Starting this Thursday, Newark Liberty International airport will be unveiling a new line of X-ray machines that will replace the older machines that date back to the 1980s.

The new TSA machines will provide a 3-dimensional look inside carry-on luggage.

Supposedly, these newer machines will also reduce the number of manual bag checks that currently take place, hopefully making the security check points for passengers move along much more quickly.

These machines are already present in 72 airports around the U.S., including JFK and Laguardia.

Iceland Air just announced discount flights to a number of popular destinations in Western Europe from New York City. Flight price is $399 for roundtrip flights, but does NOT includes taxes and fees, which can cost an additional $200 per ticket.

Must book before July 20th (this Monday)

Flight Prices from New York to Europe on Iceland Air:

Reykjavik from $399*
Amsterdam from $399*
Frankfurt from $399*
Paris from $399*
London from $399*
Glasgow from $399*
Manchester from $399*
Oslo from $399*
Stockholm from $399*
Copenhagen from $399*

For flights to the UK and Germany, this isn’t a particularly good deal, as I’ve found plenty of cheap flights to London, Glascow, Frankfurt, or Berlin for under $600 over the last couple of months, but for the Scandinavian countries especially, Iceland Air could be your cheapest airlines.

The cost of travel once you get to these countries though is a whole different issue. The cost of standard items in Sweden and Norway especially can be quite high.

Starting in late August, and going through September and October, both Taca Airlines and Copa Airlines are offering one-stop flights to Lima Peru from JFK airport.

Flights are about 10 hours each way, and have quick layovers either in Costa Rica or El Salvador.

The $490 flight price includes all taxes and fees, and flights leave on multiple days of the week, so you can even fly in and out on the weekend, and spend 9 days in Peru, while only taking 5 days off of work.

Most people head straight for Machu Picchu once they arrive in Lima. Though another big draw is Cuzcu, as well as Lima itself, which is filled with culinary and historical highlights.

There are a number of different routes to get to Machu Picchu from Lima. Most people go from Lima, to Cuzco, to the closest town which is called Aguas Calientes.

There are also some backcountry routes to Machu Picchu, including the classic Inca Trail.

So, in one weeks time, you can either take public transportation to Machu Picchu and see many historical higlights along the way, or you can go on a four day hike to the top, then take public transportation back.

Either way, your flight will cost you under $500 roundtrip, saving you time and money for your trip.

In late August, there are a number of last minute flights to Athens Greece from New York City for $691 roundtrip including all taxes and fees.

Some of these flights are even direct.

Flights are being offered by both British Airways and Air France. I have found a few flights for even cheaper, in the $630 range, but these often require longer layovers, and only pop up here and there.

$691 seems to be the going price currently for all Late August flights, which can be one of the best times to visit the Greek Islands.

The weather is still very hot, and the seawater can be particularly warm, but there won’t be as many crowds as July or early August.

That being said, there still will be some crowds there, and it won’t be completely quiet, which can make a vacation at this time perfect.

Greek Islands 101

Most party goers head straight for Mykonos, Ios, Santorini, Rhodes, Kos, or Korfu, though most Greek Islands consider themselves a more than adequate place for beaches, discos, and drinks.

For less of a party vibe, try visiting Crete or Kefalonia

Here’s some good information on the Greek Islands, with details on the different Islands and how to travel between them.

Ole. All fall, US Airways is offering the cheapest flights to Puerto Rico from NYC for $225 roundtrip including all taxes and fees.

Puerto Rico is consistently one of the cheapest places to fly to in the Caribbean, as many airlines fly here. In addition to US Airways, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, American Airlines, AirTran, and Continental Airlines all fly to Puerto Rico from New York for under $300 round trip.

The cheapest flights to Puerto Rico have a short layover either in Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, or Atlanta, depending on the airline.

Direct flights to Puerto Rico form New York tend to be about thirty dollars more, and are offered by JetBlue, Continental, and Delta.

Once in Puerto Rico, most people head either straight to the beach or straight to the rain forest. There are plenty of eco vacation packages available and Puerto Rico has some of the best surf in the world.

For certain dates in July and August, and for most of September and October, roundtrip flights between New York and Quito will cost $447 including all taxes and fees.

Flights are with Copa Airlines and have a quick layover in Panama City. Flight time is about nine hours each way on most flights.

Its easiest to find the cheapest dates by going to Sidestep, then plugging in the airport codes for New York (NYC) and Quito (UIO) and seeing which dates pop up as the cheapest.

What to Do in Ecuador:

Many people think of Quito as a jump off point to the Galapagos Islands, yet there is no shortage of additional sights and adventures in Ecuador. Portions of the Amazon jungle are in Eastern Ecuador, plus there is the Avenue of Volcanoes (some of which can be seen from a plane), The Devil’s Nose Train, Quito, and the colonial town of Cuencia.

Interesting note, though only 2% of the Amazon Jungle is located in Ecuador, this 2% contains one third of Amazonian species. Trips to the Ecuadorian Amazon are only a day trip away from Quito.

Flying to the Galapagos:

Many people will catch flights to the Galapagos straight from the Quito airport. Ironically, these flights can cost as much as the flight to Ecuador in the first place, going for about $400 dollars roundtrip. Details.

Flights to London from all major US cities are finally going down in price, and New York isn’t being left off the list.

Starting in mid-August, many major airlines are starting to offer discounted direct flights between London and New York City.

I’ve found some flights for as cheap as $479, but most flights are regularly priced at just over $500. The cheapest flights tend to fly on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays.

What’s great about these latest discounts is that are being offered by multiple airlines too, so there’s less chance of a price hike. Currently, American Airlines, Delta, Iceland Air, and Kuwait Airlines are all offering direct flights to London from New York City.

One final note on flights to London, there is usually a fairly large airport fee for just flying into London, so a listed price of say $200 each way, can often cost quite a bit more than that.

Air India is offering discounted flights to India for under $1000. Continental Airlines as well as a few others have also announced discounts, but Air India is consistently the cheapest over the next couple of months.

Some of these flights are direct, and some have a quick layover in Delhi.

For a flight to India, this is a nice alternative to having to endure two 10 hour legs.

I’ve always thought that India was too hot in the summer to visit, but after having checked some average weather stats, that appears to not be the case. Maybe in the South, it will be a little hotter, but Mumbai average weather isn’t too bad.

Between March and October, its the humid season in Mumbai, but the temperature will hover just under 90 degrees.

Mumbai is also supposed to have some of the best street food in the world, and as recently as a year or two ago, Anthony Bourdain said that visiting the slums isn’t too dangerous.

But you’ll have to find out for yourself.

Both Delta Airlines and American Airlines are offering roundtrip flights to San Jose Costa Rica from LaGuardia airport for $339 roundtrip.

If you want to save 10-20 dollars there are a few other discount flights available, but they will take 10-14 hours each way rather than 7-8 hours.

I’d probably spend the difference in the airport terminal anyways, so I think these flights are the best deal.

$339 is consistently the price to fly to Costa Rica on many different days, especially in August. Delta flights have a quick layover in Atlanta. American Airlines flights have a quick layover in Miami.

Once you arrive in San Jose, you can book a private van ahead of time to take you to most parts of the country. Van service usually costs about 100 dollars American for a four hour ride to either the East coast, West coast, or into the Costa Rican cloud forest.

Both Costa Rican coasts are full of activities. The East coast tends to have more of a Caribbean vibe. If you are traveling for more than a week, I’d suggest spending a couple of days in the Costa Rica cloud forest, easily accessible via Monte Verde.

While there, you can visit a coffee plantation as well.

Come September, flights to Paris from New York finally go down in price. I’ve found one-stop flights on Swiss Air for $562. Flights lay over in Geneva for an hour or two, which is slightly out of the way, but it will save you 150 dollars in flight costs.

Direct flights between Paris and New York go for about 700 dollars around this time.

Keeping an eye on all these flights, I think flights to Paris are due for a discount one of these days, but I haven’t seen any fare sales yet for flights to France this summer.

And What Can You Do in Paris?

Some people call it the most romantic place on earth. I consider it a great jump off point to the rest of France, as well as neighboring countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain.

My personal favorite part of France is in the South. One of the coolest places I have ever traveled to is Cassis, a little fishing village about eight miles to the West of Marseilles, also along the coast.

Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Avignon, and Nice are all beautiful as well.

You can catch a ride on the TGV - one of the fastest trains on Earth (literally) - to Marseilles from Paris , which will take you about three hours.

I wish the US had these bullet trains.