Last-minute travel: Where to fly this Fourth of July

More than 400,000 visitors may descend on Washington, D.C.'s National Mall in late August to witness the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. What do travelers need to know to plan a visit? The four-acre site is set between the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. It is the first piece of construction to be placed on the central axis of the Mall that doesn't commemorate a war or a president. It will feature a 28-foot-high granite statue by Chinese sculptor Lei Yixin, along with a crescent wall engraved with King quotations chosen by historians and writers. The social realist sculpture has been completed, but the site as a whole, funded by private donations, still needs $8 million for finishing touches. We hope it rises to the occasion. The dedication ceremony takes place on August 28 at 11 a.m., preceded by a planned concert at 10 and followed by another concert around 2 p.m. Free standing room areas will be open nearby, but tickets have already been given away for the seats in the stands. Expect long lines to form early in the morning. Giant television screens may be set up for guests who can't see the ceremony up-close, but details are still being worked out. Assuming all things go as planned, visitors will want to book now for lodging in the city during the weekend before the Labor Day holiday. The popularity of the upcoming event, along with customary family trips during summer peak season, is jacking up prices temporarily. Consider Budget Travel's picks for affordable hotels in the city and its environs. Be sure to also catch up on "The 20 Best-Kept Secrets of Washington, D.C." from our April issue. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL The disappearance of cheap red-eye flights Open secret websites for booking hotels Rental car companies charge frequent flier mile redemption fees

CNN recently spoke to travel writer Tony Perrottet, who journeyed across Europe in search of sites so salacious, they've become the stuff of legends. Among them, the Venetian home that once belonged to Giancomo Casanova, and the Stufetta del Bibbiena, a very closely guarded washroom in the Vatican's papal quarters decorated with some decidedly secular imagery by Raphael himself. You can get all the juicy details on Perrottet's trip in his book The Sinner's Grand Tour, which hit bookstores last month. The interview itself is a pretty fascinating read—and while I won't presume to guess what train of thought it will lead you to, I can tell you what it got me thinking about: all the varied, off-the-wall themes that can inspire and shape a trip. Sure, you can visit a place with nothing more on the agenda than discovering it organically—some might say that's the only way to travel. But it seems that now more than ever, you can take off to anther part of the world in an effort to trace the steps or follow the trail of just about anything: the book you'll find on every Nook and Kindle (Stockholm has seen a jump in tourism since introducing Girl With the Dragon Tattoo tours, based on the wildly popular series of novels by Stieg Larsson, last year); a real-life historical figure (among those honored with their own itineraries: Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, Che Guevara, and Kate Middleton); your taste buds (one of BT's recent dream trips urges travelers to take in Paris via patisserie); or even...toilets (yes, really). As someone who was dragged along the Da Vinci Code trail in Paris (and despite herself, managed to enjoy it), I'm curious to hear from others who have ventured into themed travel: What's the wackiest tour you've heard of, been on, or can't wait to try? Around what theme would you base a trip, and where would it take you? MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: 12 Mysterious Underground Tours New trend: Urban bike tours in Los Angeles and New York Chernobyl officially opens for tours

North American airlines didn't get much love at the 2011 World Airline Awards during last week's Paris Air Show. Held at the French Air and Space Museum, the awards were decided by over 18.8 million airline passengers from 100 different nationalities, who chose winners in 38 categories, from best airline to best meals in economy class. In three of the big categories—Airline of the Year, Best Regional Airline, and Best Low-Cost Airline—us Yanks came up short. Asia-based airlines dominated, however, with Qatar Airways pulling in Airline of the Year, Dragonair winning Best Regional Airline, and Air Asia topping Best Low-Cast Carrier. The Best International Airline in North America went to Air Canada, with Continental Airlines and Delta Airlines filling out the top three. Domestically, the Best Airline in North America went to jetBlue, followed by Virgin America, and WestJet. The top 10 World's Best Airlines: 1. Qatar Airways 2. Singapore Airlines 3. Asiana Airlines 4. Cathay Pacific Airways 5. Thai Airways International 6. Etihad Airways 7. Air New Zealand 8. Qantas Airways 9. Turkish Airlines 10. Emirates What do you think? Do you agree with the award winners? MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Airport survival guide—we want your tips! Should airlines allow U.S. soldiers to board planes first? Should the TSA's airport pat-downs be outlawed?