A recent study by SRI International, a research company specializing in leisure travel trends, confirmed and highlighted the following:

•  81% of consumers are "extremely" or "very interested" in improving their personal wellness;
• Exercising, eating better and visting a spa are the top three things consumers say they are most likely to do to improve their wellness;
• 71% of consumers would be more likley to visit spas if they learned that a series of research studies demonstrated treatments deliver measurable health benefits.

Whatever you call it, I'm not surprised by the data. I have long believed that a growning number of people are pursuing holistic, preventative and lifestyle-based services to improve their well-being, especially women. Looking and feeling great in every area of our lives has become a priority

As a cancer survivor my definiation of "wellness" doesn't conform neatly into Webster's little box. I see wellness as: 1) multi-dimensional and holistic, integrating physical, mental, spiritual and social approaches; and 2) complementary and proactive, not only treating illness, but more importantly, focused on preventing sickness and improving overall quality of life.

However you define wellness, or whether you find the term meaningful or not, the important message here is simply take care of yourself - body, mind, emotions and spirit - and treat yourself right.

The SRI study also noted that there are 289 million active wellness consumers in the world's top 30 industrialized nations, are you among them?

Consumers don't have many rights when it comes to airlines choosing to oversell their inventory of seats on a plane, but the few rights we do have should be committed to memory just in case the unthinkable happens to you.

Getting the maximum compensation if you're bumped will depend on how quickly the airline can put you on another flight. You aren't compensated if the airline gets you to your destination up to an hour late. You can receive up to $400 if you're scheduled to get there between one and two hours late, and up to $800 if you're scheduled to arrive more than two hours late.

Airlines are required to ask for volunteers before bumping anyone, and will offer travel vouchers or other goodies. Before you accept an offer, ask when is the next flight that the airline can confirm your seat. There are exceptions, especially on smaller planes operated by regioanl airlines. Bumping rules don't apply to planes with fewer tha 30 seats, or when passengers are bumped to meet total weight limits including people and bags on planes with 30 - 60 seats.

Let's talk about that great price you got on your ticket. Your bargin hunting skills may get you bumped because some airlines bump passengers with the cheapest tickets, and your odds increase if you aren't a status level member of the airlines frequent flyer program.

Be sure to check-in early, many times the first passengers to be bumped are the passengers who checked in last. You can also lose your right to compensation if you show up late. It's best to arrive at the gate no later than 45 minutes before your scheduled departure. Late arrivals can be stripped of their confirmed reservations.

If you want to achieve a smooth, headache-free trip, consider these ideas:

1.  Contact the Kennel and House Sitter - Do this before you book your travel to guarantee availability. No sense incurring change fees from the airline because Fido can't find a Kennel to take him the week you booked your travel.

2.  Take care of "Stop" Orders and Advance Payments - Temporarily halt regular occuring deliveries and services such as postal mail, newspapers and housecleaners. Notify your neighbor to take in any packages which may arrive via UPS or FedEx. If you want a particular service to continue (such as landscaping or pool service), consider paying in advance if this is not your usual arrangement.

3.  Manage Your Cash Flow - Be sure to get enough cash from you bank before you leave for your trip, that way you won't arrive short on cash and have to search for an ATM. Remember, not all banks have a national footprint and you will pay ATM fees at machines run by institutions other than your bank. Traveling overseas? Purchase a small amount of the local currency ahead of time, and always notify your bank or credit card company to let them know your travel plans. Most keep track of spending patterns and may interpret an unexpected overseas purchase as credit card fraud.

4.  Pack Your Cell Phone Earpiece - Don't leave home without it! Local laws governing cell phone use while driving vary considerably, sometime from one county or municipality to the next; and fines or penalties can be steep.

5.  Check The Weather - We sometime take this one for granted. Of course it is going to be warm in Key West during spring - but there are always exceptions to prevailing weather patterns, especially during transitional seasons. A weather forecast can guide your packing strategy, and failure to check can catch you unprepared.

6. Plan Your First Day - The first day of your trip is ofter lost to logistics and unfamiliar surroundings. Hauling you and your belongings to a resting place, figuring out exactly where you are, and shaking off travel fatigue and jet lag can fry your nerves. Planning ahead will help you make the most of the first confusing day. 

Got more ideas? Tell us about them.

Slow and easy best describes this peice of paradise. Winding country roads, stunning shorelines, beautiful parks and quaint seaside towns call you to become a typical tourist or do nothing al all. We opted to do both.

The lavender fields were in full bloom at Pelindaba Lavender Farm and we had a grand time participating in all of the activities and demonstrations taking place at the 13th Annual Lavender Festival. We also took time to stroll through the 9th Annual Friday Harbor Art Fair to preview original works from local artists.

Whale watching, kayaking, biking around the island and various tours took the group in different directions. My calling was the two books from Oprah's summer reading list which I had packed.

San Juan Island has something for everyone, if that something calls for you to unplug from stress and recharge your battery. If you decide to visit you must plan to have dinner at Coho Restaurant in Friday Harbor. Owner/chef Anna Maria de Freitas and her husband David Pass have created a fabulous dining experience complete with exceptional cuisine, superior service and cozy ambiance. Reservations are recommended. 

Offering our skills and time is a great way to see new places, help people and add a new dimension of meaning to our life. There is no shortage of worthy causes and organizations around the world that could use our help. Call it Responsible Tourism.

Whether it's helping street children in Peru, saving turtles in Seychelles, re-building a South African village, caring for Cambodian orphans, building hiking trails in Iceland's National Parks, coaching sports in Brazil, washing elephants in Thailand, or becoming a travel companion to a blind person on a tour; there are plenty of ways our travel experiences can give back.

The caller and I landed on the perfect trip for her - crewing a tall ship (she's been an advid sailor for over 25 years.)

She departs in January for a two-week sailing adventure in the British Virgin Islands, which will pair her with a physically disabled crew member. She will be coach, mentor, teacher and friend to someone who, like her at one time, is in need of affirmation, encouragement and support.

It appears the two carry-on limit per passenger has done little to stem the tide of passengers seeking relief from airline fees, and I don't see this trend reversing anytime soon. If your boarding zone is three through five good luck.

A recent report showed that in the 1st quarter of 2010, the US airline industry made more than $760 million dollars in revenue from baggage fees, up 33 percent over the same period last year. I can't speak for you, but I certainly would like a 33% increase in my household revenue (a.k.a. income) over the same period last year.

These numbers tell me two things, first, baggage fees are a gold mine to airline carriers and second, passangers are continuing to shell out good money for optional, non-value added charges.

Here are some ideas you may want to consider to reduce or eliminate what you pay in baggage fees going forward:

1. Join a frequent flier program and take advantage of baggage fee discounts or "waived" fees for preferred members.

2. Purchase a luggage scale and use it while packing to spot overweight bags BEFORE you get to the airport.

3. Ship your luggage via UPS or FedEx. This can be a benefit if you are travelling domestically and can establish a discipline of shipping well in advance of your trip.

4. Take Amtrack if service is offered to your destination .... and you have the time. You'll not only enjoy beautiful scenery on route, you can take two pieces of luggage on board (excluding a personal item) and check up to three pieces of luggage...for free!

5. Fly a discount airline like Southwest (two checked bags for free) or Jet Blue (one checked bag for free.)

However you decide to bypass baggage fees I applaude you. If you have more ideas I'd like to know about them. 

Before my diagnosis in August 2006 travel was my passion. It didn't matter if I travelled across town or across a continent, I was happy being on the road. Fighting a life-threating illness can knock the wind out of you and once you enter recovery the realization sets in that you have a "new normal," and it's scary. Well move over scary, I'm determined to make the best of where I am right now.

The funny thing about a crisis is it causes you to move and take action and that's exactly what I'm doing. I'm getting myself together, heading for beautiful and healing places and hope to bring other women like me along. My hope is that our excursions will guide us beyond merely taking a trip. Travel means moving forward, stepping out and walking a path to a place inside that we know is healing.

We hope you will follow us, cheer us on and share your ideas. In addition to journaling about tales from the road, we will also be sharing tips, information and suggestions to make your next trip stress free.

Before I sign-off, tell us about the best place you ever visited.