While T+L has its own little black book of hotel tips and air travel tricks, we wanted to take a page out of yours too.

So we teamed up with CNN to solicit advice from its seasoned iReporters as part of our Ways to Travel Better campaign—and posed some questions to get them going.

What's your secret to navigating a crowded airport? How about a tip for nabbing a table at the hottest restaurant in town? Do you have a favorite money-saving app or website?

"Use the bookmark feature on Yelp to map the things you're interested in checking out," suggested Amelia Jo Hruby of Chicago, "so you're not running across town all day."

Other iReporters chimed in with tips for packing, from keeping essential medicines in a ready-to-go bag to stashing a pair of socks in your carry-on, so you don't have to tread where thousands of travelers' bare feet have been.

Read on for more of their advice, and tell us what indispensable lessons you've learned on the road in the comments below, or on Twitter with hashtag #TravelBetter.

1. When buying tickets: 

“Buy tickets to major sights online before you go. You can skip the long ticket lines when you get there.” — David McTier, Huntsville, Texas

2. When packing:

“Choose your shoes first, and then the clothes that work with them. Look for neutral and flexible colors for the greatest versatility.” — Quia Querisma, Plano, Texas

3. When flying:

“For complicated trips, I like flight-research startup site Flightfox, where experts compete to help you reduce the total cost of your ticket by fare hunting and tapping regional budget carriers.” — Vince Wong, New York, New York

4. When dealing with frequent-flyer miles:

“Be patient and don’t cash in your miles to fly domestically. Save them for the big-ticket international airfare.” — Matthew Colver, Castle Rock, Colorado

5. When comparing costs:

“The website Rome2Rio makes transportation decisions easy by comparing the travel time and cost of flying, driving, and taking the train between two destinations.” — Sharon LeMaster, Decatur, Georgia

6. When going through security:

“I keep a pair of socks in my carry-on. I slip them on so I don’t have to touch the ground where thousands of other travelers’ feet have been.” — Heather R. Helline, Cleveland, Ohio 

Keep reading for more travel tips >

More from Travel + Leisure:

• Best Travel Gifts Of 2013
• Secret Caribbean Hotels
• America's Coolest Street Art
• America's Best Cities For Hipsters
• Best Places To Unplug From Technology And Relax

SEE ALSO: Experienced Business Travelers Reveal Their Favorite Travel Tips

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Reddit has been buzzing about a dad who takes his young kids' drawings on business trips and colors them in to pass the time on the plane.

It's both an adorable collaboration between father, son and daughter as well as an impressive collection of surrealist art. We reached out to the artist, Fred Giovannitti, who goes by Tatsputin on Reddit, to find out more.

"I invent industrial equipment designed to save and protect the world's marine ecosystems," he wrote. "To help pay for this, I travel 10 days each month to Las Vegas, where I own a small tattoo studio."

When he's not traveling, Giovannitti lives in Delaware with his wife and two children, eight-year-old Freddie and six-year-old Sofia.

"Sometimes people seem like they don't want to bother me so they keep quiet," Giovannitti said in an email to Business Insider, "Other times, with the more sociable flight mates, they think I'm coloring my own drawings and are always surprised to hear the story behind what I'm doing."

His work with tattoos inspired the way he chose to shade the drawings with colored pencils. Lately, he has started experimenting with coloring his kids' drawings on his iPad using the ArtStudio app after snapping a photo of the line drawing. Giovannitti said it actually takes less time for him to work with the colored pencils because he's more comfortable with the medium, but either way, he can finish a drawing in one of the three-hour legs of his flight across the country. 

"Although I will be dabbling more on the tablet," Giovannitti wrote, "I'll be sticking to the pencils mostly for our future collaborations."

Giovannitti colored this Santa just this week based on a drawing by his daughter Sofia.

Giovannitti also colored this holiday elf this week based on a drawing by his son Freddie.

This alien was colored using the iPad app ArtStudio.

The French charity the Mimi Foundation told 20 cancer patients they would give them makeovers. All that was required of them was to keep their eyes closed to make the reveal more exciting. The patients expected that when they opened their eyes, they would look beautiful — but they got something else completely.

The first 1:30 of this video may seem straight out of a clichéd charitable makeover video. Then it takes quite the unexpected turn: 

Leo Burnett France collaborated with the French non-profit the Mimi Foundation on the project. They were inspired by a patient's statement that before cancer, she used to be much more carefree.

The idea was that the 20 participants' discovery of how silly they looked "allowed them to forget their disease, if only for a second," according to the campaign's press release.

The makeovers took place in Brussels in June, and the participants reunited last month for the launch party of a book collecting photographer Vincent Dixon's images of surprise and delight.

"Within a second, smiling faces were seen all over the room. At that very moment, cancer did not exist for the family members either."

You can order the book and learn more about the campaign, launched today, at the "If Only for a Second" website.

Here are a few pages from the book, courtesy of the Mimi Foundation:

SEE ALSO: Watch The Astonishing Timelapse Makeover Of This Homeless Veteran

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When it comes to tipping waiters, 15% no longer cuts it.

That's according to a new study from data provider PayScale, which finds that the typical American leaves tips of more than 19% for wait staff. The finding largely holds true across generations, regions, income brackets, and genders, suggesting that bigger tips are part of a widespread cultural shift.

"It's something that has been evolving over time, that the standard of 15% has been changing," said Katie Bardaro, lead economist for PayScale. "It seems to be an overall migration."

Here's a quick breakdown of the data:

Both men and women tip waiters generously, at nearly 20%. 

Most income brackets tip generously as well, though people making less than $25,000 still stick closer to 15%.

Of the regions in the U.S. that are defined by the Census, New England tips the most. The West South Central region (that's Arkansas, Lousiana, Oklahoma, and Texas) tips the least.

It's important to keep in mind that the tips waiters get make up the bulk of their income. According to PayScale's data, waiters make 62.71% of their hourly income from tips. That's second only to gaming dealers.

"When you don't tip your waiter, you're actually costing them a large portion of their take-home pay," Bardaro says.

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Cutting coupons and diving headfirst into the sales bin aren't the only ways to save a few dollars. You may save yourself time and money by buying used goods.

For some things, there's just no point paying full price when you can find the same quality in a second-hand or used product that's a fraction of the cost.

Here are a number of items you'd be better off buying used.

Bicycles

Like cars, new models of bicycles come out every season, which means you're likely to see older models pop up online with lower price tags during colder seasons like fall and winter.

If prices at your local bike shop aren't appealing, try Craigslist or eBay. But before you buy online, be sure to do due diligence. If an ad seems fishy or uses a stock image, the bike might have been stolen. 

Textbooks

Textbooks can cost upwards of $200 for some courses. For a pre-medical student with a full class schedule, that could mean dropping up to $1,000 on reading material per semester.

Renting, borrowing, or buying books second-hand are the simplest ways to save. A few of our favorite sites: Chegg.com, Swoopthat.com, Half.com, Swap.com and Amazon's Book Rental.

Children's clothing

We wouldn't recommend going the used route on important items like car seats or strollers, but when it comes to children's clothing, which is likely to get wrecked by smashed carrots anyway, there's no shame in saving. 

Try browsing reputable thrift shops in your neighborhood or, of course, asking friends and family for hand-me-downs. And if all else fails, try re-seller sites like Swapbabygoods.com.

Cars

Everyone loves that "new car" smell, but the minute you drive a fresh car off the lot, its value drops by about 20%. And after just five years, fuggedaboutit.

"A used car that's five years old can typically be about a third of the price of a new car, and the insurance is a lot less than it would be for a new car," according to Investing Answers. 

Buying used cars is an economical choice, but be wary of hitting the used car lot before doing your research. Sites like Kelley Blue Book are great places to get an idea of how much a used car should be worth.

Household appliances

Before you cart off a few thousand dollars worth of kitchen appliances from Sears, think about buying big ticket items from friends and family or online. 

Things like refrigerators and washing machines are plentiful on Craigslist, and smaller kitchen appliances like blenders, mixers, and microwaves are easiest to score.

You're in real luck if you have a pair of friends who recently moved in together. Chances are they won't want duplicate appliances cluttering their cabinets. 

Toys for your tots

Do your budget a favor, and skip Toys R Us for more affordable, used options from Craigslist, eBay, Swap.com, or your neighborhood yard sales. Each is a gold mine when it comes to finding cheap but still usable cast-off toys.

Chance are your 5-year-old won't remember whether the Tonka truck you bought him for Christmas was used or not when he's pushing 30.

Furniture

Re-seller sites like Craigslist are treasure troves for anyone looking for used furniture. And if you're not willing to put up with flaky sellers or bed bug threats, don't be afraid to ask family and friends to see if they're looking to get rid of any furniture.

Check out FleaPortal and Collectors.org for a list of different indoor and outdoor flea markets in the U.S., too. 

Thrift shops like Goodwill and the Salvation Army both offer furniture, but be sure to call in advance. Not all shops carry larger items like bed frames and dressers. 

Wedding attire

Remember, no bridesmaid should pay full price for a gown she'll only wear once. What you can't rent from sites like Renttherunway.com or Bagborrowsteal.com, check out consignment shops or thrifts stores for gently used formal wear.

For brides-to-be on a budget, check out the virtual racks on Recycledbride.com to score discount gowns and accessories that no one will ever guess were used.

Lucky fellas might score a tux for a fancy cocktail dinner and still be able to afford tailoring with the cash they saved by buying used. You can re-sell the garments you only wear once — just be kind to them so you'll get as much of their value back as possible.

Entertainment

If you're on the prowl for fresh DVDs, Blu-Rays, video games, or music, there's no reason to buy them full price.

Amazon, eBay, and Swap.com are among the best places to score deals on entertainment. 

Electronics like game consoles and laptops are another story. You can certainly find excellent bargains by purchasing them secondhand online, but you likely won't be able to get a warranty with them. 

Jewels

Before you head to over to Tiffany's, do your bank account a solid and consider this slightly less whimsical option: the pawn shop. 

Trust us, not all those shelves are filled with broken appliances and knickknacks of questionable origin. The fact is that jewels — especially diamonds — have a terribly low resale value.

That's great news for the clever consumer who hits up estate sales or other resellers to find new bling. 

Designer threads

If you're in your 20s and you've never hosted or been to a clothing swap night with your friends, you are seriously missing out. Swaps are a great way to score designer gear you'd never be able to afford yourself.

If you're unimpressed by your buddies' fashion sense, then there are plenty of vintage or online swap sites like Bag, Borrow or Steal to quench your thirst for threads.

Be sure to scout the shops first, either by checking out their reviews on Yelp or stopping by in person. If they seem unorganized or have a reputation for crappy clothing, you're probably better off avoiding them. 

SEE ALSO: 5 Things You Didn't Know About The Dollar Store

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In 1993, Nelson Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk won the Nobel Peace Prize for their tireless work ending apartheid in South Africa. Mandela had recently spent 27 years behind bars for his political views.

Just a year later, he achieved an enormous victory for racial equality, becoming the first black president of South Africa as well as the first official elected there in multiracial polling.

His inauguration speech became a point of worldwide pride, and people started quoting it — but they got one part wrong.

We've all heard the reference:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are weak. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world ... As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

But this quote doesn't appear in any of his three public inauguration speeches, according to the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory.

"As far as I know, [Mandela] has never used the quote in any of his speeches, and we have catalogued about 1,000 thus far," Razia Saleh, an archivist at the foundation, said.

In reality, self-help guru Marianne Williamson wrote this passage in her 1989 spiritual best-seller, "A Return To Love." The last line of the quote misattributed to Mandela — "As we are liberated from our own fear ..." —  Williamson actually used to end her book. Somehow, the Internet credited two different passages from her to Mandela. She's even acknowledged the mistake.

"Several years ago, this paragraph from 'A Return To Love' began popping up everywhere, attributed to Nelson Mandela's 1994 Inaugural Address. As honored as I would be had President Mandela quoted my words, indeed he did not. I have no idea where that story came from, but I am gratified that the paragraph has come to mean so much to so many people," Williamson wrote on her website. 

Brian Morton puts it best in The New York Times:

"Picture it: Mr. Mandela, newly free after 27 years in prison, using his inaugural platform to inform us that we all have the right to be gorgeous, talented and fabulous, and that thinking so will liberate others," he wrote.

Pretty ridiculous.

SEE ALSO: 12 People Who Shouldn't Have Won The Nobel Peace Prize

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Three Lamborghinis crashed into each other and went up in flames in Malaysia this morning, according to Yahoo! News.

The local fire and rescue chief told The New Straits Times that the drivers were unhurt, and two fire engines arrived about seven minutes after the crash. Witnesses say one of the cars hit the road barrier, then was hit by the two other cars.

The Aventador and two Gallardos, part of a convoy en route to Kuala Lumpur, were worth a combined $2.22 million, according to Yahoo! News.

Here's a photo from the grisly scene:

Lamborghini milik Singaporean terbakar dlm kemalangan di km 260 lebuhraya utara selatan dekat seremban. (Pic 4) pic.twitter.com/zEPHg4MSBi

— Ezad Amir (@Minda_Kronik) December 6, 2013

And another:

Burn. 3 Lamborghini caught fire at north south highway. pic.twitter.com/e6t6PShtrJ

— hijjazwan (@hijjazsam) December 6, 2013

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The brutalist war memorials found throughout the former Yugoslavia were weird enough when they were built in the 1960s and 70s. Today, separated by the end of an architectural movement and the disintegration of the country, they seem almost alien.

Belgian photographer Jan Kempenaers treats them purely as artistic objects in his book, Spomenik, named for the Serb-Croat word for monument.

Known for photographing geographical oddities, Kempenaers was captivated by the spomenik after seeing them in an art encyclopedia. After hearing that many had been destroyed or abandoned, he set out to record what was left.

Thousands of the monuments were commissioned by dictator Josip Tito to commemorate the resistance against Axis invaders during World War II. The abstract style stood in contrast to socialist realism and also served a political purpose.

"Tito couldn't erect figures or busts in honour of generals because he didn't want to be seen to be favouring any ethnic group, for example a Bosnian general or a Serb war hero, so instead they made these things that didn't refer to people," Kempenaers told The Guardian.

Although the monuments, made of reinforced concrete, steel, and granite, used to be tourist attractions, they have receded into obscurity since the fall of the Soviet Union and the Yugoslav Wars. When Kempenaers told locals what he was photographing, he says they thought he was crazy. 

SEE ALSO: 2014 Olympic Host City Sochi Is A Strange Place [PHOTOS]

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German brewers want the United Nations to recognize their beer as a piece of "intangible cultural heritage," NBC News reports. If the UN approves the request, Germany's beer will be protected by UNESCO, the same agency that looks after The Great Wall of China, the Grand Canyon and Egypt's pyramids.  

"Germany has an unchallenged reputation as a beer nation," Hans-Georg Eils, the president of the German Brewers Association, told NBC News. 

The country has a strict beer purity law, called Reinheitsgebot, set down by Bavarian Dukes about 500 years ago. They allow only four ingredients in the brewing process: water, malt, hops, and yeast. 

In UNESCO's definition of intangible cultural heritage, the agency includes "the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts."

Marc-Oliver Huhnholz, a spokesman for the German Brewers Association, said to NBC News that German beer "is really a special craftsmanship."

"From just four ingredients, we can make so many different tasting brews," Huhnholz said.

The German brewing tradition is known the world over. In Namibia, a former German colony, Namibia's Windhoek Lager stamps every bottle with the word "Reinheitsgebot" to signify the purity of the beer that comes from the German method. 

SEE ALSO: Beer Experts Say These Are The 20 Best Beers In The World

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The beauty of gifting quality alcohol is, quite simply, that the right bottle will compel the recipient to crack it open right away — and share.

So it's really in your best interest this holiday season to give the gift of liquor (responsibly).

We headed to Astor Wines & Spirits — Manhattan's Shangri-La of booze — for some recommendations. Wine and spirits consultant Steven Bowles walked us through some of his favorites.

If you have a tippler in your life, don't just go to the liquor section and buy something expensive with a fancy label. There are plenty of special and rare items that won't break the bank.

The prices used are Astor's (and you can purchase these bottles on their website), but prices will vary.

Ransom Old Tom Astor Exclusive Gin

This single cask gin is unique to Astor, and carries a lot of flavors: "Woodsy pine, lemon balm, crushed rose petals, pepper and cinnamon spice." A richer and sweeter kind of gin.

Origin: Oregon, USA

ABV: 44%

Price: $44.96

Pueblo Viejo San Mattias Orgullo Anejo Tequila

A high-quality, single-cask bottle for the true tequila lover. This is for sipping, not shooting.

Origin: Jalisco, Mexico

ABV: 40%

Price: $49.96

Mount Gay Astor Black Barrel Rum

Charred oak gives this sipping rum some serious power. Rich notes of vanilla "with a playful, fruity vibrancy and grassiness that can only come from a top-quality sugar cane spirit" makes this a really complex rum.

Origin: Barbados

ABV: 43%

Price: $39.96

Karlsson's Gold Potato Vodka

Made with "virgin" potatoes from Cape Bjäre, Karlsson's actually retains its true potato flavor. Gift this to anyone who likes a good up martini with fresh cracked pepper.

Origin: Sweden

ABV: 40%

Price: $31.99

Berkshire Mountain Bourbon

A solid whiskey with caramel and vanilla flavors coming through. It's 18% rye, giving it a nice spiciness too.

Origin: Massachusetts, USA

ABV: 43%

Price: $41.99

Barr Hill Gin

Bar Hill's distiller is a beekeeper and adds raw northern honey at the time of bottling. The result is "sweet, floral, and slightly herbaceous."

Origin: Vermont, USA

ABV: 45%

Price: $42.99

High West "The 36th Vote" Barreled Manhattan

Here's a special gift for the Don Draper on the go. A barreled Manhattan. That's right, the cocktail. Rye, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters thrown into rye barrels for 120 days, served ready to drink.

Origin: Utah, USA

ABV: 37%

Price: $49.99

High West Campfire Whiskey

Another one from High West, the "campfire" delivers on its name. It really tastes like a camping trip, in a good way: Corn, toffee, maple, spicy vanilla, cherry, and a hint of peat smoke at the end. It's a blend of Bourbon, rye, and peated scotch — great for an all-around whiskey lover looking for something different.

Origin: Utah, USA

ABV: 46%

Price: $52.99

McCarthy's Single Malt Whiskey

Peat-malted Scottish barley gives this single malt whiskey honey, bitter chocolate, and sweet malt notes. Plus, it's a pretty rare, small-production bottle.

Origin: Oregon, USA

ABV: 43%

Price: $53.99

Nikka Taketsuru 12 Yr. Japanese Whisky

Japanese whiskies like Yamazaki are already pretty popular in the U.S., but the Nikka is slightly less common. It's a really nice treat, and has that "exotic" alcohol gift feel.

Origin: Japan

ABV: 40%

Price: $69.99

NY Distilling Co. Chief Gowanus Gin

Oak barrels give this gin its darker coloration. "The sustained aromas transition to spicy, malty rye on the palate."

Origin: New York, USA

ABV: 44%

Price: $35.99

Jim Beam Signature Craft Bourbon

This is the biggest name on our list, but don't let that discourage you. "Baking cinnamon, vanilla, sweet cream, rye spice, acetone, and heady orchard fruits all leap out of the glass and lure you right in," according to Astor. For any Beam drinker, this is a holiday upgrade.

Origin: Kentucky, USA

ABV: 43%

Price: $40.99

Jean Fillioux La Pouyade Cognac

New cognac drinkers will go straight to the Hennessey, just because. But the Fillioux are one of the last independent cognac producers in France, and this one is a cognac staple. "Fresh and primary, with a focus on beautiful florals, mouth-watering citrus, and almond notes."

Origin: Grande Champagne, France

ABV: 42%

Price: $68.99

Neisson Reserve Speciale Rum

Rum (or "rhum") from Martinique has a purer, grassier feel. This one is aged 10 years in old bourbon and whiskey casks. "Roasted nuts, dark fruit, and warm spice make this a delightful body warmer." A winter rum if there ever was one.

Origin: Martinique

ABV: 42%

Price: $72.99

Tequila Ocho "El Refugio" Reposado

Another tequila meant for sipping. "Distinct tropical citrus aromas and flavors are accented with whiffs of mint, spice, peppercorn and mineral-laden notes of rich, sweet and pure agave."

Origin: Jalisco, Mexico

ABV: 40%

Price: $54.99

Armorik Exclusive Cask Single Malt

One of the better single malt whiskies available for under $100, Armorik is matured in casks of Sauternes, a sweet French wine. "The resulting spirit is a fusion of rich nectar fruit complexity, creamy malt, nougat, and dry barrel spices."

Origin: Brittany, France

ABV: 46%

Price: $99.96

Glenfarclas 12 Yr. Scotch

Glenfarclas is a Speyside like Glenfiddich and The Macallan, and has "notes of sherried fruit, a touch of vanilla, and a tingle of spice." The 12 year expression is reasonably priced, but Astor also carries the 40 year for $500 a bottle if you're really going for it this holiday season.

Origin: Speyside, Scotland

ABV: 43%

Price: $53.99

SEE ALSO: 16 Perfect Gifts For Anyone Who Loves Whiskey

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Over the past year, McLaren has proved that the P1 supercar, successor to the legendary F1, is in the running for the world's best supercar.

Today, the British automaker announced it has piled up even more evidence: A sub-seven minute time on the famed Nurburgring-Nordschleife, the world's toughest and scariest racetrack.

That puts the $1.15 million P1 in rarefied company. Only three production cars have done the same: the Radical SR8, Radical SR8LM, and Porsche 918 Spyder.

While McLaren won't give an exact lap time, it does say, however the P1 averaged over 111 mph on the 13-mile circuit. That sounds reasonable for a supercar that can hit 217 mph until you look at the course itself. It includes 154 corners and 300 meters of elevation change. Here's a map:

The Bugatti Veyron Super Sport is the world's fastest production car, but the P1 is made for handling corners, not just straightaways. That's what gives it the edge on tracks like the Nordschleife.

McLaren produced a video of show off the feat. Skip the overly dramatic and long introduction and jump to the 1:15 mark to see the P1 do its thing:

SEE ALSO: The World's Scariest Racetrack Is On Sale For $165 Million

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A 9-year-old pit bull in Ontario has become famous for balancing objects on his head.

His name is Scout, and his owner Jen Gillen has been putting random things — from cupcakes to vases of flowers — on his head for two years now. The impromptu and silly project has taken on a life of its own recently, popping up on Reddit and news outlets across America as "Stuff on Scout's Head."

"He doesn’t get any of the food that goes on his head unfortunately — unless it’s his kibble or that giant raw bone," Gillen says on her Tumblr. "That’s half the secret to his tricks, he never gets any human foods and is extremely obedient! He gets a lot of pigs ears, bully sticks, etta says chews, or raw cuts of meat as rewards though."

It all started when a friend of Gillen's pointed out that Scout has an extremely flat head, and asked if he could balance a roll of toilet paper. "He instantly posed and balanced it so well, that I decided to try my luck, and try some other humorous items,” Gillen told TODAY.com.

Gillen also hopes that her Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr of "Stuff on Scout's Head" will raise awareness for another important issue — in Ontario, any pit bull born after August 2005 is considered illegal and can be killed due to breed-specific legislation meant to curb dog-fighting (Scout was grandfathered in since he was born before the law took effect).

"Pit bulls are extremely smart, loyal, and can be trained impeccably for good with the right owner," Gillen insists. "These pictures also have gotten countless people to ask what breed he is, surely these people that don’t know he’s a 'pit bull' have heard awful things about this breed of dog."

And since Scout is a rescue, Gillen also plans to draw more attention and donations to animal shelters with her (and Scout's) newfound fame.

"If anyone were to profit at all from this, I hope it’s all the rescues out there, whether they have pit bulls or not, who are so under-appreciated and under-funded for all their hard work," she explains on her Tumblr. "I’d rather the outcome from all of this be much greater than a dollar in my pocket."

You can donate to the rescue that Scout came from originally on the All Breed Canine Rescue website or send an email asking how you can help to allbreedcaninerescue@sympatico.ca.

See more of the awesome pictures of Scout on Gillen's Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr.

SEE ALSO: The Best Dog Pictures Of The Year

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"Satan himself lives here in San Pedro," a mortician from the second largest city in Honduras told The Guardian. "People here kill people like they're nothing more than chickens."

With a murder rate of 169 per 100,000 people in 2011, San Pedro Sula was named the world's most violent city in a study by Mexico's Citizens' Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice.

Over the last few years, homicides in Honduras have risen, even while violence falls in neighboring countries like El Salvador and Guatemala.

Arms and drug trafficking have flooded the country, contributing to high gang violence. Lax gun laws (civilians can own up to five personal firearms), corruption, and poverty make life in San Pedro Sula even worse.

What's more, inmates have controlled Honduras' 24 prisons since the state gave up on rehabilitating convicts, according to a recent report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

In 2008, the mounting number of murders forced San Pedro Sula to store bodies in refrigerated trucks before transporting them to mass-burial sites.

A military coup ousted former president Manuel Zelaya in 2009, and the tense political environment only caused more problems. Here, one of his supporters holds his photo during a protest in San Pedro Sula, many of which turned violent.

Source: New York Times

A shocking incident in 2010 saw 18 people massacred in a shoe shop as part of a gang war. This photo shows police searching for weapons the very next day.

About 80% of Americans eat fast food at least once a month. 

A recent Reddit thread asked "fast food employees, what are the best menu items that no one ever orders?" 

We selected our favorites for next time you want to spice up your order. 

1. Popeye's Apple Pie. 

"It's old school, deep fried like the McDonald's ones used to be 20 years ago," writes SKSmokes. "Delicious." 

2. Jamocha shakes from Arby's. 

These milkshakes are like the original Frappuccino—chocolate and coffee flavors mixed together. "So tasty," writes smegmatician. 

3. Burger King's Rodeo Burger. 

The burger is topped with onions rings and barbecue sauce. 

"Most of the people never know they even exist, best thing ever," writes employee NevaMO. 

4. Wendy's float. 

Wendy's will use any soda and Frosty combination to make its floats. 

Reddit member Rushrofl recommends Dr. Pepper with a vanilla Frosty. 

5. Cheesy Gordita Crunch at Taco Bell. 

"And you can get these with a Dorito shell on the inside....godly," writes hoppy1028. 

6. Peppermint hot chocolate at McDonald's. 

Employee cherrylimesoda says this is one of the tastiest menu items and is hardly ever ordered. 

7. Cheese fries at Wendy's and Arby's. 

"You can order a cup of melted cheese at both Wendys and Arbys and dip your fries, nuggets, whatever in it," writes FFandMMfan. 

Wendy's also has cheese and chili cheese fries on the menu. 

8. Subway's Chicken Pizzaola. 

"It comes with the plain chicken strips, pepperoni, and marinara sauce," writes an employee. "When you order a flat bread sandwich, ask them to flip the bread inside-out, it tastes so much better." 

9. Burger King's veggie burger. 

"It's absolutely delicious, but no one knows we even sell it," writes em_gem. 

10. An "Oreo" Frappuccino at Starbucks. 

"Get a white mocha Frappuccino with java chips, and a scoop of vanilla bean," writes mysterymeatmonday. "Tastes just like an Oreo."

11. Grilled Cheese at Five Guys. 

"Just fill it with all your favorite toppings," writes monkeysdontevolve. "It's really good, pretty cheap, and filling."

12. Taco Bell's Steak "Fresca" tacos. 

"150 calories and actually tastes like a real taco," writes danzor9755. 

SEE ALSO: Chain Restaurant Workers Reveal The Items They Refuse To Eat

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Fans of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week take note: The February 2014 event will be markedly different than in years past with more up-to-date venues and an amped up exclusivity level.

Over the last decade, the show has become crowded with fashion bloggers, street photographers, and others with little connection to the industry. But IMG Fashion, the company that puts together the annual show, tells The Wall Street Journal all of that is about to change.

"It was becoming a zoo," Catherine Bennett, the senior vice president and managing director at IMG Fashion Events and Properties, said to the WSJ. "What used to be a platform for established designers to debut their collections to select media and buyers has developed into a cluttered, often cost-prohibitive and exhausting period for our industry to effectively do business."

The media list will be cut by 20%, according to the WSJ, with only those considered "of value to the designers" receiving invites. The major fashion VIP guests who are welcome will also have more backstage access for interviews, and even their own private green rooms (we assume so that Anna Wintour doesn't have to wait among the hoi polloi).

Otherwise, the shows will be streamed live on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week broadcast, so if you no longer make the cut, you can still pretend you're there.

Read more about the new updated show and venues over at The Wall Street Journal.

SEE ALSO: The 26 Best Looks From The Runways At New York Fashion Week

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Starbucks' $450 limited-edition line of rose-gold gift cards sold out within seconds on Friday, and now more than 100 cards are up for sale on E-Bay for as much as $5,000. 

The highly-coveted cards, which contain actual gold, come preloaded with $400 and gold status in Starbucks' loyalty program. The program offers coupons and occasional free drinks. 

The cards were sold through flash sales site Gilt.com and the sale went live at noon. After the cards sold out, dozens of angry Starbucks fans took to the company's Facebook page, as well as Gilt's Facebook page, and complained. 

"Really disgusted with the entire rollout and experience," Facebook user Tam March wrote on the company's page. "As a longtime (20 years) Starbucks customers, had to express my profound disappointment in the manner in which this was conducted. Ready to boycott Starbucks."

"What a total scam today on the Gilt site for the already sold-out rose metal cards," user John Rose added. 

Many people were upset because hundreds of the cards were sold before the sale went live to general Gilt.com members. 

About 400 were made available to people who had achieved Starbucks' gold status and 100 were sold accidentally when a link prematurely went live on Gilt Thursday, Starbucks spokeswoman Linda Mills told CNBC.com. So only 500 cards ended up being available to general Gilt.com members.

More than 11,000 people were added to a wait list for the card.

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A 20,000-square-foot mansion in Colts Neck, N.J. is listed for $34,999,000, which makes it the most expensive home currently on the market in New Jersey. 

Besides its impressive size and price, the 9-bedroom house is also unusual in that its decor seems to have a distinctly horsey theme.

A massive equestrian center, complete with nine-stall barn, sits on the property, and there's plenty of horse-inspired details throughout the house. The decorations themselves are pretty extravagant. 

The equestrian estate lies on 127 acres of land in affluent Colts Neck, N.J.

The crisp white house is a rather large 20,000 square feet.

Purple velvet couches provide a jarring pop of color in this sitting room.

The U.S. isn't called "America the Beautiful" for nothing.

Each year, millions of tourists come from home and abroad to see the country's majestic landscape and iconic sites, from the Grand Canyon to the Statue of Liberty.

But there are also cool, quirky attractions, like Vermont's Ben & Jerry's Factory and Tennessee's Graceland, the former home of Rock and Roll King Elvis Presley.

From California to New York and everywhere in between, the country is chock-full of incredible attractions that keep luring in visitors. Here are the best tourist attractions in every state.

Did we get your state right? Let us know your picks in the comments. 

Jennifer Polland contributed to this story.

ALABAMA: Play a round at one of the 11 courses on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, a collection of championship-level golf courses around the state that bring in more than half a million golfers annually.

ALASKA: Visit Denali National Park to see a stunning array of wildlife and gaze at Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain peak in North America, with an elevation of 20,237 feet.

ARIZONA: Hike, kayak, raft, or horseback ride through the Grand Canyon, an epic 277-mile long canyon that's up to 18 miles wide and over a mile deep.

Nelson Mandela, who died this week at the age of 95, was one of the most influential people of the 20th century.

In a century that saw both institutionalized racism at its worst and unprecedented progress through the civil rights movement, the man who led South Africa out of apartheid was a central figure.

Below are some of his most memorable moments:

SEE ALSO: Here's the iconic speech that put Mandela in jail for 27 years

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