You'll never call the hotel front desk again

Regardless of who's traveling or where they're going, the couples and families we send on trips for our Trip Coach column eventually all ask the same question: Where should we eat? I get it. Food matters—the way it brings people together, gives us insight into other cultures, reminds us to slow down, or, when it's really good, completely stops us in our tracks. This is never more true than when we travel. If you're like me, your answer to the "how was your trip?" question inevitably comes around to the food: the perfect crêpe with Nutella in France; the käsekrainer (cheese-stuffed sausage) and hot spiced wine that kept you warm during a sub-zero Christmas fair in Vienna; the delicious, stick-to-your-ribs marathon dinners your Hungarian hostess prepared to fatten you up. What we eat, and whom we eat it with, shapes our trip and, ultimately, our impression of the place. Food and place are inextricably linked. We recount our journeys partly through the memories of great food because it's a really important part of a much bigger picture. Any of you have great food stories? What role does food play in your travels? Feel free to share your thoughts below.

While in Boston the weekend before last, my partner and I had a crummy hotel experience. It wasn't that the hotel was terrible, it just didn't live up to our expectations--and the fact that Boston hotel rates are high only raised the bar. I'm not naming the hotel for two reasons: 1) We may have just had bad luck; 2) The hotel emailed asking how our stay was, and Adam answered honestly (if more nicely than I would have). The hotel's front-office director responded by apologizing and refunding one night (of the two we stayed there!) to Adam's credit card. The moral: Don't be afraid to tell management how you feel. You may not get anything, but you may get something. P.S. They didn't know I'm affiliated with a travel magazine and website.

Travel is one of those things that you'd get really good at if you did them all the time. Unfortunately, few people get to do it all the time—including the staff of Budget Travel. So we're pooling our knowledge: We ask you a question, you share your advice, and then we spotlight the most helpful tips in a future magazine issue. This week's question is:"My friends and I will be spending New Year's (Dec. 28-Jan. 2) in New Orleans. For most of us, it'll be our first time in Louisiana. We would like to explore the area while being respectful. Can you recommend any swamp or plantation tours? What are some great local restaurants? Do we need to rent a car the entire time? What are the best day trip options? Any other can't-miss activities?" —Amy Chen, Assistant Editor EARLIER: Readers answer a question about shopping in Vietnam.