Where on earth do you turn for trustworthy travel tips? Ferne Arfin, About.com Guide to the United Kingdom, has scoured the About Travel kingdom to gather Practical Pointers from the Travel Pros.

Whether you need to figure out what to pack, how to obtain a last-minute passport, or want to know how to save money at mealtime, you'll find a wealth of information on these and other topics in this collection of smart travel tips.

_{© Photographer's Choice/Getty Images.}

I've always been skeptical of the words "free vacation," believing that what it really means is an interminable, high-pressure timeshare presentation combined with a night or two in a mediocre hotel. Or that the vacation is free — but the taxes, resort fees, high-priced meals, exorbitant activity and minibar charges, and gratuities to every employee in possession of a palm to extend are anything but free.

The good news: There are some genuinely free vacation offers. The bad news: You have to be the one picked to receive the prize of a free vacation from among the thousands of people who try to win.

The Web's Best Free Vacation Contests
Enter now — what do you have to lose?

_{One lucky couple will win a trip to Florence, Italy. Image © Susan Breslow Sardone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Do you love someone who's eager take a honeymoon or romantic getaway with you but hates to fly? One option is to plan a driving vacation. But gas is so expensive....

Here's a better idea for a no-fly vacation: Book a cruise. Cruises basically offer all-inclusive pricing. And the best part is, with so many cruise ports in the USA, you can probably find one within a few hours' drive from where you live.

Find the nearest cruise port to start planning your no-fly vacation today.

Also See:

• Choose the Right Cruise
• Cruising for Romance
• How to Afford a Cruise

_{Holland America's Zuiderdam © Susan Breslow Sardone.} 

For generations, honeymoon couples have been drawn to beautiful, dramatic, thundering Niagara Falls. And now one local entrepreneur is planning a honeymoon museum there. If you have memorabilia you would like to contribute, click on the previous link.

Like many unique and popular places, Niagara Falls has grown touristy and crowded. Still, everyone should see Niagara Falls at least once in a lifetime. To make the most out of your honeymoon or romantic vacation at the Falls, also see:

• Niagara Falls, Canada Lodging
  Hotels on the Canadian side tend to be more modern and luxurious than those in the USA.
• Niagara Fallsview Casino
  Featuring a 30-story hotel, spa, gaming floor, shopping galleries, restaurants, and wedding chapel.
• Niagara-on-the-Lake
  Just a 20-minute drive upriver from Niagara Falls, this scenic little town has all the charm that Niagara Falls lacks.

My advice: On your honeymoon or romantic vacation, definitely stop and see the Falls, have a romantic dinner at a restaurant overlooking this earthly marvel, spend perhaps one night in a hotel with a view, then head north to experience the charm of the area.

_{Image by Vincent Sardone.}