The Flight Crew
Washington Post Travel Section
Monday, October 2, 2006; 2:00 PM
The Post's Travel Section Flight Crew will take your comments, questions, suspicions, warnings, gripes, sad tales and happy endings springing from the world of ... the world. Of course, the Flight Crew will be happy to answer your travel questions -- but the best thing about this forum, we insist, is that it lets travelers exchange information with other travelers who've been there, done that or otherwise have insights, ideas and information to share. Different members of the Crew will rotate through the captain's chair every week, but the one constant is you, our valued passengers.
We know you have a choice in online travel forums, and speaking for the entire Flight Crew, we want to thank you for flying with us.
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KC Summers: Hi everyone, and welcome to the travel chat. We've just about got a full Flight Crew on board today -- we're only Gary-less, so hold those Trinidad & Tobago questions please! But do bring on your biking questions, because staffer Andrea Sachs, author of yesterday's Denver biking story, is here to help you plan your fall biking excursions. Also on board today: John Deiner, Steve Hendrix, Cindy Loose, Carol Sottili, Anne McDonough, and me, your captain du jour, KC Summers.
Did you see our Coming & Going item yesterday about the guy who punched out an American Airlines flight attendant because they were all out of chicken meals? Cindy wrote that this was probaby the first time in aviation history that someone felt an airline meal was worth fighting for. But the item made us hungry for your airline meal anecdotes. What's your worst, and best, meal experiences in the air these days -- and that includes stuff you carry on as well as what they dole out on board. Are those box meals they sell worth it? Do you have tips for homemade stuff to carry on, or airport restaurants with good carryout that you can recommend? For the funniest/most horrifying/most helpful anecdotes, we have some nice travel books to give away: 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up, Weekends for Two in New England, and Designing the Seaside. Let's go!
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Washington, DC: Anybody stayed in a London hotel recently (for under or
around 150 pounds) where they thought, "what a nice hotel,
but what a GREAT TUB"? I like a good soak after a long day
of touring, and could use a rec. for a November stay.
KC Summers: Gonna throw this one out to the chatters -- I'm sure we've got some London/bath fans out there?
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Alaska info: I asked a few weeks ago about cruise lines for Alaska but you said it's more ship dependant. So I'll try again. Do any of the readers know about Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas? Good or bad?
KC Summers: We haven't been on this one, but we really like a site called cruisecritic.com, which publishes independent reader reviews of ships. But if anyone out there has been on the Radiance, jump in!
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Columbia, Md: This might be an odd question - I'm getting married in Baltimore over President's Day weekend. It's an Indian Wedding with all the bells and whistles - so we won't be able to get away until Sunday early evening, and since my soon-to-be husband is blowing his vacation time for the wedding, we have exactly 2 nights for a honeymoon. Where would you go that's nearby and totally luxurious? We're odd travelers - love primative camping and love big city stuff - and I've never disliked pampering and spa treatments.
Since it's 2 days, money isn't really an object - I can happily spend $2500 on it!
John Deiner: Nearby and totally luxurious, eh? And you can spend THAT much money on it? Not sure whether you're willing to drive or not, but I guess I'd suggest spending a wad of cash in good ol' D.C. at the Mandarin Oriental. Just read something that said the spa the Mandarin is among the top 5 best in the country. CityZen, the restaurant there, is supposedly one of the city's best. And this town is really quite cozy and beautiful that time of year. Your beau can camp out in the parking lot if he insists.
If you want to travel, I'd jump on a train in Balmer and head to NYC and stay at the Four Seasons or one of those other high-cost digs -- I love New York in the winter.
Other ideas?
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Washington, DC: How early is too early to start planning a trip? I want to plan a 2-3 week European trip for my 30th birthday which is in 2008. Of course I'm excited and want to start planning now, but how much can I actually get done this early? I already have a general idea of where I'd like to go. Is it to early to start scoping things out?
Steve Hendrix: Plan away, WDC. Ask friends, seek recommendations, do a little preliminary scoping of fares and rates. You can't actually book air fares that far out, which only work 332 days in advance (Nor would you want to, unless it was some irrestible sale. Fares drop, plans change.) But there's no harm in drawing out the mulling phase.
Word of warning though: Your friends and relations will NOT want to hear about it all that time. Plan quietly.
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Georgetown, Washington, DC: I have 61K miles on United. Which destination (within those that I can redeem for 60K) is the best bang for my buck (or mile in this case)? Alternatively, what would be the most exotic destination? Or, if I were to break it up into smaller award tickets, what would be the best combination?
Cindy Loose: The numbers keep changing, but 60,000 might get you to Asia, and that's how I'd use them. (If it's moved up to 65,000 or even 70,000 depending on when you'd like to go, I'd even find a way to earn some more miles and wait---if you're not flying anywhere check into whether it's worth getting a credit card link to miles. Sometimes you'll get thousands just to sign up.)
Alternately go to Europe--I'd not do London since that's usually the cheapest of tickets.
Or, go cross country twice.
Finally, if you're thinking of using those miles prime time, like over a holiday or even during the summer months, the question might not be where should you go, but where you can go.
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Former Coloradan: I was surprised to note that your article on biking Denver made no mention of an extremely important issue: altitude. Denver is located 5280 feet above sea level (hence its nickname, "The Mile High City"), so the air has much less oxygen than the air at sea level. This is something that visitors from lower altitudes must keep in mind -- especially if they plan to exercise. Even for people in decent shape, it pays to allow some time to acclimate before planning a full day (or two) of biking: altitude sickness, with its headaches, nausea, and general malaise, isn't much fun.
Andrea Sachs: Excellent point! Thank you so much for bringing attention to the altitude difference. Yes, you are right, travelers should be aware of the altitude and not exercise too hard, especially in the beginning, when your body is not yet acclimated. Tips: Go slow with the physical activities, avoid alcohol and drink plenty of water.
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Baltimore, Md: My friend and I are trying to go to Guatemala next March (2 weeks before Semana Santa). Right now, tickets are hovering around $450 which seems like a lot- do you think this will go down and what's a good price to fly to this region? Thanks!
Steve Hendrix: $450 during the heart of Spring Break travel (Easter is April 8) is not terrible. Top of the favorable range, I'd say. Fares MAY come down, but they didn't last year (I paid about $450 in May '05) and they didn't this summer (got stuck around $500 and never budged).
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Ashton, Md: Four-day weekend: I can pick anywhere to go as a birthday gift from my adult son (and travel companion)in mid-November. Thinking theater and museums in NYC, Caribbean island, Santa Fe and environs, wine country, etc. Any great suggestions from the assembled multitude (not overseas this time)? Best of all, money is no object.
KC Summers: Wow. Nice dilemma. Having just come back from Santa Fe, I can highly recommend that, and mid-November is a good time to go. To be honest, I'd recommend SF more for the outlying trips than the city itself -- which is wonderful, of course, but so tourist- and money-ridden that it can be overwhelming. But if you get out into the mountains, pueblos, etc -- mmm. One drawback, though, is that I think the Georgia O'Keeffe house at Abiquiu closes in November.
But NYC is always wonderful, and the Caribbean will be coming out of hurricane season. You can't go wrong. Anybody else got advice for Ashton?
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Summit, NJ: Radiance is a beautiful ship, fairly large, with all the attractions you could want on a large, new boat.
On the meal question, my son and I sat in the last row of a United Airlines flight. As the stewardesses passed out the meals, the choices got smaller until they reached us. Sorry, we're out of food, the steward said. My son protested and the United steward said, "It sucks to sit in the back."
We got nothing.
KC Summers: We're laughing here. I think you deserve a book.
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Washington, DC: Hello Crew,
Thanks for taking questions. A few weeks ago a Thanksgiving cruise with Picasso Tours was in the Sunday section. My wife and I are thinking of taking it, but our contacts with Picasso to date have been less than satisfying. Do you have any information about the company and the cruise? Are they well-respected, etc? Also, the cruise departs from Barcelona. Any comments about spending a few days there would be much appreciated. Thanks for your time and knowledge.
Carol Sottili: Picasso Travel has been in business since 1979, which is an indication that it does a good enough job. There are no unresolved complaints listed against it with the Better Business Bureau. I haven't taken a trip with the company. Any chatters have experience? As for Barcelona, I'll again defer to chatters, but my daughter tells me it is a marvelous city with lots to do, and lots of good beach areas nearby.
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Ashburn, Va: I am heading to Walt Disney World next week. I was wondering if you or any of the readers had suggestions on good restuarants at WDW, either at the Parks or the resorts. I have two kids, so they have to be kid-friendly.
Thanks
John Deiner: Hey, Ashburn. Great time to be down there...should be on the quiet side and the weather is beautiful.
As far as restaurants go, there are many great choices, as Disney has been ramping up the eating options for the past few years. But one place that's really fun for kids and adults is the full-service Sci-Fi Dine In Theatre at MGM Studios park. You sit in these little cars (inside) in front of a giant screen showing cheesy old sci-fi movie clips. It's a hoot, and the burgers/fries, etc, are good and relatively inexpensive.
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Charlottesville,Va: Am going to Amsterdam NL in a few weeks. Anyone on the Flight Crew have a favorite day trip town to visit? Thx.
Anne McDonough: Sadly the Keukenhof is out due to the timing (it will reopen March 22 2007, through May 20), but I did a great bike ride that started with a bus ride to, I believe, Volendam (www.vvvvolendam.nl) and then wound back to Amsterdam via Markem and a few other towns. Amsterdam's official site has some more ideas: www.visitamsterdam.nl/. Also, Holland's site has a great biking ideas (www.holland.com). But if you're not into biking, I enjoyed the Hague, about 36 miles SW of Amsterdam, which has great musuems as well as--if you like minatures--Madurodam. Any favorite Amsterdam day trips out there?
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Chicken in Demand: My husband and I were on our last leg of a 3 leg trip from Australia to DC. We had been traveling for 30+ hours so you can imagine the exhaustion. On this last leg they were serving dinner. The choices were chicken, beef or pasta. I had told the flight attendant I wanted chicken and my husband wanted beef. She came back and said she was sorry but we'd have to take the pasta. The other passengers wanted the chicken and the beef dishes and since we were flying on frequent flyer tickets we'd have to take what's left. I was upset and the exhaustion was setting in. I asked her again saying that the reason we were on frequent flyer tickets is because we were loyal customers. But to no avail, we ended up with the pasta. It was horrible!
KC Summers: Now that is something we haven't heard before. Has anyone else been told this on a flight? Chicken, if you can email me privately at summersk@washpost.com, we might want to look into this for a CoGo item.
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Steubenville, Ohio: RE: Limited honeymood time. Consider The Homestead at HotSprings, VA. Luxurious and worth the money. Not too far from DC.
John Deiner: Thanks Steubenville. It's a pretty good drive (at least three hours) from D.C., but it's a beaut. If the weather turns on you, though, that may be the only thing you remember about the trip.
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Central California: My airline food experiences have been uniformly negative, so skip that.
I will be in Yucatan for a week between Playa del Carmen and Cancun.
Any personal recommedations for eats or experiences? Anybody been to Coba Ruins?
Thanx
Cindy Loose: You pass Tulum on the way to Coba, so if you have an interest in Mayan ruins, do both. (You can easily drive a car between them, but it might be hard to do both and still be off the road before dark if you are staying overnight in Playa. At Coba there's a really nice Club Med, very isolated but very Mexican and not very Club Med like).
The ruins of Tulum are on the sea, very beautiful setting. The ruins are Coba are in a more jungle like setting, interior. You could do either on a day trip out of Playa, but if you aren't locked in to a hotel and are willing to move around, I'd make it an overnight. Either check out the Club Med at Coba or check some of the very charming small hotels in the "hotel zone" in Tulum. (If you're coming from Playa you hit a sign saying Tulum hotel zone at a rare stop light, pointing you to the left just after the ruins. There is a strip of small hotels along a dirt road and facing the ocean.)
Those little hotels are nice places to eat. Start by looking at Zuma's then continue down the road to find a bunch of nice options, including Anna and Jose's.
If you aren't driving yourself, and you must stay the whole time in Playa, then either take a tour that takes you to both, or go to each on separate days even though you're back tracking to do so.
As for food in Playa itself, can't say. Anyone else?
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Mandarin in DC: I saw your suggestion for the couple to stay at the Madarin here in DC, I would disagree. My husband and I stayed there for a weekend to have a 'getaway' in DC but were pretty underwhelmed. I had just stayed at a Westin in Buckhead Atlanta and the room was twice the size of the Mandarin and the bed was so much more comfortable. We didn't go to the spa but did go to the workout room which was nice. The pool is pretty small though. We weren't able to get a place for tea. My basic point is that I wouldn't go to the Mandarin again if I had the choice.
John Deiner: Good to know...I thought it was supposed to be pretty special. Maybe just the spa rocks then? Thanks for the input. Anyone else have a report on the Mandarin?
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Best airline meal: My best airline meal was on a Qantas flight earlier this year, going from LA to Sydney. Just fantastic food, a chicken curry if I remember correctly (and breakfast the next morning was very good, too). The best part was, I asked for ginger ale, and they gave me Bundaberg Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic). I loved it so much I ordered it everywhere we went in Australia, and when we got home, I searched until I found it at World Market stores. It takes me back to Australia every time I drink it.
Oddly, flying back from Sydney, the food was just dreadful, and when I asked for ginger beer this time, instead I got some kind of generic ginger ale. Very disappointing!
KC Summers: Funny story! And you get points for spelling Qantas right.
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Brazil Bound: : The airfares to Brazil are sky-high over the Xmas holidays. The cheapest ones are on Taca, albeit you have to layover in El Salvador and Lima (could be interesting). I know nothing of Taca --safety record or otherwise. Has any of the travel staff flown this one? I found nothing in your archives.
Carol Sottili: I haven't flown TACA, but I like this site for its airline reviews and passenger input. Here's the link for TACA:
www.airlinequality.com/Airlines/TA.htm
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Bronx, NY: RE: Onboard dining options. I flew JetBlue from NYC to Portland two weeks ago, just before the liquid ban was lifted, and I found that I did well by packing "wet" food: grape tomatoes, cucumber spears, an orange. The prospect of not enough water was also impetus to pass on (most of) the salty and too-sweet snacks.
I have to say a huge thanks to the poster a few weeks ago who suggested bringing an empty water bottle through security. That tip saved me mucho grief and cash when my flight was delayed three hours... in each direction.
All-time strangest airline meal: gotta be the reindeer entree on Finnair. Most surprisingly not-gross: the meat curry (I think it was lamb) on Royal Jordanian - it was actually pretty good.
KC Summers: "I'll have the reindeer" -- I love it. Glad we could help with the water bottle tip. Although now our liquid/gel nightmare is over -- sort of.
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Washington, DC: Some girlfriends and I (ages 25-27) are planning to take a post-election vacation over a long weekend in December. We're looking for some place warm and sunny that won't cost us more than $1000/person in airfare and hotel. We were thinking Turks and Caicos since they have a great special going, but I'm concerned it will be too calm. We're not looking for wet t-shirt contests and jello shots with frat boys, but we don't want to be in bed at 10:30, either.
Is T&C a good option, or do you have better ideas for us? Thanks Flight Crew!
Andrea Sachs: Most Caribbean islands, especially if they are big with the resort crowd (like Turks), have lots of activities that will keep you up way past grandma's bedtime. Most likely your resort will have scheduled activities, such as live bands, cocktail hours, tours, etc. But the island also has a variety of nightclubs, a casino and bars (from wine bar to tropical drinks). Other lively islands in your budget include the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
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Carol Sottili: Last week, a chatter wanted to know why Travelocity no longer allowed open-ended searches for international flights. I conjectured that it was too much work to keep the database current. Not so. Here's the word from a Travelocity rep (we're glad they read the chat!):
I noticed that you had a recent inquiry regarding Travelocity¿;s Flexible Date Search tool for international flights. It actually was not a result of the tool being difficult to keep updated. Please see our notes below on why the international tool has been disabled. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
¿; Earlier this year, the Department of Transportation (DOT) contacted Travelocity with questions about whether the Flexible Date Search tool for international flights met its full fare disclosure rules. The DOT has confirmed to Travelocity that they have not received any customer complaints regarding the tool
The matter is still under consideration by the DOT so Travelocity is limited in what it can say.
¿; A number of international carriers began filing airline fuel surcharges differently than before. Unfortunately, the manner in which these carriers are filing means that the tool can not calculate those charges in a manner that DOT feels complies with its regulations.
¿; The tool has always been designed so consumers are fully informed of the price of the ticket (with all surcharges) before they make a purchase decision.
¿; Travelocity has worked with the DOT on a number of proposed solutions but, unfortunately, we have been unable to agree on one. Consequently, based on discussions with the DOT, Travelocity felt the only option left was to disable the Flexible Date Search tool for international flights effective July 16, 2006.
¿; Travelocity is very disappointed in this outcome and felt that this tool provided consumers with a unique and powerful way to root out low prices for international flights so long as they were flexible as to the dates of travel. The tool has been very popular and helped people save tens of millions in international air fares throughout the past year
¿; The Flexible Dates Tool is still active for domestic flights as surcharges for those flights can be displayed in a manner acceptable to the DOT.
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San Francisco, Calif: Was flying on U.S. Airways back from Rome to Philly on a full flight in January 2002. As the two carts of food about to converge on my aisle, the stewardess hands a meal to the people sitting next to me, then says, "Oh, sorry, but we've run out of meals. I have a diabetic meal, if you want it." I said "No thanks" and was ignored the rest of the flight.
Is it really that hard to figure out how many meals a plane will need, after all, there are only so many seats in a plane.
KC Summers: I'm just worried about the poor diabetic who didn't get his/her special meal!
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Silver Spring to San Francisco: Oh great travel gurus.. I'm returning (after many years) to the City by the Bay... and I'm taking my heart (throb) with me. Some time ago I read a fun article comparing what tourists do and what "locals" do in SF. It was a great reminder of things I'd like to show. BUT I can't find it in accessible archives... is there any chance you could access it for us? Thank you Thank you Thank you if you can...
As for airplane meals... Waaaay back my father flew for Pan Am. Around the world, or Bankok and back, or RT Australia... through a myriad of time zones. There was one flight where the crew seemed to "chase the sun"... and they ate breakfast for 7 meals in a row. The best were always the mushroom omelets when flying out of Paris. He refused to say what was the worst.
Cindy Loose: Here it is, but let me also teach you to fish:
If you go to Washington Post archives without first going to Travel, you have to pay.
To get our stories free, go to www.washingtonpost.com and click first on travel, then you can call up many years worth of travel stories for free. I think if you search by map and click on California you'll find it.
Second Time Around: San Francisco
Millions of visitors leave their hearts in SanFrancisco every year. Sadly, many of them are abandoned in the cheesy souvenir shops and tourist traps along Fisherman's Wharf. Sure, you can visit the famous sites Aunt Mildred swears are must-sees. (Heck, slug down a few Irish coffees at the Buena Vista Cafe, just like Auntie M.) But check out the alternatives, too. For every teeming tourist zone, there's a piece of SanFrancisco the locals claim as their own. Here are 14 nominations for the Tourist Trap Hall of Fame, paired up with 14 lesser-known spots the natives like to keep to themselves. So rent some wheels. Bravely venture outside the tourist ghetto. See the real SanFrancisco. Your heart will thank you. -- Gayle Keck
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Washington, DC: We're thinking of a late May 10 day honeymoon in the Galapagos Islands. What's it like that time of year? Do you recommend it?
Part of me would be thrilled to go... but part of me feels guilty about further upsetting the delicate ecosystem balance in that part of the world, by intruding on it.
John Deiner: GO! GO! GO! I went exactly at that time of year a while back and it was beautiful. It's actually one of the few "off-season" periods...prices are more expensive both before and after early to mid-May. The weather was gorgeous (mostly sunny, high in 80s) and the seas were smooth. Don't know if it's always that way, but I was told then that it wasn't atypical.
As far as upsetting the ecosystem, tours to the Galapagos are hightly structured and monitored. Few people are allowed into the island chain each year, and the number of people permitted on the islands at one time are severely restricted. The only thing we left behind were footprints, and money. No touching of the wildlife, or wandering off paths, or eating or drinking on the islands. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
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Bethesda, Md: Hi Crew,
You --and many of the chatters-- often need to take short trips that, unfortunately, cross a few too many time zones. Next week I will be flying to Eastern Europe on Wednesday and returning on Sunday that same week. I need to be on the ball on Monday; what are your suggestions for combating jet lag for such a short trip? I'm already dreading it!!
Thanks!
Steve Hendrix: Ambien.
Ambien, Ambien, Ambien.
Have I mentioned Ambien?
I'm a practioner of aggressive jet lag managment, Bethsda, and have perfected the following system:
1. Get you're doc (or whomever supplies you with pharmaceuticals) to prescribe a sleeping pill. After trying them all, I recommend Ambien.
2. If you're flying over night to Europe, take one as soon as you snap your seatbelt. Skip dinner, skip all movies, go right to sleep.
3. Stay up all day your first day. Take a 5mg pill that night when you go to be at a normal (local) time.
On the way home, stay up all day for a daytime flight. Take one that night at a normal (local) bedtime. You'll be set for surgery, diamond cutting, brisses, anything requiring sharp minds and steady fingers.
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Harrisburg, Pa: Food: When traveling back to Pennsylvania from Orange County, CA for Christmas 2003, I brought an In-N-Out Double-Double (Animal Style) cheesburger, fries, and a chocolate shake with me to the airport. Ten minutes after lift-off, I pulled it out of my carry-on, and about 3 people around me had the "Why didn't I think of that" look upon their faces. I do miss In-N-Out now that I'm back on the east coast.
KC Summers: Yeah, In-n-Out rocks. Beats an airline meal for sure.
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Mandarin Oriental honeymoon: I got married outside Baltimore last year and because we had to delay a long vacation we did exactly that: headed down to DC (in a limo my uncle-in-law sprung for!) for two nights at the Mandarin Oriental.
Unfortunately, CityZen wasn't open Sunday nights, so we ate at Cafe Mozu, which was so-so. The room was quite luxe. I've been to many spas and must say we had the best massages of our lives at the Mandarin -- which also had amazing pre-treatment steam and relaxation rooms, etc.
Service was so-so. The tea offered when we checked in never materialized in our room, nor did our bags for quite some time. (Annoying when you're in your wedding dress and are dying for makeup remover.) Also, after we ordered flowers for our room, an outside florist put $900 worth of flower orders on our card over the next month! It took a while to resolve the problem, but the hotel made up for it with a free night later.
We didn't leave the hotel except for a Nationals game...
John Deiner: Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Okay, that doesn't sound so great, even if you did get a free night because some joker overcharged your card. But the spa sounds groovy, so maybe this is a mixed review? Great stuff, though -- thanks for sharing.
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Baltimore, Md: Regarding your honeymoons section a few months back -- thanks! I've been trying to contact one of the listed travel agencies for help planning our honeymoon, but haven't heard a peep back in several weeks after calling/e-mailing them twice (message says they'll get back to me in 2 business days!). Any more honeymoon travel agents closer to Baltimore that you can recommend?
And, since I'm here -- any opinions on whether the San Juan Islands would be a good destination for elopement/honeymoon in the spring? Having trouble finding info on this place, but it looks like a great place!
Carol Sottili: I listed a couple of travel agencies, so why not try calling one of the others? Any chatters know of one near Baltimore? Don't know the San Juan Islands, but if you like outdoor activities, such as kayaking and birdwatching, it would probably be a good match. Go to www.sanjuanisland.org for more info.
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Clermont-Ferrand, France: London hotel with nice, big tubs.
Durrant's Hotel, George Street (right behind the Wallace Collection). I think it's still around 150 ¿;.
KC Summers: I knew someone would come through. Thanks, C-F. (Where exactly is that, anyway?)
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Arlington, Va: I can't figure out why United hasn't dropped fares on the Dulles to Tampa route now that Southwest has entered the market. Maybe it's just because I am traveling over Xmas, but $401 on United compared to $278 on SW is an awfully big difference. Of course SW isn't as convenient and only has 2 flights per day, but still. I had an unused United ticket that I cashed in so I only had to pay the difference plus the $100 change fee so it only cost me an extra $112 but I still thought it was crazy.
As for meal stories. I recently flew on Thai Airways and the food was OK but nothing special but they had real cloth napkins which contained an astonishing 8 pieces of cutlery for every meal! There was barely any room for the food after unpacking all of that flatware.
Cindy Loose: You said the magic word--Christmas.
I just did a quick little test at United and at Southwest and found their fares for arbitrarily chosen dates in the next month to be quite similar.
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San Diego, Calif: The best, longest airline meal I had was on the flight to France for my honeymoon. Unknown to me, my wife had talked to the gate agent to see if we could possibly get upgraded since it was both our honeymoon and my birthday. AA was kind enough to put us in business class. Being b-class neophytes, when asked if we wanted our meal at one time or in courses, we opted for courses. That meant that we had our meal service spread over a good part of the whole flight. Sure, we were dead tired by the time we arrived, but it was quite memorable and the crew even gave us a bottle of wine to take with us when we deplaned.
KC Summers: Lovely story, SD. Thanks for sharing.
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Anonymous: Airfares to Brazil are, indeed, sky high (no pun intended) over Xmas and, essentially, through Carnaval. The de facto demise of Varig Airlines has lessened competition. Early December still has bargains: one friend is flying to Recife, via Sao Paulo, for about $650. Xmas is also a time of more thunderstorms in many areas, including the Amazon. One new routing that could be feasible for the poster if they aren~t going to the far south of Brazil is the new TAM flight from Miami to Fortaleza via Manaus and Belem.
Carol Sottili: Thanks.
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Washington DC: For the way-advance trip planner: This is a good time to start reading! And I don't mean guide books. Read the fiction that was written there, or based on the area.
I just love touring an area that I've walked through, hunted on, trysted on-- through the eyes of the great authors, of course.
If you like the contemporary stuff, find out who that country's current hot writers are, and get translations. If you're more of a romantic, those 18th century Brits really got around the continent. Italy and Switzerland especially were great for consumptive bookish types, and they often captured their surrounding very evocatively.
Steve Hendrix: That is an excellent suggestion. I had a professor once who said his basic prep for visiting a country was to find the most highly recommended novel by a local author. The next time I'm the host of this chat, I'm going to ask readers to suggest their favorite country-specific fiction. So get ready. (DON'T send them in now. I don't K.C. to get credit for that good idea).
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St. Louis, Mo: Hi! I'm sure you're tired of talking about the liquid/gel restrictions, but I read last week's chat and the TSA website and still can't find an answer to my question. Do the travel-size bottles have to have a label identifying the liquid, or can I pour my shampoo into a small clear bottle and carry that on? The TSA site and its photos suggest that the liquids have to be in their original packaging, but I can't find a clear answer one way or the other. Thanks!
Andrea Sachs: To our knowledge, you don't have to label your toiletries or leave them in their original packaging, since many travelers often transfer their liquids into smaller travel containers with tight caps. It would not hurt to slap a label on it, saying shampoo, conditioner, etc., just to help out security officials. Just remember the restrictions: "travel-size toiletries (3 ounces or less) that fit comfortably in ONE, QUART-SIZE, clear plastic, zip-top bag."
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Washington, DC: I'm going to be in New York this weekend attending events at Lincoln Center.
Does anybody know of good restaurants within a few block radius of the Center?
Anne McDonough: I've enjoyed Cafe Fiorello over the years, and Shun Lee is fantastic for Chinese. The Time Warner Center has several options (including Per Se, if you can manage a reservation; Tom Sietsema's Postcard from Tom review should be coming on up), and the Lincoln Center Business District Web site also lists many restaurants in the area: www.lincolnbid.org/dining.html
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washingtonpost.com: Postcard From Tom: New York , (Oct. 3, 2004)
Anne McDonough: For the Lincoln Center-bound. Thanks, Kim!
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Re: London hotels: The hotel where we stayed in London did not have a tub, alas, but since London hotel questions come up a lot I have to mention a tip I received from my department chair: Cartwright Gardens. This is an attractive, semi-circular street, quite walkable to King's Cross and Euston rail stations and the Russell Square tube stop. The street is lined with really nice Georgian row houses that have been converted into small individually-owned hotels. Google "Cartwright Gardens hotel" and several will pop up. They won't show up on Expedia, I'm pretty sure. The prices vary a little (depending on whether they hired an interior decorator or not, it looked like), but you can expect to pay under 100 pounds per night, waaaay under if you go off season and have a shared bathroom. Not fancy but clean and comfortable and the price generally includes full English breakfast and VAT.
KC Summers: I love that area. There are a lot of nice small hotels in those wonderful old buildings -- very good tip, thanks!
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Harrogate, England: We are taking the kids to Malta over Thanksgiving, but only want to take a mini-break of 3 or 4 nights, because the kids are still in British schools (it still feels strange after 4 years to send them to school on Thanksgiving Day). Any recommendations (in the St. Paul's Bay region) for restaurants and/or activities for children (7- & 11-years old)? We're looking mainly for a bit better weather than in England and to get away for the holiday, but are open to new experiences, and haven't done too much research on the area yet. Thanks - love the chats!
John Deiner: Hi, Harrogate. Welcome to the chat... I've been to Malta, but I'm afraid I'm not real familiar with that particular area. I know it's closer to the ferry terminal to Gozo, which was one of my favorite parts of the country. If you can, be sure to hop on a bus over to the ferry and spend a day tooling around Gozo. And as far as I remember, I believe some of the better beaches are near the area. Can anyone out there help our friend in England?
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Toronto, Canada: I am thinking of travelling to Gothenburg, Sweden over New Year's, departing either the 28th or 29th of December. What is a good price and will it be too late if I wait until the end of October to book a ticket? It seems like there are more carriers, e.g. Iceland Air, that fly from U.S. destinations, but I will have to fly in and out of Canada. Thanks!
Cindy Loose: Any airfare to anywhere over Christmas week is going to cost you dearly. Even if I didn't have my dates set, I'd start shopping around right now. If you happen to find one day cheaper than another, plan you dates around the flights, rather than vice versa. Can't tell you what a good fare would be, cause all bets are off during the Christmas holiday.
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Washington DC: Airline food story - I was flying to Europe with my sister and the flight attendant came by with the cart of food. He asked "chicken or fish" and my sister asked him ever so politely as if in a fine restaurant "how is the chicken prepared?". I start laughing hysterically b/c it's airplane food and quite frankly it's prepared poorly. The flight attendant looks at my sister and with a completely straight face says "it's airline food, it's nuked". I think she went with the chicken.
KC Summers: LOL. Thanks for sharing!
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Washington, DC: Here's a tale about a meal cart (only tangentially related to your meal story request, I know):
I was seated across the aisle from a very tall man who had folded himself into his seat, but still had his knee poking out into the aisle. As the flight attendant pushed the meal cart up the aisle, she hit the guy's knee with the cart. She didn't realize it and kept on going. On her way back, the guy let her know that she had hit his knee. In all seriousness, she replied, "Oh, no, sir. We don't hit people on the way up. We hit them on the way back, but not on the way up."
KC Summers: It's funny flight attendant day around here. I think we've all had our knees whacked by those damn carts at one time or another.
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Mountains or Shore for weekend getaway?: My folks are coming into town and have done all the DC things and I was thinking of going away for a weekend. It would be the last weekend in October. I'm thinking either Shenandoah or the beach. But we could branch out to Lancaster or something along those lines. Any suggestions as to where would be nice? The color would be great in Shenandoah but I'm worried about there being too many people. I've never been to the shore during the fall. Is there anything to do? Any thoughts would be great. Thanks!
Steve Hendrix: Not that this would affect your plans, necissarily, but there's terrible news out of Lancaster County just coming over the wires. Another school shooting.
There are plenty of great fall getaways around here for sure. Check out the Escapes column on Wednesday to a list of good autumn foliage driving routes in the region. And I myself was bolwed over by the little town of Lewisburg, W.Va., right next to the Greenbrier Resort (about 4 hours from D.C.). That area will be SPECTACULAR in late October. We'll post a link to that story.
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washingtonpost.com: The Town They Didn't Want You to Find , (Sept. 27, 2006)
Steve Hendrix: That Lewisburg Escapes. Thanks Kim.
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Washington, D.C.: I've got not one, but two weddings to go to this weekend. Any recommendations for a rental car company with a good deal on unlimited mileage?
Cindy Loose: Most rental car companies offer unlimited mileage. I'd start by searching at a travel site like Orbitz. Do be aware--Hertz and Avis often cost a bit more, but are more likely to be in or very near the airport. If you go with the cheaper guys, check out where they are, if a few minutes here or there are important to you.
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Anaheim, Ca.: Best airline meal - hands down, it's Lufthansa. Leaving from Munich a few years ago, they had a small buffet at the gate with fresh brotchen (rolls), small packages of cheeses, jams, fresh fruit, juices in bottles, etc. They even gave you a small shopping bag to carry everything on board. And, of course, the coffee on the plane was fantastic: dark and aromatic without any trace of bitterness.
Wow. I just realized that was 10 years ago. The good stuff does stand out, doesn't it?
KC Summers: Sure does. Thanks for evoking those memories.
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Honolulu, Hawaii: Hi crew,
Enjoy all the info you guys provide on travel issues. A question has arisen concerning the amended TSA fluids/gels restrictions. My wife believes that we can now carry through security our empty water bottles and then refill them from the drinking fountains before boarding the plane. This seems logical to me but is this verboten since the recent change only mentions water "purchased" from airport vendors? Thanks in advance for any clarification you can provide. Aloha
Carol Sottili: There's nothing in the TSA regs that prevent you from bringing empty bottles through security. I see no reason why you can't fill them from water fountains on the other side. The TSA regs don't address every situation, but I feel the intent is clear - they don't want travlers bringing in beverages from outside security. Now, whether the water fountain water will taste metallic - that's another question.
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Clermond-Ferrand, France: CF is in the Auvergne, about midway between Paris and the Spanish border (4-4.5 hours by train). It's chief claim to fame is that it has the HQ of Michelin tires.
KC Summers: Ah. Would you recommend it as a travel destination?
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Food & Drinks, New York: I was sitting in the very last row. My seat mate must have been separated from his friend, who was in the row ahead of him. (I didn't know they were together until later. They didn't say anything.) When the seat belt light was off, the guy in front climbed up on his seat, and proceeded to hang over the back of it so he could talk to his friend. They carried on a very lively, loud conversation, and made thinnly-veiled snide references to me. During this time, the guy in front held a plastic cup of what seemed like white wine, and as the conversation went on, he got more and more animated and was swilling that cup wildly (with no aid of plane turbulance). At the climax of their talk, this guy proceeded to fling his drink and it all landed in my lap. I had to ask the flight attendant to give them a warning. The guy finally sat back down.
They could've just asked me to switch seats!
I think I just somehow put myself between (oh wait, next to) 2 lovers.
KC Summers: Whoa. I think I would've spoken up way before you did!
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Columbia, Md: Reading CoGo about the man that punched the flight attendant because there was no chicken only beef brought back memories. Last year on my flight to Cancun a girl got so upset because they ran out of pillow so she decided to throw cranberry juice on the flight attendant. Not only did it get on her but also the people sitting nearby. The captain was notified and once we landed 30 minutes later (did she really need that pillow) the Mexican Authorities boarded the plane. As she watched us all get off the plane, I'm sure she was wondering if the pillow was really worth all that trouble.
KC Summers: Why do I suspect alcohol was involved?
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Fairfax, Va: I am planning a surprise anniversary cruise trip to the South Pacific next year. Are there travel agents in the Washington area that specialize in this type of cruise?
Cindy Loose: Doesn't seem like that specific specialty is in the D.C. area. I just went to the American Society of Travel Agents site at www.travelsense.org. They have a place to search for agents, but when I put in South Pacific for destination, cruise as specialty and Md, Va. or Wash D.C. I got no hits.
However, you have two options: just look for travel agents locally who do cruises at hte same site and call to talk and see how you feel about them. They might know something about South Pacific cruises and just didn't get that specific, or you might feel they can find out what you need. Or, if you know the name of some cruise lines that interest you, go to their Web site and see if they recommend travel agents who handle their cruises.
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San Diego, Calif: Does anyone there have experience with group travel airline tickets? A relative is getting married in a city served what is generally a very expensive airport. (No other airports within 3-4 hours are a less expensive, either.) Rather than burden the bride and groom to look into setting up a group flight option, I've started to check into them. Do you know if these tend to be worthwhile? People will be coming in from diffent cities and will be spread out over several days, so it won't be a block of seats but rather a commitment to all use the same airline. Thanks.
Carol Sottili: Really depends on the airline. Some offer discounts, others don't. Check with the airline. American, for example, says this:
AmericanAirlines Group & Meeting TravelSM has developed a unique wedding travel package that offers a 5% discount off the lowest applicable air fare, plus complimentary wedding invitation inserts to inform your out-of-town guests of the discount. These special discounts are available when 10 or more out-of-town guests travel to your wedding.
You may submit a request for a group wedding discount online or by contacting our Wedding Services Desk at 1-800-545-8193.
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Washington, DC: This is a request more than a question! Could you guys write a piece on travelling to the 2008 Olympics 2008 at Shanghai. I'd love to go there, but have absolutely no idea from lodging to getting around to purchasing tickets to see events!
John Deiner: Hey, DC. Great suggestion (and don't go to Shanghai for the Olympics..it's in Beijing!). But we know what you mean, and we're going to get started on it.
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Washington, DC: Didn't get this in last week, so I'm trying again. I have a Christmas flight planned in which I will need to change air carriers (TransAir to Southwest) on the way to my destination. I have about an hour and a half layover in Chicago. Is there any way to minimize the chances my luggage will be lost in transit? Unfortunately, carrying-on is not an option.
Thanks!
Steve Hendrix: Actually, WDC, you have already minimized your lust-luggage risk by booking a two-carrier flight. Most luggage goes awry at the point of connection. Non-stop direct flights are the most straightforword. You'll collect your luggage from one non-stop flight and hand it over yourself for another non-stop flight (I assume). Not sure what else you could do.
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Fairfax, Va: Hey Flight Crew -- Love these chats and I always get great info from you guys and the chatters. Here's my question - what's the best way to wangle an upgrade from a coach ticket? Do you just ask when you get to the airport (and obviously get there early enough that if there is a BC or FC seat available you'll get it)? Or is there a better way? Can you ask for an upgrade using miles at the ticket counter or do you have to do that ahead of time? I've never actually tried to do this although occasionally I've volunteered to give up my seat on an overbooked flight and gotten upgraded to first class on a later flight (in addition to whatever $$ they're giving away). Any info you have would be appreciated.
Cindy Loose: It's a rare day in heaven when an airline will just give you an upgrade cause you asked. In fact, I don't think that ever works.
Now upgrading with miles is a different thing, and you should try to upgrade using the miles, if that's what you want to do, do it as soon as possible, preferably when you book the ticket. And remember, if you've booked an upgrade, you get to go through the quick line at the check in desk.
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Washington, DC: Flight Crew - there was an article in the post recently about the use of ID chips in passports. Do you know where I can get more info to whether the DC Passport Office has started creating passports with these chips?
Cindy Loose: They have not started doing it yet, so if you renew you're passport soon, you'll avoid the chip for 10 years. Sorry, don't know offhand exactly when the chip thing starts, but think it's around the new year.
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Going Nuts in Virginia: Please help me. We are trying to plan a visit to Madrid or Paris or Rome for Christmas but everywhere I turn travel agents tell me everything will be closed and we will have NO WHERE to eat Christmas dinner. Is this true?
Andrea Sachs: A lot does close for the holidays, but not everything -- and even though you will have a smaller number of dining options to choose from, those cities are still worth visiting over Christmas (think choral concerts, Christmas decorations, shopping). At the very least, your hotel (if it has a restaurant) will be open. Or, head to one of the finer hotel restaurants in town, which most likely will have special Christmas Eve and Day dinners. (Book in advance.) Your hotel concierge should also have a list of restaurants open over the holidays, or contact the city's tourism offices for a list.
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Arlington, Va: Ireland in mid-December -- crazy or genius?
My friend and I have are considering five days in Ireland in mid-December to eat up some "use or lose" vacation time.
Our goals for this trip are relaxing, drinking with friendly locals in pubs, site-seeing, and enjoying the festivities of the holiday season. We hope to split our time between Dublin and quaint towns (any suggestions?).
Are we romanticizing Ireland in the winter or will miserable weather/off-season closings spoil our fun? And if so, any other ideas for a similar five-day trip?
Thanks!
KC Summers: Absolutely, go. I love Ireland any time of year -- have been there in all seasons. It can actually be pretty mild in winter, though it is -- as Frank McCourt would testify -- a damp cold. Only hitch would be the 'quaint town' part of the equation -- you'll be fine in Dublin, but stuff will be closed in the smaller towns in the west, north and south. But if you go a happening town like Galway in the west, you should be fine. And in the larger towns, you can spend lots of quality time in pubs and doing city stuff like theaters and museums (and don't forget the Guinness tour). Take layers and rain gear. Also, if you stay in B&Bs, make sure they have heat!
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Washington, D.C.: Is this area really going to get a capital-to-capital non-stop flight to Beijing soon? What are our competitions?
Cindy Loose: It might happen, but don't hold your breath: DOT is expected to decide by the end of this year on proposals for a new direct route to China. American argues in recent press releases that the route should be D.C.-Bejing, but Northwest wants it to be from Detroit to Shanghai, and Continental wants to fly to Shanghai from which city I'm not sure but presume Houston. I've thought about checking into this further, but it's going to take awhile to shake out. My guess is everyone will want this non-stop, and I'm not clear why there can't be multiple nonstops approved, but that doesn't seem to be what's up.
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Washington DC: Best airline food ever was on El Al- from Tel Aviv to JFK. It was a daytime flight, and I guess they fed us often for time zone changes: hummous, pitas, etc. It was great!
KC Summers: Mmmm. Wonder if they do still.
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Use of Ambien: Question: Do you just take it at the beginning and end of your trip or throughout? I've had a terrible problem waking up in the wee hours all through my only two overseas trips, but was afraid to become dependent (and always hoped, to no avail, that I would eventually get in synch). These trips were 5 and 12 days in length.
Steve Hendrix: I have a peronal rule not to take it more than three days (nights) in a row. that's usually enough to yank me into the local time zone. (even on extreme changes like New Zealand and Hong Kong). But I do take it, as needed, both inbound and outbound.
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Clermont-Ferranc: C-F as a travel destination? No. The Auvergne, absolutely. Lyon is in the Auvergne and, in addition to being the gastronomic capital of France, it's a beautiful and interesting city (and has the incomparable chocolatier, Bernachon, on the Cours Franklin Roosevelt).
Most of the Auvergne is rural, beautiful, and appreciated by Frenchmen and other Europeans for the scenery and outdoor activities: hiking, biking, canoeing, and, in some parts, winter skiing.
Come to think of it, I WOULDN'T recommend the Auvergne as a travel destination. But that's just because I'd like to (selfishly) keep it in it's present, largely unspoilt, condition.
KC Summers: I hear ya. It does sound like just the sort of unsung place we like to write about.
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Yosemite bound: We depart this Saturday, and this is our draft itinerary. Since this is our first trip (and we probably won't make it back for a while), is there anything you or the readers recommend not to miss? Thanks!
Saturday -Arrive Yosemite Lodge -Dinner at Ahwahnee
Sunday -Tuolumne Medows - Elizabeth or Dog Lake or Labert Dome or Olmstead Point
Monday, -Hikers bus to glacier, hike down 4 mile trail or Taft Point or Sentinal - Take historic Ahwanee Tour
Tuesday, -Morning horse/mule ride in the valley or Bike Ride -(change hotels) Wawona Hotel
Wednesday, -Mariposa Grove
Thursday, Depart to SF
Steve Hendrix: There are so many beautiful places, YB, it's hard to rank them. While this leaves out any trips into the backcountry, it strikes me a reasonable greatest hits lineup for the front country.
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Arlington, Va.: This may be one of the most unusual travel advisories you've ever printed, but travelers should be forewarned of the gentleman newspaper bandit at Union Station. Some time ago, an elderly, well dressed man asked to see some sections of a Sunday newspaper I was reading. He then walked off with the sections. I thought the whole thing bizarre. Who's going to chase after an old man and demand they give him their paper sections back? Anyway, I recently saw the same gentleman do the same thing to someone else. Unfortunately, this person got quite upset when he realized the man had left with his paper, and he didn't have time to buy a new paper, and we on the train had to hear of his complaining about it on the train. So, let this be a warning: watch out for the newspaper thief in Union Station.
Steve Hendrix: And his baffled victims! Thanks for the warning.
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New Jersey: This kinda fits your query about food on planes. I was coming back to Newark from Germany and found myself seated next to a little girl. After some observation, i saw that my area was full of an african family that didn't speak any english. I assumed she was with them. Everyone else assumed she was with me. It wasn't half way through the flight that I and the flight attendants learned that this girl was not with them and she also spoke no english. She, with the others, were UN sponsored evacuees from Somalia. she was all alone and the flight attendants asked me to look after her. She was an easy child but she didn't touch any food. After 7 hrs she didn't eat anything at all and the worried flight attendants made up a special plate with yogurt and fruit but she didn't touch that either. Finally i got her to eat a peice of chocolate. She devouted that, and mine, all with a can of coke. As the plan landed, she vommited it all over the both of us. We managed to clean her up and got her to the UN officals waiting her her. The Luftansa attendants were really great to us.
KC Summers: Wow. Kinda makes you wonder why the child was dumped on the plane without supervision or any care, but good for you for taking her on.
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San Diego Calif: A meal story -- I recently flew Air France to JFK (8/13)from Paris. The last time I had been on Air France was also JFK to Paris. . . in 1968. As a souvenir I had saved the "Meal Menu" from 1968 and I happened to have it with me.
Guess what? 38 years later, it was the exact same meal!
KC Summers: Hilarious. I wonder if it was in some sort of airline holding place all that time.
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Baltimore, Md.: My husband and I are taking our 17-year-old cousin to Tokyo over Christmas week. I'm a little bummed we'll miss sumo, gardens and baseball, but over the moon at the opportunity to visit Japan. My cousin is into music, art, culture -- by culture I mean less museums than middle aged businessmen in karaoke bars and teenagers dressed like Little Goth Peep. Any suggestions for what to do while we're there? Also, our hotel is already paid for, so we don't want an overnight anywhere else, but what is the feasibility and desirability of a Kyoto day trip in December?
Cindy Loose: Kyoto--if you go by bullet train and leave early, come back late, it could be a day trip, but bullet train is expensive and sites are spread out so it would be a very long, hard day and you might be frustrated.
As for Tokyo, take the train and get out and just roam about the Shibuya area, which is the epicenter of youth culture. Tokyo is generally a great city for wandering.
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Washington, DC: I was recently flying from Paris to New Delhi on Air France's Business class, and had requested a vegetarian meal. The flight attendant actually did a double take and flashed me a look of horror when he unveiled my meal--not because it had any sort of meat, but because it looked (and tasted) awful. The meal consisted of some cold carrot salad, some cold potatoes, and a bit of cous cous, with a tomato sauce. Probably the worst meal I have ever had on a flight, coach or business.
At least the flight attendant apologized for the meal, but I have to say, Air France has the worst food, by far, especially if you are vegetarian.
KC Summers: Yuck. But what if you're not a vegetarian? I don't recall the food as being that bad.
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Vero Beach, Fla.: The Premier Travel Inn chain has great tubs, at least at County Hall (at the London Eye) and London Bridge. The latter is quiet and adjacent to the amazing Borough Market and Neal's Yard Dairy (cheese). And it's an easy walk from the Thameslink trains to Gatwick.
KC Summers: For the London tub (as opposed to Tube) fan. Thanks!
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Washington DC: I was on an Air France Paris-Philadelphia flight a few years back, and in the hours before the flight was supposed to leave, the union of airport food service workers went on strike. (The French love their unions, and they LOVE their strikes.)
The powers-that-be apparently decided that not having food on board was no reason to keep the plane on the ground, so they loaded up the passengers. Each seat had a large box of non-perishable food: fois gras with a pull-top, some strange rice-tuna-peppers casserole, also with a pull-top, wax-coated cheeses, a tiny jar of pickles and another of mayonnaise. Nothing went with anything else, everything was room temperature, and there were no beverages. And, they had no carts to collect the empty boxes and containers on, so we spent the whole 8-hour flight with empty fois gras cans rattling around on the floor and the seat back pockets. The atmosphere got pretty ripe after a bit, but the advantage was that people made friends with their seatmates, commisserating over the lack of bread or crackers to put the fois gras on, and eventually, trading items around to make sure the kids got fed something they could handle.
Ever since then, (up until last month!) I've always been sure to have a sandwich and a bottle of water in my bag before boarding.
Steve Hendrix: Doesn't sound too bad for an emergency meal. Fois gras, after all!
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Arlington, Va.: Carry-on food: I'd love to pack my own meals for flights, but having to be at the airport so many hours, this just isn't practical. (And now having to sort 3oz toiletries, even packing snacks is too much of a hassle)
What I've always wanted to know is why are all the restaurants and vendors at airports so second rate? Even McDonalds would be better than the slop they serve up at airports. Why can't real local restaurants get in on the action with quality to-go meals. Imagine a Cosi--or even a Breadline--sandwich for sale near your gate and how much better that would be. Also, some of the better restaurants are outside the security line, which is total nonsense.
KC Summers: There is a good story to be done about decent airline restaurants/carryout joints. We'll do one.
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Skagway, Alaska: I'm not really writing from Skagway (actually Bethesda), but my comment is from an Alaskan cruise a few years ago. It is relevant to the recent discussions on telling the difference between a brown bear and a black bear (color isn't always a consistent clue). A river float guide provided the following handy information: If you encounter a bear, climb a tree. If the bear climbs the tree and kills you, it is a black bear. If it knocks the tree down and kills you, it is a brown bear.
Steve Hendrix: Very good to know. Is that the same guide who dispensed this bear-attack advice: Remember, you don't have to outrun the bear. You just have to outrun at least one of your hiking companions.
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KC Summers: Well, we're out of time, folks. Thanks for all the great questions, and sorry we couldn't get to them all. Our prizes go out to "sucks to sit in the back," "it's airline food -- we nuke it," and the guy who helped the girl from Somalia. Please send your contact info to summersk@washpost.com and we'll get the books out to you. And if you have a preference for which book, let me know. Till next Monday, happy trails.
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