Talk About Travel

Golfing in South Carolina, English-Speakers in Europe, Fun in St. John, Must-Sees in Morocco and More

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.

Joining the Flight Crew today is Bob Bestler , daily columnist for The Sun News of Myrtle Beach, S.C., who will field questions and comments about golf travel. A member of the Golf Writers Association of America, Bestler covered several major PGA tournaments and has played all but one of the 100-plus golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area.

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

You may also browse an archive of previous live travel discussions.

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Cindy Loose: Welcome to the travel chat on this beautiful Spring day. Today we have with us a special guest, Bob Bestler, a golf expert who, as a columnist forthe Myrtle Beach Sun News and contributor to Myrtle Beach Golf magazine, knows that area like the back of his putter.

Also on board: staffers Steve Hendrix, John Deiner, Andrea Sachs and editor K.C. Summers. Finally, your chat host today, Cindy Loose, who is ready with any questions you might have about airline promises in their contracts of carriage and whatever else I might know. We are missing Gary Lee, who is in Germany scouting around for a story, while Carol Sotilli is on vacation.

Don't know about you, but this warm weather puts me in a vacation travel mood. As we answer as many of your questions as we can, we're also asking you one: What's your best or favorite suggestion for getting away on a long spring weekend? I'll choose what I think is the best suggestion, and the person chosen will email their address to Loosec@washpost.com and tell me whether you'd prefer a scented candle sent to us by Luxury Resorts or a passport etc. holder of the sort I consider essential to travel.

Let's roll.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Flight Crew,

I believe in the last chat there was a comment about the high cost of getting to/from the area airports. Has there been any discussion for the travel section to do an article about just this subject? Specifically, costs from various parts of the DC/MD/VA area as well as commentary on what is most reliable and best bang for the buck. It seems like there are alot of complaints about Super Shuttle service and I have seen advertisements for other shuttle services, but am hesitant to try them. Thanks!

KC Summers: Great idea, Wash -- we did take a look at the various shuttle services a few years back and compare them, but it's high time to take another look, and throw in alternative methods. Thanks for the nudge.

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Hello, Crew!: My wife and I just returned from a weeklong trip to Ireland - my first international trip, and such a wonderful experience. We had great weather, had planned our daytrips well (lots of ruins/castles, the Cliffs of Moher, Dublin, etc.), and really enjoyed ourselves.

So, now I'm turning my thoughts to our next trip. The early frontrunners are Norway/Sweden, Hungary/Austria, or Croatia. My biggest concern is that (as a typical American) I don't speak any of the local languages. Are there any of my proposed destinations where that will be a big problem or where it won't be a problem at all?

Thanks so much--

Cindy Loose: You will find many people in Norway and Sweden who speak English--their languages are so obscure they tend to speak other languages as a matter of survival in the world. Austria you'll find more English speakers than you'd find German speakers anywhere in the U.S. Hungary and Croatia--probably a bit less English than in the other destinations.

However, in all those countries you'll find English speakers in hotels, restaurants, and the more a place is a tourist destintation, the more English speakers you'll find. I never hesitate to visit any place based on language barriers. Some places are easier than others, but you can always find what you need with a bit of work. Not only will you get by, but to my mind that's part of the fun. The further you get into the countryside the fewer English speakers you'll find, but one of my best memories was being in a restaurant in a rural area of Taiwan where the restaurant folks gathered round us and explained the menu by drawing animals and making animal sounds. We hated what we ordered, but I think that was more because it was a bad restaurant, not that we chose wrong due to a language barrier.

In Europe, English has become the language of travel---it's easier for Europeans to agree to speak English than for everyone having to learn all the different European languages.

I would instead make my decision on two other variables: cost and what you want to see.

I'm confident you'll find Norway and Sweden the most expensive, Austria less so, and Hungary and Croatia less so still. As to what you want to see---they've all got things appealing to tourists, and I'd visit some websites to se what grabs you. I'm most keen, of those choices, to visit Croatia, but that's just me.

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Greensboro, NC: My husband and I are leaving for Amsterdam next week for a quick conference trip. Any recommendations for affordable and fun restaurants with lots of atmosphere and old-world charm? We would also love to try some traditional Dutch dishes.

Cindy Loose: Help?!

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technical foul: I KNOW it is warm out. But spring doesn't start until March 21. I'm just sayin.'

Cindy Loose: If it's 32 degrees and raining on March 21, I'm going to be saying Spring came early, and I hope it returns.

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Leesburg, Va: I am going to MB in May for an annual couples trip. This year I want to play a couple of women friendly courses. I am a very average woman golfer, the other woman is really good. Can you recommend any courses that are friendly to women of different skill levels, but also good for the men?

Carol Sottili: one that women play often is possum trot in north myrtle beach. it is fair, but also a good test for men. its rates are about medium. on the higher end you might check out the barefoot golf resort courses (except dye, which is pretty tough) or myrtlewood palmetto. bay tree's three courses are generally women-friendly, but the course is closing may 15. if you want more information about specific courses, feel free to call me at 843 222-7590.

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Washington, DC: Hello Flight Crew. I have a flight question for you. My wedding is out of town and I will be flying with my wedding gown. I've been advised against checking it, and told to carry it on (apparently wedding dress theft is a big thing). I'm flying coach but do you think the flight crew will allow me to hang my dress in the garment compartment up front? The dress is in one of those single item garment bags. Any advice on how to make sure my gown arrives unwrinkled? I'm also happy to keep the bag on my lap! Thanks!

KC Summers: Wedding dress theft -- who knew? Our traveling-with-fancy-gowns expert, Anne, is off today so we're kinda vague on this one. I would call the airline and ask what their policy is -- though it's hard to imagine a flight attendant would be hard-hearted enough not to let you hang it in the closet. If you want to email travel@washpost.com later on in the week, maybe we can help you out further. Either way, hope you report back and let us know how you made out.

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Alexandria Va : Cindy, or anyone else...What options do the airlines offer in regards to diet meal choices. I am flying to Hawaii via American Airlines next month. In 2000 when I went on a trip w/an auntie, she called ahead a few days and requested a fruit plate instead of what they usually bring. Is that something airlines offer still?

Thanks for your help. I just want to make this long trip more enjoyable!

Andrea Sachs: The best meal plan comes from your kitchen. If you can, try and pack some healthy snacks or sandwiches for the flight, since you never know what the airline is serving (that white-flour bagel is far from harmless). However, if you do want to rely on airline catering, you can order a special meal--but only (according to AA's Web site) for transcontinental business and first class. Among the options: kosher, vegan, vegetarian, diabetic, gluten-free, moslem (but not on all routes). For dieters, vegan would probably be your safest choice. Call 800-433-7300 or your agent to pre-order a special meal.

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Laurel, Md.: OK, Mr. Bestler, what travel destination without one day's drive of the Washington area offers the best collection of courses that cost no more than public (say $25 tops for weekday with no cart)?

Carol Sottili: sounds like a trick question, because there is no place in myrtle beach you can play for $25 anytime, unless you have a special coupon or, at a couple of courses, a local i.d. having said that, i understand sumter, s.c., has several courses that are more reasonable than myrtle beach's. there is a golf packaging outfit there, but you may have to google for it. (sumter is about 100 miles inland from the beach.)

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Washington, DC: Las Vegas question for you: I have been to LV several times, and I normally spend a large percentage of my time gambling. My mother is coming with me to Vegas in a few months, and I have no idea what to do with someone who's never been to Vegas and who doesn't gamble! Any ideas?

John Deiner: Well, you can park her by the pool and give her some tip money for drinks, or you can actually wander around and get a better look at some of the stuff you've been missing. There are the ol' reliables -- Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, Lake Mead -- that are well worth a look and will easily kill the better part of a day. Also, Death Valley is a few hours away and is a wonderful diversion.

But if you want to stay close to the Strip, there's a candy factory, vitamin factory, even a clown-sculpture factory you can visit. Better still, lots of attractions dot the Strip, from the Mandalay Bay aquarium to the Secret Garden at Mirage (which is a really great animal attraction and I'd highly recommend). You can hit the top of the Stratosphere for the amazing view, visit the art museums at Bellagio and Wynn, spend a stupid amount of cash on M&Ms at M&M World.

The city has a new way to get around: The Deuce, a doubledecker bus that stops up and down the Strip. I'd guess from the top floor you get a really cool view above the tourists' heads, and a day pass is only 5 bucks. So if Mom is willing to explore on her own while you gamble, that be a good way to go.

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Arlington, Va: Loved the article on the two women from the UK visiting NYC. As an American who has lived in London, it was interesting to read about how some British people saw us (the good and the bad). Didn't know about the Top of the Rock... I'll have to check it out on my next trip up to the Big Apple!

Have any of you been to Atlanta recently? I was there last week for work and went to the new Georgia Aquarium. Spent less than an hour there since the crowds were pretty small after 4:00 on a Monday afternoon, but came away impressed. Great addition to the other worthy tourist attractions there -- the Coca-Cola museum (gotta love the US and international tasting rooms, the memorabilia, the loop of TV ads going back to the 1950s, including the classic "I want to teach the world to sing" and the Paula Abdul-Elton John Diet Coke spot, and seeing Buddy Lee dressed up as a Coca-Cola delivery man), the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, the state capitol building, the Underground (interesting, but pales in comparison to Quincy Market), Olympic Centennial Park with the dancing fountains, CNN Center (where you can tour the newsroom and TV studios) and the requisite art, science and natural history museums and zoo.

KC Summers: Thanks, Arl -- ah, to be a European with the excess funds to come to the U.S.! But at least we've got Atlanta. You really make it sound enticing -- thanks for the update.

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Arlington, Va. to charleston I go: What happened? For the last 4 years I've been flying from Reagan to Charleston, SC, and never paid more than $300. Was that the Independence effect? I never flew them but I sure do miss them!

I'm taking my chances and holding out for a sale for an april weekend I had planned, but should I purchase chas. tickets now for an august trip (at $388)?

I'm sure you hate these questions, but what would you do?

Cindy Loose: I'd say that was the Independence effect. Still, $388 seems a bit high. I just did a quick Orbitz search for a Frdiay in April, returning a Sunday in April, and came up with $331 nonstop and $288 one stop.

I'd search directly at US Airways site and try a few sites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia before giving up.

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shuttling experience: My Supershuttle experience is that they're -appauling-

unreliable, rude and self-satisfied. I recommend 'Royal

Airport Shuttle' - they used to be competative, I don't

know if they still are and what difference from

Supershuttle. Royal Airport Shutttle are utterly reliable,

the drivers have been excellent and you can pre-book

your return (unlike Supershuttle, where you've no idea

how long you'll have to wait).

Also, I'd just like remind everyone of the excellent

metrobus service out to Dulles from l'Enfant Plaza and

Rosslyn and out to BWI from the Greenebelt Metro

KC Summers: Thanks for the feedback -- we'll check it out.

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Jet Blue Fares?: Hey Travel Gurus,

How much do Jet Blue fares tend to vary? If I'm thinking

of buying a ticket from New York to Seattle in August,

should I buy one now or hold out for a sale? Right now

it's running about $134 before taxes one way.

Cindy Loose: There can always be a sale we can't predict, but $134 to go all the way cross country sounds pretty decent. I wouldn't bet on it going lower, and in fact would grab that now.

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Washington, DC: Hey Flight Crew! I know you've been innudated with

Europe fare questions, but I hope you can answer one

more, with a twist. I'm thinking of flying from Asia to

Europe to the East Coast. I found a ticket for about eight

hundred and fifty dollars. Does that seem like a pretty

good deal? Can you imagine it going much lower?

Thanks for any insight, you guys are the best!

Cindy Loose: You don't say when---if thats for a trip between May and Sept., I'd grab the fare.

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Wedding dress on plane: I flew to London with my wedding dress in a garment bag. I flew British Air in coach, but upon boarding the plane the flight attendants hung my gown up in the front of the plane, and handed it to me when we arrived in London.

KC Summers: Excellent. How recently was that? With cutbacks and morale problems and all, it's possible that this level of basic service might have declined.

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Alexandria, Va: Ok. This is the 3rd Wash Post discussion of which I've asked - (first request of Flight Crew, though) - about ideas and highlights of travel in Turkey. I will be there at the end of the month - along the south coast and in Istanbul.

Even if the Post staff have no info, could you throw this out there for comments from your readers? Please?

Steve Hendrix: Have you? Sorry, we type as fast as we can, but we do get far more questions than we can answer (I thought we did post a Turkey question last week. Bodrum, I think. Not you?).

Anyway, you're plaintive begging is our command. The basic of Turkey are: Istanbul is vibrant and crowded city worth a good four of five days (Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, St. Sophia, dinking around the Bosphorus). From there, the Aegean coast is very Mediterranean, with white washed towns (like Bodrum), a deep fishing culture and the great ruins at Ephesus. I'd at least get a taste of the coastal scene. In the middle of the country are the great plains of Anatolia and Cappadocia, the site of the fantastic Byzantine cave churches. Worth a flight to Ankara for that area. I don't know the area to the west at all.

Now, let's let the reader's chime in.

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Denver, Colo: Re wedding dresses. This was a discussion thread a few months back - perhaps it was Anne who was flying to Chicago to be a bridesmaid and didn't want to check her dress? The consensus was if you are nice to the crew they will have no problem hanging your dress in the 1st Class cabin. In fact, they might even upgrade you if there's room. Just remember to BE NICE.

KC Summers: That's a powerful motivator to be nice. Thanks!

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Washington, D.C.: Crew:

I have booked 2 trips using Delta frequent flier miles. One trip is in May, while one is in December.

Yesterday's paper talked about Northwest possibly striking--but isn't Delta in a similar boat?

What are my rights if Delta is on strike or Delta is liquidated?

Thanks

Cindy Loose: If Delta workers strike, things could get messy in terms of inconvenience, but Delta would work to get you on another carrier.

If they go out of business, other carriers through November at least are required to accommodate passengers on bankrupt carriers on a space avaiable basis. Congress keeps extending that law, but I can't promise what will happen when it expires again this coming November.

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Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.: One of my friends traveled with her wedding dress... she asked the flight attendants to hang it up, and they said they didn't have a closet! She asked where the pilots put their coats, and they told her "on the back of their chairs." She put it in the overhead bin and made her fiance get up like every 10 minutes to check on it, but it worked out fine. That was on America West. I guess I'd call the airline to ask what they suggest.

KC Summers: Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. Thanks.

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Charlotte, NC: Hi Bob,

Tell us what is new and exciting in the Golf Capital of the World?

Margaret Freeman

Bob Bestler: new and exciting? wild wing plantation is turning three courses into homes. bay tree is turning all into homes. and the pavilion in myrtle beach is coming down after this season....chhers.

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Have Dress, Will Travel: I had no problem asking the flight attendent to hang my wedding dress, and know many other brides who have done the same. Nothing encourages generosity like a pretty dress! Do not hold it on your lap, as that will definitely wrinkle the dress. You might also get a dry cleaner who does wedding dress cleaning and packing to do a professional box pack that you can put in the overhead.

KC Summers: Putting it in a box is a good idea. You might get hit with that "no closet" response.

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flying wedding dress lady: I don't have first-hand knowledge, but definitely remember reading about this in several bridal magazines. Check theknot.com or something like that and they'll give you good instructions.

KC Summers: Yep, theknot is a good resource. 'Course, if Anne were here we wouldn't need no knot!

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Rockville, Md: What do you think of trying to get visits to Atlanta and Savannah done in one trip? Are there flights within the state or would it make a nice drive? Your advice please. Thank you!

Steve Hendrix: It's about a four-hour drive, straight down I-16, a pretty standard interstate run through open piedmont. (For years, that was basically an empty road; it's gotten a bit more use in recent years). But yes, Delta flies to Savannah several times a day. I guess it depends on how much you want to save.

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Pittsburgh, Pa: I would like to visit the outer banks this year with my husband and 4-year old daughter. However, we have never been there before, so the choice of places (Duck? Nags Head? Hatteras?) seems overwhelming. Where should we start looking to get the best information on visiting this area?

John Deiner: Hey, Pitts. The first question you want to ask yourself is "What sort of environment do I want to vacation in?" And you tapped into the three zones.

Hatteras is far more isolated, less crowded, fewer commercial options (vacation nirvana for some, right?). Nags Head is in the middle of goofy-golf-and-batting-cage central, with more hotels. Duck is almost all rental houses piled up on rolling hills coming off the beach, with only a few commercial zones. If you're driving (rather than flying to, say, Norfolk and renting a car), you'll be in for an endless ride down to Hatteras. Almost better to save that for a day trip to the lighthouse.

Otherwise, check out www.outerbanks.org for a ton of info. And feel free to call a realtor or two down there if you're renting a house to get an idea of the lay of the land. If there are just the three of you, you may want to consider a hotel over a big ol' house, but houses come in all sizes as well. Have a great trip!

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Rockville, Md: Hi Crew: read the GoCo column yesterday about travel to Asia. I want to go to Vietnam and Cambodia later this eyar and I know it will be a tough sell to my wife under normal circumstances, but I want to reassure her that there is no issue with bird flu in these places (she never eats poultry anyway). Is there any reason not to go?

Cindy Loose: I don't see a reason not to go, not under current circumstances anyway, and as the column mentioned the World Health Organization and risk assessment firms that sell advise to businesses agree.

If avian flu mutates and starts being passed person to person, I'd guess no place on earth would be safe, so you might as well be in Cambodia and Vietnam. You can look up articles and latest info by searching at www.who.org and www.cdc.gov.

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re: Vegas: I have a fun non-gambling excursion: the Neon Museum: www.neonmuseum.org. For $50 they'll take a small group on a private tour of the neon graveyard. It was the highlight of our three generation trip and is a real history lesson in addition to being tres cool!

John Deiner: I HAVE to do that someday. I love the downtown, anyhow. I think it's becoming the real fun zone in Vegas, as the Strip is pricing its way out of many people's budgets. Thanks for the suggestion!

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Washington DC: For some reason, I'm on the TSA Passenger Watch List. Basically the only problem I'm running into is that I can't print my boarding pass at home (not really that big a deal on any other airline except Southwest). I submitted to them the required paperwork to get my name off the list, and its been about 6 weeks now. They said the process should take about 6 weeks, so I'm just kind of waiting for my confirmation now.

However, I'm wondering if anyone else out there has encountered problems after their name has been cleared?

Steve Hendrix: Yikes. You're much calmer about it than many mis-targeted flyers we've heard from, who feel not only wroned but profoundly hassled everytime they go throug an airport.

Let us know if you actually get cleared as promised.

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Vegas question: Hi! I believe John is the Vegas guru: My husband and I are planning our first trip to Vegas. We have found a package for $1300 - 4 nights hotel (Mandalay Bay) and airfare. Snap it up? Wait and try for something cheaper? THANKS! And love the ideas for tours!

John Deiner: Vegas guru here...

I'm wondering when you're going, to be honest. If you book it separately and can get a $200-per-person airfare (give or take 30 or 40 bucks), that would work out to about $200 a night for Mandalay Bay. That's either a really good deal or a bit on the high side, depending on what rooms are going for that note. It's definitely not cheap, though.

Did you try to price it out yourself? Those new flights on JetBlue are a good deal right now, and if you check www.mandalaybay.com, you could possibly get a better deal (weekends almost always cost a lot more than midweek). If the days you're going are really expensive on mandalaybay.com, I guess I'd go ahead and book.

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Arlington, Va.: Trip insurance: how much to buy? How to find a reputable company? I am at a loss here. We're spending a good amount of time (4 weeks) and money ($8K) in Central America this summer, and I feel like it's worth getting trip insurance, just in case. But I am at a loss as to what to look for. Help?

Cindy Loose: If you bought through a travel agent, ask for their advice, but if not, I'd go to an insurance shopping mall like www.insuremytrip.com. There you'll find multiple companies and you can get instant quotes. All listed there are well-known companies--none of them want to pay you any money of course if things go south, but they'll follow whatever rules they've put in the fine print. Your job is to read the fine print carefully to know what you're buying, and more importantly, not buying.

How much to cover---on a trip that expensive I'd want my pre-paid nonrefundable expenses to be covered if I were to get sick and couldn't go. Then you have to think about medical expenses were something to happen to you while you were there. How much in that case depends a bit on how far from decent hospitals you might be traveling. If you were were to need an airlift to a good hospital that could set you back a humongous amount, so I might be looking for something that covered that contingency.

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mid-Maryland: What's the best way to get to and tour Yellowstone from the DC area without flying?

Steve Hendrix: Tough one, Mid. The nearest Amtrak station is in Salt Lake City. You'd have to bus from there. You can take a bus directly, probably to Bozeman or Gardiner, from where you can catch daily busses directly to the park. Within the park, there is ample public transportation, busses in the summer, snow cats (or similar half-trak vehicles)in the winter.

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La Tomatina: Any advice on attending La Tomatina in Bunuel, Spain this August? I am in the preliminary planning stages. I'd like to go to Lisbon, Portugal while there. Thanks, all!

Cindy Loose: Help from the chatsters?

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amsterdam restaurant: Two years ago I ate dinner in Amsterdam at the Restaurant Dorrius. Went back the next night for dinner again. Delicious! Best cheese souffle appetizer and split pea soup ever. Near the hotel I stayed in, the Crown Plaza.

Cindy Loose: Sounds great. Thanks.

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Amsterdam: For the Amsterdam-bound...

No trip to Asterdam would be complete without trying Rijstaffel (spelling?), an Indonesian specialty brought back to the continent. I believe it stands for 'rice table', a massive assortment of small dishes sort of like tapas on steroids. Lots of fun.

Cindy Loose: I missed lunch, so everything is sounding good. Thanks.

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New Orleans Bound: Heading back to N.O. this June. Do you know if there are any organizations who are seeking short term volunteers- few days to a week to do clean up?

Andrea Sachs: First off, we want to say: What a wonderful and selfless way to spend a vacation. We are all standing up and applauding you right now. Okay, now that I am sitting again, check out Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN) or Greater New Orleans Foundation. You can also contact the CVB (www.neworleanscvb.com) or city hall (504) 658-4000) for additional organizations.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Flight Crew-

I'm thinking of heading to the Outer Banks in May. How early should we reserve for Memorial Day and how crazy will it be? We could go earlier, but weren't sure if it would be warm enough for the beach in early May. If you have any B&B recommendations, those are greatly appreciated too! Thanks!

John Deiner: Hey, D.C. I'd be reserving right now for Memorial Day. Don't know how crazy it will be, but any beach is pretty busy on that weekend, I reckon.

There aren't a whole lot of BnB options, but Andrea stayed (quite some time ago) in a place called Advice 5 Cents in Duck that she really liked. Likewise, we've reported favorably in the past on Summer Place in Kitty Hawk, and the Cypress House BnB in Kill Devil Hills.

As far as temperatures go, I went to OBX two years ago in early May. Couldn't swim (water was way too cold), but it was the sunniest, hottest spell of the season and absolutely perfect.

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Re. $338:

That was for August...

Cindy Loose: whoops, sorry, thought you said April. Given you're talking August, I can't say there won't be a sale pop up, but if you've shopped a few sites and they're all giving you that price, I'd say you might as well bite the bullet unfortunately.

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re:the langugage barrier: I absolutely agree that you can work round the language

barrier. My father was Hungarian and when we'd visit, if I

wasn't with him, I never found it a problem. My approach

was to ask young people in their late teens or early

twenties as they all learn English now at school. They're

enthusiastic and my enquiries often let to very interesting

conversations.

I've never been to Croatia, but Hungary is wonderful - full

of all sorts of wonderful things to do and diverse places to

visit and the people are very friendly. But then, I'l a little

biased ... .

Cindy Loose: Yep, the younger folks everywhere are best bets for speaking English. In Eastern Europe, the older folks are probably more likely to know some Russian.

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Germantown, Md: Hello Crew! If a 40 year old single woman wanted to go somewhere in New England and hole up in a cabin for a fews days of solitude, where would you recommend that she go?

Steve Hendrix: Have a look at the Appalachian Mountain Club, a very old and respected outdoors group in those parts. They run a strign of rustic cabins (similar, I think, to the ones maintained by our own Potomac Appalachian Trail Club) including some in New Hampshire. An easy URL: www.outdoors.org.

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Bowie, Md.: Atlanta-Savannah: AirTran does two flights a day in each direction. I've seen $39 with appropriate advance purchase in the past, although not right now.

Greyhound takes 5 hours for about the same price.

Steve Hendrix: Oh, excellent tip, Bowie. I forgot about Air Tran.

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Vietnam sell to wife: I was in Vietnam a few years ago and feel in love with the

country. The people are the most charming and friendly

I've ever met in my life and they have a wonderful 'cup is

half full' perception. It's changing - tourism is taking off

and it's having an effect. If you want to see a more

traditional Vietman, don't waste time. I don't know if

eating vegetarian while you're over there would help allay

fears but it's a Buddhist country and caters well to that

lifestyle. I should know, I'm a vegetarain and I've seldom

had food that's been as consistently good.

Cindy Loose: I too love Vietnam--north and central more than south, but a fascinating, culturally rich place. If she likes to shop, sell her on rugs, jewelry, things made of wood or stone, fun souvenirs.

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St. John, USVI: Hello, Love the chats! I am traveling to St. John in early May. What can I expect weather wise? Also, what kinds of activities are there to do? Do you know of any good restaurants? Will things be expensive? Thanks!!

KC Summers: St. John in May should be lovely -- high of 88, low 76. And May is well before hurricane season, so you should be okay there.

Activities -- Well, there's swimming, snorkeling and diving, of course. Plus kayaking and horseback riding, and hiking through the national parkland. Me, I stayed in the water. God, I love that place.

There are a ton of good restaurants, amazing for such a laid-back island. In Cruz Bay, Rhumb Line (where Renee Zellweger had her ill-fated wedding reception) has great fresh seafood, and Zozo's has the best sunset bar in town, plus great Italian food. In Coral Bay, try Miss Lucy's, Island Blues or Shipwreck Landing.

Yeah, it's expensive, no doubt. But you can save money by camping in one of the island's eco-camps. Go to www.maho.org for a link to these -- they're pretty cool actually, even if you're not into camping -- like treehouses.

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washingtonpost.com: Details: St. John , (Oct. 23, 2005)

KC Summers: Here's some practical info for the St. John person. Thanks, Kim.

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Vietnam and bird flu: I would tell your wife not to worry about bird flu in

Vietnam more. I mean it's possible the worldwide

situation will get worse, but not likely there more than

anywhere else. In fact, Vietnam took chicken and eggs off

the market (you could only buy gov't approved eggs) for

several months until they were satifieid that it wouldn't

increase the risk of transmission.

Cindy Loose: Thanks. They have been pretty good and investigating and reporting. Better than China for sure.

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Wedding Dress: Save youself the headache and potential problems (e.g tearing, dirt etc) and arrange the dress in a big box and send it UPS overnight to a person (mom, friend, wedding planner etc) who can sign for it. Do this a couple of weeks early, so if they lose it (doubtful) they have time to search for it. It's not cheap, but hey, neither's the wedding.

KC Summers: Yeah, makes sense, but I'd be a wreck letting it out of my sight...

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Rochester, NY: Weekend getaway: this being a "good-for-raising-kids" kinda town...vacation (somewhere else) is never far from my mind. From Upstate NY, several big cities are accessible - I'd pack up and go to NYC, Toronto (only 3 hours by car!) or even Quebec/Montreal. Savor the big-city life, stroll the streets (no one does that around here), sample all kinds of esoteric food, get lost in museums...big cities are made for weekend breaks! Or if there's a last-minute fare to Western Europe...I'd go!

Cindy Loose: Great idea; thanks.

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Spring Getaway: My favorite long weekend in the spring is to Florida for baseball spring training. The trip is quick and so you can maximize the 3 days, the weather is a big enough difference from here (usually) that it relaly feels like vacation, and you get to see baseball in a smaller, friendlier setting than the big parks. A perfect mini-vacation.

Cindy Loose: That sounds so fun--I won't go to big stadium games but up close and cheap---that's my style too. Thanks.

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Washington, DC: My fiancee and I are planning a week trip to Morocco this summer. We are trying to balance the desire to see as much as possible and not feeling rushed. We have narrowed it down to four areas that we'd like to see. How would you balance Fez, Essaouira, Marrakech and the high Atlas mountains? If you had to drop one, which would reluctantly drop?

Thank you for your insight.

Andrea Sachs: What perfect timing. I just got back from Morocco last week and absolutely loved it. But I agree, much time was spent in the car: incredible scenery, but my legs were numb at the end of the day. That is a tough call to eliminate one of the places on your list--but if I must. Starting with the keepers: Fez, Marrakesh. Though the Atlas are beautiful, I would say since you are going in the summertime, keep Essaouira--you will need the cool Atlantic breezes and a bit of surf. Stay in a riad, eat seafood and laze on the beach (but book early, since hordes of Europeans love Essaouira too).

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Washington, DC: Instead of complaining about the high costs of the shuttles to BWI or IAD, those whiners can eliminate the shuttle fees by flying out of DCA and taking a $1.35 Metro ride to the airport! By the time they factor in the cost of a shuttle ride at both ends of their trip, a flight from DCA might actually be less expensive, as I've found out several times.

KC Summers: Well, yeah, but what if there aren't any airlines flying out of National to your destination? Or what if that Southwest flight from BWI is hundreds of dollars cheaper?

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Bowie, Md: For me, heading back to my home town of NYC for a long weekend is THE way to energize myself in the Springtime. When there's a freshness to the air, walking around Manhattan is completely different. The city even SMELLS clean, like springtime. Colors are exploding all over the city with little flowerpatches around most corners. Combined with the energy of NYC, springtime is my time for a trip there!

Cindy Loose: And with luck hotel prices haven't hit their summer and fall highs. Thanks.

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Maryland: Is inter-island travel in Hawaii pretty much limited to flying? Can flights be had on short notice or is more planning needed for seats or better prices?

Steve Hendrix: There is a passenger ferry or two (between Lanai and Molokai for one), but those are pretty high seas and people fly between them very casually. Several airlines run multiple (like hourly) flights a day between the major airports. I've often found fares in the $75-each-way range, even on the day of.

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Re: Travel Insurance: I echo the thought that you should get enought to cover all your non-refundable expenses and a good bit of medical.

I broke my ankle in December in Belize (on my honeymoon, no less). The travel insurance made it easier to stomach the cost of the flight to get an xray (there wasn't one in Placencia), the doc's fees and re-arranging our flight home so I could have surgery.

We went with Access America and found them to be excellent, especially the folks on the emergency line.

Cindy Loose: Thanks. I get so many letters from people who say, we're healthy people so didn't buy insurance, but then a broken leg, all our money down the drain. There is usually nothing I can do to help--especially if the missed trip was a cruise, cause cruise lines are adamant about sticking to their rules and they all advise insurance.

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Fairfax, Va: Favorite spring getaway: the cabins in Westmoreland state park on the VA eastern shore. It's close, cheap, and crabmeat galore is just down the road.

Now for my question: three girlfriends (30-somethings) took advantage of that BA deal where you get two nights free hotel with your ticket. We're leaving Th, back Sun. None has ever been. Looking for the best Saturday morning market, pub, and must-not-miss sight. Thanks!

Cindy Loose: Is that a British Airways or Buenos Aires deal?

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airport transportation: I used to cab it to the airport until an Anne Arundel firm told me (only when I called 15 minutes before pickup to confirm) that they were just too busy and weren't going to be able to pick me up. I have never relied on a third party since. No matter what I pay, at least when I drive I know I'll actually get there.

KC Summers: I'm with you.

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L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, D.C.: Just survived the roundtrip to Sydney and back in coach!!! Now planning a trip to Thailand, any suggestions on snagging Business Class or better?

Andrea Sachs: Pony up the dough, cash in your frequent-flier miles or ask politely--though I have tried and it never works. Seems these days that don't upgrade like the old days. Ah, the old days!

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Arlington, Va: Hi Flight Crew! What is the word on the street for Skyauction.com? I was thinking of buying a vacation on a bid I won, but don't know much about the company...Thanks!

Cindy Loose: We don't know skyauction. Anyone else ever use em?

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Shuttle Comment....: Back when I flew every month or so, I used The Airport Shuttle to get from Columbia to BWI. NEVER had a problem - always on time, polite drivers, and they helped carry my luggage up to my front door. Plus they didn't mind that I carried on a cat.

KC Summers: Nice to hear a good report... thanks!

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Dupont Circle,Washington, D.C.: Do I have a legitimate gripe here?

While researching and selecting an airline for an upcoming trip, seat selection was an important issue for me. I'm tall and have had some rough experiences - South African Airways steerage class is configured so that when the person in front of me reclined, I had to spread my legs and withstand his seat back between my legs for 14 hours!! And I'm only 6'4"!

So I'm doing my research for my upcoming trip and the flights I ultimately selected were chosen with the available seat selection being a significant factor. I get my e-mail confirmation and it tells me the seats on one of the foreign legs of my trip cannot be selected in advance - oh well.

But then the ticket arrives and THREE legs of the trip say the seats cannot be selected in advance. Now two weeks before departure, I get an e-mail notice saying ALL of my international flight seat selections will no longer be honored.

I booked through Orbitz - which, as a result, I'll probably never do again - and their on-line customer service was a horrible waste of time. I kept getting canned responses that demonstrated my e-mail had not been read in its entirety.

Why purport to offer seat selections that will not be honored? If the discounted class of service makes me ineligible for confirmed advance seating, don't give me the option to select.

I feel like complaining to Orbitz, but it's my impression in these times that the effort and energy it will take will result in zip for me. Do you concur?

Cindy Loose: Funny you should ask, cause I was researching that very question this morning. Unfortunately, I didn't get very far yet. However, I think it's probably not an Orbitz problem, but an airline problem--in other words, what happened to you was unrelated to the vehicle you used to buy your ticket. But I'll be looking into this further.....feel free to copy your message to me directly at loosec@washpost.com with more detail, and I'll check out your exact situation.

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Bowie, Md: Spring weekend idea: this past weekend I looked for covered bridges using my new PDA with detailed local maps and GPS. Great for rural driving fans.

Cindy Loose: I want GPS, now another reason to want it. Thanks.

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S. Rockville, Md.: Hey TC, what do you know about airline restrictions on golf club travel covers? Some airlines are saying they won't be responsible for any damage done because I don't have one of their approved bags. My bag has been fine for years. This seems like a bit of a scam to me. And since the bag doesn't lock, how worried should I be about my favorite putter being stolen or otherwise getting "lost"?

Bob Bestler: in my own travels, i haven't found any restrictions as long as they are secured. the approved bag thing does sound fishy, but i haven't heard of any horror stories about clubs being damaged en route to myrtle beach _ and we get golfers flying in by the hundreds of thousands. my own travel bag has a lock on it. you can get them fairly inexpensively here in myrtle beach, at martins or golf dimensions. it would put your mind to rest regarding possible theft of that favorite putter.

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Washington, D.C.: I am going to meet up with a friend who is wrapping up a three month job in Ukraine in mid April for about two and a half weeks. We are flying in and out of Kiev. She has spent a lot of time in Ukraine, so has that part of the trip under control. We also want to go to St. Petersburg, (apparently an overnight rain ride away from Kiev), Poland, and Romania. Is it feasible to spend a few days in each of those countries relying on the trains for transportation? In order to do so would we have to rely on Bucharest and Warsaw as our enter and exit points from Romania & Poland back to Kiev? I am curious because it sounds like there's not much to see in either, at least not in comparison to other parts of those countries. And lastly, and "must sees" that you are familiar with in any of the above places? Thanks!

Cindy Loose: I think Krakow is the most interesting city in Poland and a not miss, and I'd also make a pilgrimage to a concentration camp while there. Romania we don't know----help on either country?

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Arlington, Va.: Any don't-misses in or around Austin? We're staying in South Congress so plan to take advantage of live music and the sort. But what about outdoorsy stuff? I've heard mixed reviews about Fredericksburg - but would like to check out the spring flowers in Hill Country.

KC Summers: Town Lake is a definite don't miss -- it's quite the social scene, with folks jogging and walking around it. Barton Springs, the legendary spring-fed pool, is another must. Seeing the Congress Avenue Bridge bats fly out at dusk -- not exactly strenous, but it is outdoors! If you're of the shopping persuasion, you've gotta check out the cool stores along South Congress (SoCo).

Never made it to Fredericksburg, and am put off by the bluebonnet hype, but people do like them.... Chatters?

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Washington, D.C.: Long spring weekend - I love the Northern Neck. There are so many little areas to explore, it's rarely crowded, and you really feel "away".

Cindy Loose: I went to that area just once, and was very surprised by how rural and charming it remains. Either don't mention it to developers, or hurry down before they get building permits. Thanks.

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Arlington, Va.: We're interested in going to Montana to see Glacier National Park. The flight prices don't seem to be any cheaper at any particular time. So...when is the best time to go? What's reasonable for flying from DC? Which airports are the best bets for cheaper flights (or do we just suck it up and pay the $650 or so per ticket?)?

Thanks!

Steve Hendrix: It's often tough to save money to those smaller airports, Arlington. I remember paying about that in June to Kalipell, about 25 miles from the park. Unless you make a long driving tour of it from a busier airport, like Missoula or Salt Lake City.

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Hard-hearted flight attendant: When my friend's husband died we took his ashes home to Chicago via BWI. The urn wouldn't quite fit under the seat and we didn't want to put it in the overhead (it just didn't seem right). Well, the flight attendant refused to put it anywhere secure up front and, since it didn't fit under the seat, we were forced to put it in the overhead bin where it rolled around all flight long.

KC Summers: Wow. That's terrible. Good to know what to expect, though. Thanks for sharing.

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Re. Super Shuttle:

If I fly from BWI to Long Island, it's $29 plus fees. If I take Super Shuttle from Columbia to BWI, it's $29! Where's the logic? It's cheaper to pay $10 a day at the garage it I'm only going up to Long Island for a long weekend!

KC Summers: Nobody ever said airfares were logical!

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Harrisonburg, Va: Hi --

I'm traveling to St.Petersburg Russia this summer on a Smithsonian Tour. The group is flying through Helsinki. The travel company will make arrangements for us to stay in Helsinki for a couple days on the way there if we'd like to. I know nothing at all about Helsinki and Finland so I'm tempted -- just because I know nothing. I gravitate towards cities and museums when I travel. Would you recommend it? What are must sees in Helsinki? Would 3 days (2 nights) give me enough time to enjoy the city? Would I be comfortable as a woman alone in the city?

Thanks!

Cindy Loose: You would I believe feel extremely comfortable as a single woman in Helsinki. It's a lovely small city, and you could see your way around very nicely ina couple days. You'll find attractive churches and museums and it's simply nice to walk around, particularly along the city's waterfront. I'd say it's not the food capital of the world, but otherwise, a classy city.

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Washington, DC: I'm having a big birthday this year. I'm thinking Antarctica. Do you have any experience with the various planned tours? I just want to see the place, and step on the actual continental shelf; I don't care about the most deluxe accommodations and meals on the way.

Andrea Sachs: Well, for Antarctica, you can't really take your own dinghy, touch down on the ice, wave hi to the penguins, then row off. You have to sign up with a cruise tour, which vary from Love Boat-style to Russian trawler to small and educational. Usually you depart from Argentina, sail down to the ice slab, take a smaller vessel for walks and talks, then board the cruise and head back home. For an idea of trips, check out Iexplore.com. Remember you need to go during their summer, which is our winter, and prices are a couple thousand, if not more (even for the barest of bones boats).

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Tomatina, Spain: It is on the otherside of the penninsula from Portugal. It is also very violent. The tomatoes hurt and will sting your eyes. Bring waterproof googles. If you are female wear a T-shirt and a sturdy bathing suit underneath. Your T-shirt will be removed, either by you or forcibily by thr crowd. They don't care what you have on underneath. As a female I regret having gone. Go sober.

Cindy Loose: That sounds truly unattractive. Never heard of it before, and now can forget about it. Thanks.

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Vegas Lodging: For the poster who wanted to stay at Mandalay Bay -- I just got back from Vegas and my second stay at the Luxor. The rooms are nice enough (and how much time are you going to spend in your room?) and the prices are half that of Mandalay. Plus, the two hotels are connected, so you still have access to all the restaurants and shopping.

For what it's worth, my boyfriend and I spent a week in Vegas, complete with eating at nice restaurants and attending a show, for less than the price of that Mandalay Bay package.

John Deiner: Hey, VL. Thanks for the post. And you're right...you can definitely stay for a lot cheaper than $1,300 -- unless you've picked a week with a big convention in town, or at least at your hotel.

I like Luxor myself -- some people dump on it, but for the price, it's fine. If I was going to spend some serious dough, I'd opt for TheHotel, part of Mandalay Bay but sooooo much nicer.

Great stuff, though...thank you!

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S. Rockville, Md: Bob, follow ups to your earlier response - which course is Wild Wing keeping? What's going in where the pavilion currently is? And a new question: what's your favorite course to play?

Bob Bestler: my bad. should have answered it right off. avocet is the course they are keeping. don't know the exact timetable for closing the others. fall, i think. burroughs and chapin, owners of the pavilion, said it had not decided what to do with the pavilion property when it closes but i think it wants something that will draw people year round, not just during the summer months, as the pavilion did. my favorite grand strand course? favorite is the dunes, but i don't get to play there often because i'm not a member. of those i get to play, i like many: the love and fazio courses at barefoot resort, the witch amd wizard (wizard is woman-friendly, too, i think), myrtlewood palmetto, all of the world tour courses. but honestly, it is easier to say the courses i don't like...

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London UK: Hi Flight Crew,

What do you think of services like Hotwire for hotel reservations? I like the idea of a discounted price but am less crazy about having to commit before seeing the exact property/location that I'm staying in.

I can definitely see the appeal of Hotwire for flights -- after all, the service on most carriers is more or less equal (or equally bad, depending on your cynicism) -- but with hotels, if you don't like the place you're in, you have to stick it out for a lot longer than just a flight.

Thanks!

KC Summers: I'm a big control freak, London, but I've used Priceline (a similar auction site) with success. I just use it when I don't care about character -- like on a business trip when I just need a boring place to stay. You can control the quality by only bidding on three- or four-star places and you can control the neighborhood. But what you can't bargain for is charm.

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Kids Travel: Are there any good sites out there that provide a clearinghouse on kids travel that will point me in the direction of where to go with a two year old.

KC Summers: Try familytravelforum.com. If we had more time, I'd ask for suggestions from the chatters -- maybe next week!

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Honeymoon Tickets on Delta: Please help - we have our honeymoon tickets on Delta, leaving BWI for Seattle 4/30 and returning 5/7. Given the current situation, should we buy back up tickets on another carrier? I'm not getting a good feeling from the news releases and threats by the pilots that they are going to strike. Should we pay the extra money for tickets on another carrier???

Cindy Loose: That is hard. Under any other circumstances I'd say no, just tough it out no matter what comes--even if there's a strike someone will get you there eventually. But for a honeymoon----you don't want to mess up a honeymoon. Then again, if you can stand the possibility of being delayed overnight, and finding a nice room near the airport and just chilling, I guess I'd still not go to the expense of a whole other set of tickets. If there is a strike, mention you're on honeymoon in hopes they'll try a tad harder to help you.

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Cindy Loose: Sorry we couldn't answer all questions today.

A special thank you to golfer Bob.

See you next week.

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Washington, DC: My best suggestion for getting away on a long lovely spring weekend?

Find a friend with a convertible!

Cindy Loose: Oh wait, the winner.

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