Queens is starting to draw visitors from Manhattan and out-of-town for its ethnic restaurants, cultural offerings and specialty shopping.

  Beijing can feel chaotic and sprawling, especially as it races to finish Olympic construction before the Games begin. But there?s an ancient order to the place, a cosmology, and you can follow it.

  Largely ignored by American skiers and snowboarders, the mountains of Quebec?s suburbs are uncrowded this time of year, have fast lifts and offer varied terrain.

  By installing more snowmaking guns and transforming their resorts with colossal spas, sleek architecture and other off-slope attractions, ski resorts in the Alps are trying to stay ahead of global warming.

  This recently relocated Pan-Asian restaurant has been an institution for nearly 20 years.

  The Opus provides a convenient spot from which to explore Montreal, but for the moment this boutique hotel feels as generic as the chain establishments boutiques were supposed to supplant.

  A vacation home and condominium rental company with properties in ski-friendly spots is trying to bring together a Snow Guarantee program.

  With overall costs for business travel expected to rise 6 to 8 percent next year, more companies appear to be saving on lodging by having employees share hotel rooms on business trips.

  The $2.4 billion chauffeured transportation business is doing well both in the United States and overseas.

  The Axel Hotel, a Spanish import that opened in November, symbolizes Buenos Aires?s increasingly aggressive effort to court gay dollars and euros.

  The single traveler is being courted with more options (and deals) than ever.

  The true appeal isn?t the mountain or the snow. It?s that you can ski all day, stuff yourself with steaks, drink beer and sleep in a decent hotel, all for about $60 a day.

  When politics was the only draw, Des Moines was a drag. Not now.

  Ski season has barely begun, but now is the time to scope out deals and cost-saving packages.