Talk About Travel

Favorite summer vacation stories...

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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The transcript follows.

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John Deiner: Hey, gang, and welcome to this week's journey with the Travel Section Flight Crew. I'm you're host for today; trolling the aisles waiting for your questions/ comments/taunts/praise are section editor K.C. Summers; frequent contributors Andrea Sachs and Anne McDonough; and, of course, Our Fare Lady, Carol Sottili.

Let's go down Memory Lane today, folks. With the summer waning (nooooooo!), share with us your favorite memory (good or bad) of a childhood summer vacation--they really shape our travel habits when we have to pay the bills ourselves, don't they? Was it that week at the beach in Point Pleasant, N.J.? Maybe when Grandma took you around the world for three weeks when you were 14? Or when you drove across country, and Aunt Edna died and you had to tie her to the roof...oh, wait. That was the Griswolds' summer vacation.

Anyhow, we'll throw out a troika of junque to the best VERY SHORT anecdote we get. Said junque includes a die-cast conestoga wagon that doubles as a pencil sharpener; a sorta cool mini-light that you can clip to your car visor and read a map with; and a futuristic folding hanger from the Mondrian. Very chic, very odd.

And away we go . . .

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Washington, DC: Since Vegas figures often in these chats, I thought I'd share a cautionary tale: On a recent trip to Vegas I got very different treatment when trying to check in before the "official" check-in time of 4 p.m. When I checked in at 1 p.m. at the Monte Carlo, I was told my room wasn't ready, but that I could have my key, check my bags at the bell desk, call a number to find out if my room was ready in about an hour, and if it was, call the bell desk to have my bags delivered to my room. While I wasn't happy to be roomless, all of those instructions worked smoothly, and I never had to go back through the monster lines at the check-in desk. Next week, 2 p.m. at the Bellagio and my room wasn't ready. I was told to check back at the desk in an hour and that I could check my bags at the bell desk. After making it through the line at 3 p.m., room still isn't ready. Now I'm ticked. Back through the now humongous check-in lines at 4 p.m., and room still isn't ready. Finally, the genius behind the desk decides just to put me on another floor. Then I had to go back to the belldesk, wait for my bags to be recovered from storage and follow the bellman to my room. I didn't actually get into the room until 5 p.m. Why don't hotels realize that the check-in experience sets the tone? The Monte wasn't ready, but they did their best to keep me happy. At the Bellagio, I expected to be treated like a guest, instead I was treated like a pest.

John Deiner: Hey, D.C. Thanks for the report--I'm always amazed at how often you can check into a room early in Vegas, no doubt because of the vast inventory, but still...

Must have been a huge pain to have to wait in those lines, and I'm surprised they made you do that (especially Bellagio!). There's often a special desk clerk handling that sort of stuff, and that line is usually quite short. Just something else to be aware of, I guess. thanks!

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Arlington, Va.: No question, just an (overdue) comment concernoing the recent article on Stockholm. As a former exchange student to Sweden & someone who gets back there as often as possible, I'd say the article was right on the money. It really is a -fantastic- city!

The Vasa ship & Skansen are 2 must sees for the first time visitor. I also highly recommend the Castle & related museums, Storkirchen ("the Big Church" next to the castle), the Nordic Museum, the National Art Museum, and for something a little different, try the Music Museum. One of the best things, tho, is just to wander around the city exploring the various neighborhoods: Gammlastan, Kungsgarden, Ostermalm, etc. There really is something for everyone!

One thing that I didn't see mentioned was the "Stockholm Card". You can buy this seperately or many hotels offer it as part of a room package. This card gives you free entrance into many museums, plus unlimited subway & bus travel. We've paid a little bit more for the hotel, but more than made up for it by saving entrance fees & public transportation fees.

John Deiner: Hey, thanks, Arl. Real good stuff, and we're glad you enjoyed the story.

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Charlottesville, Va.: I have planned a trip to Rome for Sept. 14 through 21. The added difficulty factor is that my plane ticket is courtesy of frequent flyer miles and booked on USAirways. While I realize that even if USAirways declares bankruptcy next month, that doesn't necessarily mean they will cancel any of my flights, I'd like to know what my position is. Also, what sort of coverage do I ask for to protect myself against cancellation of a ticket for which I've only paid $40 in fees? Is it kosher to insure for what a last minute ticket would cost me, if I were forced to replace it?

Carol Sottili: Sottili here: I think the earliest anyone believes US Airways would go out of business - and that's not anywhere near a certainty - is about six months from now, so you should be safe. But I don't know of any travel insurance that would pay for a full-fare ticket in case your $40 ticket is no good. You could investigate that at www.webflyer.com, a good site for frequent flyers, and www.insuremytrip.com. I don't want you to worry too much, but there is also a chance that US Airways will curtail its flights to various destinations. If it stops serving Rome, you may be out of luck. But for $40, it's a gamble that I would probably take. Just keep a close tab on what's going on, and if it looks really grim about three weeks before you're set to go, buy a ticket on another airline that you can change for a fee of $150 or so.

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Washington DC: Childhood vacation memory: For most of my growing up, our family vacation consisted of driving to visit grandparents in West Virginia & Cincinnati - very boring!; The first "real" vacation we took was right after I got my driver's license. We hopped in the car & drove about 24 hours (felt like forever) to Venice, Florida. Collected sharks teeth on the beach, ate at an archetypal restaurant-on-the-pier, mostly just enjoyed being lazy & not being on a "visiting relatives" duty trip.

I guess if my childhood vacations affect my trip planning now, it's that I'm very reluctant to waste time in the car -- I'd rather spend my time enjoying my destination!;

John Deiner: Hey, you should try collecting shark teeth in Venice, Italy, next time. But 24 hours in a car can seem like a lifetime, no matter how old you are. Thanks for sharing.

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Bowie, Md: Hey crew...travel memory: To this day, I remember looking for a gas station w/ my parents & aunt (I was 6) before the family car ran out.....came across a Cities Service (now Citgo) station...and blurted out at the top of my lungs...."Hey Dad, it's S--ty Service". Then we drove until we found Amoco.

John Deiner: Hey, Bowie. Thanks for the memory, and the strategically placed dashed.

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Alexandria, Va.: I am heading to Vienna and Salzburg labor day weekend. Any recommendations for good restaurants?

Anne McDonough: Don't know what your budget is, but if you're up for a mammoth multicourse meal at an elegant restaurant, head to Steireck. As a vegetarian I found myself missing out on many Viennese specialties (I started judging restaurants by their potato soup; Cafe Central won hands down) but the folks there put together an amazing meal and I was more than well taken care of. The bread cart alone is amazing. Clicksters, any Viennese favs?

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Dunmore, Pa.: Greetings, Crew! I have to say that once again I thoroughly enjoyed the photo contest again---I'm always amazed at what people see through their cameras. However, when I travel, I often seek out a particular type of souvenier photo, in addition to the rest. I work for my local court system, and when I travel, and there is pretty much a courthouse no matter where I go in the country, so I seek out local courthouses and take a photo in front of them, usually near the signs. I know it sounds a bit corny, but some of these old buildings have spectacular architecture and provide a true local and often historical glimpse of the area I visit. I have a fun collection on my wall and it sort of documents my travels as well. I have some international courthouses, too, and they're always a nice conversation item for people who visit my home. Made me wonder if anybody else does something similar, like does a local police officer try to get a photo with a police officer when visiting another place?

KC Summers: Hey Dun, we love the contest too, and there are some pretty spirited arguments around here when it comes to judging time. It's always interesting to see what people come up with... As for county courthouses, you've got a kindred spirit out there. In 1999 we published a front-page photo essay by a guy whose hobby was... photographing courthouses. Yep. You're not the only weirdo, er, courthouse aficionado out there. Link coming up.

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Arlington, Va.: When I was twelve, I took a trip from New York City to St. Louis by Greyhound bus and managed to the inside of bus terminals in Pittlsburgh and Indianapolis. Because my grandmother was with her brother, I took the streetcar down to the public library and read a lot of books in the two weeks I was there. I also saw the Cardinals play the Pirates. In spite of the horrid bus ride, I remember St. Louis fondly--and that was way before the Gateway Arch.

John Deiner: Nice, Arl.

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Tysons, Va.: We went to the beach in Destin every August for vacation. For my 10th birthday Dad took us to Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Ft. Walton. Back in the 70's, that was a lot of money to pay for five children and two adults to have fun- but it was a blast and a cherished memory.

John Deiner: Is Miracle Strip still there, Tysons? If it is, I'm sure it still costs a pretty penny--thanks for sharing.

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washingtonpost.com: Have a Seat, (July 1999)

KC Summers: Here's the link to that county courthouse story.

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Falls Church, Va: Fave childhood trip: We visited my Grandma in Cape Girardeau, Missouri every summer. My Uncle Johnny drove a Hostess truck for a living. He would come to my Grandma's house and let me and four siblings go into the truck and take any and everything we wanted. The pies!; the ding dongs!; It was heaven.

John Deiner: The ding dongs? Trips to Grandma's were the best, weren't they?

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Former Washingtonian: I was curious whether you know anything about what's been going on at the Portland, Maine airport recently. Travelling back from Portland to Dulles on Saturday, I was told that the airport had been closed for two days because the instrument landing system was torn out as part of the runway expansion. Apparently, because the weather hadn't been good enough Thursday and Friday, nothing had come in or out (it was rainy and foggy). This all sounded a bit far out to me...though there were enough unhappy people in the airport that I believed them. Any thoughts?

Carol Sottili: Geez, that's some story, and it's no urban myth. Here's an excerpt from the Portland Press Herald of Aug. 14:

Bonnie and Charley disrupted the lives of airline passengers up and down the East Coast Friday, including at the Portland International Jetport, where many flights were delayed, canceled or diverted. The problems will probably continue through the weekend, said Jeffrey Monroe, Portland's director of ports and transportation.

"We're encouraging people to please check with your airline before you come to the airport," he said.

Monroe said the situation has been aggravated by the fact that the jetport's instrument landing system is not operating. Every time visibility gets below 500 feet, planes will not land.

Monroe said the system was disconnected so it could be moved during runway construction.

"We planned this because, normally, August is a dry, hot month and we have very few visibility issues," he said. "This has been a very unusual August for us."

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Arlington, Va.: A favorite summer vacation memory: Driving with my family between the indescribably gorgeous national parks of southern Utah, we had our usual supply of Mad-Libs with us, and one of them had ended up being about the Hanksville Symphony Orchestra-- Hanksville being a town we had driven through a couple days prior that consisted basically of a burger shack where we ate lunch. Ok, maybe you had to be there.

John Deiner: Nah, I'm there, Arlington, I'm there.

And bonus points for you for dragging Mad-Libs into the chat.

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Columbia, Md.: fOR favorite memory: It is one of many, but I remember fondly, when my Mom and Dad took my sister, cousins and friends to Atlantic City to see the horse dive into water at the steel pier. We stayed at a beach front hotel with a pool and when my sister, friend and I got on the elevator, there he was!! Larry of the 3 Stooges! For kids, it doesn't get better than that. We got his autograph and he was in his beach wear with his curly hair.
My older cousin ordered iced tea for everyone from room service and it cost him so much that he kept the silver tea pitcher and teaspoons. I am 52 now, but that beach get away with friends and family is a great memory.

John Deiner: Even more bonus points to you for dragging Larry of the Three Stooges into the chat. Cool memory, Columbia.

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Baltimore, Md.: My childhood vacations (for the first 9 years) were spent in Mississippi where both my parents were from. One week at my dad's family farm in northern MS (near Tupelo) and one week on the Gulf Coast in Biloxi. I loved it because we had cousins galore to play with at both the farm and the beach. We'd also stop along the way. I'm the only person I know who has been to Graceland (ok, outside the front gates)while Elvis was still alive (his birthplace in Tupelo, too)! The only downside was we drove (17 hours) and I was the youngest of 3 so I got stuck on the "hump" in the middle of the back seat.

John Deiner: Neat stuff, Balmer. And another long drive! Man, the farthest I went while I was a kid was about three hours by car.

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Arlington, Va.: When I was about 13, we took a 2-week family vacation in the Rocky Mountains. The overwhelming memory of the trip was the drive home to LA, which my dad decided to do in 2 days. The first day we went from Estes Park, CO to Gallup, NM and the second day, Gallup to LA. I never hated being in a car as much as for those 2 days, when we begged for bathroom stops and the lights of Gallup, in the middle of the dark desert, felt like salvation.

Thanks to that vacation, I have always had a very realistic view of road trips.

John Deiner: Yep, clearly it's the driving that sticks in the mind. Thanks, Arl.

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Arlington, Va.: We drove every year from DC to my grandmother's house in Rhode Island. I would refuse to use ANY public restroom along the way, thus earning the family nickname "the Camel."

John Deiner: Funny stuff, Camel.

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Washington, DC : My earliest childhood summer vacation memory was when I was 6 years old (28 now) and we went to Disney World (originally from the Virgin Islands). Driving from the airport to our timeshare in Orlando my dad was on the highway driving in the wrong direction (seeing as we adhere to the British rules of driving). Not only were we lost in the dark but there was a big rig driver that was none to please with my dad.

Now we start every family outing in the US with "are you driving on the right side of the road".

John Deiner: Great stuff...I'm assuming you made it there!

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Fairfax, Va.: Favorite memory: Trying to eat snack packs of cereal for breakfast at a picnic table in Glacier National Park in late July, but the wind was so strong and cold it was impossible to eat. Between going hungry and getting frostbite, we chose going hungry.

John Deiner: Sounds like a reasonable option, Fairfax.

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20015: Hi, going to Vegas this week. Can I bring my knitting needles? I know they are technically allowed, but I wonder if some security will confiscate them? Thanks!;

Carol Sottili: Here's what the TSA says, and I can't add much to it.

Transporting Knitting Needles & Needlepoint

Knitting needles are permitted in your carry-on baggage or checked baggage. However, there is a possibility that the needles can be perceived as a possible weapon by the TSA screener. TSA Screeners have the authority to determine if an item could be used as a weapon and may not allow said item to pass through security. TSA recommends the following when bring knitting needles on an airplane:

Circular knitting needles are recommended to be less than 31 inches in total length
We recommend that the needles be made of bamboo or plastic (Not Metal)
Scissors must have blunt points
In case the screener does not allow your knitting tools through security it is recommended that you carry a self addressed envelope so that you can mail your tools back to yourself as opposed to surrendering them at the security check point.
As a precautionary measure it is recommended that you carry a crochet hook with yarn to save the work you have already done in case your knitting tools are surrendered at the checkpoint.

Most of the items needed to pursue a Needlepoint project are permitted in your carry-on baggage or checked baggage with the exception of circular thread cutters or any cutter with a blade contained inside. These items cannot be taken through a Security Checkpoint. They must go in your checked baggage.

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Summer vacation experience, Va.: One of the summer vacations that stands out for me was a week at Ocean City, MD with my mother. My brother and I were in high school, and had each brought a friend. Every day we had to come in off the beach at lunch-time, take a nap -yes a nap!-, and spend 1 hour with my mother learning how to play Bridge. I hated bridge. I hated the forced naps. And I was embarassed that my friends had to follow her rules as well. Lesson learned? Have fun at the beach with my family, and not force them to conform to my rules ALL the time on vacation!

John Deiner: Good lesson, SVE. But, come on, naps are great! Really, they're great!

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Arlington, Va.: This may be a bit early, but I am trying to find a fun, affordable place to go for New Year's - preferably Caribbean or Europe. Is there any Web site that lists deals for a specific time period, or any other thoughts on how to find a trip? Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: Travelzoo.com will list New Year's Eve deals as they are released, so check the site as the date nears. For Vegas, www.vegas.com will also post end-of-the-year fetes. Also check some of the bigger names in online travel packages, such as, for Europe, Go-Today.com (which already is pitching Thanksgiving deals), Gate 1 Travel, Virgin Vacations and TourCrafters; and for the Caribbean, Apple Vacations, Air Jamaica Vacations, Fare Deals and the biggie all-inclusive resorts, like Beaches and Breezes.

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Upstate, NY: Hi all, I have a two-part question for you. I am thinking about taking a trip to Thailand this winter and have been saving for quite a while. I am a young female and will be travelling alone. I generally hate tours and find them cheesy and isolating, but this will be my first time traveling in a country that does not speak English and that could be considered "developing." I am worried about safety and the travel-related mini-disasters that come from not being familiar with a locale. So, my first question is: do you think I should go the safe route and take a tour or go it alone to have a more authentic experience? My second question is: do any of you or the clicksters have experience with Intrepid Travel? I've been trying to research them as a sort of middle ground-- a tour which makes a point of giving people flexibility and the opportunity to do and see things that the locals would.

Anne McDonough: Hey there--I'd have absolutely no worries about traveling alone in Thailand. If you follow Lonely Planet-type route it's supereasy to meet other travelers to pal around with, and while I don't speak a word of Thai I had no problem navigating. Take all of the normal percautions, of course, but don't let not having a travel buddy keep you back from thai massages at Wat Po and pad thai for breakfast...As for Intrepid, I know people who have done tours with them and seem pretty good and flexible as far as tours go. If you wouldn't normally do a tour, don't feel like you have to just because it's your first trip to Southeast Asia--Thailand's a wonderul, easy way to introduce yourself to the region.

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Long Island NY: Driving from Long Island to Arlington, then to North Carolina, then South Carolina (or it could have been down to South then up to North) then back home. Summer of 83, I was 9.5, fortunately I'm an only child and had the backseat to myself. We visited friends in those three states. Seeing Washington, DC and going to Gatlinberg (sp?) Tennessee (from the NC end of the trip) was a blast. Not to mention white water rafting in the NC mountains. It was a very hot summer, though.

John Deiner: Thanks, LI--nothing better than a back seat to yourself, is there?

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Chicago, Ill.: Hopefully, one of your group has spent some time at the nature reserves in South Africa and can tell me - if I have to pick and choose - which ones are "must sees" and what each has to offer that is better or off-beat.

Joan

John Deiner: Hey, Joan, we can't help you with this one, but maybe someone out there can?

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Bethesda, Md.: My husband and I are looking for someplace to roadtrip to this weekend. Any suggestions on some places we shouldn't miss? We'd like some nightlife and/or beach scene. Thanx for your help!

KC Summers: Hmm, nightlife plus beach... that shrieks Virginia Beach. The shore is gorgeous, there's a lively boardwalk scene, and there are lots of clubs featuring that much-loved, if indefinable, good-timey beach music called shag. Lots of other stuff to do, too, like the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse and the Va. Marine Science Museum, one of the top marine museums in the country. And if you like to shop, check out one of the coolest little stores anywhere, Caravans, before it closes it doors for good this fall.

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Ode to a 9 Room House: Favorite Family Trip: My parents decided that before we got too much older they should take us four kids on a three-week trip across country in an RV. From Boston to the Rockies and back, we played cards, read books and drove each other crazy. The best was the poem that the entire family composed called "Ode to a 9 room house" because 6 people sleeping and living in a 19 foot vehicle got bad after a while. But, the memories (and the poem) last forever!;

John Deiner: Wow! What a cool experience. And it even has a poem to memorialize it...thanks for chiming in.

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Washington, D.C.: Regarding the comments from last week's chat on
registering with American embassies abroad, I
can report that it helps -- sort of.

I registered with the embassy in London during
my year in England, the day after the Afghan war
started; the process included making a copy of my
passport. Several months later, I had my passport
and some other ID stolen. The embassy issued
me a one-year replacement, but would not
reissue the passport for the full ten years. Old
passports are generally one valid form of ID, but
the embassy wouldn't use the photocopy they had
on file -- even though someone from the State
Department had seen the original to copy it. So I
had to wait to get my new driver's license sent
from the States before I could get the 10-year
passport -- by which time I was already headed
back to the States.

While I didn't get a full passport, I also didn't have
problems proving who I was -- embassies
sometimes will only issue one-week passports to
unlucky folks who've had all their ID stolen. The
bottom line is that registering is probably
advisable for anyone overseas for several
months, and critical for anyone traveling in strife-
ridden areas.

Anne McDonough: Thanks for the follow up, DC. I really don't see that there are any downsides to registering, and it sure can help.

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Lorton, Va.: I'm a relitive travel newbie. What happens if you can't take a plane trip where you bought cheap (i.e. non-refundable) tickets? Got a great deal last Feb on my dream vacation to Alaska this Sept. Got diagnosed with cancer in June, chemo since then, backpacking in Denali would be bad now. -sigh- If I call up and cancel, I've heard I can "reuse" them within a year. Is this always true? Its Continental if it matters.

Carol Sottili: There are very few tickets that are truly nonrefundable. Most allow you to reuse them within a year if you pay the change fee, which is usually a fairly hefty amount ($150 isn't unusual). I'd appeal to Continental directly. E-mail customerrefundservices@coair.com, or call 800-932-2732 option 5. They may cut you a break, especially if you can supply a letter from your doctor. If you don't get the answer you want from the first person, ask for a supervisor.

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Fairfax, Va.: Childhood memory . . . every summer we drove to northern Wisconsin to visit my grandmother -- same route, same stops. There was always a swim in the pool at the Ramada Inn, Elkhart, IN, a visit with my brother in Madison, WI, donuts at the bakery in Kadot, WI, and A&W Root Beer (from carhops) in Black River Falls, WI. There was usually a "DQ" stop too (Dairy Queen), since it was Dad's favorite. Even though it was always the same, we kept a diary of mileage driven, places stopped, and other "important" details. I still do that today!

John Deiner: This stuff is great, folks.

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Re: unusual photo-taking customs...: I started taking a disposable camera just to take a picture every day at noon -- no matter what I'm doing, whether it's sitting by a pool, on a bus, hiking, etc., I take a self-portrait at noon every day, and it makes a cool little "documentary" of sorts, instead of just all glamorous pictures of sunsets or beautiful vistas or whatever.

KC Summers: How neat... what do you do, hold your arm out as far as it will go? What a fun idea.

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Bethesda, Md.: Hi! I find your chats quite informative. Do you know of any weekend retreats within 2-3 hours of driving distance which focus on meditation, yoga etc. Thanks!

John Deiner: Yo, Beth. I'm about to post a story that our very own Kim O'Donnel wrote that ran in our section a few weeks ago.

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washingtonpost.com: For yoga retreat ideas near and far: Just Say Ommmm, (July 18, 2004). John Deiner: And here it is . . .

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Fresno, Calif.: Do you feel confident enough to book a
future trip on US Air? The likelihood of
a second bankruptcy make future liquidation more of a reality.

Carol Sottili: How far in the future? Within the next four or five months, I'd book. Ten months out, I'd wait. I'd pay by credit card, just in case.

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Alexandria, Va. - favorite memory: Ahhh, the conestoga wagon...

When we were little our parents took us 3 sisters to Florida, and what did our wondering eyes behold, the motel had a life-size horse statue and a conestoga wagon in front! Well, to my horse-crazed eyes, this was better than the beach! Every time I got a chance I climbed onto that wonderful horse...

John Deiner: Yeah, but could you sharpen a pencil in its butt?

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Herndon, Va.: every summer, we visited one of my many sets of aunts and uncles on a farm in eastern Nebraska. This was well pre-Frank Perdue, so Sunday dinner involved selecting a hen, quick use of a hatchet by my uncle, then boiling water to get off the feathers, etc. After observing all this (I was about 6 at the time), I asked why that hen had been chosen. When told because she'd quit laying eggs, I remarked, with great gravity "Well, that's what you get when you don't produce." This remark was brought up at every family gathering for the next 25 to 30 years.

John Deiner: Funny! And to think it's only come back to haunt you for 30 years. Thanks, Herndon.

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Flying with a pet: Hey travel gurus...love the chats and submitting early, though will be reading along.
We recently adopted a cat and would like to fly to the in-laws for Thanksgiving. I've read pet policies on a few airline websites (Southwest, US Airways, JetBlue, and Independence). Was wondering how early we need to book to make sure the cat's in the cabin with us. Also, have any of you flown with pets? How did the critter handle it?

P.S. John Deiner when can we hit the Vegas strip together?

Andrea Sachs: It should not matter when you book unless you plan on booking a seat for your cat as well. No offense to Miss Kitty, but she/he is considered carry-on luggage and will simply slide under your seat. So, extra room is not necessary. Just be sure you are in accordance with the airlines's rules regarding check-in, size of cat carrying case, etc. And if you book online, you might want to follow-up with a phone call to reservations just to alert them of your live cargo (in case your seatmate is a dog person, not a cat person). However, since it is Thanksgiving, it's best to book as soon as possible. Also, talk to your vet about traveling with a pet. Some cats freak out, other stay calm. Best to be armed with medicine and advice if your pet is anything but a Kool Kat.

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Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: From the "kids, don't try this at home" files: one summer, my sister and I sprinkled french fries on the back of my sleeping aunt, sunbathing on Brigantine Beach in New Jersey. My aunt didn't stay sleeping for long, and she was immediately attacked by legions of monstrous, squawking seagulls in a scene straight from Hitchcock. This, of course, sent my sister and me (and most of the beach, too) into fits of hysterical laughter. My aunt wasn't laughing much, though--go figure!

John Deiner: Georgetown, if you put your ears up to your terminal, you can hear us howling on this side of the Web. Great stuff.

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Fairfax, Va.: Since someone mentioned registering with the State Department, I wanted to point out that there is a direct link to the site, you don't have to go through travel.state.gov. The link is https://travelregistration.state.gov.

Anne McDonough: Thanks--this does cut out a few steps.

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Alexandria, Va.: 1979 or 1980. I was 16 or 17, driving with my Dad and sister from Baltimore to Deerfield Beach, FL for vacation, via I-95 in Dad's Toyota Corona. We didn't have a tape player in the car, so we'd find a radio station and listen til it faded, then repeat. Seemed like every station we found was playing "Funkytown" by Lipps, Inc. By the end of the trip, I would have been happy if I never heard that song ever again!

John Deiner: Now that song is in MY head, too. Thanks, Al.

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Ballston, Va.: Back in the 70s my family did a classic driving vacation. Mom, Dad and three teens in a 68 Chevy Impala. For us, restaurants were a huge treat and we usually had picnic lunches to save on costs. This time, Dad had bought a camp stove so that we could occasionally make dinners, too. Of course, when the time came he couldn't get the stove to work. After much paternal cursing, Mom stepped in and offered us dinner. There were two things on the menu; a spam sandwich or a spam sandwich deluxe. "What's on the deluxe?" said my brother. "It come with mustard" said mom. Which set us three off on fits of laughter and still does.

John Deiner: Great story, but for my money, the clause "After much paternal cursing" is the high point. Who can't relate to that?

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NW, Washington DC : Looking to head home to St. Croix for Christmas and its been a pain finding reasonable flights. I know its that time of the year. Traditionally I've bought early because the prices are lower. This time around its August and I can't find anything leaving out of our three airports (AID,BWI, Reagan) for less than $700.

A friend suggested that I travel on the day after x-mas or even the week after. I'm antsy to hold out for lower fares since the seats will disappear.

Carol Sottili: You're right - it's incredibly expensive to fly to St. Croix anytime around Christmas. Usually, you can save money by flying on Christmas Day, but not in this case. I'd wait and see. You can sign up on www.travelocity.com and www.orbitz.com for them to notify you if fares fall below a certain point.

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Alexandria, Va.: Happy Trails! Am looking for a cook's tour to Paris
that includes an afternoon class at the world
famous Cordon Bleu Cooking School.
USAirways used to have a great package but that
was years ago and now that I am ready to go, I
can't find the right sites and/or tour operators. Any
suggestions? Any sites that specialize in cooking
tours?

Thanks and ..... let's be careful out there!

Andrea Sachs: ShawGuides is a great resource for cooking schools (www.shawguides.com) for all tastes and price ranges. They post a big pot's worth of cooking vacations in Paris, including Cordon Bleu.

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Favorite childhood vacation memory:: My favorite childhood vacation travel memory was when I was 11 or 12 and my family and some family friends went to Philadelphia for a long weekend. We walked around the Philly Zoo in 100 degree weather, and near the tiger exhibit I see my younger brother (7 or 8 at the time) say to our mother "I don't feel so good", then keel over from the heat. He was fine...didn't even lose consciousness. But for a 12 year old, it was hysterical.

John Deiner: Yikes! Glad it had a happy ending.

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Washington, D.C.: not quite the Griswolds, but...
We combined a family vacation with a cross-country move. Two parents, five kids aged 2-12, two hamsters, and a coffee can full of goldfish all in one car. When we got to NYC, my parents were determined for us to have an American Cultural Experience--which included climbing up to the crown of Lady Liberty. It was really hot, so I (the 12 year old) refused to leave the hamsters in the car. The only option was to carry them in a plastic ball, in a paper bag, up the spiral staircase with us. They made the trip safely, and were probably the most traveled rodents in the US of A (and they lived a long time). I'm thinking they might not pass the metal/explosives detectors these days...

John Deiner: That's pretty Griswoldian, though. Thanks, D.C.

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Baltimore, Md.: Another memory...we had a family reunion in some po-dunk town in Alabama and stayed at the local Holiday Inn. Also staying there was the country band "Alabama". Sooo we got to meet Alabama in Alabama. They were rowdy.

John Deiner: Boy, you guys really are dropping some big names today . . . Alabama, Larry from the 3 Stooges, Elvis . . .

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Arlington, Va.: I hope everyone had a chance to read the piece in Outlook Sunday about how Americans vacation. I bet it would be very eye-opening to a lot of people. But I felt better about myself because I don't microplan every little aspect of my trips before I go. I do come up with general plans and know what I want to see and do but I'm not a slave to it.

KC Summers: Hey Arl, that *was* an eye-opener, wasn't it. Our Puritan ethic in action... it's bad enough that we get the least amount of vacation of any country in the civilized world, but we don't even know how to relax when we do take the time off!

But I'm actually of two minds about this. I hate the thought of micromanaging my vacation to the extent that I can't relax and enjoy it, but on the other hand I've learned the hard way that if you don't plan ahead on things like hotels, theater, etc., you can really miss out. Sometimes you've just got to make reservations to get into that hot little restaurant-of-the-moment, etc. Some of the most enjoyable things I've done on vacation were the result of a lot of research ahead of time -- like just this past weekend, when I snagged advance tickets to an amazing, almost-sold-out off-Broadway play that I read about online. The secret, as you say, is to do a little planning but not get so rigid that you can't change your plans of a cool opportunity presents itself.

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Munich, Germany: Well, there was the time that my sister, my Dad and I almost got swept out to sea on an air mattress off the coast of Price Edward Island after a hurricane...

But no, my most memorable childhood vacation was in Yellowstone Park. "Old Faithful" was straight out of Yogi Bear cartoons, and I wouldn't have been surprised if he turned up at our campsite (I definitely would have got his autograph).

However, I most remember watching these beautiful, silver colored trout jumping out of the water after flies, in a creek that was so narrow, I could almost jump over it. I ran back to the campsite and got my fishing rod, and for the next 3 hours, I endured scratches from prickly bushes millions of mosquitoes bites to try to catch one of these silver beauties.

But I had no chance. Whenever I stood on one side of the creek, the fish were jumping on the other side. Then I'd wade across and try again, and there they'd be, jumping out of the water on the side that I had just been.

Perhaps if I had tied a frying pan to a broomstick, one of them would have jumped into the pan.

It's been 32 years since that experience, but I still remember it as clearly as if it was yesterday. Even in this fast moving world, so overloaded with high tech games and gadgets, nature experiences as a child are things that you don't forget.

John Deiner: Nice stuff, Munich.

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Annapolis, Md.: I was amazed by the TSA advisory that indicated that circular cutters for needlepoint must go in checked baggage. They are similar to the cutter on a dental floss container - not usable for cutting anything stronger than persian yarn or embroidery floss.

Carol Sottili: TSA rules do change from time to time. Let 'em know how you feel. If enough people bring it up, they may reexamine. Call 866-289-9673. I believe the cutters are prohibited because the blade can be taken out of the housing.

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Memory Lane....: When I was 16 (1982) I got a summer job as a landscaper, so I stayed in town while the most of the family went to Bethany for the month of August. Dad couldn't take August off that year due to work, but every Friday after dinner we'd drive from Bethesda to Damascus for ice cream at Jimmy Cone. Now I'm married with 2 young children. Every Friday after dinner, we're off to Jimmy Cone. Yes, life is good. Thanks, Dad!;

John Deiner: And thank you, too.

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Fairfax, Va.: Maybe you can tell me --
Our son, daughter-in-law and grandchild were unable to get out of Portland, ME airport to attend a family reunion this past weekend. The weather was bad, but the shutdown occurred because the airport's Instrument Landing System has been taken out of service for some construction. Thus whenever the ceiling is low, no flights can get in! How can I find out when it will be back in service, so we can plan our next trip to Portland accordingly?

Carol Sottili: If you look at an earlier posting in the chat, you'll see an explanation.

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re. Cape Henry Lighthouse: Make sure you each have a driver's license or some other form of picture ID if you go the lighthouse. Highly recommended!;!;

KC Summers: Good point, thanks! Man, it's getting so that you have to have a picture ID to go to the corner store these days.

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Bittersweet Family Vacation: Just before I turned 13, my dad took my two
cousins (one younger, one older) and I to Ocean
City, NJ for a week at a condo. First (and so far
the only) time I'd done the whole Jersey Shore
thing -- SuperSoaker fights, Monopoly games on
rainy days, even a pilgrimage to Lucy the
Elephant. The activities were lame by my
vacation standards, but spending time with my
two cousins (one of whom flew in from Hawaii)
made it worthwhile.

The sad part: I haven't seen either of my cousins
since -- the vagaries of a bitter divorce and family
squabbling by "adults" older than any of us. I
knew going in there would be trying times ahead,
so I just tried to enjoy myself -- and I still have the
memories of that vacation as proof that I did.

And yes, I know, the story does sound like an
episode of The Wonder Years....

John Deiner: Yeah, it does sound like the Wonder Years! Throw in some drippy narration, and we got us a sitcom. But that aside, it's a lovely entry. Thanks for sharing.

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Athens-bound: With room rates going down and event ticket availability staying up, my boyfriend decided to treat me to a trip to the Olympics, leaving this Wednesday and staying close to a week. We'll be staying on one of the ships in Piraeus, the Westerdam. Has anyone heard anything on the transportation systems, crowds, security, etc. that may be useful? I hope everything's working properly and smoothly, but I haven't heard anything. I'm hoping no news is good news!;

John Deiner: Hey, AB. You lucky dog! I was thinking what a cool thing that would be to do. Sounds as if everything is going like clockwork--and because so few tickets have been sold, there aren't any crowds to worry about. I'd just keep watching media reports.

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Honeymoon, NZ: hello crew. quick question - planning honeymoon tour of new zealand - heading up the mountains in the south island. curious what you've heard about Blanket Bay as the pinnacle of lodging over there... thanks.

Andrea Sachs: Blanket Bay did not make Travel and Leisure's top 25 world's best hotels for 2004 (that would be: Wharekauhau in Palliser Bay, Huka Lodge in Taupo, Millbrook Resort in Queenstown, The George in Christchurch) but that's doesn't mean it is not an exceptional property (we don't know this from experience; we sleep in sheep sheds when we go to N.Z.). If it helps any, it is a Small Luxury Hotel of the World, and that's a good enough seal of approval for us.

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Lorton, Va. - childhood vacations: For about 5 years, my parents took me to the beach every summer. Usually Hilton Head or near Myrtle Beach (we lived in TN). My summer beach vacation memories consist mainly of horrible sunburns with blisters and pealing, plus the taste of ocean water up my nose. I haven't been to the beach in the summer since I was about 11.

On the plus note, I will be going Florida to relax in mid-september (replacing the adventerous Alaska trip I posted about earlier). I'm hoping to have better beach memories now, and hoping for no more hurricane whammies!

John Deiner: We'll keep our fingers crossed for ya, Lorton.

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Washington, D.C.: Love the chats! I will be in Japan for 8-10 days over the Xmas/New Year's holiday. I will be staying with a friend but was wondering what your top reccomendation would be for me to take a short (2-3) day visit to another country nearby. I am pretty well traveled and much prefer to spend more time in one place to see as much as I can comfortably. But this will be my first trip to Asia and the circumstances (freq. flier mile round trip ticket, staying with a friend in J, time frame means no work or school conflicts) and I don't want to pass up a good opportunity. I prefer the path less traveled, I only speak English and French, and am much more into discovering people and culture than animals and nature when I travel. Thanks for any help you may offer.

Anne McDonough: Okay, I know you say you want another country, but with 8-10 days you'll have barely scratched the surface of Japan! I'd say dive full in to your time there and not worry about checking off another country on your list.

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NY, NY: I'm originally from MD and my family would alternate summer vacations: one summer with my grandparents in Florida, and the next summer with the grandmother and other family in Texas. One summer, I was really sick and had been put on medication for strep. By golly, that happened to be the year my father didn't want to pay for airfare and decided to drive to Texas. All I remember was waking up at 3am, getting into the car and feeling very sick. For the next 12 hours, we had to stop on the side of the road or at a fast-food place for me to throw up. I was allergic to the medication and had to wait for it to wear off. See? Terrible. We never drove to Texas again.

John Deiner: Yowww, NY, NY. That definitely falls into the "or worse" category.

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Germantown, Md.: Summer vacation memories. Attending boarding school up in the Himalayas meant a long, hot dust train ride back home to Mumbai (Bombay) every summer. What started off as a dreaded journey ended up being the highlight of the vacation. The many sounds and sights one sees traveling by train through India are unsurpassed. The excitement of pulling into Bombay Central Station was unbearable. Three days into the vacation, we would long for the day to return to school to be with our friends and out of the heat!!!

John Deiner: Okay, Germantown . . .you get the award for Most Exotic Memory. Thanks for the report.

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Washington DC: Vienna restaurant. I can't agree more with the Stiereck recommendation, but it'll certainly lighten your wallet.

Hedrich's, a small family-run place on the ring (near the Post Office) is a good place with reasonable prices to match.

Anne McDonough: Yeah, Stiereck sure isn't a backpacker kind of place but I still loved it. Even more than the food I loved the staff, who didn't seem to mind at all that our party stayed...and stayed...and stayed. If you're looking for a place to celebrate something, it's a great choice.

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Greenbelt, Md.: Every summer, my family (aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents!) would rent an oceanfront beachouse somewhere along the Outer Banks in North Carolina. The best summer was the one in which I discovered BOYS! Our neighbors just happened to be a huge family of guys. My cousins and I spent hours giving each other makeovers and coming up with ways to flirt with the boys next door. At twelve years old, I was pretty bad at it, but I had the greatest time. And I will never forget the night we all stayed up until 2am to watch an eclipse of the moon. The smell of the ocean, the sound of the waves, the eerie way everything grew darker as the moon turned blood red - I've never had another night as beautiful. I think that sometimes, the best things about vacations are not where you go, but what you do with your time there!

Andrea Sachs: Well said! Plus, you didn't throw up (we have a lot of throw-up summer vacation stories today).

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Damascus, Md.: My favorite childhood travel trip was our first time camping. For a weekend. My mom, normally a very sane person, packed 7 loaves of bread and more underwear than we could use in a month. Our cousins, experienced campers, laughed for the whole weekend. That and the expression "blueberry guts", which we still use when describing blueberry pancakes.

We just got back from Bar Harbor, Maine, and what a time. We hiked, canoed, rode a horse and carriage, built sandcastles, you name it, all with kids ages 3, 6, and 8. Great time was had by all. My only disappointment - the overly touristy shops in downtown Bar Harbor.

John Deiner: Yeah that is a bummer about Bar Harbor, and it hasn't changed a bit. It's easy to avoid though, isn't it?

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Ah, the joys of stressful family vacations: Every year when I was younger we'd drive from Ohio to Long Island to visit my grandparents (dad's side). My dad was the only driver in our family and was waaaaay too cheap to split up the 12-hour drive with a hotel stay along the way, so we'd set out at the crack of dawn and then get to NYC invariably during rush hour.

My dad -- who, it should be noted, GREW UP on Long Island and spent his youth in the city -- would completely freak out when we approached the city. I'm talking, white knuckles gripping the steering wheel, "don't even joke about getting lost b/c we'll be mugged if we get off the highway" freaking out. Taking a wrong turn and having to cross a $5 bridge twice? This was disastrous.

You'd think that after doing this for a few years, he'd get a good route and learn how not to get lost -- or at least learn that getting lost in NYC is not the end of the world, but no.

And forget about my and my brothers' demands to see the city!; Oh god, no, that couldn't happen. In fact, I never went to NYC itself until I was in college, though I'd driven through it at least 10 times.

Andrea Sachs: Dear old dad. Bet he never asked for directions either. Paternal pride.

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Arlington, Va.: When I was 7, my brand new baby brother developed an ear infection the day before we were supposed to fly out to meet up with my dad in Orlando (he was on a business trip and had extended his stay over the weekend to "do" Disney with us). My parents decided that I would fly there myself while my mom stayed behind with the baby. I'd been having a hard time dealing with the arrival of my brother and a weekend with just Dad and Mickey Mouse was a real treat by itself, but I remember that flight more than anything else. I felt so grown-up flying by myself and I really do think it helped me make the transition from being the baby to the big sister. I remember really thinking to myself "This must mean I'm growing up." It's incredible the things that affect you as a kid.

John Deiner: That's great, Arl. I'm sure a lot of clicksters (and Travel section staffers) can really relate.

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Anonymous: Hello. at http://travel.state.gov/visa/americans1.html#c for CANADA - Passport or proof of U.S. citizenship and photo ID required.
Is a driver's license ok? I'll flying to Toronto.

KC Summers: No, a driver's license is not enough. The complete requirement from the State Department reads, "When entering from the United States, U.S. citizens must show either a U.S. passport or proof of U.S. citizenship such as a birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or expired U.S. passport and photo ID." Note the AND. Also note that if you take a birth certificate, it has to be the official government document from the city/state you were born in, not the hospital.

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Princeton, NJ: We are heading off for a second honeymoon for 18 days in France in September. Two weeks in the south with Avignon, Aix and Nice as our bases. I have done my research but looking for side trips beyond the guidebooks..restaurants and sights off the beaten path worth a few hours detour. Will have a car. Thanks...and love Mondays thanks to you.

Anne McDonough: Isle sur la Sorgue (relatively near Avignon) is wonderful, and the weekend market there to die for. If you have a chance to get to Marseille, it's a wonderful city that has a very different feel from the other places you mentioned.

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Washington, D.C.: Favorite childhood vacations: I grew up in Southern California, but from age five to thirteen, I spent every summer with my grandparents in Fremont, Iowa, a small town of about 350. My grandparents had a farm with horses, and I'd spend every day riding around the town, out in the fields, around the pond. One year, I entered a rodeo, and took third place in a barrel racing contest. I still have the trophy. 'Course, I went the wrong way around the barrels, and there were only three people in the race . . . but, hey - still a thrill for a 12 year old. Unfortunately the summers came to an end about the time I discovered boys. Actually, I was there that summer too - after I spent the entire time on the back of the (16 year old) town hood's motorcycle, I think my grandparents thought I might have gotten a little too tough to handle! Some smells - rain on blacktop pavement; cut grass, still take me back!

John Deiner: Another great summer memory starring the Grandparents, and what a nice little tale, D.C.

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Arlington, Va.: I inherited a set of silverware from my grandmother, unfortunately the silver is in Iowa, and I am in Washington. I don't trust the post office or even FedEx to get it to me. Is that something I can take on a plane as a carry on? (it's your basic silverware: knives, forks, spoons). I don't want to check it either, I've never had an airline lose my luggage, but I don't want to press my luck!

Carol Sottili: Knives are knives, and I wouldn't take the chance of getting them confiscated. Go to www.tsa.gov and see what they have to say about the forks/spoons (I'm having trouble with the site right now). Maybe you could carry back at least part of the service and ship the rest. And I think you're right about not checking them in your luggage. The airlines lose my luggage about 1 in 4 trips (I am really unlucky when it comes to traveling).

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Washington, D.C.: short descriptin of a long vacation

I was 8, the Orsova was a huge cruise ship and the South Pacific shone brightly and I was a little afraid, at first.

Bought a hand-carved boat from a boy my age in Fiji, marveled at Kiwi birds and Koalas in New Zealand and Australia.

Endured a typhoon-laced crossing to Hong Kong where the business and poverty left me numb.

Expo '70 in Japan was disappointing but the Bullet Train was all the excitement I could handle.

I still remember the terrible English food (worlds worst oatmeal!) and learning to play Scrabble and I can never thank my parents enought for not buying a car in order to take us on that trip.

Anne McDonough: Sounds like your parents are my kind of people!

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Providence, RI: Hi there. My boyfriend & I are heading to Montreal & Quebec over Labor Day. I've been before but wasn't thrilled with my accomodations. Does anyone have any recommendations for hotels/b&bs and restaurants? Thanks!;

KC Summers: Prov, I really liked L'Auberge de la Place Royale, a renovated former rooming house overlooking the St. Lawrence in Old Montreal. Rooms are huge and newly renovated, and it's a great neighborhood for walking around in. A good source for B&Bs in Montreal is www.bedandbreakfast.com.

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Alexandria, Va.: Transporting silverware: believe it or not, certified mail is a viable option. My parents used to use a jeweler in NY who sent expensive jewelery that way.

KC Summers: Thanks, Alex.

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John Deiner: You guys absolutely kill me. What a wonderful collection of stories--heart-warming, nerve-wracking and knee-slapping. You covered all the bases, and then some.

Tough decision here, but I'm going to toss the Junque Pak to Georgetown, who wrote to tell us about the worst time to throw french fries on your aunt's back. Also, I'll dig something special out of our big bag of promotional stuff for Columbia, who resurrected Larry of the Three Stooges and sent him stumbling into our chat. You both need to email me at travel@washpost.com and provide your name and address.

As for next Sunday's section, look out for stories on Ashland, Ore., and the Italian island of Elba. Till then, happy trails...

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