It's one thing to give out holiday cards with donations to a fake charity, and it's an entirely other thing to fake your own daughter's death. A former city school employee has been accused of perpetrating just such an elaborate ruse in order to extend her Costa Rican vacation in March 2010—and she allegedly had her daughters help with the plot. more ›

Say what you will about Anthony Bourdain, but the man certainly knows how to get an even tan. TMZ dug up some nude photos of Bourdain (and his friend/ sous chef Steven Tempel) on vacation in St. Martin circa 1999, rocking the cerveza in an inflatable pool chair. Check out those abs! more ›

The NYPD cop shot in Miami on Saturday "suffered medical complications Tuesday," the Daily News reports. Harold Thomas, 48, had "blood clots developing in his lungs," so doctors are going to be inserting a mesh screen to block the clots. This comes as Miami police have reportedly identified—not arrested—a suspect. more ›

Yesterday morning, a vacation NYC police officer was shot in the courtyard of a boutique hotel in Miami Beach. Police believe the NYPD cop and the gunman (or gunmen) traded at least a dozen shots. A neighbor said, "I was sleeping and then all of a sudden I just heared like six or seven rounds in a row... I thought it was firecrackers, because they just went 'pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop.' And then it stopped, and then you heard 'pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop.'...And then you didn't hear anything." more ›

It's tough being a cop. You're always in harm's way, you're never allowed to nap, and everybody rides your back if you happen to blow a red light en route to Dunkin' Donuts. And now this: the NYPD has a new policy prohibiting officers from picking up extra paid shifts during their paid vacations. From now on, if you're a cop on vacation, you'll have to just stay in your houseboat and pick up one paycheck like the rest of us. more ›

At least 13 DOE employees, mainly teachers and school cooks, have either lost their jobs or paid heavy fines for using their sick days to take paid vacations. According to the Post, one employee even lied about her mother dying so she could take three days off (one of her sick day activities: going bowling). She also accepted a $150 gift from concerned coworkers before taking her little break. But others did not break the rules so brazenly, and believe they shouldn't have been punished. more ›

Enjoying weekends are so much harder for President Obama: His weekend family trip to Maine is drawing all sorts of criticism and analysis. The Republican National Committee even has a website showing what Obama has been doing besides focusing on the Gulf oil spill, while some suggest that the Obamas should be vacationing in the Gulf (thought wouldn't that be tricky, sunbathing while people are dealing with rescuing baby animals?) more ›

In the ultimate economic Catch-22, New York's tourism office is worried that European travelers—who've been keeping the city afloat in these tough times—may stop coming now that the dollar is rising in value. XE currently says one Euro is worth $1.23, the lowest rate in a year. But NYC & Co, chief George Fertitta isn't worried yet, telling Crain's [subscription required], “European visitors who want to experience the energy and excitement of New York City will visit regardless of the cost and distance." more ›

Hey everyone: Happy Earth Day! We know how you celebrated the other green day this week, but how will you go about giving back to Mother Nature (who seems pretty pissed off right about now)? Jauntsetter has some tips on how to green your travels, with a list of carless escapes from NYC. They note, "Not only are all our destinations green friendly, but they're easy to get to (either by train or bus), to get around (public transport or cabs abound), and on the wallet (eliminating automobiles means mitigating emissions and dollars spent on gasoline)." On their top five: Montreal, Fire Island (no cars allowed!), Philly, Montauk, and Hudson (we suggest trying to catch one of Pete Seeger's sidewalk shows in Beacon—which used to happen every 2nd Saturday around 5 p.m.). Where else? more ›

Gov. Paterson should be investigated for possibly misusing $1,800 in campaign funds at a Florida Ritz Carlton, a good government group alleges. According to the Daily News, the New York Public Interest Research Group wants the Board of Elections to study campaign credit card charges made at the resort in 2008 and determine if they were "personal in nature and not appropriately expensed to the campaign." In a long-awaited Times story on Paterson's purported laziness, the Governor said he went to Florida to meet with possible campaign donors, but added: "I have a cousin who's ill in Sarasota. I went down to see my cousin." He also said he spent time poolside, and noted it "was kind of vacation-oriented." more ›

As 200,000 people are estimated dead from Haiti's 7.0 earthquake last week, Royal Caribbean cruise line defends its right to ferry vacationers to private beaches on the island. This weekend thousands of passengers boozed, para-sailed and sunned themselves just an hour's drive from the earthquake's epicenter. And other ships are scheduled to arrive! more ›

Billy Joel's daughter's hospitalization following an apparent suicide attempt occurred just days after the 23-year-old singer returned home from a "dysfunctional family getaway" with her supermodel mother Christie Brinkley, the Post reports. more ›

More than a week into deliberation on the fourth racketeering trial against one-time Gambino boss John Gotti Jr., the jury still hasn't come up with a verdict — and one of its members wants a vacation. more ›

It appears that it will be more difficult for New Yorkers to use the Jersey Shore as an easy, affordable getaway as courts are restricting how much of the beach is available to the public. State legislators had been attempting to free up more beaches along the Shore, but appeals courts lately have been overturning them, leading to what the State Island Advance says "may add up to a confusing summer next year, with people unsure of which stretches of sand they're legally allowed to be on, and when they're allowed to be there. "People come down to the shore, decide to party, get tipsy, go for a swim at 2 in the morning, and if they drown, the first thing their family will do is sue the town because we allowed it," said Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi about laws forcing him to keep his beaches open all night. Let's just hope that the mayor of Belmar doesn't get involved in this again. more ›

Michael Wilson over at the Times wanders the boroughs to talk to working class types whose inability to afford gas or airplane tickets means they're stuck in town all summer. The article devotes over 1,400 to the phenomenon, which, as you no doubt know, is called a "staycation," in the parlance of our times. Wilson's crazy about the portmanteau, in a Seinfeldian sort of way: "...it’s a very fun word to say. Staycation. How was your staycation? My parents went on staycation, and all I got was this lousy T-shirt. Our son-in-law threw his back out on staycation." (Salsa, anyone?) more ›

Reports from the road are that Paul McCartney and his girlfriend/MTA board member Nancy Shevell have been vacationing on Route 66. They're driving in the 1989 green Ford Bronco the two allegedly shared their first kiss in (aw), and eating at fine dining establishments such as T.G.I.Fridays! The two have nearly come to the end of their month-long journey, recently at a stop in Texas the Beatle played "Hey Jude" on harmonica for a 4-month-old boy named after the song. The couple are also subject to a rumor that they'll be marrying sometime soon in the Hamptons. Shevell is legally separated from Port Authority commissioner Bruce Blakeman, and Macca just divorced his 2nd wife, Heather Mills, to the tune of around $50 million. more ›

According to New York's Daily Intel, former governor Eliot Spitzer, his wife and three daughters will be traveling to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia for a 10-day vacation. A spokeswoman confirmed the trip (though not the countries they are visiting) said it was daughter Elyssa's idea, so we expect Eliot to avoid the red light districts. more ›