Useful travel writing does more than describe mountain grandeur and appealing cities. It provides the details necessary to formulate a solid itinerary.

Guides across the About.com travel channel are dedicated to providing that kind of content. Every day, they post stories focused on information upon which you can take action.

Recently, I drew upon these deep resources in the creation of a summer vacation travel guide. As the work unfolded, Guides sent me suggestions for links; sometimes I discovered great content on my own that fit the summer vacation theme. I've earned an even greater appreciation for the stellar work of my colleagues.

The result is about 150 links from more than 40 About.com travel Guides. Start with these links and you'll find additional stories. In other words, you should be able to surf your way across the About.com travel channel and plan a great summer trip.

The guide is organized into nine sections:

Summer at the Beach | London's Big 2012 Summer | More Summer Destinations | Summer at National Parks | Summer Events | Summer Cruises | Summer Camping and the Great Outdoors | Summer at the Theme Parks | Summer Vacations with the Family

Don't put off your planning. Get started now and bookmark this guide for further consultation in the coming weeks as your plans take shape.

Here's the latest list of 10 travel deals for this week. Many of these links lead to offers with a very limited shelf life, so if you're interested, act quickly. But don't act so quickly that you miss the fine print. Spring Travel Deals aren't quite so fleeting, and are also worth a look. Among this week's deals: discounts on rail passes for Europe, an on-board cruise savings book and a sale on all-inclusive beach resort stays.

Spirit Airlines got lots of attention this week.

The low-cost airline announced new carry-on baggage fees that are effective Nov. 6. The charge for stowing a carry-on bag in an overhead bin will climb to $100 when arranged at the gate. That's more than double the $45 Spirit currently charges for carry-on bags, and double the $50 checked baggage fee. Spirit was the first to charge a carry-on fee, and Allegiant has since followed.

There was also the story of Jerry Meekins, a veteran who requested a $197 refund from Spirit. Meekins said he was a dying man and doctors did not want him to fly. Spirit refused to bend its no-refund policy. The firestorm of media coverage that followed prompted Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza to release a statement on Friday in which he admitted "I did not demonstrate the respect or the compassion that I should have, given his medical condition and his service to our country." Baldanza didn't break policy, but he did personally refund the $197 and made a $5,000 corporate donation to Meekins' charity of choice, Wounded Warriors.

The strict no-refund policies and a growing array of fees are typical practices for low-cost airlines as they seek to keep their ticket prices as low as possible. Traditional airlines do some of the same things. But that marketing strategy has been blunted by the new USDOT requirement of listing total prices (including taxes and fees) in advertising.

Christopher Elliott reported in the Washington Post recently that the Obama administration's deficit reduction plan "includes increasing the passenger security fee, now between $5 and $10 per flight, to $15, with possible future increases." Americans already pay 17 separate airfare-related taxes and nearly 20 percent tax on their tickets, up from 7 percent in 1972.

Budget travelers need to plan accordingly. When you add up increased fees, strict no-refund policies, new fees, higher taxes and more taxes on the drawing board, the sum could send you searching for a road map.

_{Photo courtesy Spirit Airlines}

Extended stay hotels are not all that common in Europe. Major chain extended stay hotels are even less abundant.

So Residence Inn's foray into two European markets -- a first for the extended stay brand in Europe -- is interesting news. Properties in Munich, Germany and Edinburgh, Scotland are now open.

Extended stay hotels are not necessarily designed for budget travelers. The suites tend to cost a bit more than a standard mid-range hotel room. The rate structure caters to people who can spend at least five consecutive nights. But with the higher prices come amenities that offer added value to the trip, especially for budget travelers who like to establish a hub and then make day trips in a region.

Why plan hub travel at an extended stay hotel?

Among the benefits are unpacking only once, getting to know the hub city better, enjoying daily free breakfasts and other perks such as a bigger suite that includes a fully-equipped kitchen and a 24-hour store in the lobby.

The Residence Inn choices of Munich and Edinburgh hold promise for hub budget travelers. Both cities are situated in regions well suited for day-trip explorations. One could easily spend five consecutive nights in either place and see many other cities via day-trip (Glasgow, St. Andrews, Salzburg, Rothenburg and Nuremburg come to mind immediately).

As a jump-start to your hub travel planning, take a look at two features that will help determine if this option fits your budget and how it can work:

• A Seven-Day Hub Travel Itinerary for Munich
• Residence Inn Edinburgh Review