The city of Oslo is converting 80 municipal buses to run on biomethane captured from human waste, a novel, if somewhat disgusting, approach to cutting CO2 emissions and meeting Norway's ambitious plan to be carbon-neutral by 2050.

Beginning in September, the two sewage treatment plants in Norway's capital will collect methane, a byproduct of the microbial process that breaks down sewage, and pump it into city buses. City officials say the switch will cut fuel costs and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by both the treatment plants and the buses.

"Oslo aims to be one of the most environmentally sustainable capitals in the world," project manager Ole Jakob Johansen told the Guardian. "Using biomethane makes sense. Not only would the biomethane otherwise be wasted, but the reduction in emissions per bus will go a long way to achieving our carbon-neutral target." Biomethane advocates say using the wonder gas — keep those jokes to yourself, please — for fuel not only improves air quality, it can turn rural communities into alt-fuel producers. California's pro-biomethane camp claims collecting methane from the state's 1.7 million dairy cows would produce eight billion cubic feet of methane a year, the equivalent to more than 150 million gallons of gasoline. Of course, that's less than half the 390 million gallons of gasoline the United States sucks down each day, but it's still nothing to sneeze at.

Poo-to-pump fuel may sound gross, but it isn't like there are guys in hazmat suits shoveling raw sewage into gas tanks. Biomethane is produced during a four-phase process called anaerobic digestion that uses microorganisms to break down everything from human waste and leftover food to lawn clippings and stuff swept from the slaughterhouse floor.

Until now, much of the methane produced by Oslo's sewage treatment plants was flared off into the atmosphere, releasing about 17,000 tons of CO2. But with the city concerned by a big jump in transportation-related air pollution, which has climbed 10 percent since 2000 and contributes to more than half of the country's annual CO2 emissions, officials decided to capture the stuff and burn it in buses. It's a net-zero carbon equation because the carbon originally came from the atmosphere, city officials say. Even when you account for the electricity used to make the gas, the switch will save 44 tons of CO2 per bus per year.

Setting up the initial infrastructure required for biomethane production ain't cheap, but the gas that gets produced is. Bean counters in Oslo say that on average biomethane gas will be €0.40 ($0.50) cheaper per liter than diesel, while conversion will require only minor modification to the buses.

And it turns out Oslo has more than enough sludge to work with. The city's two sewage plants can crank out enough biomethane to power all 80 of the buses involved in the trial. Should the program succeed, it will be expanded to all 400 city buses by producing methane from household and restaurant food waste.

Illinois residents, take heart: there are places on earth with governors more outlandish than yours. Blago might have had the ethical fortitude of Boss Hogg, but at least he traveled in tasteful private planes and chauffeured SUVs. Apparently, such relative restraint is unheard of in one Russian Federal District just north of the nation of Kazakhstan.

An unnamed Siberian governor decided it would be a good idea to convert a 1970s Soviet high-speed ferry boat into a personal luxury watercraft. "The time of reconstruction, including the development of the project was just six months!" gushes exoticboat.ru, a build time that's a tremendous feat considering what the boat used to look like when it was a passenger ferry.

The bad news: The economy shows few signs of improvement. The good news: Our world is still as interesting and entertaining as ever. To strike a happy medium between saving and traveling, book one of the great deals below.

All prices are per person unless otherwise noted. See "The deal," "How much," and "When" for details about associated taxes, fees, and travel restrictions. Note that "How much" is our best estimate of what the trip will cost and that taxes and fees can vary based on point of departure and travel dates. Deals are subject to availability, so confirm before booking.

New York City

The deal: The boutique Buckingham Hotel's "SupercalifragilisticexpealaSavings Package" is perfect for the family: It includes a two-night stay for four people in a deluxe one-bedroom, four tickets to Broadway's Mary Poppins, and a CD of the show's music. Amenities include high-speed internet and a 24-hour fitness center.
How much: Starting at $798.
When: Whenever "Mary Poppins" plays (show dates are scheduled through July 5).
Typical cost for a similar trip: Around $1,160, depending on show seats.
Find it: www.buckinghamhotel.com/specials_and_packages/super_package.cfm or tel. 888/511-1900.

Las Vegas

The deal: JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa's "Kisssable Getaway Package" is the perfect way to show your love this Valentine's Day. The one-night stay includes accommodations for two in a deluxe guest room, a three-course dinner for two in Ceres restaurant, complimentary access to Aquae Sulis Spa, and an arrival amenity of champagne and chocolate kisses. Note that the resort is located in Summerlin, a 20-minute drive from the Strip.
How much: $199, not including tax.
When: Offered Feb. 12 to 15.
Typical cost for a similar trip: $349, not including tax.
Find it: www.jwlasvegasresort.com or tel. 877/869-8777.
Promotion code: PKGV

Paris

The deal: AMA Waterways' 14-day "Europe's Heartland Cruise" starts in Paris and ends in Prague with stops in Bernkastel, Wurzburg, and Bamberg. It includes three nights in Paris hotels including daily breakfast, seven cruise nights in an outside stateroom, all cruise meals, unlimited wine, transfers between boat and hotels, two nights in Prague hotels including daily breakfast, a daily sightseeing program, bicycles to use, and all local taxes.
How much: From $3,199 with no airfare; from $3,949 with airfare to France (based on double occupancy), not including a $98 port charge.
When: Departures from Apr. 22 through Oct. 29.
Typical cost for a similar trip: About $500 more.
Find it: www.tourvacationstogo.com/tour.cfm?npid=13556&nr=df3 or tel. 800/510-4002.

London

The deal: Experience Tours is offering a Wimbledon package that includes a reserved seat for one day at the championships, a luxury one-night stay with daily full English breakfast, return transfers from Southfields Underground Station to the Championship Club, an information pack containing a one-day London Travel Card, and admission to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.
How much: From $858 (based on double occupancy), including tax.
When: Book and pay by Feb. 15 for travel between Jun. 22 and Jul. 5.
Typical cost for a similar trip: About 30% more.
Find it: www.keithprowse.com or tel. 800/669-8687.

Los Angeles

The deal: The Ayres Hotel Manhattan Beach is offering discounted rooms on January weekends; a one-night stay includes breakfast, use of a fitness center and swimming pool, and internet access.
How much: $99, double occupancy.
When: Weekends through Jan. 31.
Typical cost for a similar trip: $149.
Find it: www.hotels.com/hotel_ayres-hotel-manhattan-beach-lax_216606.html

Miami

The deal: The new Epic Hotel's grand-opening package includes one night's accommodations for two in a deluxe room, daily breakfast for two, and a free dessert with the purchase of an entrée in Area 31 restaurant.
How much: From $209.
When: Book by Jan. 23 to stay through Mar. 31 (blackout dates: Feb. 13-15).
Typical cost for a similar trip: More than $500.
Find it: www.kimptonhotels.com/landing-pages/promo_epichotel_2008.aspx or tel. 800/546-7866
Promotion code: EPIC

Hong Kong

The deal: Cathay Pacific's All Asia Pass includes roundtrip airfare between Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York to Hong Kong and up to four other Asian cities within 21 days.
How much: $1,499, not including tax.
When: Mon. through Wed. departures through Dec. 1.
Typical cost for a similar trip: Up to $3,000 or more.
Find it: www.cathayusa.com/offers/AllAsiaPass

Rome

The deal: Sceptre Tours' six-night all-inclusive journey to Rome, Florence, Naples, and Pompeii includes round-trip airfare, upscale hotel accommodations, private airport transfers, most meals, and two days of guided sightseeing in Rome.
How much: $1,799 (based on double occupancy).
When: Through Feb. 13, 2009 (departure dates from Feb. 14 through Mar. 31 cost slightly more).
Typical cost for a similar trip: Upwards of $2,400.
Find it: www.sceptretours.com/vacations/rome-all-inclusive or tel. 800/221-0924

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

The deal: Riu's two Cabo resorts are all-inclusive, with buffet restaurants, nightclubs, a pool bar and sports bar, internet cafe, tennis courts, and fitness center - and they're offering an extraordinarily good deal.
How much: $102 per night.
When: Book through Jan. 30 to stay between Apr. 13 to 30.
Typical cost for a similar trip: Up to 30% more.
Find it: www.riu.com or tel. 888/RIU-4990.

What would you expect to pay for accommodations in a palatial, elegantly decorated suite in one of London’s most famously posh neighborhoods? One that occupies an entire floor of a regal Victorian building, just a cobblestone’s throw from ritzy boîtes, exclusive restaurants, and one of the world’s most glorious antiques markets? And one that allows you to entertain your own guests—buzzing them inside for cocktails with a private doorbell, as you would at your own apartment? Perhaps $300 a night? $400? How does $160 a night sound? It’s true: staying at Main House, an intimate boutique property in Notting Hill—one of the more expensive neighborhoods in Europe, if not the world—is almost cheaper than staying home. And it’s not the only hotel of its kind. For those who know where to look, there are actually lots of petite, extraordinary, wallet-friendly lodgings (where low prices reflect the property’s modest size, not a deficiency in style or a low-econo

Chic boutique lodgings—for under $250 a night—in the world’s most lavish metropolises

After a day of navigating the mazelike streets of the ancient Indian city of Udaipur, you and your travel companion are experiencing sensory overload. The colors and sounds of this Rajasthani city—where women perform their daily ablutions at the edge of Lake Pichola, children dive off the ghats (stone steps) for early morning swims, and muezzins’ calls to prayer drift across the rooftops—are undeniably breathtaking. But with hawkers plying you from every corner shop and aggressive monkeys leaping into your path, you’re craving a little privacy. How perfect, then, that your exquisite boutique hotel, Udai Kothi, is just moments away. Within minutes, the two of you will be cooling off in the serene rooftop pool, or snuggling together in your room’s private window seat with views over blooming gardens. You’ll be able to bask in each other’s company—and the sweet knowledge that your romantic getaway is costing you only about $100 a night. For those of us feeling today’s economic pinch (for example, the 75 percent of kayak.com users who recently reported that price is their major consideration when planning a trip), the idea of rushing off on a romantic vacation may seem like an improbable luxury. But it is possible—as long as you find the right hotel. And while there are lots of deals and packages out there to choose from, in many cases the best bet is to keep things small.

A Tuscan wine estate, a secret Caribbean beach resort, and eight other idyllic retreats for under $250 a night.

Cruises are directly associated with the leisure activity of cruising. It refers to traveling, staying and living in a ship, with all kinds of luxury. Cruises are associated with seas and oceans, but river cruises are also getting popular. The ships sail through exotic locations, while the people enjoy themselves in the atmosphere, with full luxury and comfort. The ships or large boats in certain cases of river cruises are equipped with beautifully decorated cabins.

These cabins are provided with beds, toilets and other things for convenience. There are facilities for doctors, nurses, and other emergency services. The food is one of the best of its kind, and is prepared keeping different tourists in mind. These cruises are available all through the year, and cover different locations in the world. Today almost all the developing countries in the world, with a coastline provide the facility of cruises. Many of these cruises are booked for a longer period, and can extend up to a few weeks. Exploring the oceans and seas in a luxury cruise is one of the best holidays that a person can desire.

Today cruising has become a popular holiday for many people around the world. Cruises are available for several destinations, but the most popular destinations are Singapore, Australia, Sri Lanka, South Pacific Islands and the Netherlands. On the western coast the popular cruise destinations are Gulf of California in winter and the islands of Washington State in summer. Cruising has become very popular in America.

There is a huge rush for Central America Cruises along the Pacific coast. Here the climate is humid with lush vegetation. Here the tourists also get the opportunity of scuba diving, or can traverse the Panama Canal. River cruising is gaining popularity, as sea and ocean many fear cruising. In the United States the river cruises is a real treat, as the boats sail through the scenic locales of America.

The cruising season begins in March till May and again from September to November. Humans knew ships since very long time but deep sea traveling was not much popular. These were thought to be suitable for sailors and other travelers. With the passage of year's man started becoming adventurous and fearless and slowly started navigating the deep seas.