Mexican airline woes and more

Skyrocketing fuel prices are rocking Mexican airlines, leading to steep fare increases, route cutbacks and what some analysts fear could be the end of low-cost air travel in Mexico, with some of its 14 carriers going under. At greatest risk are Mexico's new low-cost airlines that entered the market in 2005, causing traditional airlines to lower ticket prices and bringing thousands of first-time fliers into the skies.

Ranking travelers

Compared with travelers from 20 other countries, Americans are the most generous. They are also the most likely to try local food and to make an effort to use foreign words and phrases, according to a recent survey conducted for Expedia.com. Then again, the more than 4,000 worldwide hoteliers polled also say that Americans are the worst-behaved and the most likely to complain and to leave behind a messy hotel room. They are also, along with the Chinese and the Russians, the least likely to be fashionably dressed. (The most fashionable? Italians and the French.)

Beijing hotels cut rates

Some hotels in Beijing have slashed their rates by 10 to 20 percent or more as expected high demand for the Olympic Games, which begin Aug. 8, has not materialized. China has ratcheted up security for games, which has included tighter visa rules for foreign travelers, even if they hold Olympics tickets.

Seattle Times news services