If you have a short layover in a city, whether it’s between flights, waiting for a train, or waiting to board a cruise ship, here are some ways to store you luggage while you do some sightseeing.

The long-planned merger between Delta and Northwest airlines was officially approved Wednesday by U.S. Department of Justice officials, clearing the way for the two companies to team up to become the world’s largest airline.

The deal was under scrutiny for six months by anti-trust regulators at the DOJ who were investigating whether the merger would threaten consumers or give the company an unfair advantage in the marketplace.

They concluded that rather than hurt competition, the merger would actually “result in efficiencies such as cost savings in airport operations, information technology, supply chain economics, and fleet optimization that will benefit consumers.”

Los Angeles may be known for its movie stars and year-round sunshine, but there’s also a dark side to the city.

Over the past century, many headline-grabbing murders have taken place in the City of Angels.

From the mysterious death of the Black Dahlia, to the less-mysterious murder of Nicole Brown, Los Angeles is brewing with intriguing murder sites.

If you have a flair for the macabre, take a day trip around Los Angeles to see five murderous sites that will chill you to the bone, even in 70-degree weather.

November 1, 2008

Peter is broadcasting from the Big Easy this weekend! He’ll be talking travel from the Harrah’s New Orleans Hotel & Casino.

Roger Dow, President of Travel Industry Association, looks ahead and will talk about how economy and travel will fare over the next several months.

Robert Florence, historian and tour guide for Tour New Orleans, will give us a snapshot of some of the city’s must-see places. www.tourneworleans.com

Greg Melville, author of Greasy Rider, will share the tales of how he and a buddy drove their vegetable oil-powered car from one coast to the other, and the adventures that took place in between. www.gregmelville.com

Marci Schramm, executive director of French Quarter Festivals gives us the rundown on upcoming festivals, places and food. www.fqfi.org

Sean Cummings, CEO of the New Orleans Building Corporation, will talk about the revitalization of the riverfront and what we can expect to see over the next several years to come. www.neworiverfront.com

Jay Weigel, executive director of the Contemporary Arts Center will fill us in on the city’s flourishing theater and performing arts scene. www.cacno.org

The New York Times’ Frugal Traveler Matt Gross offers his advice on how to travel through Europe on less than €100 a day.

And, local jazz musician Jeremy Davenport will chat about the music of NOLA, and give us a sample treat, live on the air. www.jeremydavenport.com

And … you! Don’t forget to call in with your travel questions to 1-888-88-PETER.

 

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You listen to the full show from Peter’s broadcast on October 25, 2008 from Westfield, New Jersey.

Guests include New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, authors Mark Moran, Mark Sceurman, Deborah Sharp, and Patricia Martinelli, museum director Mark Albin, journalist Rebecca Ruiz, and packing expert Mary McAlpine.

Click more for a complete description and clips from the show.

 

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Long road trips can be boring if you only get to see the side of the highway. So here are some resources to help you plan your trip in advance so you don’t waste fuel and time driving around looking for things to do.

First there was the National Museum of Pasta, then there was the International Museum of Film & Entertainment (though a better Italian translation might be Cinema & Show Business). And don’t forget the Roman Aqueduct Museum (not actually in Rome).

And just in case you thought there weren’t enough weird specialty museums in Italy to amuse and instruct even the most jaded been-there-done-that traveler, now you can add an insanity museum to the list.

Known as The Mind’s Museum, or the Museo Della Mente in Italian, this Roman museum is actually not new, but was re-opened recently after a long renovation project.

Halloween is just around the corner, which means it’s time to round up the USA’s scariest, spookiest, ookiest hotels.

Peter took to the Today show to tell Amy Robach about some of the country’s most haunted hotels.

The list covers some of America’s most historic hotels, as well as some newly-reopened gems.

As an added bonus, many of these hotels are affordable and close to home, making them an option for a short trip.

In these shaky economic times, you won’t have to say boo-bye to your vacation.