A New Holiday Tradition

What's a newsletter publisher to do during holiday weeks?

Recognizing that many of their readers are traveling or otherwise engaged, some publishers shut down and take a vacation. Others proceed as usual, with no change to the type or quantity of content. And still others publish scaled-down versions of their standard newsletters.

For the Thanksgiving week issue, we departed from our normal single-minded focus on miles and points to serve up a more varied menu of travel-related reading, namely a selection of recent pieces by myself (Tim Winship) and some of my colleagues at SmarterTravel.com, FrequentFlier.com's sister publication.

That was well received by our readers, so we're adopting the same approach for this, the Christmas-week issue. Below are 10 stories on a range of travel topics -- including a few with a frequent flyer focus, because, well, you know...

And for next week's issue -- the last of the year, and of the first decade of the 21st century -- we plan to do the same, except with more of an emphasis on significant events over the past year.

We'll return to our normal format the first week of 2010. In the meantime, feel free to email us with any comments or observations -- we'll publish them in the "Rants & Raves" section when we resume our normal format.

Finally, this being December 23rd, it must be said: Best wishes to all for the holidays!

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• Just How Mega Is Marriott's Winter MegaBonus?
  For the average Marriott Rewards member, the hotel's new winter promotion may be trumped by an offer from Starwood.
• Starwood Begins New Year With New Bonus Promotion
  The past two years have been uncommonly lucrative for members of hotel loyalty programs. Starwood's new bonus for stays in 2010 could signal another promotion-rich year.
• FTD Offer Makes Gift-Buying Uncommonly Rewarding
  If you find yourself in last-minute-Christmas-shopping mode, a new FTD promotion makes gift buying easy and especially lucrative, mileage-wise.
• Now, Earn Virgin America Points for Hilton Stays
  The new partnership with Hilton hotels gives Virgin America's Elevate program a needed boost.
• What the New Tarmac Delay Rules Mean
  Unsurprisingly, the DOT's new tarmac delay rules generated some pretty divided responses. Find out what people are saying, and what we can expect when the new rules go into effect.
• Does Insurance Cover My Travel Snafu?
  Airfarewatchdog's handy new chart examines several unfortunate circumstances, such as a flat tire on the way to the airport, and tells you what's covered by travel insurance and what isn't.
• How to Deal With Duty Free in Light of Liquid Restrictions
  The liquid ban has complicated the process of bringing duty-free bottles of Scotch or perfume on the plane. If you've ever wondered whether you can travel with these liquids, you're not alone.
• Why Are Nonstops More Expensive than Connecting Flights?
  This simple question seems like it would have a relatively simple answer, right? But this is the airline industry we're talking about: Nothing is as obvious as it looks.
• Why Should I Pay More for Primary Travel Insurance?
  A reader asks Ed Perkins why he suggests buying primary travel insurance, which is more expensive than other options. But paying more up front could save you money and stress later.
• Win Big in Las Vegas for Less Than $500
  The Deal Detective helps a reader plan a cheap vacation to Sin City. Here's how she did it.