Summer in Paris: Outdoor movie screenings

Just how much extra do you pay for the convenience of drinks and snacks in a hotel minibar? A neat new infographic from Mint.com shows you how much, using the minibar prices in rooms at The Standard NYC compared to what someone would pay for the same items in a grocery store near the hotel. In many cases, hotel guests pay three times more for the minibar goods. See the screen grab (shown in this post). The supermarket prices are in white and the hotel minibar prices are in red. Goes without saying: You'll save quite a bit by keeping your hands off the minibar and taking a stroll to the grocery store. It's a good idea to get out of the hotel from time to time too.

I'm always excited to read about Bath in the news—I visited last fall with my husband and loved the small historic town, about 115 miles west of London. Bath is famous for its Roman baths, a remnant of the 400-year Roman occupation that began in 43 A.D. The town is admittedly touristy but well worth a stop—although you can take a day trip from London easily, we stayed overnight and didn't regret it. Besides the must-see baths, there was plenty to do, like the Fashion Museum and the stunning architectural wonder, the Royal Crescent. The Fashion Museum has been getting some attention lately for its new exhibit, the Diana Dresses. The collection has a few old-fashioned pieces from the princess's visits to Canada and New Zealand, plus some more modern dresses, like a black shift dress by Versace that Diana wore to a movie premiere in 1995. (exhibit through Jan. 9, 2011). The museum also picks a Dress of the Year, and there are now more than 50 pieces on view. When we visited, I tried guessing the year of each dress—the styles run the gamut from glittery '70s Disco to modern minis. It's basically a quick glimpse into our ever-changing fashion sensibilities (there are also these crazy corsets you can try on. I don't know how women of the past did it!). I highly suggest getting the two-for-one ticket to the Fashion Museum and Roman baths; at £15 (about $23), it'll save you £3.50 over buying the tickets separately. Also take them up on the free, informative-but-not-boring audio tour (what is it about English accents that make history more interesting?), with fun tidbits narrated by Bill Bryson. If you're visiting in August, the baths are staying open until 10 p.m. to accommodate crowds. Tip: Bath's high season lasts through August but drops off a bit in September and October, when I happened to be there. If you have a choice, visit in the fall to avoid lots of other tourists.

Sun-worshippers are celebrating the return of Paris Plages, a summer festival that finds the banks of the Seine piled with 2,500 tons of sand. From now until August 20, the voie Georges Pompidou, running from the Louvre to the Pont de Sully, is one giant urban beach. The ninth edition of this annual festival features a second, satellite sandbox along the Bassin de la Villette. Both sites are strewn with deckchairs, ice cream stands and gravel courts for playing pétanque. The Seine location also boasts a swimming pool, some trampolines, and an outpost of my favorite gelato shop. The northern beach along the Bassin offers boating (paddle and row), along with ballroom dancing lessons. The best thing about this festival may be the price: it's totally free. MORE ABOUT PARIS PLAGES • The city's English-language guide to Paris Plages • One reviewer's list of top Paris Plages activities, including ukulele lessons every Thursday • A list of free summer concerts in association with Paris Plages • See hundreds of photos from Paris Plages on Flickr

In-N-Out, a major West Coast fast-food institution with a cultlike following, is well worth a stop during a visit to San Francisco. The burger chain has gotten a lot of good press lately: chef Thomas Keller has called In-N-Out one of his favorite restaurants and just celebrated his upscale restaurant's anniversary with a tasty burger and fries. And Eric Schlosser, celebrated author of Fast Food Nation says it's the only fast food he eats. That's probably because In-N-Out is a very "PC" fast-food joint: burgers are made with 100 percent pure beef, free of additives and preservatives; potatoes are freshly peeled each day; there's real ice cream in the shakes; the company is family owned; and employees have high pay with full benefits. For new visitors to In-N-Out, the menu is seemingly simple: double or single cheeseburgers and hamburgers, fries, and shakes. But if you want to sound like a local, order off the "secret menu," which offers add-ons like grilled onions and extra patties. A few of my favorite items: Animal style: A mustard-cooked patty (In-N-Out's secret!) with grilled onion, a pickle, and extra "special sauce" (i.e. ketchup and mayo). Perhaps the most popular option of all. Animal-style fries: Cheese fries with grilled onions and special sauce. Protein style: A burger wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun. Ideal for those watching their carb intake. Grilled Cheese (a.k.a Wish Burger): For vegetarians, a cheese hamburger, minus the burger—but it comes with all the other toppings. The Flying Dutchman: Two patties and two slices of cheese with no bun. This one comes condiment free, unless you make a request. 3-by-3 or 4-by-4: When a double-double burger just isn't enough, add more patties and cheese. 2-by-4: Extra cheese, i.e., a double cheeseburger with four slices of American. Around-the-World shake: A combination of vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice cream swirled together. Neapolitan shake: The three flavors, but side by side and unmixed. In-N-Out will accommodate other special requests as well: Ask for chopped jalapenos, no salt, just mustard or just ketchup, or even specify how well-toasted you want your bun. Fries can also be ordered "well-done" for extra crisp or "lite," for slightly undercooked. There are 199 locations in California, but just one in San Francisco; luckily, the Fisherman's Wharf spot is convenient to get to. 333 Jefferson Street