FlightFox Uses Crowdsourcing to Find the Best Airfares

At one time or another, we've probably all felt daunted by the high cost of visiting a certain place we really, really want to go—London, Venice, New York, and Australia come to mind right away. But I'm curious how many BT readers have ever chosen a vacation destination purely on the basis of its exceptional cheapness. The latest Hotel Price Index report came out last week on Hotels.com, and while rates worldwide are up 4% on average, there are still a slew of places where your hotel dollar goes far. Domestically, the ten flat–out cheapest cities for hotel rates in 2011 (which, in many cases, correspond with general cost–of–visit rates) were: Columbia, S.C. (average room rate $65); Macon, Ga. ($72); Albany, Ga. ($75); Dothan, Ala. ($76); Lima, Ohio ($78); Bakersfield, Calif. ($78); Ottumwa–Kirksville, Mo. ($79); Glendive, Mont. ($79); Montgomery/Selma, Ala. ($79); and Parkersburg, W. Va. ($80). And if you're looking for luxury at a low cost, here are the top international destinations for affordable five–star rooms, based on prices paid throughout 2011: Warsaw, Poland (average five–star room rate $130); Marrakech, Morocco ($168); Cairo, Egypt ($189); Budapest, Hungary ($191); Pisa, Italy ($193); Lisbon, Portugal ($195); Brussels, Belgium ($196); Berlin, Germany ($198); and Beijing, China ($203). Does knowing that you can stay in Columbia, S.C. for $65 a night make you more likely to consider a visit to the South Carolina capital, with its historic homes, riverside zoo, and university–city energy (not to mention all that old–fashioned comfort food)? Or are you more tempted by the idea of living like a king in one of Warsaw's finest hotels for the cost of, say, a run–down pension in Paris? How much do accommodations costs affect your vacation decisions? Tell us in the comments! MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2012 8 Cool New Tools for Finding the Perfect Hotel World's 16 Most Picturesque Villages

Apple products receive lots of free publicity, but other tablet devices are popular, too—especially among budget-minded travelers. Since September, Amazon has shipped more than 4.7 million Kindle Fires, the tablet devices that costs half the price ($199) of the cheapest iPad. Rival bookstore Barnes & Noble also sold a record number of its Nook Tablets, according to a study by market research firm IDC. What are the best travel apps that have debuted since September on the Kindle Fire and the Nook? Here are some picks: KINDLE FIRE Kayak Mobile Debuting last week, Kayak’s app-version of its metasearch website for flights, hotels, and car rentals is powerful, fast, and easy-to-understand. In a nice perk, the app includes airport maps that identify key features, such as ATMs and restaurants. free; Amazon TripIt No more need for a folder stuffed with printouts of hotel reservations, flight boarding passes, and other itinerary information. Now you can store all your info on this app, which relies on the booking receipts you forward to it via e-mail. free, ad-free version recently on sale for $2; Amazon UpNext HD Maps A nice alternative to Google Maps, this tool takes advantage of the interactive touch surface of the Kindle Fire to let you click and see details on a street map of your location, revealing major shops and nightlife spots. Maps appear beautifully on the Kindle Tablet’s seven-inch screen. free; Amazon NOOK TABLET AND NOOK COLOR Priceline Negotiator Hands down the best app for booking hotels on a Nook. It lets you use Priceline’s blind-bidding service or its standard retail rate booking engine, where you know exactly what you're getting.. The app’s especially good for making last minute hotel bookings, with reservations possible until 11 p.m. ET on the night of your stay. free; Barnes & Noble Flight Tracker Track your flight with this app, which will keep an eye on essential info, like delays and gate changes. The app also can help a traveler find an alternate flight in the event you face a cancellation or delay. $0.99; Barnes & Noble The Emergency App Be prepared for any snafu that might pop up by keeping all of your relevant emergency numbers and medication information listed in a single spot. Comes with advice on how to prepare a first-aid kit for various situations. recently on sale for $1, normally $3; Barnes & Noble SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL The Ultimate Guide to Travel Apps Are Airlines Cracking Down on "Airplane Mode"? (37 comments) New Apps Let You Create Animated Photos

As Japan marked the one-year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the island nation on March 11, 2011, the country's tourism officials report that travelers are starting to trickle back. In January 2012, Japan welcomed 700,000 international tourists, a 4.5 percent decrease compared to January 2011, according to the Japan Tourism Agency, the government's tourism promotion arm. And while the tourism numbers are still slightly down, that represents a major improvement over the 70 percent dive in tourism the country experienced immediately after the earthquake. To mark the anniversary and the recovery efforts, the Japan Tourism Agency and Japan National Tourism Organization launched a campaign called "Japan. Thank You." It is intended to communicate the gratitude of the Japanese people for the global support it has received. As the recovery continues, the nation is hoping that its famous cherry blossom season this spring can help attract even more international travelers. There are also numerous promotions in the Japan travel market intended to stimulate travel back to Japan. The Japan National Tourism Organization issues regular travel advisory updates, hoping to help travelers better understand the situation on the ground in Japan, including the threat of radiation. It reminds travelers that the radiation level in Tokyo is similar to that of New York City. The organization also has a map on its website showing where the Fukushima Daiichi Plant is located in relation to other major cities across the island. Would you still be wary of going to Japan? How come? More from Budget Travel: Wendy's Goes Gourmet in Japan How travelers can help Japan recovery Budget Travel reader reaches out from Japan