Talk About Travel

Hurricane-free island options, "Mile High Club" tales, Greece, fun Vegas hotels and more

The Post's Travel Section Flight Crew will take your comments, questions, suspicions, warnings, gripes, sad tales and happy endings springing from the world of ... the world. Of course, the Flight Crew will be happy to answer your travel questions -- but the best thing about this forum, we insist, is that it lets travelers exchange information with other travelers who've been there, done that or otherwise have insights, ideas and information to share. Different members of the Crew will rotate through the captain's chair every week, but the one constant is you, our valued passengers.

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

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

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Anne McDonough: Welcome . We have an almost full house here today --KC Summers, John Deiner, Carol Sottili, Cindy Loose, Andrea Sachs, Steve Hendrix (author of yesterday's Peru waterfall piece)and yours truly are all here to field questions large and small about all things Travel. And we're glad you're hear to throw out those questions and pitch in with your own experiences. I'm just back from a fantastic weekend in Boston and Vermont, where the leaves hit their absolutely peak (just for me, I like to think)--by the time I drove back to Boston yesterday the trees were already shedding their colors. Which reminds me--I want your stories about timing things just right when traveling-when you just happened upon that fantastic festival that occurs once every Thursday at a full moon, or the flip side--when you ended up choosing the exact wrong time to be vacationing in a certain spot. The best, succinct story writer gets an object from the box o'junk. Let's go!

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Arlington, Va: I have for years avoided flying out of Dulles, but have an upcoming international flight on Air Nippon on a weekday. I know my options of getting to Dulles are limited, so I have decided on the Washington Flyer shuttle bus from West Falls Church metro. From users' experiences, is the Flyer's schedule fairly reliable?

Anne McDonough: I've found them reliable but remember that if you miss one, you're waiting at least 20 minutes for the next. So build in lots of extra time for getting to the West Falls Church metro, just in case.

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oh my: I just got back from my first Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. wow! if you saw my photos you wouldn't believe they are real. an amazing sight to behold. and so pretty.

Anne McDonough: Events like that are great for the photo album, that's for sure.

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Washington, DC: Hey Flight Crew!

Back from my Bosnia trip and all I can say to people is GO, GO, GO! Amazing things to see, wonderful people, and reasonably priced. The culture and scenery have something for everyone. Thanks for your help on finding a guide book - the Bradt guide was excellent.

KC Summers: You're welcome! So glad it was great -- I love that part of the world. If you have time, can you tell us a couple of the highlights?

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Bowie, Md: Best unexpected Experience - early this year, booked a trip to Rome early in September. Unbeknownst to us, Sept 8 and 9 were "Bianco Notte" - White Night, a full moon, when everything in Rome, museums, shops, etc were open from 10 PM to 6 AM! All FREE! And street festivals, concerts....wow...what a time to be in ROMA!

Anne McDonough: Now THIS is what I'm talking about--and what a fantastic idea for things to happen overnight! Note to self: Put Bianco Notte on the list.

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Arlington, Va.: Hey, Flight Crew! I have a family wedding in San Diego in April. When should I think about buying my plane ticket? What should I expect to pay for the ticket? Thanks for the advice!

Carol Sottili: The cheapest I've seen the round-trip flight is $99 each way plus taxes. But those sales are few and far between. It's much more common to pay about $320 or so for connecting flights and $400 and up for nonstop flights. Keep up with Southwest sales - often when they offer a sale from to San Diego (airline offers nonstop service out of BWI, connecting out of Dulles), other airlines follow. Also, JetBlue flies nonstop from Dulles, so follow those sales.

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Arlington, Va: I really enjoyed the Peru story. It sounds like a lot more "roughing it" than I would ever personally do, but it was fun to go along for the ride via your story. The archaeological sites sound much more interesting than the waterfall.

Steve Hendrix: Thank you so much. That is quite a nifty area that will begin to get more attention because of the falls (the falls will bring them, but its the broader region they will remember, great terrain, lovely people and just the most amazing archeology).

But let me also say this:

I AM THE WORLD'S THIRD LARGEST IDIOT!

I've been stabbing myself with sharp instruments all weekend over this stupid mistake: I referred to Gocta, at 2,500 feet as a 25-story waterfall. Of course, it is 250-story waterfall and I'm a 6'1" buffoon, as many readers have rightly pointed out.

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Upper Michigan: Not me, but my husband. He was taking a quick trip to

Sweden for a conference, and went to Uppsala, just outside

of Stockholm. He was completely jetlagged, culture shocked,

and disoriented, which was not helped by the 1950s festival

in downtown Uppsala. Women in poodle skirts, cars with

huge tailfins, etc.

Anne McDonough: That sounds like walking on to a movie set in the middle of a city--it's happening right in front of you but it's somehow not so...real. I wonder if the 50s were like that in Sweden or if that's one of the American imports that's made its way overseas.

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North Bethesda, Md: perfect timing....I was visiting another Peace Corps volunteer in Niger and we'd heard rumor that Wodaabe initiation rites were happening in the desert. So we hiked out around sunset and found the spot. Mesmerized, we watched and watched. The time and location is kept a secret until the day of. This is the tribe often photographed because the men wear elaborate make-up.

At the end, someone from a village invited us back for food and drink. By the time we finished it was almost midnight and we realized that we had a few hours' hike back to Jane's village. It was a full moon...so not too bad. We decided, instead, to ask if we could rent some camels! Our hosts arranged it and we rode camelback, under the full moon, for over an hour...

Anne McDonough: Magical--this just sounds magical. Thanks for sharing!

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Honeymoon Next October: I'm getting married next year in early October. My fiance and I would like to go to the Caribbean for a honeymoon, but are wary of hurricanes and the rainy seasons for some islands. We've thought about Tobago. What other places are nice that time of the year? All we need is sun and a nice beach.

KC Summers: You *should* be wary of hurricanes at that time of year. You might want to concentrate on the so-called ABC islands -- Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. They're located so far south that the chances of a hurricane hitting them are relatively low. Also, each has a really distinct personality and cool stuff to do, be it gambling or wind-surfing or history. We'll try to link to a story we did this summer on choosing an island during hurricane season.

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washingtonpost.com: Choose Your Island Wisely , (June 4, 2006)

KC Summers: Here's that link to our story on choosing a Caribbean island. Thanks Kim.

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Washington: Busy day ahead, so submitting early.

I enjoyed the article on West Texas a couple of weeks ago, but couldn't help wondering whether the author was white, and if so, how do you think a minority "tourist" would be treated in a town like that?

John Deiner: Hey, Washington. I was the author, and I'm white. While I wouldn't know for certain what it would be like to travel as a minority, the folks I met were friendly, open and outgoing.

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Washington, D.C. - still a newcomer: I heard someone pronounce BWI "be-we" the other day. Is this a common DC thing, or is she crazy?

Anne McDonough: Hmm, could they have been referring to British West Indies Airlines? Their site, to aid with pronunciation, is www.bwee.com. 'Cause none of us here call BWI anything other than...BWI.

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Kalorama, Washington DC: This may sound like a strange question, but I have wondered about it for a long time and no one seems to know what the answer is. Is it legal to have sex in an airplane bathroom?

Steve Hendrix: Only if you don't smoke afterwards.

Actually, I don't now, but it's an interesting question (why do you ask? Have you been breaking any laws?)

I wonder how many of those Mile High Club stories are true. Readers? Let's liven up this Monday with your tales of airline love (proper language please).

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Burke, Va: Best timing was on our honeymoon. We were in Australia and arrived in Alice Springs, unplanned, the day of the Henley on Todd. It's a bunch of water races (water-skiing, rowing, etc.) run on a dry river bed once a year. The finale was a naval "battle" with 4WD vehicles armed with water hoses and flour packets. Oh yes, this was after the Viking crew of one of the "vessels" pulled me from the audience and threw me over his shoulder shouting "pillage!" Only in Australia...

Anne McDonough: Those Aussies. Pillaging aside, that sounds like a wonderful add to a honeymoon!

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Washington, D.C.: Planning early for Christmas. Do the parking lots around BWI fill up like the ones at DCA? I have a very early flight and think driving will be the easiest, but I'm concerned about parking availability at such a peak travel time. Or is that a problem that's unique to DCA?

John Deiner: Hey, DC. I don't know for certain if the lots around BWI fill up completely, but they do have some vast overflow lots that officials open up when the main lots are filled. If I remember correctly, last year the lots never were as filled as they were expected to be. In addition, some of the private lots near the airport -- included PreFlight and EconoParkExpress -- take reservations if you belong to their frequent-parking clubs (not sure if the holidays are an exception, so you may want to check). And I think Christmas is generally a less traveled time than Thanksgiving with people coming and going on different days, so the situation is more fluid.

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help, leaving for Europe tomorrow, I have a liquid question: I have a question regarding the confusing new rules for liquids. I understand that while flying from the USA that I can bring small amounts of liquid in the quart zip lock bag...but what about when I fly through Europe? what are their rules? I am flying through Germany and Italy on the way there and France and England on the way back. The TSA web site did not have this information beyond US flights. Thank you.

Andrea Sachs: For rules on flights outside of the USA and around Europe, check with both your airline and the airport(s) you are departing from. (The information should be on their Web sites.)

For example, British Airways has some handy info on the restrictions. It says, for instance, that "Frankfurt - there are restrictions during the morning period where no liquids, gels or cosmetics are permitted in hand baggage due to US flights departing from the same gate area." Pretty interesting, no?

Remember, though, that the restrictions are changing all the time. To be safe, check all of your gels and liquids or buy them at your arrival city.

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Washington, D.C.: Poor timing: we went to Hawaii for the first time in 1992. Landed in Oahu and planned to stay over one night before 7 days in Maui so we could visit Pearl Harbor. Arrive there to find a hand-written sign on the door "Closed due to Federal Government Shutdown." What are the chances?? I think the Federal Government re-opened within a day or so (the Congress and the White House were able to resolve the budget issues)but by then, we were already in Maui.

Anne McDonough: And the downside of timing...I hope you were able to find something else Oahu-related to make the side trip worth it!

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Baltimore, Md: I guess this could be seen as a "fashion meets travel question." I was wondering about good shoes to take on vacation to England this winter (late Dec-early Jan). I had a terrible experience while hoofing it in Florence and Venice last year while not wearing practical enough shoes (I like to be stylish) and had to buy some in Italy. Any suggestions for non-clog, semi-stylish shoes that you've had success with while traveling?

KC Summers: Well, for a couple of years I've sworn by my Mephistos. They're black leather, sturdy but not too clunky, a sort of monkish-style loafer, and they work well with jeans or nice pants. They're not so hot with a skirt, but you can't have everything. Those are for winter -- for summer, I have some Clarks sandals that I love. Do you know the web site Zappos.com? Great selection of shoes on there, and you don't have to pay for returns.

Anyone else out there have travelin' shoe brands they love?

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Vienna, Va: Can I bring my own airplane liquor bottles (1 oz) in my carry on? They sell these at liquor stores and they are less than 3oz. Why can't I bring my own on the plane instead of being charged $5 each. I have a 24 hour flight and I am not about to drop a ton of money on drinks.

Carol Sottili: Lots of airlines (most of them foreign carriers) still provide free alcoholic drinks on overseas flights. Not a good idea to drink your your own alcohol on board, even it it is in little bottles. While I couldn't find the exact rule, I believe it is illegal to consume your own alcohol on a public flight.

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Washington DC: Hi Flight Crew,

I'd love to go to Japan--Tokyo, Kyoto, etc. I was thinking in June, but.....

When is the best time to go, and how easy is it to get around the country? How difficult is it for a non-Japanese speaker?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Cindy Loose: June is a fine time. The weather in Tokyo and Kyoto is fairly mild so there's not a terrible time, but June should be great. Getting around---it's doable. Not as easy as European countries with roman alphabets, but a fair number of people in major cities speak English and charades can be helpful. My husband even managed to negotiate the subway system with no major problems, although that's not something I decided to do during several trips there.

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Washington, D.C.: My boyfriend and I are considering taking a cruise this spring. What are some cruise lines known for catering more towards singles in their 20's/early 30's as opposed to those who cater to families and seniors?

Cindy Loose: The really expensive lines tend to be geared more to people with money, so we're talking the likelihood of more older people. As to the cruise that fits your demographic--and that's more than just your age--it varies not only by line but by individual ship on a given trip. To get the best fit, assuming you don't want to spend hours studying, I'd talk to a travel agent who books a lot of cruises. They still get commissions so usually don't even charge a fee.

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Los Angeles, Calif: Enjoy your column every week! This is a "heads up" regarding some serious incompetence at the Philadelphia airport in mishandling connecting flights. On Southwest flights from Hartford to LA connecting through Philadelphia (flights 2160 & 369), I expected to pick up the connecting flight at a gate in the same terminal. Instead, I was required to jog to a distant terminal and wait in two separate security lines before entering the 2nd terminal. No provision was made to shorten the wait for people holding boarding passes to flights leaving imminently and it took a full hour to arrive at the connecting gate. This gate was virtually empty with no airline employees in the area, so for the third time I checked the video monitor to verify the connecting flight. While reading "Gate 1" on the monitor for my flight, I heard "gate change final boarding at Gate 4" announced. Needless to say, in spite of having paid to print out an "A" boarding pass at my hotel the day before, I was hustled aboard a full flight to sit in a center seat for the 6-hour flight to LA. (If the flight from Hartford had not arrived early, I would definitely have missed the connecting flight to LA.) This has never happened in the frequent prior US flights I've taken, and I must conclude that I should avoid the Philadelphia airport at all costs.

Steve Hendrix: Ouch. We haven't heard that about PHI (other than the garden variety horrors, of course).

One other current airport warning: Logan is a mess during some runway construction (so reports Anne McDonough, just in from Vermont)

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Headed to Buenos Aires: I am planning a trip to Buenos Airiest for the last week of November or first week of December. So far, the lowest fare I've found is around $900. Any suggestions for finding a cheaper fare?

Cindy Loose: Unfortunately $900 isn't bad, given normal fares. Not sure you can do a lot better. However, what you might be able to do is get a package that combines airfare and hotels. Last time I went, the price of airfare was the same as airfare plus six nights hotel.

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Boston in 2-3 days: Anne, I know I'll miss the fall foliage when I make up to Boston for the last weekend of October, but anything specific we should do? It will be my boyfriend (who's never been to Boston) and my sister (who just moved there). AND it's for my birthday. Any and all suggestions are appreciated. We like walking around, museums, theatre, cheesy-touristy stuff . . .

Anne McDonough: Once you've done the Freedom Trail and gotten canolis in the North End (try Mike's) and caught a Sox game...could I get in a plug for the Jamaica Plain neighborhood? You could do a (free) tour of the Sam Adams factory...as long as you're 21+ it's rather a fun time...libations provided. Also, if you have a car--I've not been, but it sounds fun--you could try the Museum of Bad Art in Dedham. Sadly the Institute of Contemporary Art (the oldest non-collecting contemporary arts institution in the United States) hasn't yet reopened (it was skedded for September, but constructions delays interfered) but the MFA and the Isabella Stewart Gardner are fantastic. Also, check the Boston CVB to see what's on theater-wise (www.bostonusa.com).

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washingtonpost.com: North End Food Tour , (July 3, 2005)

Anne McDonough: For the Boston-bound: You can use this link as a sort of guide to exploring the North End, as well. Thanks, Kim!

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Wrong Place, Wrong Time: We knew that the World Cup was big in Europe, but as Americans I don't think we realized quite HOW big. In 1994 we were in Venice for one day... which also happened to be the day that Italy was playing in the World Cup Finals. The shops around Piazza San Marco were open, but that was IT. While sitting at lunch we actually saw restaurants close their doors and turn off their lights. We spent the afternoon in our hotel room... watching the game. It wasn't until I went back to Venice that I realized most of the charm of the city is off the beaten path.

Anne McDonough: Oops. Strikes and sports events are good things to be on the lookout for!

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Ref: Mile High Club: So when the kid gets old enough, mommy and daddy can tell him/her that he/she was conceived in an airplane terlit. Wow, the kid will be scared for life.

Steve Hendrix: You think MARRIED people would do that???

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Silver Spring, Md: My fiance and I would like to go to Greece for our honeymoon in late June/early July. I've checked out airfare to Athens on the various Internet travel sites and it seems that the lowest price available is $1200-1300 with one connection. Is that the norm for that time of the year or is there a time between now and then where there will be better deals to Greece in the summer? Would it be cheaper to go through a travel agency and get a package that also includes the transatlantic flight? Also, are there any travel agencies in particular that you'd recommend for travel packages to Greece?

Carol Sottili: Greece in summer is pricey. And summer airfares to Europe in summer were very high this year, and I've seen no indication they are going to come down in 2007. That said, there is no reason to buy now for next summer - $1,200 to $1,300 seems too high. Sign up at www.kayak.com or its buzz option and www.orbitz.com for deal detector, and they'll alert you about airfares. It could be cheaper to get a package deal, but no guarantees. One tour operator that comes to mind is Homeric Tours - www.homerictours.com.

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Vienna, Va: Hi all, I think that I've read here about different screening lines for "premium" airline passengers. What's the deal with that? Is it the airlines that are responsible? Who should the "riff raff" complain to about watching some people zip through security while others are waiting and waiting? We all pay for security, so it bugs me that some people can skip ahead. At Dulles (Friday morning) there were signs for "premium" passengers but no definition of what premium means. Thanks.

Cindy Loose: If you're a premium passenger, you know it.

The deal is that the airlines are responsible for the lines that lead to security, and they pay the workers who do that task. So, the Transportation Security Administration says its up to the airlines how they do that. Premium is either first and business class passengers or extremely frequent flyers who log like 100,000 miles on that airline a year.

If you want to complain, Congress would be the only place to go, but I doubt they'll be making any changes. In fact, the trend is moving towards short lines for so called registered travelers who pay to have background checks done. If it helps, the people in the premier line keep the airlines afloat and so enable them to sell coach leisure passengers money losing fares. That's how I look at it, but if it upsets you, write Congress. TSA for sure isn't the place to go cause they're just following protocol set by politicians.

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S. Rockville, Md: First, my story, then a comment. Our best serendipitous travel experience occurred on our honeymoon. My wife's alma mater throws a worldwide party on the third Thursday in October (coming up this week!). We were going to be in Australia honeymooning when this was to occur. I checked with her college, and found out that they had an event in Sydney, but not Adelaide, which was where we were going to be on that Thursday. So we changed plans, and asked our travel agent for a hotel in The Rocks, right by Sydney Harbour. Well, our travel agent booked us at the Shangri-La (I highly recommend it), which was home to the pub where the party was! So after the party, where we toasted the Aussie alums and the ex-pats, our trip back from the party was a ride up the elevator. The only less than perfect thing was that I couldn't surprise my wife with it. About two weeks before our wedding, she wondered if we would be able to go the party during our honeymoon. I had to let her in on the surprise I had planned.

Carol, did you see the recent article about the koala's on Kangaroo Island eating themselves out of house and home? People should get there soon before there's nothing left on those eucalyptus trees.

Anne McDonough: Now THAT's a loyal alum for you--And what a great honeymoon story!

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Vegas, Baby!: Hey Flight Crew!

My girlfriends and I are planning a weekend in Vegas to just play, play, play! We're looking at the end of January and need help finding a fun hotel that isn't tacky but not over the top. Also, do hotels cut rates over the weekends since most of their business is convention-eers during the week?

Thanks!

John Deiner: Hey, VB. You're goin' to the right place to play, play, play!

A hotel that's fun and not tacky and not over the top? Hmmm. They're all fun, if you ask me, but my picks for girlfriends heading to Vegas who want to avoid tackiness would be TheHotel and the Palms -- both are really nice properties and skew young. Downtown, you can consider the Golden Nugget, which is a lot hipper than any of the other properties there. New and beautiful is the Red Rock Resort, but it's way off the Strip, and it's a hassle getting into the middle of the action from it.

As far as rates, while midweek fees do depend on what sort of conventions are going on (for instance, it could cost $400 midweek to stay at the Venetian if it's hosting a big event), it's almost always more expensive to stay on weekends everywhere around town. That's because the town gets a weekly weekend influx of visitors from California, and most everyone starts their trips there on Fridays and Saturdays (always try to avoid flying out of or into Vegas on a Sunday -- it's a zoo). If you really want a weekend experience and are a little flexible, fly in early Saturday, splurge a bit then stay through Monday or Tuesday...you'll get a lot more bang for your buck.

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clarification?: sorry if this is dumb, but can we PACK our lotions and potions? these regs are just as to carry ons, right? and what about prescription medications? can we carry those on in their containers (and not in 3 ounce bottles in a bag?)? thanks

Cindy Loose: You can put all your lotions and potions into your packed luggage. As to prescriptions---no problem on pills as long as they're in the original containers, but liquid prescriptions---quite honestly I can't remember the details off the top of my head, but you can find them at www.tsa.gov.

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re: boston in 2-3 days: first of all, no sox game at the end of October. secondly, go to modern pastry for cannolis or other Italian treats. mike's is overrated and overrun with tourists. modern is right down the street from mike's and is so much better. as for other cool things to do, check out the main branch of the Boston public library located on the corner of Boylston and Dartmouth streets. (Copley T stop). the "old" side has great architecture and artwork inside.

Anne McDonough: Snap. You've got me on the Sox (I'm not really a sports person) but I have to defend the canolis at Mike's. Anne likes 'em. But I haven't had Modern's so hopefully the original poster will try both and then come back and deliver a report on the State of the Cannoli on a future chat. Thanks for the public library plug-that's a great idea!

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Santa Barbara: We'll have about 36 hours in Santa Barbara between Christmas and New Years. Can you recommend a place to stay that is on the ocean, but not a huge impersonal hotel? Also, what are the not to miss things to see with only a day and a half? Are the whale watching tours/kayaking worth it? They take up nearly an entire day. Or are we better off seeing things from land? Thanks!

KC Summers: Lucky you, Santa Barbara is a wonderful town -- one of the most beautiful in the U.S., I think. Not sure what your budget is, but if I had unlimited funds I'd stay in the beautiful, historic Biltmore. It's a 1920s Spanish-style complex overlooking the ocean, with gorgeous old tiles and antiques-filled public spaces. When I interviewed mystery writer Sue Grafton (who lives in SB and adores it) for a story a couple of years ago, she also recommended the Montecito Inn and Fess Parker's Doubletree resort. I'll see if we can link to the piece.

As for what to do, do NOT miss the incredibly beautiful and moving Mission Santa Barbara, and definitely see the old courthouse -- it's just amazing. This is assuming you love Spanish-style architecture and art. Also, there are wineries over the mountains, if you want to do a Sideways kinda tour. There's a nice art museum in town, and great shopping of course, and walks along the beach. Great place.

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Rhode Island: I am going to Key West next month. Is it smarter to fly directly to KW or fly to one of the south Florida airports and drive. Also, does anyone have recommendations on where to stay - Bed and breakfast, condo rental? Please help!

Andrea Sachs: The cheapest way to get to Key West is to fly into Fort Lauderdale and drive down (Fort Lauderdale flights are about $150, vs. $300 for Key West). The drive, though, can be long, around four hours, but you can make several pit stops in the various keys (Anne recommends taking the Card Sound Road option). However, if you are short on time, fly directly into Key West and catch a cab into town. Once there, you won't need a car; most of the sights are reachable by foot.

For accommodations, we recommend the Southernmost House Grand Hotel, the Speakeasy Inn or the Ocean Key Resort (overlooking the Sunset Parade). Another option: Stay on a houseboat at Harborside Motel & Marina.

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Bad Timing: Not off the beaten path, but...I was on a month-long study program in Luxembourg and had a chance to take a quick two-day visit to Paris. I arrived on Sunday night, only to find that Monday was a holiday and the museum was closed Tuesdays so I became one of the only people to visit Paris and not go to the Louvre. Ah well.

Anne McDonough: But then you had a chance to see all of the other wonderful things Paris has to offer, right?

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Washington, D.C.: I just bought my ticket to go to San Diego for Veteran's Day weekend. Flying on United, non-stop from Dulles, $320, all-in. I fell in love with kayak.com during this process - highly recommend.

Carol Sottili: That's a good price for the nonstop flights! Kayak is one of the first places I go when I'm researching flight prices.

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Susquehanna Township, Pa: We have a friend who would like to take a discount cruise as discussed in Cindy

Loose's October 7 2008, article, but she's always afraid of the "single supplement." Does the "single supplement" always apply or can it be negotiated?

Cindy Loose: The single supplement is a pain. If you're willing to be assigned a roommate, they'll waive it. Otherwise, Carnival reduced the single supplement for last minute in my case. I didn't ask or try to negotiate, it's just when the price was quoted it was less than the usual supplement. Renaissance on that particular cruise however did not reduce the single supplement, which is why I took Carnival instead. I think it depends, last minute, how desperate they are to unload the rooms.

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Barefoot Cruise: Still trying to find out information on the Windjammer Barefoot Cruises ... does anyone go on these cruises??

Anne McDonough: Anyone out there want to weigh in on this?

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Boston Mass: Hello. My husband and I are going on our honeymoon on Saturday to the Big Island in Hawaii. I am a bit worried after yesterdays events. Any tips on what may be happening there right now or where to look for information. It seems like things will probably be okay but just a bit concerned. Thank you.

Cindy Loose: I have been looking into that and I think it's just a tad too early to tell. Engineers for example are examining bridges. A bridge might not be a big deal, unless it's the bridge that leads to your resort area. I've emailed sources in Hawaii but they haven't gotten back to me yet---electricity and phone service might still be an issue, but I think they'll be able to fix that quickly cause in many cases it just automatically shut off and there wasn't major damage. I would definitely call the hotel, if not today,then tomorrow.

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Re: best and worst timing: Hi there. I spent two weeks at my brother's "cabin" outside of Valdez, Alaska two years ago. The best timing of this trip was flying into Anchorage and having an unbelievable blue-bird day and able to see Denali all the way from Anchorage. It was so beautiful, we just HAD to drive to the park and HAD to take a plane flight around the peak. The flight was unreal; we could even see climbers on the mountain! But the worst came on my last morning of the trip. My brother's accommodations were "rustic" to say the best. He graciously gave me his loft, which was a piece of plywood with a sleeping bag and mosquito netting. But the timing of the trip was right during mosquito season. After a long night's rest, I awoke to find more than 300 mosquitoes swarming my netting. I'm sure you can imagine how ready I was to leave by then!

Anne McDonough: What's a few hundred bugs buzzing around you when you're staring at a Denali sky?

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Gaithersburg, Md: Hi all, I enjoy the chats....

I am going to a business conference in Honolulu, Hawaii this June, what can I expect to pay for my air travel? I am expecting about $600.00 RT, is that anywhere in the ballpark?

Steve Hendrix: You might get $600 but I doubt you'll get much better. Not too many real fare sales to Hawaii, especially during school holidays.

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Washington, DC: What are some good long-weekend resort options for mid-January if your goal is to sit by a pool with a drink and get a massage every day? Preferably under about $3500. Thanks.

Cindy Loose: You have many, many options at that price. Anywhere in the Caribbean with direct flights (don't risk a connecting flight with only a long weekend.) Since you said pool as opposed to beach I'd consider Florida and Arizona.

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Silver Spring, Md: Do you have any suggestions for vacation destinations in the U.S. over Thanksgiving weekend or is it just too crazy of a time to travel. We were hoping to find someplace fun to go that wouldn't break the bank. Any ideas?

John Deiner: Hey, Silver. Oh, it's just too crazy a time to travel...BUT I would consider going away on the Friday after Thanksgiving and returning the following Monday. Planes are a lot less crowded those days. I'm a Florida nut, so I'd try to get something on the Gulf Coast, like Anna Maria island just south of Tampa. Love that island -- very low key and fun, and you can always drive north to Tampa and St. Pete for museums and such.

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Washington, D.C.: I read awhile back about Southwest's problems with boardfirst.com Has that issue been resolved? Should I still use it? Thanks.

Carol Sottili: Last I heard back in August, a judge refused Southwest's request to stop Boardfirst.com from obtaining boarding passes for passengers (costs $5 a pop). Instead, he told them to go to mediation. The company is still in business, so I guess it still works.

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Indianapolis, Ind.: Hello -- Just wondering whether anyone's stayed at the

Fontainebleau Resort in Miami. We have reservations for a

suite there in December. We'd like to stay closer to South

Beach, but we'll have a two-year-old so figured it'd be better

to have the extra space. Does anyone have any experience

there? Or other kid-friendly suggestions? We looked at the

Loews too but figured for the price, we want a bigger room.

Thanks!

Anne McDonough: Chatsters? Any firsthand experience with this place?

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Washington, DC: Here's a question my traveling friends and I have tossed about:

What over-the-counter preparations could you not travel without? (this is more difficult since the 3 oz. or less situation has come up).

My choices: Benadryl (antihistamine and sleep aid)

Neosporin type ointment

Zantac (or the like)

Advil (pain reliever).

Any thoughts?

KC Summers: Okay, I've surveyed the gang and here's what we can't travel without:

KC: Advil and Band-Aids. (Not for cuts, but for my feet.) Oh and Tums, for the calcium.

Steve: Aspirin if he remembers it.

John: Excedrin PM and Tums.

Anne: Aleve and Neosporin.

Andrea: None.

Cindy: Tylenol PM, Immodium if she's going outside the U.S. or Europe.

Carol: "I never go anywhere exotic so I just buy anything I need on location. They have drugstores in Ocean City."

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Re: Shoes: I spent one month backpacking Europe wearing Dansko clogs and they were fantastic. I don't recommend wearing "trainers" (sneakers) if you plan on clubbing. A lot of places won't let you in just based on your footwear!

KC Summers: Yeah I'm a fan of Dansko clogs too (a good thing, since they never wear out), but the chatter specifically requested non-clogs. Agree about the sneaks.

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Boston, Mass: Go to the Harrison Gray Otis house and take the tour + the walking tour of Beacon Hill. I did it this weekend and it's a great bit of off the beaten path boston with boston history. And you'll see more of beacon hill than the main tourist street.

Anne McDonough: Great idea-thanks for the tip.

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Re: Shoes: Advice on shoes for traveler to England. I have always found shoes to be one of the most important parts of trip planning. If I find a pair I like I often buy them in both black and brown, so they go with everything. I have also discovered how great it is to have waterproof shoes. (Accidentally found out that mine WERE on a rainy trip to Spain and I was thankful.) I have had a lot of different brands and would recommend most, but have found that sturdy Aerosoles have been good. They aren't too heavy, but they need to have good arch support. Don't get the styles that feel like slippers, because they don't have enough support and your feet will hurt with long walking. One thing that I really like is a "Mary Jane" kind of look with a strap. This style is versatile for both pants and skirts.

KC Summers: Thanks for that. I completely agree about footwear being critically important. I can't believe I still make this rookie mistake sometimes -- like this summer in NYC, I went through a whole box of Band-Aids in one weekend 'cause I'd packed cute work shoes instead of sturdy walking shoes.

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Bethlehem, Pa.: Your Q&A this week about whether you can get on a plane without photo ID and personal experience prompted this question. What do you do if you're in another country and notice that your passport is missing just as you arrive at the airport for your trip home? My passport was stolen once in Italy and I went to the US Embassy in Rome to get temporary papers. But what if time is of the essence? Is there any way back into the United States without the actual passport (assuming you have one on record)?

Andrea Sachs: The official line is that you must contact the nearest embassy and speak to the American Citizens Services unit of the Consular Section about securing a replacement passport. Tell them you are leaving shortly (or now) and hopefully they can expedite the process (remember to always carry an extra set of passport photos and a photocopy of your passport to speed up the process). For other details, check the State Department's Web site at http://travel.state.gov/law/info/info_623.html.

Otherwise, I suspect that if you show up at the airport without a passport, you most likely will be referred to the embassy and not permitted to board the plane. But you never know; to be honest, I was very surprised to learn that you can get on domestic flights if you've lost your ID.

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Fairfax, Va: Cruise questions: Is travel insurance recommended for healthy people who can afford to self-insure for things like weather delays and missed connections? How early should you book a "limited" excursion? On which Caribbean islands would you recommend avoiding unbottled water, fresh produce, etc.? Thanks!

Cindy Loose: I think travel insurance is a good idea. Healthy people get sick, fall down and break their arms, the world goes fluey around them. If you're laying out a lot of cash, I'd protect it. When to book a limited excursion depends on how badly you want to go and whether there is an alternative that would make you just as happy. If you have your heart set on a particular excursion I'd book it asap. I use bottled water everywhere, including here at home, but maybe that's just me. I think it depends more on the kind of place you're visiting. If you're dining at a brand name chain hotel or top notch resort, I would eat or drink anything they gave me anywhere in the world. The cheaper the food, the more careful I am.

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Boston, Mass: I went to Japan last spring for 3 weeks and took public transportation and trains everywhere. Subways always had signs in the Roman alphabet and I had no more trouble getting around there than in any other country where I don't speak the language. Maybe less. It was great! Don't let the language stop you!

Cindy Loose: Thanks for the words of encouragement, and I do agree.

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washingtonpost.com: In Santa Barbara, "T" is for Tour Guide , (Sept. 8, 2002)

KC Summers: Here's a link to the Santa Barbara piece. Thanks Kim.

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Key West Shuttle: Oops...I meant take a cheap flight to Fort Myers, not Fort Lauderdale, and then the key west shuttle from there. www.keywestshuttle.com. You can buy tickets on line. We did it and had a great time.

Andrea Sachs: Great suggestion, thanks!

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Mile High club: I don't know about it being illegal but you can surely bet that everyone knows what you are up to. When I was in college, me and my boyfriend were flying to England and decided we wanted to be a part of the club. Well, he came in after me b/c I "wasn't feeling well." Those bathrooms are so small and cramped it was not the best experience. I was also afraid everyone would know what we were doing or that it was taking too long. As we walked out I couldn't look at the flight attendants who surely knew what was going on but wouldn't call us out on it. Its a fun story but not sure I would try it again. Thanks!

Steve Hendrix: Did they give you a membership card or anything?

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Bethesda Mom: Best travel serendipity--2 years ago when we rented a house in Orvieto for a week and decided to visit Sienna the day of the Palio. We got to the city in time to have a fabulous lunch, secure a spot in the central square, and watch the centuries' old parade of the condotti with flag throwing and Renaissance costumes, followed by the most terrifying horse race around the plaza. Our friend who lives in Rome accompanied us and told us later that most of his Italian colleagues had never been to the Palio since it seemed too daunting to do.

Worst timing--staying in a posh hotel in downtown Cincinnati many years ago as a very young lawyer in town for an oral argument at the same time the hotel was taken over by a convention of sales people and having the front desk mistakenly give out my room number as the hospitality suite--I ended up moving my room at 2 in the morning so I could get some sleep before the big day in court.

Anne McDonough: The first sounds fantastic; as for the second, I'd be blasting those conventioneers like you wouldn't believe.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Flight Crew,

After a long stretch at work, I am in desperate need of a little warm weather relaxation. The destination isn't as important as the amenities of the location - nice weather, beach, drinks with umbrellas, etc. Do you know of any Web sites that show you the cheapest places to travel from your starting point? I don't care if I'm on the beach in Jamaica or Cancun, I just want the place I can get to the cheapest from DC. It seems like a big undertaking to price out a bunch of places on Expedia or something...do you know any places that do that legwork for me? I probably can't take the actual trip until December or January, but I want something to look forward to! Thanks, Crew, I appreciate the help!!

Carol Sottili: The only Web site that comes close that I know of is www.farecompare.com, but that's going to tell you only about airfares, not package deals.

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Cheapo from Orlando: Hi Crew

I have to be one of those suckers that flies during peak holiday season this year from Orlando to DC. Am I better off booking now or can I do better if I hold out for a while? Suggestions on cheaper carriers would be nice as well.

Thanks

Cindy Loose: I can't imagine flight prices during the holiday peak going down unless something very strange happens, so I'd book as soon as possible. Just about everyone flies there out of the D.C. area, including the so-called discounters Air Tran, Jet Blue and Southwest. Good luck.

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all about timing:: Summer of 1992, doing the Eurail thing with a girlfriend after

our semesters abroad, decided to drop in on a pal teaching

English in rural Moravia. That weekend was their heavy metal

festival, and my word, were the locals pleased to meet two

young Americans! They called us onstage and tried to get us

to sing Metallica, and wouldn't let us buy a single beer (at a

nickel a pop, we kept trying and trying). What fun!

Anne McDonough: Metallica in Moravia--the stuff semesters abroad are made of.

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Travel-Size Liquids Update: Just wanted to give an update on my experience with travel-size liquids. Flew out of Dulles on Thursday night with my liquids in a Ziploc bag--no problems. They even thanked me for having them ready in a bag. I flew out of Charleston yesterday and they confiscated my liquid foundation because I'd forgotten to put it in the Ziploc bag for my return flight. (I had left it in my makeup bag.) I was allowed to keep everything in the ziploc bag though. Go figure!

KC Summers: Thanks for that ground-level report -- ridiculous about the foundation, but let that be a warning to us.

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Re own liquor: It is against FAA regulations to drink alcohol you've brought on board a flight. This has nothing to do with the recent liquid restrictions.

Carol Sottili: Yup.

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Annapolis, Md: For the Tokyo traveler.....

There's a bilingual map you can get before you go from Amazon or B&N or something--it's a book, and will run you about $25, but I found it absolutely -invaluable-, both for getting around and communicating directions with non-English speakers.

I didn't have a lot of trouble--some small communication gaffes, and some instances when I just -wanted- to converse with someone but couldn't. Most of the trains/subways have bilingual signs, etc.

I was a female traveling alone for the most part, and had a great time....

Cindy Loose: Thanks. Japan is quite safe, and maybe it's just me and my appearance but I never got hassled by men when walking around alone.

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Wrong/Right Time: My husband and I were on our honeymoon in Kerala when the tsunami occurred. Although the destruction was not nearly as devastating as neighboring Sri Lanka, several hundred fishermen died and the local livelihood where we were (fishing) was suspended. Despite their own situation, every Keralan that we met showed such support and concern for us - invited us into their homes, offered tea; etc. We are still amazed by their generosity under such difficult circumstances. We can't wait to return.

Anne McDonough: That's one of the best ways to show your appreciation, too, is to continue to travel to and vacation in areas that need the tourist dollars. I like a heart-warmed like this, I do!

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Central Cal: Timing: I went to the Halifax Canada for a vacation at the end of June. I had no idea that Canada Day (similar to 4th of July) was July 2nd. Fireworks over the harbor, great party at the ferry complex with music by the Stampeders (Sweet City Woman for you oldsters) and a chance to discuss the two celebrations with congenial Canadians. Probably doesn't sound like much, but I'll never forget it.

Anne McDonough: The things we learn about the world when traveling ;)

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RE: Barefoot Cruise: Go! They are tons of fun just don't expect to be pampered. Leave you fancy clothes at home and bring your bathing suit. My fiance and I went on the Yankee Clipper and the guests ranged anywhere from young honeymooners to baby boomers. It was a lot of fun and the crew is wonderful. I don't think I will ever seen the Caribbean the same as I saw it from that ship.

Cindy Loose: Not sure whether this is a follow or not to the person seeking a young cruise, but even if it isn't, the barefoot and windjammer cruises attract a young crowd.

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Munich, Germany: On a crisp, clear and sunny day in Dec. 1986, I took a bus from scenic Winchester in the south of England, to the famous Stonehenge ruins.

Normally they're fenced off and can only be viewed from a distance, but on this fine day, the fences were removed as an experiment to see if tourists could be trusted to not write graffiti or steal a few stones as mementos.

It was actually a great feeling to walk around the ruins, and if a few Druids were performing their rituals, I might even have had a chance at winning today's award. But as it was, I did feel transported back in time. My only souvenir was a picture of me within the ruins taken by a friendly Texan.

Anne McDonough: And could you be trusted?

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Pleasant surprise during a trip: While waiting for the last leg of my first trip to the Azores to discover my Portuguese roots, I met the town priest of Velas, Sao Jorge, where I was to spend the first few days of my stay. As he was highly educated and spoke excellent English, he told me a great deal about the history of his town and island, and invited me to attend a special mass the next afternoon.

While I was out sightseeing on my own the next morning, some nice townspeople I chatted up in my broken Portuguese told me there was going to be a free lunch at noontime at the imperio (fraternal lodge), which I should be sure not to miss. So I wandered over around 12:30 to discover, set up in the middle of a gaily-decorated street, long tables on which traditional Azorean "sopas" (literally, soups) was being served over crusty Portuguese bread -- a dish I'd never had but had heard about from an older cousin! -- to the entire community. And (by coincidence, for me) that turned out to be the day of one of the biggest celebrations in the Azores, the annual Holy Ghost Festival, which I'd also heard of though had never attended in the Azorean-American communities in the US.

After walking off my lunch around town, I returned to my hotel room to change into appropriate clothes, and attended the mass (sitting in back, so as not to be conspicuous), then followed the crowd as it spilled out of the church afterwards onto one of the town plazas. There the parishioners and local filarmonica (community marching band) formed up for a solemn procession around the center of town, including a stop at the old age home where the priest said a few words and a nun led a couple hymns for the benefit of residents unable to attend the mass. All along the parade route, I noticed homemade quilts and afghans hung from upstairs windows and balconies, to decorate the parade route. I managed to snap some nice photos of the procession and ambience; when I stopped by to visit the priest in his office the next day, he asked if I'd be so kind as to send him copies of a few of my best pictures, since I'd been the only person photographing the parade. After returning to the US I mailed him enlargements of my best shots, for which he wrote me a lovely thank you note.

Anne McDonough: This one speaks for itself-what an experience!

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Good timing: My husband and I got married in his hometown in Germany, and since I was still in grad school, we just had time for short (2 night) honeymoon (we called it the "mini-moon", pronounced Austin Powers style). No problem, the whole wedding affair was a blast -- we headed to the Alps, south of Munich. I'm always the hotel booker, but don't speak much German, so I probably should have had him check the hotel site, because we ended up in a lovely hotel ... filled with us and retirees. Ha ha.

Anyhow, the first night we were enjoying our dinner outside. We looked up at the mountains, and noticed what was clearly a fire. Over the dinner more and more fires were appeared. As it turns out, we were there at the summer solstice, when lighting these bonfires are a traditional event. It was a perfect night to sit outside and watch the mountains on fire (safely), and a wonderful way to start our lives together.

Anne McDonough: Even better than trumpets at the ceremony is bonfires the night of--especially when they're a surprise.

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Windjammer: I went on one with a girlfriend about 5 years ago. I thought it was a great experience.

Small cabin, but you spend your time lying around on deck. Minimal programmed activities, but we weren't there for that.

When you dock, you aren't surrounded by hundreds of hucksters. Shore excursions were great - they have arrangements with scuba operators (ABC islands) that went extremely smoothly.

Food was ok but not lavish - if you have allergies or dietary restrictions, they take personal care of you.

The boat we were on was mostly middle-aged couples, but I've heard that others skew young.

And it's just neat to be on a boat with sails and a sloping deck and the sound of waves sloshing against the cabin wall at night!

Steve Hendrix: Thanks. You know it occurs to me, anyone who's 'negotiated' the confines of off-price ship's cabin is probably qualified for the Mile High Club

(We get paid extra if we can thematically link two separate threads on these chats)

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Mile High Club: Back when all liquids/gels were banned from carry-on, there was an exemption for prescription medicines and certain non-prescription drugs, which were listed. One of them was K-Y jelly (!!!) This was on the TSA Web site.

Steve Hendrix: Yes, I hear membership plummeted.

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NOT a perfect time: I was visiting a friend in Paris at Christmas, and we thought it would be fun to take a quick jaunt up to London for a couple of days. We didn't realize that the one or two weeks after Christmas are the big London sales, and it seemed like everyone in Europe was there but the Londoners were not. Hotels, restaurants and tourist attraction were crowded and even the nice shops looked like they'd been ransacked. It also happened to be bitterly cold for the three days we were there. All in all, it was probably the least pleasant tourist experience I've had.

But, I was in Mexico City for work once during the Day of the Dead festivities, and the most fabulous thing I saw was an elaborate altar for Frida Kahlo at the Diego Rivera studio, which just happened to be across the street from where we had lunch.

Anne McDonough: One of Andrea's goals is to be in Mexico for Day of the Dead -- you beat her to it.

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Munich, Germany: What's happening in that Mecca of spicy Mexican food, Oaxaca? What started out as a teacher's strike sounds like it's getting out of hand.

Do you have any insider information regarding the future of Oaxaca as a tourist destination?

Cindy Loose: I can't imagine the demonstrations will go on forever---surely folks will have to go earn a paycheck or something eventually. However, it's not clear whether it will be over in time for the fabulous Christmas celebration in the main square.

I'm checking in now and again to check the situation and will update in the Coming and Going column as time goes on.

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Alexandria, Va: hey Crew

I am headed to Edinburgh at the end of the month for a week or so. Any 'can't miss' places you can think to eat or drink?

thanks

KC Summers: Sadly, we don't know Edinburgh. Everything I know about it, I get from Ian Rankin's wonderfully evocative Inspector Rebus books. Clearly we need to get someone over there, but in the meantime, let's see what the chatters can tell us (five minutes, guys, so hurry).

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Good timing: Hi Crew! I wanted to share some great timing...or at least a great memory. My now fiance and I were on a 2-week cruise on a 130-foot motored sailboat. On our 4th day, we woke up to smooth sailing on the Aegean and at least 6 porpoises swimming along with us! It was just beautiful.

Just wanted to share...

Anne McDonough: Thanks for doing so!

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Safe in San Francisco?: I'm a 30 year-old woman who'll be traveling to San Francisco in November for work for a week. I'll be there by myself and am staying at the Hotel Diva near Union Square. I'm not familiar at all with SF and was wondering whether that area is safe for a woman to walk around in at night (not too late, though!). Also, will I feel silly eating out by myself?

Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: Union Square is a constant buzz of activity, with lots of shops, theaters and galleries, so you will most likely never find yourself alone in a dark alley. As for dining alone, you should not feel silly at all. Dining solo can be an enjoyable experience that lets you truly soak in the scene. However, if you feel more comfortable in numbers, eat at the bar or at a restaurant with family-style seating. Most likely, you will find a dining companion before your entree is even served.

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Frederick, Md: Best timing story: During a photo safari in Kenya, we happened upon a lion couple who were just starting the get their freak-on. A few seconds later (it was over), the female snarled at the male and he ran. Then the female rolled on the ground with the most pleasant look on her face. I guess things aren't much different in the animal world!

Anne McDonough: Good lord this chat is randy today.

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Washington, DC: Hi! Love the chats. My husband and I are off to the Yucatan next week for 4 1/2 days for a little adventure. We've decided against the all inclusive resorts (been there, done that), are renting a car, and are staying at one of the limited electricity cabanas style beach properties in tulum (cabanas las conchitas). Aside from a little beach lounging and walking about town, any advice on unique places to visit that will not be completely commercialized? We were thinking the ruins at Coba would be a nice trip. Also, any restaurants? Thanks!

Cindy Loose: Ah, lucky you. I really like the hotels zone in Tulum.

Yes, Coba would be a good trip to make. The ruins are great and next to it is a small hotel, very Mexican even though a Club Med. If you can't stay there, have lunch there.

As to meals--just travel the dirt road along the beach where you'll be staying and you'll find lots of places. Ana and Joses, and Zamas, and an Italian place the name I can't remember.

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Anne McDonough: Thanks, all, for sharing your stories and piping in to help out with everything from sex on airplanes to barefoot cruises. We run quite an eclectic chat, we do. And if the poster who sang Metallica sends me their contact info at mcdonougha@washpost.com, we'll get that junk right on out to you.

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