(Courtesy Budget Travel)

Today’s question:

Which city has the most user–friendly public transportation system? They have it all: maps that are clear, routes that get you where you want to go, a ticket–buying process that makes sense. What city gets your vote?

Previous questions:

What is your favorite rental car company?

What is your favorite historical spot in America?

What's the top destination on your bucket list?

Which airport features the best food?

—Marc Peyser

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In other words, you create a hybrid of a photo and a video, choosing one part of your image to stay in motion.

For example, one user has kept in motion flowing fountain in London's Trafalgar Square while leaving the rest of the square motionless.

Another has kept the Mexican flag billowing in the wind while leaving the rest of Mexico City's Plaza de la Constitución still.

SEE SAMPLE IMAGE, BELOW:

Kinotopic debuted in December. It has already more than 140,000 users. It stands out for offering video stabilization and an easy-to-use editing tool. The free app is only available for Apple devices, downloadable from iTunes.

Cinemagram creates similar .GIFs, but it excels for adding four filters, which enable users to give Instagram like shadings, such as retro Polaroid-style tintings, to images. The app costs $2 and is only available for Apple devices through iTunes.

One tragic flaw of both of these apps is that neither one of them give users a way to make their images private. We hope they fix that soon, so that travel photographers can feel free to experiment in this new genre without everyone looking.

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Saugstad is a pro skier and had been given the ABS Avalanche Airbag Backpack by the manufacturer, ABS Avalanche Rescue Services for promotional purposes some time ago. The company couldn't hardly have asked for more publicity for its product.

She says was taking a break with other skiers when the avalanche was spotted. The 33-year-old told ABC News that

“There’s basically a system where you have a lever on the chest part of the backpack.... It’s a normal backpack and when you pull the lever. …It deploys the airbags to fill up with air and what it essentially does is, it keeps you above the avalanche.”

[See the full video interview from ABC News here].

Two men standing near her but lacking backpacks were killed, according to an ESPN editor who happened to also be part of the group and one of the survivors. Officials estimated it was a Class 3 avalanche, which the Avalanche Center website says can destroy a small building and snap trees.

The device was invented in 1985. It hash become popular in Europe within the past few years, but still hasn't gained much acceptance in the US because of its high cost: ranging from $830 to $1,300. That may change as more companies offer the product. The North Face, for example, is about to roll out its own avalanche air bag safety devices.

The backpack has two bags, one on either side, and bags are inflated by compressed nitrogen.

See a video of it in action here:

eep up to date on warnings.
Carry a beacon, probe, and shovel if you are going backcountry skiing.
Yell and let go of ski poles. Use swimming motions. If you end up near the surface, stick out an arm or leg so rescuers can find you.
If the snow is over your head, try to make an air pocket in front of your face with your hands and arms. Take a deep breath and hold it or you might not be able to breathe after the snow sets.
Do not panic. Breathe steadily.

SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL

Hilarious Safety Video from Air New Zealand

(Courtesy Budget Travel)

Today’s question:

What is your favorite rental car company? And tell us why!

Previous questions:

What is your favorite historical spot in America?

What's the top destination on your bucket list?

Which airport features the best food?

—Marc Peyser

MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL

NOMINATE! 15 Places Kids Should See Before 15

21 Girl Trips You Absolutely Love—and Deals to Match

15 Things You Didn't Know About New Orleans

Street food (Fran Golden photo)

In an upcoming issue of Budget Travel we will be tackling the topic of traveler's diarrhea, also known by a bunch of nicknames including Montezuma’s Revenge and Delhi belly.

Our coverage will include food and water safety tips you can use on the road to help you avoid the digestive track disorder.

Yes, the topic may sound a bit gross, but it's a real concern of many travelers (and is more common than you might think). The Center for Disease Control estimates 20% to 50% of international travelers suffer from the malady, which includes stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloating, nausea and vomiting—conditions that can put a real damper on your dream vacation.

The onset usually occurs within the first week of travel, with high-risk destinations including Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, where food and water and sanitary standards may not be the same as at home.

Some travelers swear taking regular doses of Pepto Bismol works as a preventative measure. Others have their own home remedies.

We'll explore both sides of the aisle but we want to hear your stories, questions and concerns in this regard.

What preparation do you do before your trip to check out local food and drinking water conditions?

Are there foods you always avoid while on the road? Do you eat the ceviche? Street vendor treats? Skip the ice cubes?

Do you pack products to keep your hands clean? Use over-the-counter products to prevent indigestion and other stomach ailments? What's in your travel kit.

If the tap water is to be avoided, how do you remind yourself not to wash your toothbrush with it.

What do you do when tap water is the only option?

Please share your experiences. Your comments may appear in an upcoming Trip Coach column.

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Pickpockets are everywhere. Today in London, a court hears testimony in the case of a family of pickpockets working the city’s subways. This past weekend, New York City caught two thieves who snatched iPhones from passengers on the subway. Last month, in suburban Deer Park, Mich., the customer of a Panera Bread restaurant had her purse fleeced, according to police.

To avoid getting robbed, many travelers have been swapping tips on the social networking site Reddit in the past few weeks. There’s even a reader Q&A with someone who claims, persuasively, that he is an amateur pickpocket.

We did the reading and watching of all these pickpocketing tips to skim the best advice. Check out this rundown of some of the strategies travelers use to avoid getting pickpocketed.

• Don’t hang your purse or backpack on a chair in a restaurant. Secure the bag, and keep it within view.

• Keep your wallet in the front pocket of your pants. Better than back pocket or the inside pocket of any jacket.

• Some women wear pushup bras without the padding to insert a few extra items with cloth tape. (Your mileage may vary.)

• Don’t have all your key belongings in one place. Use clothing that has hidden pockets for stashing emergency belongings, such as passports and spare cash. Examples include Scottevest Travel Boxers, which includes an iPhone-sized pocket ($20)

• Ideally wear a money belt, around your waist and under your clothes. Nylon models resist sweat and water better than than cloth kinds. The most praised model is Rick Steves’ Silk Money Belt, from $10 on Amazon. Doug Dyment points out that some people may prefer a belt that hangs down inside your pant leg for greater comfort, though such a model can be less safe.

• Be careful of crowds watching a street performer. While distracted, you make an easier target.

• Beware of any strangers approaching you who start touching you for any reason. A classic trick is for someone to spray you with mustard while you’re not paying attention and then come along and offer to help you clean it off. While they’re cleaning it off and babbling to you in a foreign language, someone is working your pockets.

This is the pickpocketing video:

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Luggage Theft: A Couple May Have Stolen Nearly 1,000 Bags from an Airport (9 comments)

A young boy collects beads at a Mardi Gras parade. (Courtesy bitmask/Flickr)

Are you ready for Mardi Gras 2012? Parades have been taking place around New Orleans every weekend since February 4th, leading up to the main event this Tuesday, February 21st, historically the day before start of the Catholic season of Lent. While most of us may envision wild teenagers and scantily–clad women when the phrase Mardi Gras is mentioned, it is traditionally a family season of celebration. Many New Orleans natives have been known to attend the festivities with the whole family, letting the kids collect beads, toys, and other goodies. Here are a few tips for those of you planning to make this year's event a family affair.

Stick to the Garden District: The good thing about Mardi Gras is there is something for everyone. The official website for Mardi Gras New Orleans recommends families stick to the calmer garden district where crowds are smaller and there is a more family–friendly atmosphere, particularly along St. Charles Ave. between First St. and Napoleon Ave. It's also a good idea to check out local area parades happening in Metairie, Slidell, and Westbank for other toned–down celebrations. Be sure to check the day's parade schedule before you head out.

Be prepared for fast-changing weather: Make sure you and your family wear layers, as typical New Orleans weather can be rather unpredictable.

Help your kids get their share of the goodies: An article by NewOrleans.com recommends bringing a ladder so that kids can have a "box seat" and be higher up to catch more prizes thrown from the floats. Most importantly, bring along a few tote bags to carry all the beads, stuffed animals, and other goodies you're bound to catch during the parade. Be careful that the youngsters are catching them from the air, not picking up discarded beads on the grounds, which might be broken and sharp.

Breathe new life into old Halloween costumes: Dressing up is half of the fun! Use the parade as an excuse to break out that old Halloween costume or make it an arts and crafts opportunity and construct the most creative, feathery, sequined mask you can imagine.

Don't get lost in the crowd: Odds are, whichever parade you chose will be pretty crowded. Choose a meeting place just in case one of your group gets separated from the rest, and write your child's name and phone number on their shirt tag or give them a card with that information on it to keep in their pocket for the day. Stay in touch with older kids with a cell phone and check in with each other throughout the day.

Teach your children well: Use Mardi Gras as a learning opportunity. Teach everyone about the historical and traditional significance of the parade, masks, and colors—gold for power, green for faith, and purple for justice—or take them to Mardi Gras World to learn about krewes and see how the floats are built. (Tickets are $19.95 for adults, $12.95 for children ages 2 to 11, and $15.95 for seniors over age 65).

We want to know: Did you ever bring your kids to Mardi Gras, or did you go as a youngster with your own family?

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AirFrance A380 (Courtesy AirFrance)

It's no secret that fuel prices and economies on both sides of the Atlantic have been volatile of late, and consequently airfares are in flux too.

As you start to plan your summer vacation, do you have a mental cap? Some say that once the price of the airfare exceeds the total cost of the rest of trip, travelers will forgo the destination.

Lufthansa flights from Los Angeles to Frankfurt in July range from about $1,600 to $1,850. And of course these are all economy fares.

A search for flights on Kayak from Dallas to Amsterdam brought up rates that started at $1,553 on Delta.

What about you? How much are you willing to pay for a flight to Europe this summer and what is your strategy for trying to get the best fare possible?

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Fares to Europe May Spike in 2012 Due to International Showdown

(Courtesy Budget Travel)

Today’s question:

What is your favorite historical spot in America? It could be a museum, a monument, or a battlefield—as long as it’s old.

Previous questions:

What's the top destination on your bucket list?

Which airport features the best food?

—Marc Peyser

MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL

NOMINATE! 15 Places Kids Should See Before 15

12 Elevators You Need to See to Believe

21 Girl Trips You Absolutely Love—and Deals to Match

On Thursday, TripAdvisor reviews were made available on Kayak.com in the U.S. and on Kayak.co.uk in Great Britain. .

TripAdvisor logo (Courtesy Kayak)

Kayak said it will be be adding the feature to its global sites and mobile apps in the near future.

The news come just as TripAdvisor came under attack earlier this month by British advertising watchdog group Advertising Standards Authority, which deemed that TripAdvisor's claim that it "offers trusted advice from real travelers" is not a totally accurate one.

ASA, an independent body based in London that investigates claims of whether advertisements are honest and truthful, this month issued a report about TripAdvisor.co.uk, sister site to TripAdvisor.com.

ASA's concern is that while reviewers are asked to agree that their review was indeed their own genuine opinion of the hotel, that they have no personal or business affiliation with the hotel, and have not been offered an incentive to write the review, "we also noted that reviewers were not asked to similarly confirm that they had no competitive interest in the place they were reviewing, or were posting a review on behalf of a competitor or other interested party, and we did not consider that agreeing to a declaration in itself would necessarily prevent non-genuine reviews from being posted on the site," ASA wrote.

Furthermore, ASA noted that reviews can be posted to the site without any form of verification, and that while TripAdvisor does monitor and address suspicious activity, it is possible that non-genuine content to make its way onto the site undetected.

"We told TripAdvisor not to claim or imply that all the reviews that appeared on the website were from real travelers, or were honest, real or trusted," ASA concluded.

How do you use TripAdvisor and do you feel that the reviews are genuine?

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Travel Product Concepts We're Rooting For

To encourage travelers to get a headstart on outdoors season, camping giant KOA is once again offering a BOGO (buy one, get one) free special. On the weekend of May 11-12, one night's lodging fee covers a two-night stay. The promotion is available for guests who are doing traditional tent camping, or who elect not to rough it one of KOA's other lodging options, which include standard and deluxe cabins.

(Courtesy dawnhops/flickr)

KOA calls the early-season promotion the "Come Kamp and Care With Us Weekend," and this year marks the ninth year it'll be held. The "Care" part of the weekend is due to the fact that funds raised help KOA's network of 44 campgrounds that serve kids fighting cancer.

While the numbers indicate that fewer and fewer Americans are going camping, there's at least one growth area for campgrounds: shelter that's sturdier and more comfortable than a tent. These days, in addition to classic campsties, campgrounds are likely to have yurts, cabins, cottages, and even full-fledged homes.

KOA says that its fastest-growing style of lodging is the "Kamping Lodge," a rectangular home with a kitchen, running water (hot and cold), and even A/C. With space for six, lodges start at around $90 per night.

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Skycare Chair, a prototype of an airplane-accessible wheelchair (Courtesy Chicago-based inventor Brian Liang)

In the past year, teams of students, engineers, product designers, computer programmers, and entrepreneurs have been developing prototypes of inventions designed to help travelers take control of their trips.

Recognizing a need to update travel gear, innovators have been applying fresh thinking to the design of common items. We here at Budget Travel wish hotels, airlines, and the rest of the travel industry do more experimenting along these lines to improve the travel experience, such as airplane wheelchairs, GPS-powered eyewear, and smarter power adapters.

Here are a few examples of promising travel products that recently caught our eyes. Note that these are prototypes and are not yet available for sale.

The Skycare Chair
This prototype wheelchair is designed by Brian Liang for the specific constraints of airplane passengers. By placing the wheels under the chair, it enables the seat to navigate narrow aircraft aisles. A lever-based system enables a person with limited use of his or her legs to get in and out, plus propel down an aisle. The chair collapses for compact storage.

Computerized Eyewear
There's a rumor that Google is testing "Google Glasses," eyewear that can overlay on the surface of one lens relevant information about what you're seeing, such as GPS-based walking directions, according to the blog The New York Times confirms talk of Google selling these glasses by year-end.

Portable Power Socket
Anh Nguyen has prototyped a universal power adapter that cleverly adjusts to geographic and domestic locations. Travelers can carry it with them and fit the metal prongs into any region’s cables, with an automatic voltage adapter built-in. Unlike existing "universal adapters," this one would be cute and come with a built-in extension cord, for easy use in hotel rooms.

Hey, manufacturers! Stop being complacent. It's time to pay attention to a new generation of designers and prototype mavens.

What products do you wish inventors would improve? Feel free to share your insights in the Comments.

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5 Ways to Keep Your Cords Tidy and Organized

An ox cart on Myanmar’s Ngapali Beach, on the Bay of Bengal. (Courtesy donutdollie/myBudgetTravel)

We’re sometimes so quick to call a travel destination "a land of contradictions," the phrase has all but lost its meaning. Except, maybe, where Myanmar is concerned.

Never heard of Myanmar? Maybe that’s because the country of about 48 million is also—and better—known as Burma. Don’t know where it is? Look in South Asia between the Bay of Bengal and China. Why should you consider traveling there? Gorgeous empty beaches (such as Ngapali, on the Bay of Bengal), boutique hotels, and a welcoming Buddhist culture that prizes civility and devotion.

And that’s where Myanmar’s big contradiction comes in. Until recently, its peaceful population was ruled by a military dictatorship that suppressed free speech and political opposition, jailing more than 1,000 dissidents and opponents. Since 1990 the U.S. has had no ambassador to Myanmar, and the country’s pro–democracy leaders urged an international travel boycott. But things are changing fast. In response to economic sanctions and regional pressures, Myanmar held elections in 2010 and its first civilian president took office last year. Hundreds of political prisoners have been released and parliamentary elections are scheduled for April 1.

In January, the U.S. restored full diplomatic ties to Myanmar. The move was seen as a reward for the country’s strides toward a freer society. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton paid a visit in December—the first by a senior U.S. official in 50 years—and U.S. Congressmen and diplomats from Western Europe are now regularly traveling there. On the other hand, despite the thaw in relations, the U.S. still insists that Myanmar’s 2010 elections were neither free nor fair, and an ethnic civil war rages in the northern hills, where Burmese soldiers fire mortar rounds on villages and burn and loot homes.

Does the restoration of full relations with Myanmar mean you should consider it as a travel destination? In 2010, while the travel boycott was still in effect, only about 16,000 U.S. citizens traveled there, according to Myanmar’s Ministry of Hotels and Tourism; travel–industry attention and anecdotal evidence from package–tour companies such as Friendly Planet and General Tour World Traveler suggest that that number will rise. (Twelve–day package tours that include airfare can be had for less than $3,000).

Last December, after Secretary Clinton’s visit, This Just In asked “Would You Go to Myanmar?” Now that full diplomatic relations have been restored, are you any more likely to go?

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Good news: You don't have to actually fly within the allotted time to keep miles alive. Providing your frequent flier number when you make reservations for a rental car or hotel room will protect your miles while also earning a few more. In some cases, using a credit card affiliated with the airline counts as account activity—keeping your miles fresh. (Ask your credit card issuer or frequent flier customer service number for details.)

For the rest of us, a simple way to keep miles active is to do a little shopping at the online malls that reward programs have, with links to businesses where you probably already shop, such as Old Navy, Target, and Starbucks.

Sign in at one of these online malls with your frequent-flier number and buy a product. This will count as activity, keeping all of the miles in your account active. You don't need to use an airline-affiliated credit card to benefit, either. Just register at the online malls.

(Courtesy oneworld)

You'll find an airline's shopping portal by visiting its website and looking for its shopping portal. For example, on Southwest.com, you'll find a link to Southwest Airlines's mall

Earn Miles or Higher Interest on Your Vacation Fund

The Risks of Churning Mileage Credit Cards

(Courtesy Budget Travel)

Today’s question:

Which airport features the best food? We’re not talking the most fast–food places (though if that’s your thing, do make your case!). We want to know where you’d find the kind of meal (either sit–down or take–away) that’s yummy enough to compete with what you can get in your hometown. Please include enough details—the name of the restaurant(s) as well as your favorite dishes—to whet our appetites.

Previous question:

What's the top destination on your bucket list?

—Marc Peyser

MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL

NOMINATE! 15 Places Kids Should See Before 15

21 Girl Trips You Absolutely Love—and Deals to Match

8 Worst-Case Travel Scenarios