In Paris, stylish and cheap

The Generator Paris is an effort to upgrade lodging for those with plenty of style but far less to spend. The "hotel" is actually a hostel, part of the Britain-based Generator chain, offering both shared and private rooms in the gentrifying 10th Arrondissement. In a spacious twin room with terrace, on the top (eighth) floor, the star was the terrace, which featured rooftop views of the quarter, two beach loungers and a hammock. Overnight, the room was silent, a surprise given the hostel's popularity with students. The rooftop bar features a distant view of Sacré-Coeur, and there is a basement Métro bar kitted-up to resemble a Parisian underground station. Generator Paris offers an affordable mid-tier option for those seeking privacy off the beaten path (from $26 for shared rooms; rooms with two single beds and a private terrace start at $123; generatorhostels.com).

New York Times

A travel icebreaker app

It's hard to break the ice when you arrive in a new city, so here's an app to help you get the conversation started. The Social Icebreaker gets people talking about travel (and life), whether they're daydreaming about travel or are already on the road. Find a great bar, restaurant, your next destination or even a friend before, during or after your trip. Go to the "Feed" page to see what people are chatting about. Click on "Signal" to post a question or comment. You can swap "Social Cards" with people to see their profile information. People chime in from all over the world and want to talk. We saw people in London; Phoenix; Tel Aviv, Israel; Moscow and a variety of U.S. towns. You can meet people and chat without the pressure of a dating app. Demo the app at tryplane.com. (Free in the App Store, iOS 8.2 or later.)

Los Angeles Times

Deal of the week

VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations is offering $200 off select biking trips in Vermont, Virginia, Maine and Cape Cod, Mass. For example, the six-day Vermont: Champlain Valley & Islands trip now starts at $1,745 per person double. Price includes five nights in historic inns; 12 meals; use of a VBT bicycle and helmet; guides and van support; transfers; sightseeing and cultural activities, such as kayaking on Lake Champlain and a visit to Fort Ticonderoga; and taxes. For the lowest price, depart June 12 or Oct. 16. Book by April 21 (1-800-245-3868, vbt.com; use promo code VBT1505).

Washington post

Biking the Lake Champlain Islands.

Fares up for multicity trips

Airline critics believe that a new policy that raises the fares for multi-stop trips is evidence of collusion. Whether airlines are conspiring in violation of federal laws or not, the change means that airline travelers must pay more for a single ticket with several stops than they would for multiple one-way tickets. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said that a flight from Newark to Los Angeles, with a side trip to San Francisco and then back to Newark, costs $592 if a traveler buys three separate one-way tickets. But Delta, United and American airlines have changed their booking policies to force travelers to buy the flights together, at a price of $1,311 for that three-city example, the senator said. An American Airlines spokesman said the carrier simply closed a loophole that previously let passengers string together one-way tickets in a way that was not intended by the airlines. Delta Air Lines declined to comment.

Los Angeles Times