InterContinental Covers Guests' Airline Baggage Fees

Nobody likes checked luggage fees, but let’s face it: they’re a part of air travel now. So if you’re one of those people who, like myself, find it difficult to restrict your vacation packing to the size of a carry-on, you just have to accept the fees as part of the price to pay for getting away. (And yes, I know what you're thinking. I work in travel. I should be able to rock the carry-on. In theory, I do know how. In practice, well...that's another story.)

However, if you book with any of the 4,500 InterContinental Hotel Group’s properties scattered across the world any time from now through April 30, 2011, the company will reimburse guests up to $100 per stay for their roundtrip baggage fees. For rebate details, take a look at the official IHG page.

Joshua Pramis is an online associate editor and resident tech guru at Travel + Leisure. Follow him on Twitter: @joshuapramis.

Photo © iStock.

Want to Study at Oxford? No Problem!

School’s out for the summer…unless you’re one of the many who would love to fulfill that fantasy of attending the prestigious Oxford University, in Christ Church, England. But before you start worrying about SAT scores and GPAs, I should tell you: the historic university is opening up its doors (and classrooms) to anyone who applies.

Thanks to a program called The Oxford Experience, anyone ready, willing, and able to pay for a weeklong course can do just that. (And without having to suffer through those pesky final exams!)

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Vacationist: Charleston + London + Belize

Dear Vacationist,

In our opinion the only thing better than daydreaming about escaping the winter doldrums this time of year, is actually planning a trip—and of course, shaking off cabin fever in an exciting new locale. Good thing this week's featured hotel destinations offer something for everyone—history and charm in Charleston, big city sophistication in London, and a tropical escape in Ambergris Caye, Belize. Read on for details.

Not a member? Join here.

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Contest Watch: Costa Rican Family Adventure, More!

After Snowmagedon 2011 ravaged 49 of the 50 states this month, the time is right to live it up away from icy driveways and slushy sidewalks. Whether you’re in the mood for a seductive escape to Thailand, Las Vegas, or New York or an energetic romp in Costa Rica or Utah, this T+L Contest Watch has you covered.

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Best New E-Readers From CES 2011

We all know about the iPad and Kindle. Whether on the TV, the side of a bus, or a billboard, you can hardly turn a corner nowadays without seeing an ad for the game-changing devices. They’re everywhere. And while I’m certainly not anti-iPad/Kindle (I absolutely love them), I think it’s important for any traveler to know about and consider all available options.

That being said, there were a truckload of tablets revealed at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (more than 80!), so I wanted to share a few that I’m most excited about:

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Chernobyl Opens to Tourists

Was your New Year's resolution to live more dangerously? Book a flight to the Ukraine. Nearly 25 years after Chernobyl's Reactor No. 4 exploded, wreaking nuclear devastation upon the surrounding area, the Ukrainian government is allowing tourists to enter the exclusion zone set up after the accident on official tours starting this year.

Though it was previously possible to tour the disaster zone through private tour companies, 2011 brings the first official and legal tours authorized by the Ukrainian government.

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Four Seasons Giftcard Winners Announced!

Congratulations to Patrick McClinchy of Gilbert, AZ, and Ann Ennis of Addison, TX, each winners of a $450 giftcard redeemable at any Four Seasons property in the world!

What did these two lucky travelers do to win? They simply logged into TravelandLeisure.com during the giveaway period and/or registered as members—and told us what type of trip they were planning for 2011: City, Domestic; Foreign; Beach/Island,Rainforest, Mountains, Other.

Check back in the coming months for more exciting giveaways.

Images courtesy of Four Seasons

Royal Treatment: Versailles to Be Luxury Hotel

NPR |  If you've ever dreamed of spending the night at the Palace of Versailles, you might get your chance. A building at France's cherished cultural landmark will soon be turned into a luxury hotel.

Hundreds of shivering tourists line up across an immense cobbled courtyard to visit Versailles.

Home to the French monarchy since Louis XIV, Versailles is a monument to royal grandeur. Soon, the palace may also become known for its five-star hotel. (Photo by Lyndsey Matthews)

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Northern Lights and Mushing in Alaska

You can have your lunar eclipse. For my money, the celestial event worth staying up late for is the Aurora Borealis. Throw in an up-close and personal Iditarod experience and you’d have the hottest ticket in Alaska.  AdventureSmith Explorations, a California-based outfitter, has created a mid-winter soft adventure trip that’ll rouse you from your long winter’s nap.

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Mt. Everest the Next Gay Marriage Hot Spot?

Could Mount Everest be the next gay marriage hot spot? According to an intriguing report by Aaron Hicklin in the new issue of Out Traveler, Nepalese member of parliament Sunil Pant is commited to making gay travelers—and wedding parties—feel welcome in his country, telling Hicklin:

“If you want to do it in the Buddhist tradition, we can supply a lama to bless you, or there are shamans who can bless you in a very tantric way. Or you have a Hindu priest or even a Christian padre." He pauses. "Or you can do it in a conservation park with an elephant safari."

Luke Barr is the news director at Travel + Leisure.

Photo by iStock