WATCH: Delta's Hysterical New Safety Video Stars the Whole Internet!

We've got family travel on the brain, the theme for our May/June digital edition of Budget Travel magazine (now available on BudgetTravel.com, in the Apple App Store, on Google Play, and for Nook and Kindle). To get into the spirit of things, we asked several of our staff members to share when they were first bitten by the "travel bug." Here's what they said: "The moment I stepped off the ferry in Martha's Vineyard as a boy. A whole new world just a road trip away from the Bronx." —Robert Firpo-Cappiello, Executive Editor "When I was 15, I saved up all my babysitting money so I could fly to visit my uncle on the East Coast and see New York City for the first time." —Jamie Beckman, Senior Editor "My first flight at age four. I've been told I cried because we had to land!" —Kaeli Conforti, Digital Editor "I've been traveling since before I can remember! I was only one when I took my first plane ride to San Diego." —Jennifer O'Brien, Marketing Manager "My first family vacation, when my parents let us kids smuggle 11 live hermit crabs into my mom's purse coming home from the Bahamas." —Whitney Tressel, Photo Editor "I think I came into the world this way. I've always been a wanderer." —Elaine Alimonti, President, Publisher "In my early 20s, when my sister became a flight attendant and I used her buddy passes for quick last-minute trips."—Cathy Allendorf, Director of Digital Media "My parents definitely instilled a wanderlust. We drove all over the United States, and the minute I was making enough money, I got a passport and spent a month in Europe." —Jeannea Spence, Southeast Advertising Manager "I went to the Florida Keys for my senior high school spring break. I loved the sense of freedom in a tropical climate." —Chad Harter, Lead Developer Now it's your turn: We want to know, when were you first bitten by the "travel bug"? Tell us about it below!

I love cooking for my family. I especially love introducing them to dishes and flavors that I've encountered in my travels. And when I walk into my kitchen intent on dishing up something fresh and Italian, my first question is often "What would Elizabeth cook?" Elizabeth Minchilli, a Budget Travel contributor and author of the best-selling apps Eat Rome, Eat Florence, and Eat Venice, has published an incredible memoir, Eating Rome: Living the Good Life in the Eternal City (St. Martin's Press, 2015), that absolutely breathes its subject. Having known Elizabeth for years, I fully expected the book to deliver delightful, sometimes surprising recipes and locals-only intel on restaurants. It sure does. What I didn't expect, and what makes Eating Rome essential for Budget Travelers, is Elizabeth's insight and anecdotes about everyday life in Rome. One example that particularly struck me: If you lived in Rome, meeting your friends for coffee after dropping the kids at school would not be a once-in-a-while "me time" experience. You might very well do it every morning. Eating Rome will also show you how to order that morning coffee like a local; usher you into the world of unspoken rules and customs you need to know when shopping at markets, ordering gelato, or simply asking what's on the day's menu; and deliver recipes that let you live a little more like a Roman not only on vacation but every day. Your turn: Tell us what you're reading now by tagging #BTReads on social media! Or let us know below in the comments.

The fatal derailment of an Amtrak train in Philadelphia Tuesday evening raises serious concerns about the safety of U.S. train travel. As I write this, it's been determined that the train was traveling at more than 100 mph (twice its speed limit). At least seven people were killed and more than 200 injured. Compounding the seriousness of Tuesday's crash is the fact that there have been several similar disasters involving Amtrak, freight trains, and commuter rail lines in the U.S. recently: On Wednesday, a public transit bus collided with a CSX freight train in Atlanta. Earlier this month, an Amtrak train headed to New Orleans from Chicago collided with a truck that had stalled on the tracks in Amite, Louisiana, killing the driver and injuring several passengers. The commuter rail line that I ride into Manhattan, the MTA Metro North Hudson line, suffered a fatal derailment in the Bronx in 2013. The Metro North Harlem line was the scene of a fatal crash involving an SUV struck by a northbound train in Mt. Kisco, NY, this past February. Like everyone, we have questions about the safety of America's railroad infrastructure and the enforcement of best practices such as speed limits. We understand that repairing and replacing infrastructure is a massive, multi-year undertaking. We believe a review of best practices, hiring, and training at Amtrak and at commuter rail lines is likely to follow this latest crash. In the very near term, we are asking the same question raised by former U.S. transportation secretary Ray LaHood, who rides Amtrak's Northeast Corridor often. LaHood served from 2009 to 2013 and has asked whether seat belts on trains will help keep passengers safe in the event of a crash.  (The Associated Press has noted that a study by Britain's Rail Safety and Standards Board recommended against seat belts, having concluded that seat belts would not reduce the number of serious injuries.) Of course we love train travel and we love the options Amtrak provides U.S. travelers who want to explore their country car-free. We also applaud the growth of commuter rail, light rail, and subway and bus systems as affordable, eco-friendly, and convenient ways of navigating our urban areas. But our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the Philadelphia crash, and we look forward to seeing concrete actions taken to ensure the safety of train travel in the U.S.

ABC News reports that an Oregon woman believes her family of four was kicked off a flight by United Airlines because her 15-year-old daughter has autism. A variety of accounts confirm that the family asked the flight staff for special consideration for their daughter's food preferences, noting that the girl, who has trouble communicating, would have a "meltdown" if she was not provided with a hot meal. After initial resistance from a flight attendant, the girl was served rice with jambalaya and she traveled quietly and did not disturb her fellow passengers. Reports also confirm that after the girl's needs had been met, the plane made an unexpected landing and the captain requested the assistance of medics and police in removing the girl and her family from the flight. The family has filed a complaint with the Department of Transportation. But for those of us who've traveled with babies; toddlers; children and adults with sensory integration issues such as autism or behavioral challenges such as attention deficit and hyperactivity; and older adults with physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges, this incident literally hit home. Do some airlines discriminate against passengers with special needs? United Airlines makes a solid commitment to travelers with special needs on its website, as do all the major carriers. And at least one U.S. airport has gone the extra mile to help prepare autistic kids for travel: We applaud the Boston Logan airport for holding Wings for Autism events that allow families with autistic children to get to know the airport and the travel process, from entering the airport to check-in, security, and boarding. It's a great way for the kids to get more comfortable with the experience, and also helps travel professionals become more aware of the challenges faced by children with special needs. We only wish the program would be adopted by more airports! We want to know: Have you experienced discrimination on the basis of special needs when flying?