As security measures increase and lines at airports grow and grow, travelers are finding themselves spending more time on the ground at the airport then actually in the air.  We have put together a list of airports that help travelers pass the time.

Baltimore/Washington International – In the observation gallery, children can climb on a pretend plane and even listen in on live radio feeds to the control tower.  A radar board is also displayed so families can watch aircraft as they arrive/depart the airport.

Boston’s Logan International – Before sitting on a long plane ride and paying $5 for a bag of peanuts, you may want to treat yourself to a fresh lobster at Anthony’s Pier 4 Lobsters.  Any airport that serves lobster should definitely be on this top 5!

Chicago O’hare International – This airport has an amazing exhibit organized by the Chicago Children’s Museum.  Kids can enjoy a long slide exiting a two story control tower, push all the buttons in a simulated cockpit, and load a cargo hold with fake luggage.

San Francisco International –  Spend some time in the 11,500 square foot aviation museum to view aviation artifacts, pictures, and more.  Also on display, are huge fish aquariums that can teach kids about the ecosystems of the Amazon River and coral reefs.

Las Vegas’ McCarran International – For those addicted to gambling, or hoping to leave Vegas with more money than they arrived with, play numerous slot machines while waiting for departures.   If lucky, maybe we can win enough money to pay for our vacation.

Fasten your wrist straps (no seriously) and get ready to rumble. Marriott has added Wii rooms to six of its properties. The systems allow guests to cycle through a 20-game library that includes Wii Fit, Mario Kart, Wii Sports and Super Mario Galaxy. The hotels with the newly added systems are:

–  New York Marriott Marquis
–  Renaissance New York Hotel Times Square
–  Boston Marriott Cambridge
–  Bethesda (Md.) Marriott Suites
–  Annapolis (Md.) Marriott Waterfront
–  JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, Phoenix (Lounge only)

Wii packages available during October offer special room rates and unlimited Wii use for overnight stays in these game-driven rooms. Rates vary by property, but when I checked this morning, The Bethesda Marriott Suites was offering its Wii and You Package for $139-$279/night, while the New York Marriott Marquis is promoting the same package at $403-$643/night.

The leaves haven’t even started turning, and we’ve already got snow flurries clouding up our travel vision this week, thanks to this week’s Top Snowboarding Destinations post. Continuing on that theme, here are some notable deals good for travel to Colorado this winter:

- American Airlines Kids Fly Free promo. Book a trip directly into Vail/Eagle Valley Regional Airport before Feb. 13, 2009 on AA, and you’ll get a free kid’s ticket for each adult fare paid. For more information, call 800-404-3535.

- Steamboat is offering travelers $25 American Express gift cards to offset the cost of checked bags when they book vacation packages through the resort by Nov. 17th.

- Crested Butte is offering one free airline ticket for every two tickets purchased through its Friends and Family Fly Free deal, good for stays of five or more nights through Dec. 31, 2008.

- While many resorts are offering fourth or fifth nights for free, it’s especially cool to find a third night free deal (it’s much easier for most of us to swing a three-day getaway). Those heading to Winter Park will find just such a deal through Vacations Inc. The 3rd Night Free promo is good for accommodations in condos or townhouses - but it expires Sept. 30, so you’ll have hustle to take advantage of it.

There are also plenty of “book early” deals on Colorado ski resort lodging floating around on Discover Colorado. Another place to start your hunt for downhill season discounts is Colorado.com.

For one weekend in November, the Resort at Paws Up is going to the dogs - though humans will find ample reason to tag along. That’s because Wine & Bitch Weekend promises treats for both (wo)man and beast. Wine tastings, gourmet dining and rustic yet luxurious rooms in the property’s inn, farmhouse and cabins satisfy two-legged guests, while dog training, wellness seminars, a doggie fashion show and doggie spa treatments occupy those with four legs (something the resort has quite a lot of practice doing, judging from the image above).

Held Nov. 14-16 at a 37,000-acre ranch about 45 minutes outside Missoula, Montana, Wine & Bitch isn’t exactly cheap. Packages start at $1,392 for the two-night, three-day event. But that includes three meals daily, wine tastings from Mutt Lynch winery, all activities for dogs and humans and all gratuities, taxes, airport transfers and on-resort transportation (hey, it’s a big place).

Certainly not a bad way to briefly escape from a dog-eat-dog world (your dog may beg to differ once he realizes you’ve entered him in the stupid hat portion of the fashion show, but just remind him who buys his kibble).

It’s almost that time of the season to strap on your snowboard and bust an Indy 540 with a mute grab.  I have no idea what that means, but do remember I scored a lot of points for that skill on an addicting video game in my youth.  Kayak.com has put together this list of top snowboarding destinations around the world.

Anywhere, Colorado – The Rockies are a hotbed for winter sports.  There are so many mountains and lodges to choose from, such as Vail, Breckenridge, and Aspen, to name a few.  I think Colorado should change its state nickname to “the winter wonderland.”

Big Sky, Montana – Enjoy over 150 runs down three different mountains, as lift lines are almost non-existent.   At night, the lights come on and a section of the slope is transformed into a “tubing park” for an extreme sledding experience.

Whistler, British Colombia – They are hosting the next winter Olympics!  You can be assured that the mountain is receiving some of the best treatment and attention in the world, to assure it is in pristine condition for the upcoming games.

Zermatt, Switzerland – This winter town is like no-other in the world. With car’s not allowed, pedestrians walk the narrow cobblestone streets and are treated to spectacular clear views of the Matterhorn and Swiss Alps.   The snowboarding and skiing are top-notch.

Chamonix, France – Hailed as the most famous ski town in France, Chamonix has a small town feel in the shadows of large mountain peaks.   Spend the day boarding down the scenic trails, and unwind at night at the pedestrian center featuring shops, boutiques, and restaurants.

About every three minutes, I come across another story purporting to offer definitive travel advice. More often than, these missives really just boil down to a lessons in filling water bottles in airport bathrooms (which I admit, can sometimes be tricky with those pesky motion-sensitive sinks) and packing blankets in your carry-on.  And while that kind of travel advice can be helpful for some, it’s all too often used as drivel to fill up space – and it’s also the kind of advice most savvy travelers are already well aware of. So today, folks, I’m not going to offer Kayak.com blog readers pseudo advice, like how to pack a sandwich to avoid purchasing one on your next flight (get ziplock bag, insert sandwich, go to airport).

Instead, I’m offering up four real ways any traveler can save money on airline fees and air travel. Each tip requires just a little legwork before or after your flight. Two are airline-specific, but even if you don’t fly these airlines regularly, I hope they’ll remind you to check your preferred carrier for similar deals and promotions the next time you fly. New promos and programs pop up all the time. So without further ado…

1.    Pre-purchase food online. Air Canada (PDF link) offers travelers a discount for pre-purchasing food and beverage vouchers online. Passengers can save $2 on a food and drink combo when they buy a voucher through the airline’s web site in advance. Not a huge savings for one person, but a family of four will appreciate it.

2.    Pay checked bag fees in advance when possible. Very few airlines offer pre-payment options like this (more should!), but it’s worth being aware of the ones that do. Spirit Airlines cuts the cost for checking the first bag from $25 to $10 when you pay in advance online, and British Airways offers passengers a 20 percent discount on excess baggage fees when travelers pay in advance online.

3.    Take advantage of off-airport parking discounts. Instead of making a beeline for the nearest off-airport parking lot on the day of travel, research lots near your airport in advance. Many entice new customers with printable discount coupons on their web sites, while others offer discounts for booking reservations in advance.

Find them by doing a Google search for parking near your airport. For example, AviStar near Chicago O’Hare offer 10 percent off coupons via the web, while ParkSFO near San Francisco International Airport offers a free one-day coupon that you can print from the web site and Airpark offers a free day of parking at its lots near New York JFK and LaGuardia Airports when you book in advance online.

4.    Book at hotels offering checked bag promotions. With the rise of airline fees (not to mention fares), some hotel groups have seized the opportunity to make good with harried travelers through baggage-themed promotions. Earlier this year, Kimpton Hotels started the trend with its We Got Your Bag promotion. Now Loews Hotels is offering a Baggage Buy Back offer that credits guests with up to $30 when they present their receipt for a first checked bag, while some Kor Hotels will reimburse travelers for the cost of checking their bags this fall through the Money Bags promotion. So save those receipts!

This is one of those deals that will likely prove impractical for most travelers (how many people are ready to randomly plan a four-day ‘09 vacation before day’s end?), but it’s a good deal. So I’m posting it here for the spontaneous few (or the lucky ones who’ve been pondering such vacations already and just haven’t acted yet) that may get some value from it.

Through tonight at midnight CST, NWA WorldVacations is offering $250 off airfare and hotel rates on packages to RIU hotels and resorts in Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. The offer is good for trips of four nights or more between Jan. 1 and April 30, 2009 - high season months that won’t see many sales closer to the dates of travel.

Details at NWA WorldVacations 20-Hour Mexico and Caribbean Sale

Good news (and extra good news if you happen to have twins): In 2009, Disney theme parks in Florida and California will offer free admission on birthdays. Guests may register their birthdays, and those of their children, in advance, and proof of age is required to score the discount.

Don’t believe everything you read - that’s today’s advice from Travelocity, which recently decided to challenge media buzz about across-the-board increases in travel to major cities by comparing the price of a vacation package in August 2008 with prices from a year ago. The online travel agent found that, while some cities may cost travelers more to visit this year, the average price of a vacation package to many top destinations is within $20 of last year’s. Here are 10 examples and their price deviations from 2007 to 2008. Note that the average price for vacation packages to Atlanta and San Diego actually dropped, albeit just a smidgen:

Atlanta : $1.64 less
Austin : $7.17 more
Boston : $6.42 more
Chicago : $19.73 more
Las Vegas : $17.29 more
Orlando : $7.20 more
San Diego : $8.89 less
Seattle : $8.17 more
South Florida : $16.29 more
Washington , DC : $19.73 more

Long live real vacations!

I was sharing some of my favorite destinations and money-saving tips for shoulder season travel with a reporter yesterday, and I thought it only fair to share those same tips and ideas with Kayak.com blog readers. Here’s a round-up of what’s on my radar for shoulder season travel:

1. Iceland. Tourism here drops off at the end of August each year, so it’s not surprising that Iceland Air is offering some good deals for fall. While most travelers hit this island nation during its warmest months, don’t be fooled. The temperatures are colder than those we experience in the States, but they’re not by any means unbearable during the autumn months. It’s easy to tack a few days here onto the beginning or end of a jaunt to Europe, but I like the idea of making a special trip just to explore this country’s diverse landscape and cosmopolitan cities. If you’re a music fan, the Iceland Airwaves 2008 festival on Oct. 15-19 may be the prime time to visit. Packages through Iceland Air start at $891/person, including airfare, festival tickets and two nights’ hotel accommodations in Reykjavik.

2. Madeira (pictured). Visiting Madeira, a Portuguese island located in the Atlantic about 400 miles off the coast of North Africa, offers tropical weather seekers an alternative to hurricane belt destinations in the Caribbean - and, at this time of year, a good value. Flights leave twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays) from Boston Logan International. Right now, you can book a six-night stays at a four- or five-star hotel with round trip airfare starting at $1,169/person through Azores Express. That’s a great deal for an island getaway, if your schedule can handle the semi-inconvenience posed by the two flight choices each week. Note that the temperatures are slightly cooler than you’d find in the Caribbean - expect the mid-70s, not the 80s.

3. Repositioning Cruises. You may be able to score some good deals for last-minute travel on repositioning cruises, i.e. cruises leaving their summer hubs and relocating to their winter stomping grounds. Since these cruises aren’t round trip, they are often less expensive than those that begin and end at the same port of call. At this time of year, ships that have spent the summer in Alaska, for example, will make the trek to Hawaii, the Caribbean and even Asia.

4. Southern Caribbean. Many destinations below or outside the traditional hurricane belt are offering fall travel deals to entice travelers who may otherwise be avoiding the region for fear of tropical storm trouble. On Nevis, for example, the Nisbet Plantation Beach Club is offering a $500 airfare credit to offset the cost of travel for visits between October and December 1, 2008. Basically, the resort refunds $500 of the lodging costs on stays of seven or more days when you checkout. In Bermuda, Nine Beaches is offering a slew of specials good through the fall. One gives guests who stay four or more days a $300 gift card. The Curacao Tourism Department is offering a Curacao Now promotion that woos travelers with $100 airfare credits, $140 food & beverage credits for use at island eateries, one day of free car rental and one day of free diving.