COMING AND GOING
COMING AND GOING
Rail Pass Roulette
Sunday, July 16, 2006; Page P01
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ON TRACK
Rail Pass Roulette
If you're visiting Europe this summer and plan on getting around by train, chances are you've pre-purchased a European rail pass. Make sure you know what you're buying.
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Ann Carroll of Silver Spring discovered -- the hard way -- important but often overlooked facts about the passes. First, on some "premier trains," including Eurostar, passes entitle you only to a discounted fare, not free passage. Second, only a limited number of seats are set aside for passholder discounts.
Carroll and her husband paid $560 for two first-class France-Benelux passes and figured they'd make reservations once they got to Paris. But five days before they wanted to go to Amsterdam, they found that there were no passholder fares left ; they had to pay $250 for two full-fare tickets. For the return, the only discounted pass fares were in second class, for $50 each.
At Rail Europe ( http:/
Many travelers assume that rail passes are a better buy if they plan to take several trains, says Rail Europe spokeswoman Chris Lazarus, but that's not always the case. Check the prices of individual tickets and compare the total to the pass price, adding any extra costs for reserve-only trains. Also consult the chart at the Web site that compares the various kinds of passes to see which is right for you.
PET PATROL
Tunes to Bark To
Does your dog become agitated or bored on long car trips? The Laurel Canyon Animal Co. claims to have the solution: "Songs to Make Dogs Happy," a CD just for canines.
Skip Haynes, co-owner of the Hollywood Hills, Calif., studio that produced the music, says the 12 songs were chosen after tests involving hundreds of dogs. The animals, he says, communicated their preferences to "intuitive animal communicator" Kim Ogden. "If I don't turn it on when we get in the car, my dog butts the speakers," Haynes said.
Users have posted comments at http:/
CoGo, while not an animal interpreter, did observe that Cinnamon, a lhasa apso of CoGo's acquaintance, showed interest in the music by lifting her head and staring at the speakers. "Squeaky Deaky," a catchy little number accentuated by the sound of a squeak toy, seemed to be Cinnamon's favorite: She perked her head and ears in the same excited manner she does when CoGo invites her on a walk. All the tunes have that upbeat, joyful quality of songs made for small children, which older folks might find annoying.
Koko, a Tibetan terrier who is Cinnamon's best friend, also liked "Squeaky Deaky," wagging her tail every time the musicians squeezed the toy. She was quickly distracted, however, by an itch.
Before laying out $14.95 for the CD, test excerpts at http:/
TRAVEL TICKER
Southwest begins new nonstop service Oct. 5 from Dulles to Chicago Midway, Las Vegas, Orlando and Tampa Bay. Fourteen-day advance fares start at $79 one-way to Chicago, Orlando or Tampa Bay, and $99 to Las Vegas, at http:/
BARGAIN OF THE WEEK
Motor City Mojo
Southwest is offering introductory prices on its new nonstop flights between BWI and Detroit. Fare is $49 each way ($119 round trip, with taxes) for flights Sept. 14-Oct. 27. Fourteen-day advance purchase required. Other airlines are matching. Info: 800-I-FLY-SWA, www.southwest.com.
Reporting: Cindy Loose
Help feed CoGo. Send travel news, road reports and juicy tattles to: cogo@washpost.com. By fax: 202-912-3609. By mail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.
