Berlin, Ja or Nein?

Is it:

-- home to a fantastic selection of museums and some of the world's most exciting architecture

-- scene of Europe's most vibrant art and gay scenes

-- a 19th/20th/21st century city, yes, but much of the history of those centuries was made there

-- cheaper and funkier than Paris or London

or is it

-- dirty & run-down

-- a sprawling mess that's difficult for a tourist to comprehend

-- notorious for cool manners and filled with bitter Ossis angry at the West

-- a city where anything interesting was demolished in 1945

Greetings, travelers, chatsters and assorted Web pals. Gary Lee, Post travel writer here as host of today's chat. We have a pretty full crew of illustrious, interesting, fun Travel section staffers to answer your questions. Included in our team today are: KC Summers, travel section editor; John Deiner, deputy editor, fresh in from a thrilling trip to Hoboken, N.J.; Cindy Loose, staff writer, just back from a camping trip on the beach; Andrea Sachs, headed out for trips to Birmingham and Nashville; Carol Sotilli, all knowing editor of our where's the deal column; and Anne Mcdonough, who recently spent a weekend touring mansions in Newport, RI. In addition, we have as special guest Dave Wielenga, author of this Sunday's feature about driving through Mexico with his fiance. Dave, who lived three years in Mexico, will be happy to answer any Mexico-related questions, including any on the expat life south of the border.

In this season when lots of us are exploring cultures different from our own, I wonder if any of you can offer dos and don'ts in other cultures that you have visited. During years of living in Germany, where guests invited to dinner at 8 arrive exactly when the second hand reached 8, I learned that even being a minute late was an offense. In Indian country Oklahoma, I learned not to pick up stones, branches or other gifts of nature as they might represent something sacred. Anyone have a lesson along these lines and a succinct story to go along with it? The one with the best story gets a free kidsCarepak, a great backpack filled with kids goodies sent to us by Doubletree. The hotel chain is giving the packs away to guests with kids 3-12

Scientists agree that greenhouse gas emissions are damaging the environment. Dear innkeeper: is your bed and breakfast eco-friendly? Read this article to find out how you can be a better eco-citizen - today!

Changes that are FREE

If your guestrooms have individual climate control, adjust the temperature in unoccupied rooms in order to conserve energy. Readjust to comfortable levels an hour or so before guests arrive.

Many historic bed and breakfast inns have older plumbing fixtures such as claw-foot tubs. The tubs add ambiance, but older toilets waste water. Placing a brick in each toilet tank will reduce the amount of water needed for flushing.

Too high a temperature on your hot water tank is wasteful. Adjusting to 130° Fahrenheit (55° Celsius) will conserve energy. However, this temperature will burn a child's skin very quickly. If you allow young children in your inn, a much safer temperature is 120° Fahrenheit (49° Celsius) - still hot enough for showers, laundry, and washing dishes.

Check your cleaning supplies, and when possible replace them with environmentally-friendly products such as vinegar and water, baking soda, and pure orange oil.

Check the internet or your local library for microwave recipes, and use the microwave whenever possible instead of an electrical range or gas stove.

Don't use the heat cycle on your dryer unless absolutely necessary.

Reuse disposable electrostatic dusting cloths. When dirty, wash in plain cold water and air-dry in your dryer. They may look dingy - but they will continue to work for several more cycles. When they are finally worn out, wash one last time (with laundry detergent and bleach). The cloths can be used for stuffing handicrafts such as children's teddy bears.

Inexpensive Changes

Instead of using disposable dusting cloths, purchase microfiber equivalents. Specialized microfiber cleaning cloths are available for specific jobs such as window washing, dusting, and cleaning up greasy messes. Try them without cleaning fluids first. The cloths often work well dry or with just a bit of water. When dirty, launder and reuse.

As incandescent lights burn out, replace with fluorescent bulbs. The initial cost is a bit high, but over time they will pay for themselves in energy savings.

Is your inn's attic insulated to modern standards? A little change here can make a big change in your bed and breakfast's heating and air conditioning bills.

Public hallways and guest bathrooms are areas where lights are often left on by accident. Installing motion-sensing receptacles is a good idea. Be aware of their range, however, and avoid placing too close to sleeping quarters.

When your refrigerator or other major appliance breaks down, purchase Energy Star equipment to replace it. This can save you 10% to 50% in operating costs.

Free coffee in rooms is a nice touch for your guests. However, be sure that coffee makers turn off automatically for energy savings and fire safety.

More Expensive Changes

Modern windows with gas-filled spaces between panes can dramatically reduce heat transfer. Replacing all the windows in an inn is a large expense. However, over time new windows will pay for themselves in energy savings.

When the exterior paint on your bed and breakfast starts to peel, it's time to repaint - or is it? Consider switching to aluminum or vinyl siding. This type of siding usually has a layer of insulation installed between the old exterior and the new material - increasing your climate control efficiency. An added plus: you won't have to repaint your inn every few years.

If you are designing a brand new inn, keep the above tips in mind and investigate other eco-friendly features: solar panels, extra insulation and soundproofing between guestrooms, careful placement of windows to augment climate control, balcony gardens ... Use your imagination!

Your Inn's Guests Can be a Valuable Resource

Prepare a brochure outlining your inn's commitment to the environment, and ask guests for their assistance. Make sure that your brochure has a 'suggestion' section where guests can share their eco-friendly ideas.

The Future is Up to All of Us

Stay on the alert for new ways to protect the environment as you go about your daily routine; we can all make a difference!

©Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is free to publish only if this copyright notice, the byline, and the author's note below (with active links) are included.

Choosing the right ski resort can make all the difference in the kind of ski vacation you end up having. If you love skiing and you are looking to book your next ski vacation, but you have no idea where to go skiing, here are a few tips you can follow to help you make the right decision in selecting the perfect ski resort for you, your preferences, your experience, and your skill level.

First, find possible ski resorts through which you can enjoy skiing to the fullest. Look online and search for “ski resorts” in your area, or in the area you’d like to travel to. Write down all the ski resorts that capture your interest.

Next, review all the ski resorts in which you’re interested. Make sure you find out all you can about each resort. Ski resorts should have websites clearly providing information such as location, direction, contact information, prices, types and number of trails for each level, availability of ski lessons, current conditions, base snow, vertical height, and other activities and amenities, as well as available accommodations. Also, find out if you can purchase your lift ticket in advance through their site, which is not only convenient but can also save you quite a bit of money. Review each resort, and then start making comparisons.

One thing you’ll need to keep in mind as you’re reviewing each ski resort is your skill level. If you’re just a beginner at skiing, stick to a ski resort with a smaller mountain and that includes a wide variety of beginner trails for your ease and enjoyment, as well as a large area specifically designed for skiers who are just learning. You may also want to find out if the ski resort includes lessons for beginners, and whether they come cost-included.

If you’re a more established skier, look for a top-level, highly advanced ski resort with a high vertical and plenty of black diamond trails and exciting terrain to challenge you. You will be hard-pressed to find advanced-skier-only resorts, as most will include trails for skiing beginners as well as intermediate skiers; however, choose a ski resort that offers a high percentage of advanced trails.

If you have children, choose a ski resort that is family-friendly or, better yet, family-focused (some resorts are actually specifically geared toward families). These resorts should have kid-friendly skiing trails, accommodations, restaurants, and winter activities like ice skating and tubing. Look for a skiing resort that includes children’s programs and a day care.

Another tip is to avoid the weekend in planning your skiing vacation and choosing a ski resort. You will first of all avoid the large crowds—which is especially beneficial if you’re a beginner or you have a family—and you will also likely save more on your lift tickets. Finally, choose a resort that includes both ski lessons as well as equipment rentals for free along with your lift ticket.

Popular among tourists, Dubai is one of the most attractive locations in the world as it is surrounded by mysterious deserts, sand dunes and the stunning Hajar Mountains. It is divided by the Creek which is essentially an inlet from the gulf splitting the commercial center of Dubai in two. Within the city you will find amazing beach resorts, incredibly high tech buildings all side by side with old traditional houses and mosques.

If planning a trip to Dubai you will have to take in consideration lots of aspects (like in any other trip) and one of the most important aspects is accommodating in the city. One of the best solutions is to rent a room at a hotel. Dubai apartments offer all the conditions everyone could think of as they offer full services for tourists.

A wise choice when renting a room in Dubai is to acquire a room at a hotel near a beach because it offers an incredible and unique view of the surroundings. An alternative to this is to rent a room in the heart of Dubai, were all the action is happening. Dubai’s furnished apartments offer a wide variety as they are available both for those people looking for a luxurious stay but also for those people with a limited budget.

Selecting accommodation should be a hassle-free experience that is why this part of the planning is so crucial because without satisfactory accommodations no trip is a real success. The wide variety of hotels in Dubai can make your life hard when planning a trip but with proper research this shouldn’t be a problem and you will find the perfect solution for your family or if planning a trip for business purposes; Dubai’s apartments are a wise solution.

When it comes down to the services provided by the local hotels, these are complete, offering tours and safaris, and also many types of rentals: from cars to yachts, not to mention limo services. Also, the local hospitality is well known among tourists, hotel employees will do everything they can to make your stay as pleasurable as possible.

For business needs, hotels offer top of the line services: wireless internet access, telephone access, plasma TV’s which are ideal for a presentation and many other services which will surely come in hand.

Besides all this, local chefs will make you the most exquisite recipes that you won’t have the opportunity to eat in other places because they have some special recipes which can only be found in this area as they are kept like a real secret in order to prevent others to make the same recipes.

Regarding the safety matter, Dubai’s hotels are equipped with numerous surveillance cameras in order to keep a quiet and safe atmosphere; also hotel guards do their best to assure the tourists that they will have a relaxing stay without problems.

All in all, Dubai’s apartments are the best choice for tourists because these apartments offer exactly what tourists are looking for when planning a trip: to have fun as much as possible and to have a relaxing stay, to refill the batteries.