The Allure of Karpathos

Difficulty in Improving Airline Safety

This year may end up being the worst of the past five years for airline crashes worldwide, and that doesn't count some high-profile military and private-plane fatal accidents that killed major political figures.

• Podcast: Safety in the Skies on the Decline?

Mexican Tourism's Struggle

In Travel Watch, Willa Plank reports on travel to Mexico, online tracking of skiers' activities, a lodging-industry forecast, and travel deals.

Stimulus Projects Worsen Holiday Traffic Woes

This year, the normal hassles of dodging construction delays have been exacerbated by some 12,000 or more highway projects funded by the federal stimulus program.

• Video: Avoiding Labor Day Traffic Blues

Japanese Men Vacation With Virtual Girls

More than 1,500 male fans of the Japanese dating-simulation game LovePlus+ have flocked to resort town Atami for a date with their videogame character girlfriends.

• Video: On Vacation With a Virtual Girlfriend
• Japan Real Time: Virtual Girls, Real Boys

Roadside Attractions Face Tough Market

Mom-and-Pop roadside attractions are struggling for their share of the tourist dollar. They suffer from a weak economy, changes in travel habits and kids unlikely to be wowed by stationary dinos and miniature golf.

• Photos: Last Days of a Roadside Park

Tracking Planes on Ground

New technology helps airports manage their ground traffic and enables airlines to beat hefty fines for long stays on the tarmac.

Soul Food à la Française

Savoring fouée, the puffy, delicacy-stuffed bread, is a mouthwatering trip into France's distant past.

Decoding Airline Ticket Costs

The price you pay for an airline ticket is driven by a number of variables: competition, passengers, the route and operating costs. The biggest factor, by far, is whether discount airlines fly in a market.

• Chart: Compare Prices on Popular Routes
• News Hub: Why Some Flights Cost So Much
• Podcast: Cost of a Plane Ticket

China's Alibaba Expands Travel Unit

Alibaba Group, which operates China's biggest e-commerce site, said it is expanding its travel business to include international airline-ticket sales and plans to undercut rivals' prices.

• China Real Time: Tencent Buys Comsenz

After Hours: Delhi

What to do when the sun goes down in this northern Indian city: A club in a garden, and other charms.

City Walk: Luang Prabang

Fifteen years ago Luang Prabang was off the beaten path to all but the most intrepid travelers. Today this northern Laotian city receives hundreds of thousands of visitors a year.

Treats in Vietnam's Imperial Capital

Hue, Vietnam's old capital city, serves up banh beo, a popular between-meals pastry stuffed with pork and shrimp.

Hotels Get Facelifts

In Travel Watch, Courtney Banks reports on the renovation of 5-star hotels in London and Paris and on tourism in New Orleans.

Are Frequent-Flier Deals Worth It?

Buying frequent-flier miles rarely makes sense. It can be hard to find the award tickets or upgrades you want, and they're often cashed in for cheap tickets, resulting in a low return on their value.

• Video: Frequent Flier Miles' Worth
• Podcast: A Look at Airline Offers

A Smackdown in Shanghai

World Wrestling Entertainment brought its spandex-clad, muscle-bound behemoths to perform in China for the first time.

Magazine Shows the Real Afghanistan

Safi Airways, a start-up Afghan airline, ventures where few air carriers dare to go: Its in-flight magazine tells the ugly truth about the place where you're about to land.

• Pages: Safi Magazine Articles

Extended-Stay Looks Up

The recession and business cost-cutting has hurt the hotel industry over the past two years—with one exception: extended-stay hotels. Plus, a San Andrés island airport reopens, and more.

A Red-Light District Off the Beaten Path

Way off the beaten track in an impoverished corner of Osaka lies western Japan's largest brothel zone -- a place that says much about Japan's attitude toward urban decay, architectural preservation and prostitution.

Big Buses May Require Seat Belts

A proposed rule by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would make seat belts a requirement on all new motor coaches.

Trowulan: Indonesia's Ancient Empire

Escape the frenzy of Indonesia's second-largest city with a drive from Surabaya to the peaceful remains of a centuries-old imperial capital.

Bulgaria Wants More Tourists

Tourists come to Bulgaria for the beaches and the historic cities—and for the low prices. But the country's tourism sector is struggling to take a step up the quality ladder.

• Bulgaria Looks to St. John to Lift Economy

Berlin Broods Over Glitz Invasion

In a city proud of its underground scene, a trendy new social club feeds angst about elitism.

• Photos: Inside the Soho House Berlin

Luxury Meets Tradition in Guatemala

Aldous Huxley once called Lake Atitlán, deep in the Mayan highlands and surrounded by three volcanoes, "the most beautiful lake in the world." Today, visitors can boat from fancy hotels to villages that honor ancient gods.

Fiji Becomes a Volatile Paradise

The outlook for Fiji appears increasingly grim as the international community bickers with its military leader and its economy falters.

Ranking the Airlines by Fuel Efficiency

Just as some cars are more fuel efficient than others, there's a big spread in fuel economy among airlines. Find out which three major airlines are the biggest gas guzzlers.

• News Hub: Airlines Vary on Fuel Efficiency
• Podcast: Scott McCartney on Fuel Efficiency

Puglia's Fiery Pizzica

As Salento draws crowds, so too does a music born in the fields of Italy's heel.

New Baggage Screening Tested in San Jose

San Jose airport recently installed an expensive new baggage screening system that officials are calling "the most advanced in the world." But the airport has experienced several hiccups in service and technology.

In Flight, More Dust-Ups

In Travel Watch, Jonnelle Marte reports on altercations between passengers and flight attendants; Labor Day getaways; a website that aggregates news for states affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and an iPhone travel app.