Ideally, hotels are subject to many rules, regulations, and regular inspections of the sanitary state of their accommodations -- the latter sanctioned and paid for by the Department of Agriculture. Now these inspections will be halted due to budget cuts. But not to worry, as "All currently licensed hotels, motels and bed-and-breakfasts have been inspected." The $300,000 that used to fund this program annually has now been shut down, and the hotels in the area are going to be left on their own to determine how clean they'll keep their rooms.

2009 already enjoys considerable hype as the year of the travel deal. Free flights to Phuket, dropping hotel rates -- it's a veritable boondoggle. If you've got the cash, there will be deals. But where shall you go? Here's a brief list of up-and-coming hotspots for 2009 travel, and of course, we have a few choice words to add.