Hotels: Hyatt is the latest chain on sale

Don't get me wrong. I love Thailand. And I enjoyed taking the 13-hour overnight train from the capital of Bangkok to the northern town of Chiang Mai. I would recommend the same trip to other travelers. Compared with flying, the overnight train reduces your impact on the environment, lets you see the sunrise over pretty rural mountains, and spares you the cost of a night's lodging. A first-class private sleeper car only costs $33 each-way. (Tickets can't be booked directly online, but you can book at the main train station in Bangkok or through a travel agent.) Having said all of that, I was astonished that the only bathroom in the car for the "first-class" guests didn't have a toilet seat. Ordinarily on a trip, I'm fine with a squat toilet. But this one was on a moving, rattling train. It was a bit humbling. Which leads me to remind you about our magazine's True Stories section. It's the place where you can share your strange encounters, heartwarming tales, and funny anecdotes—the likes of which only seem to happen when you travel. So do you have a good story? Submit yours today! The best response we receive between March 26, 2009, and April 17, 2009, wins a three-night all-inclusive trip for two to Los Cabos, Mexico, courtesy of Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa and Los Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau. The prize includes airfare and is valid from July 2009 to July 2010. See contest rules, here.

Paris may be feeling the economic pinch right now, but the outward signs are subtle. Unlike New York, where you'll find "recession specials" frequently advertised, Paris has yet to slap many sale stickers on its rooms and restaurants. That said, there are two promotions running now that have significantly lowered the cost of eating well in Paris. The first comes from Guy Savoy, whose eponymous restaurant is often cited as one of the best in the city (18 Rue Troyon, 17th arrondissement, +011-33/8-26-10-13-07). He’s offering to let any teenager aged 15–17 years eat for free when accompanied by two paying adults. This is limited to one freebie per visit, but it could still save you hundreds of euros on a special-occasion meal. For those who can't splurge on the set menu (the cheapest is €275/$360), the chef is offering a similar deal at his other three Paris eateries. Le Chiberta (3 rue Arsène Houssaye, 8th arrondissement, +011-33/1-53-53-42-00) is a swish modern-design restaurant, Les Bouquinistes (53 quai des Grands Augustins, 6th arrondissement, +011-33/1-43-25-45-94) is a crowd-pleasing bistro, and L'Atelier Maître Albert (1 rue Maître Albert, 5th arrondissement, +011-33/1-56-81-30-01) specializes in rotisserie meats. At these three (much cheaper) eateries, Savoy has also lowered the age limit: Any teenager from 12–17 years eats free when accompanied by two paying adults. The second promotion comes from Châteaux and Hôtel Collections, a group that manages more than 500 swank hotel and restaurant properties in France. From now until May 15, their La France Re[Cuisinée] promotion lets you eat lunch for only €28 at a selection of restaurants across the country. In Paris, that applies to two very good restaurants from acclaimed chef Alain Ducasse: Aux Lyonnais (32 rue Saint-Marc, 2nd arrondissement, +011-33/1-42-96-65-04) and Benoît (20, rue Saint Martin, 4th arrondissement +011-33/1-42-72-25-76). It also includes L'Assiette (181 rue du Château, 14th arrondissement, +011-33/1-43-22-64-86), a bistro that has the local foodie crowd raving. I haven’t yet been to "the plate," but a promotion like this is sure to get me moving. MORE Our Affordable Paris series of blog posts

We recently published Bret Stetka's fun story, "Drink Like a Local in 6 Beer Cities," which covered some locales you would expect, like Portland, Ore., and some you might not, like Salt Lake City. The Brooklyn section of the article mentioned three bars, and I thought I'd recommend another option for anyone thinking of visiting my home borough: Brooklyn Brewery. Bret mentioned that you can get Brooklyn Brewery's beers at Beer Table, but you can also go right to the source. The brewery is open on Saturday and Sunday from noon until 6 p.m., and beers are $4, or six for $20. (Those are great prices for New York City.) There's also a free 25-minute tour on weekends that covers the history of the brewery and the beer-making process. According to Lysandra Gibbs, the brewery's marketing manager, the tours at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. are a lot more crowded than the ones at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., so plan accordingly.

The Sahara Now Selling Three-Foot Tall Beers for March Madness. Only in Vegas: the Beer Tower holds 15 beers—perfect refreshment for those tense NCAA basketball games. [hotelchatter] Great moments in airline signs: No Furby on board. Qantas is not a fan of the cute but annoying toys. [Upgrade: Travel Better] 'West Side Story' revival opens on Broadway. The reviews are in for the show, directed by Arthur Laurents, who wrote the original book. [NewYorkology] My new favorite airplane activity. Keep the little ones occupied with this fun sticker project. [cookiemag.com] Royal Caribbean goes all 'Big Brother'. The cruise line identified 50 people who have written favorable comments about it on various websites, offering them perks if they keep saying good things. [gadling.com]