Thursday, May 15, 2008

Cultural traditions are being reinvented in inspired (and kitschy) ways across the city. see the slide show

More From Our "What $100 Buys In…" Series:

Addis Ababa Cartagena Florence Nevis

Philadelphia Riga Shanghai Uganda

Ever stood in line at U.S. Immigration and wondered if the agents feel a bit too comfortable in their power? We just learned about an Italian man who flew to Dulles airport to visit his American girlfriend—and ended up detained in jail for 10 days for no apparent reason. The federal government must set up a transparent system of basic protections for travelers visiting the U.S., because they currently have no rights at all. Post a comment now

• Affordable Europe Series: Festivals in Italy, Florence Discounts, Cruise the Seine for Less, High Culture on a Low Budget
• New York City: 4 Giant Waterfalls Arrive Soon
• An Innovative Travel Search Engine Debuts
• Video: Cute Puppy Tests New Airport Ads
• Philly: Tour Guides Will Have to Pass History Tests

You don't have to spend a fortune to sleep in Paris, San Francisco, or these other popular cities; you just have to know where to look. Here are our expanded recommendations for reasonably priced places to lay your head—plus slide shows so that you know what you're paying for.

• London
• New York City
• Paris
• Rome
• San Francisco

America's Wackiest Festivals A month-by-month guide to the contests and events that bring out America's best and quirkiest…. A Nature Trip to Costa Rica Empty nesters heading to Costa Rica are looking for bird-watching spots, beaches, the ideal butterfly farm, and a rain forest with a zip line…. Girlfriend Getaways: Chic Homewares Giveaway! We're giving away one gift item every week for nearly three months—find out how to win.

Are you traveling somewhere in the next month or so? Each issue, we're giving a reader a surprise experience to make a vacation more memorable. Past Upgradees threw the first pitch of a professional baseball game or had an entire museum to themselves—what your surprise will be depends on you: Tell us where you're going (and why) and some of your interests. We'll take it from there! read more

This summer, spend a week cycling through the picturesque Inn and Ziller valleys of southwestern Austria, from $616. why it's a deal

• Easier Than You Thought: Cycling Trips
• Where to Stay in Vienna
• Europe, Day 4: Vienna to Bratislava
• Germany's Castle Hotels

Late summer and early autumn six-night cruises along the eastern seaboard—known for its history, culture, and fresh seafood—with stops in Halifax, St. John, Bar Harbor, Boston, and Newport, from $734. why it's a deal

• A Long Weekend in Halifax
• Renting a House on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton
• Walkable Cities: Portland, Maine
• Real Deals: Boston Hotels From $123

A package from REI Adventures provides two nights' camping in western North Carolina's Pisgah National Park, with professional instruction, climbing equipment, and meals, for $400.
why it's a deal

• 25 Reasons We Love Asheville
• Walkable Cities: Wilmington, N.C.
• Furnitureville, U.S.A.: High Point, N.C.

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