I was on my way to Chicago and began to wonder about the parking at my hotel. A quick search had my mouth dropping in wonder. I quickly found out that the hotel’s parking cost nearly $50 for self-parking and almost $60 for valet. When you factor in staying three nights, the parking amenities would end up costing nearly the price of my stay. Especially in big cities, hotel amenities that are free or affordable can be hard to come by for the traveler. You need to look for ways to cut back the sting of those big-ticket items. From parking to Internet, here are a few areas that you can research before you check-in to avoid just accepting the hotel’s budget breaking amenities....read more

I was just like other travelers before me as I stood under the Arch in St. Louis. I am in the Gateway to the West not for any particular reason, other than toasted ravioli tasting. The stomach filling and diet-breaking dish was reportedly born out of the Italian neighborhood southwest of the city. Ravioli can just be ravioli, but in St. Louis it is fried up like a fluffed up pillow and served as an appetizer, even if that palette starter is heartier than the main course. In order to understand this quintessential St. Louis food, you must do as I did, go taste it at some of the supposed best restaurants for toasted ravioli. Here are three tastings of toasted ravioli in St. Louis that are sure to leave stomachs bursting and taste buds satisfied....read more

Norway’s capital city of Oslo is one of the most kid-friendly destinations in Europe. Here are some ideas for great ways to spend time as a family (and learn about Norwegian culture and history) in this vibrant and cosmopolitan city....read more

The travel deprived often never see the open road as somewhere that might cause aches for home. However, seasoned travelers know that the grass is always greener on the other side. In lands where you don’t speak the language or merely those weekly business trips to points on a map that are certainly not home, homesickness can creep into the traveler’s itinerary. It is only natural, but it shouldn’t put a rain cloud over your trip. If you are battling the homesickness blues on your travels, try implementing a few of these tips and tricks to make the road feel a little bit like home....read more

The perennially popular Taste of London restaurant festival marks its tenth anniversary this summer with its biggest and best line up to date. The event will be jam packed with world class restaurants, celebrity chefs and lots more foodie fun and activities. The festival takes place from Thursday the 20th to Sunday the 23rd of June in London’s Regent’s Park. The theme of Taste of London 2013 is one of “collaboration and reunion” that is to be realized with UK and international chef talent coming together to celebrate a decade's worth of “culinary magic from the food capital of the world.”...read more