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Who woulda thunk it? You hear all this stuff about how much everyone hates Americans, yet we were voted 2nd best tourists in a recent survey of European hoteliers. Of course, the Japanese did beat us by 35 percent. But we were still second. I’m not sure why we’re such good tourists. Our tips and general largesse, perhaps?

And the Best Tourists in the World Are…

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, we are feeling very American today. And what could be more American (for better or for worse) than the Mall of America?

To certain travelers, visiting the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN will sound like the vacation from hell (practically every U.S. retail chain in one location and amusement park rides packed with thrill-seeking, sugar-crazed preteens). But drawing over 40 million visitors a year does say something about a place. For families with school-aged kids, a trip to the Mall of America might very well be the answer to everyone’s prayers (precisely because it’s got practically every U.S. retail chain in one location and amusement park rides packed with thrill-seeking, sugar-crazed preteens). After all, how many teens do you know who relish spending a week trapped in a beach house or cabin with their parents?

For those who still need convincing (like mom and dad), check out our list of 10 Reasons to Visit the Mall of America.

Ah how I love Popular Science. Every time I check the site, there is some interesting gadget or news item that travelers can benefit from. Case in point: A Cell Phone for Beach Days. According to the story, Philips Electronics is working on technology that would link a person’s cell phone location to real-time information about sun intensity and ultraviolet radiation in a particular area and then advise the phone user when to stay out of the sun, what SPF to use and how often to reapply it. Sounds pretty cool. Um, I guess I should say hot. The company says the service could be ready for consumer use in about three years.

Dog Friendly has released its 2007 list of the Top Dog Friendly Vacation Destinations in the U.S. and Canada. Here, directly from the source (click the link above for more detailed destination information):

1. Boston - Take a boat or whale watching cruise. Walk the Freedom Trail, visit Salem and explore history at Minute Man Park. Your leashed dog is also welcome on the subway.

2. Vancouver - Walk the Capilano Suspension Bridge and park. Take a walking tour of Historic Gastown. Take the ferry and visit nearby Victoria and beautiful Butchart Gardens.

3. New York - Stay in luxury at many fine hotels. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Take a walking tour of lower Manhattan. Ride the carriages. Watch a morning show. Shop in many famous stores.

4. San Francisco - Luxurious hotels, outdoor dining, the Golden Gate Bridge, Baker Beach and many off-leash areas. Ride the cable car to the Fisherman’s Wharf area and stroll with your dog.

5. Austin - Visit Zilker Botanical Gardens, catch a horse and carriage ride, dine in outdoor cafes. See the bats leave the Congress St Bridge at dusk. Use the city’s many parks.

6. Portland - Enjoy over 20 off-leash areas, an amusement park and the famous Rose Gardens. Dine at the Lucky Lab. Visit the Saturday Outdoor Market and hike in the Colombia River Gorge.

7. Northern Virginia - Dine or enjoy happy hour in dog-friendly Alexandria. Take the Canine Cruise on the Potomac. Visit outdoor monuments in Washington and Virginia.

8. Orlando - Stay at resorts such as the Portofino Bay and Sheraton World. Take a boat cruise, shop Winter Park, and dine at Sam Snead’s where Jeb Bush signed the doggy dining law.

9. San Diego - Off-leash dog beaches. Stay at Loews Coronado Resort. Shop at dog-friendly Otay Ranch Shopping Center complete with a dog park. Dine outdoors. Visit nearby Julian.

10. Dallas/Fort Worth - Ride a carriage, visit Pioneer Plaza, take a walking tour. Visit Fort Woof dog park and the Stockyard in Fort Worth. Dine on Texas BBQ at outdoor restaurants.

US Airways has announced that it will no longer charge Preferred Members of its Dividend Miles program the $25 fee for same-day standby flight changes. Preferred status is awarded to passengers who accrue 25,000 qualifying miles or complete 30 flight segments on US Airways flights in one calendar.

Dividend Miles Preferred Member Benefits

If you’re planning to stay at several Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion, etc.) this summer, you’ll want to know about the chain’s $50 Gas Credit promotion being offered to Choice Privileges members (free to join).

Travelers can redeem the 16,000 Choice Privileges points accrued from three separate stays for the $50 card.

As with any promotion, there are some details:

- You must book your reservation online or by calling 800-4CHOICE.

- Your stay must be between June 1 and August 16, 2007.

The deal is also being offered for stays at Rodeway Inns and Econo Lodges, but it works a little differently. Guests collect stamps for each night they stay in a participating hotel. Six stamps equals a $50 gas card. Find out more details for the promo rules regarding these two brands at Easy Choice.

Ah, I remember the days when Vincent “Buddy” Cianci, excellent role model for impressionable youth that he was, came to my college campus each spring and sang songs while strumming away on a guitar. While I’ll always remember him for that, most remember the former mayor of Providence, RI as the sort of man that pisses on “colleagues” accused of sleeping with his wife. But what does this have to do with travel?

When Cianci emerges from federal prison later this month after serving approximately five years on racketeering charges, he’s going to be employed at Boston’s Fifteen Beacon Hotel. Apparently he’s going to work in the sales and marketing department, which I’m sure he’ll do quite well at considering his political roots. All I can say is this: If Cianci calls and asks for your support, you’d be smart to take him up on his offer.

Cianci Snags Job at Luxurious Boston Hotel

Look closely, and you’ll see that this is no ordinary map. Instead of museums or major tourist destinations, spas and salons are the main attraction of Shecky’s New York Beauty Map. This full color, laminated (so you don’t ruin it after a few cosmos) map of Manhattan has over 250 beauty venues and points of interest, as well as subway stops and key landmarks. The map’s flip side has contact information for each of the venues listed on the front.

But best of all, this map is free. Shecky’s, an online bar and nightlife guide to major U.S. cities, will send you the map as a gift for registering on the site. In fact, my map arrived just a few days after joining the site.

This month, Lonely Planet launches its new Encounter guidebook series with eight new titles aimed at travelers on short breaks and weekend jaunts to major cities like London, Dublin, Hong Kong and New York. At 6 x 4 inches, the guides are a good size for lugging around the city and include pull out maps and itineraries designed for two- to five-day trips. And along with the regular tourist information, this guide series offers tips, favorite destinations and other morsels from local celebrities (e.g. Craig Newmark in San Francisco).

Introducing Lonely Planet Encounter