5 Lessons Learned From A Visit To Venice

It's the end of an era—well, almost. Anthony Bourdain's hit travel show, No Reservations, will begin its last season on The Travel Channel at 9 p.m. EST on Monday, Sept. 3rd, with an episode featuring Austin, Texas. The final season will showcase cities around the world, with the series finale planned for Brooklyn, New York. Since his show first premiered in July of 2005, we've been given the chance to follow the delightfully snarky host on his adventures around the world, showing us the regional delicacies and traditional meals of a particular place, and giving us an inside look at the cultures and people he visited. From a first televised trip to Cuba, to a painful–to–watch ATV flip in the sand, Bourdain has done it all. In one memorable episode during a trip to Lebanon, he and his camera crew were caught up in the midst of an ongoing war, and kept cameras rolling while they waited things out at a nearby hotel for eight days. He's filmed shows about the food he grew up with in New York City, venturing to the outer boroughs for more cultural experiences and culinary inspiration. Over the years, he's given us tips for finding the best food on the road and even showed us how to make the best of a long layover during our travels. On a more personal note, watching his show has always reminded me of why I got into the travel business in the first place: there is no limit to the things you can experience, learn, and of course, eat, when you leave the familiar comforts of home. Although I didn't get into No Reservations until later—I can remember idolizing Samantha Brown on Girl Meets Hawaii long before that—Bourdain's thoughtful, observational remarks and unabashed reflective commentary are what kept me coming back for more. Will you miss the show? Do you have a favorite episode? Tell us about it below. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL 5 Travel Shows You’ve Never Seen—But Should! Would You Watch This New Travel Show? 35 Passport Stamps Worth Bragging About

It seems that a slow economy and high gas prices aren't deterring Americans from taking advantage of the last official long weekend of summer. According to AAA, 33 million people will travel at least 50 miles for a Labor Day getaway, up almost three percent over 2011. About 85 percent of you will be taking to the roads instead of the skies, with most trips averaging between 100 and 400 miles round–trip. Though gas prices are up 14 cents a gallon compared to late August 2011, car rental prices are down about 10 percent from last year, averaging $39 a day. The BT staff 's plans helps validate the findings: An unofficial office poll found that most of us are planning on traveling this weekend—by car. What about you? Where are you going this weekend? MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Planning a Quick Getaway? Don't Make These Common Mistakes 8 Items You Never Pack, But Should 5 Unusually Dangerous—and 5 Especially Safe–Places to Drive

The legendary Incan city of Machu Picchu is one of the world’s most treasured destinations. And the act of just getting there has always been half the fun (or maybe half the headache) of any Peruvian trip. You would normally fly into Lima and then take a bus, a car, a train, a taxi a hike, or a horse to the ruins—adventurous, sure, but far from convenient. Not for long! Last week, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala announced plans for a new international airport near Cusco. Currently, the area is served by the Cusco city airport, which is only equipped to handle domestic daytime flights. This new $460 million project will mean that you’ll theoretically be able to hop on a flight in America and wake up mere miles from Machu Picchu. This news got me thinking. What other far–flung destinations do you wish were better served by a new international airport? The Australian Outback? Antarctica? The Amazon? Yellowstone National Park? Let us know in the comments section: If you had $460 million to spend, where would you plunk down a new airport? MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Three Worthy Alternatives to Machu Picchu 25 Most Photographed Places on Earth

Unless you're traveling internationally, most airlines will charge you for food—and the options won't necessarily be all that appealing. Not that long ago I was flying from New York to San Diego and was shocked to discover that no meal was offered on such a long flight. To make matters worse, the flight attendants had run out of snacks by the time they made their way to me (I was at the very back of the plane). I learned my lesson, of course, and now always bring a snack. What I bring depends on many factors including how much time I have to prepare beforehand (e.g. do I prepare something at home or do I buy something at the airport), how long my flight is, and what time of day I'm flying. In general, I try to steer clear of foods that are too odiferous out of respect for my fellow passengers. And I try to choose things that will stay fresh for a while. For me, that usually means pretzels, a sandwich on a baguette (baguettes are important as they're less likely to get soggy, like regular bread will) and some kind of fruit—I prefer apples. In a follow up post I'd like to put together a list of the best snacks for airline travel—and I'd like your help. What are some of the things that you think make for a good airline snack? Do you think it's worthwhile to consider your fellow passengers when packing food? Or do you think that, with all of the fees and rules, it's everyone for him or herself when it comes to eating in the air? I'm eager to hear your thoughts! MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Why Airlines Should Bring Back Delicious In–Flight Meals Poll: How Would You Rate Airline Food? Should we tip flight attendants?