Avoid Being Pickpocketed with These Tips

As we get ready to enter into Europe's high travel season, it's time to start facing the potential sticker shock of how much it is going to cost to hop the pod this summer. It's no secret that fuel prices and economies on both sides of the Atlantic have been volatile of late, and consequently airfares are in flux too. As you start to plan your summer vacation, do you have a mental cap? Some say that once the price of the airfare exceeds the total cost of the rest of trip, travelers will forgo the destination. if (WIDGETBOX) WIDGETBOX.renderWidget('1e9b7316-9852-4d1d-b224-a09828f724d6'); Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)A quick search for flights to Europe for this summer yields a wide range of prices. A round-trip flight on AirFrance from New York to Paris in June runs about $1,700, based on a quick search on the airline's website. A Kayak search, however, for the same dates brought up one flight for $800, on XL Airways France, and flights on Icelandair and Aer Lingus in the $950 to $1,050 range. A round-trip Delta flight from Atlanta to Rome in August starts at about $1,600. Lufthansa flights from Los Angeles to Frankfurt in July range from about $1,600 to $1,850. And of course these are all economy fares. A search for flights on Kayak from Dallas to Amsterdam brought up rates that started at $1,553 on Delta. What about you? How much are you willing to pay for a flight to Europe this summer and what is your strategy for trying to get the best fare possible? More from Budget Travel: The Secret to Flying Around Europe on a Dime Euro Dips Under $1.30, Making Europe Affordable Fares to Europe May Spike in 2012 Due to International Showdown

We get to share our travel picks with you all year long. Now it’s your turn. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be asking for a few of your favorite things, both large (airline, cruise port, national park) and small (which hotel has the best toiletries?). Then we’ll compile your suggestions and let you vote for your top pick in May. Come back often—we’ll be posting a new question almost every day. Today’s question: What is your favorite historical spot in America? It could be a museum, a monument, or a battlefield—as long as it’s old. Previous questions: What's the top destination on your bucket list? Which airport features the best food? —Marc Peyser MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL World's 16 Most Picturesque Villages Secrets to the 10 Most Popular Cruise Ports 21 Girl Trips You Absolutely Love—and Deals to Match

For one weekend this spring, when you pay for campsite or cabin on Friday night, Saturday night is tossed in for free. To encourage travelers to get a headstart on outdoors season, camping giant KOA is once again offering a BOGO (buy one, get one) free special. On the weekend of May 11-12, one night's lodging fee covers a two-night stay. The promotion is available for guests who are doing traditional tent camping, or who elect not to rough it one of KOA's other lodging options, which include standard and deluxe cabins. The offer is available only at participating KOA locations, of which there are many. Campgrounds in 44 states and seven Canadian provinces are participating. In some states, there's an especially wide range of choices: 20 locations in Colorado, 22 locations in Florida, 27 locations in California. Other states, not so much (two locations apiece in Louisiana and Vermont, none in Alaska). KOA calls the early-season promotion the "Come Kamp and Care With Us Weekend," and this year marks the ninth year it'll be held. The "Care" part of the weekend is due to the fact that funds raised help KOA's network of 44 campgrounds that serve kids fighting cancer. While the numbers indicate that fewer and fewer Americans are going camping, there's at least one growth area for campgrounds: shelter that's sturdier and more comfortable than a tent. These days, in addition to classic campsties, campgrounds are likely to have yurts, cabins, cottages, and even full-fledged homes. KOA says that its fastest-growing style of lodging is the "Kamping Lodge," a rectangular home with a kitchen, running water (hot and cold), and even A/C. With space for six, lodges start at around $90 per night. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: 4 Things Every Camper Should Know How Come Fewer and Fewer People Are Going Camping? BT Asks: What Are Your Best RV Tips?