Lighthouse Golf Group partner H.G. 'Skip' Smith and Prime Sites USA Golf Course division director Mike Kahn team to sell Red Eagle Golf Club in Eufaula, Ala. on Sept. 8.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin, Fla., is operational and open for business, including accommodations, dining, retail, golf, amenities and services. Sandestin sustained no structural damage from Hurricane Ivan, which made landfall last Thursday.

By Rich Steck & Judi Janofsky
wheretogonext.com

Nothing like a long flight squeezed into a seat that's next to the bathroom, won't recline and is out of range of the movie screen.

We were reminded about how to avoid such a sorry predicament by our friends at the Fontayne Group's Travel Takes newsletter (www.fontayne.com/takes.html). We also had told Where To Go Next readers about it in our November 24th issue (http://wheretogonext.com/ newsletters/2003-11-24.php).

It's a web site called SeatGuru.com. Based on the premise that the right seat can make (or break) the in-flight experience, Matt Daimler started SeatGuru.com back in 2001. Looks like he was on to something. Three years later, the site is the number-one place to look for inside tips on where to sit on 21 different airlines, from JetBlue to Qantas.

SeatGuru is more than just a chart of an airline's leg room - it tracks which seats recline, which ones have power ports, best seats for seeing the in-flight movie, even which ones are closest to the bathrooms or galley. Seats are color coded so you know instantly what's good and what's not (and why). Move your cursor over a seat on the diagram and a text box explains its features (or disadvantages). Take SeatGuru's advice and you'll arrive at the gate ready to request a specific seat assignment or to change an already assigned seat.

To use SeatGuru, all you need to know is what kind of plane you're on. Most online travel agencies will show you the plane type you'll be flying when you're making your reservation. You also can check the airline's web site or call them directly to find out what kind of plane you're booked on.

For economy class fliers, two airlines stand out above the rest. The back half of JetBlue's planes, and American's "More Room in Coach" planes have more leg room all around, so says the guru.

For more wisdom and seat maps for 21 airlines, check in at www.seatguru.com/.