TRIP TIP

Save a seat on Greyhound For $5 more per ticket, passengers can choose and reserve a seat on a Greyhound bus. The priority seating program was introduced in November and expanded to more than two dozen departure cities in December. The reserved seat upgrade must be purchased in person at the departure terminal, even if you bought your ticket online. Priority seating is available up to 30 days in advance and up to 45 minutes before departure, but you must be prepared to board 20 minutes before departure time. Priority seating is available on the Minneapolis-Chicago route.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

REAL DEAL

Two free nights in London British Airways last week launched its popular London for Free promotion, offering two nights' free hotel at select three- and four-star hotels in central London when purchasing round-trip airfares between the United States and the United Kingdom. Round-trip airfares begin at $454 between Chicago and London. Comparable airfares are available from all 19 British Airways U.S. cities. Prices are available through 11 p.m. Thursday. Travel is valid Tuesday through March 23. Significant restrictions apply and are published at the website, www.ba.com/january.

PRIME NEWSWIRE

MEDIA WATCH

Saveur's 100 favorites Food from New Mexico to Salzburg turned up on Saveur magazine's quirky list of 100 "favorite foods, restaurants, people, places and things." This is the 10th annual list of 100 picks from Saveur, which describes itself as an "epicurean travel magazine." Kudos went to New Mexico road food, including the San Felipe Pueblo Restaurant 20 miles north of Albuquerque; the inexpensive Westernized Indian food served at Hare Krishna temple dining halls, called Govinda's; the light and elegant fare of restaurants in the Salzburg, Austria, area; Cincinnati chili (a meaty topping served over spaghetti); the grocery sections of Britain's Marks & Spencer department stores; the chefs of Montreal, and the culinary delights of Maine, including classic diners such as the A1 in Gardiner.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ON DISPLAY: CHICAGO IN MAY

Science museum green home A three-story, fully functioning "green" home is going to be built on the campus of Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. Museum officials say the house will showcase the latest innovations in renewable resources and smart energy consumption. For instance, guests will be able to see how wastewater from the shower and bath can then be used for toilets. The 2,500-square-foot home is expected to be open to the public for nine months beginning May 8. It will be the basis for an exhibit called "Smart Home: Green Plus Wired."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

THIS JUST IN

West Palm Beach, directly Sun Country Airlines has launched the only nonstop service from Minneapolis/St. Paul to West Palm Beach, Fla. In December, the St. Paul-based airline started flying two days a week to the south Florida destination, which is near Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale. Last week, it increased the service to Monday through Friday (www.suncountry.com).

KERRI WESTENBERG

BOOK BRIEF

Getting to know China The subtitle of "China A to Z" (Plume, $16), an informative and much-needed book, sums it up nicely: "Everything you need to know to understand Chinese customs and culture." Good for anyone going to China for business or pleasure (and even armchair travelers), the book features nearly 100 brief entries, alphabetized by subject, on topics ranging from body language and hand gestures to public displays of affection. It's a whirlwind cultural primer.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

WEB WATCH

The holiday effect Ever get stuck in Poland on Nov. 1, All Saints Day, unaware that the Polish take the holiday seriously? The country shuts down. It would have been good to know about World-Calendar.com and TimeAndDate.com. World-Calendar lists holidays for about 70 countries in English, French, German, Japanese and two forms of Chinese, simplified and traditional. TimeAndDate has more: calendars, yes, but even better, it has time all over the world and can help you calculate the best times to call so you won't wake someone out of a sound sleep.

LOS ANGELES TIMES

TAKE THIS

W.Va.'s 2008 travel guide West Virginia's 2008 state travel guide includes feature stories, suggested itineraries, an events calendar and background information on the state's nine regions. Information on accommodations, campgrounds, restaurants, parks, shops, galleries and museums is included, along with phone numbers and websites. Order a guide through www.wvtourism.com or call 1-800-225-5982.

ASSOCIATED PRESS