Last year we took a two week vacation to Italy to visit friends and to go to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre has long been on my list to visit and I always meant to go when I lived there but somehow I never got around to it and then when I wanted to go, it was too late as I was moving away.

For most of us, there is great joy in planning a vacation - the anticipation and research can be thrilling, but it can also be a little overwhelming.  With the summer travel season in full swing, there are countless insider tricks and tips travelers should arm themselves with to guarantee a smooth vacation experience, and most importantly, maximize savings. Travel Expert Sarah Gavin shares her tips to help us find those deals and make the most of our remaining summer vacation time.

One of the hallmarks of the Midwest is gathering - and eating - together. Whether it's family or a chosen family of friends, we love to sit down to good food, laughter, and great conversation. However, each area in the Midwest has different traditions - and Wisconsin has a unique one: that of supper clubs. The state is covered with them - homegrown, comfortable restaurants that serve excellent, tasty, homemade food with such friendliness that other restaurants will start to look rude.

In The Best Things in Life are Free: The Ultimate Money-Saving Travel Guide, the travel experts at Lonely Planet collected the most priceless experiences they've discovered from over 40 years of on-the-ground research into one essential resource. Packed with money-saving tips, tricks and recommendations, The Best Things in Life are Free features 884 free (or almost free) sights and experiences in 60 major cities around the world from Boston to Bangkok.