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Sunday, February 19, 2006

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New Web Sites

THANKS FOR the article on travel-related Web sites ["Site Scene," Feb. 12]. Here's another one you should check out http://www.tellthetruthtravel.com/ . It accepts user reviews of hotels, restaurants, etc., and has travel info, tips and photos for destinations including China, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, Paris, Memphis, Palm Beach, the Keys, Budapest, Prague, St. Petersburg and more (see the Adventures tab for a full list). Plus, there's informtaion on what's hot on Broadway and the art world, and Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down pages.

Jennifer Brasher, Columbia

I ENJOYED reading your story about travel blogs. You hit a lot of the blogs that I read. I produce a niche travel blog, "Living with Legends: Hotel Chelsea Blog" ( http://www.hotelchelseablog.com/ ), that focuses on books, art and music created by former and current residents of New York's Hotel Chelsea. I write about roaches, obscure writers and artists, and superstars connected with the hotel.

Debbie Martin, New York

Farewell, Flyi

FLYi, WE MISS you too [Coming and Going, Feb. 12]! When my daughter started college at Syracuse U, we flew up there with United at a very expensive rate.

Then, after that first flight (which left three hours late), Independence Air arrived like an angel and flew our daughter back and forth many times -- always a great flight. Regretfully, it was allowed to fold (unlike larger inefficient airlines) and she had to make her most recent flight on United.

This time, it bumped her (along with many other students). The United staff was overwhelmed and the students used their laptops or called their moms, who found alternate flights. Her luggage left on United and she left from a different airport eight hours later. When she unpacked, she realized that eight articles of clothing had been stolen. We miss you terribly, Flyi!

Carolyn Madero, Great Falls

Good Deal

ON JULY 31, your What's the Deal? column highlighted a tour of Turkey by Troy Tours of L.A. The price seemed right ($1,500 per person plus taxes), and we signed up for a January tour -- which some people thought questionable because of weather conditions. Well, we went on the tour and it was great, and the low price was worth every penny. We had a fantastic guide and driver (a retired high school teacher).

As for weather, we were very lucky because snow fell in Istanbul the day after we left for the rest of the tour, and the snow elsewhere never bothered us -- our driver had chains, so we went over a 6,500-foot mountain pass with ease. In fact, the snow gave us a very different view of Turkey, which we enjoyed. And because it was January, we encountered fewer than 100 tourists in any one place, and very few tour buses. Thanks for the tip.

Inger and Gilbert Sheinbaum, Vienna

Unfair Shipping Charges?

I LOVE THE Coming and Going column but had to write about the couple who were "shocked" to have been charged $540 for air shipping from South Africa [Jan. 15]. To me, they are lucky to have gotten any refund at all -- and crazy to have expected one in the first place. Waiting till the last minute to ship their items, rushing out without specific instructions, leaving their credit card info and a blank price box?! Please! They were asking for trouble.

Mark Reilley, Upper Marlboro

Seeing Glaciers, Cont'd.

I AM RESPONDING to the article about which ship and which glacier to take to Alaska [Travel Q&A, Jan. 8]. We took Norwegian Cruise Line to Sawyer Bay and it was totally misrepresented and consequently a major disappointment. The brochure said "see the ice break off of the glacier and get up close to the ice formations." Not only did we not see ice breaking off, we didn't see ice. We only saw brown mountains and did not even get close to the glacier. They even had a video on board showing the calving. Obviously this ship, the Sun, can't get into Sawyer Bay. So I would definitely not recommend Sawyer Bay or Norwegian Cruise Line. I wrote them about our experience and have not heard a word. Besides, the food was terrible.

Gail Schaumberg, Rockville

Hidden Fees

YOUR ITEM on hidden travel fees [Jan. 8] hit home on the day I booked a rental car from Alamo in Miami. The quoted daily rate was $31.88 a day for four days, for a total of $127.52. The added fees were as follows:

· Concession Recoup Fee: 9.89 percent, or $12.63

· Rcf Charge at $3.25 a day, or $13 (I have no idea what this is and could find no explanation on the Web site)

· Tire/Battery Fee at 5 cents a day for a total of 20 cents (minimal, but since when are tires and batteries not part of the car rental?)

· Florida Surcharge at $2 a day, for a total of $8

· License Recoupment Fee at 43 cents a day for a total of $1.72

· State Tax at 7 percent, for a total of $11.42.

Total cost for the car rental: $174.49, or 36 percent higher than the base fee.

I can understand state taxes being an addition, but everything else strikes me as part of the cost of doing business. I do not deny rental car companies the right to make a fair profit, but why not just quote the real daily rate?

Steve Bokat, Chevy Chase

Canada Airport Tips

I FLEW TO Montreal just after the TSA rule change allowing certain small sharp objects on flights. It never occurred to me to ask about Canada's rules, though, so one more pair of cuticle scissors was confiscated. Travelers should be aware that U.S. rules don't apply on the return flight. Best to pack those sharp objects in checked baggage.

One more tip: Travelers changing planes in Toronto for a U.S. flight should know that they'll need to walk for miles through the domestic terminal, through the international terminal to U.S. Customs, and on to the gate. If they'll have any difficulty in walking that far, they should ask for a ride before getting started.

Murrow Morris, Alexandria

Write us: Washington Post Travel section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071. Fax: 202-912-3609. E-mail: travel@washpost.com. Provide your full name, town of residence and daytime telephone number. Letters are subject to editing for length and clarity.

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