Can you imagine that. A recent Travel Industry Association survey discovered Americans like to visit family during Thanksgiving and Christmas time. But what HOTS did find interesting is that people between the ages of 18 and 34 and those 55+ enjoy visiting relatives more than middle-aged Americans. Likely it’s because people in these age groups don’t have to bundle the kids into the car or onto a plane. It goes without saying: Holiday travel is easier if you don’t have to worry about everyone else.

People are posting their apartments and houses online for thousands of dollars for a week’s stay to see Obama get inaugurated. HOTS thinks people are better off staying at home at watching the festivities on TV. D.C. winters can be freezing and with more than 1 million people expected to come into town, HOTS thinks it just might not be worth the effort.

HOTS saw that with all the attention paid to the canine leanings of the new Obama White House, the Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C., is looking to play a part in the selection and help out a local canine rescue at the same time. The hotel seeks guest opinions on an entirely new kind of presidential preference poll, that of “Windy City Woof.” For every vote cast on the breed and suggested name of the dog, the hotel will donate $1 to the Washington, D.C. Animal Rescue League, and the poll will stay open as long as it takes the Obamas to pick a pup. What a nice way to participate in the softer side of Washington. HOTS does hope the choice of a new canine-in-chief also has the softer touch – not the yappy-ness of the current occupants, Barney and Miss Beazley, who seem weary of the White House lawn and eager to spend carefree days roaming the Crawford ranch.