Talk About Travel

Living abroad, proposal spots in Vegas, kicks on Route 66, romantic stops in Peru 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 Andy Sundberg, a founder and director of American Citizens Abroad, fielding questions and comments about the expat life.

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 You may also browse anarchive of previous live travel discussions.

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Steve Hendrix: Howdy folks, welcome to a sunny chat day in downtown D.C. Lot's of folks walking around town with that glazed expression that can only mean: "I just spent $60 filling up my Honda Accord." With only a couple of months until school is out and some seers prediction $4 gallon massacres at the pump, it's shaping up as a tough summer driving season. Does it matter? Americans seem to keep on fillin' and drivin' no matter what?

Our question to you: Will gas prices change your travel plans this summer in any way? Will you stick closer to home, or compensate for gas prices by staying in cheaper hotels?

We may borrow the most interesting answers in a coming piece on summer driving, plus we'll a couple of the best a Jimi (a sort of plastic wallet).

Chatting today are K.C. Summers, Cindy Loose, John Deiner, Andrea Sachs, Gary Lee, Carol Sottili and me, Steve Hendrix, your chat host for the week.

Also, on the heels of our lead feature yesterday on the joys and perils of living abroad is Andy Sundberg, head of American Citizens Abroad and author of the "Handbook for Overseas American. Andy didn't write our story on living in Buenas Aires, but he is knowledgeable about all things ex-pat. Andy, thanks for being with us.

And here we go.

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Washington, DC: Hi Flight Crew!

Thanks for all the helpful tips and engaging discussions! I wanted to see if you could help - my husband and I would like to go to Prague and Budapest this summer for a two week trip but cannot figure out how to best structure the trip. Should we fly into Prague then drive to Budapest and then flight back to the US from Budapest?? Is it unwise to drive in these areas if you are not familiar with the language? Any recommendations or suggestions from you or the audience would be immensely helpful. Thanks!

Andy Sundberg: You are going to really enjoy this trip. You can fly to either city and drive to the other. Many people speak English in both countries and are usually very helpful along the way. The roads are good and the restaurants are great. Don't forget to drive via Slovakia and take the time to see Bratislava too.

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Dallas, Tex (formerly Columbia, Md): I am traveling to Paris in three weeks!

I am trying to figure out how to keep my valuables safe while sightseeing, especially travel documents, credit cards, passports and money. We use the money belts and they work great but I'm never sure where to keep my passport - do we need to carry them for ID purposes, keep them locked in the hotel safe or store them in the money belt? I'd prefer to lock them in the safe and carry a copy in the money belt. Is there a requirement to carry them while in a foreign country?

Thanks for the informative and entertaining chats!

Andy Sundberg: It is prudent to carry an official identification document with you in France. I'd suggest that you carry your passport with you all of the time while you are there.

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London, UK: Mr. Sundberg,

I just recently relocated to London. As I am still job-hunting (having dual citizenship, I don't need a work visa), and I realized I didn't do enough preparation before I came. Do you have any suggestions where I can get more information about living and working abroad, either in London, or in general. The part I am finding hardest is comparing salaries and expenses between the US and London and sorting through obligations such as US taxes. Thanks!

Andy Sundberg: If you go to the American Citizens Abroad website at www.aca.ch and send us a message outlining all of your concerns we will forward this to our country contacts in the UK and they will be able to assist you. That is what we specialize in as a private sector volunteer organization with members in more than 90 countries of the world. Great that you are joining us in our 3 million+ overseas community. Welcome aboard!

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Washington, DC: Question for Andy-I am a US citizen working in Finance/Accounting and am interested in finding a job and living in India either temporarily or permanently.What are my options? Thanks

Andy Sundberg: If you go to the ACA website at www.aca.ch and send us the questions you want answered, we will forward them to our two country contacts in India. Our country contact network throughout the world is composed of volunteers in the overseas private sector American community. There are more than 3 million of us abroad now and I am sure we can find some very useful answers to your questions. Welcome abroad.

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Washington, DC: I'm in the process of moving to the United Kingdom and my Highly Skilled Migrant Programme application is currently being reviewed. My estimated departure is mid August. Obviously it would be fantastic to have a job lined up for when I make the move, but I'm finding it a bit difficult. Any advice? Some people have suggested recruiters but I'm not sure if I would be able to find someone with my specialty (I work in government)

Andy Sundberg: If you go to the American Citizens Abroad website at www.aca.ch and send us a message with your specific questions we will forward them to our country contacts living in the UK. They will have some useful suggestions for you. We are glad that you will be joining with the 3 million of us now living overseas. Welcome abroad.

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Washington, DC: Hi Folks!

After much debate, my fiance and I have narrowed our summer honeymoon plans to either Costa Rica, or Portugal and the Madeira Islands. What do you think? We'd both like to spend some time on the beach, but we can only take that for a few days without getting restless, and will need other activities as well.

thanks!

Andy Sundberg: Portugal is a wonderful country with many great tourism sites to visit. If you combine this with Madeira it will be a memorable trip. Costa Rica is also a great place but for real historical depth I'd suggest the Portugal option.

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New York, NY: How does one find out the all needed requirements to gain legal residency in a foreign country, such as bank account, income, taxes, etc. I am particularly interested in Argentina but would like to be able to research other countries also.

Dewey

Andy Sundberg: Dewey, There are several ways to do this. You can check the State Department website which has a number of country specific details. The CIA website has a lot of useful background information on each country. You can call the Embassy in the United States for each target country, and finally you can contact us at American Citizens Abroad via our website: www.aca.ch

We look forward to your joining us in our 3 million strong overseas American community

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Charleston, SC: I am considering moving to the UK or to Ireland to get my PhD and hopefully stay on in one of those countries after I get my degree. How hard is it to become a resident alien in those countries, or is it easier to try and get citizenship? I would like to retain my American citizen status, but is this possible living in a foreign country long-term?

Andy Sundberg: The conditions for obtaining the right to reside in those two countries change from time to time. Your best bet is to contact their embassies in Washington and ask them directly about these visa conditions. As to keeping your American citizenship, it is yours for life, even if you acquire another nationality while living abroad provided you don't go to a U.S. embassy or consulate and formally renounce your U.S. citizenship.

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Denver, Colo: Andy, after reading your answers to the first few questions, I had a look at your website. It appears that in order to get assistance from ACA you have to be a member. My question is, can you actually assist members with potential job contacts?

Andy Sundberg: That depends on the country. I a number of countries we have members and contacts who can help with this. We provide help even to those who are not yet members of ACA, but we hope that you will become a member and help support our all volunteer work. Give us a try and see how it works out.

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Washington, DC: My beau and I want to go to Greece and had settled on doing that for new year's eve then we realized it might be cool there at that time of the year. Anybody out there visited Athens (and surrounding islands) during the Dec-Jan period?

Cindy Loose: There is some variation over the area, depending on elevation and such, but basically you're looking at average temps of about 50 degrees in January. For a more detailed look, go to www.gogreece.com/travel/weather and you'll find not only general info about rain and temps, but you can click on a map of individual areas and islands to get average temps month by month.

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Westminster, Md.: I have thought about the economics of moving to another country. What are some good reseach materials for looking into South American countries further?

Andy Sundberg: There are a number of good sources. Start with the embassies of the countries that interest you. The U.S. State Department website has some data and the CIA website has a lot of interesting background data for every country. Finally, we at American Citizens Abroad might be able to assist too if you contact us via our website at www.aca.ch

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Rockville, Md: Please Help. Trying to find fares to Orlando end of June. They are close to $250 and over RT. Should I expect any kind of fare sale for this time? Thanks

Carol Sottili: I don't know when you want to travel, but staying over a Saturday or traveling on Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturdays can help. Also, try going out of BWI. Southwest and AirTran are about $177 round trip out of BWI end of June. Will there be a sale? Possibly. Sign up at www.kayak.com and ww.orbitz.com to be notified when a sale starts. But kids are out of school end of June, and it's a popular time to go to Disney, so planes may book up.

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New York, NY: My friend worked in India for the past two years and felt lonely and disconnected from any ex-pat community. She is now transferring to Hong Kong and is excited by the promise of a more vibrant ex-pat community there. Any words of wisdom, resources or suggestions for that specific area? Thanks!

Andy Sundberg: Hong Kong is awash with expats and many expat organizations and clubs. It is one of the most exciting places in the world. Check in with the American consulate there and they will have a list of the relevant American organizatons you can contact.

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Carry-on free for all: I was surprised that the response in Sunday's CoGo to the student whose laptop was stolen by Lufthansa didn't go further in taking bulky carry-ons to task.

Current airline policy turns the boarding process into an anxious melee as you try to get on and claim your own overhead space before the guy with bulging rollaboard, two bags of duty free and a laptop case crams his stuff into it.

Is there ANY initiative being taken by ANY airline companies to actually limit carry ons to the supposed allowance? Reserving overhead space for the seats underneath would be a nice start.

Cindy Loose: I certainly feel your pain, and I too get irritated at folks who refuse to check anything no matter how much they're carrying--bin hogs, I call em. But the subtext of the item, I believe, made it clear: If it won't fit under your seat, you take a risk when hauling it on board.

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Washington, DC: For the Flight Crew or for any chat participants... romantic spot in Vegas to pop the big question (besides the gondolas in the Venetian)? And no, there are no plans to follow it up with a visit to a wedding chapel Elvis!

John Deiner: No wedding chapel Elvis? What a waste.

I'm thinking the Chat Gang may have more ideas than I do, but as far as romantic spots go, I'd suggest the fountains in front of Bellagio (you can get a schedule of the songs to be played from the front desk, I believe). There are various spots they can be seen from. Also, I imagine that the cheesy fake Eiffel Tower would make prime proposin' territory if you go to the top.

But my choice would be to get outta town and head to beautiful Red Rock Canyon and propose at sunset. It's becoming a popular spot to have weddings as well, because it's fairly isolated, beautiful and you can't see the lights of the Strip from much of it. Good luck!!

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Woodbridge, Va: Re: Gary Lee story on Red Hook

Hi Gary,For Washingtonians going to Red Hook to meet a cruise ship, would you recommend getting there by air or train? If air, which airport?

Do you think most taxi drivers in Manhattan know how to get to Red Hook?

Your "Getting There" information also mentions taking the A/C subway and B-61 bus but isn't that out of the question for anyone with luggage?

Are there any other transportation options to the pier such as shuttle services from the airports or Amtraks' Penn Station?

For people arriving by ship at Red Hook what sort of transportation challenges will they face?

Thank you

Gary Lee: Good question. It's true that taking the subway and bus with luggage is a major hassle, though it's not impossible.Your best bet for connecting with the ship is to take a train to Penn Station and a taxi from there. Can't say for sure if taxi drivers in Manhattan will know how to find Red Hook. I recommend that you take directions with you (from mapquest or elsewhere) just in case. You can fly, of course, and from a map it seems that the best airport to fly into would be LaGuardia.

We have not been able to ascertain whether there are shuttles from the airports. However, the new york water taxis are running regularly between Manhattan and Red Hook on weekends. Check out details on www.nywatertaxi.com

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Leesburg, Va: Drat, my professor didn't cancel class on the last day so I'm forced to post early!

Anywho, the third week of August I'll be moving to Norman, OK to continue my studies and have already planned my route. I'll be taking I-81 to I-40, spending nights in Knoxville, Tunica (MS), and Ft. Smith (AR). My question is this, what should I stop and see on the way? Esteemed travel writers and fellow chatters, what do you think?

Steve Hendrix: You were hoping he would call class on account of sun maybe?

Yes, we'll throw this out to our I-40 expert readers, but let me also suggest that you look at a website called roadfood.com. That's a promising (but still skimmpy on some routes) source for non-franchise options around the country.

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Cyprus suggestions from last week: To the honeymooner heading for Cyprus: car rentals are fairly easy to arrange but remember you will be driving on the "wrong side of the road" like in the UK. Last time I was there you could not take your rental car from the Greek to Turkish areas. You had to park at the border and walk through a rather horrific photo depiction of what each side claims the other did during the war and you had a time limit when the border crossing closes for the night. When you get to the Turkish side you grab a taxi to do some sightseeing. Kyernia is a small port city that is lovely to stroll through. Life is very much untouched by anything modern on the turkish side, old cars, old everything. There are lots of archeological sites and antiquities to see throughout Cyprus, any good guide book will help you out. Paphos is lovely, great beaches, beautiful resorts.

KC Summers: Great stuff, for the Cyprus-bound. Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the first-person account of Cyprus. It sounds like a great adventure!

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Washington, DC: I hope your Russia expert can answer this: I am travelling to St Petersburg for the white nights and am looking into side trips. Both Vyborg and Kizhi sounded interesting to me but I was wondering if you feel that the overnight train to Petrozavodsk is worth it to get to Kizhi and if Vyborg is worth the time at all. Should I just go to Novgorod instead even though I was there ten years ago? And, no I don't want to deal with getting a multi-entrance visa as much as I would like to go to Helsinki or Estonia.

Gary Lee: Although it's been a while since we have done this route, from what I have done and what I hear unless you want a new adventure your best bet is to stick with Novgorod. It's changed in the past 10 years and, from what we hear, much for the better.

If you decide to d Vyborg and Kizhi, by almost the overnight train to Petrozavidsk is worth it, kind of fun in a way.

Sounds like you can't go wrong either way. Does anyone who has recent experience with this route want to add their two cents here?

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Bethesda, Md: Hi, crew--is there any easy, inexpensive way to get to Annapolis for a day trip without a car? Greyhound goes there by way of Baltimore, a 2 1/2 hour trip. Is there a commuter bus or something?

Carol Sottili: I think the commuter bus travels between D.C. and Annapolis (also New Carrollton metro) only during the week. Go to www.mtamaryland.com.

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Vegas help!: My husband got an email about the new Cirque show- LOVE- and now wants to see it for our 2nd anniversary in September. Any ideas about where I can get a decently priced air/hotel package deal? Thanks!

John Deiner: Hey, VH. Is that the Cirque show at MGM? Or is there another one? Or the Mirage Beatles Cirque show? (That's replacing the dynamic duo of Sigried & Roy and should be pretty impressive).

As far as deals go, try Vegas.com and sites like Travelocity and Orbitz. Also, Priceline has some good package deals if you hit it at the right time.

To start though, I'd head to the sites of airlines that go there, Southwest and America West/US Airways in particular. That'll give you a good head start; you'll be able to set a price that you can try to beat. Then try to price it a la carte. If you get a $200 fare to Vegas, I'd pay that for two then try to book a hotel separately.

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Arlington, Va: It figures...for our vacation, I promised my husband that we would go to his native Canada for Canada Day (Ottawa, no less) and we were planning on driving there. With gas prices the way they are, I'm tempted to call it quits, but I can't break his heart. He's never been in Ottawa for Canada Day and is really looking forward to the trip (we're heading to Montreal afterwards and visiting family on the drive back down into the States). Luckily we've been saving our pennies into a vacation club account all year, so we'll just have to cut back on the poutine and Labatt's and put that money into gas instead. Oh well...

Steve Hendrix: And since we're seeing fuel surcharges on air fares, that may not be a great options either, eh? (That how they say in it Cananda.)

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Washington, DC: Thanks for taking my question!

I hope to travel to Brazil this summer for a lengthy vacation (about 3 weeks). Rio de Janeiro and Salvador are the two places I am certain to visit. My big concern is that July is their winter. Any advice on whether I should reconsider my plans? This is the rainy season in Bahia. If I'm looking for a taste of Ipanema beach culture, will I be disappointed?

Gary Lee: We think that you won't be disappointed. We could drink our words here but based on our experience it rarely rains all day during the rainy season and it's still warm enough in July to hit the beaches either in Ipanema or Bahia. We envy you the time there. These are two of our favorite cities.

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Chantilly, Va: I'm taking a guided tour over Route 66 next month. We start in Chicago and wind up in L.A. One of the things we're going to see in Chicago is the Sears Tower. Now, I'm afraid of heights (obviously am unhappy about flying to Chicago and back from L.A., but can't be helped). Question: exactly how scary is the Sears Tower to an acrophobe?

Cindy Loose: I applaud you for facing your fears so as to accomplish what sounds like a wonderful trip. But given how many great things there are to do in Chicago that don't require heights, why worry yourself further with a trip up the Sears Tower? Obviously you confront your fear of heights if it seriously impacts your life and its pleasures, as you showed by deciding to fly. The ground portions of the trip are supposed to be fun, so if going up a tower isn't fun for you, bag it--and don't beat yourself up about it. To make an analogy--I hate roller coasters, so why would I ride roller coasters in my spare time? Surely you don't consider me in any lesser light cause I make that choice. So why push yourself to do something in your pleasure time that isn't pleasurable to you?

Unless you're afraid of water, substitute a marvelous boat tour--the architectural one done by volunteers with an architect's association are fun. This way you can look up at the buildings, getting a very similar view to the one you'd have looking down at buildings, but without the queasy feeling. Or take in all the wonderful musuems at ground level, or stroll the downtown and the waterfront and, and, and-----enjoy.

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Rochester, NY: Hi Crew!

If one had to choose btwn Spain (Southern?) and Portugal for 2 weeks...what would the Crew do? We're big on getting as close as possible to living as the locals do, combined w/being steeped in history/culture.

We're thinking September/October. Gotta get crackin' on the language tapes...

Andy Sundberg: You can actually do both countries very easily. If you choose to spend time in Andalousia, where the last of the Moorish cities held out until 1492, and then head up toward Seville you can dart across to Palos de Frontera and see where Columbus sailed for his first voyage to the new world. Then it is a rather short drive over into the southern part of Portugal. It will be a great trip. Enjoy.

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Athens, Greece: As a sometimes resident of Greece, I'd recommend not

going over New Year's if you want to get the best Greek

experience. It does snow in Athens and surrounding areas

(in winter 2004 and this past winter the city was shut

down for days because of snow). Most of the islands will

also be pretty much shut down in the winter. Travel to

some of the mainland sites could be hard too if the

weather is bad. (I've been stuck in a sudden blizzard in

Kalavryta in January.) Plus in Greece, New Year's is a

bigger holiday than Christmas, so a lot of stuff is shut

down for family celebrations.

If it's your only chance to go, then go. But otherwise, can I

recommend September or early-mid October as the

absolute best times in Greece?

Cindy Loose: Good advice. Thanks.

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Summer plans: We'll change our plans by taking the motorcycle on long

trips instead of the car. We did two weeks down the East

Coast and up through the Blue Ridge last spring. It was

glorious--and I learned to pack only the most essential

items. That was a challenge, but it really made us pick and

choose what souvenirs to bring back. (Mostly digital

pictures--2,500 of them!)

Steve Hendrix: Gosh, that must make the safety officials cringe. Just be sure to put the baby in a proper car seat.

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Washington, DC: I was thinking of taking the Mrs. out to the Homestead in Hot Springs, VA for a weekend in May. Can any of you weigh on on whether this will be the type of memorable experience I will be expecting as I shell out a couple thou?

Thanks

KC Summers: Depends on which Mrs. you're taking, Wash. Ba dum bum. Okay, without knowing what kinds of things you like it's hard to say whether you'll find this worth such a big outlay, but I really liked the Homestead. But you have to be a fan of afternoon tea and rocking chairs and the whole Suth'n Virginia approach to life. The activities are neat, everything from fishing to skeet shooting to spa-ing, and of course, golf. The costs can really add up, though -- the tea and some other stuff are free, but many activities have a hefty fee. One thing I really loved was the nearby Jefferson Springs, where our third president took the waters. It's very cool to be able to soak in so much history.

One thought: If you're going to be spending that much, you might want to take a look at the rival Greenbrier. It's pretty neat too, and the decor is much more lively than the Homestead.

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Ellicott City Md: I am considering a trip to the Azores but can't find a direct flight from the US. All flights found were connecting flights from Lisbon. Would like to avoid the extra hours in transit.Can you help?

Thanks!

John Deiner: Hey, EC. Go to www.azores-express.com and you'll get the lowdown on direct flights. There's only one airline that flies there from the States, SATA International, and it only flies from Boston. That said, nab a good fare to Boston (I found one for $103 not too long ago) and it's really worth it. Connections en route to Azores are no problem (flight leaves in late evening) but you'll have to stay a nite at an airport hotel when you return (flight gets in too late for connections home, at least in my case).

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Washington, DC: Good afternoon Crew!

My husband, 4-yr old son and I are flying to Paris next week for a much needed vacation. We've been assigned the three middle seats on the direct flight to CDG. Expedia shows availability in the "economy plus" section, but the airline seat selector does not give me access to them - as I am not yet a premier frequent flyer. Any thoughts as to the best time for me to plead my case with the airline to improve our seating on an international flight? Many thanks!!

Andrea Sachs: Call the airline now, before the seats are gone (once they are full, you are stuck), and get ready to make your case. You have a good shot if you are a family that has been divided by a bad seating arrangement--especially if you have a young child. If that fails, get to the airport as early as possible on your day of departure and talk to a ticket agent about changing your seats. You can also try to go on the airline's Web site and try to change your seats online. Or, call Expedia (is that who you booked with?) and talk to an agent about your dilemma.

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Florida-bound: I am flying to Tampa in several weeks on Southwest. I have an early morning (7:40am) return flight out of Tampa on Monday morning. A coworker just told me that Southwest check-in at TPA is insane and to get there at least an hour earlier than I was planning. Have the Crew or others found this to be consistently true for Southwest, especially on early morning Monday flights?

Cindy Loose: I don't know how far in advance you were planning, but never mind---thing is that check-in times vary a lot, not only by airport and by day of the week and time of day, but by airline, too. I'd call Southwest for their advice on the specifics of your flight.

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Jessup, Md: I was going to take my mom to Nashville to visit my brother and his family this summer. We were going to borrow my other brother's RV to do this. With the sharp increase in the price of gas. We figure it will be cheaper drive down in my small car and stay at an inexpensive motel instead.

Steve Hendrix: Wow, seems like folks are really thinking of plans.

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For Brazil: I lived in Salvador for six months, and August was definitely the worst, rain-wise. You'll probably be fine in July (no promises, of course). And there are basically only two weather options in Bahia: rain or sunny, so as long as it isn't raining, it'll be a great beach day. It never gets cold. Really.

Gary Lee: Much thanks for that insight.

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Washington, D.C.: I am looking for ONE-WAY airfare from d.c. to Anchorage, AK/Fairbanks, AK on May 20th weekend. It's all very expensive (400+), do you have suggestion to where to look for cheaper fare?

Also, do you have your list of Best of Alaska? Like Glacier on foot, Glacier(view), sea kayaking, wildlives, restaurants, lodging, souvenir, photography tips, etc?

Thanks a bunch.

Carol Sottili: There are no discount airlines that fly to Alaska from here, so one-way airfares (or round-trip fares for that matter) are not going to be cheap. If it makes you feel better, $400 or so is pretty good, considering the round-trip fare is about $543. It's not unusual for one-way fares to be more expensive than round-trip fares.

We've not done a Best of Alaska roundup. If anyone out there has ideas, please share.

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SW Wash., DC: BWI-IAD: From yesterday's Q&A on how to get between the airports, you missed the more obvious public transit option - you can take the B30 BWI Express bus to the Green Line Metro to L'Enfant, where you pick up the 5A Dulles Express bus. Less expensive than West Falls Church/Washington Flyer and no change of train lines.

This raises a question, though - Metro has been holding bus service adjustment hearings to cut a bunch of routes, but promises to bolster service on others - including the Dulles Express - but doesn't say much more. Any idea what that means - more service? buses with luggage racks? Fewer instances of people left behind at Rossyln because the bus is overcrowded?

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for another Dulles-BWI route. But as you said, the bus has its drawbacks. The Flyer seems more reliable and cushy, when you are already taking multiple forms of transportation.

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Boston, Mass: Thank you guys so much - because of your great stories on Guatemala I am spending the summer there July 12 - Sept 7. Woo hoo!

After watching airfare for the past two weeks I finally decided to buy on Friday. Up until then, prices listed on Orbitz were around $570. Well, since Friday they have been at $651 and up. The flight I wanted on US Airways was $570 on Thursday and $732 on Friday! I called them and they claimed that fuel charges had nothing to do with it, just normal price fluctuations. I decided to go with a Delta flight for $674 I'll get Skymiles, so I'm okay with the price, I guess. Was this a good deal? Why do I usually end up feeling a bit ripped off recently when buying airline tickets?

Steve Hendrix: Ouch, I hadn't noticed that jump in fares (planning my own flights in August). Flying from DC, I think anything over $500 to Guatemala is shocking, but we may be looking at the new fuel reality here.

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Washington, DC: I'm flying down to Ft. Lauderdale out of National. My flight leaves at 8:30am. Do I really need to get there at 6:30? Would 7 or 7:15 suffice?

John Deiner: Hey, DC. My experience says that 7 or 7:15 will be plenty of time, and you'll still end up sitting around watching people buy coffee near the gate. Anyone out there with words of caution?

Oh, wait, I have some: Listen to the radio that morning to make sure that Metro is in decent order. I once nearly missed a plane out of Reagan National because of an unexpected 45-minute Metro delay.

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St. George, Switzerland: For Andy Sundberg,

I have heard that ACA recently published a book about experiences of Americans abroad. What is it like?

Andy Sundberg: The book is entitled "So Far and Yet So Near". It is a compendium of 41 short stories written by members of the American diaspora living all over the world. It has received rave reviews so far. Cost is less than $25 and you can order it from Amazon. Go to the ACA website at www.aca.ch and you can order it directly from our website connection to Amazon.

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Washington, DC: I am trying to book a vacation for Costa Rica thru a company called Latin Destinations. Has any one heard of them (good or bad)?

Andrea Sachs: We personally have not traveled with that company, but they have good credentials and I believe I have used them in a past What the Deal? column. However, if anyone has a real-life experience to share, please take the stage.

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Sun Valley, Md: Hubby and I are going to Greece for six days this Spring, sans kids (woo hoo!). We arrive in Athens late 5/21 and need to be there 5/23 for a family thing. We're going to spend the 24-26 in Santorini. What should we do on the 22nd, assuming we'll spend the 23rd sightseeing in Athens? We loved exploring the back roads wine country of Italy together. Is there anything similar to be had within a few hours drive of Athens? THANKS in advance!

Andy Sundberg: I'd suggest taking a trip to Delphi and seeing what the famous Oracle was all about. You'll keep thinking about this for the rest of your lives. Enjoy.

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Abroad: Regarding working abroad: DON'T watch "Lost in Translation". It was more of a movie about the randomness of life - meeting a stranger in an 'unlikely' place and making a connection, not about life abroad. I'm not sure how sophisticated and worldly Sofia Coppola is, but showing Japan at its most absurd and caricatured doesn't help anyone. It was really Murray's character's fault for expecting the world to work around him. Did he even crack open a tour book, learn some key phrases, and figure out some things to do? Sure, they were going through a mid-life (and quarter-life for Johansson) crisis and were lost already - translation or not - but still. Way to go to frame it all on another country. Last thing we need in this global world is to view cultures diff. from ours as just weird.

- an expat

Steve Hendrix: I think most people got that, Abroad.

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Chicago, Ill: Hi crew. My husband and I just found out that his work will take him (and luckily me too!) to Bangkok for a 9-month stint starting in September. We are very excited about it, especially the opportunity to travel within the region. Do you have any suggestions for weekend trips, using Bangkok as our launching pad?

Andy Sundberg: Make sure to go up north to Chang Mai and south to the islands of Co PiPi and Co Samui as well as Phuket. So much to see. Wonderful country.

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Bethesda, Md: Is Peru a good place for a romantic trip? We would like to do some hikes, maybe Machu Picchu, but being with a group of 10 other people doesn't seem like we would have much time alone. Also, if you only had 1 week there, which places would you recommend.

Also a comment on the Lufthansa story; I think an important point was that the flight attendant lied and said the bag was going to be placed elsewhere on the plane and not checked. However, it was then checked without telling the person. If the customer had been told up front it was going to be checked I think its much more likely they would have removed the laptop.

Gary Lee: Peru is infinitely romantic. If romance is key for you, as it seems, we would not suggest hiking the Inca Trail this time. It's fun but you'd be four days with a group. Here's what we would do with a week: Two days in Cusco and one in Maccu Piccu. If possible, stay overnight in the town of Aguas Calientes, near Maccu Piccu so you can go there early in the morning before the crowds arrive. From there, fly to Arequipa and take an overnight trip to the Colca Canyon, where you can do some good hiking. Finally, if you have time, head to Puno and do a boat tour of Lake Titicaca, preferably one that stops at Taquile island.

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One day in Bangkok: I'm going to Bangkok in a couple of weeks for a meeting and will have one free day before heading back. Is there anything I should make a point of seeing either in the city or on a day trip outside?

Thanks!

KC Summers: Wow, that's a tough one. You can be the dutiful tourist and see the major Bangkok "sights" -- the Grand Palace, Wat Po, the National Museum, Wat Arun, etc. And they are wonderful. But the heart of the city is the river, so I'd also be tempted to just spend a few hours chartering a long-tail boat and seeing the city from the water. Go to a floating market, admire the temples, get off at a dockside bar and admire the view. Oh, I *really* liked the Jim Thompson House too.

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Burke, Va: Is there any company in Hawaii that offers an island hopping pass? We have tickets to get to either Honolulu or Maui, but I'd prefer to not get stuck on one island for an entire week. Are there ferries between the islands, or are you stuck traveling by plane?

Are there any inexpensive ways or packages to get to some of the other islands once we're there?

Carol Sottili: Plane is the easies, cheapest way to get from island to island. Try Aloha Airlines (www.alohaairlines.com), which has a special $39-a-leg fare right now. Or try Island Air (www.islandair.com)or Hawaiian Air - also is offering the special deal - (www.hawaiianair.com). There is some limited ferry service - go to www.gohawaii.com for a list.

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Annapolis, Md.: Have tried posting for a few weeks, maybe 5th time's the charm. I'm pregnant and planning a "babymoon". In May (end of). Yes, I know it's last minute. We are thinking islands - relaxtion is key, maybe some golf, beach-side rooms would be fantastic. But i don't even know what islands to start with - can you recommend some that are relatively easy to get to from BWI, other than Bermuda, where I don't have to worry too much about food safety and husband and I can focus on relaxing and enjoying our last non-parent vacation?

John Deiner: Hey, Annapolis. Not sure if you mean the Caribbean or just any ol' island. Me? I'd go to to Sanibel, Fla.,which is easy (and affordable) to reach from BWI on Southwest or USA 3000. Otherwise, I'd try to get to the Bahamas or Puerto Rico.

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Proposing in Vegas: At night the garden/pool area next to Bouchon in the Venetian is very lovely, and has many secluded nooks in which to propose and canoodle.

And an international question: I'll be driving from Amsterdam to Munich in a few weeks...any must see quick stopovers on the drive between those 2 points? Thanks!

Cindy Loose: Thanks----and as for your drive between Amsterdam and Munich--please be careful. Germans are good drivers, but boy, do they drive fast. Also, you may already know, but the European equivilent to mapquest.com is viamichelin.com, where you can get detailed directions and advise about stops along the way.

As for stops---can anyone with more experience help on ideas for stops between Amsterdam and Munich? My only thought is Dusseldorf. Any other ideas?

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Sock It To, ME: Wow! I just purchased a roundtrip ticket from National Airport to Portland, ME for Memorial Day weekend and it cost $927.10!! With rising fuel prices, is this what we're in for in the future?

Andrea Sachs: Um, I hate to burst your happy vacation bubble, but unless you are flying in a Learjet, I think you overpaid (you can fly to Tokyo for less). For that same weekend, I found flight for about $300.

But, yes, fares are going up, due to demand and fuel prices. But let's hope not by that much--$627.10.

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Buenos Aires, Argentina: I am an expat living aborad. Last year I married an Argnetine national. I have Argentine residency and we intend to live in Argnetina for the forseeable future.

We are planning on a visit to the states this summer. My wife already has a valid tourist visa and has legally entered and legally departed the US several times.

Still, with all of the horror stories around, how much should I worry that an Immigrations officer will see that she is now married and deny her entry when we arrive in the US?

Andy Sundberg: You might want to call the U.S. Consular service in BA and ask for their advice. Normally this should not cause you any problems.

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Rockville, Md.: Summer Plans and Gas Prices:

My family has a house in Ocean City. We'll probably go 8x (weekends) through the summer. How will we compensate for the higher gas prices? Unfortunately, it'll be by not spending as much money IN Ocean City. That means grilling instead of going to restaurants, packing a cooler instead of snack bars, and no outlet shopping (do we REALLY need more stuff?). It's unfortunate for those businesses that rely on summer tourism, to have to fall victim to the high gas prices, but those are normally the only avenues where families can save money and still take a vacation. Having been a waitress for years, relying on the public's disposable cash, I will be able to sympathize with what may happen to a lot of people, counting on that money

P.S. IF you can still go out to eat at restaurants - don't skimp on the tip just to save YOU money.

Steve Hendrix: I'll be interested to see if the summer resorts really do experience a fall off in business this season, Rockville. Lot's of people in this chat are talking about changing plans, but I'll believe it when I see the empty roads.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi there! I recently moved back to the D.C. area after completing a master's degree program at the London School of Economics. I struggled mightily to get a work permit or visa while in London to no avail, but have not given up on my desire to move back to London. I am 27 and was wondering how to go about finding out whether I qualify for the High Skilled Migrant Program, or any other tips/ideas for how to get permission to work in the UK. Thanks so much for any help!!

Andy Sundberg: Your best bet is to contact the U.K. embassy in Washington.

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McLean, Va: This is more of a comment. A couple of months ago, I submitted a question about travelling to Jordan. At the time you stated that you would not recommend travel in Jordan. I just returned from a two week trip to Jordan and Egypt and want to advise your readers that we had a great time throughout the entire trip and were genuinely touched by the warm welcome we received in these countries. At no time on the trip did we encounter any anti-American sentiments directed at us. The people we talked to went out of their way to separate their feelings for my wife and I as Americans, from their fundamental disagreement with the middle eastern policies of our current administation. Petra alone is worth the visit.

KC Summers: That's great to hear, McLean. While a specific chatter might have expressed concern about traveling to the Middle East, we've all got different comfort levels. As a section, we would never categorically tell anyone not to go. In fact, we're planning a story on Jordan soon. Glad your trip went so well.

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Silver Spring, Md: I loved the article on Buenos Aires in the Sunday Travel Section. Years ago, I traveled a lot; however, I now have a 5-year-old son. Where can I find camps or family actives in Buenos Aires or other countries?

KC Summers: Gonna throw this out to the chatters, since we're not familiar with these. Chatters?

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Washington, DC: Hey there- Do you know if it is possible to rent a house in the Outer Banks for a long weekend (3-4 nights?) I've been looking and it seems you can only rent houses by the week. Thanks.

Andrea Sachs: It all depends on the season and the location. For example, I have rented on Ocracoke Island for a couple days in spring and late summer, and John says Duck has loads of rentals that might have shorter-term leases. High season, though, is tougher up and down the Banks.

Call around to the major rental companies, or check their Web sites, which usually list the rental terms (and times). The only caveat: You might have to pay a somewhat hefty cleaning fee.

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Bowie, Md: Hi crew...happy monday! Throwing this to you and the chatters out there for help....Eurofly USA - low fare carrier from JFK to Italy. Anyone with experiences on them? I have a $646 fare to Rome on Sept 1 which is a GREAT deal....but....Also, I have 8 nights to spend - been to Rome once, about 20 yrs ago. Would 8 nights be good, or perhaps 4 in Rome, 2/4 in Florence and or Venice (taking trains). Too hectic? Gratzie!

Andy Sundberg: You might want to consider 4 night in Rome and then head south to Naples, Sorento and Capri.

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Intriqued by Argentina (WDC): I now want to go to B.A. for a family vacation, (hubby, 2 daughters 6 & 8). What is the best time of year to go? Best Places to stay for that family resort/beach experience? Should we stay in a particular city or go further afield?

LOVE THESE CHATS!

Cindy Loose: If you're thinking beach resorts, you should be thinking the opposite of our seasons--Christmas vacation for example would be a good hot time to go.

I'd definately give Buenos Aires a couple days, and then investigate some of the smaller towns or resort areas. I don't advise your trying to drive out of the city on your own---traffic is truly horrendous. If you were thinking of renting a car I'd say take a train or bus out of BA to a smaller city and rent a car from there.

In addition to a beach resort, I think you should consider a stop in an estancia---a number of wonderful old aristrocratic homes on big spreads have been turned into inns, and being around horses and dogs might please your kids---plan to go on a weekend and make sure the estancia has entertainment, so you all get a look at the dances and singing from the country. How far afield you want to go depends alot on how much time and money you have. Lots of travel agents provide side trips to places like Iguazu Falls and beyond.

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Baltimore, Md: Here's my dilemma: I have a free Southwest ticket that I have to use by May 23. Problem is, I have NO IDEA where to go. I'll be going alone. And I want to avoid places I've already been, like Vegas, New Orleans, and Orlando. Any suggestions where I can fly to, by myself, and have a great time?

Thanks!

John Deiner: Hey, Baltimore. That's a tricky one, since the darned airline flies so many places. But I'd try to go the farthest I could on the airline with the fewest connections. You can fly nonstop to LA, but I'd opt for Portland, Ore. From BWI, there are a few flights with only one connection. Once there, Portland is a great little city with a nice shopping/nightlife/restaurant scene, but even better would be to rent a car and drive the coast or head up the Columbia River Gorge. It's really beautiful, and mid to late May would be a nice time to see it.

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Washington, DC: O knowledgeable travelers, For our first trip to Santa Fe, what is not to be missed? Are there any detours we should make on the way from Albuquerque airport?

Gary Lee: If you're going in the summer season, try to get a ticket to the opera. It's wonderful fun even if you don't like opera. Also, there is a great flea market out near the opera held on the weekends. There is lots of art around the city; do some gallery hopping down canyon road. But above all, for art spend some time at the Georgia O'Keefe museum. If you have a car, take a drive out to Bandlier National Park. Save some time for it; it was the highlight of my trip a couple of years back.

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Portugal or Spain: I have to disagree with doing both in 2 weeks--those are pretty far distances. Pick one small area, especially if you want "live like the locals," etc.

Andy Sundberg: The southwestern part of Spain borders on Portugal and you can do this transit from Spain to Portugal very easily. If you go to Seville, you can stop outside the city at an old Roman town of Italica where both Trajan and Hadrian were born.

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Washington, DC: What, in your opinion, could be a very interesting, fun, and reasonably priced trip for 3-4 nights, out of BWI, for a guy in his 20s? London will cost well over $2000, Toronto over $1000. I've already been to Chicago, Miami/South Beach, Montreal, and LA. Thanks

Cindy Loose: My number one personal choice, given where you've been and not been, would be San Francisco. With four nights you'd even have time for a nice side trip down the coast.

If you liked Montreal, I'd recommend Quebec City, which I like more than Montreal.

Surprised that Toronto would cost over $1,000. I might consider pricing that out again. If you like theater, it's a great choice. Do you drive? If so, maybe you could get a cheap flight into Buffalo then rent a car and make it affordable.

If you like drinking and good food and at the same time nature and rural stuff, I might even consider doing New Orleans--still enough left there for a couple nights, and throw in a swamp tour on an extra day.

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for the Bangkok bound...: a must not miss weekend is the Sofitel Central Hua Hin. It's a three hour train ride from Bangkok and has the Raffles atmosphere at 1/4 the price!

http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fichehotel/gb/sof/resort/0891/fiche_hotel.shtml

KC Summers: More advice for our one-day-in-Bangkok guy. This really sounds great tip, though a bit far for a day trip. Thanks!

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Washington DC: I have full fare BusinessFirst international tickets on Continental in late August. Just making sure there are no industry rumours regarding this airline in terms of things like a bankruptsy, labor dispute, etc. that would threaten my trip. Thanks!

Cindy Loose: If there's anything up with Continental that threatens your trip, I haven't heard about it. Anyone else know better?

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Springfield, Va Hi Flight Crew! Long-time lurker, first-time poster. My husband and I would like to book a cruise and visit the Greek islands (maybe Egypt too). Any suggestions on best time of year and on cruise lines? We're willing to save for it but would be ecstatic to keep it under $5000 (airfare too). Thanks!

Andy Sundberg: We just came back from two weeks in Egypt. Now through May are good times for Aswan, Luxor, the Nile and the Red Sea. Summer in these areas is very hot. Winter can be chilly. Spring and Fall are best.

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One Day in Bangkok: If you want to see parts of the city that you'd never find without a guide, try a bike trip. A couple of months ago, I went with these guys, http://www.realasia.net/BangkokBike.htm run by a Dutch expat. We cycled through a market and around the "green lung" of Bangkok, an area mostly off limits to development. It was really a unique experience and it should get you back early enough in the day to maybe catch one of the other major sights.

KC Summers: Sounds wonderful -- thanks a lot for the great tip.

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Alexandria, Va: Should I cash in my Delta SkyMiles, or at least start using them up before the airline goes under, or does Delta stand a good chance of staying afloat?

Cindy Loose: I'm betting $1 that Delta will be okay, but not my retirement fund. To be on the safe side, if you have lots of miles and a place in mind you'd like to go, why gamble the miles---book something on a partner.

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Weirton, W. Va: RE: The Homestead:It is glorious. My daughter was married there. There are many interesting things to do there as well as taking in the beautiful country side. You will drop a lot of dollars, it is all pretty pricey. The food is fantastic, served elegantly and not in truck stop quantities. You will love it!!

KC Summers: True, they are not into truck stop quantities! A big plus.

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re Rockville: Your trip to Ocean City will cost you maybe another $50 total for your round trip unless you have one of those big gas guzzlers. I only see that curtailing maybe one meal out for a family or maybe one item less. The mileage between Rockville and Ocean City is around 150 miles.

Steve Hendrix: True, but she said they'll go about about eight times (to their house there). That adds up.

But, yes, the price hike will bite harder for the longer trips.

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Planning for Italy: n planning a five-week trip to Italy, flying in and out of Milan, for 3 people ages 61 to 78, we are interested working in Sardinia for a few days -- we are wondering if we can reasonably (money, time, effort) get from Genoa to Sardinia and then on to Sicily. What do you know about convenience and cost of ferries or planes for this and is this a more than wishing thinking? Current plans are not to have a car.

Thanks.

Carol Sottili: It will cost about $122 per couple to book a ferry from Genoa to Sardinia - to go www1.gnv.it and click on english option. For Sardinia to Sicily, go to http://www.gruppotirrenia.it/tirrenia_en/html/mainframe.htm

Not having a car in Sicily could be a problem. There are buses and trains, but cars are easier.

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Chantilly, Va.: Thank you so much for the kind words (I'm the acrophobe)! Sears Tower is included in the Chicago part of trip; there's an orientation tour of the city, and this is part of it. Ye gods. I suppose I could just give my sister my camera and say, "Have fun, see you when you come back down!"

Cindy Loose: I think you could do that. You could have a nice little stroll and a lovely cup of tea while they ascend.

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Herndon, Va: Greetings Flight Crew!

I'm spending my 50th birthday in Munich during Oktoberfest. I'll be there for a week, but I have another week after Oktoberfest to do some more traveling. Any recommendations? I've been to Berlin and Prague (wouldn't mind at all going back). Dresden? Should I head south to Venice? Maybe Croatia?

Gary Lee: Although going south is always a good option from Munich, we would suggest that you consider the following destinations for your last week. They're all pretty easily accessible from Munich. 1) Rhineland, centering around the very underrated city of Cologne (great for art, food, and Rhine tours) but including Dusseldorf and Bonn. 2) Dresden (another underated destination) which we would pair with Leipzig. (From there you could easily steal over to Prague again for a day or so.)

3) the Slovak Republic, centering around the city of Bratislava and the spa town of Piestany; Budapest, coupled with day trips around Hungary.

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Blacksburg, Va: We were thinking of traveling this summer, and then realized that it would be cheaper and easier to enjoy the beautiful weather and surroundings of where we live, instead.

We'll be spending our weekends biking in the area, and our weeklong summer vacation will be at a family camp in the area, that has childcare for the kids-- the only way that parents with small children (2 and 4) can ever really have a vacation!

Steve Hendrix: A vacation at home! Might be a fun travel feature in that.

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Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.: Looking for fares to London in mid-June and have seen them around $900. Any chance they will go down any time soon? (To say something in the $600 range?)

Carol Sottili: I wouldn't hold my breath. Aer Lingus has had some limited sales to Dublin and Shannon from New York and Boston, but that's all I've seen as far as sales across the pond. Nothing from here to London yet. It's a waiting game right now. If people don't book because prices are too high, there will be sale. But if enough book because they're afraid prices won't go down, there won't be a sale.

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Washington,D.C.: Gurus,i'm going to Miami for Memorial Day weekend and noticed that the flights are close to $500.00!!! Is this reasonable for this time of year?Should i wait it out or buy now?

Cindy Loose: Ouch, that is high. The reader outraged at $250 to Orlando I thought was dreaming of prices from yesteryear---at least $50 of that is tax so $100 each way doesn't sound too outrageous--but $500 goes beyond what I'd spend.

Then again, it's Memorial Day. Are you really wed to that weekend? If so, check out prices to Fort Lauderdale--not really that far away, and you might find something much better. Check Southwest in addition to sites like Orbitz, since Southwest doesn't show up on third party sites.

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Washington, DC: Is it too late to get to Germany for the World Cup without breaking the bank (over $2500 per person for two weeks)?

Gary Lee: It can be done but no easily. Your biggest challenge will be finding decent airfare; most of the cheap flights are booked into Germany or any nearby airports and so it's near impossible to get a ticket for less than $1,000. If you make your way past that, move quickly to book one of the hotel rooms that fifa has blocked out until the end of April. See fifa.com for details. At this stage, if you want tickets to games you would probably be best off picking them up over there, I think.

Anyone else have World Cup thoughts?

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Annapolis, Md.: Follow up on Babymoon:

We were thinking Caribbean. Any particular areas of the Bahamas that you would suggest?

Steve Hendrix: I'd say either Nasau area or Grand Bahama/Freeport, both places requiring short hop flights from Miami and loaded with a range of hotel/condo/rental options. There's a Sheraton/Westin complex in the Lucaya area of Grand Bahama that lovely.

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Arlington, Va: For the person going to Bangkok for 9 months, I think BKK is actually a very good base to see the surrounding countries. For sure skip over to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Vietnam is reasonably close by. Depending on how long you have, Kuala Lampur, Singapore and Hong Kong are easy flights from Bangkok. The Philippines are not too far away.

KC Summers: Yes, it's a good jumping-off point. Thanks for the input, Arl.

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Los Angeles, Calif: Gas prices out here are so crazy that we're actually FLYING instead: no joke. (Using up frequent flier miles too.)

We'll be covering the entire Northeast in 2 weeks and will be staying with friends/relatives the whole time -- even though last time we said never again! we're getting a motel! -- just to try to keep costs down. We're even borrowing a car.

Steve Hendrix: The end is here. They've given up driving in L.A.

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Washington, D.C.: I recently had a brainwave and wanted to get your collective take on it (as travel pros). US airlines have been in financial straits for a while, due in no small part to the fact that they can't compete with the smaller, low-cost airlines.

Has any airline considered abandoning its domestice route and only doing international flights? Airport slots could be sold off at a premium, you could slim down your fleet...there have to be a dozen ways they would save money. What do you think?

Cindy Loose: I don't know--airline finance is way outside my league. I do know some of the big American carriers are beefing up their overseas flights. But it's not like those routes are competition free. I also think the discounters are hurting---fuel costs are pushing everyone to the brink.

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If you get the chance to live abroad....: GO FOR IT! My family lived in Kuwait for 5 years from 1979-1984, and it was one of the best experiences of our lives! It was also pretty adventurous, considering at the time no one had ever heard of Kuwait and my twin sister and I were only 3.5 years old when we left. My dad's company considered it a hardship tour and so they paid for 2 vacations anyway plus two trips back to the US per year. We got to visit all sorts of cool places- rode on elephants, took dinky planes that landed on dirt runways, slept in longhouses, etc. You never know what sort of experiences living abroad will be in store!

Andy Sundberg: If you want a great selection of living abroad stories you might want to get a copy of the new American Citizens Abroad book entitled "So Far and Yet So Near". It is a compendium of 41 short stories of What it is like living in many different countries. You can find it at Amazon or order it directly through the ACA website at www.aca.ch

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Sock It To, ME: Just to clarify...I wasn't looking for the least expensive flight. The $927 booking got me exactly what I want and need...leaving on Friday morning of Memorial Day weekend and returning to DC on Monday evening. I know that you really pay extra when you can't be flexible. That's the way it goes.

Andrea Sachs: Sorry, I misunderstood. But, yes, fares are going up.

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re Washington Dc: The rental companies do rent long weekend like the flight crew stated usually in off season. But sometime if you wait until Friday or Saturday and call the rental companys they may rent to you for the weekend if a property is not rented. At that point they will make some money and not lose the entire week.

Andrea Sachs: Great suggestion.

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Washington, D.C.: My husband and I are planning to go to Lebanon in October to celebrate our first wedding anniversary - any tips for us? Should we have safety concerns? We have around 8-9 days - is that enough/too much for the country (I understand it's quite small)!

Gary Lee: DC: Wonderful choice. Lebanese, who are naturally very hospitable, will surely roll out the carpet for you if you let them know you're celebrating an anniversary. With all of the day trip options I do not think nine days is too long. Besides the ruins, make sure you take a trip to the mountain towns, particularly the birthplace of Kahil Gibran.

Mind your ps and qs but otherwise don't stress out about security.

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re gas prices and summer travel: I'm getting married this summer in New England - and many people from the mid-Atlantic states are planning on driving - nothing more than 10 hours for anyone. With gas prices though I'm beginning to wonder how many will not come. The airfares might be cheaper but not by much and may still put the trip out of range. What a way to get socked by gas prices! By the way, I'm flying.

Steve Hendrix: Will you be bicycling away from the church to save gas? Tin cans tied to your tandem?

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re. Santa Fe visitor: Don't miss taking the Turquoise trail between ABQ and SF

http://www.turquoisetrail.org/

Gary Lee: Nice tip, thanks.

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Outer Banks: If you can go during the week or create your own 3-day

weekend, you might have better luck. I've rented in Rehoboth

for a Sunday-Friday from DC residents who only use the

house on weekends. Same might apply to Outer Banks

Andrea Sachs: Another great idea. Thanks!

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OK Bound on I-40: For the grad student heading across I-40...definitely stop in Memphis for barbeque. Corky's and Rendezvous are great - Rendezvous only does dry ribs. If you're inclined to stop in Nashville, the Grand Ole Opry is neat, and there's a fake Parthenon (I've never really understood why, so it makes it even kitschier). If you have time to stop in Arkansas in the Ozarks, the National Park has some beautiful spots.

Steve Hendrix: Thanks, fried.

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Boston, Mass: To the 50 year old vacationing in Munich. I spent a week hiking in the Black Forest where they shuttle your luggage from inn to inn while you walk about seven miles a day. It is called "Wunderhiking in the Black Forest"

Gary Lee: Very good suggestion.

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Bethesda, Md.: I am going to Singapore in 2 weeks and want to take couple of days to relax with minimum flight time. I've been to Singapore and Phuket, and woudl love to go to Phuket or Koh Samui. 2 questions: I hear it is the rainy season, has anybody been there in May? And are there any direct flights from Singapore to Koh Samui? Any other suggestions? I've been to Bali and am not dying to go back. Thanks!

Cindy Loose: Bangkok Airways has direct flights to Koh Samui. Not so sure about the weather, though.

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Steve Hendrix: Thanks everyone for all the chat. Seems like we're in for an interesting driving season. And thanks, Andy Sundberg, for helping us out with ex-pat questions.

Lots of good stuff for a gas-impact driving feature. Blacksburg, for your vaction-at-home this summer, we've got a free plastic "wallet" for you. Send your particulars to me at travel@washpost.com.

See you next week, folks.

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