers ranging from vets returning to make peace and family members paying homage to savvy travelers wanting to visit the country’s emerging luxury beach resort industry. Start your journey in Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon). History buffs will want to visit the War Remnants Museum, which depicts the history of the Vietnam War through the eyes of the ruling communist party…

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With the threat of unexpected flight cancellations, lengthy delays, airline mergers and bankruptcies, many travelers are considering travel insurance for the first time.

But researching travel insurance and choosing the right plan takes time, patience and an unusual affinity for reading fine print. Policies are notoriously complex. Start digging through pretty much any policy out there, and you’ll find more ifs, ands or buts than the ones found in traditional insurance policies.

So, is travel insurance right for you? Maybe. We’d be lying if we told you there was some tried-and-true method or standard formula for answering that question. Before you gamble (because all insurance is, in essence, a gamble) on travel insurance, ask yourself the following questions.

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Each Kayak employee interacts with a few consumers each day; we don’t believe in outsourcing our finger on the pulse. These interactions are usually by email or telephone.

Today, a gentleman arrived at our software development lab seeking help. He lives nearby and had taken the initiative to find us when the online service didn’t meet his needs. We’re glad he did because it was a mutual learning experience.

Mr. Mahmood Rezaei-Kamalabad needs to be in Greenland in June for the purpose of hand delivering a scholarly religious text he has authored. This hand-crafted work-of-art requires personal delivery.

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A weak dollar and a strong euro are prompting some travelers to cross Europe off their lists for Summer ‘08 travel, but The Rough Guide: Europe on a Budget editor Andy Turner recently convinced us that even budget-minded travelers can enjoy Europe.

Below, Turner lets us in on a few of his favorite destinations and tricks for doing it up on the continent on the cheap.

Kayak: The weak dollar has trampled on many an American traveler’s spirits lately. Can you revive our hopes and dreams with your picks for the top three budget-friendly European cities to visit on a Summer ’08 trip?

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With the recent news of American Airlines canceling over half of its flight schedule, we’ve received questions about travelers’ alternatives and American’s obligations. To help level the playing field, we’ve done a little research.

What has created this sudden increase in delays and inspections?

After 9-11, congress eased up on the airlines given the financial impact from the reduction in travel, but their leniency has run out. Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, James Oberser, is demanding airlines upkeep and maintain their aircraft, and the FAA is taking note. Delta, Alaska, Southwest, and American Airlines all have been affected by the recent investigation in aircraft maintenance. A spokesperson for the FAA said that the audits will continue through the end of June. When asked if there will be more groundings, she responded “We don’t know, we find what we find.” Are the thousands of cancellations and delays worth the headaches and ruined vacations? You have to wonder where the FAA’s been the past couple years and what, if any, is the real reason Mr. Oberser’s is coming down so hard on the FAA and the airlines.

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This week was a little different in deals-land. With a lot of airlines canceling flights and some canceling business altogether, there didn’t seem to be as much that jumped out at me. Don’t worry - I found some interesting deals nonetheless.

In no particular order:

JetBlue Spring Sale from $39 One Way (JetBlue Airways)
Seen on BookingBuddy
Everyone loves JetBlue, mostly because their sales are dang good. Fly between cities from $39, or head coast to coast between clities like New York and San Diego from $159 each way.

$1500 - 3-Day Houseboat Rental (Save $1100) (Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas)
Seen on Travelzoo
Anytime you see something for close to 50% off, it’s time to do a double-take. This deal means you can rent a houseboat in Arizona during the summer for a fraction of the cost. These are big boats - 50+ feet and sleeps six comfortably.

$1598 - Luxury 8-Day French River Cruise at $750 OFF (Viking River Cruises)
Seen on Kayak.com
This is the way to see Europe… You’ll save up to $1500 per stateroom and sail from Paris to Calon during the peak summer season. It includes a river-view stateroom, seven guided tours, meals and more.

30% OFF 3+Night Stays at Las Vegas Condo Resort (Shell Vacations Hospitality)
Seen on IgoUgo
This deal is valid for spring stays at the Desert Rose Resort, a quick stroll off the Strip. You’ll get a condo suite with kitchens and living rooms. Unless you like sleeping above a casino, this is like staying in an upscale resort at a fraction of the cost.

Summer Cruise Sale - Save up to 70% (Vacation Outlet)
Seen on Sherman’s Travel
I know… another cruise deal. Well, with this downturn in the economy I think cruising is where it’s at. You get all your meals and entertainment paid for (as well as room). This deal give you bonuses like upgrades and savings booklets worth hundreds, all during the popular summer season.

Well, hello there. Did you say you were wondering about airline quality rankings? Quelle coincidence!

We spent some time this week getting down and dirty with the Airline Quality Rating 2008, an annual analysis of airline performance data that was released a few days ago.

Put out every year since 1991, the report takes official U.S. DOT data and uses it to come up with overall rankings for U.S. airlines based on a combination of factors, including on-time performance, denied boarding incidents, customer complaints and mishandled baggage.

Now, it’s true, you could easily read the 60-page PDF all by yourself. But to do that, you’d actually have to read a 60-page PDF all by yourself. If you crave the nitty gritty details, by all means, geek out with the full report.

But here’s a better option: check out our blow-by-blow, simplified for the Internets, laymen-friendly list below. Consider it a cocktail-conversation-starting cheat sheet to the current state of airline customer satisfaction.

2007 Travel Yearbook Superlatives

Most Screwed Up Beyond Belief Travel Months: February and December

Most Likely to be On-Time: Southwest

Most Likely to Bump You Against Your Will: Atlantic Southeast Airlines

Top Months to Lose Your Luggage: February and December

Most Accomplished at Mishandling Bags: American Eagle

Best at Ticking Travelers Off So Much That They Call the DOT to Complain: US Airways

When Travelers Felt Like Complaining the Most: July

Miss Congeniality (a.k.a. Airline Travelers Complained About the Least): Frontier

Most Common Travel Complaint: Flight Problems (incl. delays, cancellations)

Top-Rated Airlines 2007:

AirTran

JetBlue Airways

Southwest Airlines

Northwest Airlines

Frontier

Top-Rated Airlines 2006:

Hawaiian Airlines

JetBlue Airways

AirTran

Frontier

Northwest Airlines

Lowest-Ranked Airlines 2007

12. Mesa
13. Skywest
14. Comair
15. American Eagle Airlines
16. Atlantic Southeast Airlines

Lowest-Ranked Airlines 2006

14. Comair
15. Mesa
16. US Airways
17. American Eagle Airlines
18. Atlantic Southeast Airlines

With overall declines in quality and consumer complaints up almost 60 percent in 2007 from the previous year, the study concluded that 2007 was the worst year for airline quality…ever.

But like that’s going to stop us from going places. Instead of getting all discouraged, I like to think of the current state of the travel industry as a challenge, a formal throwing down of the proverbial gauntlet, one that pipes up every time I arrive at the airport with a voice like some stuck-up chick from my former all-girls high school saying, oh, so you think you can hang with us? To which I reply, step aside. I’ve got a plane to catch. (Or, er, a boarding area to wait in for the next five hours….but we won’t think about that).

Free stuff makes us happy. In a time when almost nothing on board an airplane is free for the taking anymore, it’s nice to know that some U.S. airports do, in fact, treat travelers to little freebies like shoe shines, complimentary short-term parking, concerts and even the occasional cookie. Get the details at the link below:

Airport Freebies: As Airlines Gouge, Airports Give Back

News of JetBlue’s current spring fare sale has been coming at me from every direction, so I had to check it out. One-way tickets as low as $39 are there for the taking through April 16. If you plan to partake, here are a few tips to help you with your search:

- To get the cheapie fares, you’ll have to travel on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday.

- The super-low $39 tickets are available on the new Long Beach to San Jose route, which launches May 21. I just checked and these fares are still available.

- Heading to Florida? JetBlue has some additional restrictions on travel to Sunshine State that’s you’ll want to keep in mind when you search for fares. To get the lowest prices, you’ll have to travel TO Florida on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. When you’re LEAVING Florida, you’ll need to fly on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

I hope these tips help you find the best prices when you search JetBlue’s sale. If you’ve got tips of your own, get in touch and let us know. We’re always psyched to hear from fellow Kayakians…

It’s another sad day for travelers on American Airlines. After grounding some 500 flights yesterday, the airline today that it would cancel double that number - close to half of its flight schedule - to continue inspections on its aircraft. An airline spokesperson told the AP that passengers should expect more cancellations as the week goes on.

So what’s a traveler to do? If you’ve been grounded by the airline’s safety inspections, what are your options?

Luckily for travelers, the airline considers the cancellations its own fault - and not that of the weather or circumstances beyond its control. Because of that, it will be offering travelers assistance that they wouldn’t receive if, say, this mess had been caused by a blizzard, flood or severe storm.

Passengers traveling on American Airlines are entitled to rebooking on the airline’s operating flights or those operated by competitors. That said, expect customer service lines to be long and available flights to have precious few seats to hand out.

The good news, if you can call it that, is American is at least offering travelers lodging, food and ground transportation while they wait.