Don't let vacation photos go to waste

Crises and government-issued travel alerts go hand in hand. But what do these alerts mean and how seriously should travelers take them? In the wake of the earthquake, tsunami and ongoing aftershocks in Japan, the U.S. Department of State issued a travel alert advising against non-essential travel to the island country. Last month, the State Department recommended that U.S. citizens evacuate from Egypt due to the political uprising there, and the current travel warning advises U.S. travelers to defer non-essential travel to Egypt. First off, it's worth noting some differences in terminology. According to the State Department's website, a travel alert is issued for short-term events, things such as political demonstrations, or a health issue, like the H1N1 outbreak. The State Department issues travel warnings "when we want you to consider very carefully whether you should go to a country at all." A travel warning might be issued for a country in the midst of a civil war, ongoing violence, or frequent terrorist attacks. "Travel warnings remain in place until the situation changes," the State Department noted. "Some have been in effect for years." Generally speaking, travel companies, tour operators and travel agencies will respect the advise of a travel alert or warning at first. For example, in the case of Egypt, travel companies worked to evacuate their clients out of the country. But now, tour operators are starting up trips to Egypt again, even though the State Department's travel warning is still in place. In an attempt to reactivate tourism business, tour operators will often gather their own intelligence about whether it is safe to return to a destination, provide the clients with that information and let them decide. "Our decision to head back to both Egypt and Tunisia came after extensive meetings with our ground operators, community leaders, and tourism officials," said Alan Lewis, chairman of Grand Circle Corporation, which owns the travel brands Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel. To further complicate matters, U.S. embassies also send out "warden messages," messages that used to actually be delivered by a "warden" to U.S. citizens in a foreign country. Today, these messages often provide additional helpful advice and information attained by U.S. embassies. For instance, with the nuclear threat in Japan, U.S. Ambassador John Roos in Japan has been issuing updates daily. The latest recommendation is that American citizens within 50 miles of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant evacuate or remain indoors. The State Department encourages U.S. citizens traveling abroad to sign up for STEP, its Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which enables travelers to register their contact information and travel details prior to leaving for a trip. The State Department then uses that information to communicate travel alerts, warnings and updates from embassies to U.S. travelers, and also to try to contact them to make sure they are accounted for in the event of a crisis or emergency. More from Budget Travel: Budget Travel reader reaches out from Japan Tsunami watch: Facts for travelers Is Egypt ready for tourists?

Do you still use travelers' checks? They work like dollars, but can be replaced if lost or stolen. They're best for those who don't want to use credit or ATM cards—or carry large amounts of cash. At your destination, you have to swap each check for local currency. You'll be charged fees of up to $9 to do that. That's not convenient, as we reported in our recent story, "What Your Bank Won't Tell You About Currency Conversion," where we found that $100 typically buys €63.11. The best time to use travelers' checks is if you're visiting China. As we reported: In China, traveler's checks are an excellent value. Fees are low, and the exchange rate is regulated by the Chinese government, making this one of the safest and most inexpensive ways to exchange U.S. dollars for yuan (especially in more rural locations, which are less likely to have ATMs). But elsewhere, travelers' checks are becoming outmoded. Many stores and hotels in Europe now refuse to accept them. Even if they're denominated in euros. You now have to go to a bank yourself to pay the fees for cash. In the United Kingdom, a major government oversight would like to ban all paper checks by 2018. American Express is the major seller of travelers' checks and says its business is healthy. But its main rival in the market, Travelex, stopped selling checks four years ago. If security is the main issue, wearing a security pouch is the best measure—whether you use travelers' checks or not. It's the most important item on your packing list, besides any medicine you might need. A great value security pouch is the Rick Steves Silk Money Belt (from $10, Amazon). It's lightweight, fits around all sorts of body types comfortably, and has a moisture-protection pocket. But back to travelers' checks. Do you still use them? Why or why not? Let us know! MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL What your bank won't tell you about currency conversion Confessions of... a hotel housekeeper London: Tours led by the homeless

New site Bagcheck.com invites people to share what's inside their bag. Travel bags are a major category, of course. People also reveal what's inside their bags for other hobbies and activities, such as cooking, photography, and parenting a baby. Here are some travel-related examples: Jake Cressman, who's traveling across the globe with his girlfriend, showed off several items in their shared pack. Of particular interest: two Eagle Creek Pack-It Sacs (one for electronic items and the other for large toiletries) and a Petzl Zipka 2 Headlamp, which they say is relatively lightweight. Kara McCain, who is on a plane every 2 to 3 weeks, also had interesting items in her bag. To combat the dry eyes that accompany flying, she uses Visine Totality Multi-Symptom Relief Eye Drops. To avoid that "I- swallowed-a-lizard"-taste of a long international flight, Kara pops an occasional Colgate Wisp Peppermint in her mouth—until she's able to get to a clean rest room and brush her teeth properly. Her favorite travel socks? SmartWool Trekking Heavy Crews. "They are super thick, warm, soft and comfy…perfect for long, cold flights." All of this made us wonder: What's typically in your carry-on bag? Post a comment! MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Breeze through security with TSA-friendly fragrance products A genius travel beauty tool for just $15 Gear: TSA-friendly sneakers

The debate rages on—should the government invest in high-speed rail? As plans move forward in China to cover the country with nearly 16,000 miles of new tracks in the next few years, just the opposite is happening stateside. Last month, Florida Governor Rick Scott rejected $2.4 billion in federal funds for a high-speed line that would have connected Tampa and Orlando. He follows in the footsteps of Ohio’s John Kasich and Wisconsin’s Scott Walker, who similarly turned down money. Politics aside, one fact remains clear: Americans are far behind other countries when it comes to train technology, new track construction, and green rail initiatives. Actors Rich Sommer and Vincent Kartheiser from the hit AMC series Mad Men have teamed up with public-interest advocacy group U.S. PIRG to release a humorous look at the benefits of train travel. The two characters discuss ways to sell the idea of high-speed rail to a car-loving country. Among the many ideas: “No parking, no mechanics, no traffic jams!” The implications are clear. Little, if anything, has changed in American train travel since this scene takes place—in 1965. Watch the video below and let us know if you find their ideas convincing. Weigh in on the high-speed rail debate. Mad Men On Trains from Rich Sommer More from Budget Travel: Will trains replace planes in the next century? China to build high-speed rail link to Europe America's Most Scenic Train Rides