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It may feel like summer in much of the country. But the time is ripe for spring skiing (and springtime deals) at North American resorts. The exceptionally mild, snow-free winter has been a pleasure for residents of northern cities accustomed to months of shoveling driveways and piling up layers of fleece before venturing outside. For many ski resorts, though, the past winter was a disaster. Snow was hard to come by, especially in New England. As a result resorts had to make more artificial snow (which often quickly melted away), and many skiers decided to stay home anyway, perhaps to go golfing instead of hitting the slopes. All of this has hit the ski resort industry hard. Now, mountains are desperately trying to attract skiers and boarders to the before time officially runs out on the season. The simplest way to bring in crowds is via major deals on lift tickets. The thinking goes: Skiers will come out for cheap skiing, and hopefully they'll spend a bit of money on lodging and restaurants while they're at it. The discount lift ticket site Liftopia recently rounded up some of the best spring lift pass deals, with prices starting as low as $5.99 per day. Yes, a day of skiing (at Hoodoo, in Oregon) can cost less than a fast food value meal. Arguably just as good of a value is $11.99 for a one-day pass to Monarch Mountain, in Colorado, where a lift ticket normally runs $57. Among the best deals around the country: $5.99 for a one-day pass at Hoodoo in Oregon, a whopping savings of 87 percent $29 for a one-day pass at Mt. Rose, in the Lake Tahoe area, a 44 percent savings $33.99 for a one-day pass at Vermont's Mount Snow, a 55 percent savings $49.99 for a one-day pass at Colorado's Copper Mountain, a 50 percent savings $55.99 for a two-day pass at Vermont's Smuggler's Notch, a 52 percent savings For all of these special prices, tickets must be purchased in advance through Liftopia, and the best prices tend to be available during the middle of the week. Availability is limited. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: 4 Easy Ways to Save on Ski Trips ">Ask Trip Coach: Ski Vacations The 7 Most Dangerous Travel Jobs

Apple products receive lots of free publicity, but other tablet devices are popular, too—especially among budget-minded travelers. Since September, Amazon has shipped more than 4.7 million Kindle Fires, the tablet devices that costs half the price ($199) of the cheapest iPad. Rival bookstore Barnes & Noble also sold a record number of its Nook Tablets, according to a study by market research firm IDC. What are the best travel apps that have debuted since September on the Kindle Fire and the Nook? Here are some picks: KINDLE FIRE Kayak Mobile Debuting last week, Kayak’s app-version of its metasearch website for flights, hotels, and car rentals is powerful, fast, and easy-to-understand. In a nice perk, the app includes airport maps that identify key features, such as ATMs and restaurants. free; Amazon TripIt No more need for a folder stuffed with printouts of hotel reservations, flight boarding passes, and other itinerary information. Now you can store all your info on this app, which relies on the booking receipts you forward to it via e-mail. free, ad-free version recently on sale for $2; Amazon UpNext HD Maps A nice alternative to Google Maps, this tool takes advantage of the interactive touch surface of the Kindle Fire to let you click and see details on a street map of your location, revealing major shops and nightlife spots. Maps appear beautifully on the Kindle Tablet’s seven-inch screen. free; Amazon NOOK TABLET AND NOOK COLOR Priceline Negotiator Hands down the best app for booking hotels on a Nook. It lets you use Priceline’s blind-bidding service or its standard retail rate booking engine, where you know exactly what you're getting.. The app’s especially good for making last minute hotel bookings, with reservations possible until 11 p.m. ET on the night of your stay. free; Barnes & Noble Flight Tracker Track your flight with this app, which will keep an eye on essential info, like delays and gate changes. The app also can help a traveler find an alternate flight in the event you face a cancellation or delay. $0.99; Barnes & Noble The Emergency App Be prepared for any snafu that might pop up by keeping all of your relevant emergency numbers and medication information listed in a single spot. Comes with advice on how to prepare a first-aid kit for various situations. recently on sale for $1, normally $3; Barnes & Noble SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL The Ultimate Guide to Travel Apps Are Airlines Cracking Down on "Airplane Mode"? (37 comments) New Apps Let You Create Animated Photos

In the past year, teams of students, engineers, product designers, computer programmers, and entrepreneurs have been developing prototypes of inventions designed to help travelers take control of their trips. Recognizing a need to update travel gear, innovators have been applying fresh thinking to the design of common items. We here at Budget Travel wish hotels, airlines, and the rest of the travel industry do more experimenting along these lines to improve the travel experience, such as airplane wheelchairs, GPS-powered eyewear, and smarter power adapters. Here are a few examples of promising travel products that recently caught our eyes. Note that these are prototypes and are not yet available for sale. The Skycare Chair This prototype wheelchair is designed by Brian Liang for the specific constraints of airplane passengers. By placing the wheels under the chair, it enables the seat to navigate narrow aircraft aisles. A lever-based system enables a person with limited use of his or her legs to get in and out, plus propel down an aisle. The chair collapses for compact storage. Computerized Eyewear There's a rumor that Google is testing "Google Glasses," eyewear that can overlay on the surface of one lens relevant information about what you're seeing, such as GPS-based walking directions, according to the blog <strong>UPDATE Feb 21.:</strong> <a href=">Big Think. A spokesperson for the company had no comment on its product testing. But whether Google is trialing computerized eyewear or not, it's only a matter of time before some major company finds away to mass produce such high-tech glasses cheaply. UPDATE Feb 21.: The New York Times confirms talk of Google selling these glasses by year-end. Portable Power Socket Anh Nguyen has prototyped a universal power adapter that cleverly adjusts to geographic and domestic locations. Travelers can carry it with them and fit the metal prongs into any region’s cables, with an automatic voltage adapter built-in. Unlike existing "universal adapters," this one would be cute and come with a built-in extension cord, for easy use in hotel rooms. Hey, manufacturers! Stop being complacent. It's time to pay attention to a new generation of designers and prototype mavens. What products do you wish inventors would improve? Feel free to share your insights in the Comments. SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL RIGHT NOW :-) Is This the RV of the Future? New Shoelaces Ready for Airport Security 5 Ways to Keep Your Cords Tidy and Organized

Luggage makers always strive to respond to the growing demand from travelers for lighter and tougher suitcases. Their latest solution is baggage made of an ultra-lightweight yet highly durable material: polycarbonate resin. The big surprise is that hard-sided cases have suddenly become popular again, now that they're as light as soft-sided bags. A 22-inch carry-on made of polycarbonate weighs a mere 4-and-a-half pounds, the same as a traditional soft-sided piece made of nylon, and much lighter than traditional ABS hard-sided material. How light is four-and-a-half ounces? That’s light enough to hold a bag with your forefinger, when the bag is empty. Yet the plastic is still tough enough to avoid getting dented. The glossy material isn’t new: Polycarbonate has successfully been used in motorcycle helmets, bulletproof glass and riot-police shields for a couple of decades now. In 2000, German luggage maker Rimowa introduced the material into luggage. Ironically, travelers were unnerved by how lightweight the luggage felt, worrying that it would prove to be flimsy, and the product didn’t catch on right away. Yet sales of polycarbonate luggage recently began to take off in a big way, according to the Travel Goods Association. These suitcases are replacing old-fashioned cases at higher prices. Even Zero Halliburton, a luggage maker that’s famous for selling aluminum cases, says it is experiencing its strongest sales for its line of polycarbonate suitcases, such as the 19-inch Z-TEX (about $325). Here are a few reasons to explain the current sales boom: Enough manufacturers have designs made of polycarbonate resin now that competition is bringing prices down from $800 a decade ago to as low as $140 now. Additionally, airlines have ramped up their fees for oversize and overweight luggage, so fitting everything into a single compact bag has become increasingly crucial. Changing fashion is another factor. The polycarbonate material is eye-catching, because it can easily be dyed in brilliant colors, such as shiny tomato red, cobalt blue, and gleaming silver. Travelers seem to have become more willing to explore bold colors in their baggage. Black, which was the near uniform color choice of a decade ago, is today mixed with a wider array of hues and patterns, probably for the practical reason of speeding up identification of a bag in a pile at an airport carousel. Budget Travel found a few types of the new luggage that are stylish, lightweight, sturdy and affordable: Samsonite, the world’s largest branded luggage maker, showcases the Gravtec line of polycarbonate suitcases, imprinted with a raised-edge pattern. A 24-inch size model runs was recently for sale at $180 from ebags.com. Britain’s Antler brand creates the Liquis 4 Wheeled Super Lightweight 22-inch carry-on, with a shiny and grooved polycarbonate outer shell in blue, red, or silver, with four multi-directional wheels at its base, recently from $299 at ebags. Rimowa developed the technology to make polycarbonate luggage and today makes some of the chicest models, such as its Salsa 22-inch Globetrotter ($450 recently at Zappos). A zipper joins the two luggage halves in an improbable design, with four multi-directional wheels at the base. All this news reminds me of the movie "The Graduate." Today, adults might tell kids that the future will be in polycarbonates. SEE MORE ON BUDGET TRAVEL RIGHT NOW 4 Most Common Reasons Airlines Lose Luggage Worst Luggage Incidents of All Time Should Airlines Have to Allow One Free Checked Bag By Law?