There are the Hawaiian islands, and then there are the islands that remain under the radar of mainstream travelers. If you’re looking for an out-of-the-way, private destination, check out Travel & Leisure’s compilation of the best secret oases to visit.

Here are just some of the highlights:

• Fan of mystery writer Stieg Larson? Check out Sandön, setting for the wildly popular Millennium thriller trilogy.
• Did you see Mamma Mia? That story was set on the island of Skopelos. Hidden coves, Byzantine churches, and Kastani Beach, featured in the Hollywood movie, will delight.
• Wanna go somewhere where the night hardly arrives? At Breiðafjörður Bay, Iceland, summer daylight shines for up to 21 hours!
• Or travel two hours by plane from Santiago to find the place that inspired the novel Robinson Crusoe. San Juan Bautista houses the Crusoe Island Lodge with rooms made out of recycled materials and wood from the local area.
• But if you want to stay closer to home, Lummi Island, Washington, is a great choice. This nine-square mile island has working farms and fields. Stay at Willows Inn and enjoy chef Blaine Wetzel’s fine cooking.

If none of the above strikes your traveling fancy, watch the T&L slideshow for more ideas.

Could credit cards go the way of the dodo? Many of the industrialized nations around the globe are moving away from traditional credit cards with magnetic strips in favor of embedded microprocessor chips, because they may cut down on fraud. The chip-and-PIN method is the newest smartcard technology, where a microchip is embedded in the credit or debit card. When the customer pays for goods, the card is placed into a “PIN pad” terminal or modified swipe-card reader, which reads and authenticates the chip. The customer then enters a 4-digit PIN that must match what is on the smartcard.

If you’ll be traveling abroad but do not own a smartcard, you may need to depend on ATM machines. Carrying extra credit cards and cash is also recommended. And if you want to use a chip-embedded debit card, you can obtain one for free, but exchange rates are not stellar. Last but not least, notify your bank about your travel plans as some credit companies will freeze your card for charges deemed suspicious or out of the norm.

The chip-and-PIN technology is becoming the standard in Asia, Latin America, and Canada. While the U.S. lags behind, some banks including Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, and U.S. Bank are starting to offer the cards to their customers on small scales.

So if you must fly for pleasure or business, consider these consumer tips provided by SmartMoney.

• For cheapest airfare, Frontier wins, and its ancillary revenue, 3.7 percent of total profits, is the lowest in the industry. This airline charges no more than $50 for ticket change fees, about $75 for pets, and $50 for unaccompanied minors.
• For timely flights, Hawaiian is at the top with a rate of 92.5 percent of flights arriving on time.
• If you’re traveling with luggage, Southwest is the only U.S. airline that allows travelers to check two bags for free.
• For best comfortability, check out JetBlue, whose seat pitch of at least 32″ (and often, 34″) affords more leg room. JetBlue does not skimp on the in-flight entertainment; each passenger enjoys a personal TV in the seatback in front of them, and some flights offer WiFi. Unlimited snacks and nonalcoholic drinks are provided at no charge.
• And what about rewards booking? Southwest beats all with 99.3 percent of reward-booking requests available.

• Lock up — Secure your doors and latch all windows.
• Give your house keys to trusted neighbors — Ask them to check mail, keep an eye out for suspicious activity, and move advertisements indoors; things left at the door alert passersby that no one has been home for days or weeks.
• Unplug — Disconnect small appliances, turn off the water, and turn down the heat to 50 degrees.
• Turn on the lights — Use a timer for indoor or outdoor lights.
• Toot your  horn after the vacation’s over – Save your facebooking and twittering for later; tech-savvy thieves might be reading your news on the internet.

And least but not least, tidy your house and make your bed before you leave. Returning to an organized home is far sweeter than coming back to clutter.

If you’ve never been to the San Juan Islands, plan to make a trip there this spring or summer. Known for its artist colonies and expansive views, the San Juan Islands of late are making a splash with two big-name chefs. Blaine Wetzel, former chef at Noma in Copenhagen, became top dog of the Willows Inn on Lummi Island. Lisa Nakamura, famous for training with the likes of Thomas Keller, opened Allium on Orcas Island.

But the San Juan Islands boast much more than just good food. Big stretches of land are protected from logging and development, and last year, the San Juan Island National Historic Park expanded by 312 acres. In the Olympics Mountains, Lake Quinault and Kalaloch offer cozy rooms with views. Spring specials include storm-watching, breakfast, and access to three major ecosystems (mountains, coasts, and forests) and a million acres of nature.

If global travel is your cup of tea, check out some of the hidden gems on the list like Uruguay, Zanzibar, Budapest, and Kosovo. Bargain hunters can search for sales on websites like Jetsetter and SniqueAway, book airlines tickets on Tuesdays (prices tend to be lowest on that day of the week), and schedule off-peak adventures. For more tips on maximizing your dollars, check out “11 Tricks to Cutting Travel Costs in 2011.”

There are mountains for climbing, and then there are mountains for driving. For weekend travelers who’d rather be in an automobile than in hiking boots, these five peaks are accessible vistas.

• Mount Spokane is located 25 miles north of Spokane in the Selkirk Range. Drive to the top (elevation 5,883 feet) and capture views of Idaho, Montana, and Canada. parks.wa.gov
• Steptoe Butte is 3, 612 feet high in elevation and 12 miles north of Colfax. Spectacular views of eastern Washington. parks.wa.gov
• Mount Constitution is the highest point in the San Juan Islands at 2,409 feet. Located in Moran State Park on Orcas Island, you can get 360-degree views of all the islands. parks.wa.gov
• Slate Peak reigns at 7,400 feet, the highest summit point in Washington that is automobile accessible. The mountain is in the Pasayten Wilderness of the Okanogan National Forest. The road is open July to early October. waymarking.com
• Mount Walker in the Olympic Range boasts views at 2,804 feet above sea level. The road — narrow, gravelly, and steep — is not for the faint of heart. www.fs.fed.us/r6/olympic

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of summer and the travel season. An estimated 32.1 million travelers will head out of town, up from last year’s figure of 30.5 million, according to AAA projections. About 28 million alone will travel by car this holiday weekend.

If you’re planning to drive to your upcoming destination, travel smart with these road trip tips, provided by Couple Money.

• Check out travel sites like Road Trip America, Lonely Planet, and AAA when planning your itinerary. Consider becoming a AAA member to save on lodging and admission to recreation facilities as well as to have peace of mind should your car break down. For $89 (for up to 2 members), you get the basic AAA benefits plus free towing up to 100 miles and additional services.
• Prepare your vehicle for the trip by topping off fluids, inflating tires, and having an emergency kit ready.
• Plan your pit stops by having paper maps and GPS handy. A great road trip includes good eats, so check out RoadFood for suggested diners, drive-ins, and dives.
• Find the cheapest places to refuel. Use your smart phone to access apps like Gas Buddy and AAA TripTik Mobile to compare local gas prices. Drive at a steady speed and don’t haul heavy stuff (with the exception of children of course).

There are hundreds of things you can do every day to save up for the stuff and experiences that are truly important to you. Consider this list of things to do or not to do and cash in on simple acts, most requiring just a few minutes of conscious planning.

• Have a smart phone? Use it to comparison shop before you buy.
• Insulate your home and save big on energy bills.
• Search for online coupons.
• Review your credit card statements and nix the small yet superfluous recurring services you don’t need.
• Brew your own java at home.
• Open and fund your retirement account.
• Negotiate a better deal for purchases and services.
• Pay your bills on time.
• Make a grocery list.

Check out Forbes’ “Twenty-Three Ways Your Laziness is Costing You Money” for the full details.

Elle Decor

With the arrival of the holidays, entertaining is in full gear. The philosophy, mi casa es tu casa, still holds true — nothing makes guests feel more special than being wined and dined in a fabulous home setting. According to Colin Cowie, entertaining maven to stars like Oprah Winfrey, the home dinner party requires vision. Without a plan, the event will fall flat.

Play to your strengths. If you like to decorate, invest your time in that over slaving in the kitchen. Guests won’t criticize your hosting ability if the delicious food they’re eating is not homemade. Make your event, from invitation to dessert, a festive and memorable one by employing Cowie’s tips for the buffet-style dinner party.

• Serve a signature cocktail. Set up a drink station, like the chic lemonade stand shown above, and allow guests to help themselves.
• Set up food stations that allow guests to nibble or feast at their leisure.
• Play an eclectic blend of music, limiting the number of holiday songs.
• Dim the lights and illuminate lots of candles.

The true life of the party is the host, so set up your house the night before and reserve time for primping on the day of the event. A cool and collected hostess sets the right tone for her guests.

Builder Magazine forecasts the coming trends in the 2012 construction world. According to the article, we can anticipate more foreign-based firms entering the building market, an increase in the construction of rental units as well as energy efficient homes, and inclusionary marketing.

Inclusionary or interactive marketing is a business approach that invites customers to interact with web-based information and share that knowledge with friends and family in real time. Pennsylvania-based S&A Homes recently launched their website where home buyers and real estate professionals can peruse property locations and features and then share specific info via Facebook, Twitter, or email. The dynamic website is becoming a keystone of marketing for businesses across the board, not least of them being the real estate industry.

HouseTipper, the Groupon of the home and garden industry, is also relying on the help of consumers. This web-based company offers pre-negotiated deals with developers, real estate agents, property managers, store owners, and other businesses. When the minimum number of purchases is made, the deal is “tipped” and secured. In 2012, more builders and real estate service providers will do business in this platform of interactive marketing. If you plan to hunt and peck in their neck of the woods, then you’re asked to spread the word to your peeps.