The Post's Flight Crew: (from left to right) John Deiner, Carol Sottili, Steve Hendrix, Anne McDonough, Gary Lee, K.C. Summers, Cindy Loose, Andrea Sachs.

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. Joining the Flight Crew today is Azores expert Jayme Simoes of the Portuguese Trade and Tourism Office.

You may also browse an archive of previous live travel discussions. For daily dispatches, check out Travel Log, the Travel section's new blog.

You may submit a question before or during the show.

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KC Summers: Hi everyone, welcome to this week's travel chat. Here to answer all your questions -- or at least farm them out to fellow chatters if it turns out we're clueless -- are staffers Gary Lee, Cindy Loose, Anne McDonough, Carol Sottili, Andrea Sachs and me, KC Summers. Also, if you read John Deiner's cover story on the Azores yesterday and are intrigued by this island chain in the Atlantic, we have Jayme Simoes, a communications partner with the Portuguese Trade and Tourism Office, joining us today. So ask him, or us, anything, and we'll do our best to help everyone get where they want to go.
Speaking of which, was anyone caught in Friday's travel hell at airports up and down the East Coast, thanks to that late-season sleet/ice/freezing rain/snowstorm? More than 3,600 flights were canceled by US Airways, JetBlue, Delta and American and hundreds of passengers were stranded. If you were one of those poor slobs, tell us your tale of woe. We're especially interested in novel ways of coping. A friend of mine, for example, was stranded at MIA, where there was no one at his airline ticket counter and he couldn't get through to the 800 number. Then he had the brilliant idea of paying a one-time fee of $50 to join the airline club for the day. Once inside, he found an agent who could help him get on a flight. Of course, it wasn't to anywhere he wanted to go, but at least it was out of there.
How about you, do you have any advice or tips to pass on about how you've coped with a weather-related delay? We'll send a prize to the person who posts the funniest, most helpful or pathetic response: a tote bag of goodies from Alsace and Burgundy.
And we're off.

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Washington, D.C.: I'm trying to be a good researcher to maximize our chances of having a great honeymoon trip. I'm researching hotels on tripadvisor.com, asking friends and family for personal recommendations, purchasing travel insurance... any other tips or resources you Travel Gurus can recommend?

Carol Sottili: I wrote several stories about honeymoons last May - will post links shortly. I found two local travel agents that specialize in honeymoons:
Harvey McGarry (703-836-1100, www.macnairtravel.com), romantic destinations consultant for MacNair Travel & Cruises/American Express in the Alexandria office.
Jim Augerinos (800-320-7373, www.perfecthoneymoons.com), honeymoon travel consultant and destination wedding coordinator, Perfect Honeymoons & Holidays Travel in Vienna.

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Air taxes and fees: I just priced a trip to Europe in which two itineraries, with similar base fares, differed by almost 100% in "taxes and fees." The one with fewer stops (and thus fewer airports) had almost double the amount of the one that went all around Robin Hood's barn. What would account for that? Orbitz's explanation didn't explain it. (Sorry if this has been asked before.)

Carol Sottili: Two different airlines? My guess is that one included fuel surcharge in its taxes and fees, and the other didn't.

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Washington, DC: Hi Flight Crew,

I just wanted to say that the Delta employees at JFK are terrible. After finding out my flight was cancelled, it took 2 hours to find people who were so helpful as to ask "did you try the self check-in kiosk? You should do that first"...Um. wow. The kiosk doesn't tell me things like what the next flight I can catch will be, or if there are any vouchers available if I needed to stay in NY longer. (Which, there were none.) They offered me a flight on Monday afternoon, which meant I would have had to stay in NYC for another 3 nights, with no help for paying for this from the airline.

Instead of that option, I got an Amtrak ticket for 10:30 the same night. That move helped keep me sane.

I plan on writing to Delta, as there are many , many details I did not include in this note.

As a general note to all airlines: If you want to take precaution, and cancel flights for concern of the safety of your passengers and employees, by all means do so...but please have a reasonable backup plan.

-vent.

KC Summers: Yeah, we've been hearing terrible stories about unstaffed airline counters and general lack of helpfulness. I agree, nobody wants to fly when conditions are unsafe but the least they can do is have a plan. Thanks for sharing, and if you get results, let us know.

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Vienna Va: I was caught in the USAIR meltdown over the weekend. I was in Jacksonville FL last week and was scheduled to fly back on Friday evening. Aware that there was bad weather in the northeast, I arrive at the airport more than 4 hours early and found out my flight was cancelled. I was re-booked on a Sat am flight, but was cautioned that the aircraft for that flight needs to get from Philly to Jacksonville. I called the 1-800 number numerous times between 5 and 8:30 p.m., always getting the dreaded "fast busy" signal. Finally, fed up, I went back to the airport and the USAIR ticket agents had literally abandoned their posts (because all the inbound and outbound flights were cancelled). I found out later that night from my Lovely Wife at home that the flight had cancelled.

On Sat am, I arrived before 6 a.m. at the airport in Jacksonville. The USAIR counter had a line of several hundred people, none of them happy. After 2.5 hours of waiting, with little information provided except there are very few seats out of here until Monday (!), I rented a car and drove 700 miles back to DC.

Is the airline going to pay for the hotel room I had to get because they cancelled my flight? How about the rental car? Is there something I should have done different (other than not try to fly back to DC on a snowy Friday from Jacksonville FL)?

The Jet Blue JFK meltdown on Valentine's Day got all the media attention, but USAIR's St. Patty's day weekend of doom certainly deserves similar attention. I saw that 100,000 passengers had flights cancelled, and that even today there are problems at Philly and Charlotte.

Thanks for allowing me to vent.

Cindy Loose: Wow, what a story.
But I have bad news for you---I can't imagine the airline will pay for the hotel or car or anything else. Weather is "force majeur," a fancified French way of saying an act of God that is not covered. No airline I know of pays for anything involving any mix up caused by anything outside their control.
The only thing you could have done to MAYBE decrease your frustration would have been to check your flight status online instead of trying to get through on busy, busy phones. The airline has an alert about delays up and a warning the delays are expected to continue through Tuesday, plus there's a place to plug in your flight number about the status of your flight. From there you might have decided to abandon plane right away, or you could have searched alternative flights online--although I doubt you would have found any, but at least you'd have know without a trip to the airport that your chances of getting out by plane were nil.
Since the airline is allowing people to reschedule without a change fee, you can try getting them to give you a voucher for the unused portion of your ticket, but I just wouldn't count on it.

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Columbus, Ohio: Going to Paris for a week in early April. Any special new tips

for Paris right now? Any special dining places, special sites

or sights that you love that might be on the normal list of

things to do in Paris? Also doing a day trip to Bruges and

Brussels while based in Paris for that March 31-April 7 week.

THANKS!

Gary Lee: A couple of museums, highlighted by the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, have been renovated and re-opened in the past year. For the latest in hot restaurant tips, I strongly recommend the Web site of the food critic for the Herald, www.patriciawells.com.
Anyone else have Paris tips?

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Somewhere in Virginia: Hi,

My fiance and I are looking for a close-to-home getaway for a short honeymoon right after our wedding in May. Our real honeymoon is going to be in Europe next year but we'd like to experience a couple days of pampering and good food without having to fly. We were thinking about a Ritz-Carlton experience but I'm not sure I want to honeymoon at Tyson's Corner. Any recommendations?

Thanks.

Jayme Simoes: I would recommend theChoupana Hills Spa in Funchal, on the island of Madeira. The luxury hotel offers top of the line spa treatment, a deluxe room with a sea view, in-room breakfast... all the bells and whistles.
More information:
http://www.choupanahills.com

KC Summers: Thanks Jayme... now for the closer-to-home part, you're right that Tysons Corner is perhaps not the most romantic honeymoon destination. How about the Greenbrier? It's about a four-hour drive, has a world-class spa and lots of other luxuries, and a terrific, eye-popping decor, sort of a combination of Southern gentility and Art Deco. If you want something a little more scaled down, I also really like the Clifton Inn in Charlottesville. We'll try to link to our recent story on that.

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Adams Morgan, D.C.: I enjoyed today's piece about the Azores in the off-season, but didn't see any information about what such a trip would cost in high season. Would it be appropriate for a June honeymoon? Or overcrowded with tourists by then? Is it a luxury destination at all, or better on a budget?

Jayme Simoes: Good question!
The air runs from 569 to 899 from Boston, Providence, or Oakland. June is great time, as it is not the high season, and hotels are less. Azores Express has a package to mid June with air & 6 nights hotel starting at $1039 plus tax.
There is no really crowded season, and even in august, things are relaxed. This si a "real" place - without the lines of hotels.
And, if you shop around you cna save at a charming b&b.
Lastly, you money goes much farther in the Azores. Adn it is just 4 hours from Boston.
As to Luxury, try the new Marina Atlantico in Ponta Delgada - great value, views in every room.

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Washington, D.C.: Do you think there's any correlation between the quality of a hotel's Web site and the actual hotel? I'm trying to research international destinations and there are some properties that get good reviews in travel magazines, but have hard-to-navigate, unprofessional-looking sites (bright colors, broken links, etc.) How much should I care about this?

Anne McDonough: I think there are times, absolutely, where the professional face a company puts on has a direct correlation to the quality of services it will offer. One thing to keep in mind when reading hotel/property reviews is that some publications allow press trips, where the reviewer is comped for everything. That doesn't mean that their review is definitely inaccurate or biased, but does raise some questions. (Post reporters and freelancers, just to put your mind at rest, NEVER take freebies.). Having said that, I've stayed at plenty of delightful, adorable places that have a shoddy web presence or none at all; it seems crazy in this day and age, but some just don't have the resources to do it. I'd say, go with your gut, check as many reviews of the place as you can, pay with a credit card in case you need to dispute any charges, and try at all costs to get all information in writing, whether by email or fax. (Many places that don't have their own Web site will at least have an email address). Also, try to get them on the phone (that's just for piece of mind). You can also throw out the property names here and we can see if our well-traveled chatsters have anything to say about them.

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Fairfax Va: Hi Flight Crew!

My wife and I are interested in taking an escorted tour of India. Can you identify safe, reliable tour companies that provide guided group tours? We're looking at Sita World Travel and would like to know what you think of them too.

Thank you!

Carol Sottili: Sita has a good reputation. It's a member of the United States Tour Operators Association. It's BBB rating is hard to decipher: One report says it has an A rating and other says it has a C rating, but that appears to be based on one complaint. It's been around since 1933 (under new ownership since 1982), so it has to be doing something right. Any other chatters know of another good India tour group?

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Central California: Coping: On a flight to Canada some years back, an early summer storm cancelled my flight from Logan in Boston to Halifax. Thursday night: 'but we can get you out on Sunday'. Well, my vacation was over Tuesday.

I'll never know why I went to the baggage carousel since I only had a carry-on. An older gentleman approached me and asked if I'd like to share a rental with two couples and drive to Halifax. It was an either/or situation, so 15 hrs later I'm in Halifax and had new friends. Vacation started late, better later than never. Serendipity and faith are good things to have far from home.

KC Summers: Yep, and humor is a good thing to have handy too. Great story -- thanks for sharing.

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Denver, Colo: My husband and I are traveling to D.C. in early April. We're

traveling the same day, but I'm flying into Reagan and he's

flying into Dulles. Our Arlington hotel runs a free shuttle

from Reagan, but not from Dulles. Is a shuttle between the

two airports available, so we can both take the free hotel

shuttle, or should he find other transportation? I've noticed a

taxi from Dulles to the hotel is $45, and a shuttle would be

about $25. What's our best bet?

Andrea Sachs: You have a couple intra-airport options: Take SuperShuttle, which leaves right from Dulles, or grab the Washington Flyer to the Metro, then hop on the blue line to National (or maybe skip that step and go directly to the hotel). If you do take a cab, you might save some money by going straight to the hotel, which is probably closer to Dulles than Reagan National.

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Yellow Fever Vaccine?: Anyone on the FC have any thoughts on the Yellow Fever vaccine? I am going to South America in three weeks and will be visiting Iguassu Falls - a place where they recommend the YF vaccine. Have any of you gotten the vaccine and/or had any bad side effects? I've heard varying things. Thanks.

Cindy Loose: None of us have actually experienced that vaccine. Anyone else been shot up for Yellow Fever prevention?

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Reston, Va: Weather woes. Friday I was one of the unlucky ones trying to get to the East coast (from CA). Airline employees weren't particularly helpful, and I was on hold for well over an hour to the airline directly (while waiting in line for a customer service rep, may as well try two approaches). Finally got a red eye to BWI that landed at 8 a.m. Saturday morning. Problem, I live near Dulles and a taxi was out of my budget (25% snow emergency surcharge, and the roads were clear). Had to hang around WI in a T-shirt, light jacket until the bus started running to get to Metro and home. Finally made it home around 12:30 p.m., I left CA p.m. the previous day. Bright side is I made it home but if Washington had been listed on United's Web site (Friday morning when I checked) as a problem area I would have changed my ticket, stayed in sunny CA another 2 days and come home today. Much better than freezing to death waiting for buses, then walking home from metro.

KC Summers: What a nightmare. So much for our standard advice about getting on your cell phone to the airline's 800 number instead of (or while) waiting in line. We've heard from several readers that it was just impossible to get through, or when they finally did they got hung up on, etc.

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name changes on passports: Last week, someone mentioned having gotten her name changed post-marriage on her passport at no cost. I just wanted to point out that that's the case only if your passport was issued in the previous year. If it's been longer than a year, you have to get a whole new passport and pay all the applicable fees. Here's the info from the State Dept--

http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/ChangeName/ChangeName_851.html

KC Summers: Hear that, new brides? Hop to it or pay the price. Thanks for the tip.

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Alexandria, VA: I just want to throw out some kudos to Airtran. I booked reward travel tomorrow for my husband to fly home for his grandfather's funeral. When he checked the confirmation this morning, he noticed the flight was originating at Dulles rather than Reagan, which is a major difference when dealing with rush hour traffic and a 0630 flight. I called Airtran and they changed the flight at no cost.

KC Summers: Wow, they didn't have to do that -- you were lucky! Thanks for a rare positive airline report.

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Arlington, Va: This has nothing to do with the Azores, but what do you know about the A380 coming to IAD on the 25th? Arrival time? Best spot to view? Any chance for the public to get anywhere up close?

Anne McDonough: Hate to be the one to tell you but according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, there don't seem to be any public events associated with the A380 coming to Dulles, and the public spaces at the "airport do not offer a good view of the A380 when it is parked on the airfield."
Check out http://www.mwaa.com/dulles for more info.

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Anonymous: Hello Crew!

I bought four paperless airline tickets via Orbitz a few

days ago. The fare was really inexpensive -- $230 per

ticket for a flight from Dulles to San Fran, with a stop in

Houston. The airline's own site was offering the same

flights for about $100 more per ticket. After I went

through the multiple steps of purchasing the tickets, the

Orbitz site gave me a weird message about how they were

sending my "reservation request" to the airline and would

confirm the actual tickets later. I did receive an itinerary

the next day with a "ticket locator number." I also called

the airline to make sure we appeared in their system, and

they confirmed that we did. However, I have a nagging

fear that we'll show up at the airport for a long-awaited

family vacation and find out that we aren't actually booked

on the flight. Am I just being paranoid? Anything else I can

do, since the tickets are paperless? I paid with a credit

card and the charges have showed up on my account, if

that matters. Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: As long as the airline has your names in their system, then you should be safely booked. To make extra certain, call and select your seats. Also, print out your boarding passes before you depart (usually within 24 hours), so if there is an error, you have enough time to call Orbitz and/or the airline and iron out the problem.

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Arlington, Va: I am flying into Athens the day before my cruise begins. My cruise line has said I would need to return to the airport the next day for their passenger transfer to the ship. It seems more convenient to me to take the subway from my hotel to Pireaus. How far is it to the ships from the Pireaus station, and is it difficult to get there? Will I be able to bring my luggage on board myself, or will I have to check it in somewhere at the docks? When I called my cruise line, they were unsure about anything other than using regular transfers from the airport. Thanks for your help!

Gary Lee: You should definitely not go all the way to the airport to take a bus to the ship. As I recall the metro stop is not far from the place where ships set set -- maybe a couple of blocks. But with luggage it may be a hassle. I remember taking a taxi from my hotel near the Akropolis. It cost less than $10 and took me right to the ship, saving a lot of hassle.
I beleive that whether you have to check bags depends on how much you have. If it's what you could carry on to a plane, you can probably carry it onto the ship, too.
Anybody else have tips for this Greece bound traveler?

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Silver Spring, Md.: A couple of years ago I had to take Northwest through Detroit on the way home from a wedding in Wisconsin. I was supposed to catch the last flight out from Detroit to BWI, but there were thunderstorms in Detroit and my flight was hours late getting into Detroit. Of course, my connecting flight had managed to leave. Sigh. So, once I'd rebooked for the first flight in the morning and determined that the closest hotel being offered through the booking service was a one-hour taxi ride away, I resigned myself to staying overnight. I was almost in tears - it had been a very long couple of days and I really just wanted to get home, or at least sleep in a bed.

But the people from Northwest were totally sweet. They pulled all the blankets and pillows from every plane that was staying there overnight - there were hundreds of people stranded with me. I lined up four or five pillows on the floor, put my head under the seats to block out the light, conked out, and slept like the dead until about 6 a.m. When I woke up, the seats around me were filled with business travelers. Er - hi guys. I washed my face in the bathroom, got on the first flight of the morning, and made it home in reasonably good spirits.

KC Summers: Sounds like you really know how to roll with the punches. We love your attitude -- no whining! How refreshing.

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Newark, NJ: Lately I've been seeing great packages to the Azores. This Spring I will have a week off from work and need to relax. What type of activities would you recommend me to do if I choose to take advantage of the Azores-Express package ?

Jayme Simoes: Hike, swim, whale watch, shop, eat, relax, & sightsee. This is a palce that has lots to do, or nothing at all!
So what is there to do in this Atlantic kingdom? With more than 1,200 special plants, flowers, trees, vast open fields, country roads, and more waterfalls per square inch than any other island chain in the world, the Azores are a hiker's, walker's, or cyclist's paradise, waiting to be explored. Ribbons of road twist along black rock sea cliffs, plugging down into a green-blue ocean. Tiny towns with local cafes where the menu is whatever the fishing boats brought in. You can see the legacy of America's whaling industry -- a century and a half ago every whaling expedition called on the Azores, and the Azoreans learned scrimshaw and whalebone carving from the Americas. Recently, divers have mined ancient bone dumping grounds to bring up whalebone for jewelry, scrimshaw, and carving. Seeing a whale is no challenge, numerous outfitters employ former whalers to spot for them, and then take adventurous tourists out in semi-inflatable boats to see the whales from yards away.

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Silver Spring, Md: Hi Travel Crew. I'm trying to plan a trip to NYC for my 30th birthday this weekend. I know you did a story on cheap hotels there, but I still have a problem paying $200/night for a hotel! Can you recommend places outside of the city (like NJ) where we might be able to stay cheaply, but still be convenient (by ferry or subway) to the city? I'm not afraid of things like Motel 6 or Super 8 either. Thanks!

Anne McDonough: Hey Silver Spring, two options come to mind in Manhattan(I haven't stayed in either but have read about them): Leo House and Chelsea Star Hotel. But we're going to link to the package we did last May anyway, as there are NJ options in there, too.

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washingtonpost.com: Miracle on 42nd Street, (May 7, 2006)

Anne McDonough: For the 30th birthday girl (or boy)...thanks, Kim!

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San Francisco, Calif: What are the airlines' responsibility for providing ground transportation from an airport to a person's home? for some reason not explained to us, a connecting flight was late, causing us to miss our connection. after 2 1/2 hours of waiting for a ticket agent to provide us with a solution, we suggested another airport (which should have been researched to begin with), but since we "rejected" the airlines' alternatives, they would not pay for ground transportation from new airport to our house, but finally agreed to reimburse us for ground transportation from new airport to original airport. I won't provide details about the other problems/questions we encountered with this ticket agent that revealed themselves later in the travel day.

Cindy Loose: I'm afraid they don't have responsibility for ground transportation--if they give you anything it's likely they're doing it to make you a little less happy, and not because they have to.
The airline's reasonability is to take you from point A to point B, as contracted, and to give you back your money if they can't take you from Point A to Point B.

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I (heart) the Azores -- Eu (coracao vermelho) os Acores!: Bem vindo, Jayme!

As someone who's visited the Azores three times for a total of 9 weeks since 2002, I second everything in John Deiner's lyrical paean to the Azores yesterday. Indeed, just reading his article gave me a whole new wave of saudades!

Based on personal experience, the one suggestion from friends who are seasoned travelers that proved most valuable to me was that, for a first trip, to go on a package deal. Mine was Sao Miguel, Terceira, Faial and Pico. I bookended this itinerary with four days each in Sao Jorge and Flores (from both of which some of my ancestors hailed). To arrange for a driver/English-speaking tour-guide, I inquired at my hotel desk; they keep lists available for precisely such situations, and I was pleased with the results. On my most recent trip I was able to book my own flights and accommodations online from the comfort of home, saving a fair amount of money.

Last year I went to the Azores in the off-season (just a few weeks ahead of the Deiners, coincidentally) in order to include the four-day Carnaval on Terceira on my trip (a good deal on off-season airfares and accommodations!). A couple of years earlier, I attended Terceira's Sanjoaninas Festa in mid-late June (more expensive, being in high season). I enjoyed both events immensely, and got to learn more about the culture of my Azorean ancestors (I read Portuguese well, but speak it only haltingly).

For tourists who don't feel the need for fancy tourist hotels, I recommend staying in a pensao instead. I've found them to be comfortable, friendly and significantly less expensive. Like the Deiners, I also try to eat lunch and dinner in cafes frequented by the locals, or buy fresh food in the mercados. To me one of the best things about the Azores is the absence of American fast-food franchises (if I wanted to eat at McDonald's I'd have stayed home!).

Boa viagem!

Jayme Simoes: From traditional main streets full of local shops and antiques to romantic harbor towns boasting hundred of yachts from every seafaring nation, to manor houses turned to inns rich from the days of the orange trade, to subtropical gardens, to secret tidal pools, the Azores are destination that you can go back to. there are nine distinct islands
Also, Abreu Tours in NYC has land and air packages in the summer.

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RE: Yellow Fever Vaccine: I've had the yellow fever vaccine twice without any problems. Since yellow fever can be fatal, and there's no treatment for it, I recommend getting vaccinated unless you have a specific medical reason not to get it. And you should STILL take all the insect precautions recommended because there are other diseases (like Dengue fever) spread by mosquitoes, etc. for which there are no vaccines.

Cindy Loose: Thanks for the personal experience sharing. That kinda turns me off to the falls idea all around.

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Washington, DC: Thank you for helping make my European trip so wonderful! I truly fell in love with The Netherlands and Paris. Your advice was invaluable.

It seems I would like to return to Europe for an extended stay of 3 months beginning in August. I'd like to base myself out of Amsterdam and possibly rent/sublet an apartment for the duration.

Do you have any advice on budgeting (or any general advice for that matter!) for an extended holiday such as this?

Thanks again!

Gary Lee: For that period of time, renting an apartment is definitely the way to go. VRBO.com, a site in which apartment owners advertise their flats, is a good option.
Anyone else have tips for long term stays in Amsterdam?

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Washington, DC: Re: the yellow fever vaccine. I have traveled to Africa, where it's mandatory. I got it the same day as a typhoid vaccine, so I am not sure which created the side effects, but I felt very sick that day with a sore arm, but completely better by the next day.

Cindy Loose: More on Yellow Fever---great to know how much we can count on our readers to know stuff.

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Alexandria, Va.: My Mom flew to St. Louis last Friday morning on Midwest airlines. I had heard good things about the airline and thought it would be the right fit for my 75 year mother. Everything went well. The cab for the airport arrived early, we were at National by 4:45 am. Bags were checked right away. Boarding pass acquired. By 10 of 5 we were at the security, 5 minutes for her through security. The most time consuming event was walking from the old terminal to the new terminal (avoiding the freezing rain) to hop on Metro. I was in my office by 6:45. I thought you should hear one good story.

KC Summers: That's the third nice airline/airport story we've heard today. What's up with you guys?!

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Alexandria, Va: Paris tip - if the ferris wheel in the Tuileries is running, get on! There are some awesome views from the top. Head to the top of the Arc de Triomphe too. And if you love shopping, you'll be in heaven (or maybe overwhelmed, as I was) by Printemps and the other big department store nearby (I can't recall the name right now).

Gary Lee: Great tips, Merci!

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Boston, Mass: Read Sunday's piece in the Post--NICE--would like to go to

the Azores, but have young children--is this a good

destination for a family?

Jayme Simoes: Great question. I have two kids, 5 and 7 months. My 5 year old has been 4 times. The air is discounted, he stays free at hotels, but there is more. Azoreans dote on kids, and he gets all the attention in restaurants, and hotels. Plus, with lots of beaches, pools, hot springs, gardens, hiking, and the best French fries around - it is a great safe place for kids.
On the Azores Express packages, kids pay just the child's airfare up to 12. Baby's pay 10% of the air if they go on a lap, in flight crib.

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Random Question: I was reading that Virgin and British Airways are two of only

four airlines allowed to fly from Heathrow to the United

States. What are the other 2 airlines?

Carol Sottili: Not quite true. Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, American and United are the airlines that can fly between Heathrow and the U.S. according to an agreement signed between the two countries back in 1977. But Air India, Kuwait Airways and Air New Zealand also fly from Heathrow to the United States - those flights were grandfathered in.

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washingtonpost.com: To the 'Mooon Honeymooon Package, (May 21, 2006)

Carol Sottili: Here is the honeymoon link.

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Arlington, Va: That advice from a Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman that travel from the USVI "should be no different than traveling from DC to North Dakota" was very misleading. It is true that the USVI, as a US territory, is not subject to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requiring passports for air travel. However, there are significant differences between St. Thomas and most of the rest of the US. First, unlike DC or North Dakota, St. Thomas is a duty free port, and thus not part of the regular U.S. customs territory. That is why liquor and other such goods are cheap there, and why travelers have to submit a customs declaration when they return home. You can't expect duty free shopping AND no customs inspection when leaving the duty free area. Second, under section 212(d)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, aliens traveling from the USVI to any other U.S. place are subject to immigration inspection and grounds of inadmissibility. For these reasons, there is immigration and customs inspection of outbound passengers for mainland U.S. at St. Thomas airport, with procedures basically identical to those at the ports of entry for foreign arrivals (which I know from having gone through it myself), and where there is such inspection, passengers will be asked for their proof of citizenship. A driver's license is proof of identity only, not citizenship. A trip to the USVI is not exactly like one to North Dakota and travelers would be well advised to bring their passports or other proof of U.S. citizenship to the USVI as it will facilitate their passage through the St. Thomas checkpoint.

KC Summers: That may well be, but the point of our item was that the U.S. State Department is advising travelers to the contrary. Anyone calling up their Web site is told they don't need a passport to visit St. Thomas. Of course, our standard advice is to travel with a passport because it's the best form of ID to have when traveling, and you never know when you'll need it at the last minute.

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Arlington, Va: Just wanted to say kudos! For the first time in a long time I read pretty much every article in the Travel section this week. Most of the time there is at least one feature I don't care about at all, but this week I read it all. I had never considered the Azores before but now it is something to think about. Have any of you been to any of those other little islands like the Canary Islands or the Faroes?

KC Summers: Thanks for the comp. (I guess!) None of us has been to those other little island groups, so if any of our chatters has, here's your chance to weigh in....

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Silver Spring, Md.: I had to get the yellow fever shot before going to Mali. It KILLED my arm - it hurt for days - but that sure beat getting yellow fever. And I have heard that if you move your arm around after getting an intramuscular shot (like yellow fever), it hurts less. Too bad I didn't know that at the time.

Cindy Loose: Yellow fever---we're running two to one that it hurts a lot.

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Last Minute Flights: Does anyone have any experience getting low prices on last minute flights? I am supposed to go to Vegas in less than a month from DC. I have been checking many different sites on a daily basis and cannot find any flights for less than $275.

Carol Sottili: There really are no last-minute flight deals, unless you happen to get lucky and hit a sale at the right time. You could try www.site59.com if you want to book a package. Also, try www.farecast.com and www.farecompare.com for indications of whether price is going up, down or staying the same.

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Baltimore to El Paso: By the time you read this, I'll be on the (annoyingly Southwest) flight to El Paso, TX for a business trip. I'll have a couple evenings and possibly one afternoon free. I'll be traveling alone. Do you know if its safe for a single female to go into Juarez, Mexico by herself? Any other ideas for my evenings besides sitting in a hotel room and catching up on WP chats? Thanks!

Gary Lee: If you have some time during the day, you can safely head over to Juarez but I would probably be cautious about making that trip at night alone.
However, there are some decent eating places in El Paso that you should try to catch. The one I like best is the Cafe Central.
Anyone else have El Paso tips?

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Charlotte, NC: Happy Monday Travelistas! I have a question that is travel-related: do you have any recommended non-medication based strategies for falling asleep when staying away from home? For whatever reason, I have a terrible time sleeping in hotel rooms when I travel and therefore am exhausted during my trip. Do you have any other tips for falling asleep other than taking Tylenol PM or Ambien (which I've used with limited success)? Thank you for your feedback!

Cindy Loose: I find medicine the easiest, but if that's not working for you: Have you tried vigorous exercise a couple hours before bedtime, or relaxation tapes? A massage would be a pricey alternative I suppose but those knock me out. Do you know why you can't sleep in hotel rooms, because maybe getting to the bottom of that could help.
Anyone else have ideas?

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Silver Spring, Md. (yellow fever killed my arm): And I should clarify - it's not getting the needle poked into your arm that hurts, it's the immune response. So you get the shot, and you're all, oh, I'm a bad-ass, that didn't hurt so much, and then two hours later, you're like, OW.

Cindy Loose: Got it. Thanks.

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Owings, Md: The kids (13 and 10) and I are headed to San Juan, Puerto Rico at the beginning of April for five days, four nights. I am getting conflicting information as to whether we should rent a car or not. Frommers says no, but I've seen other sites that highly recommend. We want to see some great beaches, Old San Juan, and the rain forest. Are all those readily accessible by cab? Any other "don't miss" things for us to take in during our five days? Thanks

KC Summers: Great beaches and Old San Juan you can do via cabs, but you'd be better off with a car if you want to see the rainforest too. If you're based in Old San Juan (which I heartily recommend -- it's a gorgeous, neat, historic city with tons of things to do and see), you can take a hotel shuttle or a cab to some of the closer beaches. They're beautiful, but they're going to be lined with high-rises and you might want to go farther out.
Many of my don't-misses in PR are in Old San Juan -- El Convento Hotel's bar and courtyard for a drink, the sweet Pablo Casals museum, El Morro fort, the incredible modern art museum in Santurce, and in fact the whole Santurce neighborhood with its fabulous market and down-home restaurants. Anyone else have tips for Owings?

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Farifax, Va: I was also caught in San Juan PR during the Meltdown of US Airways and about your comment to check the US Airways Web site. All day Saturday it told me my flight was on time and not delayed. Then the Web site crashed for most of Saturday. The automated phone also told me my flights were are time. I called while at the gate looking at an empty gate in PR. Weather I can handle, the misinformation and complete lack of information from any US Airways employee was what upset me so most. But as along as people continue to fly US Airways nothing will change.

Cindy Loose: Wow, that's interesting. I'll try to ask them why they were giving incorrect info. I understand getting overwhelmed, and even Web sites crashing and phones not having enough operators, but it seems like you should be able to keep a non-crashed Web site up to date without relatively few people. Thanks for the heads up.

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Washington, DC: We're in the process of planning a big anniversary trip for next summer and one of the possibilities that really piques our interest is taking part in Beijing 2008 since China + the Olympics is a dream destination combination that is hard to ignore. We figure the flight is going to be expensive, but we are willing to take the plunge as soon as they are released for our dates (I presume later this summer). We'd plan on going to Japan for a short while, maybe a week, and a further 2 weeks or so in China (with another Tokyo stopover maybe on the way back). The cheapest fares I'm pulling up for similar 2007 dates are in the $1500 range on ANA. Should we expect them to be automatically higher when released for next year?

Aside from airfare the real problem is finances for everything else. We don't mind spending the money for a once in a lifetime trip, but I'm worried that after we book the plane fare the cost of everything else will put us way over budget with no real way out. I was researching the cost of staying in Beijing and it was costlier than I had expected. I can only imagine it will be much, much worse 8/8/08-8/2408. Is there a relatively inexpensive way to stay in and around Beijing on a budget? I couldn't find much info on smaller hotels or traditional inns out there. Most accommodations above the level of a hostel would be OK, but we'd rather not rough it for this trip. Obviously dropping $5000+ on an organized tour like in the paper yesterday is out of the question, and it's anathema to our travel philosophy anyway.

Is there hope for a budget Olympics trip, or should we set our sights on another dream destination and try to catch the Games on another few years?

Anne McDonough: I'm thinking they're going to be higher next year, just because the demand is there. But I'm no airlines expert.
Food will still be cheap--sure, plenty of places will jack up their prices but you'll still find plenty of places where you can feast for $4 a person. I promise. If it's a choice between making the trip and not, I would reconsider the hostel angle; you can get double rooms at some hostels. Some hostels, like the Beijing Downtown Yuexiu Hotel (http://greatwalladventure.com/Beijing-2008.htm), are also buying up hotel rooms at 2 and 3 star hotels (http://greatwalladventure.com/Beijing-2008.htm); that might be your in there.
If you said it was the Olympics that was the absolute draw, then I'd say book it and hang the cost. But if it's China that's the draw, I just don't think the Olympics is the optimal time to visit. That's just me. If you want to experience Beijing as Beijing and not as the center of all the craziness, and China is a place high on your list more so than seeing the Olympics, then save the trip for AFTER the Olympics, when you can choose your vacation dates a little more easily and flights and hotels will be mucho cheaper.
China is a destination where flights are always pretty high (though I've found deals) but I've existed there on $8 a day--including accommodation, food and transportation--so to not be able to enjoy it because of the high costs in August 2008 seems a shame to me.

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Washington dc: I got the yellow fever vaccine before going to south America two years ago. Felt kind of flu-like for the rest of the day and the injection site hurt a little. But I felt fine by the next morning.

Apparently one of the more important reasons to get the vaccine is not because you might actually catch yellow fever but because immigration officials in non-yellow fever countries might not let you back in after having visited the fever zone unless you can prove you were vaccinated.

Cindy Loose: Thanks--sounds like the shot isn't really optional if you want to go where it's potentially needed.

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Hyattsville, Md: Yellow fever vac--I've had it twice. It's not bad, though both times I got a local (in my arm) reaction of soreness. No generalized symptoms (though of course that might happen to you). Big caution however--it is a weakened live virus vaccination. That means if you are taking immunosuppressive drugs (as I was the second time) --talk to your doctor. I stopped my meds for 2 weeks before and after the shot (on the advice of my doctor) but even so one travel clinic refused to give me the shot and the other made me sign a waiver (more than the standard one). If you have medical issues and decide not to get it, bring a letter from your doctor stating why you did not and cannot get the shot. Otherwise, if there's an outbreak where you're traveling, in some countries they are going to give you the shot (regardless of your medical condition and who knows whether you'll get a clean needle). The vaccination lasts for at least ten years (that's what research supports--may last a lifetime).

Cindy Loose: The dirty needle thing settles it for me----either get the shot before going or cancel the trip.

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Washington DC: I was stranded at PHL on Christmas eve a few years ago, along with several thousand other people. The airlines checked us in, put us on planes, made us wait on said planes for hours, then had us deplane and file down to the departures area where agents were supposed to re-book us. As the agents left for the night (it was 1 am, and we'd been in the airport since 5 p.m.) security guards replaced them. The airport was clearly afraid of riots.

So with a crowd of strangers from far-flung parts of the world, we took over a small corner of the lobby and started to share out our supplies. One fellow had an enormous tin of grandma's Christmas cookies. A Spanish girl shared her cigarettes, for those brave enough to go out in the cold. I had a half-dozen oranges. Another guy had a couple bottles of wine AND the Swiss army knife to open them with. No idea how he hung on to that through security. And we spent the next two hours teaching each other the words in our language to universal Christmas carols. I think I can still mumble a few bars of Rudolph in Russian, or Ukrainian, or something. Never saw or heard from any of those people again, but I do think of them fondly, from time to time.

KC Summers: What a story! Glad you could eke something positive out of that experience, and on Christmas eve no less. I like you guys' attitudes....

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Re honeymoons in the Azores, from I (heart) the Azores (again): Yes!

I've met two honeymooning couples during my visits to the Azores, one couple from the Boston area, the other from near Venice. The Italian couple spoke some English, so were on my guided 2-day van-tour of Sao Miguel (saw the same sights as the Deiners in yesterday's article). The other couple I met in early one evening in a cafe in Angra do Heroismo, Terceira, during Sanjoaninas (summer solstice festival): they were also on a package tour, and were out exploring the town during their free time that afternoon/evening. Both couples seemed to be pleased with the Azores as their destination choice for a honeymoon.

Jayme Simoes: On Sao Miguel, try the Eastern half of the island. The northeastern coast of Nordeste was, until recently, the most isolated section of the island. The roads are mountainous, with endless vistas of sea and cliffs. This is a wonderful place to explore by bicycle. Pico do Carv?o near the center of the island has extended views of S?o Miguel and out to sea. Lagoa do Fogo park offers views of the island, and the clear green lake at the center of the extinct crater. Furnas, the Azores' most famous resort town, offers fine lodging, a spa, thermal baths, 23 different varieties of mineral waters, famous breads, geyser cooking, nearby beaches and a thermal lake. Add to that the only tea plantations in Europe, which produce excellent teas, processing the leaves on vintage 19th-century English machinery. The eastern and southern coasts offer lots of fine beaches and small fishing towns, where one can enjoy a bottle of local wine with the days catch. Vila Franca do Campo has a seaside main street, with the fishing port in the old fortress. There is beach, and small lava hill of the coast, which can be reached by boat. Other beaches are to be found at Ribeira Quente, Povoa??o, Lagoa, and Caloura.

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washingtonpost.com: For China Olympics, Let the Planning Begin, (March 18, 2007)

Anne McDonough: Thanks, Kim!

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For the NY birthday....: I've had amazing success with craigslist short term rentals. People rent out their apartments for not a whole lot of money for the weekends. If you're not afraid of Super 8s, then you should try this.

Anne McDonough: Coming up should be a link to a piece we did about the pros and cons of booking a room through Craigslist. Thanks for the tip!

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Arlington, Va: Delay story: Our honeymoon was delayed by a day in 2005 because of Hurricane Rita. Starting hours before our scheduled flight, we got several calls from the airline (AA) trying to move us from flight to flight until they and we gave up and pushed it back the full 24 hours. The upside? We were able to get some MUCH needed sleep (as any post-wedding couple can tell you, no matter how much fun it all can be, it is draining too!). It really ended up being exactly what we needed to arrive in Aruba refreshed and ready to enjoy.

KC Summers: Good for you. Gosh, another positive anecdote about coping well -- what is this chat coming to?!

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For the Birthday Girl: Try Priceline or Hotwire (unless you must have more than 2 people in a room). I almost always get a much better place in NY for the money when I use them.

Anne McDonough: And another suggestion! I hope the birthday girl's still out there on the chat.

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Is USAirways in total meltdown?: In recent weeks I or a close friend experienced: (1) collapse of boarding-pass issuing system at Ft Lauderdale on a Sunday morning in January, (2) a SIX-hour wait on hold to get tickets using a voucher that couldn't be done via Internet, and (3) mile-long lines at National for check-in at 5:30 a.m. yesterday and insufficient system/staff to move lines in under 90 minutes, plus no way to get help on the phone for 7 hours (we gave up).

My husband began calling USAir on his cell phone at 6:15, when it was obvious after 30 minutes in line that the 6:50 flight would leave long before he saw an agent. Busy signals, dropped call, hold. Then from home we used the landline, getting a connection at 9:00 after many tries, and were on hold til 1:30 while canceling Sunday plans and making trying to make other arrangements via the web. (He left today on AirTran.)

I notice (too late to help us this time) that the Web site for National Airport warns USAir passengers to arrive two hours early for any flight leaving after 6:30 am. I can assure Travel Section chatters that the curbside baggage check is indeed open at 4:45 a.m. and there was no line at that hour this morning. Get there really early!

Cindy Loose: NO question US Air had a bad go this weekend--a breakdown even they admit will last through Tuesday--but as to phone problems prior to this weekend: It seems I've been hearing more and more about various airlines having phone problems. I'm wondering if the general problem has to do not just with cutting the number of phone agents to cut costs, but also outsourcing the jobs overseas.

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washingtonpost.com: Puerto Rico Punch, (Feb. 26, 2006)

KC Summers: For the Puerto Rico bound. Thanks, Kim!

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washingtonpost.com: One Night in Manhattan, Four Days on Craigslist, (Oct. 8, 2006)

Anne McDonough: Birthday girl, something to ponder in your quest for a cheap place to stay in NY. Thanks for the link, Kim!

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Oakton, Va: We are hoping to visit Thailand, Cambodia, VietNam, or even China in 2008. However, we have promised one of our group that we will find a trip that includes fishing. He prefers lake or river, not deep-sea fishing, but we have had difficulty finding information on any opportunities that may exist in these parts of the world. Do you have any suggestions?

Andrea Sachs: So, eating fish won't be enough? He needs to catch them too?
I found multiple fishing outfitters in Thailand--from lake fishing in Phuket to freshwater fishing outside of Bangkok. Look at www.thaifishingguide.com for ideas. An outfitter in northern Thailand to check out is www.dreamlake-fishing.com/index_en.html. Cambodia has fishing, but it seems to be deep sea, but Mongolia's rivers seem to be stocked with fish. See Fish Mongolia (www.fishmongolia.co.uk) for tour info.

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Baltimore Md: For the Paris-bound: Two of the smaller museums in Paris are true joys in an otherwise busy city-Rodin Museum and Musee Marmottan Monet. A memorable day trip is to take the train to Giverny-tour Claude Monet's house and gardens--they are beautiful and blooming even in early April. Be sure to go the the gift shop-it was his studio. Also visit the Museum of American Art in Giverny-small but a great collection and well worth it. Good cafe, too!

Gary Lee: I second your nomination of these two museums. Along these same lines, I'd recommend the Musee Picasso, too.

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Washington, D.C.: I was on a flight to Chicago on Friday evening that was, like many other flights out of DCA, canceled by the airline. I normally would not care too much if I missed a weekend getaway, but as a result, I missed my own bridal shower. Luckily, after an hour and a half on hold with the airline, I was able to receive a refund for my ticket. But still.

What are your thoughts on whether the JetBlue fiasco will continue to influence airlines' operations decisions as it did this past weekend? These airlines are really putting many-a-cramp in travelers' styles, and in an already ailing industry, I can't help but speculate the future of air travel altogether.

KC Summers: Oh no! Poor you. I think the airlines will definitely be more gunshy about not canceling flights after the JetBlue fiasco -- nobody wants that kind of negative publicity. Not sure what advice to give the poor passengers except to be prepared for the worst....

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Washington, D.C.: No, today's poster is wrong about the passport/name change thing. It's not that you have to have gotten the passport within the last year - you have to have done the name change within the last year. (The Web site they gave confirms this.) So, when you change your name, get your passport changed right away.

KC Summers: Thanks for clarifying that.

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Re: Ritz Carlton honeymoon in DC: Don't discount the RC experience. If you tell them you are on your honeymoon, they can make it very special for you. You will probably get an upgrade to a suite, they have a very nice spa which you'll need after the wedding, and you can drive to Skyline Drive or Virginia Vineyards, or Middle burg as a side trip. Also, Maestro is the best special occasion restaurant in town, so you have it all in one place. If you want to live a total DC experience, check out the Ritz in Georgetown. It is very unique and nice. Last time I stayed there, my room looked at a cobble stone street and church, I thought I was in Europe. They also have a round private dining room which is very romantic. The lobby and the bar are very comfortable, the beds and the rooms are to die for, and what's more romantic than a walk by the water, dinner in Georgetown and possibly a show at Kennedy Center with champagne on the terrace? They also have Honeymoon packages, so it may be what you are looking for...

KC Summers: Sounds fab. Especially the Georgetown one, but your point about having a meal at Maestro is reason alone to pick Tysons. Thanks for chiming in.

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Boston, Mass: I know the Azores aren't really a "beach" destination, but I

want to get in the water on vacation...is there a destination

or two you can recommend for swimming?

Jayme Simoes: Most islands have beaches, or natural hot springs. But there are some nice beaches, 7 and the water is warm enough to swim all year. T+L called Caloura on S. Miguel one of the best up and coming beach resorts. Faial and Terciera both have nice beaches- and I love the geyser pool at the Terra Nostra park on S. Miguel. But if you want a real beach that is great and a real hidden jewel go to Santa Maria. Known for its yellowish sediment and limestone. Indeed, Santa Maria is a green and yellow quilt of small farms, yellow sandy beaches, and charming small villages painted blue and white. The main town of Vila do Porto is the oldest settlement in the Azores. Its streets are lined with fine old homes. When you visit Santa Maria don't miss the Praia Formosa - the best, & only, yellow sand beach in teh Azores... where it warm year-round.
Santa Maria lies about 50 miles from S?o Miguel and is the southern most island of the Azores. The most common way to get to Santa Maria is by plane, but from May to October you can get there by ferry from S?o Miguel.

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Restaurants in Vegas?: Do you have any restaurant recommendations for Vegas? We like to eat out on vacation, but not break the bank - fancy dinners aren't really our style. American, French, Thai are all liked by our clan. I've heard there's a Mon Ami Gabi - which we like in Bethesda, so we might go there one night. Any other ideas? Thank you!

Anne McDonough: Coming up should be a link to the 2004 Vegas issue John, KC, Andrea and Steve put together, which has restaurant suggestions, and if you cull the chat archives I'm sure there are a zillion suggestions from John (our Vegas guru). Chatsters, where should these folks go?

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re: Puerto Rico: see Kim O'Donnel's blog, A Mighty Appetite

KC Summers: More info for the Puerto Rico bound, from the blogger and recent PR traveler herself. Thanks Kim.

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washingtonpost.com: Deal Us In, (May 2, 2004)

Anne McDonough: For the Vegas-bound. Thanks, Kim!

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Bad Weather: I got snowed OUT of DC a few years ago. I was in Vegas in February, and a friend called at 4 in the morning to let us know that our Sunday flights would be cancelled. How did I cope? From the comfort of my bed, I called the airline, they said not to even got the airport in Vegas, the booked me a return flight on Tuesday. I went back to sleep, and enjoyed two more days in Sin City.

KC Summers: Good thing you could afford it and your office didn't require your services!

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Washington, DC: Dear Flight Crew,

I was wondering if you could give me some advice about hotels in Bangkok.

I am a female travelling alone and will arive at BKK at 10 PM on a loooooong flight from NY. I'll likely leave the city the next day on a bus trip North, but will need an easy and cheap place to stay that night.

I've heard BKK is a madhouse and know that I'll be beat after a 17hr flight.

Thanks!

Cindy Loose: Arriving that late, tired AND alone, I'd say you should stay near the airport that night. I found a site with upscale hotels near the airport, but don't see on quickly for cheaper hotels.
Anyone out there know any? If not, maybe we can research further off line for you.

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Yellow fever vaccine DIDN'T hurt: Just wanted to weigh in and say I got one last year - was recommended because we were going to the Darien in Panama. Caused me absolutely no problem at all. Went to one of the travel clinics in town.

Cindy Loose: Thanks, another good experience with vaccine.

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Washington DC: For all those who've had travel nightmares these last couple of weeks, I just want to encourage you to follow up with your complaints.

I was caught in the mess in 2003 (or was it 2004?) when USAir cancelled Christmas. (Unofficial strike on CHRISTMAS EVE by its baggage handlers, ticket agents, and some flight attendants.) We didn't make it to my parents at all, and they misplaced our bags for eight days. Heck, since I wasn't celebrating the holiday with my family, I had lots of time to make calls and write letters. I think we received a total of close to $600 compensation for that debacle, not counting the vouchers for free flights and the upgrade on our next flight. Some of it was just "we're really sorry" money, but most of it was reimbursement for the things I had to buy while my suitcase was lost.

Again, file those complaints! Hold the airlines accountable! Don't take no for an answer! If we all shrug and say "these things happen", well, these things will continue to happen. I know it may sound selfish, but we have to hit 'em where it hurts, and do it consistently, if anything is ever going to change.

KC Summers: You're right of course. Airlines should be held accountable for bad service. It's just that sometimes the psychic energy required to follow up on a complaint just ain't worth the wear and tear on the stomach lining.

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Rockville, Md: My husband and I are taking a transatlantic cruise this April. We will be stopping in San Miguel on 4/23, docking at 7:00, sailing at 3:00, on board by 2:00. We are hiring a car and driver, which sights are must sees on a 4 hour tour? I would like to see where food is cooked underground.

Jayme Simoes: Try contacting Seawatch, seawatch@iol.pt, they can set everything up.And while on Sao Miguel, stop for lunch at the posh Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, where chefs lift cozido -- a six-hour, slow-cooked pork, beef and vegetable stew -- right from a bubbling hot geyser on the banks of the thermal Furnas Lake. If you're not a meat-eater, try the fish--it's always astoundingly fresh, thanks to the deep waters that surround the islands.

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On the new A380s: On this flight they have employees and press with them on the flight. I am sure they will have all the major networks/papers use reporters to go in and film it and check out the new aircraft which will be aired on the news and probably on the news mag shows.

Besides the one today to JFK which will go onto Ohare, and the flight to Dulles. There will also be a flight from Austrailia to LAX on I think Quantas.

That flight to LAX and the one to Dulles will be minimal flight crew because the flight is more for aircraft teating.

Anne McDonough: Thanks for the info. I'm glad someone out there is on top of it!

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Nantucket State of Mind, DC: Flight Crew -- Need your sage advice on the best way to get to Nantucket in August. I can't seem to summon the courage to take a prop plane from Boston or LaGuardia. US Air offers direct flights to the island from DC, but tix are $1000+ RT! Do you think prices will go down? If not, can you (or the chatters) recommend a fast and less expensive way to get there from here? Or do I just have to suck it up and get on the turbo prop? Thanks.

Andrea Sachs: There are multiple ways to get to Nantucket, though the cheaper, prop-less alternatives require two or three modes of transport. You can drive to Hyannis. Mass., and catch a ferry. Fly to New York City, Providence or Boston, take a bus (or rental car or cab) to Hyannis, then hop on the ferry. Or fly to any of those three cities, then catch a smaller plane to the island. At least you won't have to hear the propeller noise for hours--or pay a grand. The two flights should be hundreds less than the direct flight from D.C.

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Arlington, Va: The person who wants to spend 3 months in the Netherlands might want to check on the visa situation first. I don't know what sort of agreement we have with the Dutch or I suppose the EU, but a regular no application required tourist visa to most places in only good for a limited amount of time, so you may need to apply for a special kind of visa. May not be an issue, but I think it is something to look into.

Gary Lee: That's a good point. Typically Americans can stay in the Netherlands and most if not all other western European countries for three months without a visa. I suspect that's why the poster is planning a 3 month stay.

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DC Traveler: I just wanted to let John know I adored his story! I once lived on Pico for six months,and it was the best time of my life. You really captured a magical place. Thank you.

Anne McDonough: Thanks, DC Traveler! If John were here he'd start hitting you up for Pico stories; I'll just say thanks on his behalf.

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Buenos Aires in May: Hi Crew,

Visiting BA for a week in May. We're both US citizens and I read that no visas are required. Are there any other precautions we need to take? Also, any suggestions? We'd like to go to an estancia for 2 nights and if possible a vineyard. Open to other things as well. Thank you!

Cindy Loose: Great place, and not threatening. However I would follow the advise of the locals and only take legitimate cabs--you can be sure if you ask a hotel or restaurant to call for you. Like any big city it has good and bad neighborhoods, but the nice thing about BA is that most of the good neighborhoods are linked and so you're not likely to wander into hell or find you must see an attraction that's in a bad place. Also, I wouldn't even think of driving in or close to the city--the traffic is crazy.
An estancia is an easy and wonderful thing to do out of BA. (The estancias will arrange a car service, or you can take a very inexpensive bus to a nearby town and arrange a pick up or local taxi.)
I'll post a story I did a couple years ago that included info on nearby estancias.

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washingtonpost.com: Buenos Aires, Always in Style, (July 10, 2005)

Cindy Loose: Here's a link I'm told includes the part about estancias.

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Adams Morgan, Washington, DC : Hello Crew!

I am traveling to Australia in August with my best friend. We have decided on the way back to spend the weekend (Fri-Sun) in either Fiji or New Zealand. I know this is kind of comparing apples to oranges but gut instincts which one would you guys do?

Anne McDonough: I'd say, figure out which one you have really wanted to explore, and then go to the other one. Reasoning being that if you really want to get to a place, you'll get there eventually and I'm sure you'll want more than a weekend. So use this as a bonus weekend to see a place you may never return to.

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Anonymous: Hi Flight Crew,

I was hoping you could give some advice on an all too increasing problem. On two recent flights, people have tried to take my seat.

On the first flight from Denver to Tampa, I boarded the plane and a man was sitting in my seat. I asked him if we were given the same seat by accident. He said no, he wanted to sit next to his wife and if I could take the middle seat several rows back. I kindly said no, I booked the aisle seat for a reason. He did move but his wife gave me the evil eye for the rest of the flight.

Then it happened again from Dulles to Amsterdam. I was traveling with my husband and we had aisle seats across from each other. A woman was sitting in my husband's seat. She asked if he could move to the dreaded middle seat in the back of plane and away from me because she, her husband and kids wanted to sit together. My husband is 6'3 and refused .We asked why couldn't one of the parents just move to the their assigned seat? They refused to move and the flight attendant had to come and make the woman move. Ridiculous! What is the best way to handle this ever increasing, yet uncomfortable situation?

KC Summers: By doing what you did -- tell them politely that they're sitting in your seat, and then summoning the flight attendant if they won't move. You are entitled to sit in your assigned seat. But if you're at all able to be flexible, it will be much appreciated by families with young kids and other needy types. Let the flight attendant know and maybe they can broker a deal.

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Adams Morgan: I want to pass on a positive story about Jet Blue:

About a week ago, I was scheduled to fly through JFK to Aguadilla (Puerto Rico) on Jet Blue. Everything was going fine for my 7:30 p.m. Sat evening flight from Dulles, til we were supposed to be boarding and instead were alerted to some horrible air traffic control problem having to do with too many planes coming into JFK. We ended up taking off at least an hour late, then circling for 45 minutes.

By the time we landed, it was minutes til the flight to Aguadilla was supposed to take off. We ran to make it, and did (they'd held the plane for us and a few other passengers!)

Here's the amazing part: our bags made it!! I have no idea how that it possible, since we ran the entire way to our connecting gate.

The problem was not JetBlue's to begin with, and they did extraordinary work to help make the trip as successful as possible. (We got to Puerto Rico right on time in the end)

KC Summers: It's positive feedback day here in the travel chat. Thanks for sharing!

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Nobody Cares: How about more travel talk? Nobody cares about your

frustrating travel stories. We've all had them, there is no

point in reliving them.

KC Summers: Well, the point is that we're looking for advice and tips on how to cope better when the system breaks down. But thanks for writing in.

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Bumped from a flight you paid for: I have two tickets where I couldn't get a seat ahead of time and have to get it at the airport because the flight is oversold. If I get to the airport in plenty of time but the plane is already booked, do I get any recourse? This happened once a few years ago and the airline (Continental) said I get nothing. The only people that get something are the ones that give up their seats and I didn't have a seat to give up. Is that the real policy? Even though I paid a lot of money for a seat, it doesn't guarantee I'll be able to fly?

Cindy Loose: Whoever told you that is waayyyy wrong. In fact, there are federal laws about what you must be given if you are involuntarily bumped. That's why the airlines try so hard to give stuff to people who will volunteer to be bumped.
The amount they owe you depends on how long you're delayed and your ticket price. If the substitute flight is scheduled to arrive one to two hours later than originally scheduled -- or up to four hours later on an international flight -- you're entitled to a refund of your one-way fare, up to $200. If the substitute flight is even later than described above, compensation doubles.
The airline might offer you a voucher that's worth much more than the cash, so weigh your options and pay attention to restrictions on the vouchers. Some must be redeemed as if they were frequent-flier awards. Cash vouchers are best: They can be used the same as cash, without restrictions.
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Washington, D.C.: Is Colombia safe for tourists? The State Department has a travel warning, but it's in their best interests to be massively overcautious.

Cindy Loose: It wouldn't be my first choice, but there are areas of the country that are relatively safe.

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Washington, D.C.: Let's get it right. If you go to the source (travel.state.gov), you'll see that it states: If your name has changed by other means and/or it has been more than one year from the date of issuance of the passport, you must submit a DS-82 renewal application and pay all applicable fees."

If, when you go to change the name on your passport, you've had the passport for more than a year, you'll have to pay. It's true. I had to pay the renewal fee to change my name because I'd had the passport for more than a year.

KC Summers: One more take on the passport name change issue. Read and heed.

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Transit through SJU: I have a vague recollection that when traveling from another country to the US through San Juan, PR one must clear Customs in San Juan so the typical one hour layover time is insufficient. Is this correct?

Cindy Loose: Since you'll not go through customs on a flight to San Juan you will have to go through customs if leaving San Juan for a foreign country, so an hour would not likely be enough.

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KC Summers: Whew, the hour sure went by quickly. Thanks for joining us today, and sorry if we didn't get to your question. We'll see you on our blog and in the paper -- keep an eye out for package this coming Sunday on winging it vs. planning a trip. This week's prize goes to Washington DC who was stranded in Philly on Christmas Eve. Wash, if you send your contact info to me at summersk@washpost.com, we'll get the prize right out to you. Happy trails!

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