(Travel) - The changing leaves are just one lure for outdoor adventurers during the fall season. The tourist crowds of July and August have dissipated, and in many spots, the blistering summer heat has passed. And happily, an abundance of premier tour operators offer ready-made autumn adventures that are relatively easy on the wallet.

(Travel) - If you're like most Americans, your image of Spain is the region of Andalucia, famous for windswept landscapes, whitewashed hill towns, flamenco and gazpacho. While visitors gravitate to the region's big cities of Granada, Sevilla and Cordoba, Andalucia's hill towns -- a charm bracelet of cute villages perched in the sierras -- offer a taste of wonderfully untouched Spanish culture.

(Travel) - There is nothing else like the Burj Dubai on Earth. As the project is metaphoric for the strength of Samsung Construction, the company itself symbolizes the growth of South Korea onto the world stage.

(Travel) - Every now and then, you stumble upon a town that's gotten everything right -- great coffee, food with character, shop owners with purpose. These 10 spots have it all, in perfectly small doses.

(Travel) - It's all the rage to criticize the airlines. But we found some smart, practical initiatives that point the way to a better future.

(Travel) - A few drinks in the People's Republic of China leads a writer to discover European delights and other unexpected finds in modest Qingdao.

(Travel) - The spirit of a mourning mother haunts Heceta Head, a 115-year-old lightstation on the windswept Oregon Coast. Some say the ghost, called The Gray Lady, searches for her infant daughter, who tumbled from the 200-foot cliffs to her death.

(Travel) - Cosmopolitan Frankfurt, while low on Old World charm, offers a good look at today's no-nonsense, modern Germany. If you're a budget traveler, you'll likely fly into or out of this major hub for discount airlines.

(Travel) - If you thought the travel bargains were unbelievable this year, just wait until 2010.

(Travel) - When Best Western bills Angela Williams-McGill twice for the same night, she incurs a bank overdraft fee and then waits months for a refund. But the hotel never pays her back, and all she has to show for her efforts is a claim number. Is there anything she could have done to prevent this? And what about the refund?

(Travel) - No offense to the nation's capital, but the landmarks of our heritage extend far beyond the District of Columbia. Here are eight don't-miss spots.

(Travel) - Seen any ghosts lately?

(Travel) - Amid climbing luggage fees and a flurry of surcharges, holiday airline ticket prices are a bright spot for cash-strapped travelers. Domestic holiday fares last week were running up to 15 percent lower than last year, according to Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com.

(Travel) - From luxurious canvas tent suites to simple cabins, these 10 lesser-known coastal inns offer tranquility and seaside charm. Listen to the ocean from your room in one of these Pacific Coast hideaways.

(Travel) - Europe is investing in its infrastructure, and travelers know the results are breathtaking. With the English Channel tunnel, trains speed from Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower in about 2.5 hours. You zip under the English Channel in 20 minutes ... looking out the window for fish.

(Travel) - In the west of Ireland, the local pub is much more than a place to have a pint. It's a traditional music venue, gossip headquarters, emergency grocery, unofficial tourist office, and, of course, emotional and spiritual retreat. Here are our favorites, in order from the Burren all the way up to Sligo.

(Travel) - Alexandra Seldin prepays for a rental car through Alamo's Web site. But when her flight is canceled, and she arrives a day late, the company charges her three times more than it originally said it would. Is it allowed to do that? And is there any hope for a refund?

(Travel) - When cash-strapped travelers canceled their getaways last winter, the resorts had to do something with those newly available rooms. So they turned to online auction companies, which put the rooms out for bid at prices well below retail. The trend has gained strength recently, yielding more travel bargains for savvy shoppers.

(Travel) - A memorial cruise is scheduled to set sail 100 years after the sinking of the Titantic, following the same trans-Atlantic route as the ill-fated ship, according to organizers.

(Travel) - As you walk down Prince Street in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, it may be easy to forget that it's 2009.