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.
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)
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The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
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The Flight Crew: Hey, everyone. Thanks for joining us on this week's travel chat, and let me apologize in advance if we seem a little crazed, because it's just One of Those Weeks around here. So let's get right to it. I'm K.C. Summers, your captain of the day, along with staff writers Cindy Loose, Steve Hendrix, Gary Lee, Anne McDonough, Carol Sottili and Andrea Sachs. Hit us with your travel-related questions, whines and whimpers, and we'll do our best to sort things out.
And here's what we want to know from you this week: How long should you cook a 15-pound turkey, anyway, and does anybody have a good recipe for corn pudding? No, no, just kidding. Our minds are completely on our work. (Although any good turkey tips gratefully accepted at summersk@washpost.com.) What we really want to know about are your Thanksgiving travel survival strategies. Whether you get there by air, train, bus or car, when's the best time to travel -- really really late on Wednesday? Is the relative ease of flying or driving on T-Day itself a big fat myth? Any secret routes to share? Does anyone out there reschedule holiday events -- say, having dinner on Friday -- to accommodate traffic?
We have a swell prize for the response we deem the most useful: another one of those nice, roomy canvas workout bags like we gave away last week, courtesy of a schmancy hotel chain. Sooooo . . . let's go!
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Columbia, Md.:
Southwest airlines is not booking flights after April 2, 2004. This makes it tough to plan a spring vacation in Orlando. Do you know when they will extend their reservations?
The Flight Crew: I've got a call in to Southwest's p.r. guy for a more definitive answer--I'll post if he calls back before the chat is over. Meanwhile, a reservations agent says "any time now; we haven't been given a date yet,but any time." For what's that worth----Cindy
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Aspen, Colo.:
Yesterdays Washington Post article:
"Lab Report: Jet Lag " discussed taking the hormone Melatonin, sleeping pill Ambien, and stimulant Provigil all which have side effects (what a coctail)to manage jet lag. ?
Has anyone used the homeopathic pills
No-Jet-Lag ? I will not fly without them www.nojetlag.com from New Zealand
They have clinical trials on thier website and it has been published.
The Flight Crew: Aspen, we haven't tried this, so let's ask the clicksters. I will say that I've used Ambien several times and suffered NO side effects whatever. I swear by that stuff -- as did the three doctors we checked with when reporting that item. -- KC
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Alexandria, Va..:
My sister and I went to Peru this past June and had a wonderful time. We used General Tours, which was recommended by AAA. General Tours farmed out the heavy lifting to Coltur, a local tour operator in Peru, who did a fine job with all of our travel arrangements. I have no hesitation in recommending them based on our experience.
For those who want to visit Machu Picchu, but don't want to hike the Inca Trail, I would recommend an overnight trip instead of the one-day trip. That way you can spend some time there in the late afternoon of the first day and also see the sunrise of the second day, when there are many fewer people around. A fabulous experience.
The Flight Crew: Thanks for those recommendations, Alex. Anyone else got Machu Picchu tips?
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Washington, D.C.:
Do you know of a website that lists construction projects on I-95 and other key roads in the DC to New England corridor? Even if the projects are on hold for the holiday, delays can be expected in those areas. Thanks!
The Flight Crew: The feds have a site at www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo, and they link to other sites as well. The bad news is that every site I checked requires that you research by state, which means a bunch of checks between here and New England. Rand McNally, the map people, have a site at www.randmcnally.com, and for free you can check by state. To get a map of contruction, you have to become a member, for $35. So unless you need the other stuff that comes with membership, seems like you'll have to click about some---unless clicksters know something I don't. Cindy
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Pendleton, Ore.:
Dear Travel Staff: I include you in my list of people for whom to be thankful this week--you're a great group.
A couple quick questions: Can you get to CDG on the subway from downtown? And is there a small hotel in the center you could recommend, one that has some of that patented Parisian charm but won't cost me an arm and a leg? I am going to be in Paris Dec. 6 for part of the day, leaving Dec. 7. Thanks a lot and have a super holiday.
Also, a brief recommendation: anyone looking for a great arts and culture break should consider Moscow in December. Hotels are mostly vacant(if not cheap), there's a great selections of restaurants to choose from and one of the richest cultural programs in the world--the Moscow Conservatory, the Bol'shoi opera and ballet, Tchaikovskii Hall, the Novaia and Helikon opera companies, church concerts...there is something for everyone, mostly at eminently reasonable prices(like $5-10 for top-rank symphony and ensembles at the conservatory). Opera fans will be delighted with the Helikon and Novaia Operas, which have youth, energy and innovation in huge quantities. In my experience, Moscow in winer is absolutely the best entertainment buy in the world right now . If you want to do some thematic tours during the day, be sure to go with patriarshii dom tours(alansakaya-co.ru). They are a fantastic organization.
Happy thankgiving!
The Flight Crew: Gary Lee says: and we are thankful also for readers like you. Yes, indeed, you can get to central Paris from de Gaulle by train. It's not the regular metro system, but something the French called the RER. You have to take a short free bus ride from the airport to the RER station. The trip takes around 30-45 minutes and costs euros 11 or so.
Thanks much for the Moscow tips, too...
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Arlington, Va.:
Just had a crazy desire to go someplace VERY exciting for New Year's, since I haven't been to Europe in several years, just have to decide where.
Would love to go to Europe - London, Paris, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Brussels, Madrid - and have realized that it seems like it'll cost an arm and a leg. Is there any way to make it happen for a reasonable price, or should I hold out my European dreams for later in winter?
I went to Middlebury, are you the same Anne McDonough who did too?
The Flight Crew: Have you thought of maybe throwing caution to the winds and checking a last-minute site the week before? We had a special issue on last-minute travel (link coming up) this summer that delves into the pros and cons of super-spontaneous vacations, and it might be just the ticket for holiday travel if you're not tied to a particular destination.
-Anne
One and the same, by the way. And who might you be, Arlington?
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washingtonpost.com:
Booking Last Minute: A Primer, (Post, July 20, 2003)
The Flight Crew: Thanks, .com!
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Somewhere, USA:
Using United frequent flyer miles, I have to fly United Express from Dulles to Laguardia, then Varig from JFK to Sao Paulo. I assume I have to lug my own luggage from Laguardia to JFK (I've gotten varying stories from United on this). How reliable is the bus between the airports? I get to Laguardia about 1 p.m. and my flight from JFK doesn't leave until 7 so I have lots of time (I expect to have to wait a while for the Varig counter to open at JFK). Thanks!;
The Flight Crew: New York Airport Express Bus 718-875-8200 runs every 30 minutes from LGA to JFK - cost is about $11. Web site www.nyairportservice.com.
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Tallahassee, Fla.:
If you'll be in London before mid-April, there's a wonderful exhibit called "Women and War" at the Imperial War Museum. The sections on World Wars I and II are incredibly detailed and absolutely fascinating. Admission to the exhibit is about ?6 (the museum itself is free), and it's well worth the price. The museum is easy to get to by underground.
The Flight Crew: Thanks for the tip, Seminole. I love the Imperial War Museum--it's not just the cool war toys, they have a 1940s house dislay that is very swell, and the rotating exhibits are unfailingly good. -Steve
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Wilmington, Del.:
If you had two weeks to see whatever you liked in Europe, what would you choose?
Thanks!
The Flight Crew: Gary Lee says go to London, Paris and Rome. I have a slightly different take----combine some city stuff with some countryside stuff. What the ratio will be depends on your interests and make-up: I'm more for the countryside. For one thing, you'll know for sure you're in a different country, without looking at the signs.
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Albany, N.Y.:
Most efficient and least expensive way to travel from BWI airport to downtown DC, please? Thank you.
The Flight Crew: Gary Lee, who makes that trip often, said: you can the metrobus, the B-30 to the Greenbelt station for $2.50 and the green line from there. Or you can take a free bus to the amtrak station and take a train in to Union station...
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Washington, D.C.:
I vacationed in Bolivia last year and I would not hesitate to return. I never felt any personal animosity directed toward me because of my nationality. I feel the general crime rate in Peru actually makes Bolivia a relatively safer destination. The trekking is fabulous (go with a guide and research your route). The Amazon basin is much cheaper than Peru. I missed the salt flats but would love to go. For Lake Titicaca, you're on the border anyway. Of course, Bolivia doesn't have Macchu Picchu.
The Flight Crew:
I haven't been to Bolivia in awhile, but I did spend three months there a decade ago, and was back once since (when I interviewed the recently deposed president for the Wall Street Journal during his first term in office). It can be a tough place to visit (La Paz is like walking around San Francisco, except without a breathable atmosphere), but a very rich and rewarding one. I wouldn't hesitate to go there at all right now.
--Steve
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Kinch of Beltsville:
Did you get to try www.lasvegasadvisor.com?
If so, what did you think?
The Flight Crew: Hi Kinch, I just took a quick look and it looks good -- it's one of many Vegas sites out there with info on shows, hotels, deals etc. The Top 10 Values list is fun, and the freebies info looks useful. Will check it out further as we plan our upcoming trip. Who has other Vegas sites they like? -- KC
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Where to go? Where to go?:
We have a great 'problem' to have --we've accumulated enough airline miles to fly our entire family (husband, wife, 4 children in their teens/tweens) on a vacation this August. But we're having trouble choosing a destination. (The miles are on United.) We can't decide between flying business/first class to Hawaii (last trip there was 7 years ago - tweens don't remember much, and we'd go to a different island plus stopover in San Francisco and visit good friends); flying coach to Rome and Florence (my husband and I had a wonderful trip there 3 years ago, but it was in May - a much more comfortable time of year to visit than August); flying coach to Japan (all but the tweens have been before; all four kids have studied Japanese in school since 1st grade; however, I hate the l-o-n-g flight); or flying coach somewhere none of us have been (like Germany or Switzerland or Ireland)(BTW, we've already spent lots of time in England). The trip has to be in August because of school schedules and other activities. There are so many options, we're having serious trouble deciding, and I know the longer we wait, the less likely it is that we'll find flights in the timeframe we need. What do you suggest??
The Flight Crew: That is a nice problem, with no perfect, or bad, answers. If money is an issue--when isn't it?--you might start narrowing it down that way. For example, I'd be hesitant about Japan not because it's so far away, but because you have six people, and it's so expensive once you hit the ground. But even before doing that, I'd have a family meeting and discuss not where to go, but what kind of things you each want to do (parent votes usually count double, but since you have four children, you might want to make parent votes count triple.) But really, once you figure out the kinds of things you all want to do, you can then chose a few destinations, then narrow it down to one once you figure out how much it will cost on the ground. With that in mind, why are you leaving out all the developing world options? And while they're not going as far as before, U.S. dollars still buy alot in Canada. Cindy
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Washington, D.C.:
I will be in Paris for about 9 days around Christmas. This will be my third visit to Paris so I have seen a lot of the major attractions. Before Christmas, I'd like to visit a nice Christmas Market. Should I go to Strassbourg or are there better, less touristed markets? Mulhouse? Any suggestions? Also, for the last 3 days I'd like to head out of the city and stay in a little inn somewhere pleasant. I was thinking of possibly heading to Switzerland or somewhere we could take a nice train ride through the snowy alps. Any recs? I speak German but not French. Also looking for any Christmas dinner recs. Thanks!
The Flight Crew: Gary Lee, who used to visit Paris often over Christmas, says lucky you! The Christmas market in Strassbourg is the best one we know in France. One idea for a nice train ride is to head to Geneva and take the train to Gstaad... It's wonderful and you can get a room in an inn near the Gstaad train station...
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Washington, D.C.:
I am making plans for a New Years trip to Madrid, Spain. What can I expect the weather to be like? Any must sees? Thank you so much and you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
The Flight Crew: Sottili here: Expect the weather to be in the low 50s during the day and the 30s at night. City gets an average of 1.8 inches of rain in Jan. (same in Dec.) I'll defer to Gary Lee to answer the must-see question.
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Golden, Colo.:
Is the drinking water safe in some resort areas of Mexico? Years ago I became ill visiting there.
The Flight Crew: Drinking water should be fine at the better resorts. But then again, if you're worried, why not buy drinking water in bottles? I do that here in D.C.--thinking about the skuzz in my pipes makes me want to break out the Poland Spring. Cindy
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Washington, D.C.:
Just curious -- does the Post ever get sued over travel section advice?
The Flight Crew: Um, why do you ask?
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Springfield, Va.:
Hi all! We are a couple in our early 30s. We are going to Atlantic City next weekend. Please tell us about some hot nightlife places to hang out at. Also, we are open to explore any type of clubs (dance,swing,etc). Thanks!
The Flight Crew: Our absent colleague is the expert on all things AC, Springfield. Alas, he's en route home from Canada, but he left behind a report on AC's hipest spaces in last week's Escapes. The answer seems to be the Borgata.
Stand by for a link.
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washingtonpost.com: Las Vaguely, (Post, Nov. 19, 2003)
The Flight Crew: John Deiner's take on the Borgata and all that's new and hip in Atlantic City.
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Arlington, Va.:
My friends and I were discussing possible trips to Europe in the next year. Since we've already done all the basics, we were talking about Croatia. Are there any good deals or places to find more information?
The Flight Crew: Excellent choice. Never been, but know a lot of people who have and cannot stop gabbing about it (my parents being two of those). Best to start with the experts, the Croatian tourism office. They have a very informative Web site at www.croatia.hr. Friends also rented a villa in Dubrovnik (they too can't stop talking about it); villas can be had for MUCH less than, say, Provence or Tuscany--especially off-season. Contact any villa-rental broker who specializes in Europe, like Villarentals.cc or Internationalrental.com.
Poking around, I found many deals, like $1,140 for an eight-day package to Dubrovnik, including air from New York or Philly, hotel and two meals a day, or 13 days, with Hvar and Split tacked on, for $1,190. Check out www.traveltimeny.com. --andrea
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Boston, Mass.:
Hi Travel Crew!
No great tips on thanksgiving travel from me -- I always seem to end up in the wed/sunday herd. But I'll be getting to the airport 2 hours ahead of time in case security lines back up. (Dad and I once did the drive from Boston to Hartford on the Wed afternoon -- took us a good 7 hours!)
My question is about airline supervisors. I'm a second tier flier on United, and was bumped last week. I was trying to figure out how they decided who to bump, and in the process, I ended up talking to a supervisor. I think I was being fairly reasonable, but she was extremely unhelpful, and when I asked for her name (so I could write a letter), she gave me her first name and refused to give me her last. Is this common?
The only reason I could think of is that she wouldn't want me looking up her phone number / personal info, but I don't think I looked that crazy. So, is it worth mentioning in my letter that she refused to give me her full name? Thanks.
The Flight Crew: Sottili here: Very few airline personnel will give their last names - they're afraid that, even though you may look sane enough, that you're not. Whether she gave her last name to you or not will not influence how United reacts to your letter. It's not a bad idea to carry along an airline's contract of carriage, which spells out your rights and its rights in a denial of booking situation, when you travel, especially over the holidays. These documents are available on most airline Web sites.
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washingtonpost.com:
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Alexandria, Va.:
Hi Crew! Looking for some suggestions. I'm leaving for 5 nights in Budapest tomorrow, and apart from having a hotel reservation in central Pest and a ticket for the opera, I have no plans. Haven't had time to read my guidebook yet, so was hoping for some suggestions on things to see/do. If it helps, I love wine and am looking forward to sampling the local selections. Thanks!
The Flight Crew: Hey Alex--
It's all about the baths--and each one is quite different from the rest. Try Gellert for indoor pools and baths in an old-fashioned Art Nouveau hotel (outdoor baths there close in Nov.). Unfortunately, the awesome outdoor-only baths on Margaret Island are closed from mid-autumn until spring--'cause those are the best. Old men playing chess and women in curlers, all hanging out in in the water. If you like the opera that you already have tickets for, you can go again (or to a different show, of course) for supercheap--I got same-day tickets for about two bucks (just pay attention to which opera house it's in, as there are two big ones, and the centrally located one is much more impressive). There's Statue Park, accessible by public transportation, where many of the Communist-era monuments were dumped. It's pretty fascinating (I'd dole out for the audiotape/brochure as the stories behind the statues add quite a bit to the experience). Eger is a wine town that's about 2 hours by train if memory serves, and you can get massive "bottles" (ours were plastic) for less than a New York pretzel. St. Andrew's is a picturesque town on the Danube that's a nice day trip. Two things you really shouldn't miss: the fried dough that's sold at stands all over the place (both sweet and savory) and the falafel pretty much anywhere in the city. Delish. Anyone else with Budapest suggestions?
--Anne
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Kalorama, Washington, D.C.:
I'm headed to Los Cabos, Mexico for New Years. Any can't miss sites/activities/taco stands?
Any thing to watch out for in renting a car? Do we need a special license?
The Flight Crew: A big thing to watch our for in renting a car in mexico is insurance. Last year I remember standing in line with a guy who suddenly found himself paying a lot more for insurance daily than for the car. So, check what insurance you might already have--through insurance policies and credit cards--consider carrying proof of that insurance, and know up front what charges will be tacked on, or not tacked on.
You don't need a special license.
As far as what to eat and do---HELP FROM CLICKSTERS PLEASE---Cindhy
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Washington, D.C.:
I'd like to question the validity of the article on the respective homes/pilgrimage sites of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda... the author approached the situation from the perspective of the illinformed. No mention of "disappeared" should be used in passing in reference to those who flock to Neruda's former homes. I don't think the author gives weight to the historical trauma behind the homes as pilgrimage sites, and makes it worse by including the language of "disappearances," that swept Chile, post-Neruda, in the years of the dictatorship. What Neruda represents as a poet and political figure has multiplied in light of this history, and his homes have become sights of pilgrimage for victims for exhiles, expatriates, and Chileans affected by a regime of opression and torture, in stark contrast to the Chile imagined vis-a-vis Neruda's life and poetry. I'm greatly offended and wish to request a follow-up to the one-dimensioned article.
The Flight Crew: Gary Lee says: you make an interesting point. The article, like most we do, was designed to inspire travelers to engage in different travel experiences. I wrote about what I got out of a pilgrimage to the Neruda homes. I did have lots of thoughts, including some about the disappearances, that I didn't include in the article either because of lack of space or other reasons. Other travelers, including you, clearly would get some other meaning from the experience.
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Washington, DC:
For the tween family with United FF miles, I rather suspect the decision will be made for you based on availability!; Personally, I'd go to Thailand with the family.
The Flight Crew: And cheap on the ground, too. Personally, I'd go to North Vietnam instead of Thailand. Or how about getting a free stopover somewhere, to get two very different sorts of vacations each week of the trip. And this writer thought she already had too many options. Cindy
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Midwest:
I recently broke up with my boyfriend and want to do some solo traveling. I have looked at Site59 and had a good feeling about it but I wondered what others think of it for travel in the U.S. I also want to travel to Europe (for the first time) and want to get the Travel Crews opinion on that. I am 31 and am a huge classical music fan and also enjoy great architecture and art. I am not looking to party or get drunk--I just want to soak up some great western civ. What would the team recommend? Can I plan it by myself or do I need an agent?
The Flight Crew: Hi Midwest, and here's to new beginnings. Several of us have used Site 59 and we like it fine. Just watch out for the locations of some of the hotels they want to put you in -- sometimes they're not exactly centrally located. On planning a trip to Europe, it really depends on how adventurous you are and how much time you have to spend on research. A good travel agent (key word: good) can be invaluable in planning a music and architecture trip, but some people think the planning is half the fun. Ask friends for hotel and restaurant recommendations, check newspaper and magazine archives (the Post's is fantastic, we've got five years' worth of articles filed by subject, and it's free). -- KC
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"The Softie" Washington, D.C.:
There are no "good" times to travel on Thanksgiving, only "dreadful" and "slightly less dreadful." That having been said, my tip is to pack some snacks and make sure you have plenty of gas if you're traveling on T'day itself (or Christmas) and decide to take alternative routes off the main drags of I-95 etc. Open gas stations and restaurants are few and far between.
The Flight Crew: I don't know. In my experience, I have to say, I never have too much trouble finding open gas stations on Thanksgiving or Christmas, even when I'm in the sticks (which is where my family tends to live). I'm often struck that convenience store clerks are ALWAYS on duty. Same with fast food. Lot's are shuttered, obviously, but always a few scooping in the lonely trade.
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Layhill:
Last week, a poster asked about B&Bs on Kauai. Most of the B&Bs we found on Kauai and Maui were rooms in large, regular homes, not close to the beach. A car is necessary (rental rates and gas prices definitely higher than expected). On Kauai, we paid $85 for a very large room with private kitchen facilities and a huge bathroom (with a large jacuzzi tub, and shower), at the Aloha Country Inn (alohacountryinn-hawaii.net). They had one smaller room in the main house, and a couple of private cottages. No meals available. We also stayed two nights at a regular hotel much closer to the beach: the Aloha Beach Resort, formerly the Holiday Inn. Across the street from a beach and a protected swimming/snorkeling area. Hotel had a "deal" for $110 per room (plus tax, of course).
The Flight Crew: Thanks for those tips, Layhill.
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Washington, D.C.:
Does anyone know how to access schedules and make reservations for the train between Schiphol airport and the Hague. I am told it is the way to get between the two, but my attempts to search the web for info have been hampered by not speaking Dutch. Thanks for any help you might have.
The Flight Crew: Waste no more energy on this matter. Call the Netherlands tourism bureau and have them do the grunt work for you (they are so very nice and helpful; they once called a tour operator for me in Amsterdam to be sure the company was legit). You can find them at www.visitholland.com. The aiport also has a good Web site (with an English counterpart) that has train info (www.schiphol.nl). I just plugged in your info and got some schedules. Good luck.--andrea
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Arlington, Va.:
Thanksgiving Strategy -
Leave at 4:00 AM Wednesday! I'm not joking. We're travelling to Central New York state, and that's when we're leaving. We've done that before, and it works beautifully. We're usually up there by 10:00 am, plenty of time to relax and enjoy the day. We hit very little traffic (a little around Harrisburg PA), and have the road to ourselves the early part of the trip.
270 to 70W to 81N to mom's house!
The Flight Crew: Thanks, Arl -- you don't spend the rest of the day sleeping it off??
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Washington, D.C.:
Yesterday the Sunday Travel Section was devoted to South America. One of feature articles was about the reporter's travels in Chile. I wanted to know how you handled the subject of Chile's 9/11 trauma and the American involvement in helping to bring about this very painful event in Chile's history. When I traveled to Chile in 2002 and earlier this year, the subject came up a few times. I now know how bitter some of the Chileans feel about our involvement in this sad chapter of Chilean history.
The Flight Crew: Gary Lee, who wrote the Chile article, says, good question. I found, too, that now that 30 years have passed since Chile's 9/11 trauma, more Chileans want to talk about it. For my part, when the subject came up, I expressed my regrets about it and opened myself to hear whatever locals had to say... I tried to avoid getting involved in debates but took it as an opportunity to educate myself, both in what happened and what we felt about it...
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Involuntary bumpville:
I had an involuntary bump from California last weekend. I definitely did not want to take it and had paid regular price just like everyone else for a ticket. They gave me a voucher for up to $500 but I wanted to fly (and I already have a free voucher with that airline from a bump I took a few weeks before). What is the airlines responsibility to me in this situation. I thought I could get cash but I wasn't sure how much. The whole thing was very confusing to me!;
The Flight Crew: Sottili here: As I told a previous chatter, it's not a bad idea to stash away a copy of the airline's contract of carriage in your bag when you travel, especially during th busier travel seasons. I don't know what airline you flew, so I can't tell you what that airline's rules are. A good resource for "rules of the air" is www.onetravel.com.
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Washington, D.C.:
Well, your recommendation for Gstaad was a little too good -- every single room in the town is booked for our dates (weekend after Christmas). Any other recs? Thanks heaps!
The Flight Crew: Gary Lee says: you're going to find the same situation in most of the towns in that area, I'm afraid, so you'll have to keep digging. Try Saanen, the smaller and less trendy sister village to Gstaad... If it comes to it, you can always ride the train up for the day and come back to Geneva in the evening...
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Solomons, Md.:
Hi Crew - A quick flying on Thanksgiving day question. I'm flying out of Reagan National, and I fear that all the parking spots will be gone by Thursday morning. I've been looking for parking alternatives, but haven't been able to find any. Any suggestions? We're driving in from 65 miles away, so Metro seems out of the questions.
Thanks!
The Flight Crew: Reagan is expected to have tight parking. You can get a report on how parking looks that day by calling 703 417 Park. If you're staying away for some time, you might think about laying out $149 to stay overnight the night before at the Holiday Inn, and get up to 10 days of free parking and a shuttle to the airport. (Go to www.parksleepfly). You could pay about $10 a day to park in a downtown or suburban Va. lot and then take the metro---something you could do in a pinch if you called Reagan on your way and found everything was sold. Sorry I don't have a secret magic place. Any other ideas, readers? Cindy
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Oak Hill, Va.:
Thanksgiving travel to Northeast corridor: We used to do great driving north on I-95 on Tuesday afternoon. Last year, it was a nightmare on the beltway and beyond -- as bad as Wednesday before Thanksgiving travel. This year, we're trying a post-evening-commute Tuesday night drive. I sure hope this is better!
Best hint to help with the holiday drive is that we ALWAYS drive back the Saturday after Thanksgiving, never on Sunday. The whole I-95 route from CT to DC is a parking lot on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Just miserable.
Oh, and DVD's in the car are great!
Question: What cities in Europe don't empty out (except for tourists) in August? I've heard Paris and Rome are nearly closed down for the month.
The Flight Crew: So it's come to this -- leaving on Tuesday night. And yeah, anything's better than traveling on the Sunday after.
Re Europe in August -- Overall, Europeans like to take August off, and Paris, Rome, etc will be bereft of locals and thronged with tourists. Europhile Gary Lee suggests heading for a Scandinavian city like Stockholm or Copenhagen, where the weather is cooler and there should be more going on. -- KC
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Re Madrid Must-Sees:
Don't miss the Prado, Reina Sofia (where Picasso's Guernica is exhibited), the palace-can't remember the name but we rated it 3rd after Schoenbrunn and Versailles. Also the huge department store Corta y Ingles has a magnificent holiday display outside one of their main stores. It's gorgeous. Three years ago it was a fairy tale theme complete with animated figures and songs. It's definitely worth a look.
The Flight Crew: Gary Lee says: I would second these Madrid must-sees...
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Re Los Cabos:
Whale watching, fresh fish, Cabo Wabo (nightclub owned by Sammy Haggar), towm of San Jose Del Cabo 30 min east.
The Flight Crew: Thanks.
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Looking for London Markets:
Hi,
I'm looking for recommendations for the best markets in London. Any suggestions? I'm interested in markets will both food and clothes, crafts, etc. How's Leadenhall?
The Flight Crew: I haven't been to Leadenhall, which is a very, very old market known for its meats, poultry and leather goods. It sells a wider variety of stuff now, and is in a stunning Victorian hall. I keep mentioning Spitalfields as an alternative to the loved-to-death Camden Market.
--Steve
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Alexandria, Va.:
What bad advice to take Provigil to "wake up" after a long trip!
Provigil is a highly controlled drug used to treat narcolepsy - it's a Class IV according to the DEA. It doesn't get you "revved" - it keeps narcoleptics awake enough to function through their day. And the side effects aren't something I'd wish on anyone.
The Flight Crew: Point taken, Alex. This was the advice of the doctors our reporter interviewed. Thanks for your comment.
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Washington, D.C.:
For Midwest-
Go for IT. Traveling solo in Europe is very easyand the big cities, ie London and Paris have enough events to keep you busy. I went on my first solo trip to London at 30 and am now going back to London solo again.
A good website for single women travelers is journeywoman.com Has advice, stories, etc.
The Flight Crew: Thanks, Wash. Journeywoman is a good resource.
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Arlington, Va. (by way of Middlebury):
For the person looking for a hotel in Paris - the Timhotel Tour Eiffel (near Duplux Metro) is reasonably priced, in a nice neighborhood with lots of little shops, bakeries, etc., just a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower, and helps you avoid the crazed commercialism and touristy feel of the other side of the River...
www.timhotel.com
The Flight Crew: Thanks, Midd.
-Anne
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Seattle, Wash.:
Spending Christmas in Germany, don't know where yet. Any suggestions? Since everything will be closed I'm thinking someplace where I can walk around, see the town. Leaning towards the Rhine area right now. Problem of so much to see and so little time.
The Flight Crew: Gary Lee, who used to live in Germany, suggests Munich. It's pretty and has a nice festive holiday feel to it and is big enough that there is a good mix of things to do, including great musuems, beerhalls and restaurants. You can also make excellent day trips in the area...
Cologne, a greatly underrated city is a another option...
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Washington, D.C.:
Hi travel gurus! I wrote in a couple of weeks ago asking about luggage since I needed to replace my carryon bag. Thanks to you and all the chatters for their suggestions. I ended up with a 22 inch Travelpro. It was a bit lighter than the Delsey brand the store clerk showed me. Also, since I mainly travel for vacation, not work, the snap on garment bag wasn't necessary. I bought mine down at Potomac Mills but Hechts had it for the same price.
I also bought one of those locks the TSA can open so I am all set to travel for Christmas.
Thanks again.
The Flight Crew: You're welcome! Glad we could help.
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San Francisco, Calif.:
My folks in Bethesda (and the rest of our scattered family) have finally gotten the good sense to schedule holiday dinners with flexibilty. The Passover Seder last spring was on a Saturday, Thanksgiving will be this Friday. I used to fly Wednesday night red-eyes cross-country, which are just as crowded as midday flights and sure didn't make me a pleasant addition to the family get togethers.
FYI, I once flew on Christmas day and was surprised to be on a packed flight; turns out many people were trying to squeeze visits to two families into the big day.
The Flight Crew: Another myth exploded! Thanks, SF.
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for Pendleton going to Paris:
For a great little hotel in Paris, try Hotel Lindbergh (http://www.paris-hotel-lindbergh.com/). Great and cheap!; The staff spoke English (although appreciated my French), there was a little market right across the street (for fruit, water, etc.), walking distance to lots and lots(Saint German-des-Pres, Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Notre Dame -- seemed like we could walk to everything except Montmarte). Did I mention cheap?? (less than a hundred bucks a night in July over Bastille Day -- but two summers ago)
The Flight Crew: Thanks!
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On the road again....:
Best Thanksgiving travel tip for northeast corridor: Never, ever, ever consider driving on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. We once tried to maximize our visit to Connecticut by leaving then, and we've never done it again!; Always drive back home on Saturday at the latest. Otherwise, I-95 is a parking lot and you'll be miserable.
The Flight Crew: Yep. On this we all agree.
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Baltimore, Md.:
For the NYE in Europe, know that London
doesn't really do it up a'la Times Square
in NYC. People tend to go to other
people's houses for parties, but not as
much of a going-out event as we make it
to be over here. Plus, when I was there
for it two years ago, it was absolutely the
coldest place I have ever been in my life,
so beware a nasty cold snap as well if
you're going in January.
The Flight Crew: Thanks, Balto. Pack those down jackets.
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Washington, DC:
Forgive me for sounding somewhat political on a Travel chat. But when visiting Peru, is there still a lot of talk or effort to get American Lori Berenson out of prison & the country? Or can idle chat about that case get you locked up in Peru?
The Flight Crew: Gary Lee, who has visited Peru several times in recent years, says that Berenson's case has never come up in casual conversation. However, we have found that Peruvians are outspoken and don't shy away from expressing their minds about any topic...and neither should you...
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Arlington, Va.:
re: yesterday's article on jet lag
I have two additional suggestions. One, there is a homeopathic tablet called No Jet Lag, from New Zealand (and available at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods) that helps adjust your circadian rhythms as you travel. I've used it several times on overnight trips to Europe, and it works very well. However, it doesn't make up for lost sleep, so you still have to go to bed early the first night to catch up.
Also, Ambien comes in a 4-hour pill called Sonata. This is great for shorter trips (like Europe) or if you wake up at 2:30 am and can't fall back asleep.
The Flight Crew: Thanks, Arl. Is something wrong with me? Regular Ambien only works for four hours for me. -- KC
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Washington, D.C.:
Hi Crew: I was once reading that the longest non-stop airline flight is Chicago-to-Rio De Janeiro. Is this true as far as any of you know? I know some military friends said coming from duty in Korea back to the West Coast is long but not nonstop being a stopover in some place like Fairbanks Alaska. I'd like to know your thoughts. Thanks
The Flight Crew: That honor would go to Singapore Airlines for its L.A. to Singapore route. That is 16 glorious hours stuffed in a lipstick tube (or 18 plus on the way back from Asia). The carrier also plans to start nonstop flights from New York next year.--andrea
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Washington, D.C.:
Hi there!; A group of us hiked the Inca Trail a year ago September and had a fabulous time. We used www.perutourism.com. We got hotel in Lima, Cuzco, hotel (the Sanctuary!;) at Machu Picchu, flights between Lima and Cuzco, all the guides, food, porters, etc. on the hike, transfers and a few tours - Lima, Cuzco, Sacred Valley - for about $1000 a person. Everything was great.
The hike was strenous, but wasn't as difficult as the author made it out to be (this coming from someone who is moderately fit - not a big hiker). I would strongly recommend the hike to anyone and everyone - the best trip I've done!;
The Flight Crew: Thanks, Wash. It seems that altitude acclimation is critical.
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Washington, DC:
Christmas in Germany: The best Christmas market is in Nuremburg or Nurnberg (something to that effect). That would be a really fun place to spend Christmas!; I agree on the Munich choice.
The Flight Crew: Gary Lee says, you're right, the Nuremburg market is great and actually Nuremburg and Munich are close enough that you can do both.
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Arlington, Va.:
My family is in Michigan. The last time we went home for Thanksgiving, we drove home on Turkey Day and had a late Thanksgiving dinner with my parents and my brother's family on Friday. It worked out perfectly because my brother and sister-in-law were able to spend Thanksgiving Day with her family and the day after with us. The traffic was great. However, I should warn other Turkey Day travelers that Mickey D's and other such fast food places close early on Thanksgiving, so keep that in mind around dinner time.
The Flight Crew: Flexibility is everything! Thanks for the tale (and the McD tip).
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DC to Anywhere:
We're interested in going on a 4 day/3 night trip over Jan 1-4, but I'm having a hard time finding an affordable deal. We're not committed to any particular place, although we were thinking of either western Europe, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. Here's the kicker: we can only afford about $1200 for both of us. I've talked with a couple travel agents but most of them can only search by destination, and they're not too helpful when you say you're still trying to decide where to go. Any hints on how to plan a cheap but interesting vacation over a holiday weekend?
The Flight Crew: If you were talking about prior to Jan. 1, I'd tell you to forget about it. You're still talking a tall order, but given your flexibility, you should be able to find a way to have a fine time for $1,200.
Travel agents would probably be more anxious to help if you either A. We're spending a big wad to make the work of finding a needle in a haystack worthwhile. or B. Had a better idea where you wanted to do. Given A isn't in the cards, try B---call and ask whether there are any packages for those dates for the Caribbean for under $600 each.
I'm kind of doubting it, but it's possible. I also think you're going to have a hard time getting to Europe on those particular dates, although I think it could be doable if you waited a bit. But what the heck--throw in a few cities into www.orbitz.com and see what comes up.
Canada might be your best out-of-country option. If you really want warm weather, Florida is probably your best in-country option. I'd spend an hour playing with your top choices, then consider those two. Cindy
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Falls Church, Va.:
Best travel tip for Turkey day:
I hate to say this, but the best idea is to stay home! Thanksgiving in washington is lovely. We will do the So Others Might Eat turkey trot around Hains Point on Thursday and hit the new mammal wing of the Museum of Natural History on Fridaay. On Saturday we are off to VA wine country for a nice drive and some vino, and Sunday time to hit the gym and start making Christmas travel plans.
Afterall, more travel opportunity just four weeks away!
The Flight Crew: Sounds good to us. Hmmm, is it too late to rethink our plans?
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T-day tip for Northeast:
Don't take I-95. Take 270 to 70 to 81N to 284 and 84. Much easier, prettier, and less crowded. Also, the earlier you leave the better!; We're leaving around 10pm Tuesday night to get to Boston. We were going to leave around 1pm but other things got in the way. The late night/early morning jaunt works well. My parents used to have us leave around 2am every time I needed to be brought back to college in Fredericksburg from Boston. We rarely ran into traffic.
The Flight Crew: Thanks!
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Georgetown, Washington, D.C.:
Getting through the Thanksgiving travel rush? For me, it's actually quite easy: good music and good snacks for the car. Because I know that pretty much no matter what time I leave DC (I'm driving north to PA), the roads will be congested, horns will be honking, and gas station lines will be backed up... I simply just go with the flow. Some junk food gets me in the mood for a weekend of gastronomic debauchery, the right tunes calm me down and boost my mood, and watching me sing in my car seems to amuse the drivers around me (for better or for worse). Savor the holiday, people! Savor the time away from work! I really do think it's all in how you approach it.
The Flight Crew: Wow, what a good attitude. You'll probably live longer than the rest of us, Georgetown. Thanks for writing!
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Alexandria, Va.:
An easy Thanksgiving route to western Pennsylvania, northern Ohio, and points west: Instead of I-70 to Breezewood and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, take I-70 to I-68, then work your way back toward the Pittsburgh area. This avoids the constant repair and construction on the turnpike, as well as hordes of monster trucks. On the way home, I try to leave early Saturday evening, to be on the road as little as possible Sunday. A question for you: We're planning a Christmas week trip to the Huntsville/Montgomery AL area--any advice on must-sees? Family enjoys art museums and parks.
The Flight Crew:
Thanks for the shoots-and-ladders shortcut, Alex.
On Alabama, I haven't been to Huntsville, but hear that the space program--as a Ph.d magnet--boosts the level of sophistication at the city's restaurants and bookstores.
In Montgomery, I've had a good time at the Alambama Shakespear Festival and hear the Civil Rights Memorial at the Southern Poverty Law Center is worth a stop. Or, if you find the right broom closet, I hear the Supreme Court ownes a sizable monument to the 10 Commandments.
--Steve
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Washington, D.C.:
RE:London Markets
Borough Market- by the London Bridge tube station on the South Bank is a wonderful organic food market,Lots of chefs buy from this market. Very old and famous market featured in Bridget Jones Diary movie.
The Flight Crew: Hey, thanks, Wash. Sounds fun.
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thanksgiving tip:
I try to do this whenever I travel, but it becomes
more important on busy travel days. I like to go the
airline's website and print out alternate itineraries
around the time of my flight so if the flight is
delayed, I know my options for other routes. It also
comes in handy should I arrive at the airport early;
sometimes they have flights to the same
destinations 1 hour apart.
The Flight Crew: EXCELLENT tip, thanks.
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Capitol Hill:, Washington, D.C.
Hi there -- My husband and I are going to Belgium from December 27th to January 4th (with a couple days planned in Paris). We have no agenda so far in terms of where to go (we were advised to skip Brussels and head straight to Brugge) or where to stay. Where would you and your readers suggest we go? Any recommendations on lodging? How about must-sees or must-dos? We like off-the-beaten-path ideas and are up for anything. Thank you!
The Flight Crew: Gary Lee says: unfortunately, we don't have a tip for a hotel. But we would disagree with the suggestion to skip Brussels. It has one of the best restaurant scenes in Europe and great museums and antiquing, too...
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re: Budapest and Croatia:
Budapest: good suggestion for the Statue Park and a brand new state of art Communism Museum is good place to visit as well.
Croatia: Dubrovinik is my favorite city in Europe. A magical city. Very few Amerericans, which is a major plus!;
What about Eastern europe for family of 6 before those countries convert to Euro and price goes up?
The Flight Crew: Thanks for the backup! And good suggestion for the family with the enviable travel problem...
Anne
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Washington, D.C.:
Eight people going to Madrid. During the days we'll likely split up. What's the best way for us to keep in touch via either cellphones or walkie talkies so we don't have to say "let's all meet at Plaza Mayor, southwest corner, near the whoseywhatsey at 3PM." Rather we can call each other 21st century style. We'd want to rent something for four days. Suggestions?
The Flight Crew: Sottili here: Our colleagues at Washingtonpost.com are researching the link to a story I did a while back about cell phones in Europe. Meanwhile, here are some resources for cell-phone rentals: Cellular Abroad (800-287-3020, www.cellularabroad.com), Rent-a-Cellular (877- 902-7368 or 703-572-2558, www.rent-a-cellular.com), Intouch USA (703-222-7161, www.intouchusa.com), Telestial (858-274-2686, www.telestial.com), Travelcell (877-CELL-PHONE, www.travelcell.com), Plan- etfone (888-988-4777, www.planetfone.com), Roadpost (888-622-7368, www.roadpost.com), WorldCell (888-967-5323, www.worldcell.com) and Cellhire (866-CH-ONLINE, www.cellhire.com.
Be careful about using walkie-talkies from the U.S. in a foreign country - they're on different frequencies than we are.
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washingtonpost.com:
Have Cell Phone, Will Travel to Europe, (Post, April 6, 2003)
The Flight Crew: Here's the cell phone link.
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Washington, D.C.:
On avoiding Thanksgiving travel: this year, instead of going to my Dad's in CT I'm going to my cousin's in VA. As a trade off, I'm going to NYC next weekend (Dec 5-7) where my Dad and I will enjoy a stress free (no shopping malls for us) weekend and a great meal (no turkey for us either) where we can enjoy each other's company without the anxiety that comes with Thanksgiving travel. When I initially broached the idea with my Dad I was afraid he would be hurt - instead he completely understood and was grateful that he doesn't have to fight the Thanksgiving traffic to pick me up at the airport Wednesday night. We're trying to think of name for our new holiday - "Thanksfornotmakingmetravelatthistime" has a nice ring to it.
The Flight Crew: Love it! Thanks, Wash.
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washingtonpost.com:
Driving to BWI, (Post, April 7, 2002
The Flight Crew: Gary says: For the reader interested in getting to BWI, here's a link to an article on the subject that we did.
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Thailand travel?:
Is it best to use a tour for a first time visit to Thailand (probably a beach tour), or would it be better to plan a trip ourselves?
The Flight Crew: You can do it, if you have the time. If you're traveling with children or teens--or even if you're personally sickened by seeing adults with young prostitutes--make sure to avoid the beach towns that cater to the sex trade. Keep in mind that Bangkok is fascinating but very conjested and polluted, so limit your time there.
Final conclusion: plan your own trip only if you're willing to do the research. Cindy
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Charlottesville, Va.:
RE: Construction on I-95
Did a quick Google and came up with this: http://www.usastar.com/i95/alert.htm
It appears to list all major construction from Maine to Florida. It was last updated August 13th, so I don't know just how reliable it is now, but it does have all the information on one page.
The Flight Crew: Thanks.
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The Flight Crew: Whew, out of time again. Sorry if we didn't get to your question, we were swamped. Please try again next week. The gym bag gotes to Washington DC, who proposed a new holiday, "Thanksfornotmakingmetravelatthistime." Send your contact info to summersk@washpost.com and we'll get your prize out to you. Happy holidays, everyone, and we'll see you next week!
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