Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like most of the travel news I’ve read in the last month has something to do with how expensive everything is, how annoying it can be to fly, how we should all pop open some canned goods instead of eating out and stay at home under a blanket on the couch until something good happens to renew our collective sense of stability.

Okay, maybe it’s not as extreme as all that, but there’s certainly a lot of doom and gloom floating around these days. This morning, while I was reading my regular news, drinking my coffee and pondering what to blog about, I got to thinking. Wait a minute. There are plenty of great things about traveling right now. Here are six:

1. Thanksgiving travel expected to pop a chill pill. Travel over the national holiday is expected to decrease for the first time since 2002, according to AAA. For those of you who are traveling somewhere for Thanksgiving, you can revel in the benefits of less-crowded airports, planes and highways.

2. Book now, save later deals. The number of “book now, save later” deals I’m seeing right now is pretty astounding. I’ve been blogging in the travel space for over three years, and this is the first time I’ve seen anything like it. If you’re willing to plunk down your money now, you will be able to find plenty of discounted travel options for trips in 2009. Where to look? Other than the Kayak.com blog, where I post my favorite deals each week, I’d recommend targeting a destination or destinations first, then checking visitors and tourism bureaus, honing in on a hotel or resort and then checking with those companies directly for current promotions.

3. Hotels really, really want your business. With air travel costing more than ever and the economy looking nothing short of dismal, hotels are pulling out all the stops to encourage travelers to stay on the move. The result? Lots and lots of hotel promotions for free nights, discounted rates and other perks. Before this fall, it was pretty unheard of for chains like the Ritz-Carlton or Fairmont to offer solid promotional rates. But I’ve run across deals for both in recent weeks. The latest example? The Plaza New York is offering a third night free through April.

4. Gas prices think it’s 2005. Roadtrip, anyone? As Reuters reports, gas prices have dropped below the $2 mark for the first time since 2005.

5. Kayak.com is making travel deals easier to find. Did you really think we’d leave ourselves off the list? Sheah. As if. This week, Kayak.com launched new features that help travelers find the best airfares and share them with others in real-time. We’re pretty excited about them, and hope travelers will be, too.

6. Ski towns really, really want your business. Guess what? Snowsports ain’t cheap. The economy is suffering. Ski towns know this. And they’re worried. The upside for those of us who can’t hack winter without some downhill mayhem? Good deals, of course. And not just on lodging. Rentals, lift tickets, dining - you can score discounts from most businesses in ski resort towns this winter. Check sites like Liftopia.com for lift tickets and always visit ski resort web sites at least two weeks before you’re heading to the mountain. Why two weeks? Some resorts offer better lift ticket deals with an advance purchase. Also, check sites like Vail Resorts’ Snow.com, Ski Utah, Ski New Hampshire and Pocono Mountain Ski for current promos running not only at hotels, but also at other local businesses, restaurants, rental shops, etc.

Canadian courts have issued the final word on whether the country’s obese air travelers should have the right to adequate seating for the same fares other passengers pay. The answer? Yes. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled today that passengers rendered “functionaly disabled by obesity” should be allowed to occupy two seats while paying just one fare. Several Canadian airlines had appealed a lower court’s similar ruling on the case earlier this year, so the case end up before Canada’s highest court. The new rule will apply to all flights within Canada.

Thanksgiving is coming up, which means most all of us get to enjoy a four day weekend.  Shoppers take advantage of their Friday off by heading to the stores for the big holiday sales. Check out these malls for some superb gift ideas.

The Mall of America, MN – With a name like “Mall of America,” you know this mall must be good. Visitors will enjoy world class shopping, a new Nickelodeon theme park, over 50 restaurants, and over 200 free entertaining shows throughout the year.

Ala Moana, HI – Before catching a wave or sunbathing on Waikiki’s famous beach, be sure to be outfitted with a fashionable bathing suit.  This huge mall in Oahu features over 260 stores, some of which you can only find in the Hawaiian Islands. 

West Edmonton Mall, Alberta, CA – This is the largest mall in North America with over 800 stores.  Some of the attractions include a sea lion tank/show, miniature golf course, water park, and Galaxy-land amusement park.

Rodeo Drive, CA – You may want to keep your wallet in your pocket or purse. Known as the epicenter of fashion, these boutiques often attract the celebrities and millionaires.  It’s fun to see what the “bigwigs” are buying.

King of Prussia, PA – If you find yourself on the East Coast, head to the largest retail shopping mall in the nation.  Tourists make up 20% of the malls shoppers on any given day.  Many high-end stores have their only Philadelphia outpost in this mall.

One of the biggest travel trends I’ve seen this fall is the onslaught of deals out there for travelers who are willing to do the following two things at the same time: a) book in advance and b) book a combination of air, car, hotel or entertainment through a single seller.

Today’s example of this: Alaska Airlines (and its sister carrier Horizon Air) are offering free flights for kids ages 2 to 11 when they book the airline’s southern California vacation packages, which include airfare from cities in the Western U.S. to southern California airports, as well as hotel accommodations for up to four nights. For parents who add on park-hopper tickets to Disneyland Resort, the airline has worked out a deal where parents only pay the equivalent of children’s admission. The deal is good for travel between Jan. 7 and June 17. For details, of which there are many, check out Kids Fly Free to Disneyland Resort.

This week, Kayak.com announced three new tools that will make finding and sharing travel deals easier than ever. We’re very aware that times are tough right now. For many travelers, the right airfare is the key factor in embarking upon a new trip this winter - or staying home. And while we admit that it has become more difficult to suss out the deals, there are definitely deals out there to be had - the hard part is finding them. Each of Kayak.com’s new tools was created to help travelers do just that.

Here’s the lowdown:

1. Kayak.com Collaboration Engine: In an industry first, Kayak.com now allows travelers to share all results for air, hotel, rental car and cruise searches. So what does that mean, exactly? It means that you can collaborate with friends and family members by viewing the same search results simultaneously. You can also sort and filter those results in real-time, share the results quickly via email and save favorite itineraries or searches for all of your travel companions to see.

Here’s what Kayak.com CTO and Co-Founder Paul English had to say about it:

“If you find a great deal for a romantic winter getaway, but want to confirm details with your girlfriend before booking, the Kayak Collaboration Engine allows you to both look at and modify possible flight or hotel options in real time. This process is much faster and efficient than describing what each person sees on their screen over the phone. Or worse, waiting until you’re in front of the same computer to make a decision only to find the price has significantly increased.”

2. Kayak.com Buzz Calendar (pictured): The Buzz Calendar combines two of Kayak.com’s most popular tools, Kayak Buzz and Flexible Search. Once a user inputs a destination airport and travel dates on the home page, the Buzz Calendar will instantly appear and offer a snapshot of travel pricing for the next month. For each day of the month, the Buzz Calendar displays the best price for travel found by other Kayak.com users during the past 48 hours. The most affordable dates of departure are highlighted. So even before travelers begin their search, they’ll know where to find the best deals.

Kayak.com EVP of Corporate Development Keith Melnick explains the new feature like this:

“Flexible Search is one of our most popular tools, but users requested the ability to compare prices over a longer period of time. Price-conscious travelers can now view a snapshot of fares prior to choosing dates and kicking off a search. The Buzz Calendar is also the fastest way on the Web for lookers, not ready to be bookers, to quickly check departure prices, without waiting for a search.”

3. Kayak Insight: Bored? Travel voyeur? Then Kayak.com has a tool for you. Travelers looking to kill time or find unique trip ideas can watch LIVE searches displayed on a unique Google Map. Kayak Insight displays real-time searches that other Kayak.com users are requesting, along with the cheapest fare available. As a search is performed, a text box appears with itinerary details and price. This new Google mash-up provides a fascinating “fly-on-the-wall” look at the best deals Kayakers are finding from the user’s home airport.

Interested in going to Europe? Move the map to Europe to see best prices appear. By clicking on “Search Now” travelers can see all results for that itinerary and choose their own adventure. Kinda cool, right? We certainly think so!

Looking for a reason to escape the plunging temperatures? Here’s one: Almond Resorts is offering 50 percent off rates for three-night stays at any of its five all-inclusive resorts in Barbados and on St. Lucia, including Almond Smugglers Cove (pictured). The deal is good for visits between Dec. 1, 2008 and February 9, 2009, though blackout dates do apply during the weeks and weekends flanking Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

I especially like this offer because it’s good for a short, three-night getaway - most travelers don’t have the luxury of being able to take a week’s vacation at a moment’s notice. But a long weekend? Much more doable…

These are the kind of unusual deals we’re seeing more nad more of this year, as resorts go all out to woo travelers - even in the midst of their annual peak travel season.

Joining the ranks of publicity-grabbing, astronomically high-priced hotel packages is the Omni Shoreham Hotel’s 44th Commander-In-Chief Package, priced at a whopping $440,000. Okay, at least that’s not the rate per night. Instead, it’s the price for four to share the two-bedroom Shoreham Presidential Suite for the four nights surrounding inauguration weekend, Jan 17-23, 2009.

The ultra-ritzy four-night experience treats guests to some enviable amenities, as well as one really odd one:

- Private jet transport for arrival and departure

- A private dinner with entertainment courtesy of political satirist Mark Russell

- A chauffeur and concierge available around the clock

- Entrance to inaugural events on Jan. 20

- $44,000 shopping spree from the Lambros Jewelry Inauguration Collection

- Makeovers from Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door Salon and Spa

- A personal photographer for the inauguration

- A “Presidential puppy of guests’ choice” upon departure

Not sure what to think about that last “gift.” Let’s hope it doesn’t spark a trend.

In the decades’ long battle of hotel guest vs. dwindling hotel towel inventory, one San Francisco hotel is finally throwing in the towel - quite literally.

Hotel Fusion, a mid-range boutique hotel in San Francisco’s Union Square, is offering its guests free towels when they book directly through the hotel and stay at the property for three or more nights between now and February 28, 2009. The embroidered towels, pictured above, carry a message that lets linen closet snoops know you didn’t acquire the 100 percent cotton terry towel via the ‘ole five-finger discount.

Having grown up on Maui, I consider myself a guru on everything Hawaii.  Rather than let my knowledge go to waste, I thought I would post a blog on why Hawaii is even better to visit during the holiday season.

Many of the nicer resorts in Hawaii do not hold back when it comes to decorating the grounds and lobby with beautiful Christmas paraphernalia.  Each lobby will sport an impressively large tree that is fashioned more elegantly than a bride on her wedding day, and receives just as many photos.   Usually a red sea of poinsettias will cover the grounds for guests to enjoy.  In recent years, I have noticed that some resorts on Maui have an “unspoken battle” over best gingerbread house display.  Last year one display had life sized elves made of candy.  The neighboring Wailea resort pieced together a gingerbread lifeguard tower with accompanying beach scene.  And of course, there is free gingerbread and candy for the guests to sample.  The Hyatt Regency on Maui is often a center of attention around the holidays, as tourist enjoy watching penguins (yes, penguins in Hawaii!) stroll around in their lobby habitat.

December is also a great time to enjoy whale watching in the islands. The humpback whales are usually just starting to appear in Hawaiian waters in late November, after migrating from Alaska.  The whales come to Hawaii for the same reason many tourists do, to enjoy the warm water.  What could be more memorable then a whale watching cruise as the sun sets over the islands on Christmas Day?

For those adventure seekers and beach bums, know that the winter swells bring the biggest waves to Hawaiian shores each year.  The Triple Crown of Surfing is held on the north shore of Oahu between November and December, attracting the best surfers in the world.  Beach goers can sit on the shore and watch 20 ft waves come crashing down as pro boarders tame the waves with their agile moves.

While in Hawaii, look for gifts and presents for loved ones and friends that could only be found on a tropical island.  Return home with some gifts that no one has ever seen before.

Mele Kalikimaka! I highly recommend Hawaii for your holidays. You can’t go wrong.

For the next 10 days, the folks over at Gadling are giving away one piece of travel-licious gear each day. Enter to win items like today’s pick, a Slacker G2 personal radio player that allows you to rove the world with customized radio stations in your pocket, just by leaving a comment. Winners will be randomly selected after the 10-day time period is up.