On the subject of templates, boxedart is worth looking at. We rattled off a load of sites last week using them:
http://www.acheaphotel.net
http://www.acheapflight.net
http://www.acheapvacationrental.net
http://www.acheapcarrental.net
http://www.acheapticket.net (still in progress, this last one)
Aaron