Thursday, December 11, 2008

It's that time for a look back at the best of Budget Travel. We've compiled a special Greatest Hits page—leading off with the year's top five stories: World's Weirdest Hotels, Zoo Babies: New Kids on the Block, Scouting Report: The Best Places You've Never Heard Of, America's Coolest Small Towns, and the Top Travel Innovations of the Past Decade. read more

Ancient Italian villages are being turned into a new kind of hotel, where the rooms are spread out across town and you share the streets with residents. One of the best is Sextantio, in the Abruzzi mountains. read more

• More: Awesome Art Hotels, Secret Hotels of Big Sur, Affordable Hotels in Chicago, Celebrity-Trashed Hotels…

On these seven beautiful islands, you're guaranteed to get there before anyone you know. read more

• More: Halloween in NYC, Cool Attractions of the Future, Experts' Favorite Gardens…

You'll never have to check a bag again—and pay that annoying $15 fee—with these lightweight and compact items beloved by hikers and campers. read more

• More: Traveler's Medicine Cabinet, Travel Safety Tips, How to Unplug, Secrets to Happy House Swapping…

Our series of blog posts—from writers here and abroad—is devoted to helping you get the most fun and excitement out of your trip without blowing the bank. read more

• More: Should Obese Passengers Pay More to Fly? (366 Comments), Is the TSA Invading Your Privacy? (217), Rick Steves Encourages Travel to Iran (188), Who Still Sends Postcards? (373)…

Strategies for navigating notoriously pricey cities like Honolulu, London, New York, and Tokyo, along with unique experiences in each that won't cost you a penny. read more

• More: Readers' Best Money-Saving Tips, 9 Ways to Score a Free Trip…

Colombia's vibrant seaside city is experiencing a rebirth. The country's long civil war has subsided, but the attraction for Liz Ozaist was deeper: She went to discover the place that first enchanted her father 20 years ago. read more

• More: Tour de Friends: Europe by Bike, The Mellow Dominican Republic, An English Gastropub Crawl, The Konnichiwa Kid…

We challenged photographer Ian Gittler to capture glimpses of unexpected, everyday life in Paris—and found ourselves falling in love with the city all over again. read more

• More: New York City, San Francisco, Tokyo…

Don't know harira from harissa? Before your next trip, print out this handy decoder with translations of food terms and popular dishes.
read more

• More: China, France, Italy, Portugal…

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