How rough are we talkin'? Don't stress. Vacationing at a farm or ranch doesn't mean you'll be handed a bucket and a bar of soap at shower time. You'll find every range of accommodation on the roughing-it scale: At the most rustic, the wranglers jingle-jangle into the breakfast hall with you and you're expected to earn your keep with chores. (And your kids thought setting the table was an injustice barely survived.)

At larger "resort ranches" and farm stays, you get a massage or play a round of golf while kids are corralled into the highly organized kids' program for hayrides, folk dancing, and animal-grooming lessons. What will most farms and ranches have in common? Lots of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, hearty home-cooked meals included in the price, and the ability to chill at a slower pace for a while.

Should I choose a farm or a ranch? Six is the magic age at which kids are allowed to saddle up on a horse independently at most dude ranches (they're physically strong enough then and covered by the ranch's insurance company), so think about farm visits when they're younger. However, there are always exceptions. Gregg and Laura Ross of Austin, TX, have been going to ranches since their 5-year-old was a toddler.

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Once the South American country to avoid, Colombia is continuing a recent come-back, and is now far safer with a wild mix of destinations that take in the Andes, the Caribbean, the Amazon and the Pacific.

The Guardian listed it as one of the destinations of the decade, and its South America correspondent only warned against the remote areas.

One of the great Andean destinations, actually, is Bogota, one of South America's most engaging capitals.

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For years, the heritage sites around Chennai, the beaches and shopping deals have been major attractions for tourists. Tapping the cultural appetite of foreign tourists and shopping needs of Indians, the city continues to attract tourists across the globe.

Residents of Chennai, on the other hand, flip through guidebooks to plan their vacation to newer places. This summer seems to be the season of journeying for people with wanderlust. Nature walks, treks and hiking are no more jargon that travellers alone use. Travelling to foreign countries has become the norm and travel expenses have found their way into the annual budget of many families.

Lakshmi Mohan, a resident of Neelankarai, recalled that there were no options of ticket reservation about three decades ago. “I used to visit only my native village every year then. Now, I plan pilgrimage and holiday to other States without much trouble,” she said.

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Do the short days and the long break in between big holidays have you down? Fear not because spring break is almost here, the perfect excuse to get away and get rid of those winter blues. Whether it's a tropical beach, ski trip or urban escape, there are plenty of vacation options for travelers this year, many still deeply discounted because of the struggling travel industry.

"Last year, the deals were so ridiculously cheap that they set a new baseline," said Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel. "This year, they are still low but it doesn't seem as crazy because it's a continuation. Don't expect rock-bottom airfares this year, as the airlines have cut back on the number of flights and available seats and some business travelers have slowly returned to the skies. Still, fares are not outrageous, and hotels are offering giant discounts to fill vacant rooms.

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Amongst the busy life schedule of your own life, you cannot ignore or ignore the importance of vacations. These vacations provide a chance to you to refresh your life and they rejuvenate your life and you feel fit for working again. Caribbean Vacation is a delightful part of the Virgin Islands vacation that helps you to come out of the hangover that sometimes envelopes you. You try hard to come out of this hangover by your means but, you cannot do it successfully.

St. John Virgin Islands hotels are set up in a very nice atmosphere that helps you to overcome the hangover that you face during your daily routine life. The nice hotel of Peace of Mind St. Thomas is another example of fantastic stay away from your home that provides you all the basic requirements of a delicate life. This nice hotel is located on an exotic location and it provides complete peace of mind. The beautiful surroundings of the hotel create a nice atmosphere to all its guests who come here for full satisfaction for their money.

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A Halifax-based online tour operator has ceased its operations and left customers with cancelled flights and vacation plans. Go Travel South announced on its website Wednesday afternoon that it was shutting down due to "economic circumstances."

"Please do not show up to the airport for you flights as they will not be departing," the message read. Go Travel South, which was previously based in Ottawa as Go Travel Direct, sold direct flights to sun destinations including the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

The company told customers they will not be responding to any emails and advised them to contact their credit card providers in order to receive a refund. Moncton resident Dominic Vautour and his wife, a school teacher, booked a March Break getaway with Go Travel South last month.

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PROMOTERS of a booking service specializing in Nova Scotia golf vacations believe the system — currently teed up for a spring launch — will whack the industry in this province out of the doldrums.

"We’re finally going to be in a position were people interested in golfing and visiting Nova Scotia will be able to make a single call and do it all," said Terry Burns, with Golf Nova Scotia and Golf Cape Breton.

Golf tourism has been sluggish in the province, as it has throughout much of North America in recent years, mostly due to a huge build-up of courses. Over about a decade, the number of courses in Atlantic Canada went from 65 to at least 205.

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"Looking for a tropical vacation outside [the] U.S. that has enough tourist-y things, but not overwhelmingly built up. A family with a 15 and 17 year old.

Never been outside [the] U.S. A Disney-enjoying family but a highlight of our last trip there was seeing wild turkeys right outside our hotel room. We are a mix of sightseeing and nature-loving vacationers. My daughter really wants to swim with dolphins.

My son wants to lie on the beach and relax. Not thrilled about the idea of a cruise I worry that my husband will be stressed out during our "exploration" time thinking that we might miss the ship. Not thrilled about an all-inclusive the idea of exploring the culture around me intrigues me instead of feeling imprisoned eating food I could eat in U.S. But I want to feel safe and we like a nice hotel."

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What is your most shocking hotel story? You know, that one experience that is topic of any travel conversation and leaves your audience gasping in horror, wondering how you made it through. Well, that story just might win you a $10,000 vacation.

The Hotel Hell Vacation contest is going on right now. You can upload your hotel horror stories along with photos and videos for a chance to win one of four $10,000 vacations. Entries are due by March 2, 2010 and a public vote to determine finalists will take place through March 9, 2010.

The winners will be selected by the stars of the HomeAway commercial shown during the Super Bowl earlier this month, Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo!There are four hotel horror categories and one winner will be selected from each of the following:

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From ancient sites in the Middle East to the Vatican to quaint European villages, travelers are making religious pilgrimages part of their vacations—and agents looking for a lucrative marketing opportunity with special appeal should take a closer look at this growing niche.

The Globus Family of Brands predicts a sustained growth for the faith-based religious vacation market this year, in part sparked by Oberammergau’s Passion Play. This 400-year-old German tradition takes place every 10 years, drawing hundreds of thousands of people.

Globus reports that its bookings on European itineraries with Oberammergau extensions are up 1,350 percent for 2010 and the company’s Cosmos Oberammergau vacations have sold out. Other tour operators such as Collette Vacations, Trafalgar Tours and Tauck are also seeing significant increases in their Oberammergau and other religious packages.

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