Trip Tips and Deals
The Flight Crew
Washington Post Travel Section
Monday, October 9, 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.
You may
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Andrea Sachs: Welcome to the Columbus Day edition of our weekly travel chat. If you are not on holiday--or have signed on from a beach chair, Vegas slot machine, cruise ship chaise longue--then do join in and send us your questions, big or little, domestic or foreign.
As for our question of the day: In the spirit of Columbus, tell us about your favorite discovery, whether it is a town, hotel, attraction, etc. And for that, you will win a prize--sadly, it is not the New World, but it is just as nice.
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Blacksburg, Va: Thanks for taking my question. My husband and I are thinking about taking a short, weekend-break (4-days) trip to London.How can we go about finding a flight-hotel package in November or early December?
KC Summers: The big booking sites like Expedia and Travelocity all offer hotel and air packages these days. But for Europe, I really like a site called go-today.com. It's a discount site, but the beauty of it is that you can upgrade your hotel quality by levels, so if the budget choice looks a little too dicey you can go up by increments till you find one you're comfortable with. Good luck, and let us know how you make out.
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Washington, D.C. to Charlotte, N.C.: Why does it cost as much to fly to Charlotte, N.C. as it costs me to fly to Seattle?!! And the train ticket is just a few bucks (as in $20) cheaper!
Cindy Loose: Airfares have less to do with distance than they do competition, but US Air now has competition, esp. out of Baltimore.
I just checked rates for Baltimore to Charlotte and came upwith many options at $152. Before taxes, that's $64 each way, which is really cheap.
Also found one-stops out of DCA for $168.
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Washington DC: Hello Crew,
I will be Flying in late November from Chisinau to Barcelona. The premium is time, but of course I want to do it as cheaply as possible as well. Do you have any suggestions on how to find inexpensive air fares originating and terminating in Europe? Web sites? Particular airlines which include former Soviet republics in their routes? Taking the train to Bucharest and flying from there was considered. What do you say?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and knowledge.
Gary Lee: The websites www.europebyair.com and the sites for easyjet and ryanair should give you a start. Anyone else know good websites for intra Europe flights?
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Washington DC: I am missing my original boarding passes. Is there any way to get a credit from a Star Alliance partner airline (Lufthansa) without the original boarding passes?
Cindy Loose: So sorry; all the airlines insist you have a boarding pass to claim the miles. It wouldn't hurt to try writing them to ask, but I think you'd have to mount a real fightto even have a chance. I keep warning folks that miles get lost, especially when you're claiming miles on one airline while flying another, and you need to keep the boarding passes.
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Falls Church, Va: My company is sending me to a convention in Vegas next month. I'll be out there for a week, but I'll be by myself. Between conference activities I should have a good amount of time to myself. Can you or any readers recommend both restaurants and must-see sights for a mid-20's person visiting Vegas alone? Thanks in advance!
John Deiner: Hey, Falls.
That's sort of a tough one. Vegas is a lot more fun when you're watching your best friend fall off a barstool, so I'm going to throw it out to the Clicksters on specific places like bars and restaurants to go if you're alone.
But there are plenty of attractions and shows that you'll enjoy on your own. Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, Death Valley -- they're all worthy of your attention, and fine to do solo, particularly since the weather will be non-life-threatening (no 100-degree-plus days in November). If you don't have a car, you can take a bus tour and glom on to others, which I love to do. I've been to a bunch of shows on my own as well, and it's always fun to chat up the people around me. Grab one of the free in-room guides to see what's available, and consider nabbing a discount ticket to one of the lesser shows at the half-price ticket kiosks around town.
Be careful about walking around real late on your own. It's pretty safe on the Strip, but there's a always a shady character or two or four or eight nearby.
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Denver Bound: Hey Crew!
Love the chats....quick question: I'm headed to Denver for a conference in a month. I've been to bookstores and can't find a good guidebook for Denver (only Colorado or Denver day trips, etc.). Places that you would recommend I visit? Or recommend a decent Denver guide?
Thanks!
Andrea Sachs: I was in Denver a few weeks ago biking, and if you like to cycle, definitely hit some of their trails (most bike shops have maps). For places to visit, on foot or cycle: the newly expanded art museum, DAM, plus other cultural sites, galleries, etc. in the Golden Triangle district; the restaurants and clubs of LoDo (Lower Downtown); 16th Street Mall (not a favorite place of mine, but it has shopping and restaurants in a confined area); the State Capitol and its environs; the aquarium (you can dive or swim in the tanks, with the sharks!); Six Flags, which is right in the city. The Denver tourism office has a great Web site with additional attractions and events. See www.denver.org. For an out-of-Denver experience, check out Boulder, the Coors Brewery Tour in Golden and Red Rocks park and amphitheater(great hiking trails and concert lore). I did not find a good Denver guidebook prior to my trip either; "Hidden Colordo" is good, though, for the entire state. Lots of under-the-radar ideas.
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Silver Spring, Md: I'd like to second the "Close to Home" piece in yesterday's paper about going through customs at Dulles. It took my family over 3 hours on our return from Europe last week, under miserable conditions, and our travelling companions, who were continuing on to Atlanta, missed their connecting flight. We use BWI wherever possible, but their international flights are limited. So be forewarned: you may think that 3.5 hours for a Dulles connection is sufficient, but that's not always true.
KC Summers: That *was* a pretty horrendous story (Kim, can you link to it?) Anyone else out there had problems at this level at Dulles recently?
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Downtown Washington, DC: I'd like to take the train from Manhattan to Montreal sometime, up the Hudson River Valley. Is it possible to take the train and stop off to see, say, Hyde Park and Saratoga Springs and do a little exploration in the Adirondaks on the way? I know Amtrak usually has some kind of a deal where you can get off and get back on the same route on one ticket, and I know there are tons of things to see and do along the way, but I'm a bit stumped about the logistics of such simple things as getting from the train station to the attractions.
Anne McDonough: Hey DC, well, at least part of it can be done. The FDR site in Hyde Park, for example, is about 5 miles north of the Poughkeepsie train station, and according to their Web site (www.nps.gov/hofr/planyourvisit/directions.htm) there are taxis from the station to the site; through Oct. 31 there's also the National Park Service's "Roesevelt Ride," which will take you from the Amtrak/Metro-North Station oughkeepsie train station to the three Roosevelt sites in Hyde Park (info: www.historichydepark.com/common/Events/eventdetail.cfm?QID=8661&ClientID=11050). The Saratoga Amtrak station is about a mile out of town; according to the tourism folks, there are cabs available. Check out www.discoversaratoga.org for more info.
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Washington, DC: From IAD it is 845 to Toronto. But 225 to Buffalo. I was wondering if is expensive to rent a car and drive to Canada from Buffalo? Any price differences with flying?
Cindy Loose: I've always gone to Toronto via Buffalo cause the price difference is so great. In fact, if BWI is close enough for you, there often are flights to Buffalo as low as $158.
The only disadvantage is that you're then have a car and you probably won't need it Toronto. Then again if you were thinking of renting a car once you got to Toronto, there is good news: car rentals tend to be cheaper on our side of the border than on theirs.
Too bad the ferry to downtown Toronto didn't make it. Anyway, map the trip from Buffalo to Toronto at www.mapquest.com. If you're traveling alone, try once more to shop for a decent price straight to Toronto. If you're more than one traveling, just go with Buffalo---the price of two tickets to Toronto will never come close to the price of two tickets to Buffalo plus one rental car.
By the way, check the mileage and time between cities at www.mapquest.com
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Phetchaburi, Thailand: Hi all,
My favorite discovery which comes to mind is Phetchaburi, Thailand. It is not so far from Bangkok, but oh so distant from the hustle and bustle there. I found a wonderful guest house with a fine kitchen (get the mango salad appetizer) which is not hard to find from the bus station. There are interesting wats in the area, one with a gouge in the door from the obligatory Burmese axe, another with fine temple paintings on the walls, and a third with an interesting collection of relics. It is also on the path to a national park where Asian crocodiles were photographed in 2000, and a nice stop if you are heading down the pennisula towards Ko Sumui, etc or Malaysia. Wonderful place.
Andrea Sachs: Wow, that is a gem of a discovery. Next time I go to Thailand, that is going to be my first stop!
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Craigslist Success: Maybe we are more adventurous than most people, but we used Craigslist not once but twice during our trip to Amsterdam and Paris last year. This was our first time in both cities, but we were on a budget. We also did not want to live in hostels. In Amsterdam, we stayed as guests of a lady. We had one room with access to the patio by the canal, and a separate street entrance. It was the most beautiful house, she also let us borrow her bikes and umbrellas. The best thing about the stay was breakfast. She would fix hot breakfast for us everyday, with freshly squeezed orange juice!
I recommend this place to everyone I know. Our experience was really wonderful.
In Paris, we had a whole apartment to ourself. It was in the Marais district, which really made us experience local/old Paris. Also, the apartment had a washing machine, so we were able to do some esential laundry. The best thing about that apartment was the books and music collection. The owner is a massage therapist, so she had all this exotic books and CD collection. And we were free to use them all during our stay.
It was tough deciding where to stay. There were many options, but we decided to stick to certain locations and it was necessary for pictures to be available.
Anne McDonough: I love success stories! And it's great that you're passing along your contacts to others who are headed the same way--that was one of our tips in yesterday's Craigslist piece. And great point about the pictures; asking for them can give you a much better sense of what you might be in for.
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Baltimore,Md: Hello Flight Crew! My finance and I are planning our honeymoon and are thinking of London, Nice, Paris and a couple of Italian cities that we haven't narrowed down yet. Is this too ambitious for a 10 day trip? The 10 days will have to include travel time to and from. What are the must sees/dos for this short of a time frame?
Cindy Loose: Yes, this is too ambitious. You're talking eight days on the ground and five or more cities. Given the time spent packing and traveling among cities you'll be tired, grumpy and ready to divorce after three days of marriage.
I'd do two cities, that's four full days in each, and while there is you still have a big travel bug take a couple day trips. Like, if you do London, take a day to Oxford or some such, then go on to Paris and do a day trip to Chartre or Giverny.
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Anonymous: I recently saw, on a flight of Gol airline in Brazil, something I don¿t believe I¿d seen before: of the two restrooms at the rear of the 737, one was designated for use only by females, and the other without restrictions. Have you heard of this in the U.S.? Sadly, the airline has adapted one practice from U.S. airlines: almost no food. Breakfast was a breakfast bar, a tiny sack of two crackers, and beverages.
KC Summers: Hey, you're lucky you even got a breakfast bar! As for female-centric restrooms, nope, haven't seen this on U.S. planes, although as a card-carrying female, I'm in favor of it. Anyone else encountered this?
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Arlington, Va: I'm going to Toronto for a couple of days on vacation. We're going to a show and will do the normal touristy things. Any suggestions on where to stay? The major downtown hotels seem incredibly expensive ($200+), but I was concerned that staying out by the airport or in one of the other suburbs would be too inconvenient (we will have a car).
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Gary Lee: Here are a few places we have checked out that are located downtown. If you book through hotels.com all are less than $150 a night: Sutton Place, Delta Chelsea, Hilton. In addition, the Days Hotel, also downtown, is under US $100 a night. As for staying near the airport or the suburbs, Toronto is an incredibly easy city to navigate by car.
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Miami, Fla: Want to go to Disney with my wife for a weekend. There is a food and wine festival at Epcot. Is it worth it to go there for that, or explore a different park?
John Deiner: Hey, Miami. I was there last year for part of it. It goes on for weeks, doesn't it? I'm not a big fan of Epcot (Okay, I really really dislike it), but the festival itself was really fun, and the food and wine prices were very modest. You can eat and drink your way around the world for a relative pittance, compared with what it usually costs. There are food stands located in front of each pavilion, and if I remember correctly, wine prices started at $3 or so a glass and food wasn't much more (though you only get a nibble or two).
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KC Summers: So, John, been anywhere interesting lately?
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Baltimore, Md.: Loved Cindy Loose's very funny story about last-minute cruising so much that I'm tempted to do the same. I'm inbetween jobs -- got a few weeks to kill before the new starts -- and have started looking for five-to-seven-day cruises. I have one question. I'd like to just chill out for a week and stay away from the crowds. Is it possible to dine by yourself or you are forced to share a meal with strangers?
Cindy Loose: Most ships have assigned seating, so you're seated at a large table with strangers unless your party is big enough to claim awhile table. But most also have open a buffet line where you can pick up some food and eat alone. Once you've identified a certain ship, ask if they have a buffet option with every meal. Keep in mind of course that the buffet will be cafeteria style, while if you're willing to eat with strangers, you 'll get good service and probably slightly better food.
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Oakland, Calif: Dear Crew, my husband has an opportunity to go to Zurich next June/July and I'd like to tag along (sans kids). What are my chances of getting a ticket for less than $1000 for that time of the year? Thanks!
Gary Lee: We think that Zurich, vastly underrated, is an excellent choice! As you know, that's peak season and so airfares will be at their highest. However, in our experience, you should be able to find something in the $900 range from the west coast of the U.S. Try Swiss Air or Lufthansa.
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Washington, D.C.: Hi there -- I'm heading up to BWI for a flight on Friday and am looking for cheap parking for the weekend. I found Airport Fast Park online and it looks like they're right by the airport. I see they're not officially affiliated with BWI -- any experience with them? Are their shuttles prompt, will my car be safe? And also, any idea if they'd fill up by 9 a.m. on a Friday? Thanks!
Andrea Sachs: Those parking places are pretty dependable and safe, so you should be fine. Just make sure the shuttle runs 'round the clock and that the lot is well lit. Also, check their Web site beforehand to see if they have a coupon (I park at Econopark Express for $5.95 a day, with their coupon; plus, they give free water on the shuttle). Usually, those places don't sell out, unless it is over the holidays. Some lots, though, take reservations (i.e., Econopark).
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Philadelphia, Pa: I loved the cruise story in yesterday's section. I've never traveled alone - but might try a short cruise, based on that article. I think I would talk to an agent before hand - like the article stated in the end. I can't help but comment on that incredibly rude man who commented to the author: having only one child is mean - SO rude! Where do people get off?! I'm so glad you got up and walked away!
Cindy Loose: Thanks. Keep in mind there is another option--you can pay the lower per person rate instead of a single rate if you agree to take a roommate. I did that once and got a nut for a roommate, but didn't spend much time with her and anyway, she made it quite interesting and certainly memorable.
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Washington, D.C.: Our family makes the trek from DC to Ohio quite regularly. One of those distances that does not make a lot of sense to fly but can seem like too long in the car with kids. We have made so many discoveries between here and there. (Embarasingly, an area I considered empty before I had kids.) We have been to Idlewild amusement park in Lingonier. Where the parking is free and the pace is slow. We have hiked in Laurel Highlands. Or we take an alernate route and stop in Deep Creek Lake. The ski resorts have fun stuff in the off season. We love the chairlift ride. There is also hiking at several state parks. These discoveries have both entertained and tired out the kids. Which makes for a blissful second half of the trip.
Andrea Sachs: What a wonderful sense of discovery and adventure you have. That's the true spirit of Columbus!
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John Deiner: Hey, KC. Thanks for asking. Yeah, I was in New York and Jersey this weekend, and I saw the Martin Short show on Broadway. Funny stuff. But, oh, that traffic around the Delaware toll plaza.
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washingtonpost.com: Denver's Trails , (Oct. 1, 2006)
Andrea Sachs: For the Denver traveler, here's a link to the story.
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Herndon, Va: I'm planning a trip to Memphis for the middle of November. The best fair and flight times are on Northwest. Is planning on NW flights still risky? Other options are much less convenient, more stops, and more expensive. I'm thinking about making the reservations tonight to lock in the fare and non-stop flight. Thanks for your advise
Cindy Loose: I make no guarantees, but Northwest just negotiated a tentative agreement with mechanics, and I would fly them. Worst comes to worst they'd at least try to put you on someone else's flight. There were fears about Northwest last spring so extreme that the airline slashed fares to various places, including London, and I took advantage without a glitch. Again, no guarantees, but things are more in order now than they were in the spring.
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Rockville, md: Hi. I'm going to Tuscany this week. Any last minute pointers for me? I've never been to Europe, so I'm apprehensive about the flight over there, the fashion (don't want to look like an American tourist). Should I register my trip with the State Dept?
Anne McDonough: Hey Rockville, you're in for a treat! Registering with the State Department never hurts, and takes zippo time, and if it gives you peace of mind I'd say go for it. As for the fashion...the biggest faux pas, in my opinon, is wearing shorts but you're past shorts weather so no worries there. If you're a guy, a blazer and nice jeans with loafers will get you far, and if you're a woman, add a little scarf to the same outfit. Skip the loud colors and go classic. Skip the sneakers, too. Enjoy--go eat your way through Tuscany!
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Discovery: Best discovery: Kiwi scented bath gel in a Dominican Republic resort: I googled them and tried to order for myself back in the States, but would have had to order 100 bottles! What a shame! 2nd best discovery: moon-pie shaped gourmet chocolate mousse - filled pastries in Stockholm, in a bakery in the square which is home to the Nobel Museum. I've been there twice...can't wait to go back. The pastries don't travel well, I learned the first time.
Andrea Sachs: Moon-pie mousse in Stockholm, that totally rocks! I wouldn't mind ordering 100 of those.
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Bethesda, Md: I enjoyed the cruising article in Sunday's Travel Section, and liked the comments about the advantages of using a travel agent. With most agents' services free, why don't more people take advantage of using an experienced, knowledgeable travel agent? Travel agents aren't always cheaper than a no-frills mega web agency, but the personalized service, and the fact that the agent will be there to be their advocate before, during, and after the cruise, makes the small price differential more than worth it.
Cindy Loose: There are so many travel agent phobic people out there that we should come up with a name for them. Tragentphobia?
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Bethesda, Md: A question for all of you:
If you could retire anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Gary Lee: Our answers, unsurprisingly, vary widely: Andrea -- Fiji; KC -- San Miguele de Allende, Mexico; John -- Sanibel Island; Gary -- Paris; Cindy -- still on the lookout; Anne: anywhere there is a beach and a good vibe.
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Dulles: I had to use Dulles for a day trip to New York last week--never again. The place is moving past seedy to ratty, the shuttles are worse than ever due to terminals A and B, and in the United lounge where I was waiting for my flight, a high-pitched beeping noise kept going for over an hour--had no idea what it was.
The good news is that security wasn't too bad. I got through in about 15-20 minutes.
KC Summers: Another dissatisfied Dulles customer. But at least you got through security relatively fast....
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Connecting in Amsterdam: It's great that we can take liquids on flights now, but what happens when I change planes in Amsterdam? I always found that airport security in Europe is usually tighter - do they allow liquids? I looked on the Amsterdam airport's web site and didn't see any special warnings about this.
Carol Sottili: Amsterdam will be fine. They don't have any restrictions on liquids.
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Arlington, Va.: I'm about to take my first international trip since this whole liquid nightmare began. I'm hoping to get a direct flight to Joberg so as to not have to deal with going through Heathrow. If I am flying a non-US carrier how many of these restrictions apply to me? Or is the fact that I am flying out of an American airport that will be the problem?
Cindy Loose: If you fly out of a U.S. airport you have to follow the U.S. rules vis a vis liquids, no matter what carrier you fly. The rules really are not that aggregious--just put most of your cosmetics etc. in your check in luggage and you can still carry on board enough toothpaste etc to freshen up on the plane. And you can carry water or other liquids bought in the terminal after security.
If you pass thorugh Heathrow the rules are tougher--they're sticking with no liquids or gels, period.
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Single Cruiser:: If you can get a deal on one of Norwegian ships, they have their free style cruising which allows you to eat where you want when you want. There were two of us, but each night we could request a table to ourselves, so I'm sure they'd let you sit alone. We loved the freedom!
Cindy Loose: Thanks for the insight---there may be other lines that can arrange that.
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Washington DC: It seems like rental car rates at National Aiport have doubled in the last 2 weeks. What's going on?
Cindy Loose: I don't know---hadn't heard anything about rapidly rising rates. Anyone else run into that?
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Fairfax , Va: Is there a "shoulder Season" for reduced air fare between Spring Breaks? What is considered Spring/Winter Breaks these days? It seems like it's the whole month of Feb & March. I just want to go out West when all the party animals are not there. Any suggestions?
John Deiner: Hey, Fairfax. I would guess (sorry, it's a guess based on previous travel at that time of year) that spring/winter break time is about Valentine's Day through Easter Sunday each year. But you can often get decent airfares throughout the period if you book at the right time. Any holiday weekends (Presidents Day, etc) are going to cost more, but try to skirt those and you could be fine. I'm always more concerned about the weather then...you can get some really bad snow storms in February and March, and those really shut down everything.
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For the Baltimore last-minute cruiser:: Norwegian Cruise Lines has freestyle cruising, which means there is no assigned seating for meals. My spouse and I went on a 7-day cruise with NCL last year and never had to share a table for our evening meals. For breakfast, we were given the option to share or have our own table. Just remember that to have your own table could mean you might have to wait 15 minutes or so for a table. I think there is at least one other line that offers this type of dinner seating, but I can't remember which one it is, maybe Princess?
Cindy Loose: Not sure what other lines allow diners privacy.
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Petworth, Washington, DC: I'm considering a trip to Mardid (or maybe Barcelona)and Lisbon in the spring (probably April).
I know very little about either place, and even less about getting there. Are there any airlines that run good fares from here to either city? And it looks like taking a train between the two cities might work well - is this reasonable?
Thanks.
Gary Lee: First, if you've only got a week, I'd suggest dividing it between Madrid and Barcelona. If you like urban areas and art, weight the trip a bit more towards Madrid. For fans of shopping, really good food and architecture, count in spending a bit more time in Barcelona. If you have a couple of extra days I would throw in Sevilla. As for airlines, most of the major carriers fly to Madrid but you'll have to make a stopover somewhere in Europe. British Airways, United, Air France are all good. You can easily take a train or hop a flight between cities. If you need help planning the trip, madridandbeyond.com is a excellent agency that caters to English speaking travelers.
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NY or Bust!: I'm determined to go to NY for the Macy's Parade this
Thanksgiving. I've just started looking at tickets so
the really, really cheap Southwest tickets are out.
That said is it still worth it to fly Southwest to Long
Island to save a few bucks or should I just pay up
and fly JetBlue? Also either way, how to I get to
Manhattan, cheapest method possible?
Anne McDonough: You don't say where you're coming from, but if it's here in DC, for my money it'll be easier to take the train right into Manhattan than head to one of the Washington-area airports and then have to get into town from Islip or JFK. But if you must...for budget options from Islip, you could take the shuttle to the LIRR Ronkonkoma train station (LIRR) for about $5, and then the LIRR into Manhattan for about $6.50 (check this page for your options (http://macarthurairport.com/pages/1transportation.shtml). From JFK, you could take the $5 Airtrain to the A subway (that fare is $2) (check this page: http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/jfkpubtransframe.html)
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For the Amtrak Adirondack-bound:: For the person who wants to get off the train and see the sights, it's a lovely part of the country - I grew up there - but the toughest part of this trip would be north of Albany: there's only one train a day. So once you get off in Saratoga, that's it for the day. Same with the Adirondacks, and complicated by the fact that the concrete pads that pass for rail stations along most of the route aren't bristling with either cabs or car rental places. Your best bets for Adirondack exploration would probably be rental cars from either Saratoga (southern parts of the park) or Plattsburgh (northern tier). But the scenery along the route itself is quite beautiful. And if you want leaves, go soon! It's already peak season up there.
Anne McDonough: You still out there, Montreal-bound? This local has great tips for you!
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Pennsylvania: John - I was in New York this weekend, too, and saw "The Wedding Singer." (I went through TKTS; it's a crapshoot.) Jackie Mason sat at the next table in Joe Allen's.
John Deiner: I think I saw you! Nah, I guess not. But I was on that TKTS line, too. Love the new location. Anyone know if they're going to be keeping it in that alley under the Marriott Marquis?
Jackie Mason is still alive? I'm usually good for at least one celeb-sighting in NYC, but not this time, though I did see someone who sort of looked like Charles Nelson Reilly in the Lindy's near 55th.
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suggestions for a family vacation?: I am looking for ideas for a family vacation for late February 2007. the group includes three energetic but well behaved children (all under 10), and six adults (two seniors).
The orginal plan was a disney land/cruise combo but one of the seniors has now offered to pick up the tab for the whole group - except she is the least energetic of the bunch and has no interest in the Disney parks. She will not give us any ideas of what she would like to do. My initial response is to leave her (and yes, her money) at home but that does not appear to be an option.
Any suggestions for a warm family vacation spot? Looking for something in the $10K-ish range for all of us. We will be traveling from two different cities.
thanks for any ideas.
KC Summers: Hmm. She sounds a bit like Aunt March in "Little Women." But actually, since I'm kinda with her on the Disney thing, I'd recommend taking her up on her kind offer and going someplace else -- there are so many wonderful options that are a little more exciting and original. How about a great old resort in the Southwest, like Tucson's wonderful Westward Look, or the (pricier but equally wonderful) Arizona Inn? THey are full of character and are gorgeous places to just be, and enjoy the wonderful desert setting. There's tons to do in the area, from the terrific zoo (animals without cages!) to the fascinating airplane graveyard to horse-riding trails and old Indian missions. The rest of you can be as energetic as you want, while the older folks can enjoy the spa, or sit by the fire and read -- what's not to like?!
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Bethesda, Md: I'm looking to fly out to SoCal sometime in the next month or so. Do you know the pluses and minuses of the various airports from which to choose?
Carol Sottili: Long Beach has JetBlue - it's located south of Los Angeles, but if you are going between LA and San Diego, it's a good bet. It's a small and rather quaint airport. LAX is huge - has Southwest and a few other discount carriers. It's located south of the city. Around Los Angeles, there is Oxnard (northeast of LA), Burbank (north of LA) and Ontario (east of LA), but unless you're going to those places, not usually cheaper. I'd also avoid John Wayne Orange County - it's not that much more convenient, and prices are usually higher. If you do a search on www.kayak.com and request nearby airports to LAX, it will show you which airlines fly where. San Diego is fine, but it doesn't make much sense if you're going north of there.
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Washington, DC: I'm one of the lucky ones that gets alot of vacation (working for a European company). I have 3 more weeks of vacation than my wife. I love to bike ride. Are there any bike riding tours in the US? The ones for Europe (like backroads) is too expensive and not in our budget (over $2000 for 1 week).
Gary Lee: One company I have tried and like is Bike Vermont. They have tours through other parts of New England but specialize in Vermont. Backtours is also good but a bit on the pricey side. Also, most US cities offer tours by bike. Pick any city you like and check out their tourism website and you're likely to find bikeshops there that offer pretty good tours.
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Fairfax, Va: Any updates from the front lines on how the latest security changes are working? Are people successfully getting their 3 oz containers into a quart sized bag? How has this affected the security lines? Inquiring minds want to know! Along the same lines, what (if anything) is being done to standardize what the TSA folks confiscate or don't?
Andrea Sachs: I flew this weekend from National and it went pretty smooth with the new rules on liquids and gels. We all got free Ziploc bags (I prepacked mine), and then security seemed to completely ignore our pretty creams and shampoos. Oh well. On the return, no one blinked at my stash, and it was nice to have my own bottle of water again on the plane. As for the randomness of contraband, I have not yet noticed any kind of uniformity. Stuff I thought would get through was taken, and vice versa. Best not to bring your $300 cream, though, and opt for trial-size Jergens--just in case!
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KC Summers: How about you, Anne? Taken any interesting trips lately?
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Deep Valley, USA: If you're talking about the Delaware Toll Plaza at Newark, there is a simple back road route that lets you avoid it. Get off at rte 896 toward Newark, take Route 4 left off 896 (just before the Chrysler plant), then left on 273 and back on in Elkton after the plaza.
John Deiner: Oh, I took it, DV. But you have to wade through about two miles of traffic now because of construction if you're coming south. A real pain, and takes a lot of fun out of skirting that toll. Not all the fun . . . but some of it.
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My favorite discovery:: In Eugene, Ore., a neighborhood bistro called Cafe Zenon.
Simple, unpretentious, menu-changes-daily, goods from
local farmers, bread/desserts made onsite, vegetarians and
carnivores leave equally happy.
Strolled past on an overnight biz trip there, ate an insanely
delicious meal there for $45: three courses with GOOD wine,
too! Proceeded to eat every meal there while I was in town
and at my second dinner, they gave me a baguette to take
home.
Andrea Sachs: Sounds like Eugene could be the next foodie destination. Who knew??
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re Cruise article: Ms. Loose, as a huge fan of cruising (and a wistful - sp? - husband father of 2 who would love to do a quick getaway like you did) I was looking forward to your cruise article, but didn't think much of it (or you) after reading it.
First, you failed to report the total cost for your getaway - airfare, transfers, cruise inclusive of taxes/port fees/gratuities, onboard booze/shopping/gambling, and shore costs. I'm thinking you came in at around $750.
Second, you failed to report how you could get away from you family (September? back to school?). I realize that you're a travel writer so it's in essence a business trip for you, but a vacation like that isn't for the rest of us. Personally I feel a twinge of guilt when having a nice dinner while on business travel. Your experiences with a Key West tourism rep who wouldn't get off the boat with you in Key West to show you around (hello - a tourism rep who wouldn't show a Post travel writer around their backyard?!?), dinner mates who pointedly left you out of the fun, the older couple who basically ran away from you, and the family you left in a huff having to awkwardly explain things to their young child - I don't think your a snob as much as a boor.
But please don't take that personally.
Cindy Loose: I might be a bore, but a boor? I think not.
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Anne McDonough: Well, KC, thanks for asking. I've been all about the East Coast recently, from New Jersey up to Vermont (headed back to my favorite New England college town there this weekend, as a matter of fact). But what I'd love would be suggestions from the chatsters on what they would do with four days in Marrakech. Anyone out there want to plan my November trip there?
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Miami, Fla: Best discovery: Went to the Canadian Rockies for my honeymoon, and we found this mountain called Mt. Edith Cavell (saw it in Canadian rokies for Dummies).
Best part of the trip because no tour busses were allowed up there! So quiet and no crowds and we could hike up to a glacier.
Andrea Sachs: What a divine discovery. And no buses to ruin the romantic mood!
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Washington, DC: Hi Travel Crew! I am trying to book a trip abroad to Thailand and India during the holidays. I was wondering two things. One, is anyone familiar with the minutiae of renting international cell phones? And secondly, is there a listing of recommended ticket consolidators anywhere? Orbitz is showing ticket prices on the upward of $2000...
Carol Sottili: I wrote a story about international cell phones back in 2003. I'll send the link out. As for ticket consolidators, they just don't give you the bang for the buck that they used to. I will send links to two stories I wrote last year on that topic.
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washingtonpost.com: Have Cell Phone, Will Travel to Europe , (April 6, 2003)
Carol Sottili: Here's the cell phone link.
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Reston, Va: If you had 4-5 days to spend on a Caribbean Island (not St Thomas or St John); and you were looking for a romantic weekend of sitting on the beach, snorkeling, and having someone bring you frozen drinks; and you wanted a flight from the DC area that was less than 6-7 hours - where would you go?
KC Summers: I'd go to St. John! Sorry, I know you ruled that out. But why?! It's my perfect Caribbean island, and the beauty is that you can stay high- or low-end and still enjoy it. If there's a prettier island, I don't know about it. But okay. If you insist, my second favorite choice would be Barbados. I think that's about a four-hour flight. I also love a Bahamian Out Island called Great Exuma.
The truth is that just about any island can be a great romantic destination if you stay at the right place. Even more urban islands like Puerto Rico have wonderful romantic lodgings and hidden-away beaches. That's the beauty of the Caribbean.
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Pasadena, Calif.: I don't know if this is too far afield, but hope you can help.
Am trying to book United tix to NZ upgrading to business
class and can't seem to get it done. Is there a trick?
Discovery for all driving cross-country on I-40: the Frontier
restaurant in Albq., NM. New Mexican food is the best in the
world and most can be packed for travel.
Andrea Sachs: I am not sure I understand what you are trying to do. To pay for an upgrade, just call the reservation agent and pay for the upgrade from economy. Or, are you trying to use frequent-flyer miles? Or, trying for a free upgrade? (For the last option, good luck, but it seems very unlikey, sadly.)
And thanks for the New Mexico discovery, hold the sour cream.
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Pennsylvania again: The TKTS booth is going back where it was. They're rebuilding and expanding - adding two additional windows. The new design looks cool ... http://www.tdf.org/achorusline/#booth
John Deiner: Ahhh. I guess I like the fact that the temporary spot is under cover, and a quick line-jump to a Starbucks. But, boy, that rush of people to the windows when they opened up was way ugly. Thanks, Pennsy!
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Arlington, Va: My greatest discovery in my years of traveling came in the very untouristed and difficult to reach southwestern tip of the Pelopennesse in Greece. It required a 4 hour train ride on a tiny uncomfortable and smoky train to Kalamata, and then a 1 hour bus ride to Pylos. Pylos is a gorgeous seaside town built on a steep hill overlooking a protected harbor. I saw no other tourists there, but got to really live as the Greeks do. Fresh octopus being tenderized on the rocks, fresh seafood and pasta for 4 euros. As much as the islands, Pylos is the true idyllic Greek paradise.
Andrea Sachs: I think I want take your discovery and retire there.
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Deep Valley, USA: John: then get off 95 at 273 and follow it all the way through the burbs to Elkton.
There's also a longer detour if you go the other way on 896. Need a map, though.
John Deiner: I live for maps. Thanks, DV...great to know. Particularly with the holidays coming up.
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washingtonpost.com: Consolidators: Can You Get a Fare Deal? , (Aug. 21. 2005)
Carol Sottili: Here is the story on consolidators.
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Washington, DC: I guess I'm a snob as well, as I think I'd prefer to spend time in NYC in a Craig's list apartment w/ a 6-5 gym rat then on a Cruise ship of any kind. Don't let the posters get you down. They can't be negative if they haven't read your stuff.
Anne McDonough: Aww, DC, you're a good egg. Thanks for the kind words.
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Sarasota, Fla: Reading the chat and just got to the part about where the Travel Crew would retire. K.C. said San Migeul de Allende. I'm going there for a week Oct. 28 (be there for Day of the Dead).
Any must-sees? This is our first visit...
KC Summers: Lucky you. We'll post links to Susan Harb's recent piece, which focused on plein-air painting but had a great what-to-do box to go with. And also a nice evocative piece from a couple of years ago. I think the overall consensus is that instead of running around seeing sights, you hang out in the old plazas and courtyards and take walks on cobblestone streets and visit art galleries and take classes in painting or cooking or whatever. Just soak it all up. (My kind of trip, for sure.)
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Arlington, Va.: Hi Crew,
I have a crusing question for you. I'm going on my first cruise later this year and after looking at cruisecritic.com and some other sites it's become quite clear: there are clearly a lot of activities and customs I don't know anything about. Especially with boarding, dining, etc.
Is there a resource that can provide good tips on what's expected, what to do when, etc. to a first timer? Thanks!
Cindy Loose: Cruisecritic.com is as good a place online as any. If you haven't already purchased, have you thought about contacting a travel agent? If you've already used a travel agent,they should have addressed some of these issues.
I think the biggest mistake cruisers make--they do no advance reserach and do no advance planning for the ports. Your time at them is limited, so if you spend half of it deciding what to do, it's too late to do it. On the other hand, don't set your heart too strongly on what you'll do at a given port, cause there is at least a slight possiblity that weather or something else might require a change of ports. Usually, though, you'll go where they say you're going to go, and you should have a plan, even ifthat plan is to just sit and watch people walk by.
Most cruises have a special night when you dress up a bit for dinner, but that's usually not obligatory, just recommended.
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Fortaleza, Brazil: I retired here, and live in an apartment on the beach, since my wife is from here and has a medical practice (it would be tough to get licensed in the U.S.). Not many Americans, though a fair number of European tourists.
Question: I will be transiting Dulles on my way back from L.A. I have 4 hours between flights. At least I won¿t have to go through customs and assume United will handle transfer of my baggage. If I decide to splurge on a one-time pass at one of the airline clubs to kill the time, which one should I choose? Can I use, for example, Continental¿s (where booze is free) rather than United¿s (where it is not), even though I am flying on United? Delta¿s clubs seem the least expensive but they don¿t seem to have one at Dulles. BTW, I have always found Dulles depressing, but during the intermindable construction projects, it is far worse. Hoping it gets better.
Gary Lee: I have found that besides the booze issue, most of the clubs at Dulles offer a similar ambiance and range of amenities. Bottom line: if you want to imbibe heavily, go for Continental. If not, choose the one offering the best one day rate.
Anyone else have tips on this.
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Romantic Island: Depending on the time of year and your budget, I would consider Bermuda, too.
KC Summers: Good suggestion, thanks.
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Re: Tragentphobia: I have to admit that unfortunately the one time I used an agent I had a bad experience -- lack of responsiveness, wasn't honest about what he would charge, and ended up getting no better deals than I could have. I am inclined to only use them for complicated destinations (e.g. African safari), but I have done Egypt/Jordan without an agent. Should I reconsider? What are the advantages of using an agent?
Cindy Loose: A bad travel agent is probably worse than no agent at all. But if you're using someone good and knowledgeable about your destination, they can save you a lot of time researching, and they might even had first-hand details about where you're going, which is always great.
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washingtonpost.com: Mexico's True Colors , (Jan. 22, 2006); Under San Miguel's Spell , (Nov. 16, 2003)
KC Summers: For the San Miguel-bound. Thanks, Kim.
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About John: Is he single? Because I have a serious journo-crush on him.
KC Summers: Awww. But if you read his story yesterday, you'd know he's married!
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Washington, DC: What was the problem with Dulles this weekend?
Carol Sottili: Was there a problem? I flew out of there Saturday morning and yes, my United Express flight was two hours late, but that was because of "mechanical problems." Security was fine. Came back last night, and it was busy, but no problems. Did you have problems this weekend?
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Deep Valley, USA: They're letting the Dulles shuttles rot so they fall apart just before the train is finished.
KC Summers: Ha.
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Boor: A coarse, rude person.
And what was your total per person cost, please?
Cindy Loose: Airfare was about $150. One taxi ride in Key West $10. Taki rides to and from the port in Playa del Carmen: $20. Two drinks: $10. Two rolls of quarters: $20 and I still have one of them.
It also cost $50 to get to and from the airport from my home.
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Anne McDonough: Not that anyone cares but I just want to correct the notion that I want to retire to a beach. Nothing against beaches or good vibes, but that ain't for me. I want to be a citizen of the world, I told Gary. Adventure! Intrigue! Exotic places and interesting people. The beach can wait. End of rant.
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Bethesda, Md: Princess Cruises also offer dine-when-you-want dining, in addition to traditional assigned seating. And most cruise lines have a buffet restaurant that is casual dress every day and every night, as an alternative to "dressy" evening.
Cindy Loose: Princess. Thanks.
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Rockville, Md: My mom has invited me to join her for a Grand Circle tour in France. It's two weeks and I'm thinking I might like to take another two weeks to travel on my own. What's a good airfare to/from France? Or is it better to fly in/out London and use the chunnel? Any recommendations for consolidators?
thanks!
Andrea Sachs: It all depends on when you are going and where. Air to/from Paris or London is often comparable--about $500-$650 in the winter, more like $800-$1,000 in the summer. Look for sales on Air France, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, etc. You may also find lower fares to Gatwick. And finally, ask Grand Circle about whether they have deals on air; sometimes they work with airlines and get cut-rate fares.
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Gaithersburg, Md: Hey Flight Crew - what is Paris like over thanksgiving? is it worth it to cash in 100,000 of miles for a surprise trip for me and my wife? Or is it better to save the miles for the summer/spring seasons?
Gary Lee: Hey, if you have a chance to sit it out or dance, why not dance?
Paris will be a bit chilly in late November but with all those museums and restaurants, it's easily worth the trip. But since airfares at that time of year are pretty reasonable, why not pay for the tickets to Paris now and use your miles for something more exotic next spring.
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Arlington, Va: What are you people doing there on a holiday? Anyway, I recently returned from an awesome trip to Thailand. I was there for 3 weeks and while I may have seen a few too many Buddhist temples I found it to be a fascinating place with the nicest people I have ever met. Now I am trying to figure out where to go on my next trip but I am having a hard time. I have been to Europe a number of times but there are many more places there I would like to see. Thailand was my first time in Asia but I would love to go back and see more of Thailand as well as Angkor Wat in next-door Cambodia. And I would like to see other places in Asia as well. I have been to Australia twice and would love to return there as well. How do you narrow down the choices? I had a number of top destinations on my "list" and I have been to them now so it's a matter of coming up with a new top list I suppose.
Cindy Loose: I'd vote for Eastern Europe and
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washingtonpost.com: A 10-Step Plan for Using Consolidators
Carol Sottili: Here's the consolidator sidebar!
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Best Discovery: My boyfriend and I were in Hanging Rock Park in Victoria, Australia. We were making our way through the park right before it closed, when all of the screaming children were gone. All of a sudden we heard a noise like a motorbike, and when we stopped to look around, a male koala climbed down out of his tree and came strolling right towards us. He stopped about 10 feet from us! It was incredible, to see a koala in his native habitat (not in a zoo or sanctuary), and that close! He even posed for a fabulous photo before he ambled away!
Andrea Sachs: Sounds like it was an Aussie dressed up as a koala; you know those tricksters Down Under!
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Shepherdstown, W.Va: Shepherdstown is my discovery. It's not fancy or exotic, but it's my favorite way to get away from the city. I'm young, and can't afford expensive vacations. But a day of wandering around Shepherdstown, with dinner at a favorite restaurant, and I feel like I've been away for a week.
Andrea Sachs: Nothing like a simple discovery close-ish to home. Often the best kind.
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Andrea Sachs: Thank you everyone for spending Columbus Day with us, and for sharing your fab travel discoveries. They would've made Chris proud. For the prize (an escapist book on Nantucket), can the mousse moon pie eater in Stockholm please email me at sachsa@washpost.com.
Don't forget next week: Same Web, same time.
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