Around the world...baggage-free

This past weekend saw the launch of London Mayor Boris Johnson's much vaunted bike rental plan (known as a "cycle hire scheme" to locals). About 6,000 bicycles are now available to rent. They've been distributed around town at about 400 docking stations, similar to Paris's program (which we tested out in a recent video report). Soon American visitors will be able to join Londoners in renting bikes to tool around town. The annual membership plan just announced by the mayor is aimed at residents, while vacationing Americans will only want the occasional usage plan—set to launch in late August or September. Occasional usage will cost $1.55 per trip. London is one of the best cities in Europe for cyclists. Hills are few and generally shallow and there are none at all downtown where you'll find most of the major sights. For instance, it's only a 10-minute ride between the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. And it's about 30 minutes from the Houses of Parliament to the Tower of London (where the Crown Jewels are displayed)—all of ride along a designated river bank walking and cycling path. It's easy to rent a bike. The cost depends on the duration of your trip. Journeys of half an hour or less are free. For the first few weeks at least, you'll need to sign up online with a credit card before you can use the bikes. On top of membership and the occasional use fee is a bicycle usage fee based on the amount of time you spend cycling. The first thirty minutes cycling are free. An hour costs $1.55, a 90-minute trip costs $6 and costs climb in increments from there to a steep $78 for 24 hours. You will rarely be cycling for more than an hour though, as you'll drop off the bike when you reach your destination. So renting a bike in London is far cheaper than taking the subway or bus on a one-time, one way basis. The bikes are kept at docks, most of which are near subway stations. Look for the blue and white circular "cycle hire" symbols. If there's a red light above any given bike, it means the bike is not available—probably because it is in need of a repair. Here is how you get the bike out of the dock: Insert your credit card into the credit card reader. An amber light will illuminate while your membership account or verification code (given to occasional users after they enter their credit card) is being verified. A green light flashes, and then you can unlock your bike and head off. When you return your two-wheeler, make sure you get a green light and clicking sound. Otherwise, you will continue to be charged after you've walked away. There's a video showing you how the scheme works on www.tfl.gov.uk/BarclaysCycleHire MORE Budget Travel's full blog coverage of London

You've got 55 days to go before autumn officially sets in, and a lot less than that before school starts. So we're wondering how many of you will you make the last days of summer count. Share your plans below.

Nothing quite kills vacation fun like a baggage fee, which we've all gotten used to in the past few years. (We know you hate it—47 percent of you said that extra charges for baggage were the "most outrageous fee" of all in our Readers' Choice poll). But at least we've seen the worst of it, right? Maybe not. In a story published this week in Crain's Chicago Business, United president John Tague said that he thinks annual revenue from baggage fees can nearly triple—up to $1 billion a year. United currently reaps in $350 to $400 million in annual revenue from baggage fees. According to the article, about 40 percent of the bags flying on United get a fee, mostly because international flights are exempt from baggage fees (unlike bags flying domestically, which cost $25 right now). Although Tague isn't quoted directly about whether United will add a fee for baggage on international flights, he did say fees will, over time, become "more or less ubiquitous." Well, that's not so encouraging, is it? United was the first airline to begin charging a baggage fee domestically, and the entire industry followed. Plus, the fact that United and Continental are merging to become the world's biggest airline, means that if the company started accessing a new baggage fee (or raised current fees), it will affect a lot more people on a lot more flights. And late last week, Congress got into the act, indicating that they might pass legislation that would tax airlines for the money they make on ancillary fees. It's a vicious circle: the government imposes taxes, the airlines lose money, so they raise fees. Escalating fees—yet another challenge for today's modern traveler. But let's hope that baggage fees stay where they are—at least for now. Need cheering up? Check out our 25 travel-inspiring photos slide show.

London's most famous museums and art galleries are free. So you'll pay no entry fee to see Rembrandt and Da Vinci in the National Gallery, the Elgin marbles and Rosetta Stone at the British Museum, and to experience new Brit art at the Tate. But the city's other key attractions are pricey. The London Pass offers discounted access to 56 of them. Yet is the pass worth its $280 price? The pass is a plastic card with a microchip. You pay a one-off fee for the card, which functions like an electronic voucher, entitling once-only entry at a list of major sights, such as the Tower of London, the London River Cruise, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, and the London Bridge Experience. Passes range from one day to six days. A one-day pass costs $61 for adults (or $73 with travel on the subway, buses, and some trains and boats) and $41 for kids (or $44 with travel). A six day pass costs $136 for adults ($207 with transport) or $97 for kids ($130 with transport). Should you buy the pass? It depends. If you are an adult under-60 (senior citizens receive discounted access in the U.K. regardless), and you plan on visiting a bunch of the more expensive sights then yes. You'll save money on entrance fees too. But only if you move quickly. We worked out that you would need to visit at least three attractions per day to make the pass pay. This is doable. But it'll be a run-a-round. And it will be very difficult to visit three attractions per day if you include a sight lying outside the city (like Windsor Castle) on your itinerary. The pass also lets you jump lines and gives you discounts on food in locations like the restaurant at the Tower of London. You'll appreciate this in high season when visitor numbers are heavy. Unfortunately, plenty of sights are not on the London Pass, including some of the city's biggest draws, such as the London Eye and Madame Tussauds waxworks. So you'll have to pay extra if you want to visit these. And what about the travel deal? The "Pass with Travel" is only worth it if you plan to stay in outer London because it covers all six of London's "transport zones." But as most travelers seldom venture beyond the center, they are unlikely to need to travel beyond "zone two." You'll get better value from an Oyster swipe card or a one-day travel card, both for sale at subway (Tube) stations. Learn more at the Transport for London site. MORE How can you save money on London's subways and buses?