More Americans are visiting New Zealand than ever before, with arrivals up 5 percent from 2005 to 2006. Tourism New Zealand speculates that one reason may be increased flights by Qantas Airways and Air New Zealand. Another reason, according to Tourism New Zealand vice president Bruce Lahood: Visitors like going to a place where you can do a lot of different things in a short period of time, from dining and shopping a sophisticated city to exploring rugged countrysides. More than 225,629 American vacationers visited New Zealand in 2006.

— Wanda A. Adams

TECH

GOOGLE ON THE ROAD

Oops, on the way to the airport you forgot to confirm your flight departure time. No worries.

Simply text Google by using the shortcode 466453, which spells Google on most phones, and enter the airline (United Airlines is ua, for example) along with your flight number. Google will respond with the latest departure and arrival time, via a text message to your mobile device.

Google with www.flightstats.com now distributes flight status reports and other airline information. Text delta, for example, and back comes Delta Air Lines' reservations number. The service is available for flights departing or arriving in the United States, and standard text messaging rates apply. You can also access driving directions, weather forecasts, translations and currency conversions. Try it out at www.google.com/sms/ for a list of options and directions.

— Chris Oliver

ALASKA

GET MORE THAN A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW

Bird-viewing trails are popping up all over the country, but Alaska is ahead of the nest. Instead of identifying just the hot birding spots, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game's full-color guide to the Kenai Peninsula Wildlife Viewing Trail is a driving route linking 65 prime locations to see whales, bears, moose, beavers, seals and other animals, including birds, on the peninsula. Travelers can buy it at locations on the Kenai Peninsula.

Another new trail is the Alaska Coastal Wildlife Viewing Trail, which links 75 viewing spots using the Alaska Marine Highway system as the core route. Nine brochures are available on the route's ferryboats and online, allowing travelers to watch for wildlife along the Inside Passage and in certain port communities. Download the guides at www.wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov.

— Chris Oliver

TOP TEN

BEST TRAVEL MOVIES

The best movie locations for 2006, according to Budget Travel magazine:

1. "Marie Antoinette" (France, London and Geneva, Switzerland)

2. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" (St. Vincent, the Exumas, Grand Bahama, Soufriere on Dominica)

3. "Russian Dolls" (Paris, London and St. Petersburg, Russia)

4. "A Good Year" (France)

5. "Miss Potter" (England)

6. "The Painted Veil" (China)

7. "The Holiday" (England and California)

8. "The Da Vinci Code" (England, Scotland, Malta and France)

9. "Sketches of Frank Gehry" (Spain)

10. "The Illusionist" (Czech Republic)