When our families go on vacation, we pets prefer to come along. If we can’t, second choice is to stay at home, surrounded by adoring fans who will do our bidding. But I’ve just discovered an option for pets that’s just as tempting as staying at home—maybe even better!

Wag Hotels are luxury hotels for dogs and cats, located in Sacramento and San Francisco, Calif. (with one coming soon in Sunnyvale, Calif.). Small, medium and large rooms ($48, $55 and $60 per night, respectively) include comfy beds, two playgroups a day, room service and classical music. Suites are also available. A luxury suite, my favorite, includes everything a regular room has, plus a plasma TV, Web cam (so my peeps can see how I’m doing) and premium bed for only $85 a night.

Add-on services cover everything from swim time in the hotel’s indoor pool (and what Labrador would say no to that?) to a roof-top walk and playtime with a buddy to Zen massage and a blueberry facial.

The cats have it good too, in a separate Cattery that offers two-story condos with a view of a tropical fish tank. Scratch pads, beds and private litter box are also included ($30 per night).

I’m glad people are finally recognizing that pets like luxury just as much as humans do. So give us a treat the next time you have to leave us at home.

I just returned from two weeks on Guanaja, one of Honduras’ Bay Islands. Aside from enjoying plenty of hammock time, great views of wildlife (spotted eagle rays, dolphins, ospreys, magnificent frigatebirds), island food, tropical sunny weather (and some spectacular evening thunderstorms), and visiting friends, I had some interesting “beyond tourist” moments that I want to share.

Anyone can have a “beyond tourist” moment on vacation, and it doesn’t even require getting out of the resort (although it’s nice to do so, in order to see how the locals live). Just spend time talking to the people who live in your destination and get to know them a little. Since I’ve been visiting Guanaja for more than 10 years and own property there, I’m regularly doing things like grocery shopping for myself, buying plants from the local nurseryman and chatting up locals in the bank line.

Here’s a glimpse into the island of Guanaja that the guidebooks don’t cover:

•    While I was shopping in Casa Sikaffy, one of the island’s largest grocery stores (that’s smaller than your average 7-Eleven), the lights suddenly went out. First thought: power outage. Nope. The owner’s sister walked up to me and explained, “There’s a funeral, and the body just passed in the street outside, so we turned the lights out for respect.” The street that she was referring to? A pedestrian walkway that’s only 7-feet wide.

•    Guanaja’s a relatively small island with limited infrastructure. Plastic recycling is something it hasn’t been able to tackle in a realistic way, until now. An ex-pat friend, Mike, showed me the island’s new “bottle crusher,” which takes piles of plastic bottles and presses them into large squares—ready to transport to the mainland for recycling. It’s a great way to get trash off the streets and beaches, and money into the pockets of islanders.

•    I had the chance to talk with a gentleman from one of Guanaja’s families that date from English settlement times, in the early 1800s. Mr. Borden is 80, and he told me about all the property throughout the island that he’s owned over the years. While it’s certainly an overstatement to say that he’s owned the entire island, his property holdings have covered a large amount of territory. It was a pleasure to hear about what Guanaja was like in the “old days” when there were few people, no electricity and the fishing “industry” consisted only of families fishing for their dinner.

Although I still haven’t quite recovered from my severe jet lag, I am having an extraordinary time on my family vacation in beautiful Ascona, Switzerland. Located on the edge of Lake Maggiore in the canton of Ticino, Ascona is quite a popular getaway for people from all over the area.

Hotel Garni La Meridiana

My mom and I are staying at a hotel owned by a family friend:[ Hotel Garni La Meridiana|http://www.garni-la-meridiana.ch/]. This beautiful and modern bed and breakfast is located right on the Piazza, the main drag that runs along the edge of the lake. Opened a few years ago, the hotel has the charm of a traditional Swiss inn, while also being very modern and eco-friendly. In fact, much of Switzerland is that way and, frankly, I love it!

Our room is located on the first floor—which would be considered the second floor by those in the United States. Like most European cities, the ground floor is the named the ground floor, and it’s where shops and restaurants are located. Below La Meridiana are an adorable patisserie, a very cool restaurant with ample outdoor seating and a little gift shop, where I plan to do my souvenir shopping.

Location, Location, Location

To get to the lobby of the hotel, you must climb a set of (steep) stairs. Our room opens up onto a gigantic terrace, where there is seating for more than 50 people to soak up the beautiful Ticonese sunlight. We’re also located next to the breakfast area, where each morning the hotel serves up a traditional Swiss breakfast of cheeses, meats, breads, jams and more. There’s also a convenient 24-hour self-serve espresso machine here.

(The room we’re in is actually not the original one we were given upon arrival, which was on the second floor. While it had a beautiful view, my mom couldn’t stand the thought of having to walk up and down stairs in order to fulfill her caffeine fix.)

Eco-friendly Design

Everything at the hotel has been fine-tuned with efficiency and the environment in mind. At night, the hall lights are set to be on motion sensors in order to save energy. When you’re in the room, you must put your key into a sensor thingy (for lack of a better term) that will turn your room lights on for you. When you leave, simply take the key from the holder (which is conveniently located next to the door), and your lights will automatically turn off.

Amenities of the hotel include an indoor pool, wellness spa that includes steam rooms and saunas, a fitness room, free Wi-Fi and more. Also, the hotel has a collection of cruiser bikes that any guest can take out for a ride through the narrow, cobblestone streets of the Old Quarter.

If you ever find yourself in Ascona, I highly recommend Hotel Garni La Meridiana. I may be biased, but this hotel is quite a treat. Check out the hotel’s Webcam, and you may even see me on the terrace, enjoying my little slice of Swiss-Italian heaven.

KSL Resorts announced this week that its hotels are getting political. From now until Election Day, guests can show their party preference by choosing one of two political vacation packages: the McCain Supporters’ Vacation Package or the Obama Supporters’ Vacation Package. Come Election Day, KSL will have the results of its own Presidential (s)election. To be valid, the two-night reservations (vote) must be made by Election Day (Nov. 4, 2008) for a stay by Inauguration Day (Jan. 20, 2009).

Upon arrival, McCain package guests will be greeted with a bottle of “Red State” wine; the room tax will be covered by KSL, up to $25; and guests will receive either complimentary kids club admission or other children’s amenities.

The Obama package comes complete with two blue martinis (or any other specialty beverage); $25 in resort credit to help “buy American”; and a “green” discount worth an additional $25, which can be applied toward services such as golf or spa treatments.

KSL Resorts boasts that its seven resorts, which include the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego and the Homestead in Hot Springs, Va., have been host to U.S. presidents for generations. The Hotel del Coronado has hosted 10 presidents since it opened in 1888, starting with the 23rd President Benjamin Harrison in 1891. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and 21 other presidents have spent their leisure time at the Homestead.

Here are some sample package prices at the resorts:

$224/night for two nights at the Homestead in Hot Springs, Va.

$259/night for two nights at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

$260/night for two nights at the Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Tex.

$319/night for two nights at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.

$355/night for two nights at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, Calif.

$600/night for two nights at the Vail Mountain Lodge and Spa in Vail, Colo.

$650/night for two nights at the Beach Village at the Del in San Diego, Calif.

Which package would you choose?

All Rights Reserved: Courtesy of the Homestead

There’s absolutely nothing appealing to me about being awake at 5 a.m. Having said that, I would gladly give up the warmth of my bed for the frigid, dawn air to see a mass ascension at this year’s Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Albuquerque’s first Balloon Fiesta in 1972 drew a crowd of 20,000 people. It was originally called the Roadrunner-Coyote Balloon Race, and featured 13 balloons. Today, spectators number in the hundreds of thousands. Recently, the Balloon Fiesta Board had to limit the number of participating balloons to 750 after having a peak number of 1,019 in 2000.

CC: Sba2

This year, the Balloon Fiesta will take place Oct. 4 to 12, with the majority of events happening on the weekends. Each day’s events begin at 5:45 a.m. by the Dawn Patrol, who inflate and launch their balloons, all set to music.

The remaining balloons then launch in two waves, as part of the Mass Ascension event. This part of the day is the most spectacular and the reason why people like me drag themselves out of bed in the morning. The ascension is said to be one of the most photographed events in the world, which comes as no surprise. The collection of color, shapes and sounds must be like a sensory all-you-can-eat buffet.

CC-SA:[ a4gpa|http://flickr.com/photos/a4gpa/]

After the ascension, Fiesta-goers on the ground can enjoy a host of events including the ECHO Series Chainsaw Carving Championship, car shows and various ballooning competitions. This year’s International Balloon Fiesta will also feature concerts by Josh Gracin and the Coasters. Check the schedule of events at www.balloonfiesta.com.

Recently, graphic novels have gained recognition as legitimate literature thanks to such groundbreaking graphic novels as Watchmen and 300. They have inspired many Hollywood films, and now, they’re inspiring us to travel.

Pixar artist Enrico Casarosa’s newest book, a graphic novel entitled The Venice Chronicles, is part travelogue, part graphic novel and part love story. The 144-page book is filled with drawings, watercolors and inner-dialogue that detail the author and his girlfriend’s humorous adventures during their few weeks in Venice. Casarosa takes the reader on a stroll through the narrow streets of Venice and through its emblematic canals in his native country of Italy.

The Venice Chronicles: a Travelogue in Pencil, Watercolor and Varying Shades of Silliness will hit comic book stores in November 2008. A teaser for the book gives readers just one warning: “It’ll make you want to jump on the next flight to Italy with your significant other … or in search of one.” For more information on the book or Enrico Casarosa, visit www.enricocasarosa.com.

Read more about Venice, one of this week’s featured destinations at TravelMuse.com.

When I was a child, one of my favorite books was my mother’s autographed copy of The Useful Dragon of Sam Ling Toy, by Glen Dines. Set in San Francisco, the story tells of a laundry man who discovers what he thinks is a lizard. But as the lizard grows into a dragon, he finds that his new pet has many uses. The fantastical story certainly caught my attention, but it was also the San Francisco setting that kept the book high on my list. Growing up only 30 minutes away, I already thought the city was magical—and reading about a lizard turning into a dragon only proved me right.

Unfortunately, the book is now out of print (it was published in 1956), but that shouldn’t stop you from finding some fun books for kids set in San Francisco. Here’s a short list to start with:

This Is San Francisco (Universe Publishing, 2003), $17.95. Written by Miroslav Sasek.

Originally published in 1962, this book was reissued in 2003. I remember reading this one as a child also. It takes the reader on a cable car through Golden Gate Park, Chinatown, Union Square, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf and more. I don’t care how old it is—the story and illustrations are still wonderful.

Maybelle the Cable Car (Houghton Mifflin, 1997), $16.00. Written by Virginia Lee Burton.

Another oldie but goodie, this book tells the story of the city of San Francisco’s efforts to keep their beloved cable cars running. Illustrations show locations of cable car grips and levers, for kids into the mechanics of things.

Journey Around San Francisco From A to Z (Commonwealth Editions, 2003), $17.95. Written by Martha Day Zschock.

This book is more than just an alphabet book. It also provides a wealth of information about San Francisco locations, interesting to older kids as well as adults. A pelican (sometimes in disguise) serves as your guide—which is especially appropriate on the “Isolated Alcatraz” page, since the island was named after pelicans.

Earthquake in the Early Morning (Random House Books for Young Readers, 2001), $3.99. Written by Mary Pope Osborne.

Here’s one for the older kids—an adventure that teaches a little about the history of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. It’s part of the Magic Tree House series, so if you or your child is a stickler for order, you might want to start at the beginning, before jumping to this one—number 24.

Pets are members of the family, so why leave us at home when you go on a vacation? If you plan in advance, bringing Fido or Fluffy along on your road trip will be a breeze.

Here’s a checklist:

• If your pet hasn’t traveled by car longer than a short trip to the veterinarian or a nearby park, consult with your pet’s vet about your travel plans and ask for their suggestions. They know your pet and any medical issues it may have, so can offer specialized advice.

• Get your pet microchipped. It’s a quick process that injects a teeny capsule under their loose skin. I barely felt it—probably because I was focused on the cookie held in my vet’s hand. If your dog or cat gets lost while on the road (or even at home), shelters can use a scanner to get your contact information, in order to reunite you with your buddy.

• Bring along important medical information, such as a vaccination history, notes on allergies and the vet’s phone number. Throw in any medications your pet is taking regularly, like flea and tick or heartworm prevention. If it’s your dog or cat’s first long road trip, consider asking the vet what you should do in case of motion sickness.

• Pack well. Remember food and water (and bowls!), plastic bags for cleanup, favorite toys, a carrier if necessary, and a spare collar (with ID tags) and leash.

• Before you leave, make sure your destination (whether hotel or family’s home) is pet-friendly. It’s always easier to make alternate arrangements before you hit the road.