Ski guide to Mount Bachelor, Oregon

Deep powder is standard issue at Mount Bachelor, a West coast favorite that averages 400 inches of snow per season, just 20 miles from the outdoors haven of Bend, Oregon. Framed by towering ponderosas and crackling pines, Bend is home to world-class cyclists, triathletes, kayakers and rock climbers.

Off the beaten path: Unique NYC holiday shops

In addition to seeing the Rockefeller Center tree and decorated windows, many December visitors come to shop. Naturally chain retailers, especially the Manhattan flagships for stores like Macy's, are a big draw. But New York is also full of one-of-a-kind shops and ethnic neighborhoods where you can find unique merchandise in all price ranges.

Levi's guide to Phoenix

My name: Levi
My age: 25
My profession: Server/Delivery Driver/Cosmetology Student
City/town: Phoenix, Arizona
Relationship status: Single 
Sexuality: Gay
Member Name: GaslightMemory

What was the last vacation you took and where did you go?

I took a cross country road trip from Phoenix, to Portland, to Washington, DC, to Little Rock, and back to Phoenix. It was awesome.

Zagat's new guides to US hotels, European dining

Two new Zagat guides offer reviews of hotels in the United States and restaurants in Europe. Zagat's "Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts & Spas 2009" covers 1,001 properties and chains in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, based on input from some 10,000 travelers.

Booking Hotels on a Budget

When the economy was booming, many hotel companies began building new properties. Some of those are opening now, resulting in a 2.5 percent increase in hotel room supply this year, just as demand is dropping by around 1 percent or more, according to Jan Freitag of Smith Travel Research.

"We're going to see a substantial decline in occupancy this year," agreed Bjorn Hanson, an associate professor of hospitality and tourism at New York University's Tisch Center.

Excess supply means opportunities for consumers. Here are some strategies for booking hotels on a budget.

Shaun's Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

My name: Shaun
My age: 28
My profession: Asst. Restaurant Manager
City/town: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Currently reside in Chicago)
Relationship status: Single
Sexuality: Gay
Member name: shaun5961

What are some of the things you love most about Kuala Lumpur?

The culture, Unity and Peace ... love the food! Just love the fact that I could walk out of my house at 2am in the morning and get a nice plate of fried noodles, cooked to perfection.

Military man: Mike in New Brunswick

My name: Mike
My age: 21
My profession: Student, and Military Officer
City/town: Fredericton, New Brunswick
Relationship status: Single
Sexuality: Gay
Member name: rodeo_mike

What are some of the things you love most about Fredericton?

I love how simple it is. Everyone is very liberal minded and open to everyone else. Apparently, according to unknown sources, Fredericton has more gay people per capita than San Francisco. Who knows ...

The painted desert: Cliff's Tucson

My name: Cliff
My age: 29
My profession: Nursing Student
City/town: Tucson, Arizona
Relationship status: Single
Sexuality: Gay, gay, gay
Member name: Bender79

What was the last vacation you took? Where did you go -- and where do you most want to go next?

My last vacation was to New Zealand, loved it so much ended up staying for over a year. Next stop is a trip next summer to Italy and Greece.

Mobile Boy: James

Gay.com member James wrote to us asking for some travel advice. He said he and his partner were heading to Italy for the first time and wanted some tips on local hot spots.

Can you help this mobile boy out?

Here's what James is looking for, in his own words:

"Next spring we’re going to be flying into Rome, spending four days there before taking the train to Florence for a day and then on to Venice for 3 days.  We’re looking for nice but not too expensive places to stay in all three cities.  Since we don’t know where to go we’re open to any suggestions on neighborhoods." 

Moving mountains with Stephen: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

My name: Stephen
My age: 54
My profession: Wandering aimlessly
City/town: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Relationship status: Single
Sexuality: Huh? I'm on gay.com.
Member name: imnotastud

Are any famous people from your town?

Yep we've got NHL hockey, CFL football and so much more. Remember, "Brokeback Mountain" was made in this area.