The Flight Crew
Washington Post Travel Section
Monday, February 28, 2005; 2:00 PM
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. You may also browse an archive of previous live travel discussions and a list of frequently asked questions. 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. _____________ Cindy Loose: Welcome to our chat on this snowy winter day. Despite school cancellations, most of the crew made it into work. I, Cindy Loose, am your captain today, and am joined by K.C. Summers, John Deiner, Andrea Sachs, Carol Sottilli, Anne McDonough and Steve Hendrix. _______________________ Vienna, Va.: Like your article about Bahama islands. Is Grand Bahama island back to normal after the hurricane? Is the Crowne Plaza back up and running? For the best conch salad, take the bus downtown and there is shack (literally) right in the middle of the parking lot. Make sure to run into the liquor store next to it and buy a Kalik Gold (higher alcohol content than regular) beer to go with your conch salad. Life is good! Regards. Cindy Loose: The Crowne Plaza is not yet reopened, and their website just says they're working hard but don't have a date for reopening yet. _______________________ Bereavement Woes: Hello, Do you have any tips for trying to get the best fare possible when a friend dies out of town? A very good friend is terminally ill and I've visited (able to purchase a ticket 3 weeks prior to a trip) but obviously I won't be able to plan in advance for a flight for a funeral. The 'bereavement' fares quoted by airlines seem so expensive!; And, the person is a friend, not family, so I wonder if it's that much harder to arrange. Driving would take 18 hours, a possible option but not likely. Thanks for your ideas. Andrea Sachs: You have a couple options: Use frequent flier miles; often you can change the date without having to pay a change fee; buy an advance-purchase ticket with no restrictions and has a low change fee ($50 to $100, less than you will pay for a ticket bought 24 hours prior); or fly on an airline like Southwest that does not have change fees (though you may have to pay the difference in ticket prices, but again it won't be much, comparatively speaking). Often bereavement fares are more than the usual fares on low-cost airlines, so you are wise to shop around. _______________________ Las Vegas, Baby!;: Crew: Help, please!; What's a good direct flight fare to Las Vegas from Washinton National? I'll be leaving on July 14 and returning on July 17, and the cheapest direct flight I see so far is $435 RT. That seems high, but the 1-stop flights involve hours and hours of layover time. Do I buy now or wait it out? Thanks so much!;!;!; John Deiner: Hey, there. Wow. That's a heap of money. From DCA, I believe the only airline that flies nonstop to Vegas is America West, and I find it hard to believe that the fare doesn't go below $435 round trip sometimes. Also, July is a quieter time of year for Vegas, so I'm guessing fares might go down a bit. I know you want National, but fares are running easily half that on nonstop flights out of BWI and Dulles on Independence Air and Southwest. _______________________ Sterling, Va.: I'm planning a trip to Japan and I don't know the language. Can anyone give me an idea of how difficult it'll be to get around Tokyo and Kyoto on food and on public transportation? Will we find that a lot of Japanese people speak English? Also, I keep hearing about how expensive Japan is. Is it possible to "eat cheap" in the big cities or should we just accept that we'll pay a lot, even for things like fast food? Thanks! Cindy Loose: I've made my way around Japan with nothing more than "hello" in my vocab. You won't find English speaking people every instant you could use one, but certainly you'll find English speakers in hotels, and by asking around in other circumstances. Good news is that the trains and stations include all names in the Latin alphabet, so if you have a good subway map, you'll do fine. _______________________ New Zealand in mid-late August: Hi all I know the common wisdom for a first time trip to NZ is to visit the South Island, if you must choose only one. Is there an appreciable temperature difference between the two islands, in the latter half of August, that may tip the scales to visiting the North Island instead? assume this will NOT be the last trip to NZ (although it may be the last one for a couple of years - dratted parsimonious vacation time) thanks (ps. August is the only time I can go.) Steve Hendrix: _______________________ Arlington, Va.: It's time to renew my passport and I remember an article several months ago comparing local photo labs for passport photos. I tried a search, but was unsucessful. Can you tell me if that article is still available, or is there an update in the search for the perfect passport photo? Thanks. washingtonpost.com: DC Passport Photos Anne McDonough: Not mentioned: getting black and white photos can make for a happier passport-flashing experience. _______________________ Cambridge, Md.: Hi, Cindy Loose: Not exactly a shuttle, but you're in luck: Air Tran and American are beating each other's brains out on that route. Go to the individual sites of each airline, or www.expedia.com has an easy to use one-way ticket buying mechanism. Nonstop fares are as low as $115, depending on date etc. _______________________ Washington, D.C.: I am in the early stages of making plans for a weekend in Charlottesville early this spring to celebrate an anniversary. In surfing on the net I came across a website called Tripvisor.com which has lots of info relating to attractions, restaurants, and lodging.There is what appears to be a wealth of autonomous commentary by travellers especially on lodging. Should all this be taken at face value? This appears to be very useful in sorting out the best options especially in light of the fact that b and b websites are created by the innkeepers. what advice would you give? Andrea Sachs: Do you mean TripAdvisor? If so, then that is an excellent site for getting a boatful of opinions and ideas from regular Joe travelers (we here use it). Of course, keep in mind that this is the Web and that some bloggers may have grudges, or personal connections to some of the business owners. However, for the most part, it is a free-flowing of information that can be very useful when touring a new region. And apres-vacation, don't forget to return the favor and post your experiences. _______________________ Silver Spring, Md.: Hi there, Anyhoo, do you have any suggestions of fun things to do? We are thinking of driving around to the different area beaches, maybe doing a waverunner or kayak tour, of course historic downtown Wilmington, river walk area. Anything else that you or others would suggest? Anyone have restaurant ideas? Thanks so much. Loved your Bahamas articles. Cindy Loose: It's been too long since we've been there---HELP please! _______________________ Vienna, Va.: Our family will be visiting El Salvador for vacation next month and would like to know if any Flight Crew members have been there. We already have a list of things to do but would like to know what not to do and must do. Regards. Steve Hendrix: _______________________ Pittsburgh, Pa.: Your article on Red Mountain Spa was so intriguing that my 14-year-old daughter and I are going there over Easter break! A few questions: What kind of clothes do we pack? Is it totally casual? What optional activities do you recommend for a middle aged mom and a teen? Also, does my daughter need photo ID for our flight? The last time she was on a plane was before 9/11. Your travel section is great and I look forward to this online forum every week. KC Summers: Congrats, you and your daughter are going to have a blast! A sore blast, but still. Yes, it is totally casual; there's a nice dining room, but you can show up for dinner in jeans and a fleece and not feel out of place. Don't overpack, but whatever hiking stuff you have, you should take -- especially a Camelback-type backpack, good hiking boots, extra socks, and lots of layers (it can get cold at night and in early morning). Bring bathing suits for the pools and hot tubs, and exercise clothes. _______________________ Washington, DC: I have a honeymoon dilema - should I do a shorter honeymoon (one week) directly after the wedding or plan a longer one for a few months later? What I am interested in knowing is whether the directly after the wedding honeymoon is relaxing for most people, or is just too much at once. What would you do if you had to do it over again? Cindy Loose: I am a HUGE proponent of delaying the honeymoon, esp. if a delay means you'll have more time and money. That's what I did, and wouldn't consider it any other way. A wedding is exhausting, so is planning a wedding, so is planning a honeymoon. Relax, enjoy each other, pick up your pictures and start an album, then a few months later, once you're sick of each other, a honeymoon will be essential. Just kidding about the sick part, but that doesn't change my advise. anyone out there disagree? _______________________ Manassas, Va.: Enjoyed the piece on the Bahamas this weekend. One thing I didn;t see was mention of the impact of this past years Hurricanes on the islands. My mother who goes to Nassau and Freeport for a week each every year says Nassau fared well, but Freeport still visablily has damage. I also hear they still have damage in Abaco? Cindy Loose: Abaco I can't speak for, but Grand Bahama is basically back. As mentioned, some of the trees look scraggily, the Crowne Plaza is still closed, in some residential neighborhoods you'll still see a pile of debris here and there, but no big deal. _______________________ federal government employee: Posting very early...maybe they'll send us home, maybe not!; This is in response to the inquirer in yesterday's travel section who wanted to plan a trip with her 10-year old granddaughter. She wanted no more than one day of travel (possibly by train)and no car required to get around. I highly recommend considering Greyhound/Peter Pan bus to NYC. The bus leaves from Silver Spring, costs $35 roundtrip (online) and takes 4 - 5 hours depending on traffic. The train costs at least 5 times more. (Why spend money on transportation when you can spend it having fun?) New York has a range of activities of interest to a pre-teen girl, from Broadway plays to the American Girl Place. There are museums on every topic, shopping, historical sites, etc. Best of all, no car needed!; KC Summers: Yes, the bus is a lot cheaper than the train, and NYC is a great destination for all ages -- and having a car there is more a hindrance than anything else. Re Greyhound, don't forget the so-called Chinatown buses at the same price. Thanks for the thought. _______________________ Lodging expenses: My limit is $100. In thinking about it, I can't think of a time I spent more than that. And since I generally travel with my spouse and child, we always need to be able to sleep 3. Some examples of how I've managed this -- in Paris, rented a tiny apartment off season. On road trips in the US, stay at highway motels (like Motel 6). In Italy, went five years ago when the dollar was much stronger (OK, that's not particularly helpful...) My main considerations in selecting lodging are (1) location!;!;!;!; and (2) cleanliness. As long as the place is clean and well-located, I couldn't care less whether I have a nice view, room service, or someone to make my bed every day. After all, you don't go somewhere to spend all your time in a hotel!; Cindy Loose: thanks _______________________ Wheaton, Md.: I'm retiring to Brazil at the end of the month. No question. I just wanted to say that on a cold, snowy day like today. I'll be sure to send you weather reports next winter. KC Summers: Harrumph. _______________________ Allentown, Pa.: Hi travel gurus, I'm planning a trip to Las Vegas this summer and have found your archives very helpful. But I have a couple of questions that I couldn't find the answers to ... I'm looking for the hotels with the best pools in town (low, middle and high in the range price-wise). I can't go to Vegas in July without a way to beat the heat!; Also, do you know if hotels will consider giving a discount or upgrade for the person organizing a trip, or for the entire group? We have as many as 10 people going, and we're planning a Sunday-Thursday trip. Is it a reasonable request, considering that room prices are already rock-bottom that time of year? Thanks!; John Deiner: Hey, Al. No, you CAN'T go to Vegas in July without a good pool. If you can, I'd bring along a 4,000-foot hose so you're always near a water source as well. It's hothothot. _______________________ Kid's Programs: We're considering taking our two year old to Beaches on Ochos Rios Jamaica becasue they have a program for kids her age. Have you ever used one of these programs for a child that age? Do they do fun things, or just sit around watching videos waiting for the parents to come back? Thanks!; Cindy Loose: Depends on the individual resort, but we've found places with really fun events for kids--treasure hunts on the beach, and crafts etc. You should call the resort and ask for certain. One problem can come up--when you call make sure there are going to other kids registered. I remember once going to the Caribbean during a time when there wasn't a school holiday, and my kid was the only kid, so she of course didn't want to go to the club--and the club I'm sure was very relieved. _______________________ Las Vegas fare: I believe Independence is offering fares of $84 each way from Dulles to LV. John Deiner: Exactly. That's a great deal, plus it's nonstop. For the clickster's sake, I'd definitely consider switching from National to Dulles. Thanks for the update. _______________________ Bereavement Fares: Don't forget to check with some big-name airlines as well, before you pay a fortune. When I had to fly from Washington, DC to Chicago for a death in the family in early January, I just went on to American Airlines and bought a ticket for the next day that was 185 round trip!; Recently many major carriers have started leaving prices low for last minute fares. I just checked that same trip on AA and now its still only 226. So thats another option. Cindy Loose: Yep--you never know where the cheapest fare is going to emerge unless you take the trouble to look for it. The competition is cut throat right now. _______________________ New York, NY: I will spend $150 or so a night for a long weekend. If it's a one-week vacation, I'll budget a lot less per night so the housing costs are the same -- about $500, whether it's for three days or seven nights. For longer trips, I'll usually stay with friends, "borrow" my parents' timeshare condo, or stay at a budget hotel to make it work. Splitting the room costs with another person makes this possible. My strategy allows me on to afford a few trips per year on a meager salary. I usually plan one (comparably) luxurious long weekend trip, and a one or two-week vacation to somewhere far away. I scrimp on the hotel costs to compensate for the airfare. And any money I save on housing goes toward new experiences like scuba diving, or the local cuisine!; For example, this year I spent a week in the Poconos (hotel costs: $0 because I borrowed my parents timeshare condo) and I'm planning trips to Japan (under $500, half of the time staying with a friend, plus three nights in a budget hotel) and a long weekend in Maine this summer ($200 per night for three nights in a bed and breakfast). Cindy Loose: Thanks. _______________________ Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: Max would be $170, especially since it seems like lately that I have been traveling solo. Choosing accomodations based on additional factors as a single has made me spend perhaps just a bit more if needed. For instance, if I am spending more time in my room, like during the evening hours instead of going out, or, for safety, if I choose to stay in an area that has people/families/couples walking around during the day and night. I spend some serious time looking into hotels and have been blessed so far in choosing correctly. I really rely on the site www.tripadvisor.com to confirm my choices, learn about nearby transportation, food, room info, overall feel of the places, especially since I've been going to off-the-beaten track places lately. Cindy Loose: thanks. _______________________ Ann Arbor, Mich.: Hi, Thanks for taking my question! I have one day, next Sunday, in Barcelona free. What should I do and where should I eat (inexpensively)? I'm there for work and we have a group tour during the meeting, so I'll see the major sites. Thanks! Cindy Loose: Are Barcelona man (Gary Lee) is unfortunately for you currently in Slovakia. Can anyone else help? _______________________ Washington, DC: I'm a 5 star/1 star kinda gal. Never 3 stars. I've stayed at the Bora Bora Nui ($450/night but upgraded to overwater bungalow -- normally $900+). Four Seasons Chiang Mai ($320). But I've stayed in a $1.50/night pit in Agra and a $5/night pit on Khao San Road but I've also stayed at the Peninsula ($180) and the Shangri La ($70 on Priceline). I prefer staying in the lower end places (where sometimes you have a more authentic experience -- get to know the owners, etc.) and then the fancy places. I hate paying for sterile $90/night 3 star places. I know once we have kids, we might have to change our ways. But in the meantime, this is our balance. Makes for much more interesting travel!; Cindy Loose: This fits my vision perfectly---just have to convince my boss about the ones in that upper end! (She loves when I experience the lower side.) _______________________ Carson City, NV: Re the honeymoon: We waited a week between the HM and the wedding (or vice versa, actually). This way we got to spend more time with the people who came from far away to see our wedding, and we were able to de-stress a little bit. Plus we were able to prolong the wedding high for longer, and that was very good. It was invaluable for our animals, because the pre-wedding and wedding festivities were really hectic for them, with lots of new food and strangers and stuff, it was nice for them to relax with mom and dad before we deserted them for two weeks. However, because our HM was a disaster, we then decided that was a nice vacation and not THE HM and had our "real" HM on our one-year anniversary instead. I am all for waiting, but if you wait more than a week or 2 I would advise making the HM coincide with a special date, just to make it more meaningful. Interestingly enough, Jewish tradition is that the new marrieds wait a month before going anywhere, and that each night that month they host people in their home for dinner. It is supposed to make sure the new couple is properly embedded in their community, rather than being all about just themselves and rushing off before anyone even knows them. Nowadays some of that rationale is passe, but still, it's a nice idea. Cindy Loose: I love that tradition, although wouldn't it be even nicer if the community hosted the newlyweds every night for a month. But then, I guess that would take away the sharing part of the idea. _______________________ Lincoln Park, Washington, DC: I often spend more on hotels in cheap countries. I figure that I have to pay $ 500/night for a five star hotel in New York, London or Paris, which is way more than I am willing to spend, and end up staying in cheap hotels. In Turkey, I stayed at the Four Seasons Istanbul for less than $ 200 / night, and it was the best hotel I have ever visited. Similarly, I could stay in a five-star hotel in Bali for $ 150, and that was nice. But if my money is not enough for a five-star place, I might just as well stay in a two-star place - I only insist on a private bathroom. Cindy Loose: Interesting perspective. _______________________ Arlington, Va.: re: your lodging question. I guess maybe I like going to cities so that are little on the expensive side, but I won't pay more than $200/night. In general I'd guess I spend in the $120-160 range most of the time. On my upcoming trip this summer I am spending about $120/night in Malmo and about $180/night for an apartment in Copenhagen. But since I am only paying $117 for the plane ticket using my FF miles I felt like I could spend a little more on the hotel. Cindy Loose: Thanks. This has elicited interesting stuff, and helpful for our planning. _______________________ New Orleans Travel: Hello!; I was wondering if someone could explain why there are so few direct flights to New Orleans? I have tried to go non-stop from Chicago or DC and you have to pay ~350 round trip even at this time of year!; Whats the deal? Andrea Sachs: It is all based on economics, supply and demand and all that fun macro-econ stuff. New Orleans is not a business hub and a lot of its demand comes from leisure travelers, who will unwittingly pay to get rowdy at Mardi Gras or stuff their bellies on creole food. In addition, New Orleans rarely goes on sale; for flights in the $250 range you'll have to have a connection. You might, though, look into a package deals on Priceline (I found $664 for two travelers for air and two night's hotel) or any of the last-minute travel sites. _______________________ Washington, DC: I'm going to Los Angeles in April and will have an extra day to fritter away. I'm really interested in wine - are there any good tours or vineyards near that part of the state, or do I have to be further north? KC Summers: Well, is Santa Barbara close enough? It's about a 90-minute drive north of L.A., and the county is home to the Santa Ynez Valley of "Sideways" fame. See yesterday's section for a story on this area, with suggestions for wineries to tour/taste and restaurants featuring local wines. _______________________ Las Vegas Bachelorette Party Question: Hi, Flight Crew: I'm responsible for organizing a bachelorette party in Las Vegas, but I've never been there. What's a good RT fare from DC in July, and from NY? More importantly, what's the most affordable but classy hotel on the strip for 10-12 ladies in their mid-20s? Thanks!; John Deiner: Hey, LVBPQ. A good fare from this area to that area in July would be $200 or so; if you see it for less, grab it, but including taxes, $200 is a good target. Just guessing that maybe it's the same from NY, if you take JetBlue, but I'm not sure on that one. _______________________ Cancun Bound: I'm headed to Cancun on Saturday. We'll be staying at the JW Marriott and would love to go to the Mayan ruins, but hear that it will take up a whole day. Is that worth it during a 5 day trip? Any other suggestions on places to eat or activities? Cindy Loose: I say yes, it is worth the trip to the Mayan ruins. And, it's your main opportunity for seeing something authentically Mexican. If it were me, I'd rent a car for a day and drive down to Tulum--very easy to find cause there is just one main road--then I'd drive the back roads of Tulum along the ocean and eat in some of the small, individually owned hotels with very nice but inexpensive restaurants. If you think you'll take that advise, as opposed to getting into a bus or van with other tourists, let me know and I'll send you a link about where to eat around Tulum. _______________________ Washington, DC: I'm down to two pages left in my passport. How do I get additional pages? And if I only have 2 years left on my passport, should I just renew instead? Anne McDonough: Coming up should be a link to the latest passport how-to that ran in September. You can get additional pages sewn in, but since there've been advances in passport technology since you last applied for one, it may make sense to just renew it, and make sure to ask for the larger, 48-page passport so that you'll have plenty of pages for travel to come. This link should also help: http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/add/add_850.html _______________________ Vegas pools: I seem to recall that the Tropicana has a nice pool ... No? John Deiner: You're right...it does have a nice pool. Not real fond of the hotel, but that should definitely be on the list. Thanks! _______________________ Hughesville, Md.: Re Bahamas: Steve Hendrix: There are. AirTran flies from BWI to Freeport from about $300. _______________________ washingtonpost.com: How to Renew or Apply for a Passport, (Sept. 26, 2004) Anne McDonough: Thanks, .com! _______________________ Re: short honeymoon or long later: I would recommend that even if you delay the honeymoon for a longer one (can be a good idea) that you spend a day or two in a special place to celebrate your new life together. Could be close by, like a bed or breakfast. Just a day or two to unwind from the chaos and focus on why you got married in the first place -- your relationship. My husband and I actually ended up doing something before we got married that we are now recommending to everyone. He had a work trip to Italy six weeks before the wedding and we took a pre-honeymoon. It was so good to take some time away from all of the wedding planning and turn the focus back to us. Again, doesn't have to be far away or a lengthy trip, but I highly recommend a little time to focus on the two of you before and after the wedding. Cindy Loose: I don't want to be responsible for suggesting anything so worldly as a pre-honeymoon, but like the short/long approach. _______________________ Silver Spring, Md.: We have a 3 hour layover in Vienna ~ what is the airport like? Any good restaurants, shopping, things to do, etc.? Thanks in advance. Cindy Loose: Several of us has been in the Vienna airport within the last couple years and can't remember it at all---which makes us guess that it's just your generic nothing airport. Tell us if we're wrong. _______________________ CC, NV: For the pools-in-Vegas person: I would agree about Mandalay Bay and Hard Rock, but let's face it, most of us can't afford those places!; The Rio has some nice pools, including one with sand so it's like a beach (like Mandalay has), a shallow one, a social, drink-in-the-pool-and-people-watch one, and another one I ignored. We really liked them a lot, and we felt like the beautiful people even though we weren't. There was also plenty of space for everyone. Also, Tropicana's pool is pretty nice, but can be VERY crowded. Nice windey area, it's an indoor-outdoor pool with a swim up BJ table. John Deiner: Hey CC NV. I have to disagree about the Hard Rock--I've stayed there several times for under $80 night. When the hipperati aren't in town, that place needs as much biz as it can drum up and the rates plummet. But thanks for the report on Rio, though that's not exactly a bargain property either. _______________________ Wilmington NC: OK, I'm only an occasional visitor here (like next week, for example), but my favorite restaurant is Elijah's, on Chandler's Wharf along the river. For Azaleas, don't overlook a car trip to Orton Plantation (http://www.ortongardens.com/). The house is private, but the gardens this time of year are wonderful. The USS North Carolina is moored across the river, and open for visitors (http://www.battleshipnc.com/) if that is your thing. Cindy Loose: Thanks. _______________________ Baltimore, Md. - room prices: Well, the nicest places I stay are Hilton resorts (drooling at the one on the Big Island in Hawaii) for free - because of the points I rack up staying at Hampton Inns, garden inns, etc for business, family, and weddings, all around $100 a night. I'm willing to spend a good deal more for a luxurious night or two with my better half. $400 is the max so far - but that included massages, hot tub suite, the works. If I was richer, I'd have no issue spending for ammenities I wanted - but most trips all I need is a clean bed and bathroom - hence the Hampton Inns. Cindy Loose: thanks. _______________________ Washington, DC--Hotel pricing: I would say I have been trying to keep my hotel stays at less than $200 a night. We managed even to book our honeymoon in Hawaii for less than that, thanks to a great condo. But it definitely depends on location. When I had to stay in Champain, IL, even $69/night seemed expensive... Cindy Loose: thanks. _______________________ Deep Valley, USA: Honeymoon opinion, based on personal experience: You MUST at least go hide and relax where your friends and family can't find you. At least for a day or two to recover from the exhaustion and to contemplate your new state. Otherwise you'll end up mopping up details or entertaining out of town friends or doing somethng non-special. You may well be too tired and possibly even a bit ill to really enjoy the total wonder of a big vacation. We were. So we took the tripofalifetime about three months later, and were very happy about it. Cindy Loose: more votes for waiting a decent interval before heading for honeymoon...... _______________________ Alexandria, Va.: My location often dictates how much I'm going to spend. I know I'm never going to be able to afford a top hotel in Manhattan, but I can get a really nice hotel in downtown Dallas. So, I'll go for the nicer hotel in less expensive locations. Hotwire has been great for me, too. I've ended up with some pretty cool hotels that I would never have chosen on my own, but turned out great (like the Paramount in Times Square) Cindy Loose: thanks. _______________________ Santa Monica, Calif.: I'd like to fly to Vladivostock, take the Trans-Siberian Cindy Loose: We don't know any, but how about the readers? _______________________ really cool stuff to do on Vancouver Island: My first trip to the PNW will be the first ten days of July!; I'll visit Vancouver and Victoria for certain. Any other must see-dos? I like outdoorsy things and am a die hard shutterbug. I also like flying. thanks!; Cindy Loose: I love both those places. I'd say plan a couple day or overnight trips just outside Vancouver--like the salmon runs, and a famous bridge over a gorge whose name I can't remember but it starts with a C...I think you can find plenty of outdoors activities within a short distance of Vancouver. If you want yet another city to try, you could take a ferry from Victoria to Seattle, but I'd stick to the two Canadian cities and environs if it were me. _______________________ Re: Barcelona: Loved Barcelona!; Definitely do a bit of reading online (Lonely Planet) and the like. Can't really go wrong w/ any of the major sites. Re: eating - stay away from restaurants right on Las Ramblas (toward the port) - they are the epitome of tourist traps (i.e. charging $5 for a Coke). But there are so many great restaurants in the city. I wish I remembered the names. Cindy Loose: thanks... _______________________ Washington: Lodging checklist: How much time are you really planning to spend within the confines of your room/hotel? Are you going to be so worn out and beat from your day that you've got to have a long soak in a bath, high thread count sheets, thick walls between you and your neighbors, etc.? Do you speak the language or know the city? Is it important to have English speaking employees at the front desk make your dinner reservations so all you have to do is show up on time and be shown your table? Why are you where you are? Are your interests concentrated in a city center or on a beach and you'll have little to no interest in venturing further? Are your interests spread in many areas, so you have many more locations to choose from when picking a place to stay? Will you be spending $100 to get back and forth from your $50/night hotel? Do you care if Queen Victoria or Brad Pitt once stayed at this particular hotel? Has a friend or relative stayed there and given you the thumbs up or down? These are just some of the questions I run though when choosing where I want to stay. To be honest with you, a strict dollar figure is all relative to an individual journey. Be it a short business trip or a long beach vacation, there are many factors which need to be reviewed before I'd even think of putting down a dollar figure on what I'll spend. I've stayed at superb $45/night hotels and lousy $250. I've stayed at lousy $45 and superb $250. To answer your specific questions, though... Cindy Loose: thanks, and if you send me your email I'll send you a sampling of bath stuff. _______________________ Bethesda, Md: Any suggestions for places to stay and things to do & see in Tuscon? KC Summers: I can recommend two places wholeheartedly. The Arizona Inn is a lovely old hotel with beautiful grounds, pools, winding pathways leading to adobe-style cottages, a paneled library where you can read by a blazing fire (another myth exploded: Tucson isn't exactly warm in winter), and a terrific dining room. I also really liked the Westward Look, another historic place, this one more like a dude ranch in character, with horseback riding and beautiful hand-painted tile baths. Both are a bit of a splurge but well worth it -- so much charm and character. _______________________ Southwest and Hawaii: So I can see that Southwest now flys to Honolulu. Can I use my award tickets for that trip? Steve Hendrix: We haven't investigated this thoroughly, but a quick mining of the website indicates that this is part of Southwest's codeshare agreement with ATA out of Chicago. Looks like you GET award miles on Southwest for the flight (when you book through Southwest) but cannot use Southwest miles to book it. "Awards from either program are not valid for travel on codeshare service." _______________________ Capitol Hill, Washington, DC: We are planning a trip to the Galapagos this summer, two or three families with older teens. There will be enough of us to charter a boat, but with so many options, how do we book one with a good naturalist and great food? It looks like all the booking companies use the same boats, as we see them on each tour company's web sites. Which side trips would you recommend - Quitos? Machu Picchu? John Deiner: Hey, Cap. Tough call, that one. Don't know how many are in your group total, but my recommendation would be to avoid the bigger ships with 100 or more and try to get on a smaller vessel. It'll be much more personable, and getting back and forth from islands will be much easier. Don't know if you have enough to fill an entire charter, as the number of boats and visitors are strictly monitored. Naturalists are all certified and trained, so you're probably going to have at least one on your vessel that will be good. And there are many differnt types of boats plying the Galapagos waters, from the larger ships to schooners to yachts. _______________________ Fairfax, Va.: Do any of the Crew or chatters have any experience with Secrets resorts? We're looking at Secrets Excellence Punta Cana for our honeymoon. Thanks!; Cindy Loose: Secrets are fine, far as we know. For specific stuff, check out the website I recommend in a recent story about Punta Cana--hold on and I'll have the internet staff post the story. In the details box it mentions a website hosted by someone named Debbie, and you'll find thousands of reviews for each hotel in the area. _______________________ re Ann Arbor in Barcelona: Where to eat...walk down the main drag -- Las Ramblas and you have a wide selection of food from Spanish to Italian to Mediterranean. As far as what to see/do, there's Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia, the Olympic Stadium or maybe catch a bullfight (if you're there on the right day). There's also a place near the Olympic stadium that resembles a fortress or enclosed old city with cobblestone streets, shops and restaurants that might nice to walk around and shop (cant remember then name). Cindy Loose: thanks. _______________________ Vegas/Utah Car Rental: Lots of Vegas questions today, so I'll add one. My sister and I are going to Zion National Park in May. We are flying into Vegas and staying there for a night. Should we wait to rent the car until the next day? Will we have to go back to the airport to pick it up? Thanks. Andrea Sachs: Since most of the hotels have free parking, you won't have the added expense of overnight parking. However, unless you are staying at the Palms or Hard Rock or any other non-Strip-centric resorts, you won't need a car. There are rental car pick-ups on the Strip, such as Budget, so you can get the car in the morning. Just book in advance, since depending on which convention or big bachelor party is in town, the rental car selection could be slim. _______________________ Re: Vienna airport: Nope, nothing particularly special. Quite a few shops, but considering the current exchange rate, no bargains to be found... However, if you are a chocoholic, you'll be happy to spend a couple of hours drooling over and picking out the perfect European chocolate treats. Cindy Loose: Thanks for letting us know that our memories aren't faulty. _______________________ Washington: I was just in the Vienna airport on Saturday on my way back from a wonderful trip to Slovakia. The Vienna airport has the normal high end shops like Hugo Boss etc. If you are flying back to the US, the security line is very long for US bound flights so 3 hours really isn't that long. Cindy Loose: thanks. _______________________ Washington DC: Hi, I just booked a trip to Costa Rica..will be there for four days (wed-sun) in Mid-May. Wondering how the best way to get around is...bus/taxi? Also, any suggestion for what are the must-sees/do for those 4 days...I'm sure one could spend a week or two there, but this is all we can do. Any tips on where to stay are also welcome!; Thanks in advance!; Cindy Loose: Help??? _______________________ Anonymous: I do not see it on the Web site, but I believe the cost of passports (renewal and new) will be increasing by $12 as of March 8. Anne McDonough: Thanks for the (potential) tip, Anon! _______________________ Potomac, Md: Hi - My husband and I are flying to Johannesburg at the end of March. We were able to use up some of our USAir FF miles to get the tickets (which is terrific!;), but the routing is just awful. We fly overnight from IAD to Frankfurt, then have a 15 hour layover until we fly for a 2nd overnight to J'burg. We've debated over whether it would be better to get a "day room" at an airport hotel in Frankfurt and catch up on some sleep from the flight or whether we should force ourselves to stay awake and then be able to sleep on the 2nd overnight segment. My questions: Do you have any suggestions on what to do for 12 hours in Frankfurt (if we choose option #2)? Or, from your experiences, do you think it a better strategy to try to catch up on sleep and figure that any additional sleep that we can get on the flight to J'burg is just a bonus? Steve Hendrix: Hey, I'd say see Frankfurt! Fifteen hours is long enough, for sure. What to do there though, is another question. Gary knows the town, but he's not here. Anyone else? _______________________ Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.: Hi Gary, KC Summers: Gary's off on a trip, Laura, but we'll file your tip away for when we next get to Paris, which we hope is soon! _______________________ Olney, Md.: I'm one of those wierd folks who collects wine and likes to take good wines that I cannot buy at the local retailer with me when I go on vacation. When going by car this is no problem, but airplane trips is a different story. I find it difficult to carry half a case or more wine with me as carry-on luggage, but I certainly don't want to check it and have it thrown around by the ground crews that deal with luggage. Do you know how I can easily get my wine with me to my vacation destination without having to feel like I'm carrying barbells with me? Cindy Loose: You also have to worry about the wine getting cloudy if you place it in regular cargo hold, with its variable temps. All I know is to carry on board--anyone else havea better idea? _______________________ Pacific Northwest in early July: You should plan to be in Seattle for the fourth of July. Great fireworks from the Space Needle. In Victoria, if you're a gardener, Butchart Gardens is great, although formal. Taking a seaplane from Seattle to Victoria was the highlight of a long weekend with my husband a few years back--flying low over the Sound was beautiful. Vancouver has some fabulous restaurants. My personal favorite (where we went for Thanksgiving last fall when we escaped the country after the election) is the Cafe de Paris. Very low key, with fabulous food at reasonable prices (about $50 Canadian per person, including wine). Cindy Loose: thanks. _______________________ Trans-Siberian Express: I've heard it's a trip you really, really have to want to take in order to appreciate. There are shorter trips. For example, I took the train from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia ("just" 30 hours,including delays). An interesting experience, including stopping at the border as all of the train carriages are picked up by big cranes to switch from regular gauge to narrow gauge tracks. Mongolia is for the adventurous travel, but there's lots to see, from mountains to historic buildings to dinosaur excavation sites. Traveler could fly from Ulaanbaatar back to Beijing, or continue on to Irkutsk, and maybe get back home from there. Cindy Loose: thanks. _______________________ Washington, DC: Greetings Travel Crew: Two months ago, I asked for advice on things to do during a 12-hour layover in Paris. Your advice was EXCELLENT. Thanks and keep up the good work. It's much appreciated. KC Summers: Glad we could help! So what did you end up doing? _______________________ Las Vegas guru: After years and years of vacations there, I can tell you that Treasure Island is fine - they call it TI now but it's pretty decent. More upscale than a lot of them, but not the Mirage. However, the Venetian, Bellagio, Caesar's, Mirage, Mandalay, Paris and Luxor are all supposed to be great BUT you might have a hard time getting the rates you want. Luxor isn't that great unless you get one of those outside corner slanted rooms. I second the Rio, it's super nice and near the Palms as well as the local Gold Coast and has a shuttle, Harrah's is a great location but the Rio rooms a re lots nicer. Forget Excalibur, it's got small and not particularly well-appointed rooms. I would also look at downtown for hotels. If you don't mind friendly and cheezy - but not classy - the Imperial Palace and Tropicana have always been fun places for us to stay. Good location, especially the IP, but not a luxury property. Lastly, they have great rates but - STAY AWAY FROM CIRCUS CIRCUS UNLESS YOU ENJOY THE AMBIANCE OF A REFUGEE CAMP!;!; John Deiner: Hey, guru. I agree with most everything you say except for the lumping o' Luxor in with the others. It's just north of "budget property" in my book, and the slanted rooms are icky. Much prefer the newer ones. And if you think Circus Circus is bad, I'd be especially careful about the downtown hotels. They're cheap, and for a good reason. For a bunch o' twentysomethings wanting to paint the town red, I'd stay on the Strip. _______________________ Silver Spring, Md.: My husband and I were visiting his brother in Oakdale, CA and planned on a day trip to Yosemite. Well, it took longer to drive than we thought and ended up at the Ahwahnee hotel about 1:30 pm for lunch. Food wonderful! We asked the doorman coming in if they had had cancellations. He said check because the day before they had 7 cancellations. Well, they had 9 that day but the room rate was $229.50 plus taxes. We said we think about it over lunch. I'm a diabetic and had all my medicines but no change of clothing for either of us. Well, we decided to splurge so we could see the sights. The hotel staff was wonderful. Loaned us toothbrushes, etc. and let us into the dining room in blue jeans (nice jeans) for dinner. The whole experience was wonderful and I still have the hotel invoice ~can't seem to part with it. Even bought the Thomas Kincade painting, Christmas at the Ahwahnee. It was well worth the big splurge! Cindy Loose: thanks. _______________________ Things to do in Tucson: Take the little train ride up into Sabino Canyon. Very cool place. And just north of T is one of the world's stangest museums: a decommissioned Trident missile silo. And ditto on the Saguaro National Monument. KC Summers: More tips for the Tucson-bound. Thanks. _______________________ For New Zealand Experts...: I'm considering an off-season trip to NZ in May, will it be too cold to be enjoyable? I was hoping to do some fanastic hiking... Steve Hendrix: May is the tail end of Autumn. Depending on the weather of the moment and your own range of toleration, you should find lots of outddor ops. _______________________ What are you smoking?: And can I have some? If she is planning a bachelorettte party in Vegas, they're obviously not going mid-week (people work, you know!;), and there is NO WAY you will get those hotels on a weekend, even in July, for that amount of money. I have planned 2 bachelorette parties in Vegas compulsively checked rates for months beforehand. She can get a deal, but not that low. Don't set her up to fail!; John Deiner: Oh brother. I was just offering suggestions, and she didn't say what her budget was. Yes, you're right...they're probably going on the weekend (because, uh, people work, you know!). You want to stay somewhere nice, you have to spend money, but if people share rooms, a $179 tariff suddenly isn't so terrible. The Guru from the previous Vegas posting offered some great advice, and for that I thank the Guru profusely. _______________________ Chevy Chase, Md.: Hi: Am planning our family's vacation and request assistance. We can travel just about anywhere but frequently don't know for which parts of the world certain months would be "high" or peak tourism season. For example, in Belieze its rainy season in August with off-peak fares, costs, etc. Is there any single source I can go to to discover every area's peak and off-peak travel times during the year? Thanks in advance. Cindy Loose: I don't believe there is a single source for that info--it varies to much not only within a country, but even somewhat among resorts. And it also depends on what you want--a ski resort in Chile has the opposite high season for the resort at sea level. _______________________ washingtonpost.com: Punta Cana Made Easy, (Oct. 17, 2004) Cindy Loose: for the punta cana honeymooners _______________________ Seattle suburbs: We're planning three weeks in Thailand next January: 10 days on a liveaboard SCUBA boat (out of Phuket), and 10 days on land. I'm looking for suggestions for the land portion for two late-40s adults and two college students who are related to us by birth (but are quite capable of going off on their own for a few days, if recommended). Thanks in advance for your help, everyone. KC Summers: Well, you have to do Bangkok, for sure -- for the museums and wats, for water taxi and longboat rides on the Chao Praya River, for the amazing Jim Thompson House, for shopping and gawking. And then you should get up north to Chiang Mai, for trekking and elephant rides (not to mention the night market). I spent some time at an elephant sanctuary up north where you can feed and ride the elephants, and sleep in the mahouts' huts -- if you're interested I can dig the name up. Lucky you to have three weeks so you can see everything properly. _______________________ Around the world: I'm planning an around the world trip in the fall (courtesy of United and too many work trips!;). I had orignially planned to stop in the Maldives, but I can't tell if they'll be back to hosting vacationers by then. Any ideas? I have also started looking at Marquesas, to break up that long flight from Australia to LA. Has anyone been there? Thanks - you guys rock!; Andrea Sachs: I can only answer Part I of your question, maybe a chatster else can answer Part II. The Maldives did not suffer as much tsunami damage as other places, due its protective coral reef. Indeed, flights are back on schedule and as of last month, 63 of 87 resorts are up and running. The number could be much higher now, and the damage much less noticable. The country is urging tourists to come, and you can't let down the Maldivians. _______________________ Bowie, Md: Hi Crew...just back from an amazing 16 day caribbean vacation (5 in San Juan, 11 on an 8 island cruise)...just thought you'd love hearing the latest about something onboard USAirways. On my return flight, my wife and I had a few drinks at the airport and then one on the flight. We then watched "Robin Williams Live" on our portable DVD Player (with headphones). Well, about 1/2 through, the flight attendant asked to speak w/ me in private in the rear of the aircraft. It seems that our laughter while watching the DVD was creating an "onboard disturbance" and that unless we stopped immediately, they would land the aircraft immediately at the nearest location(Cuba) and then leave us there. I apologized, said what we were watching, but that didn't matter. Passengers were reportedly uncomfortable with our laughter. SO I went back to my seat, shut down the DVD Player and we slept until Charlotte. We weren't screaming, cursing, or yelling, just laughing (and NOT like hyenas by the way - just a few good laughs and guffaws). What IS the world coming to when laughter isn't allowed? Cindy Loose: Wow---I think you had a cranky seatmate somewhere near you---I can't imagine the attendant would come up with that all on her own. _______________________ Capitol Hill, Washington, DC: My boyfriend and I are headed to Orlando next week for a last minute vacation. Does anyone have any good ideas for what we can do (restaurants, museums, bars, anything really) that isn't part of the normal Disney/Universal/SeaWorld Circus? Thanks! KC Summers: Hang on and we'll post a link to a piece we did on non-Disney Orlando. _______________________ Wine lover: Ship it, like you would luggage, with "fragile" stamped all over the box. Cindy Loose: But how can you know it won't be subjected to big temp changes? I learned about that when I kept bottles from a winery tour in my car for a couple days before flying home, and when opening them, found them looking very undrinkable. _______________________ washingtonpost.com: M-I-C...You Elsewhere, (Dec. 16, 2001) KC Summers: Literary delights for the Orlando bound. What, you don't want bookshops? I think there are some cafes, etc, in here too. _______________________ Passport Photos: Many CVS stores (the ones with the photo labs on-site) offer passport photos. They're quite cheap (something like $8.00 for a full sheet of photos), and I was quite happy with mine. The CVS employee who took my picture with a digital camera suggested doing a couple of re-takes because she didn't think the first try was very flattering. So I ended up with passport photos I'm quite happy with for a bargain price, and have lots of back-up photos too, in case I need them!; Anne McDonough: Excellent, another good place to go. _______________________ Fairfax, Va.: Just wondering if anyone has done the whale watching tour out of Virginia Beach. They say the whales come through between Dec. and March and I was wondering if it was worth the trip. Any experiences would be greatly appreciated! Cindy Loose: I'll post a story I did on that and let you decide. Bottom line is don't go if it's raining and stormy, and don't counton seeing whales. otherwise, fine. _______________________ For the wine traveler: From Rick Steves' website: Consider the bottle size. One bottle of wine weighs about three pounds. Some winemakers use thicker bottles, perhaps figuring this also adds heft to the wine's reputation. Divide and conquer. If you're bringing back multiple bottles and you're traveling with a partner, divide them among your carry-ons (five bottles means 15 extra pounds). Bring a spare fold-out duffle for your clothes and check that bag so that you can carry the wine. Pack softly and carry a hard suitcase. Some folks choose to stuff a bottle or two in checked luggage. This works most of the time if the bottles are thickly padded with clothing in a hard-sided suitcase. If you do this, you're still running the risk of breakage. Plus the bottles will have to endure the extreme cold (and sometimes heat) of the cargo hold. Know your limits. Customs regulations require you to pay three-percent duty tax if you bring back more than one liter. Couples get away with three standard 750 ml bottles adding up to 2 ¼ liters. Tell the truth. Be up front if you're over the limit. You may even benefit sometimes the special customs lines move faster than the nothing-to-declare ones. If your wine is for personal use, the agents might not even tax you. It won't happen all the time, but many wine-obsessed travelers report that this can be the case. Cindy Loose: thanks. _______________________ Chicago, Ill.: The transcript for 2/21 is not online. Where did it go? Thx. washingtonpost.com: The Crew was offline that day, President's Day. KC Summers: Not that we don't love you guys.... _______________________ take wine WITH you on vacation??: is he kidding? I always bring some back (if it is France, Italy, Argentina) but I gotta say - never took any with me. what, they don't sell wine where he goes? Cindy Loose: Not the wines he wants, apparently. I just hope that if he has a tasting, he invited me. _______________________ Hyattsville, Md.: I went to Montreal for the President's Day weekend. I used USAir frequent flier miles. I liked Montreal a lot and like heading north during the winter. It was cold. It's a very walkable city with a good (but not accessible) Metro system. I can't recommend going for a long weekend because NOTHING is open on Mondays! I was misinformed by the local tourist information bureau and told that the Biodome was open on Monday, so I missed that (not the only piece of incorrect information I was given). The other thing that struck me is that a lot of people smoke. It's not a place for people with problems with smoke (I had to leave two restaurants that were smoke-filled--though they supposedly had a no-smoking section) and it's not that accessible a city (something to consider if you have trouble walking). But I am glad I went and glad I used my frequent flier miles. Cindy Loose: thanks _______________________ Re: Frankfurt: Frankfurt isn't the most spectacular German city, but w/ a 15 hr layover you'll find plenty to do - museums, shopping and the like. It's been a few years, so I can't give any specifics, but you will definitely be able to find some ways to amuse yourself. Even if it's only enjoying some schnitzel and a beer and people-watching!; Steve Hendrix: A little schnitzel sounds lovely! Thanks. _______________________ Re: tips for Costa Rica: If you only have four days, I'd suggest spending two in the rainforest (Arenal volcano, La Fortuna) and two on the Pacific coast (Tamarindo, Playa Hermosa). When we did it, we started on the coast and rented a car to go to the volcano and back to the beach. But you need four-wheel drive. And May is the beginning of the rainy season, so watch out -- some of the roads may be gone. Cindy Loose: thanks. _______________________ LeDroit Park, Washington, D.C.: Re: Wilmington restaurants--My mother lives in Kure beach and the last time few times we visited the area we had very good meals at Indochine in Wilmington-- Market Street at Forest Hills, 7 Wayne Drive (they have a great outdoor garden area that I bet would be great at that time of year) and Deluxe, 114 Market Street. Cindy Loose: Wilmington--thanks. _______________________ Washington DC: RE; Secrets Excellence Punta Cana. This hotel is amazing. I went in Feb 2001 when it was the Royal Uvero Alto. Granted it was brand new and not filled to capacity, but the extra $$$ was worth it. It costs more than some of the other resorts. That part of the island is beautiful and much less developed (at least it was then). It is a longer drive from the airport, but if you are doing a package where they pick you up at the airport, you can easily convince the driver to stop along the way for a beer to take with you. I stayed at Sunscape with a large group in 2003, and while it was a shorter drive from the airport and you could walk to fishing boats, if you walked along the beach you hit all the resorts lined up next to it and all the people there. Secrets Excellence was the only resort in the area back then so walking along the beach meant just that. No people. Cindy Loose: SEcrets endorsed _______________________ washingtonpost.com: In Orlando, Having Some Fun off the Rides, (April 4, 2004) Cindy Loose: orlando.... _______________________ Princeton NJ: Hello again....On April 22 we have the sad but profound experience of bringing my Dad's remains for a Full Honours Funeral at Arlington National cemetery (Captain, WW II, Bronze Star, Purple heart)...anyway i don't know Arlington well...can you recommend a hotel nearby the National Cemetery that could also serve as a good place for me to host a brunch for other out of towners coming to the service..thanks KC Summers: Try this site: _______________________ Seattle, Wash: The name of the suspension bridge over the gorge in north Vancouver is the Capilano Suspension Bridge. While this is fun, it's a bit of a tourist trap with a high admission fee. There's a smaller suspension bridge nearby that is absolutely free in Lynn Park (I believe that's the name) -- a hotel concierge should be able to locate it on a map, as it's an easy drive from downtown Vancouver. My restaurant recommendations -- don't miss Kintaro Ramen on Denman just north of Robson. Best homemade ramen noodles outside of Japan!;!;!; Sun Sui Wah on 3888 Main street is also the best dim sum you can get outside of Hong Kong. KC Summers: Thanks. _______________________ Lodging costs: I always try to Priceline hotel rooms for vacations. The cheapest I've paid is $35/night for a Marriott/Sheraton, and the most is $85/night. For a driving trip, I wouldn't pay more than $40 a night for a room, again via Priceline, and no less than a 2-star lodging. The most I'd pay is for a wedding/honeymoon- in fact, I have one coming up. I'm trying to keep the cost below $200/night. KC Summers: Thanks a lot. _______________________ washingtonpost.com: Thar...She Isn't, (Feb. 10, 2002) Steve Hendrix: Here's Cindy Loose's look at Whale Watching out of Virginia Beach, which doesn't always feature a lot, um, whales. _______________________
I'll be throwing out to the audience any questions we can't even begin to answer, but also feel free to chime in whenever you can add something, or even challenge our views.
During the chat I'll tell someone that they've won a little gift box with just enough bubble bath, oil, bath salts and chocolate for one very enjoyable evening in the tub. To claim it they must email me their mailing address at loosec@washpost.com. We don't sell the name and address, we don't give it to door-to-door salesmen, and if a Mormon comes to your door immediately after giving me your address, it's just a coincidence.
We also are curious about something and ask you to tell us: What is the max you're ever willing to spend for lodging? Does that amount change if you're talking about a special weekend, as opposed to a weeklong vacation? And will you spend more for a weekend if you going to drive, so that lodging is your primary expense?
So, let's roll, before your bosses and mine decide the snow is so bad we have to go home....
But that is a rare case. Most resorts and such are back to normal. The vegetation took a beating and looks a little scrubby, but honestly, if you hadn't been there before, you'd not think "hurricane." It just wouldn't seem as lush as you might have wished.
To answer your question: I imagine the fares can't go much higher than that, so I'd wait it out a bit and see if America West has a sale.
As to eating--yes, it's expensive. However, you can stretch your budget at soup shops. Also look around department stores for very nice set lunches in little boxes. And don't miss the fish market, (Tsukiji or something like that) you can also find simple restaurants with relatively inexpensive and very fresh meals.
You'll have a fantastic time--it's a fascinating place, and you've chose two great spots.
There is a temperature difference between islands--getting cooler as you head south--but it's not huge, about ten degrees on average between Aukland on the North Island and Dunedin way down on the South. I was down there in July once and it was good snowy but still very pleasant traveling. I wouldn't hesitate. There are lots of fun things to do in the winter around there.
We will be disembarking from a cruise ship in Boston on May 1. We'll be needing to get to BWI from Logan and wonder if there are shuttle flights. If so, which airlines fly the shuttles? If not, which airlines would we contact to make reservations?
Thanks,
Bonnie
My husband and I are going down to Wilmington, NC for a weekend in April. It happens to be the Azalea Festival weekend although we didn't plan it that way and probably would have preferred not go then because of many more people apparently.
I'm keen to go myself, Vienna. Let's see if any other readers have been yet. Readers?
Optional activities you both might enjoy are yoga and stretch classes, rock-climbing, kayaking, the various lectures about the area's culture and history, and the wonderful Star Party held at night at a local astronomer's house outside of town -- he puts on a great show. And of course, you'll both love the spa treatments -- they have programs especially for teens.
Your question about a photo ID for your daughter (I'm assuming she doesn't have her driver's license yet) stumped me momentarily. The two parents of under-16s on our staff say they "think" they've never been asked for picture IDs for their kids for domestic flights. For international flights, of course, the kids have their passports. Anyone out there have other info to the contrary?
Best high-end pools are Mandalay Bay (wave pool, lazy river)and Bellagio (acres of pool and cocktail waiters everywhere). Mid-range would be Hard Rock's pool, where the pretty people congregate and where there's music pumped underwater. Low-end would be the Flamingo's giant poolscape, which all waterslides and fountains and is very kid-friendly.
MGM has a nice pool, but with 5,000 rooms there are always a lot of people at it. Mirage's is nice as well, but it's easy to feel on display, as tourists can walk by en route to the tiger exhibit. The new Wynn resort opening in April is expected to have a mega-pool, but I haven't seen it yet.
As far as groups, hmmmmmmm....Even in summer, Vegas is awash in conventions, and a group of 10 isn't very large. Maybe someone out in e-land has an experience to share. The best I can suggest is checking with res agents at the hotels to see what they think, or going to a travel agent and checking that way. Good luck!
Poking around on the Web, I find what's billed as "the only producing winery in LA": San Antonio Winery, open daily for guided winery tours, offered on the hour from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 737 Lamar Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031.
As for affordable and on the Strip and in the summer, depends on whether you're going in the middle of the week or the weekend. I've become a big fan of Mirage lately--rates are cheaper than Bellagio or Venetian, and it's one of the classiest joints on the Strip. And it's right in the middle of things--a huge plus. If you can find a rate of $110 or less per night, it's an excellent deal. Failing that, you should consider Paris or Mandalay Bay (midweek summer rates can sink to $109 or so). I haven't stayed at Treasure Island, but it's been cleaning up its act of late, though the casino/restaurants don't do much for me.
If you can bear being off the Strip (and I'm with you if you can't), the Palm and Hard Rock are both real fun and can be well under 100 bucks if you hit them at the right time.
From the Washington/ Baltimore area, are there direct flights to the Grand Bahama Island? If so, are they reasonably priced? It sounds great for a relaxing getaway!
Express to Moscow, spend a few days there and fly back
to Los Angeles. From what little research I've done, it
seems like a costly trip -- more than $2000 for ten days.
Are there any deals out there I can take advantage of
without being forced to join a tour group?
My spending amount changes based upon the nature of the whole trip, and doing what is necessary to bring the best value AND memories of that journey. I've never spent over $400/night for a hotel and rarely spend over $200 and have done just fine. Weekend or weeklong trips play no role in my decision. It's all measured as part of the whole.
Thanks!;
Some must-dos are to drive through Saguaro National Park, with absolutely stunning towering cacti on all sides, like driving into a cowboy movie; the incredibly lovely San Xavier del Bac mission, considered the finest example of mission architecture in the U.S., still used by the Indians today -- you just won't believe the painted statues and walls; a really cool airplane graveyard, acres and acres of trashed planes; the old Biosphere 2 -- yep, the big geodesic dome; and the wonderful Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, a sort of combination zoo and museum, with "invisible fences" so you feel like you're just wandering around the desert. Then there's the cool old downtown area with little galleries and shops. I can't say enough good things about Tucson!
Both of those side trips are worthwhile. You can schedule an extra day in Quito (you'll most likely have to fly there before continuing on to the Galapagos) so you can explore the town and head to the equator and the shopping areas. Machu Picchu requires a trip to the airport, adjustment to the altitude and a fistful of cash, but you won't regret it.
Also, keep in mind that the resorts of Punta Cana are for relaxing, doing beach stuff etc. Fine for that, but if you were planning on soaking in some local culture, you won't find it there. It's mostly hanging out--which ofcourse makes for a great honeymoon, if that's what you've anticipated and want.
Thanks.
Am back from Paris - I tried to check out the restaurant you recommended in the Latin Quarter (the inexpensive to moderately priced one), but unfortunately it was closed!
Obviously one can never have a bad meal in Paris (unless they try very hard). Wanted to recommend to you and the chatters, Le Petit Prince de Paris, a fabulous restaurant at 12 rue de Lanneau, a small street right near the Pantheon. Everything about our experience whether it be the ambiance, food, service, price was excellent. Around 60 Euros for two. ~Laura
A better way to go about this: pick five places you most want to go, then check their high seasons. Better yet, find out their shoulder seasons--that period right before or right after the highest priced, busiest times. In fact, I plan to do a story on shoulder seasons in the next year, but maybe not in time for you to plan a trip.
Common sense will help guide you: for example, any place warm is expensive over the spring break period, everything costs more over Christmas holiday period. When the kids are in school is the best time to go anywhere. Below the equator the seasons flip, but otherwise pretty much mirror ours. Best time to most temperate climates like our own, Europe--Sept, right after kids go back to school.
http://www.mytravelguide.com/hotels/cthotels-9249601-United_States_Virginia_Arlington_hotels.html
It's got a map of Arlington, lists of the top hotels and links to guides and other attractions. If you stay in the Rosslyn area you'll be close to the cemetery.
That's it for today everybody. Thanks. Don't smash any fenders on your way home.