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Over the past decade, booking travel plans has become exponentially easier. Gone are the days when we relied on travel agents to book flights, hotels and car rentals. Why call an agent when you can do your own research quicker and more thoroughly online? And now, mobile devices, including the iPad, are making travel planning even easier, giving vacationers the option to book on the fly.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is going for the jugular in the holiday retailing war, announcing Thursday that it will offer free shipping on nearly 60,000 online items _ with no minimum purchase requirement.

Who says nothing's free on planes anymore?

Broadcasters took a big step toward eliminating free TV shows on the Web after they blocked access to their programming online this month to enforce their demands to be paid. Recent actions by Fox, ABC, NBC and CBS in two separate fee disputes suggest that after a few years of experimenting with free, ad-supported viewing, broadcasters believe they can make more money from cable TV providers if they hold back some programming online.

Starbucks is adding a venti-sized dollop of free books, news and entertainment to its Internet offerings starting Wednesday.

It takes $25 per car before visitors driving into Grand Canyon National Park can enjoy its spectacular beauty, but the price of admission is going away -- for just a little while.

Between their irritating ads and misleading name, FreeCreditReport.com has been a target of Consumerist's derision for years. And now the "service," which was never free to begin with, will actually cost you a dollar to use.

McDonald's will soon start offering free wireless Internet access at its U.S. restaurants as part of the fast-food chain's transformation from its hamburger roots into a hang-out destination.

Google will let newspaper publishers limit the number of articles people can read for free through its search engine.

New York City is buying one-way plane tickets for homeless families to leave the city. It's part of a Bloomberg administration program to keep the homeless out of the expensive shelter system, which costs $36,000 a year per family.