The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose to the highest level since late November last week, although the increase partly reflects seasonal distortions around the spring holidays.

NPR: US Futures Shave Gains After Jobless Claims Data

And they're supplemented by more spontaneous acts of charity, the kind that most frequently spring to mind during the holidays.

NPR: Feeding the Homeless on L.A.'s Skid Row

Many visitors find spring and summer holidays there to be the best.

CNN: Revolutionary holidays in Williamsburg

Department for Education figures show 0.51% of half-days were missed in the autumn term of 2009 and spring term of 2010 because of family holidays.

BBC: Millions of school days lost to family holidays

In the autumn term of 2008, 0.73% of half-days were lost to authorised and unauthorised school holidays and 0.45% were lost in the spring term of 2009.

BBC: Millions of school days lost to family holidays

Although her family had often visited Dubai for holidays, they had never considered a permanent relocation here until the Arab Spring began.

FORBES: Dubai: The Sanctuary

Margaret Morrissey of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations said parents would be angry because they could not take children away for holidays in term time - yet schools could spring closures on them at the last minute.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Snow shuts schools for second day

The upshot: You'll want to avoid traveling during busy periods, including weekends and holidays this spring and summer, says Anne Banas, executive editor at SmarterTravel.com.

WSJ: Plan for Bigger Travel Delays