Finding Labor Day travel deals

Clever entrepreneurs in Budapest are getting temporary leases and turning abandoned old buildings into romkocsmas, or ruin bars. In some cases, the pop-up venues actually go far beyond bars—they're more like living rooms for the local art scene. Szimpla Kert, in Pest, is the most expansive, with a coffeehouse, a bar, a small cinema, and a garden (Kazinczy u. 14, 011-36/1-352-4198). Two blocks away in a former apartment building, Mumus, favored by the absinthe-sipping crowd, is a labyrinth of rooms and hallways decorated with cartoonlike stencils and thrift-store sofas (Dob u. 18). At Instant, get a $3 Borsodi beer and head upstairs to the Viennese-style balcony to see a hanging sculpture of a school of fish (Nagymezo u. 38). —Evan Rail, from the September 2009 issue of Budget Travel

The all-inclusive can be the ultimate no-hassle vacation. One price covers lodging, food, drink, entertainment, and activities, and guests never once have to reach for their wallets. But even if there are no hassles, travelers may have plenty of questions. Are you wondering where and when you can snag the best values? Which resorts are best for families—or for people trying to avoid families? Which ones are renowned for having the best food, or the best activities for adventurers, or the best service, or the best pools? What are extra charges to look out for, because not every "all-inclusive" truly includes every little thing in the main rate? Send us your questions, and we'll answer them in an upcoming "Ask Trip Coach" column in Budget Travel.

Starting on August 29, Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Va., will give skiers and snowboarders the freedom to ride in the great outdoors year-round. How can this be possible? Give the credit to Snowflex, a soft, synthetic substance that's a pretty close imitation of snow, only it's not cold, and it doesn't have to be groomed. Ski areas using the substance have opened already overseas, but this will be the first such operation in the U.S. Skiers, boarders, and tubers will be able to zip down a 500-foot-long Snowflex-covered slope on Liberty Mountain, right on the college's campus. The terrain includes a beginner slope, as well as freestyle areas with kickers, grind rails, and an 11-foot-high quarter pipe. Helmets are highly recommended, and long pants and long-sleeve T-shirts are mandatory, even during the peak of summer. Tickets to ride are pretty cheap: $5 an hour Monday to Wednesday, $7 an hour Thursday to Sunday, and Liberty University students pay just $2 to $4 an hour. Check out more details at Liberty's website. And let the shredding begin for 12 months of the year.