This week's senior travel deals include some amazing New York City travel deals - hotels, restaurants and attractions, so locals can play, too - as well as free cruise fare for one child traveling on Crystal Cruises with two adults and a free winter lecture series at Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Head over to the Senior Travel Forum to see the senior travel deals and discounts for the week of December 18, 2009.

CNN is reporting that a judge has blocked a planned strike by British Airways cabin crew. According to the British Airways website, the strike ballot was invalid and so the airline brought its case before the courts.

While your holiday travel plans are now safe from a work stoppage, the issues between Unite, the trade union in question, and British Airways have not been resolved. Future work stoppages are always a possibility; be sure to keep up with the latest news concerning your air carrier.

Scottish airline Flyglobespan has ceased operations and canceled all flights, according to BBC News. Several thousand passengers have been stranded and over 100,000 passengers booked on future flights must now revise their travel plans.

If you have booked a trip on Flyglobespan, visit the airline's website for information about your tickets. Customers who paid by credit card or Visa debit card may be able to get refunds, as may customers who booked a package tour through the airline or purchased travel insurance.

You can also call the airline's helpline at 0871 271 9000 (from within the UK) or 44 141 332 3233 (from outside the UK).

Sometimes small museums hold amazing collections. The United States Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, Maryland, offers visitors a glimpse into America's past. You can see a land survey drawn by President George Washington, an incredible collection of ship models, items worn and used by President Carter, Senator John McCain and other famous Academy graduates, and this battle flag.

Oliver Hazard Perry had this flag made after his friend and fellow naval officer, Captain James Lawrence, encouraged his desperately fighting sailors with these words, even though he was mortally wounded. Perry took the battle flag with him to the War of 1812 naval engagement now known as the Battle of Lake Erie, defeating a British squadron and achieving lasting fame. Commodore Perry's battle flag is one of the United States Naval Academy Museum's most famous artifacts.

Take a photo tour of the United States Naval Academy.

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CNN is reporting that the trade union representing British Airways' cabin crew personnel has voted to strike from December 22, 2009 through January 2, 2010.

According to information posted on British Airways' website, the airline plans to announce strike-related schedule changes as soon as they are finalized. Meanwhile, British Airways is asking ticketed passengers to visit the website and update their contact information. British Airways has also posted detailed ticket change information.

Photo © Kenton Jacobsen

It happens every year. Just as the holiday season gets under way, winter storms arrive and create travel delays.

On my last trip, I was one victim of an early winter storm in Houston, Texas. The earliest snowstorm ever recorded caused dozens of flight cancellations; I re-booked my flight, waited in the airport for several hours and then spent over two hours on my airplane in the de-icing line.

When you're traveling by air during the winter months, it's a good idea to plan for weather delays. Our winter air travel tips will guide you through this process, from choosing your itinerary to waiting out the storm at the airport.

Photo © Daniel Barry / Getty Images

This week's senior travel deals include a free night's stay in New York City if you book two consecutive nights in participating luxury hotels, a great rate at a Hilton resort in Huntington Beach, California, Air France's latest airfare deals and information about Wright Plus 2010, an exclusive Frank Lloyd Wright house tour event in Oak Park and River Forest, Illinois.

Head over to the Senior Travel Forum to see the senior travel deals and discounts for the week of December 12, 2009.

I traveled to Texas last weekend and brought my laptop and cell phone with me. Normally, I would have used my laptop until the battery died and thought nothing of it, but Houston had its first (and earliest ever) snowfall last Friday and I ended up spending 12 extra hours in the airport. Needless to say, I appreciated the opportunity to recharge my laptop.

I've also taken my electronic devices to remote mountain towns in West Virginia, Canadian log cabins and German villages. On occasion, I've left everything at home and traveled device-free. Each time, I've asked myself whether the hassle of taking my laptop and cell phone was worth the benefit of keeping in touch with family and getting work done during my flights.

I can't answer those questions for anyone else, but I can tell you that I've worked out ways to keep my electronic devices safe and charged during vacations and business trips. If you're considering bringing a laptop, PDA or cell phone on your next vacation, take a look at our tips for traveling with electronic devices.

Photo © Nancy Parode

Discount bus line megabus.com announced yesterday that it is offering 100,000 free one-way rides for travel between January 6 and March 20, 2010. Of those free seats, 40,000 will be to or from New York City. A fifty-cent booking fee applies.

To book your travel, you must enter the promotional code "GETAWAY" when you search for your dates and route on the megabus.com website.

If you travel to New York City between January 25 and February 7, 2010, you'll be just in time for Restaurant Week. You can enjoy a three-course lunch for $24.07 or a three-course dinner for $35 at participating restaurants.

I gave the megabus.com booking process a try and free seats are indeed available, although not on every date and route I searched. If you plan to take advantage of this promotion, I suggest you book your travel right away.

Stand aside, soda machines. The ChargeCarte is here!

I saw this electricity vending machine at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. I guess it's one way to keep your cell phone or PDA charged while you travel.

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Photo © Nancy Parode