Talk About Travel

Favorite travel bargains, the Caribbean, Xian, China...

The Flight Crew, from left: John Deiner, Carol Sottili, Steve Hendrix, Anne McDonough, Gary Lee, K.C. Summers, Cindy Loose, Andrea Sachs. (Melissa Cannarozzi - for The Post)

The Post's Travel Section Flight Crew will take your comments, questions, suspicions, warnings, gripes, sad tales and happy endings springing from the world of... the world. Of course, the Flight Crew will be happy to answer your travel questions -- but the best thing about this forum, we insist, is that it lets travelers exchange information with other travelers who've been there, done that or otherwise have insights, ideas and information to share. Different members of the Crew will rotate through the captain's chair every week, but the one constant is you, our valued passengers.

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You may also browse an archive of previous live travel discussions and a list of frequently asked questions.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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The Flight Crew: Hey, everyone, welcome aboard. We're on a flight to Bargainsville today. Did you see the fun story Crew members Deiner and McDonough did for yesterday's print edition about travel-related items you can buy from the Dollar Store? The cute little bungie cords, the teeny alarm clock, the toothbrush covers, the mini-checkers set, the adorable tins of shoe polish, all for a buck apiece? We're giving them all away to one lucky clickster today, PLUS additional items that didn't make it into the story, like cable ties and a garment bag.

How to win? Just tell us about the best travel bargain you've ever scored -- the cheapest trip, the best deal, the freebiest freebie -- and where/how you found it. The most interesting and useful post wins the loot.

Plus, we'll answer your travel questions, help you plan upcoming trips and generally try to right travel wrongs. As usual, anything we can't answer we'll throw out to your fellow clicksters, because -- repeat after us -- we're all in this together. Joining me on board today are staff writers Steve Hendrix, Cindy Loose and Gary Lee, Q&A columnist and Deals maven Carol Sottili, editor extraordinaire John Deiner, researcher and resident Young Person Anne McDonough, and me, K.C. Summers. Tray tables upright and locked? We're off!

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Alexandria, Va.: Leaving Sunday for trip to Scotland. We will have one night in London and not having the best luck finding cheapish accomidations. I know a few months back there was an article you published on this subject - cheapish euro chains - but can't find it. Any chance you can link me? And since my first stop once I get off the Caledonia sleeper will be the Harrods Kripsie Kreme (hey- after a week in Scotland, I will be craving sugary goodness) - I'll write back with a report. Also, will be staying in St. Augustus on the Southern (Western??) tip of Loch Ness. First there. AND - US AIR will be flying direct into Glasgow starting May 2004. Happy Dance.

washingtonpost.com: 10 London Hotels to Call Home (Post, Oct. 20, 2002)

The Flight Crew: Your link, m'Lord.

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Relics Roster: You guys have traveled a bit.

I'm sure, while taking in the sights, you run into various parts of this Saint and that Saint. Is there an authoritative source for whose parts are where? We were in Paris and saw someone bones in Sacr? Coeur, but we couldn't figure out whose. And I'm still not sure what we saw in Notre Dame, (the crown, some wood, may be a nail?).

thanks

The Flight Crew: Jerry Haines, are you out there? Jerry's our relics expert. . .

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Washington, D.C.: My husband and I are starting to plan our postponed honeymoon for late February. We are both skiiers, he more advanced than me, and we were thinking about Park City Utah because we wanted a place where we will not need to rent a car and that will allow us alternatives to a day on the slopes if that's what we want. Do you have any advice on hotels or B&Bs, area attractions, etc? Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: Park City is one of my favorite places to ski. Flights to Salt Lake are usually cheap, and there are nonstops, so you can leave here early in morning and be skiing by afternoon. Park City is about a 40 minute drive from the airport, and there is a shuttle for those who don't want to rent a car (www.parkcitytransportation.com). Three major ski resorts are located in Park City - Park City proper, Deer Valley and the Canyons. All are huge, with lots of trails for everyone from novices to experts. If you have cash to burn, Deer Valley's accommodations are top shelf. Park City has a resort at its base, which is still pricey, but not as pricey. There are lots of hotels in the town itself, and most are just a short shuttle ride away from the slopes. You can also rent a house directly from an owner - we found a really nice property through www.vrbo.com. For more info. go to www.skiutah.com.

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Fairfax, Va.: Hey, Flight Crew. My girlfriend and I want to do a day trip next weekend towards the Leesburg area for some foliage and pretty views. Any destination in particular-- gorgeous parks or anything-- that we shouldn't miss? Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Hey, Fairfax. You really can't go wrong heading in any direction once you get out there, as this weekend sounds as if it's going to be the peak period for leaf-peepin'. Maybe you could head to Harpers Ferry or Middleburg and do some peepin' in those parts, but I'm guessing you won't be alone. That's prime Virginia wine country, too, so you may want to pack a lunch and stop at a winery along the way--just about all of them have benches and picnic areas, many overlooking valleys splashed with color.

Any ideas for Fairfax?

-john

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Alexandria, Va.: Is it a coincidence that this Sunday's New York Times is also focused on the Caribbean? I have noticed in the past that the 2 papers have shared subjects in the same week -- the Food section in particular, but also travel. I assume you don't "check" with each other as to what your theme will be each Sunday, but does it irk you when both papers cover the same places at the same time?

The Flight Crew: Pure coincidence, and no, it's not irksome. It's a given that many travel sections will focus on the Caribbean in fall and spring, since that's when most folks do their planning. We don't check with other papers, and vice versa. -- KC

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Arlington, Va.: Andrew Sullivan has a story on his website about Priceline. Is he right that by not showing up for a hotel room booked through Priceline the first night of a 5 night stay, he could lose all the money he paid for the room ($1,000) and the hotel could refuse to provide him a room for the other 4 nights? This seems outrageous to me -- and a warning for any people thinking about using Priceline.

http://www.andrewsullivan.com/index.php?dish_inc=archives/2003_10_12_dish_archive.html#106636631589103288

The Flight Crew: Technically this is true says Gary. That is, Priceline, like many of the other sites, acts as airlines do: if you don't show up at the appointed time, you're cancelled out of their system. However, it would be helpful for Sullivan or anyone else dealing with Priceline to appeal to the customer service desk if they know there will be a problem like this. I had an experience where I booked the wrong day of arrival with them. They allowed me to make a change for a fee.

By the way, on this Sunday coming up we will feature an article about the various problems that come up with dealing with booking hotels online and ways to avoid them.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi! I'm going to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for my honeymoon in August and was wondering if you could recommend a good resort? Thank you!

The Flight Crew: Hey, D.C. I was in Punta Cana about 5 years ago and stayed at the Barcelo resort. For a honeymoon, I'd definitely opt for the Paradisus, one of the five resorts that make up the Barcelo complex. That said, it's been a while, so I can't really vouch for the place today.

Anyone out there with a good, recent report on a spot in Punta Cana where D.C. can honeymoon?

-john

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Springfield, Va.: Hey travel gurus! Glad to see the St Lucia article over the weekend from Gary Lee. I would love to go to St Lucia. what do you think about the Body Holiday at LeSport? Sounds like a dream vacation there. Any good deals on flights for next year? Keep up the great work.

The Flight Crew: Gary writes: Much thanks! Body Holiday is one of many great places to stay on St. Lucia. As for airfare, I would check out Air Jamaica and BWIA. They seem to have the best deals.

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Monrovia, Md.: Hi, Cindy - I don't understand this part of your article: Like most motor vehicles here, the jeep was built for the American market, with the steering wheel on the left. But islanders drive on the right. This means that I drive sitting next to the curb, hoping that the other side of the jeep is somewhere near where the center line would be, if the largely unkempt roads had center lines.

Sounds to me that they drive on the left, no?

The Flight Crew: Let me walk through this mentally, as I pretend to drive north on Connecticut Ave:

I'm in an American car; my steering wheel is on the left side of the car, but I drive in the lane on my right, and that puts my body along the center line.

If I were to drive the same car the same direction in the Turks, I'd be--youi're right---sitting in the far left lane, with the steering wheel and my body curbside. Wow, you're a very discriminating reader. Sorry, the steering wheel is on the left, and they drive in the left lane--from the point of view of the driver---the opposite of the side of the road Americans drive on, but far left, from the perspective of the driver, only to the right from the perspective of oncoming traffic. No wonder there were so many near crashes, including one of my own. Cindy

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Bethesda, Md.: Submitting early as I'll be in a meeting during the chart. Have you heard any reports or feedback on Song Airlines (the Delta low cost flyer)? We're going to Orlando with our toddler, and were looking for airline options to Southwest.

Thanks

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: No one on our staff has flown Song (www.flysong.com) yet. I believe the only place it flies to from our region (Dulles) is Orlando. It sounds alot like JetBlue, with roomy seats and personal video monitors. And I think you can buy food onboard. Anyone out there flown Song yet?

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Reston, Va.: My husband, parents and I are going to be in Rome for Christmas! This is our first trip to Rome and we need advice from others who've been in the city during the holiday. We'll be there Dec 22-29. I'm worried about finding places to eat the 24 (evening)- 26th since the 26th is a holiday in Italy too. Any suggestions for attractions that might be open on the 26th as well? (I know the Vatican is closed 25&26th..) I figure the 25th is out for sightseeing unless we do our own walking tour. Thanks to the crowd for the help! Ciao!

The Flight Crew: Gary says: You are right that most places in this very religious city are going to be closed on Christmas. But besides the Vatican, most attractions in Rome are open on the surrounding days. Hotel restaurants, especially in the major hotels, are a good place to look for Christmas dinner. Any other clicksters have tips about Rome at Christmastime?

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Arlington, Va.: Hi Flight Crew -
I'm planning a December vacation for two weeks to Xi'an, China - this is my first time solo! I need some advice on how I should travel: I'm pretending to be adventurous, am thinking about flying into Beijing, take a train to Xi'an and spend 2 wonderful weeks there exploring. With two weeks, I don't think I can get by with just a backpack. But I also don't want to lug a huge suitcase around. What do you guys suggest? Plus, should I expect weather to be more frigid than what I'm used to here in DC? Thanks!

The Flight Crew: I'm so jealous, Arl! Just a clarification--are you planning on exporing Xi'an for the whole two weeks? 'Cause it's a great city, with lots of things to do, but two weeks would be stretching it. I'm going to assume that your entire trip is two weeks, and that you're hoping to fit in Beijing and environs, and then Xi'an and environs for a few days.
First, the luggage issue. I do everything possible to avoid having a bag that I can't fit on my back or on my lap (for those bus rides where the luggage rack is what we know as the roof). Plenty of people do the hard luggage thing, but unless you're planning on being a fashion plate there's really no reason for a lot of stuff. It will be cold cold cold, though, so have a down jacket and layers and for anything you forget to bring, go to the Silk Alley in Beijing and bargain your way into head-to-toe fleece. Beijing in December is covered with ice, too, so shoes with good traction are a must. There is nothing that you'd need that you couldn't buy in Beijing or Xi'an should you run out (medicine and contact lens solution being the exceptions; in both cities the Friendship Store has everything. You pay for it, but it's there. I'd bring film from home, too, now that I think of it. It's there, but I like having a supply that I know is fresh).
I don't know what kind of accomodations you're looking for, but for total budget (a dorm bed was 20 kuai--about $2.50--last time I was there) in Beijing I recommend Jing Hua Fan Dian, along the Third Ring Road, and for luxury the Peace Hotel, very centrally located and about $150 a night I think. The Jing hua is super popular with backpackers of all ages, and you could hook up with someone to go out to Huairou with--it's the absolute best part of the Wall to see. No tickets, no guards, no water sellers just un-touched-up Wall and great hiking. Careful of the ice, though.
In Xi'an, walking along with city wall is great, but don't miss the Muslim Quarter, it's great. A trip out to the Terracotta Soldiers is a must, of course, and you can kill a whole day doing that.
For the train trip from Beijing to Xi'an, for adventure take a hard seat, but for sleep go hard sleeper; the top bunk is best. I don't think the upgrade to soft sleeper is worth the price.
Okay, ask more questions about this trip so I have an excuse to continue.
-Anne

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Silver Spring, Md.: First wanted to say how great the articles on Turks&Caico and St. Lucia were, I've been spying those islands for a vacation. Secondly, I wanted to reply to a poster who was asking about the Domincan Republic. I went to the Secrets Resort at Punta Cana for my honeymoon in June/July and loved it! The beaches are great, our room was fantastic (balcony w/ king bed and jacuzzi), food was delicious as well. The resort offered 1/2 and full day excursions, snorkeling, trip to Santo Domingo, booze cruise, etc. We didn't check out the night club, but the casino was a joke--very small. We had great service, it will help to know a bit of Spanish, but a lot of the staff members spoke English.
Caution: be careful about consuming too much coconut b/c it's from the actual fruit (?) and is nature's laxative!

The Flight Crew: Hey, Gary and Cindy say thanks for the kind words on their stories, Silver. And I thank you for the report on Secrets. And we all thank you for your warning on the perils of coconut.
-john

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West Virginia: We have been vacationing on the Outer Banks for the last 7 - 8 years and were looking for an alternative for this year. We travel with 2 other couples and grandparents, so staying in a large house is important. We have children ranging from 7 - 1. Our there some other places in North Carolina or South Carolina or even Georgia that are what the Outer Banks used to be 10 years ago.

The Flight Crew: Go south, West Virginia. Steve here, a longtime fan of Georgia coast in particular (hey, I grew up there), but also of Kiawah Island, SC, Myrtle Beach, SC, Amelia Island, Fla. I also hear that North Carolina's Emerald Isle (just south of Outer Banks) and Wrightsville Beach N.C. (near Wilmington) are relatively underdeveloped coastal towns. In Georgia, Tybee Island (Savannah's beach) is the tacky/charming beach capital, Jekyll Island has lots of preserved lands and some rental, St. Simons is fully built with lots of rental homes and small hotels (The King and Prince is a boyhood favorite of mine).

Readers? What southern beaches do you love?

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Columbia, Md.: My wife and I just found out that we both can take leave from work over Christmas and New Years. Will there be any "last minute" deals to the Carribean or other warm weather environs? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The Flight Crew: I seriously doubt it. I'm seeing some surprisingly good airfares for January, but you're picking the most traveled week of the winter, and I think the year. During that week prices tend to go way up, not only for airfares, but for hotels. It's always possible that airlines will make a mistake and way overestimate the number of passengers to expect, then they'll have to dump those seats cheap. In fact, to make your life happy, they only need to have two empty seats that they throw out cheap at the last minute. The odds of you being on line shopping in the right place the very second that happens are very slim, but I guess it doesn't hurt to look. cindy

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Arlington, Va.: Francophile Gary! I'd like to take my mom to Paris. She's never been and I plan to take her to the sites around Paris, and if there's time maybe a visit to the Loire Valley and Mont St. Michel. But to make this trip memorable for her, can you recommend which Paris districts I should consider when looking for where to stay?
Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Arlington: I would be remiss if I didn't start off by promoting the 14th, the place where I have owned an apartment for 20 years, says Gary. It's quiet and residential but near in enough that you can walk to lots of top tourist sites, like Notre Dame. However, if you want to go over the top, look at the 8th, the 6th and the 16th. The 7th, where the Eiffel tower is, is also a good bet. Finally let me say that Paris is small enough that no district is really bad although you may find the first too crowded and the 18-20th a tad bit too far out.

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Honolulu, Hawaii: I don't like the trendiness in travel. I want clean, nice accomodations without the spa, pools, tennis courts, golf courses, eco-tourists and trucked in sand beaches. I want to travel away from the idiot Ugly American tourists who whine and treat the locals like their own servants for 2 weeks. It's sickening and boorish. Where can I explore more about this?

The Flight Crew: Um, stay away from hotels with pools, spas, tennis courts and golf courses? I dunno -- I think if you're having this big of a problem, you're either staying in the wrong places, or for some reason boors are drawn to you. It just hasn't been a big problem in my travels, but then again, I tend to avoid the all-inclusives. Look for mid-range, non-expense-account type places and you should find plenty of nice, non-trendy people.

I think a lot of the Ugly American thing is an urban legend. Yeah, you run into the occasional obnoxious American, but I could name a couple of other nationalities that come across as far worse.

I'm also confused about your lumping eco-tourists in with the golfers and spa-goers. Those interested in preserving a country or island's natural resources are generally good people, in my experience. -- KC

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Gurus!

I'm hoping that one of you can help or if not perhaps some of the other clicksters can contribute!

My brother is getting married in May on St. Thomas, USVI. The wedding is at the Bolongo Bay. I'm trying to decide whether to stay there or book a room at one of the nearby hotels. The reviews I'm reading are quite mixed. I don't want anything fancy. Just clean! Any suggestions?!?

Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Wash, I'll throw this one out to the gang, but have you checked with some of the consumer-review sites, like wheretostay.com, hotelshark.com etc? Let's hear what others think about St. Thomas hotels. Meantime, I'll post an (admittedly old) link to a story we had on St. Thomas a while back. -- KC

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washingtonpost.com: Footloose and Duty Free: St. Thomas and The U.S. Virgin Islands Hot List (Post, Feb. 27, 2000)

The Flight Crew: Here you go.

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Kinch from Beltsville: Here's my vote for Freebiest Freebie

Of course you have to pay to get there from here, but once you're there the "Dancing Waters" of the Bellagio in Las Vegas has got to be one of the best bargains in the world.

Why?

You don't have to be dropped 1000 ft to be thrilled,

You can enjoy it alone or with a few hundred of your best friends,

You can videotape it one time and watch it the next,

You can savor every moment and not gain any weight.

You can watch one show or stay and watch them all and come back and do it again the next day and it's still free!;

Kinch

The Flight Crew: Who could argue with this?

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Washington, D.C.: Crew:

A couple of driving questions:

Does one really need a car in LA?

How long is the drive from LAX to San Diego?

Thanks

The Flight Crew: The drive from LAX to San Diego is about 120 miles---you can get exact directions at www.mapquest.com.

Public transportation in LA is not good, and the city is spread out, but the answer depends in part on where exactly you plan to go---if you can concentrate your visits to just one or two sections of town, you might be better off with an occassional cab.

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Washington, D.C.: My Mom is thinking of traveling to Germany - she went for the first time back in the early/mid 60s. I'm wondering if the Germany of today will be much more "Americanized" then when she was there before and thus a disappointment.

Thanks.

The Flight Crew: Gary Lee, who lived in Germany in the 80s, says yes and no. She is likely to see more fast food places and other such symbols of American culture. But ever since the reunification of the two Germanies, the whole country hasa much more eastern flair about it, too. I would say that as long as she stay out of Frankfort -- an unabashedly American city -- she will probably not be let down.

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Southeast -- Washington, D.C.: Hi Crew,

Starting here in D.C., I need to be in Las Vegas for a wedding the weekend of 12/19, and Minneapolis for the holidays (roughly 12/23-1/3). I need airfare between the 3 cities, and hotel in Vegas. I've been thinking about all my options (packages, 2 roundtrips, 3 one-ways, etc.), but was curious if you had any tips?

Also, the wedding is at the Bellagio, which is out of my price range, but have you heard anything about deals for wedding guests at that hotel (I found nothing on Bellagio's website)?

Thanks!;!;

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: John Deiner, our resident Bellagio expert (yes, he stayed there, but he paid, not the Post!), recommends that you talk to the bride or groom to find out if they've negotiated a deal with the hotel - usually hotels give wedding parties special rates. You could also call the hotel directly and ask.
As for air, cheapest way is to do three one-way flights. That should cost you about $450 total. Go to www.travelocity.com or www.orbitz.com and price it out.

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Washington, D.C.: I booked 4 days in late December at The Atlantis in the Bahamas. I've heard very mixed reviews about The Atlantis. Was this a mistake? We booked a meal plan because I heard that the cost of food is outragous. Any other tips? Do you think it will be warm enough to enjoy the pools? Any predictions on crowds?

The Flight Crew: Hey, D.C. Easy stuff first: Average temperature in late December is 75 to 80 in Nassau, so I think you can probably swim in the pools, which are awesome (I was there on a day pass last year and loved them). As for the crowds, that's a hot time to go to the Caribbean, but because Atlantis is a self-contained resort, I'm guessing it won't make much difference--there could be a lot of people wandering about Nassau itself however, from the cruise ships.

Food is expensive, but I ate at a couple of restaurants off-site and they were pretty reasonable. Not great, but reasonable.

As for the quality of the hotel, because I didn't stay there, I can't say for sure. It LOOKED nice, at least, and it's beautiful once you step foot inside. The rooms? I dunno.

Anyone out there with a report on Atlantis? Did D.C. make a good decision?

-john

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Best Bargain!;!;: I was at a large and well known chain restaurant in Orlando, Florida several years ago. There was a film crew in the lobby and they were setting up in a corner of the restaurant to do some filming. People who were waiting to be seated thought that someone famous would be filming a movie. I wanted to know what was going on so I asked the person who looked to be in charge. I was told that they were going to be filming a promotation travel film for showing in the UK. I said if they needed people we would help out. So, the diretor took me up on it. My party of four was filmed for about 1.5 hours. The director had us order nearly everything on the menu (including apps, salads, and dessert) and just act natural, blah, blah, blah. At the end of the filming, they paid for our meal and drinks (quite a big bill!;) and then took us to the gift shop and bought each of us a jacket, shirt, key chain, hat and a couple other trinkets.

A fantastic free meal and goodies!;

The Flight Crew: Great story, great luck! Thanks.

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Leaf peeping: Just to give people a heads up, I went to the Shenandoahs this weekend and the trees were pretty sad looking. Many of them had already fallen off and those that remained we just dry and brown-there weren't many green ones left either. I'm afraid that this autumn seems to be somewhat of a bust this year.

The Flight Crew: Oh, bummer. I'm waiting for the ones in my yard to turn, too, but the trees in Silver Spring look pretty sad, too. Thanks for the report.
-john

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Alexandria, Va.: The best travel deal I ever found was when a friend and I spent a week in Ireland a while ago. We flew into Shannon on the east coast, drove around for a week, and flew home out of Dublin on the west coast. The two round-trip airfares plus 7-day car rental package was $800. We stayed in B&Bs, which averaged $30/night, so with meals, beer, attractions, and a little shopping, I think we spent a total of $1,200 (total, not each) for the entire vacation.

The Flight Crew: God, that's a great deal. How long ago and who'd you use?

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Just back from Spain: Back from a trip to Madrid and Andalucia with some thoughts/tips:

Be prepared for sticker shock. It's not just that the dollar is so weak against the euro, but everything in Spain costs double what it cost before the conversion. So if a latte cost 150 pesetas before the conversion to euro (and it takes 150 pesetas to make one euro), that latte now costs 2 euros. I've been trying to figure out how this inflation happened--and so are the Spanish. That said, food is still pretty cheap. Just eat lotsa tapas and you are fine.

October is the BEST month to go there. The weather was just perfect. Highs in the low 70s, lows in the 50s.

Avila and Malaga are so underrated (so is Nerja, a small city atop a gorgeous cliff with a gorgeous promenade and amazing views). Malaga was incredibly beautiful and full of people and plazas and cafes.

Granada is a nightmare to drive in. Just take cabs. Great taperias in Plaza Nueva and Albaicin. The Alhambra is spectacular. But if you stay near the Alhambra you are isolated from the city.

Must-dos in Madrid:

Paseo de Recoletos for books
Museo del Prado
Puerta del Sol, Calle Serrano and Gran Via for shopping
Rastro flea for cheap cool stuff

The Flight Crew: Thanks so much. FYI, I heard the same complaints about the euro from the locals in Ireland this summer. -- KC

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Providenciales, Turks & Caicos: Thanks for the great article on TCI. As an ex-pat American living here of the past 6 years, I view this type of publicity with mixed emotions -- on the one hand it's great to see more interest from the US in what has tradtionally been a UK and Canadian outpost and it will certaily help the economy, but on the other hand, part of the charm of living here is the relatively undeveloped tourism industry.

The Flight Crew: I felt the same way writing about it----maybe since you're there you would work to make sure that only Provo gets overrun. That would leave Grand Turk and environs just for you and me and our families. Cindy

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Annandale, Va.: Why oh why? Can you tell me whenever I research a flight out of DCA or IAD to so many places, (FL, New England for example) is it almost always cheaper to fly out of BWI. And it's not just flying Southwest. Many of the major carriers offer tickets at half the price compared to a flight out of DCA or IAD. DCA is the closest to me, and I don't even mind IAD, but BWI is such a hassle. Any ideas?

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: BWI is cheapest because Southwest is there. And other airlines offer cheap flights out of BWI because they are matching Southwest's fares. It's really not a hassle to fly out of BWI unless you go during rush hour. If you can travel during off hours, and you monitor the traffic before you go, you can get there in 50 minutes from my house in Fairfax County - it's even closer to D.C. Also, there are discount flights on AirTran, and now Song, to Florida from Dulles. And JetBlue flies out of Dulles also.

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West Palm Beach, Fla.: With so many Caribbean jazz feativals with amoung them are rated as the best!

The Flight Crew: Well, each one seems to bill itself as the ultimate jazz festival experience, so I'm going to post some links and then throw this one out to the clicksters to weigh in on their favorite experience. The Barbados Jazz Festival is Jan 12-18 this year (www.barbados.org/jazztickets), and if the story about Derek Walcott got you in the mood to check out St. Lucia, that festival's supposed to be quite the thing (www.stluciajazz.org hasn't been updated for the 2004 festival yet, but I believe it's going to be May 7-16, check with tourism to make sure). The official Caribbean Tourist Organization has a list of 2003 Jazz fests, and hopefully they'll soon update for next year: http://www.doitcaribbean.com/festivals/index3.html.en-US.
So there are two ideas, and I'll let the clicksters plug their favorites.
-Anne

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Relic central (Jerry Haines): I'm not aware of any one source that can tell you which bones are where, but here's a handy resource for all things Catholic: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/

The Internet search engines are your best bet. Remember that the relics of a popular saint may be widely distributed. St. Anthony's vocal cords are in Padua, for example, but one of his teeth is in Pittsburgh. Even my own little parish church here in Northwest DC has some relics.

The Flight Crew: Somehow we knew you'd know. Thanks, amico.

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OTM, Alexandria, Va.: Not a question, but here's the nicest way I've ever gotton an upgrade to first class: Late in the day, and the line at the ticket counter was so long I thought I'd miss the plane! I needed something to cheer me up, so I got out of line and went across the concourse for a candy bar. On a whim, I bought two - when I got to the head of the line for boarding the plane, I offered the second bar to the agent and said "Here, you look like you could use this as much as I do." She took my ticket and asked me to wait for a seating assignment until after boarding had begun, then called me back to the podium and gave me an upgrade to first!!!

The Flight Crew: Virtue is rewarded sometimes! Nice story. Thanks.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: Do you think $384 RT to San Fran on the United weekend fares that expire today is a good deal?

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: That sounds high to me, although if you're going this weekend, it's not bad for a last-minute fare. Have you tried Oakland? It's usually cheaper.

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New York: What were the negatives you found in St. Lucia?

The Flight Crew: Gary says: 1) the best attractions of the island are quite spread out, making it almost a must to rent a car to take most of them in. 2) If you're a real foodie, you're probably going to be let down as real gourmet dining is hard to come by here. 3) It's not cheap. Hotels add quite a lot of tax onto room charges, for instance. 4) Petty crime is a problem -- ie pickpocketing and so on.

These are things to keep in mind but should not deter anyone from going. The whole St Lucia experience is pretty sublime.

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Travel Bargain: We all love Priceline. Here's how to make it even better. Once you get to your hotel, ask them if you can upgrade the room. Sometimes you can for an additional $25 or so. I once got a huge suite with a balcony at the Watergate for $85 ($60 for the room, $25 for the upgrade).

The Flight Crew: Thanks, says Gary. Good tip.

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Arlington, Va.: I have a free Saturday (12/6)in Manchester UK before flying out on Sunday. Is it possible to train down, do some sightseeing in London, and get back without exhausting myself? Am I better off seeing the sights (?) of Manchester?

The Flight Crew: Tough one, Arl. It takes about three and a half hours to train from Manchester's Victoria station to London, Kings Cross. Seven hours is a lot of travel time for a few measly hours of sightseeing in between. (You could fly faster, but with the tough ride in from any of the three London airports, you won't save too much time). And beware: If stay overnight in London, the Sunday train time is likely to be much longer (track work on Sundays make it an agonizing day to ride the trains). I'd stay in the neighborhood if I were you.

Go to www.britrail.com and look at the specifics.

--Steve

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Washington, D.C.: Is Copenhagen in November/December worth going since it will be so cold and dark? Should I wait till April?

The Flight Crew: I was there in Nov. last year, or perhaps it was the year before: it was chilly but not freezing. It was similar to what you might expect in D.C. at the same time of year. Same is probably true for April. The ideal time, to include enjoying the countryside, would be very late spring or early fall. If you decide, though, to go Nov./Dec., go earlier rather than later, unless you're hoping for snow or for Christmas lights.
Cindy

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Washington, D.C., 20015: Hiya
I'm going on my first cruise soon, and I was wondering about the shore excursions you can buy.. They seem really overpriced. Are they? Or is it about not being able to get as good/trusted a trip/guide/gear? 280 dollars for a 2 hour helicopter ride seems a bit much, considering what you pay for the trip. Any thoughts? Thanks for any advice.

The Flight Crew: I can go two ways on this and have been happy doing both. It's easy enough to wander around port cities and arrange your own excursions -- you're the tourist equivalent of a sitting duck, touts are everywhere. I had a great snorkeling trip in Cozumel doing it this way, and saved a lot. But on my last cruise, I signed on through the ship for a pricey dolphins swim that was worth every penny. I could have arranged it on my own, but I didn't feel like researching/planning it. And it was so popular that I wouldn't have been able to get a space if I'd waited to book on the spot. One tip: Avoid organized shopping excursions at all costs. -- KC

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For the relic-seeker:: Check out "Magnificent Corpses" by Frank Browning, available on Amazon.

The Flight Crew: Why, thanks.

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Arlington, Va.: Travel Tip #264: Always check the alarm clock in your hotel room before going to sleep. We were fortunate to have my in-laws watch our 9 mo. and 3 yr. old so we could have a night out in Baltimore. After a great night out, I was so looking forward to a night of uninterrupted sleep -- when I was rudely awakened at 5:30 am by a really loud alarm clock! Arrghh. Still had a great time though!

The Flight Crew: Hey, Arl, you're off by 50--that should be at least Travel Tip No. 214. I was in a room once with an alarm built into a TV, and it went off at 6 a.m., turning the set on. It was like something out of "Poltergeist."
-john

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Arlington, Va: Hi -

Planning to go to Switzerland in late Feb. or late Mar. First time. I am a mediocre skier. I will be basing myself out of Lucerne. Any recommendations for trips to French Alps and/or Italian Lake District? I have been told both are spectacular, along with Switzerland itself.

Thanks

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: I'm guessing you're looking for a place to go to get away from skiing, right? Are you going to drive from Lucerne to another destination? Lake Como is quite lovely, and isn't that far from there. But you may be happy enough exploring the Lucerne area while others ski.

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Washington, D.C., 20009: For saints, relics and such, we travel with Penguin's Dictionary of Saints by Attwater and a Blue Guide. Also, from my experience, restaurants during Xmas in Italty can be tough, especially smaller family run places. If you plan a 'splurge' dinner, maybe look to do in 24th or 25th, as "professional" places are more likely open. Try Al Ceppo in Parioli.

The Flight Crew: Ah of course, Penguin's Dictionary of Saints, we never travel without it.

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Re: Song: Admittedly second-hand, but heard from a relative who tried Song: Song does not actually have personal video monitors YET a la Jet Blue, contradicting the Song website, just that they plan to have them in the indefinite future. Said relative was not impressed with Song, much preferred Jet Blue.

The Flight Crew: Thanks!

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Severna Park, Md.: My son ( age 17) is going to Italy in February for a three week student exchange. By February he will have 10 months left on his passport. Will Italy allow him to enter the country with just 10 months left? The trip leader remembered reading something recently in the Post Travel Section about countries requiring passports to have a number of months before expiration.

The Flight Crew: Hi there--
I'm checking on this and am waiting for the visa office of the Italian Embassy to call to confirm, but I would think that wouldn't be a problem. Fewer than six months left, and it might be an issue, but 10 months sounds fine. If I can't post an answer before the end of the chat, either call the Embassy at 202-612-4400 and ask them directly, or email me at mcdonougha@washpost.com and I'll get back to you.
-Anne

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Travel Freebie: About 5 years ago, I won one of those McDonald's Monopoly games & got a free trip to any Westin resort in the country (airfare & lodging). My husband and I chose Hawaii & had a great time! A few years later, McDonald's found out that a few people in the company they'd hired to administer the game were "fixing" the results so that prizes would go to friends & family (who would kickback $$$ to the perpetrators). We felt lucky that our prize somehow missed their grubby hands!

The Flight Crew: Hey, we never win those things. Good to hear you did.

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Kendall Park, N.J.: Hello!;

The cheapest sidetrip I ever took was the time I went to Copenhagen, and I happened to be there at the same time as the annual seventeen-day Vikingspiel (Viking Festival) in Fredrikssund. In my hotel lobby, I found a brochure for a bus trip to Fredrikssund leaving from the parking lot of the Copenhagen train station. The trip included bus transportation, a ticket for the Vikingspiel play, and dinner with beer. I asked the concierge to book it for me, which she did. I tried to pay her for the trip, but she refused any money, saying that I should pay the trip director on the bus.

When I went to the parking lot, I couldn't find a bus going to Fredrikssund, but I did find a van with the word "Vikingspiel" on it, so I asked the driver if he was going there. When he said yes, I said that my hotel had made a reservation for me, and I got on the van.

I was very surprised when the van left the parking lot without anyone collecting money from any of us, but I figured that someone would meet us in Fredrikssund. However, when we got to Fredrikssund, no one was there to meet us. Everyone else got off the van and ran over to the entrance to the play and bought a ticket. When I got off the van, the driver said to me, "I will be back at a quarter past ten." After he left, I realized that I had mistakenly gotten on a van reserved by a group or a bunch of friends. No one had asked me why I was on the van. Maybe they thought I was the bus driver's wife. I bought a ticket to the play and bought some hot dogs, ice cream, and beer.

After the play ended, I went outside and got on the van. When we got back to Copenhagen, I noticed that no one else tipped the driver, but I tipped him, because I was so happy at having gotten a free round-trip ride to Fredrikssund.

By the way, the tour company never called my hotel to see why I didn't show up.

The Flight Crew: Way to be resourceful! Thanks for posting.

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College Park, Md.: Call us crazy or call us cheap, but four of us are travelling to Stockholm over Christmas in the peak of the off-season. Short days and cold nights! We will be there for a week and staying in the heart of town. Any hidden treasures or special yuletide recommendations?

The Flight Crew: Gary Lee says: you will not miss it if you're staying in the center, but Gamla Stan, the old city, has WONDERFUL shopping, expecially. Also, check out the central market which is excellent for buy wonderful snacks for lunch.

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Logan Circle, Washington, D.C.: Hey gang,

Love the chats.

I'm headed to London for Christmas (actually, for Boxing Day to see Arsenal play Wolverhampton - I have a very cool fiancee'). I'm arriving Christmas night, and I've heard that public transportation in London is closed on Christmas Day. Is this true? I was hoping to take the Heathrow Express from the airport.

The Flight Crew: The Tube and London busses all but close on Christmas day, but not Heathrow Express--it runs 365 days a year (it even mans its custormer service window on Christmas day). You'll have to take a taxi from Paddington to your hotel, though. The Tube will be closed.

--Steve

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Alexandria, Va.: The Ireland deal was about 4 years ago and it was a special offered by Aer Lingus. It was in mid-October, which is chilly and rainy season, so I think they were trying to fill some empty seats.

The Flight Crew: Thanks for the info. Prospective Ireland-goers, October can be really nice, too -- our art director just got back from there and had great weather. -- KC

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Arlington, Va.: Isn't the primary Manchester-London conduit Manchester Piccadilly - London Euston?

The Flight Crew: Piccadilly to Euston, Victoria to King's Cross--both routes take 3 to 3.5 hours.

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Boston, Mass.: Hey y'all-

Ok, so I'm trying to make a reservation to come home to DC for Thanksgiving (from Boston). I know it's the busiest (read: most expensive) time to travel all year, but surely there must be a way to do better than $500 or so on USAirways Boston-DCA?! (What I found on their website). If possible, I'd like to avoid flying from Providence or Manchester NH because, well, they're pretty inconvenient for me. Will fly into any DC area airport though...

Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: Sorry, you can't have it all. YOu pay for convenience. And Providence and Manchester, because they are served by Southwest, are usually cheaper. But I went to www.orbitz.com and found a BWI to Boston flights on AirTran leaving Wed., and a flight on American leaving Sunday for $233 round trip.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Quick query: Best place to stay in Big Sur (not camping) in December.

Thanks!

The Flight Crew: If you're talking the best you're talking either the Post Ranch or Ventana Inn---but you're talking about $400 or more per night for Ventana, which is cheaper than Post. (Do check Ventana Inn on line just to make sure there isn't a sale that makes it more reasonable. I don't think the Post ever gets into a reasonable range.

For the bestest cheapest--how about Big Sur Lodge, www.bigsurlodge.com. Cindy

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Re: Delta Song: Uh uh. I just flew Song for business (New York to West Palm Beach), and it was budget flying at its best. Cheap flight ($150), but no personal monitors, no in-flight movie, and all food is available for purchase only. (Plus they ran out of EVERY meal on the way down, leaving us with packaged cheese/crackers as the only option besides Snickers.) Great way to go for cheap, plus a friendly staff, but don't expect much.

The Flight Crew: Thanks for the account.

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Car in L.A.: I just wanted to say that when I was planning a trip to L.A. last year, I thought the same thing -- "Who needs a car... I like buses, I will just take public transit." I changed my mind at the last minute, managed to score a cheap rental car on Hotwire, and it was one of the best travelling decisions I've ever made. I actually ENJOYED driving in L.A. (other than rush hour) -- and you will find that there is ample, reasonably priced parking everywhere. You really don't want to spend your entire vacation waiting for a bus, esp. if the drivers are on strike like they are now.

The Flight Crew: Nope, you are right---you don't want to do public transportation in LA, even if you believe in public transit. They just don't have it down. Cindy

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Xian traveler: Anne, thanks for the great advice, it's giving me some courage to travel solo and finally putting a stamp in my passport!; lol

I'm participating in an international volunteer program, where I'll be stationed in Xi'an for two weeks. In Xi'an, the lodging is provided by this volunteer program. So I figure during the day, I'll be helping out with volunteer work, and in my free time and weekends, I can explore Xi'an. But as you think two weeks in Xian is a stretch, I'll start researching to-do in nearby cities. Any suggestions on this one?

After reading your advice, you're definitely making me seriously consider extending this trip past my time volunteering, so that I can spend some time in Beijing.

Thanks again!;!;

The Flight Crew: That puts a different spin on things, for if your days are occupied then with a few day trips might be plenty. I'm all for really getting to know a spot instead of hopping all over the place, and it sounds like you could really get a look at Xi'an both on your own and with the volunteer group. Xi'an has great street food, including wonderful baozi, which are kind of like dumplings but larger and much doughier. And the popcorn you can buy on the street is PHENOMENAL--they spin with with sugar to make a fantastic lightly carmelized snack, it's the perfect train food. It shouldn't be more than 2 kuai (about 25 cents). Seeing the soldiers was the only day trip we took from Xi'an, so I don't have many other ideas there, but can say without a doubt that two weeks will leave you wanting more of China.
-Anne

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Re: Travel Tip: I've got the alarm stories beat - once I was accidentally checked into a room that was equipped for a hearing impaired guest.

When the phone rang all the lights started blinking!;

The Flight Crew: Now, that would be a rude awakening. Thanks for sharing!

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Crew!
What are the chances of flight prices falling before Christmas?
I just checked out flights to Guatemala City (normally $434 roundtrip) and found flights for an average of $900!

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: It's usually expensive to fly to Central and South America during the Christmas season because so many people travel home then. But I did find a flight at www.orbitz.com leaving Dec. 23 returning Dec. 30 for $635 round trip. Look around. Or call a travel agent.

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Washington, D.C.: I have a 4 day vacation for Thanksgiving. Is NYC going to be a mob scene and not worth it that weekend?

What woud be a quiet place to go close by?

The Flight Crew: NYC shouldn't be any more of a mob scene than it usually is--mob scene is a big part of it's appeal.

quiet and nearby---the beaches of Long Island, the mountains of upstate New York. How about the Hudson River valley? A train is a good way to get to all three of those. Cindy

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Fredericksburg, Va.: I'm headed to New Orleans the first weekend in December. It will be my first time in the Big Easy. Any recommendations for some "can't miss" good times? Bars? Jazz Clubs?

Thanks.

The Flight Crew: Here are a few New Orleans can't-misses: Wander around the French Quarter, just watch where you step. Listen to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, it's the real thing. Bowl a few games at Rock & Bowl. Have chicory coffee and a beignet at Cafe du Monde -- touristy, but still wonderful. Eat at an institution like Galatoire's or Commander's Palace, or dine on crawfish and alligator pie at a neighborhood place like Frankie & Johnny's. Who's got other faves? -- KC

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Richmond, Va.: Reston asked about Rome at Christmastime - Don't miss Midnight Mass at St. Peter's, celebrated by the Pope. The three-hour multi-lingual service is one of the most dramatic (and earthy - with people pushing each other aside to see the Pope better) spectacles I've ever seen.

Because 10,000 others will attend, you'll need tickets to get in. They're free, but they are required. You can contact most any Catholic church for help, or go directly to the Ponticial North American College and its Office for American Visitors to Rome. And don't worry about places to eat or things to do.

Grant Neely

The Flight Crew: Thanks, says Gary. Good tip!

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Melissa in Washington, D.C.: Best Travel Bargain: Cross country skiing in Herrington Manor State Park in western Maryland. No charge to ski in the park and you can rent skis, poles, and boots for just $13 a day or $22 for two days. The trails are groomed and usually not crowded. I discovered this deal a couple of years ago when I explored parks around the Deep Creek area.

The Flight Crew: Great suggestion, thanks.

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Cleveland Park, Washington, D.C.: Hello Flight Crew! Question regarding long-haul flight: I'm travelling to Johannesburg, South Africa in the near future. I am looking at the direct flight from NY's JFK to Johannesburg on South African Airways. I am 6 ft tall and am wondering if the 14+ hour flight in Coach will be unbearable, or if it is worth the (mucho) extra money to upgrade to Business/First. Your opinion is very important to me. Thanks a bunch!

The Flight Crew: How old are you? For I find that I don't unfold from a day in steerage quite as easily as I used to (I'm 39, just under 6'2"). But I still seldom consider it worth paying all those hundreds just for a little leg room (now cashing in miles is another story). I prefer to angle for an exit row or--and on a flight from Africa, this is possible--pray for a light crowd and stretch out some--seasoned travelers know that that three seats to yourself is BETTER than first class on overnight flights.

Still, like all bad flight experiences, the hassle of being cramped up evaporates as soon as get off the plane. I was once on a flight from Singapore in front of a guy who was easily 6'9". His knees were wedged into my seat back like 2x4s--my seat was in full/upright all the way around the world. Ugh. But hey, once I got off, my sunny mood returned.

--Steve

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RE: Day in Manchester, UK: To the person with a free day in Manchester: Skip the trip to London (waste of time travelling). Better, take a train or bus to Liverpool (1 hour away) and enjoy the sights, shops, restaurants/pubs.

The Flight Crew: Great advice, thanks.

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Alexandria, Va.: Thanks for your article on Turks and Caicos this weekend. My husband and I went there last June for our honeymoon and loved it. Your article was a nice reminder of the wonderful time we had there. We stayed on Provo and were there for 11 glorious days. That being said, I reading the article was a mixed bag. The fact that it is very undeveloped and not commercialized is all part of the charm and I'm hoping that word doesn't spread too much. I'd hate to see such a wonderful, beautiful and serene place turn into a completely overdeveloped, overcommercialized monster. Hopefully the fact that building there is so expensive will help keep things in check.

The Flight Crew: Or I'm hoping that maybe the islands will learn from the mistakes of islands that overdeveloped and keep it low key, or maybe confine development to one island.
I too felt that the lack of shopping, nightclubs etc was the best part about it--just wanted to let people know they shouldn't go there if that was what they were looking for. Just last week on the chat, in fact, someone mentioned they were going to golf in TC while their wives went shopping. Can you imagine how long that shopping trip would take? Cindy

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Washington, D.C.: Although I hated my first experience skiing, my husband has convinced me to give it another shot. (he has never skied.) Suggestions on where beginner skiers could learn in a fun, safe environment? Doesn't have to be near D.C.; we would fly to Colorado or Canada or wherever. It would be nice if there were plenty of other things to do in case my first experience turns out to be how I will always feel about skiing.

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: I think that Copper Mountain in Colorado is a good choice for beginners. An entire side of the mountain is devoted to novices. Go to www.coppercolorado.com. There's not that much to do right there, but Vail is only a short drive from Copper. If you're looking more for a place with a real town, Park City, Utah or Steamboat, Colo. are good choices. Enroll in a clinic - don't try to teach yourselves.

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Arlington, Va.: How about Ireland in December? Aer Lingus has a deal for airfare, car rental, and 5 nights in B&Bs for ~$560/person. Would this be a good deal at a good time?

The Flight Crew: It's a good deal for sure. As for timing, chances are it'll be chilly and cold. But I've had good weather there in November -- only one day of rain, the rest of the week sunny and cool (jacket weather). You just never know over there, so take layers and be prepared. -- KC

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Washington, D.C.: I found the top bed in the hard sleepers in China to be awful! You have to climb all the way up three rows and then you're crammed in there with some awful fan a foot from your face. If you wear contact lenses, it really dries out your eyes. Of course, it is the only bunk you can use when everyone is smoking and eating on the lower beds.

The Flight Crew: To each his own, of course, but I don't like the bottom because everyone shares it as a seat during the day, and the middle doesn't give you as much headroom as the top bunk. It's the closest thing to privacy in a car that has twenty rows of bunks in it. It's also the cheapest of the sleeper options, which is the way to my heart. As for smoking, that is a plus for the soft sleeper as there are only 4 bunks to a compartment and so your chances of being with a smoker are lower but I have to say that I wear contacts and didn't have a bit of trouble with that.
-Anne

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Arlington, Va.: Switzerland - Actually, free digs at cousin's place are in Lucerne. I want to ski, but want to explore the region - France and/or Italy as well. Being from CO I am not attracted to the Vail and Aspen-type glitzy resorts.

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: Head to the Dolomites. I loved Ortesei and Selva Gardena. And Bolzano is a fine city - the Iceman mummy is there.

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Bethesda, Md.: For the record: Last year I traveled to an American hotel in South Asia with tenis courts, spa, etc. and all the Americans I met there were very interested in seeing the culture, exploring the area, and preserving what that country has to offer. I particularly remember 2 executives, who had taken time from their business trips to come and see. One took a hiking trip with the local guide to see the villages and the local market, the other went biking and canoeing. They didn't know each other, and they both spoke a little Thai so they could communicate with the local staff on property even though they all spoke English. I also met another couple, who went to the local restaurant adjacent to the hotel, dines on local fish in candle light, and tipped the family who worked there 50% every nigtht because they enjoyed it so much. It seems like the person who complained about the "Ugly American" has been staying in the wrong places. (The hotel was JW Marriott in Phuket)

The Flight Crew: I agree -- or could it have been his/her attitude? I think people tend to get what they expect. -- KC

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Cheap X-mas airfare: Every year my friends and I travel to Salt Lake City to go skiing the week after Christmas. This year was no exception. In order to get the best deal possible, I find myself entering travel info into 3 or 4 websites (Expedia, Travelocity, Airline websites). This year I kept plugging in our travel dates and kept coming up with $400 airfares. One morning a $250 airfare popped up on United's website, so I called the guys and we all booked our flights within 15 minutes, only the price had dropped again, another $25!; Interestingly enough, within an hour the fare was back up in the stratosphere.

The Flight Crew: Sottili: Those wild and wacky airfares.....it's a mystery.

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Bethesda, Md.: Here's some help for your Honolulu guest. We travel independently the world over and haven't had a bad experience yet. We rarely stay in international chain hotels (they do work well for first & last nights near the airport)- but look for bed & breakfast or table d'hote accomodations - thru groups like farmstay.co.uk, gites-en-france, agriturismo in Italy, portfolio collection in South Africa, etc. We were Venice last fall - home to LOTS of tourists, and found a lovely little hotel (Villa Graziella)in Marghera - about a 5 minute walk from the bus that took us, in another 10 minutes across the bridge to the main bus station for Venice - it was fabulous - crisp linens, incredibly warm host, etc. - BUT, beware, lots of American travellers we've seen clearly have a hard time accepting things that are "different", equating locally based standards as being "bad" rather than enjoying the diversity of it all....Also - the Ugly American is NOT an urban legend - I'll never forget the scene of a family (khakis, polos, baseball caps, etc.)in Harrods dining room at lunchtime & a snippy teen having a fit because the iced coffee wasn't like it was at home!;

The Flight Crew: I know, sigh, they ARE out there. It's just that I don't think the world is overrun with them, as the poster implied. And there are plenty of other countries with their share of idiots out there. -- KC

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Farragut Square, Washington, D.C.: Cheapest cultural experience: I was in Mexico City a number of years ago and wanted to see the famous Ballet Folklorico. Normal ticket outlets were sold out, but in chatting (in my enthusiastic but ungrammatical Spanish) with a person in the theater lobby, she told me to return that evening. When I returned, she led me to an alley (as I got more uneasy) and then through a side door into the main theater, motioning me into a box! I thanked her and was told that I was the first "gringa" that day who had tried to speak Spanish and was polite about not getting tickets so she thought I deserved a reward!

(So don't I now deserve a rewarding box o' junque for this posting? I've having an otherwise lousy day.)

The Flight Crew: Great story, Farragut, you're in the running.

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Washington, D.C.: Going to Bonaire in November. Other than the Diving, is there anything I shouldn't miss?

The Flight Crew: look for the pink flamingos in the saltpans, on the sourthern part of the island. There is a national park in the north, which is hilly, although I can't say whether it's worth leaving the beach to see. It's such a small place, you'll probably stumble over everything if you have at least 5 days or so. Cindy

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Washington, D.C.: Greatest expensive freebie -- for our honeymoon to Bora Bora, we booked at the 5 star Bora Bora Nui directly through sheraton.com. We got 35% off through the website on our garden room reservation. When we got there, they upgraded us from their worst room (what we had reserved) to an overwater bungalow -- and the furthest one down the pier.

The Flight Crew: Why doesn't this sort of thing ever happen to us?

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Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: Howdy Crew-

Been trying like mad to find a flight to NY for the Thanksgiving weekend and am coming up empty on anything that will get me back to DC before Tuesday. Do you suspect more seats will open up in the next six weeks? Thanks so much for your thoughts.

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: I don't know where you've been looking, but I easily found lots of seats between here and there, leaving the day before Thanksgiving and coming home on Sunday. Go to www.travelocity.com or www.orbitz.com.

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for 20015: Just got back from a Celebrity cruise to W. Carib where I booked shore excursions only when there was an attraction that it would have broken my heart to miss (swim with dolphins) or it was difficult to get to and time is a problem (Mayan ruins at Tulumm for instance) then book it through the cruiseline. Otherwise, be your own tour guide so you aren't tied to an excursion's time limits. It's frustrating to be hustled along when you want to wander and enjoy.

The Flight Crew: True. Thanks.

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Washington, D.C.: Please help! I am planning on visiting my boyfriend (who is studying in London) next month. We're trying to plan a getaway in Scotland for a long weekend, but are having trouble figuring out whether or not we can rent a car. We are both 21. Do you know definitively if renting a car at that age is illegal in the UK or if there are companies who are willing to rent to young things like ourselves for an additional insurance charge? Your help would be much appreciated. And if it is impossible to rent a car in the UK, then what about other western european/scandinavian countries? You guys are great - I loved the article on the islands this weekend!

The Flight Crew: In our experience, European car rental companies want you to be 25, WDC. But shop around--I just googled 'car rental' Britain '21-years-old' and it spit out several companies that have 21 as a minimum (one of them was www.carquestrentals.com for what it's worth--no one here has experience with them).

Otherwise, take the train. It can be fun.

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Fairfax, Va.: For the person with an overnight in Manchester, go downtown. They have a great redeveloped downtown area (after the last big IRA bomb). A very cool covered restaurant row called the PrintWorks I believe. There is also a pub that is a couple of hundred years old that serves a mean piint. People thought I was nuts going thre for a long weekend (ManU game was the reason) but found Manchester to be a nice city.

The Flight Crew: Thanks, Fairfax.

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Washington, D.C.: Long travel bargain story, but will try to make short. Flying Guam to US via Tokyo, 1986. Northwest agent on Guam gave price for an added roundtrip, Tokyo-Osaka-Tokyo, with 3-day layover for $25 extra. Foolishly said maybe. Came back later same day, agent gone. A different agent could not get the computer to produce the bargain. Came back next day, original agent was there, got the $25 round trip to Osaka.

The Flight Crew: You were lucky. Thanks.

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Bethesda, Md.: Hi!;

I have a group of about 10 people, single, in the mid-30s. We are trying to go somewhere for New Year's Eve for great nightlife, drinks, and merry time. I was considering Club Med but its mostly all sold out. Any ideas on where to get good deals? We were looking at Beaches Resorts, Club Med resorts, New Orleans, San Francisco, or Las Vegas.

Thanks!;

The Flight Crew: Hey, Beth. Just from experience, consider Vegas. If you're willing to stay off the strip, you can probably nab a decent deal in one of the gazillion chain hotels just a block or two off the Strip.
-john

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Northwest Washington, D.C.: Hello Flight Crew!
I'm trying to plan a long weekend trip in mid-December with a friend of mine who lives in Northern Calif. We're thinking about going to Phoenix and Sedona. Do you know what it's like there during that time of year and whether it's a good time to go? Also, do you (or the readers) have any suggestions about places to go or things to see in that vicinity? Thanks in advance!

The Flight Crew: If I had a friend in Northern Calif I'd try to talk them into going to Tahoe with me in mid-Dec. But I guess they want to get away too.

Sedona sounds good, but why Phoenix? How about Santa Fe instead. (Sorry, no time for any Phoenix supporters to respond.) Cindy

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Re Beaches questions: For the person wanting an alternative to the Outer Banks. We like Emerald Isle, which was mentioned, as well as Topsail Beach and Sunset Beach, also in N.C., but further south. We had a different impression of Wrightsville from what we've read so have avoided it but would love to be corrected if someone knows better. Note that south of Cape Hatteras the water is a lot warmer - a big plus! If we go to the Outer Banks these days we pick Frisco or Hatteras Village. Even a little bit south of the Cape makes a huge difference.

The Flight Crew: Thanks for the advice. Anyone know Wrightsville Beach first hand?

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Arlington, Va.: Hola, Travel Friends! My husband and I, both 25, have saved up enough money to study in Spain for 3 months and then backpack around Portugal and S. France for the 4th month--from mid-January '04 to April. We are wondering if anyone has advice on how to pick a good study abroad school?? (So far, we are thinking that Spanishstudyholidays.com would suit us best, if anyone has heard of it.) Basically, we want a legit place that will teach us basic Spanish--if we don't become fluent, that's fine, because, hey, we'll still be in Europe!

Also, how crazy is not getting travel insurance? I think we've pretty much realized that we can't afford it even if something DID happen. We don't have ANY insurance right now (he just finished his master's degree and we're currently both temping until he returns to school next year). My parents say not to worry about it since if we get seriously injured, someone will help us out in a life or death situation. Does that sound okay?

The Flight Crew: Hey guys,
Check out Lingua Servives Worldwide for some ideas: http://www.linguaserviceworldwide.com/
I traveled for about 8 months total with no insurance except for whatever my credit card offered and had no trouble. Having said that, there was not a single person who found that out who didn't chew me out for being so irresponsible. So, basically, go with your gut on this one.
On a side note your plans sound awesome. I love that you're just taking off!

-Anne

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Re: Alexandria, Va.: A trip to Scotland, I'm jealous!;!; To feed your sweet tooth, be sure to have some sticky toffee pudding; I discovered this at my wonderful B&B on Skye (Rowan Cottage, run by the lovely Ruth Shead) and couldn't get enough of it. This may not make that Krispy Kreme run quite so urgent.

The Flight Crew: Thanks!

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Bethesda, Md.: Best Bargain? This may sound like a plug, but this summer I did the "NY Trifecta" on Southwest Airlines--taking three different trips to Niagra-on-the-Lake for the Shaw Festival (Buffalo); the Adirondacks & Saratoga for hiking, horseracing & the Philadelphia Orchestra (Albany); and East Hampton for the beaches(Islip) for the princely sum of $68 round-trip each. Aside from the world of electronics, it's hard to think of another consumer good whose cost has declined rather than increased over the years--Southwest & plane travel in particular is one of these gems.

The Flight Crew: Yep. Thanks for posting.

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Alexandria, Va.: For the London traveler in search of cheap lodging: Try the American chains like Comfort Inn and Courtyard by Marriott. All the comforts of home, and they can be very reasonable. Some people don't like "character" if it means that the hot water doesn't work.

The Flight Crew: Hot water? In London? Next you'll be wanting warm rooms.

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Alexandria, Va.: Hi Flight Crew,

I am looking for a travel destintation over the New Year holiday and was considering Tunisia. I've heard good things about the country. I will be traveling solo. Is it a safe country for a solo woman traveler?

I am also considering Greece. Any thoughts on Greece in Jan?

Thanks Much.

The Flight Crew: Greece would be cool, but if you don't mind not swimming and sunbathing, you could still have a good time there.

Tunisia doesn't leap to mind as the top choice for solo female traveler, unless you are very experienced, adventurious, etc. Go to www.travel.state.gov to see what the state department thinks, cause I don't know for a fact it's dangerous, it just doesn't strike me as a place for a woman to head alone.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Flight Crew - I could've sworn that you had some travel articles on Bali and/or Tahiti. But a search through your travel articles results in zero articles. Am I losing my mind and you guys never had these articles? If my mind hasn't run away, could you tell me where I can find these articles?

The Flight Crew: Hey, D.C....we've done a few pieces, but it's been a while. Here comes a link to a piece on Bora Bora we did a few years ago.

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washingtonpost.com: Bora Bora, I Adore Ya (Post, May 6, 2001)

The Flight Crew: thanks.com!

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Re Atlantis: Yes, the food is expensive, but the place is gorgeous and has a great beach and plenty of other attractions. I think the meal plan is probably a good deal, but would also recommend an occasional meal elsewhere. We had a lovely dinner at the Poop Deck just over the bridge. Great food, decent price, amazing view of the harbor and bridge and sunset.

The Flight Crew: Good stuff...and you got it in just in time! Thanks for the help!

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Morristown, N.J.:

I am interested in a budget excursion with a tour operator to Cuba before the Dec. 31 deadline. I read Cindy Loose's story in the Sunday Star-Ledger (NJ) on October 19 but no price was mentioned. I would travel from Newark perhaps over the holidays. Many thanks for any information you can provide.

V. Barnes

The Flight Crew: The bigger question at this point is whether there are any slots left at all. It's actually dirt cheap to go there by yourself and say stay in a cuban style BandB, but I killed all the info about how to do that once Bush made that kind of travel virtually impossible. Organized trips usually are at the better and more established hotels so they don't tend to be very cheap. Best you can do is email all the organizers I mentioned and see if there is a spot, then ask how much. Cindy

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Washington, D.C.: For the Spain bound -- Please get at least catastrophic medical insurance!; It should be really inexpensive for a couple of healthy 25 year olds!;

The Flight Crew: thanks, d.c.

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For Tall Guy: My dad (6'5) always requests bulk head seats. Tons of leg room there.

The Flight Crew: I don't always agree. Sometimes I find the bulkhead lets me stretch out less than a seat in front of me. Still, this IS the conventional wisdom. --Steve

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Washington, D.C.: Cheapest Stateside Travel:

On my first trip to San Francisco, I was in law school and tres poor. So, I cashed in my frequent flyer miles (that took years and years to earn) for the flight. Stayed w/a friend of my other travel companion. One day we toured the city by foot starting downtown, though the Italian and Chinese Sections of Town, up Lombard, past Nice neighborhoods, through the Presidio in which we got lost and across the Golden Gate Bridge. By the time we were across the bridge we were exhausted, so we'd hoped to find lots of buses (as there were lots on the other side). Unfortunately, there was no bus, no working phone, no cabs and the thought of walking across the bridge again was pretty terrible. So, we asked around for info on public buses and a tour operator took pity on us. Not only did he give us a ride back to Pier 49, but gave us headphones. So everything we walked past on the way over the bridge was explained in detail. It was wonderful. And, he didn't charge us, but we left him a tip and our gratitude. All in all, I still love San Francisco.

The Flight Crew: Nice, D.C. Thanks for sharing!

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GET TRAVEL INSURANCE: the person travelling to Spain should realize that Spain's national health insurance will not cover her or her husband. If, god forbid, something serious happened (like one of them was hit by a car) you are talking 50-100,000 DOLLARS. unless their families are loaded, I'd never want to pass that burden on to mom and dad. Ask for insurance as a christmas present, or birthday or something, but get it.

to do otherwise is foolish (full disclosure: I once stuck my parents, who can afford it, with a $25,000 hospital and evac bill for a broken leg. insurance for the trip would have cost $100. oops.)

The Flight Crew: Another vote for travel insurance.

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The Flight Crew: Hey all--This is from a clickster with feedback from a chat a few weeks ago (see, we do follow up!):

Really enjoyed the Travel Talk of Oct. 6 you moderated.
Two thoughts:
1. Green Tortoise tours in Costa Rica (and Europe?) are great fun, a party options for younger people. At 30 I've missed my chance but a few friends did it during college and loved it. On the same note, I don't know if Airhitch is still operating but they are a great way for younger people with a lot more time than money to get to Europe. Also, when I was 19 I toured Europe alone and I met more young people in hostels than you can shake a cold beer at. In other words, I'm a big fan of going it alone. You WILL meet other backpackers.
2. On consolidator tix: I had a bad experience flying back to KIX from LAX when I lived outside of Kyoto. I bought the tickets from a consolidator in Japan and when we missed our flight (had no appreciation for security lines living in Japan, we were in LA Jan. 2002) the agent told us that since our tickets didn't have a dollar value printed on them she could not put us on another flight since the airlines need to figure out amongst themselves who owes what to whom, or so she said. Anyway, another reason I very much dislike United (we got jacked around for two hours before she finally told us it was a no-go) and am wary of consolidators. As the United woman said, they're great until something goes wrong, but then you're left with very little recourse?
Just some thoughts, do with them what you will, Josh Krist and Helene Goupil

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Arlington, Va.: With that Tunisia post in mind, am I making an assumption (you know what they say about 'assume') in thinking that travling as a single woman in China is safe? Also, a few questions: would it be best to have cash in hand, or are credit cards sufficient? and is it integral to have a strong command of the Chinese language (mandarin/cantonese)?

The Flight Crew: I've done it extensively and and have never ONCE had a problem with being a solo woman in China. I do speak Mandarin, but met plenty of solo women who didn't speak a word.
Have a credit card, ATM and Travelers cheques.A good mix of those and you'll be set.
-Anne

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