In 1997, some airlines put excess baggage in check in an attempt to hasten departures and placate angered flight attendants

(CNN) -- Out the door and on the move, Americans traveled in record numbers in 1997 -- by plane, bus, boat, train and car. And wherever they went, however they traveled, they left their mark.

Airlines were big winners this year, recouping nearly all the money they lost in the early 1990s, said CNN business travel consultant Chris McGinnis. The air travel jackpot had its downside, though -- the travelers who made it happen came on board with luggage on wheels and laptop on arm, trying to make it all fit.

Finally, flight attendants said, "Enough."

"I have seen car engines, I kid you not," said Sheila Fraites of the Association of Flight Attendants. "... and New Year's Eve -- we have passengers that tend to bring their own lamp shades to the party. It's amazing."

So the airlines started getting tougher. Some limited passengers to only one bag, and others got more strict with size requirements, while the FAA decided to re-think its rules.

Travel agents didn't see the good times that record travel brought to the airlines -- a plan to cut commissions forced some agencies to close and others to pass on price hikes to consumers. And many consumers decided to skip the travel agent and head straight for the information superhighway. Traveling in cyberspace, they found, could be the best deal of all -- browsing and then booking for a projected $1 billion.

Hotel rooms, too, took a technological leap, increasingly becoming high tech offices with fax lines, data ports and more. They gave business travelers everything they needed -- except more downtown hotel rooms, which were at a premium for 1997.

"The hotel industry's doing very well, and, for the most part, it's because of the fact that major downtown hotels have been able to charge some of their highest rates ever and get them," said McGinnis.

City hotels were so overbooked that latecomers found no rooms available, and were forced to move to the suburbs. That created more need there, and architects and construction companies responded.

Places like Lebanon and Croatia want would-be travelers to know that war is over and treasures remain to be visited

Business travelers, of course, weren't the only ones looking for a place to stay. A few new locales, some old ones returning to the fold, and traditional vacation destinations were on travel itineraries -- although some stand-bys hit hard times in '97.

In the Pacific Ocean, the Midway Islands atoll -- scene of a major turning point in World War II -- became a wildlife refuge. The people of Lebanon and Croatia tried to spread the word that it's peaceful now after years of war, calling tourists back to their shores.

Other parts of the Middle East may have to wait a little longer. Two terrorist attacks this fall in Egypt not only claimed the lives of tourists, but badly wounded tourism itself -- the lifeblood of the country's economy.

Tourism was down further to the east as well, where a long-awaited changeover finally came. After 150 years of British rule, Hong Kong became once again part of China. The turnover was a dazzling event this summer, but the fanfare quickly fizzled, and tourism to Hong Kong dropped dramatically throughout the fall.

Currency in Southeast Asia took a downturn as well, and that meant a boom for travelers looking for bargains. A strong dollar also made Europe a popular destination for U.S. travelers.

Back in the United States, a number of new attractions in the city of neon and Disney's 25th anniversary made Las Vegas and Orlando winners with tourists.

And an old family favorite -- the national park -- was a little more expensive this year, after a rise in fees for using the system. But the crowds still came -- as of September 200 million people visited, up 5 percent from last year -- as the park system celebrated its 125th anniversary this year.

Older than the parks, the city of Baltimore celebrated its bicentennial, turning 200 with a year-long waterfront birthday bash.

El Niño doused Acapulco, but is anticipated to make for greak skiing in the western U.S.

Travelers across the globe were watching the weather in 1997, as the climate phenomenon known as El Niño was blamed for devastating Acapulco with a hurricane. But the weather system also gave rise to an optimistic outlook at Western U.S. ski resorts.

"It has that reassuredness, it gives people a level of certainty about their ski vacation, whether it's in November all the way through March," said Mike Smedley, media relations director at Purgatory Resort in Colorado. "People know that the snow's coming and it's going to be big."

Overall, it was high times for travel. And if predictions for the travel industry are correct, 1998 will be even bigger.

CNN Correspondent Kalin Thomas-Samuel contributed to this report.

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Related stories:

• Airlines' bag limits run up against holiday travel rush - November 27, 1997
• Egypt seeks to reassure tourists after terrorist attacks - November 28, 1997
• Destinations: Baltimore - August 1997
• Destinations: Midway Islands - June 1997
• CNN Special Section: Hong Kong Handover
• CNN Special Section: El Niño Returns

Related sites:

• Travel Industry Association
• Association of Flight Attendants
• Federal Aviation Adminstration
• ParkNet: National Park Service Online
• ASTAnet: American Society of Travel Agents

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