Talk About Travel

Travel Tips and Deals

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.

We know you have a choice in online travel forums, and speaking for the entire Flight Crew, we want to thank you for flying with us.

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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Carol Sottili: One of the weather guys was saying that Washington has never gone through the month of March without at least one 70 degree day: We may not hit it today, but it'll be very close. Hope all our local chatters went for a long walk at lunch.
Most of the dedicated Post travel staff are tethered to their desks beneath fluorescent lights. Steve Hendrix is back from skiing Telluride (ask him about his slopeside "yard sale"). Gary Lee just walked in the door from Slovakia (not Slovenia!). K.C. may join us later, fresh from her trip to New Orleans. John Deiner, Andrew Sachs, Ann McDonough and I are also ready and waiting for questions.
I am going to shamelessly ask all of you for help with two of my upcoming stories. First, I am all set to go to Mont Tremblant to ski later this week and the weather forecast says the temps will top out at 15 degrees, and that's at the base, not the summit. Any diehards out there have tips on skiing when it's that cold, short of spending a fortune on gear? Also, I've been assigned to do the "Best of Ocean City" story for our beach edition in June. As a proud newbie O.C. condo owner, I have my own thoughts on the subject (we all know that Lombardi's is the best place for pizza), but if any of you have opinions on the best mini-golf, T-shirt shop, happy hour, stretch of beach, posh restaurant, etc., please dish. Most inspired recommendations (skiing or beach) get a bag filled with sunscreen, a silly beaded necklace, a beach ball and a couple of other goodies.
Cheers, Carol Sottili.

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Alexandria, Va.: I'm not too frequent of an air traveler, but many times I see advertised internet specials for a particular price. Then, when I go to the website and fill in the correct dates/information, etc that are picked for the special fare, the fare I get is ridiculously high, much higher than the posted or advertised fare - any explanation for this phenomenon would be appreciated.

Carol Sottili: Without seeing a specific example, it's difficult for me to know exactly what is happening. Sometimes fares sell out and sometimes the small print prohibits certain days, etc. If you want to give me a concrete example, I'll take a look.

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Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: I'm submitting early because I am the chatter who will be in Orlando during this week's chat who was looking for ideas for things to do in Orlando not related to the theme parks. I came across a great idea that I had to share in case anyone else is visiting the area in the next month - Nationals Spring Training Exhibition Games. The stadium is about an hour away from Orlando near Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach and the most expensive tickets are only $18!

John Deiner: Great idea, CH. Thanks for helping out.

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Washington, D.C.: My fiance and I want to go to Barcelona for our honeymoon in June. There's a great biking adventure outside it. The price of the airline ticket is over $1000 from DC to Barcelona. Is that the going rate for June?

From Philly to Barcelona is $800? I thought the Washington Area (IAD, DCA, BWI) would have some price wars.

Carol Sottili: That sounds really high to me. Try the aggregators - www.sidestep.com, www.kayak.com and www.mobissimo.com.

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Stafford, Va.: i am interested in taking a 4-5 day vacation to the Virgin Islands, but was shocked at the high airfare. Is there a good time of year to go for lower fares, and what to do suggest as far as islands and lodging.

Carol Sottili: US Airways has frequent sales, but you have to monitor them. As for islands/lodging, St. John is a great place for snorkeling. Any clicksters have specific recommendations?

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Chicago, Ill.: When would be the ideal time to go to Prague? I would love to take a trip in August, but flights right now are about $1,200!; As an alternative I was thinking Dec/Jan, but would it be too cold to enjoy the city? I have heard its a walkable city, and I don't want to miss out.

Andrea Sachs: It will be cold, but also beautiful, decked out in holiday cheer. Plus, Prague has a number of wonderful indoor sights, so you won't be out in the cold for too long. You could also inch your trip a little closer to spring and still find good fares. Look into March or even early April; also try late fall and early winter--just stay away from holiday periods. Also, research package deals, such as those by Gate 1 Travel, where you will find lower airfares plus good hotel rates.

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Ashburn, Va.: Is a married, pregnant woman in Las Vegas with her husband going to be a "fish out of water"?

I will be 6 months pregnant in May and my husband REALLY wants to go to Las Vegas for a vacation before our first baby comes. We've never been to LV -- this will be our last 'hurrah' before becoming parents.

I'm looking forward to the lights, shows, seeing the animals (secret garden, etc) touring the hotels (which I understand are destinations themselves) and in general love visiting new places, new foods.

I was thinking we should spend the extra $ to be right on the strip -- that way we are close to everything so I don't have to walk as far, can be closer to my hotel to take much-needed breaks and we don't have to rent a car.

I would highly appreciate your thoughts and suggestions -- not only on where to stay or the absolute must-sees but also your thoughts on a pregnant woman in Las Vegas (i.e., no drinking, no amusement rides, no out partying late into the night, no detours to tour grand canyon on horseback!).

John Deiner: Hey, Ashburn. My major thought when I saw your note was, "Yikes!" There's just so much walking around that goes with the terrain, but as long as your cool with that, I don't see why you wouldn't have a good time there--as long as you stay out of the toxic casinos. Your plan to stay on the Strip so you're close to your home base is a good one, and you can always hop in a cab if you must; a cabbie I once spoke to there told me he spends more time driving patrons across the street than he does driving them a mile or so. And it's probably a good idea to rent a car as well, in case you want to stray farther.

Weatherwise, May is a beautiful month to be there, before the real heat of the summer sets in, so you won't feel too much discomfort in that regard.

Definitely make your husband buy you tickets to a show or two--everyone loves "O" to pieces, but I actually liked "Mystere" at Treasure Island more. And laugh if you must, but Celine Dion's show at Caesar's is pretty darn great. The Secret Garden is swell, too, though I'd steer clear of the shark reef at Mandalay (I think it's overpriced and overrated).

Anybody out there been in the same boat and want to encourage--or discourage--Ashburn from heading West in May?

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Juneau, Alaska: Submitting early and hoping it's worthy after not making the grade last week. I'm looking for anything and everything on places offering interesting and unusual exposures to jazz and/or instrumental music native to the region. I know about most of the major festivals; what I hope to find in my, ahem, research are unique experiences - often, but not always, the same as great music - in places where one might least expect it (like Greenland or Siberia, for instance). So far places like Nepal, Iceland and Antarctica have provided their share of interesting moments. Any and all suggestions?

Steve Hendrix: Sorry we couldn't get your question out there last week, Juneau. We should learn to type faster; we always get way more questions than we have time to post.

Now if only we had an answer for you! There is a website called festivals.com that lists some lesser (in size, not quality) events, but it seems to be much heavier on ones in the the U.S. than in other countries.

I'm sure a local person or a music-loving traveler could point you in the right direction for Greenland or Siberia or any other country.

How about it Local Person or Music-loving Travler?

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Arlington, Va.: Thanks for taking my question. Over the first weekend in April a friend and I will be surprising a Boston pal by flying up to Boston. Does anyone have any hotel tips (places to stay or avoid and price ranges) for Boston? Specifically, does anyone have any hotel tips for the Brookline neighborhood? Our friend is moving that weekend and coming out of a stressful marriage, so we'd like our hotel to be close to her in Brookline but also friendly on our wallets. I'm thinking around $100/night while my friend likes places in the $30 range, so something -cheap- to moderate would be key. Thanks!

Anne McDonough: Since it sounds like you guys are new to Brookline, here are a few of my favorites: Zaftig's (ya gotta have their borscht. It's absolutely incredible. The Zaftig combo's good, too--a blintz, pierogi, latke and kugel, all on the same plate. Low carb nightmare, but I had it probably once a week when I lived up there, and just had it on Saturday); Elephant Walk for Cambodian/French; JP Licks for great ice cream. For lodging, I just did a quick search on quikbook.com and came up with a $100 deal at Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers, which is near Copley on the B/C/D/E line; most of Brookline is on the C so you're just a few stops from the heart of it. There's a holiday inn right on Beacon St. in Brookline as well, not so sure about their prices. For $30 I bet you could find a college dorm futon to crash on...

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Lovely Downtown Bethesda, Md.: Hi Travel Gurus -- continue to love your chats and am looking for some backup. We're planning a trip to Niagara/Toronto over the summer and our kids (ages 7 and 9) don't have passports. I know I've seen on this chat before the various reasons why it's good to have one ... even if we're "just going to Canada". Perhaps you, the experts, can help me convince him -- thanks!

Carol Sottili: Get a passport! I know, I know that it's not a requirement, but unless you have a reason for not getting a passport, it makes sense to have one. Who knows, maybe you'll win a last minute trip to Paris someday and you won't be able to go because you don't have a passport!

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Arlington, Va.: For the person asking about the Virgin Islands I would agree that St. John is spectacular. Not overbuilt at all, unlike St. Thomas which has the distinct disadvantage of being a major cruise stop. One place I can recommend on St. John is Estate Lindholm - very friendly, reasonable rates, and nice accomodations. And of course there is always Caneel Bay if you find yourself with lots of cash you want to part with. If you can take a boat out to some of the less populated snorkeling spots, definitely worth it.

Carol Sottili: Thanks!

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Reston, Va.: I will be flying out to Vegas in mid July for a bacherlorette party. I can only go for the weekend -- Fri to Sun. I'm seeing airfares of around $400. It seems a little expensive. Is this the average for that time of year or will fares drop some?

Andrea Sachs: That seems very high. You should be paying half that amount, especially over the summer. Look at the low-fare airlines, such as Jet Blue, Air Tran and Southwest. Also look for specials--and grab 'em when you see them. You might also have to settle for a connecting flight for a really low fare.

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Woodbridge, Va.: Hello, Crew. I'll be headed to Austin for the first time in May and will have a free day to explore the city. I'm staying near the capitol, but are there 3 or 4 places to go/things to see while I'm there? I'm female, 38, and open to all sorts of culture/entertainment/food/good times. I made note of the recent article on Austin food. Thank you.

Steve Hendrix:
You'll find many Austin experts to guide you, Woodbridge, but let me forward this suggestion from Peter Kaufman, an editor in the Style section, he just returned from a Tequila soaked week there:

"Tex-mex at Guero's (S. Congress St.) or Manuel's (Congress & 3rd). Have a drink in the bar at the Driskill Hotel, where the chairs are made from calfskin (!). Go hear music.... everywhere.... anywhere."

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Watertown, Mass.: I'll be travelling to London for two days in April and then catching a Ryan Air flight to Sicily for two weeks. Why am I writing? Just to brag. Pretty cool trip, no? I'll be spending most of my time in Sicily's Madonie Mountains, checking out the hill villages off the beaten path. Does anyone have any familiarity with Petrlia Soprana or other such villages.

Carol Sottili: I went to Sicily last fall, but didn't visit that particular village. Sicily is an island of small villages. Yup, there are also big cities, but small villages are the heart-and-soul of the place. Anyone out there know of the place Watertown is visiting?

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Bowie, Md.: Ocean City......the best??? Best Sunday Morning Hangout for the BEST Bloody Marys - Fager's Island. Best Happy Hour - Seacrets!; Best Crab Cakes - Captain's Galley.
The Worst? - what else....having to drive back on a SUNDAY afternoon!;

Carol Sottili: Yes, especially with all that bridge work.....

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Washington, D.C.: How do consolidators work? Are they regular tickets on a regular plane? Are there business and first class seats also?

Carol Sottili: Basically, consolidators promise to move a certain number of seats, so they get a discount and then they pass that along to you. Yes, they are usually on scheduled air service flights, not charters. And yes, business and first-class seats are available through consolidators such as www.1st-air.net.

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Lexington, Va.: My parents and I are seriously pondering a trip to northern India late this year. (They are hearty, well-traveled 70-somethings; I'm going not to take care of them but to have fun too.) We are looking at a 2-week package (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodphur, Ranthambore wildlife preserve, etc.) from General Tours, a company my parents used with success in China last year.

Do you or any clicksters have experience with General Tours in India? Do you recommend any other tour operators for the same general itinerary? Thanks.

Anne McDonough: That sounds like a great itinerary--make sure that the tour has you staying in Agra for longer than the requisite look-there's-the-Taj moment; it's really worth seeing in both the morning and evening. None of us have direct experience with General Tours, so we're going to throw this one out to the crowd, but if they liked using them in China that's certainly a vote in their favor. Also, do anything possible to make sure you get to Varanasi. It's easily done with Delhi, Agra, etc., and is just tremendous.

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Washington, D.C.: US Airlines allows passengers to cancel a ticket within 24 hours of purchase without any penalties. Do you know if all airlines have similar policies? I found a good fare for a flight to Portland on American. I haven't been able to confirm the dates with my host, but since there is a 14 day advanced purchase, I'd like to buy it today, and cancel tomorrow, if necessary. Thanks.

Carol Sottili: Most major U.S. airlines have this policy. Make sure you ask before you buy.

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For the Virgin Islands-bound: I travel the Caribbean often and adore the Virgin Islands. I thought Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas would be too touristy, and some people may still think so, but I found it a nice balance of authentic island culture (namely food and soca music/nightlife) with conveniences of being Stateside (shopping, e-cafes, etc). If you stay overnight in Charlotte Amalie and don't need to sleep beach side, the Holiday Inn downtown was great ... clean, friendly service and ultra convenient location ... a short walk to the shopping district and right across the street from the port where you get ferries to other US and British Islands.

Carol Sottili: Thanks!

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Washington, D.C.: A coworker had a question I thought would be worth submitting, as I couldn't imagine who else would know but you all! He is going to Punta Cana in Club Med at the end of the month with his wife and two young daughters. Apparently there is a malaria advisory in the area, but no cases have been reported since January. Would it be wise just to do the antimalarial drugs, to stay on the safe side, or is the CDC being overly cautious? Is it likely the advisory would be lifted by the time they got there in the last week of the month?

Andrea Sachs: Check with a clinic or hospital with an infectious diseases department (George Washigton hospital, for one). They would be the safest source. Though malaria is certainly not something you wish to come down with, anti-malarial drugs have their own side effects, especially for younger kids. Also, at Club Med, you are fairly self-contained and in a clean environment, so the risk could be a lot less (vs. say rummaging around in the humid jungle)--not that mosquitoes are intimidated by a guard and a gate.

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Annandale, Va.: Hi people,

My wife and two daughters (12 & 14) will be traveling overseas next week, and will have a 12-hour layover in Milan (arriving around 7:30 in the morning). I was wondering if there is anything they can do in that short period of time other than sitting in the airport. Is it possible to get into the city, visit one or two places, have lunch and get back to the airport in time for their flight? Not the best of situations for a brief tour, I know, but any suggestions would be welcome!

John Deiner: Hey, Ann. Depends on what airport you're flying into, but both of them are within an hour of downtown Milan. I'd definitely hop in a cab and get outta the airport. Milan is one of the fashion capitals of Europe, and even if you're not buying it's great fun to walk around and explore the shops and pretend you're loaded. As luck would have it, the fashion district is a few minutes from the Duomo, the amazing cathedral sitting in city central--you could easily spend two hours touring it, and be sure to climb to the top. Surrounding the Duomo are dozens of restaurants and outdoor cafes.

It may be too late to secure tickets now, but you could always check out the Last Supper at Santa Maria Della Grazie, or tour the museums within the Castello Sforzesco and chill out in the adjoining park. Everything is within walking distance of the Duomo, so you can have your cab driver drop you there.

In other words, go for it!

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Arlington, Va.: For the pregnant lady going to Las Vegas: There's definitely a lot to do outside of the toxic casinos and staying on the Strip is a good idea. But, don't be fooled...even on the Strip, there's a LOT of walking. The maps don't make it look like such, but walking just two casinos away can take 20 minutes or more (including the walk through the lobbies from your room). Not to discourage you, but just be prepared! There is FABULOUS food to be had at any price level.

John Deiner: I agree one badrillion percent. Walking can really take a lot out of you in Vegas...great advice, Arl. Thanks for chiming in.

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Halifax, Nova Scotia: Hi Flight Crew. My question is much more mundane than your typical questions about trekking in Patagonia, or Stellenbosch wine tours. I need some local intelligence. I'll be attending a conference in Washington in June and will be joined by my family. Can you recommend any kid (ages 10 & 8) friendly destinations (theme parks, etc)within driving distance from DC where we could enjoy a 2 or 3 day family holiday? Thanks.

Steve Hendrix: Sounds like Williamsburg, Virginia has all you seek, my Canadian friend. This was Virginia's colonial capital (in case they don't teach that in Halifax schools). About 2.5 hours from here, it's got three days worth of family stuff, from the costumed historic quarter to Busch Gardens theme park to a major new water park opening this summer. Have a look at http://visitwilliamsburg.com.

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Del Ray, Va.: Hi, I'm trying to book frequent flier tickets in business class to Australia. Does anyone have any tips on how far out they release tickets? I would like to go the first two weeks in November, but my first call did not find any biz class tickets available on many different days, and the agent said to just keep trying every few weeks. Any advice? Thanks from a big fan.

Carol Sottili: Frequent flier tickets are released when the air schedule is released, which is 330 days, if I remember correctly, in the future. So now you'll just have to hope that someone cancels. I've been lucky several times by checking back, but you have to be patient and invest time in calling again and again.

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Re: Pregnant and Vegas: I'd discourage this. Vegas has SO much smoking. I mean, SO much. I was there for a weekend in January, and after about a day I had a constant headache because of all of the smoking. I guess if she stays out of the casinos completely it wouldn't be as bad, but you have to walk through a casino in most hotels to get to your room, or to get to the good restaurants, etc. But it's not just in casinos, there's smoking in the restaurants, constantly on the street, in the shopping malls (!;), just everywhere. I think that it might be hard to escape.

John Deiner: That's a definite no vote. My experience is that the smoking isn't so bad in malls and such, but after about 10 minutes there, my nasal passages close up, so I may not be the best judge. I think Vegas even allows smoking in churches, elementary schools and emergency rooms. Thanks for the heads up.

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Wilmington, Del.: A well-traveled friend suggested the following itinerary: Fly into Paris, stay three days. On the third night, take the train to Brugges and spend two days. The second night, take the train to Amsterdam, stay three days and fly home from there. What do you guys think? Will this be exhausting?

Steve Hendrix: That sounds like a good drill, Wilmo, especially if you haven't hit those hot spots before. Everyone loves Brugges, and the other two speak for themselves (albeit in French and Dutch).

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Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.: For spring break I am headed on a road trip down south with a few friends. We are going to hit Charleston, Savannah, and most likely Daytona Beach. We just want a few days of sun on the beach, will Daytona be absolutely unbareable? We are college seniors, and are looking to have a good time, but would rather avoid the wet t-shirt contests. Is it possible to have a few sun-filled days on the beach, or is the trashiness of Daytona Beach overwhelming?

Carol Sottili: When I was a senior in college, Daytona was the place to be. I can still see the band Kiss playing in the hotel parking lot surrounded by kegs of beer. Yes, I am dating myself here. According to a survey that we published in Cogo Sunday, Daytona is still one of the top places to go for spring break, but my college kid tells me that the wet T-shirt crowd is more apt to go to Panama City. Any other college-age chatters have opinions?

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St. John: We did our last pre-baby hurrah at Caneel Bay in St. John. This place was perfect. There is a little town so that you can get out and see something, but other than the $$$, no real reason to leave the resort. We also rented a Jeep and drove around the island (really a national park) in the rain. It was pretty and fun. Though at 7 months, a little rough on the belly.

Carol Sottili: Thanks!

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Pregnant in Las Vegas: When I was in Las Vegas, I found that all of the casinos and hotels were exceedingly smokey. (Just a warning for a pregnant mother).

John Deiner: Another smoky no. (Getting a smoke-free room is pretty easy in my experience--if none are available, I throw a hissy at the front desk till they find one. Whole floors are usually reserved for non-smokers.)

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Minneapolis, Minn.: We're coming to a Sunday wedding in Bethesda, MD in May. We are having trouble figuring out into which airport we should fly. Is it worth the extra $28 per person to fly to Ronald Reagan National instead of Baltimore? We are trying to avoid renting a car and just using hotel shuttles and the wedding shuttle to get us from point A to point B. Thanks.

Anne McDonough: National is great because it's right on the metro, so you'll be spending, oh, $1.35 to get in (and then out) of town. BWI, since you're not renting a car (good call, I'd say!), is accessible by both Amtrak and MARC, but MARC doesn't run on the weekends so if you're coming in on Saturday you'd have to shell out for Amtrak, which is $13 to $36, depending on which train you take (MARC is $6, I think). All that's moot, of course, if your hotel has a complimentary shuttle to both or either of those airports. If you have free shuttles, then do BWI. If not, I'd do National.

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Chicago, Ill.: Greetings Flight Crew!; Friends of mine are planning their honeymoon for October and want to go to South Africa. I know you've printed the name of a consolidator for plane tickets to Africa before, but was wondering if you'd be so kind to print it again. I'm just trying to be a good bridesmaid and gather some info for the lovely couple. Many thanks!;

Carol Sottili: The only one that comes to mind is www.spectortravel.com. But don't forget to try South African Airways (www.flysaa.com) - it sometimes has good deals.

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Alexandria, Va.: Taking my first vacation in two years - YEA! I'm planning on going to Greece for two weeks in September. Right now flights are around $800. In your infinite wisdom, are flights going to get cheaper than that or should I go ahead and book it?

You guys are fantastic!

Carol Sottili: That sounds about right for early September. If you're going in late September, I'd hold off and wait for a sale.

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Brookline, Mass.: Hi -- Lots of B&B's in Brookline, as it is right near the Longwood Medical Center where the major hospitals are. Google Peter Bent Guest House, Coolidge Corner Guest House and Brookline Manor.

Anne McDonough: Excellent-thanks! Oh, and by the way Carol SPELLED MY NAME WRONG in the intro. Just needed to point that out. There, now I feel better.

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Rockville, Md.: So, thanks to a lot of work travel, I'm supposed to get this free round-the-world ticket on the Star Alliance airlines. Sadly, thanks also to work, I only have about two weeks of vacation time to take it in. Got any great suggestions on how to work it, or should I just go wherever, spend the whole time on a plane, and say "But I've been AROUND THE WORLD!"? Thanks, Travel Gurus!

Steve Hendrix: Very nice, Rock. That's the classic payoff for a demanding job, a benefit you don't really have time to use.

Don't live on plane for two weeks. You do enough of that. I'd pick a remote place or two on the other side of the world and enjoy them at more relaxed pace.

New Zealand? Australia? Vietnam? China? Getting to anyone of those for free is a worthy perk. Depending on how flexible your ticket is, you might be able to relocate yourself within the country or hop to another at a nice pace. But give yourself plenty of time on the ground--that's the part you'll enjoy.

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Boston, Mass.: Four women want to celebrate their 30th birthdays with a great trip. We're thinking of a Mediterraean cruise but still stuck on the details. When is the best time to travel to this area and on what cruise line would we be able to go and not feel like we were cruising with our parents?? Thanks and I love the chat!

Carol Sottili: Mediterranean cruises generally draw an older crowd, regardless of the cruise line. I think early fall is a nice time to go - summer crowds have thinned out, but weather is still very nice. Med cruises are different in that they are more about the sightseeing on land than about the beach/booze/food experience. I'd look at Princess.

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Las Vegas, Nev.: I live in Las Vegas. It's easy to get away from the smoke. Just don't walk through the dead center of the casino tables and sit in the farthest part of the non-smoking section of restaurants. Many restaurants don't have smoking nowadays - even in Las Vegas!;

Also, get off the Strip. Go to Lake Las Vegas or Hoover Dam or Red Rock Canyon.

John Deiner: Good stuff, Vegas. Thanks for the info--a definite "yes" vote it appears.

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Arlington, Va.: Re: FF tickets to Australia. I managed to snag a FF ticket on United to Australia a couple of years ago, and I basically had to call the day tickets were released. But I agree that trying again and again can sometimes yield good results. I took a trip to Europe last year and got a biz class FF ticket about three months before my trip. Sometimes it also matters which agent you talk to and I guess the inventory is constantly changing. Also, if your airline is part of an alliance (and it must be these days) make sure they are checking all of the partner airlines too.

Carol Sottili: I think you need an advanced degree to manage frequent flier miles/programs.

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FF to Australia: There should be seats available. We flew to Australia for our honeymoon on United. There were plenty of upgraded seats available on the day we were going to fly but United wanted to charge us $3000 to go from regular economy to economy plus and then add on the 120K in miles to get to business class. So we didn't do it. (About a month before over half of BC was still available on United)

FWIW, I got all kinds of stories on upgrading from United so I would keep calling and seeing if you can get another representative.

Carol Sottili: That does not sound like a deal.

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Spring Break - Oh No: When is Spring Break this year? Will it run for several weeks in March depending on which schools let out when? I was going to try to plan a last minute vacation if a good one comes up on those mid-week specials, but I have a bad feeling now that I will be in the midst of all the partying.

Carol Sottili: Spring break runs for about seven weeks from late February until early April. But there are plenty of warm places to go that do not attract the crazy college crowd.

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Bethesda, Md.: Hi. I'm going to be going to London soon and plan on at least 2 nights at the theatre. Does anyone have a play to recommend? And should tickets be purchased in advance, or can it wait till I'm there?

Steve Hendrix: We've none of us been since last year, Bethesda. Have a look at www.londontheatre.co.uk, which summarizes and rates the reviews for most of the West End shows.

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Carol Sottili: I'm still waiting for recommendations on skiing and Ocean City. I don't want this bag filled with gifts to go begging.

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Chicago, Ill.: Hey Gary!; Tell us about Slovakia. I was in Bratislava recently, and found it charming, but also charmingly small.

Gary Lee: I like Bratislava, too, but think that to really enjoy that country you have to get out of the city. I was mostly in the spa town of Piestany. You can read all about it Sunday after next....

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Alexandria, Va.: I'm heading to Seville on Saturday. I'll have about 8 days in southern Spain -- culminating with 3 days in Seville itself over the beginning of Semana Santa (Holy Week). Plans for the beginning of the trip are wide-open... anyone have any suggested itineraries? So far Granada, Cordoba, Cadiz, and basically every town in my Andalucia guidebook sounds appealing -- I just need 2 more months of vacation and I'll be set. I definitely need help narrowing it down, and any suggestions will be much appreciated. There are 2 of us travelling by bus/train, on a smallish budget (think hostels or one step above). Thanks in advance...

Gary Lee: The three cities you mention plus Seville are the must sees, I think.

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Tysons Corner, Va.: I'm planning a family vacation to the Bahamas for July and I need some help on selecting an island. There will be about 10 of us. We want to be able to scuba dive, snorkel, play tennis, lay at the beach, swim in a pool, and go out to restaurants. Do any islands jump to mind that might meet our needs? I really appreciate your help. I enjoyed your Bahamas articles last week immensely! Thanks!

Carol Sottili: Did you see our Bahamas section that ran two weeks ago? Go to www.washingtonpost.com and look for it.

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Indianapolis, Ind.: Crew,

Been trying to get a flight to Odessa, Ukraine for April 18th- 29th. Trying to avoid that 12 hour flight from Turkey(not exactly on the way home). Thanks to you I have found some decent flights using Mobissimo.com.
Two questions. Do you know of other sites like this to comparison shop? (I'm more into shorter trip legs than price).
Also,Mobissimo suggests flights from Opodo. With names like these, I need to ask you if you know it is safe to use these sites.

Gary Lee: Sure, I have used both of these aggregators and have found them reliable. You might also try kayak.com

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Annandale, Va.: Hey crew - what's the deal with code sharing? I've flown at least 100 times over the past decade and have never had to deal with code sharing until now - I'm flying to Rome via Paris on Air France in a couple weeks and my connecting AF flight is "operated by Alitalia". So this means that even though my ticket says Air France I'll be connecting to an Alitalia flight? (I hope not because I've heard nothing but bad things about them! But I digress…)

Carol Sottili: Code-sharing is here to stay. You've been lucky. I'm flying Air Canada this week, but bought my ticket through United. I'm flying Lufthansa in May, but bought my ticket through United. I don't think that Air France is heads-and-shoulders above Alitalia, if that helps.

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Chicago, Ill.: Thanks for the advice on Prague. Do you think that $1,200 could possibly be reasonable for mid-August with a stopover in London from Chicago? I would really like to go when the weather is great and work is slow.

Andrea Sachs: That still seems high. I think you can shave off a couple hundred dollars. On a quick Orbitz search, I found $1034 on LOT (via Warsaw) and $1,066 on British Airways.

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New York, NY: I am heading to Istanbul this week and wanted to know if you had any suggestions for day trips. I will spend a day in Troy -- any other must-sees that you can recommend? Any insight would be much appreciated. Thank you!;

John Deiner: Hey, NY. One place you should definitely stop as long as you're heading to Troy is Gallipoli, where Australian troops landed during WWI with, ultimately, disastrous results. It's en route from Troy, which won't take more than a few hours to explore.

Any other suggestions?

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Upgrading to Australia: I assume the poster is talking about United. It's hard to get the upgrades in December and January now -- it's high season. But call 330 days in advance of your return and get on the waitlist. Don't count on getting the seat, though. It will take luck. United used to hand them out like candy.

We just booked our holiday for August, paid $1900 per ticket and spent the 60,000 miles each to upgrade. No problems getting the seats.

Carol Sottili: It's a very long flight, so maybe it's worth it.

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Re: Spring Break in Florida: Went to Daytona last year. It was COLD!; I'd suggest Panama City or Miami instead. But definitely stop in Savannah on the way down. It was beautiful when we did it.

Carol Sottili: If they don't want the party, I'd go for Miami, not Panama City.

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Brrrrrr!;: I'm not a skier, but I do tend to love the super-cold weather. Best recommendation I can make: invest in some high-quality long underwear. Silk is good, because it's light, but I had the chance to use some merino wool stuff earlier this winter up in the Yukon (dog sledding overnight, no less), and it was pure nirvana warmth-wise.

Carol Sottili: Thanks.

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Old Town Alexandria, Va.: Great section yesterday!; Stockholm B & B question: Do you have the name of the B& B which Gary Lee wrote about a summer or two ago? My husband and I will be stopping over there for one night near the end of May, and want to stay somewhere that serves breakfast, is affordable and is centrally located. Any other suggestions would be welcome too. Thanks so much!;

Gary Lee: Unforunately, I can't give the name of the B&B where I stayed since it was in a private home and one of the rules was that you can't publish the name. But I would STRONGLY suggest that you go to Stockholm's official city website which links you to several agencies that book you in B&Bs, private homes, self catering apartments, etc, at a pretty reasonable rate.

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Ocean City Best: You can't beat the crab cakes and crab bisque at Phillips restaurant. There are two locations - I think the food at the southern end, down near the where the boardwalk ends, might be slightly superior, BUT since our condo is on 125th Street, we always eat at the northern Phillips, up near the movie theater around 140th Street. Another best: WORLDS best peanut butter cups: Candy Kitchen!;!;!;

Carol Sottili: Candy Kitchen, which is a chain, right?, is open all winter, too.

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Deaf Traveler from Crystal City, Va.: Hello. I understand that one of your flight crew was planning a trip to Bulgaria and will discuss the trip today on the chat. Since, I have been to Bulgaria 3 times since 2002. I would like to suggest visiting Plodiv, Rila monastery, Koprivshtitsa, Bansko, Melnik, Walking around in Sofia, Veliko Turnovo, Shipka and Russian Church near Shipka and Nessebur, Sozopol near the Black Sea (little to cold for the beach). Did you have problems with opposite yes and no head nods? Bulgarian hospitability is so overwhelming so I suggest you extend your stay and see all the sight. I couldn't do this trip less than 10 days. Don't have too much of the homemade Rakia. Nazdrave

I enjoy reading Flight Crew chat.

Steve Hendrix: Cindy Loose is there now, Deaf Trav. Thanks for the excellent tips.

Cindy? Are you eavesdropping from Sofia?

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Alexandria, Va.: Hey Carol,
I was up at Tremblant in January of 2004 and it was about -20 F (at the base, -30-35 at the summit). I had never skied in temps that low before, but the wind wasn't too bad and as long as you have the right equipment, you should be fine - just be sure to cover up your face!; By the way, Tremblant's accomodations are awesome and the village isn't half-bad either; enjoy the trip!;

Carol Sottili: I'm glad to hear that you have returned with all your digits.

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Unique Music: Not local to D.C., but there is a great Blues Festival in Norwich, NY in August - about 6 hours north of here by car - The Chenango County Blues Festival. This years lineup hasn't been announced but in the past they've had some great performers including Guy Davis, dephas & Wiggans, The Iguanas, Albert Cummings, Chubby Carrier a the Bayou Swamp Band (great zydeco!;)

Steve Hendrix: Thanks, UM.

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Washington, D.C.: Even on SideStep, flights from WAS -> Barcelona are $930. Is Europe really expensive now?

Carol Sottili: Yes, Europe is expensive. Europeans are coming here to take advantage of the weak dollar, so the planes are not empty. A few other ideas - try flying out of New York. Sometimes you can get a cheap deal from there.

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Arlington, Va.: She also spelled "Andrea Sachs" as "Andrew Sachs". Is she trying to tell us something? Is Andrea going to Sweden for "the big operation"?

Andrea Sachs: Too cold right now in Sweden. So, I guess I will stay a female for at least the winter season.

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Spring Break: "But there are plenty of warm places to go that do not attract the crazy college crowd. " Such as? As a matter of fact, doesn't have to be beachy at all.

Carol Sottili: Miami, Sanibel, Fort Myers, Tampa, just about every city other than Daytona and Panama City.

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Indianapolis, Ind.: Gary,

Since you just got back from Slovakia, is it high on the list of Eastern Euro countries to visit? Where would you suggest a first-timer to go?

Gary Lee: Yes, I would say that it's one of the most affordable and friendly places I know. For starters, I would say Bratislava, Piestany are great. Banska Bystrica and Levoca are also special places.

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Watertown, MA: For the folks with 12 hours to kill in Milan, I'd take the train in from Malpensa (if that's the airport they are at) -- it's faster and cheaper and takes you right downtown.

John Deiner: Thanks, Watertown. Figured since there were four of them, they may be able to save a few bucks if they just took a cab, but I'm sensing you know of what you speak. Great info!

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Herndon, Va.: Hi there. My girlfriends and I are planning a trip to Bahamas for a long weekend in May. Pretty much just plan to relax at resort and pool bar all weekend long. Problem has been in finding a cheap flight. I use to see esavers to bahamas all the time. Cheapest we can find now is $330. From Dulles to Freeport. Have looked on all major travel internet sites. Any suggestions on finding cheaper fare? Do you forsee prices going down or will they continue to rise? Thanks!

-BM in Herndon, VA

Gary Lee: If you don't mind a stopover in Ft. Launderdale, I would suggest Spirit Air. I flew them from DCA to Nassau for just over $200.

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Alexandria, Va.: Hey Carol,
I was up at Tremblant in January of 2004 and it was about -20 F (at the base, -30-35 at the summit). I had never skied in temps that low before, but the wind wasn't too bad and as long as you have the right equipment (doesn't need to be overly expensive), you should be fine - just be sure to cover up your face and wear insulate glove/sock liners!; Also, sticking around the Gondola helps and if the temps get really low, go into either the base or summit lodges (both very conveniently located to warm up; I did about every 3 runs). By the way, Tremblant's accomodations are simply awesome and the village isn't half-bad either; enjoy the trip!;

Carol Sottili: Thanks.

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Annapolis Md.: Hi. I was just in Vegas and January and have to agree that it is incredibly smoky if you are staying in a casino/resort. We stayed on a non-smoking floor and spent most of our time walking the strip, not playing inthe casinoes, though we did explore the various features. We were also at the Conv. Ctr for a show. I got bronchitis bc of the smoke (iadmittifely have weak lungs anyway) and my clothing, even the things that never left the bag in our smoke-free room, reeked when I got home. (we stayed at the Mirage.) I agree that you should get out and see sites if you are going, and that you most rest. are non-smoking, but in order to leave your hotel, you have to walk through the middle of the casinos - it's all about marketing - and whiel you can skirt the outsides, it makes for a much longer walk, esp. if pregnant. I would call ahead though, and ask about the filtration in the hotels you are looking at, that is becoming a new selling point. You might want to stay at the new hotel, the Wynn, if it is open, as it won't be as saturated with old smoke and probably has the most state of the art filtration. As far as walking - take the monorail - cheap and easy!;

John Deiner: Love everything except the monorail bit--I find the distances to walk on that thing quite long, and maybe not particularly good for a pregnant person. Otherwise, great stuff. Thanks, Annapolis.

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FFX: We want to go to Austr. and New Zealand and are flexible re. travel time. Two questions: when is the best time to go and is there a site where we can get alerted via email when there is a fare sale or do we need to look everyday from now on to look for good prices.?? Oops, I'm thinking of another one: what IS a good price??

An adoring fan

Steve Hendrix: Well, the Southern spring, summer and fall are high season down there, particularly December through March. That's also when fares are highest. Fares are cheapest--in the $600 to $800 range if you're lucky or can start from L.A.--in our summer (which is dead of winter there).

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Alexandria, Va.: For Vegas cheap tix: United just announced a special $109 each way flights from DC through June (i think)

Ocean City Bests: Outlet shopping on Route 50 at the edge of Ocean City. YOu can't beat that Anne Taylor outlet - and i know it's not technically or otherwise ocean city but it's close --"Coach outlet, Rehoboth". Best day trip outside of Ocean City is Assateague Island - you can see the wild horses and learn about the dunes and wetlands with a ranger tour -- great for kids.

and a question: I'm planning my wedding at Half Moon Bay in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Any reviews on Half Moon Bay or Jamaica best bets?

Carol Sottili: Half Moon Bay has a very good rep. I also was very impressed with the Ritz Carlton in Montego Bay.

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FF Miles to Australia: We cashed in FF miles to Sydney from DC on United, though the our miles program is through US Airways. We booked about 6 months in advance and all that was available was coach. It was very confusing asking about upgrades because each airline said the other was responsible for them.

Carol Sottili: There is a real art to working the frequent flier system.

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College Park, Md.: My friend and I are traveling around the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica for a week later this month. But we keep finding more and more places to see!; We've got about 8 days. Would it be better to stay at a different place each night and see everything we want, or should we stay longer at each place and cut off a few stops?

Gracias

Andrea Sachs: We believe in the one- (or two or three) stop conceit: Better to pick a few good locations and explore them fully than to hop from place to place and spend more time en route (and in your hotel packing and unpacking) and running around a country like a dervish. Remember: This is also a vacation. You are allowed to rest. And Costa Rica is not going anywhere. You can always return.

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Spring Break Crowd: Uhh, Ft. Myers and Sanibel are TERRIBLE during spring break--traffic across the bridges stopped dead, drunks walking in the middle of the road, etc. (My mother used to live in Ft. Myers right next to the Causeway to Sanibel.)

Carol Sottili: And I thought it was all families. I guess it must attract a Midwest college crowd because I know it's not a popular destination for East Coast college students.

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Ticket to Hong Kong: I need to buy a R/T ticket to Hong Kong, leaving DC in mid-May and returning in mid-June. I'm getting fares of about $1200 right now. Should I wait, and if so, how long can I wait? I'm inclined to wait until April to buy.

Anne McDonough: If you're flexible on dates, you could wait, but May's a busy time and $1200 to me, unfortunately, sounds rightish. Check with airlines directly, but I'd say go for it.

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Washington, D.C.: Re: Yes/No on the passport: Just get the thing!; Remember, you have to have proof of identity/citizenship to get back into the US, too, and it's easier I think to keep track of a passport than a birth certificate or voter reg. card.

Carol Sottili: I'm with you.

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London Must-See Play: Go see "Blood Brothers" in one of the West End theaters. We saw it late last summer, and hope to see it again this year if it's still playing when we visit again. It's a remarkable story about brothers separated at birth.

Steve Hendrix: It's at the Phoenix, currently scheduled to run through October.

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Carol Sottili: Thanks everyone. We had some technical glitches at the end, and we appreciate your patience. My apologies to Andrea Sachs and Anne McDonough for spelling their names wrong. And with a last name like Sottili, I should be more careful. The winner of the gift bag is Bowie, Md., who knows all about the traffic coming back from OC on Sunday. Send your contact info to sottilic@washpost.com.

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