We don’t care who you flash from which balcony, how many beads you collect or the number of frosty, pink hurricanes it takes to render you senseless and befriending a lamppost in the French Quarter. But if there’s anything we do care about, it’s that you plan accordingly before you head down south to the nation’s biggest party. A few things to keep in mind for Mardi Gras 2008:

1. You can skip Mardi Gras and still go to Mardi Gras. Contrary to popular belief, the actual day on which Mardi Gras falls (this year, Feb. 5th), is not necessarily a day you need to include in your travel plans. The party officially ends the Wednesday after Mardi Gras - Ash Wednesday - and the town shuts down to recover from a month of parades, balls and parties. The best time to hit New Orleans for a taste of Mardi Gras debauchery is basically anytime during Carnival season, which officially began this past weekend and continues through Feb. 5th. While the weekend prior to Mardi Gras (Feb. 1-4) is prime time for those who love crowds, booze and packed bars, many who want to sample the sites and sounds of New Orleans without all the mayhem go in the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday. Check the Mardi Gras 2008 Calendar, and you’ll see that there are parades and events every weekend in January.

2. Grandstanding can make all the difference. Unless you’re a college kid or someone with really solid legs and a strong bladder, standing alongside the parade route can get real old real fast. Not only will you have to fight your way through the crowd every time you need to get a drink or use the bathroom, but you’ll have few bathroom options save porter potties and those in packed bars and restaurants (which are almost always reserved for customers only). Especially if it’s your first Mardi Gras or you’re traveling with kids, we suggest forking over the extra moolah for grandstand access during at least one of the parades. For example, you can get $50 tickets to the Bacchus Parade (Premium Seats via Ticketweb) that will land you general admission access to the grandstand at the Intercontinental New Orleans Hotel on Sunday, Feb. 3rd. You’ll have access to bathrooms, as well as food and drink (for an additional fee, of course). Many local hotels and restaurants offer tickets to special viewing areas for watching parades, so do some research online before you go.

3. Book activities and restaurant reservations in advance. If you want to participate in any guided tours, excursions or other activities or dine at a specific restaurant during the Mardi Gras season, it goes without saying that you should buy tickets or reserve your table well in advance. Don’t wait until you arrive - you may be disappointed.

4. To really see New Orleans, you don’t have to see Mardi Gras. Yes, Mardi Gras is one of the most unique, exciting and culturally important annual celebrations in the country. That said, it’s also the most hectic time of year in the Big Easy. But New Orleans has the same festive spirit, party-hardy bars, colorful markets and great restaurants all year round. It’s worth keeping in mind that, while you may miss the big bang that is Mardi Gras, visiting at another time of year will definitely be more economical and may result in better service at restaurants, shops and hotels.

Carnival season in New Orleans officially kicked off on Sunday. And as of today, Mardi Gras 2008 is officially 28 days away. If you’re planning to hit the Big Easy for all the fun leading up to Feb. 5th, now’s the time to lock in hotel reservations. We’ve done some checking around to find the best hotels for different tastes and budgets. Note that many require full payment upfront for stays the weekend prior to Mardi Gras.

Where to stay for Mardi Gras 2008 if you want…

Bourbon Street Accommodations

It ain’t cheap, but the Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans is one of the best options for revelers who want to be right in the middle of the French Quarter action and want a moderately upscale place to rest their heads at night (hint, bring some earplugs…staying here means lodging in the part of the city that never sleeps). Double and King rooms are still available for the weekend prior to Mardi Gras. When we checked, rates were $339/night.

A Taste of the Traditional

For lodging that features a dose of classic New Orleans, Hotel Monteleone is hard to beat. The hotel offers many of the amenities you’d find at a similarly-priced chain (fitness center, rooftop pool, on site dining), but ups the ante with rooms outfitted in grand window treatments, ornamental moldings, prim sitting areas and marble bathrooms. Spa junkies can escape the rabble rousers in the French Quarter with a trip to Spa Aria, which offers luxe treatments like the signature Caviar Facial. Ready to splurge? Try one of the decadent suites, named after Southern literary heroes like Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote and Eudora Welty. When we checked rates for the weekend before Mardi Gras, we found a variety of guest rooms and suites available with rates starting at $279/night.

A Party Pad

With nightly rates for the weekend starting at $129 and a location near the French Quarter, the Baronne Plaza Hotel is our pick for budget-minded travelers who care more about having a convenient home base than top-notch service, flashy interiors or high-end amenities.

A Full-Service, Business-Class Hotel

Even if you’re hitting N’awlins mainly to party, you may still want all the creature comforts of a business-class hotel. Bed down at either the The Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel or the JW Marriott New Orleans Hotel, and you won’t be disappointed. Both hotels are located a few blocks from the action, but the real draw to these picks is knowing your room will be comfortable, clean, attractive (good design, marble bathrooms) and that amenities like high-speed Internet, room service, fitness facilities and concierge assistance are there when you need ‘em. When we checked, available Double and King rooms for the weekend were $279/night at both hotels. Note: you’ll have to prepay in full for accommodations during Mardi Gras weekend.

Jetsetter Digs

For travelers who put aesthetics on par with practicalities like location and amenities, the W Hotel New Orleans is the way to go. With touches like the outdoor courtyard area, pictured here, plush in-room furnishings, private poolside cabanas and sleek interiors befitting urban sophisticates, this destination won’t disappoint those willing to pay for looks. A recent check showed rooms for the weekend before Mardi Gras starting at $339/night.

New Year’s Travel Resolution #1: Earn More Miles

Earning miles should be something every traveler does every single day. Even if you only fly a few times a year, you can still collect a nice stash of miles and points to use towards future travel through activities you’re already doing. After all, you probably purchase something almost every day of your life. And with chances to earn miles as plentiful as they are these days, savvy travelers can accrue miles for almost every dollar they spend.

Plenty of people are aware that they could, technically speaking, earn miles from any number of sources. But the hassle of signing up for mileage programs, credit cards and mileage promotions often stops them from maximizing miles earned from everyday activities. But once you’ve completed the initial sign-ups, earning miles is more a matter of habit than anything else. It’s like the traveler’s version of diligently (or obsessively) clipping coupons. You just have to get into a routine. And there’s no better time to adopt a new habit than the New Year.

Here are five tips for making 2008 a mega-mile year:

1. Register, register, register. If you aren’t already signed up for loyalty programs with every airline you could possibly fly, then it behooves you to take 45 minutes - say, on Saturday afternoon, or whenever else you get a free minute - and just go through the drudgery of entering all your information into the various sites. Sure, you may think it doesn’t make sense to register for a loyalty program with an airline you may or may not fly with this year, but it’s far better to have your account set up in advance. When you’re actually in the process of buying a ticket, it’s disruptive to have to stop and create an account with an airline. In some cases, taking the time to register for a loyalty program can mean you’ll lose the very fare you’re trying to buy. Many people just figure they’ll sign up later. But then they don’t - and that means lost miles. If you only want to register for a few loyalty programs, WebFlyer has a great, useful side-by-side comparison chart that rates all hotel and airline programs.

2. Replace regular credit cards with reward cards. If your top priority is travel, then one of the best ways to earn free airline tickets is through a reward credit card. Compare available programs on a site like CreditCards.com, which has a Hotel and Travel Rewards Credit Card comparison section. Which card you choose should depend on your priorities. Some companies - Capitol One is an example - require travelers to redeem miles through their own travel agency, while others will just transfer the miles to you and let you book travel using any online travel agency or airline web site. In the former situation, you have less flexibility when redeeming miles, but you can avoid restrictions like blackout dates that you’d face using other programs. Do some research and decide what works best for your needs.

3. Ask your bank about debit card reward programs. Some banks (Chase, Bank of America, KeyBank, to name a few) offer account holders the opportunity to earn miles for purchases made with their debit cards. As someone who often tries to pay for things using a debit card instead of credit cards, I have personally found this to be one of the most effective methods for earning miles. I earn miles whenever I use the card - even if it’s for groceries.

4. Earn miles for everyday purchases. Travelers can earn miles in some unexpected places. Safeway, for example, offers its Club Card members different ways to earn miles for various airlines. Check out the Safeway Club Card Airline Miles page to see what sort of programs are available in your area. In addition to mileage promotions offered by individual retailers, travelers can earn miles from pretty much every store under the sun at Shop4Miles.com. Check out the store list, and you’ll see what I’m talking about. One drawback to this site is that it isn’t partnered with every airline. If your preferred airline isn’t part of the program, then you can always earn miles for everyday purchases through each airline’s online shopping portal (most of the major ones have them). Just make sure you read all the fine print before completing a purchase - you’ll probably have to log-in or, in some cases, enter a code of some sort before you buy anything in order for the miles to hit your account.

5. Search for available promotions whenever you shop for travel. Before you buy an airline ticket, rent a car or book a hotel stay, check out MileMaven to find current promotions associated with your travel plans. This is a great site that allows travelers to search for promotions. It’s common for travel companies to offer miles to customers who pay with certain credit cards. You may also find limited-time bonus mile promotions that you might otherwise have missed.

Found another sale with appeal for frequent travelers. Jan. 11-24, boating and outdoor sports supplier West Marine (one of my favorites for boating gear) is knocking 15 percent off electronics, boats and kayaks, as well as up to 40 percent off other merchandise from fishing supplies to footwear (in case you hadn’t noticed, I’m on a sale kick right now). So if your consumer sensibilities weren’t totally sated by the holidays, you can satisfy the urge to spend, spend, spend with some great deals on gear that will come in handy when the warmer months kick in.

Outdoor retailer Peter Glenn is having an online post-holiday sale that could help you feel, perhaps, just slightly less guilty about buying winter sports gear midseason. So if you’re heading to the mountains in ‘08, you can grab brands like Spyder, Sport Obermeyer, Nils, Bogner and Orage for 30 to 50 percent off. Shipping is free for orders over $99. One of my favorite sale items: the Orage Kai Pinstripe Insulated Ski Jacket, pictured here. It features a highly functional waterproof hardshell with cool details like the offset zipper, windflap closures in a cheeky, faux-formal pattern. Regularly $370, the jacket is on sale for $299.

Caution: depending where you happen to be driving this holiday season, you could be in for fines for some totally surprising reasons. Learn where you might get a ticket for driving too slowly, leaving your animal in the car alone or neglecting to shut your car door in a timely fashion in the CNN story below:

Do You Know Why I Pulled You Over?

Sometimes, the best gifts are the small, cheap and simple ones. Case in point: the rubber water bottle holder with carabiner attachment. One of these little gizmos made its way into my stocking this year, and I’ve got to say that it’s one of my favorite new possessions. Perfect for frequent travelers, the rubber holder attaches to the neck of a plastic bottle and then clips onto the outside of a backpack, handbag, jacket, etc., where it keeps your fluids easily accessible and - now this is crucial - apart from water-averse items that might be living in said backpack, handbag, jacket, etc. It’s also a great option when for travelers hitting the slopes or hiking during warmer months - I’d much rather have my water bottle hooked to the outside of my gear than taking up valuable space inside. Cost: $3.99

Ah, the fine art of traveling with kids. It’s an activity we suspect many of you will engage in over the next 10 days. In that spirit, we asked travel expert and mother of two Tracey Rosen to drop some serious knowledge just in time for the holidays. As mother of six and a half year old Kayla and three and a half year old Zachary (pictured) and president of the L.A.-based public and media relations firm Productivity, Tracey travels frequently – often with her kids and husband Andrew in tow.

Here, she offers tips for traveling with children, reveals what’s in her diaper bag and shows how a child’s drawing might just be the perfect antidote for in-flight rudeness.

How often do you travel with your children?

We probably travel with our kids every other month; however sometimes of the year, we find ourselves out of town two weekends within the same month, so it probably averages out to more like once a month.

What’s the best time of day to fly when you’re traveling with small children?

Believe it or not, we prefer to fly the red-eye flights if we are flying more than five hours. Our kids are accustomed to sleeping anywhere when they are tired, and this way they sleep through the flight and we don’t give them an opportunity to get antsy on the plane.

When a red-eye is not an option, we’ve found that an early morning flight is best because our kids can get excited about doing a particular activity when we arrive and they are usually on their best behavior in fear that they’ll lose that first activity if they act up on the plane.

What are your tricks for keeping kids occupied on long car trips?

I’m embarrassed to say this, but the DVD player in our car has been wonderful. Besides keeping the kids occupied watching a movie we found that it helps my son focus on something in the car and avoid getting car sick (as opposed to staring out the window and getting nauseous).

I also have each of my kids bring three toys that can’t roll around the car and can be played with in different ways, such as a doll with changeable outfits, an activity book with a Magna Doodle attached, etc. And of course, healthy snacks that don’t make a huge mess if they fall.

But the most important thing is that anything you bring for the kids needs to be in arm’s reach. My daughter usually stashes her toys in a small back pack, and I found a product called the Kiddie Kangaroo that fits on my son’s car seat to keep his toys and a water bottle within reach.

When you travel with your kids, what are some must-have items you always stash in your carry-on?

I always make sure that I have fruit snacks, raisins, and their favorite snack of the week, as well as Tylenol and Benadryl, a small activity book, crayons, a small toy or doll (I bring Word Spin or Sudoku for my older child), their blankets for snuggling, and a mini first-aid kit like the Medibuddy that can fit in my purse or the diaper bag (this became essential after my daughter fell in the airport on the way to St. Thomas and was bleeding, but we didn’t have time to leave the terminal to go to first aid to get a band-aid).

When my kids were in diapers, I always brought two extra than what I absolutely needed, a full stash of wipes (for diaper changes, hands, spills, etc.), and a change of clothes. Now that my son is potty training, I bring one or two extra sets of clothes and a Ziploc bag in case he has an accident.

The goal is to bring the largest diaper bag that can fit under the seat in front of you so that it is always in arm’s reach (and make sure you know where everything is so you don’t have to spend 10 minutes searching for a pacifier or snack if your baby/child is fussy).

What advice can you give parents traveling with children who encounter rude treatment from other passengers and employees on airlines?

Make sure that you’re not ignoring your kids and that any disgruntled travelers around you know that you are concerned about their comfort and are trying everything in your power to keep your kids calm, comfortable and entertained.

When my daughter was two and a half, a passenger behind us kept giving me dirty looks and making comments every time my daughter opened her mouth (and she wasn’t being loud). So I had my daughter draw a picture and then turn around with the cutest smile imaginable on her face and tell this older couple that she made it for them. At that point, they couldn’t help but smile and felt guilty that they had made their comments in the first place. Remember that you probably paid the same amount for your ticket as the person next to you and have just as much a right to be on the plane as they are. And if the plane is not full, flight attendants are usually willing to let you move to an area of the plane that is less crowded.

What’s the one piece of travel advice you’d want every new parent to know?

Try to stay calm, prepared, and involve your kids in planning a trip’s activities. Travel in and of itself can be stressful, and that obviously escalates when kids are involved. If you seem stressed, your kids will be aware of it and will most likely feed off of it. By planning everything in advance (but still leaving some room for flexibility for delays or adding a new activity that you didn’t know about), you can enjoy your time together instead of worrying about how to get there or what you are going to do next.

Also if you’re flying, try to book your trip on a 777 or Jet Blue (or Virgin America), because each seat has a television (usually with children’s programming or games) and the rows are wider, which allows your kids room to move around (and not be able to kick the seat in front of them).

At large resorts and vacation destinations, what safety tips should parents give their kids?

- Make sure your kids know your room number and what hotel staff uniforms look like in case they need help.

- Remind kids to stay on pathways and not near bushes or on the other side of fences (avoid falls or coming in contact with small animals or insects).

- Remind them that they can’t go to the pool area or in the pool without an adult that they came with (even if they can swim).

- And don’t let them climb on vanity stools in the bathroom unless you’re there so they don’t slip out from under them.

- And of course, always have a meeting spot that they can remember the name of in case they get lost.

- For the hotel room, most large resorts now offer bed rails for your child, as well as night lights and safety gates if your room has an outdoor area. I always bring outlet covers with me, as well. Either the hotel doesn’t offer them or housekeeping always forgets to keep outlets covered.

Has travel become any easier for parents in the last five years? Are there specific innovations or policy changes you can point to?

I think travel with kids has definitely become easier in the last five years. Hotels are offering more kid-oriented activities - whether it’s a kids’ program where you can drop them off for a few hours or family activities like s’mores roasting or movies by the pool area (my kids beg to go to the kids club and never want to leave).

Obviously, some hotels are more family-oriented than others, so I always look to find out if a hotel is best for business travelers or vacationers and confirm that our room has a bathtub in advance (many hotels are replacing tubs with over-sized showers).

We’ve also found that a lot of hotels have a secret stash of board games and movies available behind the front desk if you ask. You can usually get a good feel of a hotel’s family-amenities by visiting their web site as well.

Best kid-friendly travel snacks?

Fruit snacks, raisins, Gold Fish, and Graham Cracker sticks. Avoid snacks that are sticky or crumble easily. The snack should be healthy and filling enough to hold them over until the next meal but not stuff them where they won’t want to eat their next meal. I also pre-pack everything in snack-size Ziploc bags so they can be re-sealed and each of my kids can hold their own bag.

Let’s face it, traveling with kids can be a major hassle. Why is it worth it?

It’s the memories you create and the look on their faces when they try something new. You won’t take photos of them during a tantrum, so 10 years from now, when you look back at your pictures, you’ll focus on the fun that you had together.

Traveling also helps your kids understand that there is a whole world around them and they can learn about different cultures or appreciate what they have in their lives more.

Your kids also learn about compromising, i.e. going to a museum or a cultural tour in the morning and then in the afternoon going to a park or specific kids’ activity in the afternoon (as long as they help agree upon what the kids’ activity is). But most of all, you experience it together.

You never know what you’ll find when you run across a little cottage in the woods. At Mirabelle Restaurant at Beaver Creek - well known for convincing even the weariest downhill-addled legs to get up and move come suppertime - you’ll discover Belgium-born Master Chef Daniel Joly’s menu, which vacillates between classic French concoctions like foie gras paired with a caviar crepe and black truffles to game-driven offerings with a decidedly American twist. Attention carnivores: Chef Joly’s elk filet with celery fries, turnip and quince compote and a berry wine reduction sauce is not to be missed.

But there’s something endlessly alluring about Mirabelle that goes far beyond the charms of its menu. It’s the kind of place where you’re likely to see co-owner Nathalie Joly casually maneuvering through the dining room, where a prominent portrait of the husband-and-wife team hangs above tables lit with flickering oil lamps. It’s the kind of place where your waiter was likely up before you that day, headed to the top of the mountain and can also likely give you a full ski report after he’s done explaining the daily four-course tasting menu. And it’s the sort of place with a history that precedes high-tech underwear, fancy resorts and the droves of women in furry boots that seem to dominate them these days.

Long before Mirabelle became one of Beaver Creek’s most popular dining destinations, it was, in one form or another, a gathering place for the region’s movers and shakers. According to local historians, the first home erected in the valley way back in the 1880’s occupied the land where the restaurant now stands. The current building’s west wing was built in 1898. The east wing, built later, made the house the largest in Avon, Colo. Its size and prominence made it a social hub for the growing local community.

To be sure, this little mountain cottage in the woods - now dwarfed by mammoth luxury homes and the glitz of nearby resorts - is no longer the grandest dwelling in the land. But we’d dare say the stream of eager guests is much the same as it ever was. Of course, we’re pretty sure our pioneer predecessors weren’t leaving full of lobster bisque and chocolate-laden sweets. Here’s to living in the present…

Over the weekend, I landed in Beaver Creek, Colorado for a little pre-holiday snow. There’s just nothing like downhill in the Rocky Mountains, even if it’s 14 friggin’ degrees. (That, by the way, was the high.) While there, I had the chance to snoop around a bit. Here are my picks for some of the best this resort area has to offer:

Best ski-in, ski-out hotel: For sheer location and proximity to the lifts, the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa can’t be beat. The hotel sits literally at the base of the ski area - not across a road, not via a shuttle. It’s right there. After braving the c-c-cold Colorado temps all day, guests can sidle up to the outdoor bonfire for s’mores in the afternoons or get the blood flowing again with a visit to the Allegria Spa.

Best luxury splurge: Spa day at the Ritz Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. Don’t miss the Grotto, which I blogged about during a visit there earlier this year. Ritz Carlton, Bachelor Gulch: The Grotto on the TravelPost.com Insider

Best airport shuttle service: Colorado Mountain Express. Sure, it’s one of the only options for shuttle transportation to and from Vail-Eagle County and Denver International airports, but it’s a reliable company with friendly service. And it’s much cheaper than hiring a private car service. I also like the fact that the drivers take time to introduce themselves, tell passengers where they are from and offer up insider advice on area attractions and activities.

Best romantic dining: Mirabelle. We’ll elaborate on this pick tomorrow.

Beers with buddies: The Dusty Boot Steakhouse & Saloon. If you’re looking for a place to knock back a few after a long day on the slopes, this cozy little spot is one of the most convenient options. Located in Beaver Creek village, this bar and restaurant fills up in the afternoons with patrons seeking a casual spot to refuel. Wooden stools flank the long bar, which offers frozen Margaritas, a solid selection of beers on tap and even some decent wines by the glass. Eats are typical Americana, Tex-Mex options and on the cheaper side - relatively speaking, of course.

Massage you can actually afford: Simply Massage. While hotels can easily charge over $100 for a 60-minute rubdown, this Avon massage destination prices its hour-long massage at $60 and its 90-minute massage at $90. You won’t find marble soaking tubs, steam showers or body wraps here - just massages. If you’re looking for the full day spa experience, head to one of the resort hotels. But if you’re just looking for a good massage to work out the kinks, this is the place. Same day appointments are also often available.

Best wine shop: Beaver Liquors. Yes, the name is somewhat obscene, and, yes, they sell copious t-shirts flaunting that fact. But head downstairs in this Avon, CO liquor store for an extensive inventory of wines from around the world. Being a fan of the often hard-to-find pinotage varietal, I was please to see a sizable selection of South African wines. The staff is also ready with plenty of suggestions if you need them. Another bonus: Order $100 or more from the store before your trip, and they’ll stock your condo before you arrive.

Where to rent: Christy Sports. This is the ski and snowboard rental choice of many a regular Beaver Creek visitor. And for Internet-savvy travelers (which I assume you are if you’re reading this), the shop offers 20 percent off rentals made online at least three days in advance. And with locations in Avon, Beaver Creek, Vail and other nearby ski resort areas from Breckenridge to Snowbird, you can get service on your rentals pretty much anywhere your mountain adventures take you.