High airfares and high gas prices have had many people feeling like they are stuck in a corner. Or at least stuck at home. For me, a Twin Cities resident with friends and family in Chicago, the $100 round trips of the past (AirTran and NW) made it easy to call The Windy City a second home. Likewise, my Cubs-loving acquaintances were only an hour or two away from watching a team that has actually won the world series in the past 100 years.

But, rising fares have recently made the two neighboring cities seem farther away than in the past. A drive is still doable, if you have a car that gets good mileage. But there is an even cheaper alternative: Megabus. A ride between MSP and Chicago averages around $25, depending on when you buy your ticket. That's cheaper than one tank of gas. But is it worth it?

Most college students and budget travelers had a certain reverence for the bus line, which is owned by Coach USA. You can't beat the price. But there were a few negatives:

A recent post on Ben Mutsabaugh's Today in the Sky blog focused on statements made by Frontier Airlines CEO Sean Menke. Menke told a Denver newspaper: "I have been very vocal about (low-cost carriers) having to be aligned through some form or fashion...and not necessarily through mergers." That's not a surprising statement from a Frontier exec because of his airline's buddy-buddy relationship with fellow budget carrier AirTran. The two help each other with ticketing, destinations served and promotions.

But the current economy and gas prices may make Frontier's approach to the budget game a model for other LCCs. While some airlines, like Southwest, have the clout to challenge the big boys on their own, most carriers are finding their low-cost business model in jeapordy. Alliances could help when it comes to ticket sales and frequent flier programs, but also with the costs of using airports. A band of small carriers could agree to make a LCC hub at all major airports, sharing gates, ticketing counters, even employees. Helping each other a little could keep them all in the game longer.

You know those television shows where they drop teams off in the middle of nowhere and they have to race across the world with nothing but their wits and trickery to get them by? Well Red Bull might give you the chance to live that dream using your wits, trickery and.... Red Bull to get you across Europe.

Later this month, the German Austrian company is sponsoring an event where 250 teams of three students will race across Western Europe starting in various destinations and headed towards Paris. Teams will be stripped of cash, credit cards and cell phones and instead will be given, you guessed it, Red Bull as currency. Along the way they can stop at various checkpoints to pick up more of the energy drink with which to barter, and in the end all teams will be judged not on time, but on creativity and adventure incurred on the trip.

The first question that comes to my mind is how much Red Bull a team can carry to trade for anything of value. I imagine any serious transaction would require at least a case. Are there also trucks of Red Bull following these students around?

Either way, the journey sounds incredible. Unfortunately, Redbull is no longer taking any American teams. If you can finagle your way onto a foreign team or convince Redbull to let you in though, give it a shot. I wish I could do it. Check out the contest page at redbullcanyoumakeit.com.

If you're a person who likes a free breakfast when you go to a hotel--the donuts and Fruit Loops call out your name the moment you open your eyes in the morning, you might be missing out.

According to a survey conducted for the American Hotel and Lodging Association, of the 10,000 hotels out of 45,000 that participated, they're providing wireless Internet more often, but cutting out the free breakfast. You can get the free breakfast at many-- but don't assume.

Here is a summary of the survey findings to help you compare what you'll be getting for your dollars before you make that reservation.

• 91% offer Internet (15% hotels charge for it, and of those, 75% to 91% of them fit into the luxury to up upscale category)
• 75% have a computer in the lobby for guest use
• 47% have indoor swimming pools.
• 58% have outdoor swimming pools
• 82% have refrigerator in the room
• 40% have only non-smoking rooms
• 25% have allergy-free rooms
• 67% have weekend specials
• 56% allow pets, and of those, 67% charge extra for your four-legged family member.
• 43% have flat-screen TVs
• 48% offer vegan meals
• 66% offer healthy meals
• 70% offer a free newspaper

And about that free breakfast? 59% offer it, but that's down 9% from two years ago, the last time the survey was conducted.

For more details, read the MSNBC article. You'll notice how the changes reflect societal trends and habits.

There are some great travel writers out there; big names like Rolf Potts and Paul Theroux come to mind. There are even online communities like the Matador Network that promote up and coming travel writers, aspiring to a profession where they actually get paid to travel. But despite lugging around a journal and a camera, not everyone is destined to pursue such career.

For the 10th anniversary issues, the editors over at Budget Travel decided to enlist readers to do the writing and photography. Although as Editor in Chief Erik Torkells put it, "I hesitate to make fun of any of our readers, but...a few of the pitches we got were kind of funny."

So here is a sampling of the stories that weren't assigned:

"China. Most challenging restroom facilities. Especially for women. Title: Bathrooms I have Known."

"My dream trip to Tahiti turned out to be a disaster. I vomited on the French man beside me."

"I always thought it would be really cool to make a coffee table book about toilets around the world. Everyone needs them, uses them and they are such a cultural thing... I've heard of the places that are just a hole you stand over. And, since this could be a monumental project... but you would pay the tab... I say we choose a venue that would over a lot of toilets, yet not be a round the world trip. Toilets of the Orient Express. I think it has a nice ring to it..."

"Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands, and Belgium: The best destinations for your final days. A story about death tourism, or the practice of some persons choosing to die in a country other than their own, would certainly grab the attention of readers."

For more un-assigned pitches, go here.

When I lived in Albuquerque, going to New York to visit family meant flying there. It's too far to drive for a quick trip. Then, when I moved to Singapore from Albuquerque, flying was a definite must. The first time I visited New York after moving to Ohio, my brother asked me in a phone conversation, "So what time is your flight?"

'We're driving," I said.

"Oh, that's right. It seems weird that you're driving."

It did seem weird, but what a relief to not be rushing out of the house to try to catch a flight. When the car is loaded, we go. If we forget something and remember it by the time we get to the highway, we go back and get it. If we leave by 9 a.m., we arrive (with stops for a sit down lunch and gas) about eleven hours later. Along the way, we can see where we are going and know what has passed behind us.

If you are ready to visit Europe, even with the Euro soaring against the dollar, you might want to consider some of the money-saving ideas Concierge.com has put together.

Read this article to get Concierge.com's tips for budget-conscious travelers to Europe in the following areas:

1. Spas. They don't have to be expensive.
2. Cruises. They can help you budget and save (if you pick the right ship)
3. Culture. Visit Europe's grand churches and cathedrals. See concerts there for cheap
4. Food. Visit local markets for authentic and cheaper meals
5. Transportation. Rent a bicycle in bike-friendly town. Use public transportation.
6. Accommodation. Camping doesn't have to mean roughing it
7. Beaches. Visit off-the-beaten path beaches
8. Airlines. If you plan it well, budget airlines can save you a bunch.
9. Destinations. Eastern Europe is a big on culture and small on prices. Spend more time in Europe's countryside to save money.

One of my favorite tips was staying in an apartment hotel, instead of a regular hotel. I have done this several times in London and always liked the experience. It's not quite as personal as staying in someone's house, looking at their family photos, but it definitely has more character than your typical hotel. Details here.

As busy working Americans, it can be difficult to tear yourself away from your desk, routines or children's schedules for a few weeks during the normal calendar year. When all of your variables come into line those one or two times, you often find yourself in the middle of summer heading out for a quick week of R&R before you're back at your kid's soccer practice.

The problem is, every other family in America and Europe is thinking the exact same thing and the market knows that. Demand goes up, prices skyrocket, availability goes down and you spend 98% of your vacation finding hotel rooms, booking airplane tickets, mitigating canceled flights, wading through throngs of tourists and chasing after the kids. In the end, you don't really get any time to relax at all. Admit it, you've been there, and you've uttered the words "I need a vacation from vacation" before.

What many people don't realize though is that most of the stress from travel comes from operating at peak times. Think about it: wouldn't getting through the airport to catch your soon-departing flight be easier if you didn't have 700 people in the security line in front of you? Couldn't you spend more on your prawns at dinner if you didn't get gouged on your plane tickets?

Here at Gadling we've compiled a list of top reasons why it's great to travel OFF-season, while the kids are still in school and while it's still cold outside.

1. It's cheaper. If nobody is on vacation, demand and prices are both low. One can easily fly from the East Coast to Europe for under 400$ during the winter months, while summer prices can be up in the thousands. Hotels will follow the same formula.
   
2. It's less crowded. Explore the Vatican or Acropolis at your own pace without getting swallowed by an army of tour groups. It's amazing what you can take in when you're not suffocating.
3. The weather is probably going to be better. If you're from the north or east parts of the country, where ever you're going is probably going to be more temperate than your home during the winter months. Michigan in Feb: 15°. Rome in Feb: 55°.
4. Locals are more welcoming. Dealing with tourist after tourist during high season will wear on the local populous. After cooling down a couple of months, wait staff and service people are going to be immensely friendlier.
5. It's safer. If there are fewer people to pickpocket and less of a crowd to disappear into, thieves will be less active.
6. It's less stressful. Keeping your budget straight while keeping track of your belongings and family while navigating through a city are all easier without the crowd and while knowing that you saved a few bucks.

The trick to pulling this all off is to actually come to terms with the fact that you have to take time off of work. Your kids might miss some school too. It's ok -- they're smart, they'll make it up. When you experience a vacation free from the hassle of peak travel, you'll never go back.

The other day, a friend sent me an email asking for tips for his first backpacking trip.

"So I am starting to plan a trip this Summer to backpack in Europe," he wrote. "But I have not decided where or when."

Being the good friend that I am, I quickly got to work on a response, which turned into a sprawling, 2,000-word mini-guide filled with basic tips on planning your first European backpacking trip.

After I sent it off, I figured that some other backpacking newbies might find it useful, so I decided to post it here.

This is a hotly debatable topic with many varying opinions and, therefore, should by no means be considered definitive; I just wrote about what I know and thought was important for a first-timer in the early planning stages. If you have tips to add, please do so in the comment section!

So, how do they do it? How do all those European budget airlines make a profit charging less than a Euro per seat?

Last summer, Times journalist Mark Frary decided to find out for himself by purchasing a 1 pence Ryanair ticket from London's Stansted Airport to Berlin. Sounds like a steal, right? Not exactly. Like so many other deal seekers on budget airlines, Frary ended up paying far more than that initial 1 pence. How his final cost netted out at £61.84 ($121.15) provides fascinating insight into an amazing business plan that is succeeding despite naysayers predicting otherwise.

Interestingly enough, the wild price of Frary's final bill did not come from the most common source of increased ticket prices on budget airline: baggage fees. This is where the airlines really clean up. Passengers on Ryanair, for example, can check up to three bags. The first, however, costs £5 ($9.80) while each additional bag is £10 ($19.60). In addition, there is a 15 kg (33 lbs.) checked bag allowance. If a passenger exceeds this weight, they pay £5.50 ($10.78) per kilo--which can add up very quickly. And don't even think of transferring your heavier items to your friend's baggage at the airport either. Ryanair's Terms and Conditions clearly state, "No pooling or sharing of baggage allowances is permitted, even within a party traveling on the same reservation."