The year was 1956. The setting: a berth on the old Pan Am Clipper, where Marlene Dietrich was sound asleep. Her sometime, and rather unlikely, lover Yul Brynner happened to be on the same flight. As the plane glided through the sky from New York to Los Angeles, Brynner slipped across the aisle from his berth to hers, and a night of wild love-making ensued.

Over-the-Top, Bizarre, Super-Extravagant, or Just Plain Forgot-Your-Good-Pants Problems? Ask a Concierge

No, not even the best concierge in the world can arrange for a hotel guest to water ski on the lake in London's Hyde Park or to ride Queen Elizabeth's horse -- both requests made to the concierge desk at Hotel Metropolitan London.

When Allison Mitkowski got married in 2005, she and her husband, Ethan, went to the Grand Canyon on their honeymoon, and they fell in love ... with the Grand Canyon. It lasted. They went back in 2007 to do a 22-mile North Rim-to-South Rim hike to celebrate a major birthday in the national park.

Finally, two years later, they decided to move to Arizona to be closer to the natural wonder. They still love the Grand Canyon. But they worry.

It isn't too early to start planning for your sun-drenched winter vacation in the Caribbean. But which island will offer you the best experience? It all depends on your particular travel dreams. Here's a thumbnail guide to help you decide.

Get out your suitcases and don't forget to pack an empty soft-sided fold-up bag to hold your new-found bargains. It's time to go to Europe – to see the sights, to dine and stay in style, and, of course, to shop – grabbing bargains everywhere you go.

Europe is on sale for Americans this summer, making a trip there an irresistible, as well as a practical, vacation choice.