Direct Flight

The federal government says it has plans to use advanced technology to dramatically reduce the number of pat-down searches performed at the nation's airports.

The Department of Homeland Security recently put out a request for technology companies to come up with a hand-held scanning device that can be used instead of pat-down searches on passengers who set off alarms on full-body scanners.

The...

This week's best travel bargains around the globe.

MIRAVAL RESORT (TUCSON, ARIZ.)

Miraval, an all-inclusive resort and spa in Tucson, is offering summer freebies. With the Life in Balance Spa Sampler package, book a three-night stay and get a complimentary room upgrade ($225 value), manicure and pedicure ($165), and spa gift ($30), plus 20 percent off boutique purchases. A deluxe room...

The number of Memorial Day travelers is expected to increase this year, after dipping slightly in 2011 due to high gas prices.

AAA's annual holiday weekend forecast projects 34.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home Thursday through Monday, up 1.2 percent from a year ago.

The same is true for New York, where almost 2.2 million people are expected to travel, up 0.5...

Although we might sometimes take it for granted, we knew it all along: Long Island's miles of sandy Atlantic shores boast some of the country's best beaches.

Sun and surf seekers come from miles around to lay their blankets on Jones Beach, Robert Moses, Long Beach. And today we get national recognition for an East End gem: Main Beach in East Hampton came in at No. 3 on Dr. Beach's annual list...

Q: We booked a cruise through Celebrity Cruise Lines and had Celebrity book the airfare and took out insurance. When we arrived for our connecting flight, US Airways said there was a mechanical failure and they needed 20 volunteers to give up their seats. They did not get their 20, so we got bumped. The best the airline could do was get us to the first port of call, which was two days later. US...

NAME cruisewise.com

WHAT IT DOES Gives you more power to book a cruise online. If you like what Hipmunk has done for flight search, you will love what CruiseWise will do for cruises.

WHAT'S HOT It's all about the visual map. Select your destination, departure port and dates, then watch as your search results appear on a map on your screen. Detailed info such as price and room options...

Yes, it will be crazy over Memorial Day weekend, but ... it's Six Flags! The coasters alone are enough of a lure, but there are further temptations, including some newbies.

The new SkyScreamer, which has swings that rise up more than 240 feet and churn at 40 miles per hour, opens Wednesday. (A note: I love swing rides. So much. But there is a new divide between the old, baby kind and the new,...

Our picks for free events this weekend.

FRIDAY

Music

"Good Morning America's" 2012 Summer Concert Series begins Friday with singer-songwriter — and “Duets” judge — Robin Thicke. (The roster still has some holes, but other shows include the Beach Boys June 15, LMFAO June 29 and No Doubt July 27.) In its fourth year, the series takes place at Rumsey Playfield in Central...

Q: I recently took a trip where I was dangerously close to being overweight with both my checked bags. With this in mind, I weighed both my bags with a certified scale before leaving the house and found that each bag weighed less than 40 pounds. At the check-in counter, however, my first bag weighed in at 57 pounds on the airline scales, the other at 42. I switched some things around to keep both...

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Big changes are in store for gamblers and hotel guests at the Tropicana Casino and Resort as the establishment starts a $25 million renovation project.

The undertaking is the first of what could be four or five years of work to re-do the casino resort, which opened in 1981.

Tropicana president Tony Rodio told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the casino's...