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In 18 major U.S. cities, the average visitor coughs up more than $30 a day in taxes related to their trip. Using data gathered via the Global Business Travel Association, the trade publication Auto Rental News has come up with a list of taxes paid by the average visitor in the 50 top destinations in the U.S. for business travelers. The grand daily tax total was tallied by adding up the mandatory taxes levied on a typically-priced car rental ($55.22), hotel room ($99.47), and restaurant meals ($88.65) for one day. The results put into numbers what many travelers have known all along: We're paying a heckuvalot in taxes. According to the research, even without factoring in the taxes fliers pay for airline travel, the average traveler is taxed to the tune of $28.09 per day. A traveler can expect to pay over $30 in taxes daily in 18 cities, including Las Vegas, Denver, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Nashville, Seattle, and Boston. Unsurprisingly, the two cities where travelers pay the most in taxes are New York and Chicago, where the taxes are calculated at $37.01 and $38.85 respectively. Look at how the totals are added up, however, and you'll realize that travelers in these cities are probably paying far more in taxes than the figures listed. The bulk of taxes in most cities on the list come from hotels, and the sample taxes listed are based on hotel rooms that cost just under $100 a night. Rooms at anywhere near that rate are hard to come by in Chicago and New York, and in many other U.S. cities on the list, for that matter. So even if travelers skip rental cars (which makes sense if staying downtown in a major city), odds are they're paying even more in taxes that the list suggests. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: Paying to skip long security lines Is it too much to ask that an airline's fees be listed on one web page? Would you pay extra to sit in the front of the plane?

The world's worst restaurant names? They're picked every year by Zagat, the famous restaurant review site. Zagat was bought last week by the search giant Google for its "useful," "eccentric," and "comprehensive in big cities" restaurant reviews by more than 300,000 patrons. It just so happens that Zagat (pronounced za-GAT with "GAT" like "cat") recently published a list of the world's worst restaurant names. Here are a few of its picks: Rat's Restaurant, Hamilton, N.J. Expensive spot, honoring the rodent character in The Wind in the Willows. Surrounded by Seward Johnson’s life-size sculptures imitating French impressionist Claude Monet's beloved Impressionist paintings. B.A.D. Sushi, L.A. It's hip to have an acronym in the name of your restaurant, which in this case is "Best And Delicious.” The only problem is that, well, it's BAD. if (WIDGETBOX) WIDGETBOX.renderWidget('83bc5d6b-af14-4d6b-b319-b6720755ce4d');Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)Captain Poo's, Myrtle Beach, S.C. Say the name and you say everything, right? Pink Taco, Century City, L.A. Californians excel at making Mexican food and they excel at marketing everything known to man, so it's no surprise that this Mexican joint with the goofy name is an import from Las Vegas, which tends to get both things wrong. And here are a few more nominations for bad restaurant names: Ruth's Chris Steak House, 130-plus locations across the U.S. Ruth Fertel bought a New Orleans restaurant, Chris Steak House. The contract said she couldn't move the restaurant and keep the name, so when she eventually moved it she added her own name on it. The Dead Fish, Crockett, Calif. The owner's grandmother had a standard reply whenever someone asked her what fish she was cooking any given night: "A dead fish." In her honor, he named the restaurant. Which is a great story, but, still. Blunch, Boston. Supposedly inspired by a restaurant in France called Flunch. But something got lost in the translation. Fuddruckers, national chain, about 200 spots.Love the burgers, hate their name. (Fighting words, I know.) The Fudd is like Häagen-Dazs. It has no meaning, it's merely supposed to catch your attention. Which it does. Like a bad piece of Muzak you can't get out of your head. Doug Lansky, famous for "The Titanic Awards" and "Signspotting," put out a similar list. Here are some names he found: Soon Fatt Chinese Food, Ireland What else is there to add? My Dung, Calif. There are several restaurants named My Dung in California, including one in Rosemead. Go figure. Stomach Clinic Railways Restaurant, Nairobi, Kenya If you're feeling classy, call this by its likely formal name: Gastrointestinal Examination Bistro. Have you ever encountered a badly named restaurant? Let us know in the comments. And vote in our poll on the worst of the bunch. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: Ask Trip Coach: Top tips for traveling with your pet Slideshow: Readers' cutest pet photos Pet Travel News: A handy app, a Disney resort, and more

Major airlines sell two types of flights: nonstops, which fly straight to your destination, and direct flights, which have connections. So-called "direct" flights come in two flavors. On an ordinary direct flight, you stay on the same plane during the layover and fly to your final destination. On a "fake" direct flight, you have to get off the plane, go to a new gate, and board a new plane. This can be an unpleasant surprise for travelers. It's been a long-standing practice to operate the US leg of an international flight, such as Denver to Dulles to London, with a switch to a larger plane to cross the ocean. Fine. But for domestic flights, switching planes is a pain, and it's deceptive for travelers when they're booking their tickets. For example, United has many flights between Chicago to Denver. Some are nonstops. Others are "direct." Here's an example of a "direct" one: The first "leg" of flight 817 stops in Minneapolis at gate E6. You then have to get out, and get on a new plane at gate E10 to continue to Denver. Why is this a problem? If the first "leg" is delayed, the airline won't hold the second "leg" until you arrive because, according to its computers, these are two separate flights. The computers are being honest. Upgrades are tricky to book on fake "direct" flights, too, because the computers think the flights are separate, requiring two awards—not one. How do you spot a fake "direct" flight? Remember: Just because the flight number stays the same doesn't mean you remain on the same plane. Read the details of your itinerary before you purchase a ticket. Are there gate changes at the connecting airport? If so, it's a fake direct flight. Read what your departure and arrival times are—lengthy delays are a signal. Of course, once you book one of these flights, another signal is if you have to select your seat twice on the way to your destination. United has recently increased the number of fake direct domestic flights, according to journalist Nicholas Kralev. Delta has a high number of these "fake" flights, too. But American Airlines and Southwest Airlines honorably make sure all of their "direct" flights are one-plane, no-change trips. In another twist, airlines can take a nonstop flight you booked and turn it into a direct or fake direct one. If you receive an e-mail from your airline or online travel agency saying that you're nonstop has become a multistep, you have a right to ask to be rebooked on a different nonstop option or to have your money refunded without any fees. SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: The End of Summer is Nigh, But Isn't Fall Travel Better Anyway? One-Tank Escapes for Seven Cities Poll: Are quick trips abroad worth the travel time?

This week, a 49-pound miniature potbellied pig named Bosley flew from Florida to New York on Pet Airways. (I’ll wait while you giggle and get those “when pigs fly” jokes out.) The two-year-old company currently serves nine locations across the country and prides itself on being the only airline that always flies pets in the main cabin and not in cargo. Cats, dogs, rats, birds, and even a hermit crab have counted among their so-called Pawsengers, but this is the airline’s first pig. if (WIDGETBOX) WIDGETBOX.renderWidget('d1568dbd-0571-4cde-8568-1a5439d6724f');Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)Weird, sure. But pet travel isn’t just a novelty. According to a study by Hipmunk.com, 14-18% of American adults have traveled with a pet in the past three years. And the Department of Transportation reports that over 500,000 pets fly in the U.S. annually. Earlier this year, our blogger Brad Tuttle spoke with Maggie Espinosa, author of The Privileged Pooch: Luxury Travel With Your Pet in Southern California, about traveling with a pet. She gave us some great things to do to prepare for a trip with a pet: Check for blackout dates—there are times of the year when it’s either too hot or too cold for pets to fly safely in the cargo area. Check the breed—short-nosed breeds like Boston Terriers and bulldogs can have respiratory problems that are made worse by the stress of air travel. Bring along your pet’s favorite food—any deviation from its usual diet can cause stomach problems. Make sure your pet’s ID tag includes your current cell phone number, in case it gets loose at the airport. Have you ever flown with a pet? Sound off below with your best pet travel tips! MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: Ask Trip Coach: Top tips for traveling with your pet Slideshow: Readers' cutest pet photos Pet Travel News: A handy app, a Disney resort, and more