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.

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

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John Deiner: Welcome aboard this week's charter with the Travel section Flight Crew. Glad to see you all packed light.

This week we have a pretty full crew to help you along: Ask us anything, and we'll scramble to get you an answer. Also on board: Paula Stone, who wrote our lead story this week on Newfoundland and who's eager to answer any questions you might have.

If you saw our section this week (and of course you did), you know that we've launched a new monthly contest based on your favorite souvenirs (check out the link posted below for details on the feature).

So here's your job this week: Tell us about the best souvenir you've ever brought home. Doesn't have to be fancy or expensive -- just the most memorable. My fave was a set of salt-n-pepper shakers made out of volcanic dust from Mt. St. Helens. It looks like the volcano pre-blast, but if you lift off the top (the pepper), the base looks like the mountain does today. Who knew a natural disaster could spawn such a ridiculous memento?

Anyhow, you get the point. Keep it short, folks. Don't need the junk's life story! Whoever regales us the most gets a NASA care package: A travel pad with a totally cool space shuttle pen, plus a miniature (well, duh) toy version of "The Official Tour Bus of the Visitor's Complex."

Buckle up.

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washingtonpost.com: How Much for the Plastic Rat?, (April 22, 2007)

John Deiner: And here's the link to the souvenir piece.

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Backpack, Frontpack: This is kind of silly, but what do you think about wearing your daypack in front of you when you're traveling? I'll be going to Italy in July (not my first time) and I remember seeing a fair number of European tourists doing this in the past. It seemed absolutely ridiculous and I told myself I'd never be caught dead doing that, but I must have weak shoulders or something because using a handbag with the shoulder strap going across my body causes quite a bit of soreness for me after a few hours. I understand how the daypack-in-front distributes the weight between both shoulders and makes your belongings safer from thieves, but can anyone with just the slightest sense of fashion actually do this? My guidebook, wallet, camera, water bottle, and umbrella pressing down on one shoulder have me considering doing the unthinkable.

Anne McDonough: You're getting an answer from someone who looks like a turtle when she travels (camera backpack on back, clothes backpack on my front, looks weird but keeps my arms free and my trunk balanced) but bear with me: Wearing a packpack on your front not only helps with back strain but on crowded buses, markets and in other overpopulated places it can be the safest way to carry your bulky goods around; leaving it on your back is just asking for someone to reach inside. Now, I'm not the most fashionable traveler out there; I'm pretty much on the other end of the spectrum. BUT if you've already done your part to reduce how heavy the bag is and your back is still hurting, I'd say forget fashion and go with comfort. You can help things by getting a fashionable backpack if that matters. Oh, and no matter what, I would never travel with my wallet in my backpack--you could deal without a water bottle and a guidebook, but losing your wallet is just such a pain.

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Ensenada, Baja California: Day late And a $ short Vol. 2 For the Falls Church, Va Couple with kids headed for S.F. and L.A. I can speak about the L.A. area since I spent many years there. My recommendation is to stay in Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach. There are activities for kids and the freeway system is close. That way you can reach Disneyland to the south or L.A. to the east very little effort.

Also kudos for Nicole Contreros' Amalfi Coast article. That's one of our stops on our next cruise.

Keith Rockwood in Baja on a rare, needed rainy day.

Anne McDonough: This is a followup from last week's chat--thanks for chiming in, Ensenada!

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Favorite Souvenir: For this former jarhead it's a vial of sand from a beach near Tripoli, Libya.

I'm finding a piece of the Halls of Montezuma to be slightly more difficult to obtain...

John Deiner: Very cool, and much easier to keep on your shelf, no doubt.

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Arlington, Va: O Travel Wise Ones:

I really want to go to Australia, but everyone says you should only go when you have 2 weeks to spend there. But I don't think I'll be able to take 2-weeks of vacation time anytime in the coming years. Is it a total waste to only go there with one week to spend?

Thanks!

Cindy Loose: It's a very long trip for a week, even using the two weekends around the week off, which gives you nine days. Take out two days for travel and you're down to seven. You'll have loads of jet lag to contend with and your first day there will probably be a wipe, so that's six.

I'd suggest you ask yourself: Would I visit the U.S. with just six days to spend on the ground, and if so, what would I do? You could fly into, say, either L.A. or New York and have a grand time in one of those cities and even use a few days for some nearby places, within driving distance I'd say. If you wouldn't feel disappointed about all the stuff you'd missed and could be happy that you saw one little area, and that area was a reasonable distance from the international airport, then you're a good candidate for a week long trip to Australia. If you go for it, carefully work out what you're going to do, and don't try to take on too much territory.

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Alexandria, Va: We need to make our vacation plans soon and we really need your help. We are planning a trip to California and while looking for a flight and hotel we tried Expedia.com. It looks like they put together a good package which will save us some money compared to what I was finding by doing everything separately. While I have used a travel site to get a flight before, I have never booked an entire vacation through one. Before I commit literally thousands of dollars please tell me what are the disadvantages of using expedia. I assume that expedia is not fraudulent and the flight and the hotel room will be there when we arrive but are there problems or just disadvantages we should know about? If I try a little harder am I likely to get a better deal on my own?

Any advice would be welcome!

Gary Lee: In my experience, Expedia packages can make pretty good deals. I have tried but rarely succeeded in piecing the parts together to beat what they offer. As I precaution, I would suggest checking with whatever airline and whatever hotel you end up in before your departure just to make sure that the reservations are in order. Expedia is reputable but somethings things fall through the cracks.

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Alexandria Va: Just returned last night from two weeks in the Czech Republic. Had a great experience all around. We rented bikes in Prague and spent a week cycling through Bohemia, sampling their excellent and inexpensive beers every step of the way (of course Ceske Budejovice and Plzen were on the itinerary). C.R. considers beer to be food, so it isn't taxed, and a 500ml jug will set you back about $1.50. If wine is more your thing, take a day trip from Prague to Melnik (1 hr by bus) and try the wines at Chateau Lobkowicz. For $7.50 we were send into the basements for an all-you-can-drink "tasting". Even Air France losing my bag on the flight home couldn't dampen my spirits! Only question now is - where to next?

Anne McDonough: This brings back very fun memories of traveling though the Czech Republic with a bunch of Australians--we loved Cesky B--that's what we called it--and of course the beer. When beer is cheaper than soda, you know you've got a good thing going. Your trip might inspire someone who's fretting about costs in Europe to go off and have an adventure. Next: How about sticking with that part of the world and hitting wine country in Hungary?

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Germantown, MD: Hi Travel Crew: I have a what would you do question for you and the chat readers. I have a chance to take my 2 kids to Myrtle Beach this summer for 4 days/3 nights at a Marriott property. It will only cost $199 TOTAL but...I have to attend the 90 minute time share presentation/tour for their new resort in MB. I'm really considering doing this since my budget is tight and I want to take my kids to the beach this summer. Is this wrong? Would you do this? I have no intentions of buying into the timeshare.

Thanks.

Carol Sottili: As long as you're strong-willed and won't get sucked in by the spiel, I say go for it. But come up with some excuse early on as to why you can't buy. If they feel as if you're a live one, it can be quite an ordeal. I went through five of them in one day, but because I wasn't staying at any of the places, they called my sales talks "courtesy" sessions, and it wasn't too hard sell.

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Anonymous: Several years ago my father knew I was going to Singapore, and asked me to find Heaven and Hell money (something for the departed to spend at their next destination, I think). He and my mother had been there and wanted this as a souvenir. It took me hours of walking around, and lots of bad leads, but I finally found some. This was probably his second favorite travel gift after the Tuareg turban I bought him in Timbuktu, but he was with me on that trip (it was someplace he had always wanted to go), so I do not think that would qualify.

John Deiner: Great stuff. Anyone else find that sometimes the very best stuff they bring home goes to others?

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Silver Spring, Md.: Are there any special tips, hints, strategies you have for finding super-cheap hotel rates?

We're heading to Savannah in August, peak tourist time, for a wedding. And with two kids trying to keep it as economical as possible. I've been scouring the traditional websites for hotel rates but there doesn't seem to be a lot of change.

I was just wondering if there was a special time of day or day of the week that there may be discounts offered. Thanks.

KC Summers: Hi SS. The best way to save on hotel prices is through Priceline.com or Hotwire.com, but you have to not care where you end up: With Priceline you don't know the hotel you're bidding on, just the neighborhood and number of stars. But if you aren't a control freak, you can save some serious money this way. Go to bidding4travel.com for tips on how to bid.

If you want to be more in control, start by searching the Web. I usually check out Quikbook.com and Hotels.com, then browse the offerings on Expedia, Travelocity, etc. and compare prices. But it's important to also check the individual hotels because many of them say they'll beat third-party prices. When you call them, make sure you're calling the actual hotel and not the 800 reservation number. Sometimes if you talk to a manager you can get a better deal.

Two other tips: Consider booking a hotel/air package, or hotel/rental car package. You can get some great deals that way. Also consider joining a frequent-stay club, for access to special offers and other perks, and eventually free rooms.

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Fairfax, Va: Best souvenir and it didn't cost me a thing: a menu from one of my favorite lunch stops in Marigot on St. Martin. It's a hand-painted watercolor with a map of the town and a map of the island...the lovely Aussie waitress even gave me two so I could frame both sides. The Francophile foodie in me smiles every time I look at it...and it even inspired the paint colors in my bedroom.

John Deiner: Lovely! It was hand-painted!?! What a nice thing to take back home, and "free" is always good.

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Easton, Md: What are the best months to visit Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands -- avoiding the rainy season and the summer crowds?

Thank you.

Gary Lee: Two caveats. 1) As you are probably aware, the seasons are reversed in South America, so during high summer here it's winter down there. 2) Climate change is throwing a lot of seasons out of sync in the Andes, as elsewhere. So the traditional weather patterns may not hold up. All that said, the biggest crowds in both places tend to be June through August so those months are to be avoided. The rainy season down there tends to be around January/February so best not to go then, either. This April, May, October or November are probably the best months to go.

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San Francisco, Calif: Hi flight crew - I'm flying from SFO to London Heathrow tomorrow, and then immediately catching another flight to Ireland. The two flights were booked separately on different airlines. I'm assuming I basically have to clear immigration, gather my bags, re-enter the terminal, and check in again. Or is there another way...?

I have a 2.5 hour layover and both airlines use the same terminal.

Cindy Loose: Oh dear, I'm worried, and not sure I can offer any great ideas.

When you separately book two separate flights, you have to be aware that if you're late for whatever reason, the second carrier considers you a no show and you have no recourse. Assuming your second ticket is non-refundable, if you're late, you'll be treated just like anyone else walking up to the counter for a last minute ticket. If there are great reasons to make separate bookings I generally advice getting to the first destination the day before, just in case the first flight is really late.

I hope you get lucky and your first flight is on time. But you will have to go through customs and immigration at Heathrow, then check in for your second flight. Even if your first flight is on time, the 2.5 hour layover could quickly disappear at a busy airport like Heathrow.

Any way you could pack so light you didn't need to check baggage? If not, can you avoid the airline counter lines in Heathrow by preprinting a boarding pass and giving your checked bags to a porter?

Anyone else have ideas?

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Greenbelt MD: My daughter is on a international flight from Munich to Dulles returning on a Saturday in June. The United Flight gets in to Dulles at 2:47pm. We have to immediately leave for a family reunion, and the only connecting flight we can get leaves Dulles (also on United) at 5:40 pm. Is this enough time? Are there ways of expediting the process? She will have a suitcase that she will have to check, but I can go carry on for the domestic flight.

Carol Sottili: I think this will be enough time as long as her international flight is on time. It's a busy time of day for Dulles international arrivals, but it shouldn't take more than an hour to get through the lines. Best way to expedite: Sit in the front of the plane and move as quickly as possible to the passport control line. Then when you move on to the customs line, have the form filled out and ready to go (tell her not to buy stuff that she has to declare).

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Swansboro, NC: My father and I are planning a trip to NYC in late summer to see some baseball. What part of the city should we look to stay in? I'm sure we'll want to do a little sight seeing while we're there also. Is any one of the NYC area airports any more convenient as far as getting to/from the airport to the city itself? Love the chats!

Anne McDonough: Hey Swansboro, I think we hit on this question last week but since both Shea and Yankee stadiums are accessible via the subway, I'd just stay wherever in Manhattan I could find the cheapest rate-NY rates can be high in summer. As for the airports...this site has info on all three airports and how to get into the city: http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/

But for a simple answer, LaGuardia is the closest to the city; the shuttle (www.nyairportservice.com/) takes about 40 minutes, and the same shuttle service from JFK takes about 1 hour 20 minutes.

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Pittsburgh, PA: I completed the necessary paperwork and submitted my old passport (by mail) to be renewed. This was back in February. It is now almost May and I still haven't received my passport. Is there some way I can contact someone to find out - is it still being processed? Did they lose it? Is it lost in the mail? I was planning to take a trip to Montreal next month and I thought I would have received it by now. Luckily, the trip has been cancelled, or I would really be frantic.

KC Summers: You've most likely gotten caught up in the aftermath of the big surge in passport applications following the new requirements for air travelers to and from the Caribbean, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Central and South America, etc. The new rules took effect in January, prompting a huge backlog. You should call the Passport Office toll-free number immediately to find out the status of yours: 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778). Or email them at npic@state.gov. We've heard some complaints about folks not being able to get through but the office has added personnel and hopefully is getting back up to speed.

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Rockville, MD: Hello Flight Crew!

I was thinking of taking a trip to China on the new route from Dulles to Beijing. Would it be cheaper to book online or through a travel agent or would it not make a difference?

Thank you!

Carol Sottili: If your flight plans are simple, cheapest way to go is to book it at www.united.com.

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Southwest, D.C.: Are there any good B&Bs in/around Rehoboth beach? Or inns? Something other than a big, chain-y hotel/motel. If it wasn't too expensive, that'd be terrific but I know beaches in the summertime=costly.

Many thanks!

John Deiner: Hey SW. There are actually a good number of BnBs in the area, plus some nice hotels. We recently ran an Escapes feature on two hotels with nice spas, the Bellmoor Hotel and the Avenue Inn and Spa. But it's been a while since we've reported on BnBs down there. Anyone have a good suggestion?

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Bethesda, Md: I'd just like to confirm that Super Shuttle is awful. After they blew 3 straight trips to BWI for me, one for an international flight, I swore, never again. I don't see how they can stay in business.

KC Summers: Thanks for the feedback. You saw the letters in yesterday's Message Center? We were deluged with similar complaints.

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Re: Best souvenir : The pack of some German-labeled opiates from Belize after breaking my ankle there.

Joking aside, probably a beautiful Iznik platter from Turkey.

John Deiner: Nice, but the Belize answer was better! Thanks for sharing...

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DC 20008: I know enough not to take Super Shuttle to BWI, but had been relying of them to get me home. Never again! I live on Connecticut Ave. in Upper NW Washington, and my 2 most recent shuttle trips have taken me home via Bethesda and Silver Spring, and Rockville!!! The drivers tell me they are just as upset as I am when they are given these roundabout assignments. I doubt it! And as I said, never again. Too bad.

KC Summers: Maddening, I know. But at least you were only going home -- not trying to catch a plane, as many of the people who wrote to us were.

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Annandale, VA: On my first trip to Australia, I found the wine part (the important part!) of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. I tried a bottle of Kiwi Fruit wine and absolutely loved it. I bought a single bottle to bring home, assuming I could find more. Needless to say, I drank it before I found that it isn't available anywhere in the US and it's prohibitively expensive to ship from OZ. So it was a great souvenier that lives only in my memory.

John Deiner: D'oh!! That's great stuff. In my experience, most of the funky wines I buy on an impulse turn out to be icky when I get home, so the fact that yours was great is reassuring. Now all you have to do is go back to that festival.

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Dallas, Tex.: Are there any websites where you put in a departure city and dates, and it gives you flight prices to many random locations? I would love to take an adventure and I don't really care where, but I can't think of all the possibilities to search for them!

Cindy Loose: I think that's a great idea and someone should do that, but to my knowledge no one has. However, you could sign up with a service like Travel Zoo, and Smarter Living, and they'll send you emails about the best deals going from your city. If you're interested in last minute travel--meaning the coming weekend or the one after that--various airlines send out messages about empty seats they're letting go for cheap. Even if you want to plan further ahead, if you get those emails for awhile you generally get a good idea of where airlines have extra capacity, meaning they'll likely cut fares. You can sign up for these alerts at airline sites. Read our deals column each week for upcoming sales info. Site59.com bundles packages, but even if you want to make your own hotel arrangements, you can get some idea from the site about which destinations are going cheap.

Generally, the more competition the lower the prices. Take a glance at the discount carrier sites to see where they go from your area---other larger airlines will be competing with them to those destinations so the fares will more likely be lower for all airlines that fly there from Dallas.

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Souvenir: One of my favorites is the Mao alarm clock I got in China... Mao waves at you with each tick of the clock and when the alarm goes off, the entire clock shakes so badly, it vibrates right off the table. It's extremely kitschy and not at all original but hysterical nonetheless.

John Deiner: I LOVE IT! We should all have one of those!

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Silver Spring, Md: In 2004 I ordered a Super Shuttle for an early morning flight from BWI. The van was scheduled to arrive at 4 a.m. It came at a.m., woke up the whole neighborhood when the driver leaned on the horn, and then he was clearly too drunk to drive. I called 911 and had him taken off the road, undoubtedly causing grief to others waiting for his arrival, but at least they weren't kiilled. Needless to say, I will never use them again.

KC Summers: Yikes. That's one we hadn't heard before. Thanks for providing that public service.

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For the Frontpack Questioner: I have one of the onestrap body crossing backpacks - it's great for all situations. When it isn't crowded, I wear it on my back, and in situations where there are crowds or something rubs me wrong, I can easily sling it around to my front with very little effort. And the strap is wide enough that i never feel like it's too heavy for one shoulder...

Anne McDonough: That's a good compromise between the total goofball approach I take and wearing it on your back the whole time-thanks for chiming in!

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Machu Piccu question: My mother went to Peru a couple of years ago, in December. She said the weather was pleasant.

Gary Lee: In fact, the climate in the Machu Picchu area -- and most parts of Peru -- do not range much during the year. Since the area is mountainous, there are great fluctuactions over the course of a day -- in general the days are warm and sunny, the nights cool pretty much all year round. Their winter is a little chillier, their summer a little warmer but no by much. Weather watching can be more important for the Galapagos -- the water can be choppy in the early months of the year, the climate can be quite warm in the July and August period. Hope that helps.

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Vero Beach, Fla: Once, I flew from Jacksonville to Miami and checked out the Deering Estate park on Biscayne Bay, where the tropical hammock (forest) and pinelands were being restored. Golden pothos(the "philodendron" that grows in every office) was being stripped from the trees. I hand-carried a piece home and named it Don Johnson. The Deering Estate had appeared in "Miami Vice."

By the way, the City of Miami is beautifully restoring natural beach vegetation on Virginia Key, the island just north of Key Biscayne.

John Deiner: So are you and Don still together?

And thanks for the tip on Virginia Key. I love that area, but I've never heard of it myself.

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Favorite Souvenirs: My husband and I took a trip to Los Angeles last year and some of the drinks in the bar in our hotel came in souvenir glasses. His is shaped like an old school film camera and mine is shaped like the state of California, helpfully marked with points of interest!

John Deiner: Neat. So you can drink your way around the state. Good stuff.

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Favorite Souvenir: OK, I know it's gross, unsanitary, etc., but my husband and I found a corkscrew on a street in Sligo, Ireland. It didn't look like it had been there long. I don't know why we took it with us, but we did, and still use it. It's a great little thing!

John Deiner: Yeah, that is a little gross. But as long as you washed it and disinfected it and boiled it for a few hours, I guess it's good to go. Thanks for sharing!

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Bowie, MD: I haven't traveled internationally since pre 9/11. We're going to Ireland and have tickets through Aer Lingus. We fly AA from National to Boston and thence to Shannon. When I bought the tickets, Aer Lingus was part of "One World" with AA and this seemed to facilitate the connections on the international travel. I was wondering if you could give me any logistics insight into international travel, like where we will do the international check-in/security checks, whether we can check in at National and stay checked in through Logan, or do we have to exit and re-enter in as an international passenger, etc. Any insight you can provide would be much appreciated.

I'm also concerned about an International travel document that's supposed to be filled out in advance of travel. Aer Lingus's web site won't allow me to get to this form (long story) Is there some other way I can get this document and file it with the appropriate party?

Carol Sottili: According to the Aer Lingus Web site, they have a check-in agreement with American, so you shouldn't have a problem checking your luggage all the way through. But I'd give them a call to verify that. I know you won't be able to check in online. Has anyone out there done the AA/Aer Lingus combo recently? When I flew on Alitalia through New York, I could not check my luggage all the way through, but Alitalia did not have any agreement with the airline I took from Washington. I don't know which document you're talking of, so can't help there.

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Pittsburgh, PA: Best souvenir - a few years ago, I worked for Bayer Corp here in Pittsburgh. The parent company, Bayer AG, sent college students to work at Bayer for a year - their version of the junior year abroad. The students normally go back to Germany for the Xmas holidays, and when our department's intern came back, she brought us some wonderful chocolates. As a devot chocoholic, I was in heaven, until about the 3rd piece of candy, when I realized I had quite a buzz on. She then informed us that the chocolate liquid centers were filled with a cream that contained some sort of 90 proof alcohol and that we shouldn't eat too many at one time. Needless to say, I had the most pleasant morning at work I had experienced in a long time.

John Deiner: Wooooweeeee!!! Every office needs a supply of that stuff, doesn't it?

Keep 'em coming folks. This stuff is great...and remember that if you want to send us this stuff for consideration, we'll need a photo to go with it.

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Think Globally, Source Locally?: Just curious: for the question in Sunday's "Travel Q and A" about touring Belgian breweries, why did you contact "Johnny Fincioen, a Flemish beer importer who also runs the Global Beer Network (http://www.globalbeer.com/), which is based in Santa Barbara, Calif." for information instead of Post beer columnist Greg Kitsock, who is a recognized expert on the subject, a local source, and even someone who writes for The Washington Post?

KC Summers: We talk to all kinds of experts in reporting Travel Q&A, and not necessarily all Post sources. And there are lots of beer experts out there. The author of that column is traveling now so I'm not sure why she used the source she did, but it may have been simply a question of availability.

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Arlington, VA: re Rehoboth: I can vouch for the Avenue Inn. It's well located and quite nice but it is also a bit pricey. There are tons of small B&Bs and guesthouses all over Rehoboth. The only one I ever stayed in was fairly basic but in a good location on Maryland Ave (I think).

John Deiner: Thanks! That's a start. Anyone else with some specifics?

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Bowie, Md: It wasn't really sold as a souvenir, but on my first trip to NYC, I bought a $10 "Rolex" outside the Ferry Terminal.

John Deiner: Sure it wasn't a "Rollex" or a "Rolecks"?

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Boston, NYC, DC & Chicago: For my parents' 70th birthdays, I would like to find a place to gather in mid-september for a long weekend that meets the following needs:

a resort on a lake with indoor and outdoor pools, 4-6 hour drive from DC, Boston and NYC, 1- 1 1/2 hours from major airport, does not have a meal plan and offers the ability to rent a place with a kitchen. Nice but not high-end.

Thank you!

Cindy Loose: Wow, that's a tall order. Instead of lake would you consider bay? If so, my first thought would be to check out what might be available around Annapolis, which at least fits the driving requirements. I'd start by narrowing it down by airports---you're basically then looking at something 1.5 hours from Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, right?

Anyone have better, specific notions of what fits this criteria?

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San Fransisco Souvenir: Um, on a visit to the famous Good Vibrations, where all the normal stigma of going into such a shop is removed, one generally feels compelled to buy something. Which I did. And still have, 14 years later.

John Deiner: High-larious report there, SFS.

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Expensive Plane Tickets: Hi Travel Crew! Thanks for the great chats. Just a quick question about rising plane ticket costs. Is there any reason why plane ticket prices have shot up from DCA to various southern cities, such as Knoxville, Nashville, Charleston, etc. I used to be able to fly to all of the cities for under $225 and now it is difficult to find a ticket under $350-$400. Thanks.

Carol Sottili: I can't think of any obvious reason. Fars shot up to some cities after Independence Air went out of business, but that was a while ago. Anyone have a theory, other than higher jet fuel costs?

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Flight Crew-

I have personally used Super Shuttle with no problems on many occasions. Where are the messages that discuss Super Shuttle? The reason I stopped using the shuttle was because of the price, not the service. What has happened to others out there?

KC Summers: We ran a Coming & Going item a couple of weeks ago about a customer who wasn't picked up at the last minute, and that item prompted a deluge of letters from similarly inconvenienced readers. We printed a sampling in yesterday's Message Center. We'll try to get links to both.

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Wanna-be Aussie in Arlington: My fellow Arlingtonian who wrote:

"I really want to go to Australia, but everyone says you should only go when you have 2 weeks to spend there. But I don't think I'll be able to take 2-weeks of vacation time anytime in the coming years. Is it a total waste to only go there with one week to spend?"

Should keep in mind that Australia is roughly the same size as the 'lower 48' U.S. states . Even allowing for the emptiness of most of the center, he should ask himself if he'd be able to tour the entire United States -- from Seattle to Key West, from San Diego to Presque Isle -- in a single week without missing something that he'd really REALLY like to see.

When I go back to Australia and when people ask me, based on my six trips there, how much time to devote to a first visit I say three weeks is the minimum and a month is better.

Cindy Loose: But if the person is the kind of traveler who can imagine herself living in Australia and could be content to come to the U.S. for just a week and go home feeling fulfilled, even know what she's missed, then why not go. Not that I would--the flight itself is just too awful for me if the payoff is only a week, but not everyone feels the same way. In fact, some people actually enjoy the flight part. To me, when a flight attendant says, "Enjoy your flight," I appreciate the sentiment but consider it ridiculous, since to me the flight itself is the suffering necessary for hte payoff at the end. But as you note, thinking of Australia in terms of the U.S.---keeping in mind that the interesting stuff is much further apart over there--is the right way to consider the question.

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Arlington, VA: Hope you are enjoying today's beautiful weather! I'm heading to London in a month, and as the weather won't match what we have today, we are planning to see a number of shows (theater mostly). Any recs as to the best way to get decent priced tickets?

Anne McDonough: Coming up should be links to info on just what you're looking for...

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Austin, Tex: the best souvenir i've ever brought home was a monk bowl that i watched be made on the street in Bangkok!

for our honeymoon we are headed to Maui and Kauai. is it better to visit one first before the other? just trying to pick an order!

John Deiner: Hey, Austin -- thanks for the souvenir add.

As far as Maui or Kaui goes, I don't think you can go wrong with either first or last. I think they're both equally amazing, and both have natural attractions that make them unique. Maui is a bit more built up than Kauai, so if you want to realllly lose yourself at the end of the trip, then Kauai may be the better option.

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For last week's couple going to LA and SF: We did a similar trip last year's spring break. We stayed at and recommend: The Coast Anabelle Hotel in Burbank and Castle Inn in SF (not fancy but great location to walk around and see the city, helpful couple run the place). I hope they are taking the Pacific Coast Highway between the two cities for its spectacular scenery. Along the way we spent a night at the Best Western Shelter Cove in Pismo Beach. It was quite a bargain with an unbelievably beautiful oceanfront setting. We watched sea otters frolic in the waves off the small private beach.

Anne McDonough: And another followup! I hope that original poster is lurking on the chat today to take advantage of your collective travel wisdom ;)

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We're not in Disneyworld any more, Toto: Just returned from a trip to Disneyworld (daughter's picture with Cinderella: priceless), to have a bad experience with skycaps at Dulles. After an angry conversation with a supervisor, it seems that the skycap employer, Huntleigh, does not have a contract with Dulles newcomer Southwest, so all skycaps were directed to decline to help me with my not-insignificant number of bags (travelling with two kids will do that to you). The only airline that was coming in at the time was Southwest, and there were 5 skycaps with nothing to do. An airport/Southwest employee finally helped me get down the short trip to the shuttle bus, and was tipped generously. The odd thing is that a skycap actually helped us with our bags when we were checking in at the Southwest ticket counter!

Just wanted to give a heads up to any cheapos like me travelling on Southwest at Dulles.

John Deiner: Interesting stuff -- shocking actually. We're going to look into this pronto.

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washingtonpost.com: London Theater Update: A Bargain Hunter's Guide, (June 18, 2006); Naked Harry Potter and the London Theater Sites, (Travel Log, Feb. 28, 2007)

Anne McDonough: For the London-bound...theater tips! Thanks for the posting, Kim!

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Washington, D.C.: I'm headed to Turks and Caicos at the end of June/beginning of July for about a week. Any suggestions on things to do and see, where to eat etc...? Also, has anyone been during this time of the year? We chose it because of the cheaper hotel and airfare rates but I hope it's not going to be too uncomfortably hot or rainy.

Cindy Loose: What to see and where to eat depends on which island you plan to stay. I've attached a story I did three years ago on Provo and on Grand Turk. If you have a full week there and plan to be on just one island, consider take the time to check out one of the smaller islands, by boat or plane.

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Souvenirs: A couple of years ago, my brother and I (30s) took our first airplane flight together since we were kids. After settling in our seats, I saw him take the air sickness bag out of the seat pouch and put it in his backpack.

I asked him what that was for, and he said he's collected one from every airplane trip he's ever taken. (About 2 dozen.)

John Deiner: That's a popular souvenir, I think. I guess it's better than collecting used bags, though. Thanks for chiming in.

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Washington, DC: Hi Flight crew,

The best souvenir was a gift for my friend's Aunt, a devout Mary (the religious mother) fanatic. I was visiting Majagoria in Bosnia, a place where some teenagers saw a Mary vision not too long ago, and brought back some holy water in a pink sparkly, Mary shaped bottle AND a matching snow globe. I knew she'd be excited, but didn't expect the tears, blessings, shaking and prayers that ensued when I gave her the gift.

John Deiner: Sweet, DC. Just the sort of reaction you want with a thoughtful gift like that.

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Just get me out of here!: Someone in Dallas asked:

"Are there any websites where you put in a departure city and dates, and it gives you flight prices to many random locations? I would love to take an adventure and I don't really care where, but I can't think of all the possibilities to search for them!"

Go to www.farecompare.com and click on "Getaway Maps"

Cindy Loose: Oh, great idea. Wierd that I just checked at that site today for my own purposes, wondering if they had internaitonal flights, which they don't. But somehow I didn't think of it for this reader. That one of the reasons it takes a village. Thanks!

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souvenirs: For the equivalent of $1 US I bought a straw painting in Singapore of a little hut and the sun. I got a lot of compliments on it. A few years later I got it framed, which cost many, many times the price of the picture, but it looks great on my wall. Now it's my favorite memory of my time in Asia.

John Deiner: Very nice! And ain't that always the truth about framing?

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Lakefront question: Your previous poster may want to look at resorts around the Finger Lakes region of upstate NY.

Cindy Loose: Oh, great idea. Finger lakes are nice. Maybe the Poconos are another possibility?

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Bethesda, MD: My favorite souvenier was actually a hysterical memory from Ocean City. While walking down the beach I encountered a group of people crowded around something that had washed ashore. It was a jelly fish sans tentacles. The hysteria came into play when a little girl around 4 or 5 piped up and said " Don't worry, it can hurt you it has no testicles"!! Laughed all the way home and it was better than anything I could have purchased, I'll tell you that.

John Deiner: Kids say the darnedest things, don't they?

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Washington, D.C.: I noticed AirTran is coming out with a new nonstop route between Portland, ME and BWI. Right now the cheapest fares are 69 each way. Should I jump on this or do you think they will have some sort of promotional fare when the route actually opens up on June 6th?

Carol Sottili: That is the promotional fare. There is no expiration date, which means it could continue indefinitely, or it could be yanked at any moment. I'd book it.

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Arlington, Va.: In an effort to keep my souvenirs as light as possible, I'm a big fan of buying jewelry to commemorate my trips abroad. I have a rosary from the Vatican, a strand of pearls from Beijing, and a beautiful mother-of-pearl star of David necklace from a synagogue in Budapest, to name a few. And none of them cost me more than $10. Some I wear, some I frame and hang in my home as artwork.

Anne McDonough: I like this. Jewelry, rugs, recipes and photos are only the souvenirs I find that work with whatever living situation you have and that I don't eventually get sick of!

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Greenbelt, MD: I was quite interested in Paula's entertaining article on the "Rock." I'm attending a meeting in St. John's at the end of May and will only have a day to see the sights. Is there one "must see" feature or location I should a make a point to visit.

Sincerely,

Jim

Paula Stone: Dear Greenbelt: It all depends on your interests. For a good overview of Newfoundland culture, art, and natural history, I would definitely go to The Rooms. If you prefer just to soak up the feeling of this beautiful city, you might explore the streets along the waterfront -- Water Street, Harbour Drive, Duckworth, George Streets; and perhaps take a self-guided historic walking tour (you can get maps from the city's tourism office). If you have a car and a full day, you can head for Bay Bulls for whale watching. Again, if you have a car and like to hike, you might enjoy going to Cape Spear or Signal Hill, both an easy drive from downtown.

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Traveling to OZ: I don't know what the wanna-be Australia traveler's situation is, but he might want to be aware that Americans under the age of 26 (last time I checked) can get a 6 month "working holiday" visa to Australia. Might free him from those time constraints!

Cindy Loose: Six months would surely give you enough time to see the highlights.

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Anonymous: People who stay they will never use a particular company again sometimes change their minds when push comes to shove down the line and higher costs are the alternative. Same thing when someone says they will not fly a certain airline, shop at a certain store, etc. Super Shuttle can survive because people do not want to spend the higher costs of cabs. Will the disgrunteld customers take another shuttle company? Which one has better service (could be a useful follow-up article)? I imagine they also have similar complaints against them. Landing at BWI, my choices were a long wait with Super Shuttle or the airport?s specific licensed cab company. Not much of a choice.

KC Summers: I would never rely on a shuttle -- am just not a very trusting soul. My first option is always to try to fly out of National so I can just take the Metro. If it has to be Dulles or BWI, if I can't get a ride to the airport from a friend or family member, I either park at the airport (cheap long-term lot) or do a park-and-fly deal at a nearby hotel. Parking at the long-term BWI lot is inevitably cheaper than taking a cab to and from Arlington. You just have to factor parking costs into the savings of flying out of those airports. And if I'm traveling with a friend, that halves the cost.

I'm very self-sufficient, but I offer to take my friends to the airport whenever I can, since they'll then return the favor for me when needed.

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Washington, DC: Did a 48 hour temple-stay at Jahgwongsah during a short trip to South Korea. Had all my preconceived notions about Buddhism and Buddhist monks blown away by how cool and approachable and funny the temple Abbot was during our 3+hour introduction/bonding session with him. Thought the frequent mediation sessions would be taxing but it ended up being quite relaxing. Our hosts smiled and laughed with us during impromptu Korean lessons during meals. The sent me off with a pretty little wooden prayer bracelet. I cherish it and smile warmly every time I look at it.

John Deiner: Wow...what a nice story. And actually, the 48-hour temple stay sounds sort of cool as well.

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washingtonpost.com: Coming and Going, (April 8, 2007)

KC Summers: Here's the original SuperShuttle item....

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washingtonpost.com: Message Center, (April 22, 2007)

KC Summers:... And the subsequent letters in Message Center. Thanks Kim!

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Wearing pack on front: I can't see that this would be a good idea. Carrying all that weight on your front is going to actually put more strain on your back (ask any pregnant or big busted woman). I find that fastening the little straps that extend from the shoulder straps(don't know what they're called) across my chest relieves pressure on my shoulders. Your back is designed to carry weight which is why for time eternal people have been carrying things/babies on their backs. Invest in a good backpack and where it on your back.

Anne McDonough: For a pack that holds all of your worldly goods while traveling, I agree with you. But I think this woman was just talking about a day pack, which is fine to shift between your back and your front.

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Best Souvenir: Before I left China four years ago, after travelling around the country for the summer, I opened up a Chinese bank account with about $6 I had left to spend. Why? I wanted one of the little red deposit books the Chinese national bank gave to all customers. I still have the deposit book now, with the deposit listed on the first line, and I keep it as an incentive to return to China some day and get my $6 back!

Anne McDonough: This is a fantastic idea; I just may copy you when I head back there.

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Souvenir from SD: The best souvenir that I have would have to be the one from the Black Hills of South Dakota. I had just graduated from high school and I remember that I thought long and hard before deciding. It is a box 4 inches by 3 inches. Inside are glued in a grid, twelve small samples of minerals from the Black Hills, identified by name.

John Deiner: Everything from South Dakota is a keeper, as far as I'm concerned.

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Layover with customs minimum time?: Similar to the earlier question about the Heathrow layover, I am wondering the minimum time one should allow for a layover to clear customs, etc. Specifically, I am considering booking a flight from Rome to DCA, via JFK, but there's only two hours between flights at JFK. This wouldn't be separate bookings, nor the last flight of the day from JFK-DCA. Worth a shot?

Cindy Loose: We wouldn't guarantee anything on a two-hour layover, but if you're plane is on time and you're not arriving to JFK at prime time---similar to rush hours on the freeway--two hours is about the ninimum. I wouldn't do that having two different tickets, but with one, I'd do it, and tell myself to be prepared to take it calmly if I missed the connection. If you have one booking, the airline will eventually take care of you if they let you buy the ticket and then couldn't get you through the connections on time.

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Souvenir from Rome: My best souvenir:

I bought a beautiful rosary for my Gramma in Nov '04 and wore it to John Paul II's mass (so, it was blessed, right?).

JPII died a few months later, and sadly my Gramma (a very devout Catholic) died 4 weeks ago. We buried her with her rosary - it was her favorite present. We're sure she is still praying for us all. (we hope so, anyway!)

John Deiner: A beautiful response, and your Gramma was lucky to have had someone as thoughtful as you in her life. Thanks for sharing it with us.

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Freising, Germany: Great article on Newfoundland. I've always been interested in Newfoundland, more so after reading the novel, "The Shipping News".

What exactly is the right pronunciation for Newfoundland. Is it new-FOUND-land (emphasis on Found) or NEWFUN-land (with new and found blurred together)?

What's the best culinary treat there and what was worse: the Flipper Pie, kissing the dead cod or the screech?

Paula Stone: Dear Freising,

I'm glad you enjoyed the Newfoundland article. Newfoundland rhymes with "understand," with the accent on the last syllable: New-found-LAND'

My favorite culinary treat was capelin, a type of small fish (variety of smelt) which is sauteed; moose soup was a second runner-up. Yup--the worst was flipper pie, but it gave me the best laughs!

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Get Me Out of Here Again: When I suggested www.farecompare.com, Cindy L. said:

"I just checked at that site today for my own purposes, wondering if they had internaitonal flights, which they don't. But somehow I didn't think of it for this reader."

Actually, the Getaway Maps feature does include international destinations as well as domestic/Canadian, with separate maps for Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, central and south America, Asia and Australasia.

Cindy Loose: It does? Thanks--I needed that. I missed that in my rush this morning and apparently gave up too soon. Will check my question right after the chat

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Arlington, VA: For the person thinking of traveling to Australia for a week, I say do it. Last year, I flew down under, spending 3 days in Sydney and 3 in Brisbane. This year, I'm going to Melbourne for 3 days and the Great Ocean Road for 3 days. The first time I went, I spent 2 weeks, but if one week is all you have, as long as you follow Cindy's advice about not trying to see too much, you should be able to get a taste of Australia.

For the person doing back to back ticketing at Heathrow, the degree of pain will depend in part on which airlines your connecting on. If your airlines happen to be in the same terminal, your connection time should be plenty, even though you will have to go through immigration and security. If you have to be bused to the Flight Connections Centre, go through immigration and security there, and then get bused to another terminal, you'll have less time but shouldn't panic. You'll probably have 45+ minutes at the departure gate. The worst case is if you're on BA arriving in Terminal 4, which is quite some distance from Terminals 1, 2, and 3. Then, time will be tight, but as long as you don't tarry and don't hit any unexpected speed bumps, you're okay. There are transfer desks in each terminal and in the Flight Connections Centre. Good luck.

Cindy Loose: Thanks; good insights.

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best one...: I bought a rug--not just any rug, but a long, huge heavy wool rug while back packing in Turkey. I bought it on the first week of a several month trip. I was so proud of my negotiating skills. I had to drink my weight in tea and sit with the rug seller for hours, but I got my rug for a steal or at least I thought! I discovered it cost more to ship home than buy! heartbroken I couldn't leave my rug. I could however leave all of my other worldly belongings. I trekked miles and miles for weeks and weeks with the rug on my back, washing out the essentials every night. It's been almost 17 years and I still have and love that rug.

Anne McDonough: A traveler after my own heart.

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Best Souvenir: I made my first visit to the Twin Cities recently and wanted to see some of the Swedish local color. My friends took me to Ingebretsen's shop/deli, and they were selling fresh (think bendy, not brittle) smoked pigs ears. I got one, kept it in my friend's freezer until I left, and my dog was never so happy to see me come home.

Anne McDonough: Now this, this is a little gross. But nice of you to think of your dog.

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washingtonpost.com: Don't Worry, Be Happy, (Oct. 19, 2003)

Cindy Loose: Here's the Turks and Caicos piece I mentioned. Provo is the most developed island, but even it isn't all that developed. It's also a rather sparse landscape--don't expect tons of tropical flowers-but the beaches and water are terrific.

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Fairfax, Va: My sister and I are planning a trip to Charleston and Savannah in October and I was looking for some things to do besides the obvious things that most tourism organizations recommend. Any suggestion?

Also, what kind of weather can we expect in early October.

Thanx

KC Summers: Sadly, our Savannah/Charleston expert, Steve "Who?" Hendrix, is no longer a participating member of the Flight Crew. But by a stroke of luck, he's making a rare special appearance in the newsroom this afternoon and is sitting next to me right now. (!!!) I asked him your question and he said Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah would be at the top of hist. Not exactly an unsung attraction, but definitely a must-do. Also, the weather in October will be beautiful.

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Philadelphia, Pa: For the passenger going through London Heathrow tomorrow, you might want to consider asking when you check in tomorrow if you're able to check your bags all the way through to your final destination. On my last flight to London my seatmate was in a similar situation, and had not checked her bags through; the flight attendant insisted that it is possible to do so and that next time that is what she should do. He said it didn't matter that these were different airlines and different flights.

But, and I must emphasize, this is just what one flight attendant said (although he was reasonably informed about other issues), and I have no idea if that actually works in practice.

Cindy Loose: I'd be surprised if one airline would do that for another unless they were code sharing a flight, but no harm asking suppose.

Having one booking on two different cooperating airlines is very different from having two separate bookings--something that should be avoided unless there are great reasons for doing so, like an extremely low fare on one leg or something.

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Souvenir; Best time to see Iceland?: My best souvenir is a pressed penny I got in a visitor center near the Dead Sea. There was a bucket of American pennies in the machine, and one would drop into place when you inserted a 5 shekel coin. So on the one side it says "Dead Sea, Israel" and on the other side remains the faint outline of the Lincoln Memorial.

And a question: I'm planning a vacation (about 12-14 days) to Iceland next year. I'd rather go in late May or early June, before the peak season (when airfare, car rental rates, and hotel rates also go up), but my Mom is coming and she'd rather go in July or early August (for no specific reason). Any thoughts?

John Deiner: You found a squished penny machine in Iceland? My wife collects those things. We'll be making flight reservations asap.

John Deiner: Oops...Screwed up here. I combined two answers. I meant that we'll be headed to the Dead Sea.

And our thinking is that cheaper is always better if the weather is okay -- and early June is evidently a nice time to see Iceland.

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Australia in one week: But millions of tourists from across the world come to the US for just a week. Maybe they just visit DC or just visit New York. So why not just visit Sydney for a week? Why would you miss out on a whole country because you'd be disappointed not to see more of it? That logic makes no sense to me.

However, I can understand not wanting to travel so far for such a short period of time, considering the time lost to travel and jet lag.

Cindy Loose: It's a really personal decision, with no right answer.

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Dictator watch: The Mao clock reminded me of the watch with the picture of Stalin on it I bought in Belarus. I was so amazed that they were still making Stalin watches (it had a quartz movement so it didn't date back to Stalin's rule) that I bought it. Haven't had the guts to wear it, though.

John Deiner: Yeah, you'd have to have nerves of steel to walk around with Stalin on your wrist, but it is a neat keepsake.

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Aer Lingus-AA codeshare: I did the Aer Lingus-American codeshare thing in January, only with a connection through Chicago (it was $100 cheaper than going through Boston). Going over was fine. We did only carryons for the IAD-ORD leg, but had to check the bags once we checked in at the Chicago AerLingus desk.

Coming back, AerLingus made me check my bag, but promised me they could tag it through to IAD. I still had to claim it at customs in Chicago, go through Customs with my bag, deposit it in the cattle-call area for passengers with connecting flights (this area was a zoo--beleagured employees attempting to scan in bag tags with malfunctioning Palm-type handheld devices.)

Then change terminals, and then re-check in at the American counter (actually it had changed to a United/USAir flight at this point). It was a huge headache. United ended up losing my bag, after I had claimed it and deposited it in the cattle-call area in Chicago. I should have just taken it up with me to the ticket agent and tried to do the carryon again. Now i know.

Carol Sottili: Thanks for the insights.

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Connecting at LHR: For the person worried about the LHR connection, ask your airline whether they have a baggage interlining agreement with the other carrier. The UK isn't as picky as the US about requiring you to carry your baggage through immigration. I through-checked baggage on BA last year going from Dulles to Edinburgh and it was no problem at all, but since the person asking today's question is on two different carriers it might not be so simple.

If you're REALLY tight on time, ask if they can put you into Fast Track through immigration.

Cindy Loose: Didn't know there was a fast track. Thanks for the great advise.

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UK airport security question: I'm heading out to Heathrow on Wednesday night, returning Sunday, and I have a question regarding airport security for the return flight. I know the Brits now allow ONE carry-on ITEM, period, meaning you can't have your regular bag and a separate small camera bag like in the US. Do you know if they'll let you carry a camera through separately if it's loose and not in a bag (that is, have it on your shoulder and then put it with your stuff to go through the x-ray)? I will be going through Fast Track in Terminal 3, if that makes any difference (I know in the past the Fast Track folks in T4 tended to be more relaxed than the screeners in the regular lines).

While I can probably just put my camera in my main bag, I don't especially want to unless I must.

Anne McDonough: Coming back via Heathrow in November, I didn't know about the only one bag rule; I had a packed camera backpack as my one item and a completely breakable, large china item as my personal item. No go, I was told. I cried, I begged, I swore. Still no go (serves me right, actually). But then I asked someone if I could wear my gear and lo and behold, I wore two cameras around my neck, stuck a flash in one pocket, extra lenses in four others, and managed to fit the china strawberry basket in the now-empty backpack. It took a while longer to get through security since I had to de-gear myself before and then gear up after, but it techincally fit the rules and they were fine with it. So, yes, you can probably wear your camera.

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Newfoundland: What exactly does screech taste like?

Paula Stone: Exactly? Well, I don't normally drink much or rum. The best way I can describe it: it's not "smooth" ride. Rather, it tasted sort of like what I imagine gasoline would taste like. And I was breathing fire through my nostrils and gasping for air. Cleaned out the sinues, for sure. Screech--'tis a good name.

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Silver Spring, Md: A favorite souvenir: a magnet from the Cook County assessor's office, picked up at Taste of Chicago. Explanation: that's where the Blues Brothers go to pay the back taxes at the end of movie, pursued by the entire law enforcement community of Illinois.

John Deiner: Oh, man. What a hoot (and what a chase scene in that flick).

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Chicago IL: On traveling to Australia -- I've been 11 times and I'm leaving tomorrow for a 16-day trip. So I agree that a 1-week trip is pretty short. But I also agree that that doesn't rule it out.

Best question to ask is how well you handle jet lag. I've gone twice for funerals, each trip only being for 4 or 5 days, and actually they were fine (well, other than the funeral part). You're in and out so fast that the trip doesn't even really catch up to you.

If you're an experienced traveler, and a weeklong vacation is the best you can do, I'd say go for it. Just like spending a week in the US could be an amazing experience, so too a week in Australia would be great.

Cindy Loose: The jet lag on these extreme time zone changes are no worse for me, usually, than the change going to Europe.

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Washington, DC: The best souvenir I've got is a little nickel sized Lenin-head pin. It's December 1995 in Sergeev Posad - outside of Moscow - and I've spent the better part OUTSIDE haggling with a vendor over the price of a lacquer box. We finally agree and as a parting gift I got the aforementioned Lenin-head. My proudest haggling moment.

John Deiner: Stalin AND Lenin keepsakes in one chat? Gotta be a first. Thanks for sharing.

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Private after hours Vatican Museums tour: Have any of ya'll done this? Was it worth 900 bucks? Being almost-alone in the Sistine Chapel sounds like one of 1000 things to do before you die... ?

Gary Lee: Unless you've got pockets the depth of Warren Buffett's or you the tour includes dinner with the Pope don't even think about it.

It is true that during regular hours there is always so much of a crowd in the Sistine Chapel that it's tough to get a good look without being jostled. Still, I personally would not pay $900 for an after hours tour. A smarter option might be to hire a great guide to do a private tour during regular hours. That should set you back no more than $200. There is so much fantastic art in the Vatican museums that most folks tend to give little more than a cursory glance. A good guide could take you through that -- and the Chapel -- and leave you with $700 to spend on dinner or other sites around Rome.

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Souvenirs: Hey, I don't think those pecking chickens are kitschy at all! I have about 10 of them, including specific ones for Christmas and St. Patrick's Day. But for $1.25, that's pretty special. We saw what hopefully is a classier version at Mount Vernon last weekend for something like $30.

John Deiner: Point taken, and thanks for helping out all the pecking-chicken lovers in the audience.

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South Riding, VA: My wife and I are planning a long weekend (4 days)in early November to celebrate our 10th anniversery. We are looking for some place we can just relax on a beach with a boat drink that's a quick plane flight from DC and won't break the bank. My sister thinks we should stay in the US so it will be easier to get back disaster strikes at home (our last 3 trips ended respectively with the furnace blowing up, a kid in the hospital and our new car getting totaled while parked in the driveway).

KC Summers: Beach, November, U.S. -- hmmm. How about Key West? It's not very beachy, but it's got that great sand-in-your-shoes ambience. Or consider San Diego, with beautiful weather year-round. If you're not wedded to the beach, also consider New Mexico or Arizona -- Santa Fe or Tucson would be great at that time of year.

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Beijing Bound: My boyfriend and I will be on the 13+ hour Dulles-Beijing flight on Saturday, and we're discussing how best to adapt to the 12-hour time difference. Any recommendations? Sleep or don't sleep on the plane? What about when we get there? Adjust gradually or just tough it out? We'll only be there a week, so it's not a permanent adjustment.

Also, have you heard anything about the status of the Olympic stadiums and such? We're hoping to get a sneak preview. Thanks!

Anne McDonough: What I've found works for me is doing whatever it takes for me to be comfortably on the plane, whether that's sleeping or staying up and watching four movies in a row, and then whatever I do, I don't go to bed before 8:30pm the day I arrive. It can be torture at first, but then you can sleep a full 12 hours, wake up at 8am local time, and be pretty much on schedule. It's worked on four trips for me.

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Front backpacks: Pick-pockets can still steal stuff from a bag carried in front-it happened to me in Spain. Person was walking very slowly in front of me while I was trying to get on a train. Once on train, I realized that my bag was open and a pre-paid phone card was missing. Money, credit cards were in a money belt under my shirt. After that I put a little lock on my bag.

Anne McDonough: Being vigilant is key; wearing your bag on your front only works so much. Thanks for the reminder.

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Wine Souvenier: I bought a bottle of Bulls Blood wine in Budapest (for approx $2), carried it back to the States in my carryon, wrapped in a robe and a plastic bag. Moved that bottle of wine between five apartments, at one point misplacing it and thinking my sister drank it. Drove it from Nebraska to Baltimore (which was four years after the original trip). One the first trip in with the things I was moving in, the bottle of wine fell and broke in the elevator. I wept.

Carol Sottili: I think it's easy to buy Bulls Blood here, although it will cost more.

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Washington, D.C.: My best-ever souvenir involved me taking a couple of needles off a bush outside the White House and having the Secret Service shout "Put down the needles and step away from the bush!!!" Then they laughed at me. I still have the needles somewhere.

John Deiner: My gut tells me to go with a political joke here, but my brain is holding me back. Great anecdote, DC.

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St.John's in Sept: Can I see icebergs/whale if I go to St. John's Labor dat weekend?

I just booked trip this morning.... I haven't had a chance to read article yet.

Thanks!

Paula Stone: Icebergs are normally seen in May, June from the northern coast of Newfoundland, not St. John's. You might see whales offshore in Sept; I'm not sure when they start migrating south again for the winter. I suggest you check with Newfoundland Tourism (listed in the Details Box), about the best season to see whales.

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Fast Track at Heathrow: Fast Track has normally been reserved for people flying on Concorde or in business/first class, or for elite members of BA and Virgin's frequent-flyer programs. But the airline, or the security folks, sometimes let people go through if you're in danger of missing your connection.

(Unlike in the US, they figure that if you pay more, you should get more. Whatta concept, huh?)

Cindy Loose: You've hit on an interesting phenominon in the U.S. People accept that some people will have bigger houses and better cars and eat in better restaurants, but airports are among those things considered public property that should be shared in a totally egalitarian way. People get really upset at the preferred traveler lines, for example. That does seem to be different in Europe.

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Arlington, Va: For the person who asked: My first trip to Australia in 1993 was a 1 weeker. I arranged it thru QANTAS vacations. It was a week in Sydney and included a harbour cruise and a visit to the aquarium in the package. Other than that I was on my own. I think if you do some research in advance you can see a fair amount. I managed to squeeze in a day trip to on a tour bus to Canberra and an Aussie Rules match at the Sydney Cricket Ground which were two things I really wanted to do. And there was plenty of time to see museums and just walk around soaking in the atmosphere. I was solo so I could do whatever I wanted to do. I've since been back to Oz for a 2-3 week trip that included a week in Melbourne which I loved. If I only had a week now I would spend it in Melbourne over Sydney. But I think with such a short trip the key is to focus on one major place. I don't regret going for just a week but if you can stretch it out all you should.

Cindy Loose: I'd pick one of the secondary cities, too. Sidney is beautiful but doesnt feel to me peculiarly Australian. More an international city that feels like other international cities.

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Alexandria, VA: On a trip to France 9 years ago, we stopped in a little town called Obernai which is south of Strasbourg. There's a store which sells barware with logos of the local brews, one of which is L'Alsacienne sans Culottes (the Alsacian girl without underpants). The glasses my husband bought are shaped like a woman's body, with the logo printed on it. What guy wouldn't love these glasses?

Anne McDonough: Takes all kinds ;)

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Rockville, Md: Hello - would really appreciate your help! Going to spend a long weekend in Montreal and Quebec - any must see or do recommendations? Thank you!

Cindy Loose: Quebec is one of my favorite cities; I've asked for a link to the last story I did there. If you're doing both Montreal and Quebec on one long weekend, then you'll find plenty to do without leaving the Old City, and given your time limitations I'd suggest you'd be best off doing so, with maybe a stroll up the main street outside the walls. See if you can catch lunch in the parliment building---like visiting Capitol Hill and having lunch in the Senate cafeteria. Otherwise, stroll and enjoy. If you love art you could head outside the old city for the art museum, but if that's not a particular love, just enjoy strolling along the river and the streets.

KC Summers: In Montreal, my favorite thing to do was what I love to do in just about any city: hang out in the old town and drink wine and coffee at sidewalk cafes. I had some great little dinners in Old Montreal, at places I found just by strolling around. Also loved shopping in Sherbrook, the Museum of Fine Arts, Mount Royal Park (designed by Frederick Law Olmsted of Central Park fame)with amazing views of the city, and Notre Dame.

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washingtonpost.com: Quebec City, Inside and Out, (July 23, 2006)

KC Summers: And here's a helpful story for the Quebec-bound.

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Alexandria, Va.: My favorite souvenir isn't actually something from my travels. My grandmother was quite the traveller in her day, and she collected the most amazing sterling silver charms to make bracelets for my mother. Some of these charms are amazingly intricate, nothing like the cheap stuff you'd find today. Grandma is still around but my mom has passed on, and now I own the bracelets -- and my grandma's wanderlust!

John Deiner: Let's end on an uplifting note, shall we?

As always, thanks for the great job, gang. You should all go out and buy something you don't need as a reward.

As for the junque from NASA, I'm giving it to our above friend in Alexandria for sharing the tale of her Grandmother's charms. And just because I'm in a giving mood, I'm sending a surprise something-or-other to the person who has the Mao alarm clock with the vibration problem. Both of you should send your name/address to me at deinerj@washpost.com.

And the rest of you? Watch our section this week for a story on Jamestown's plantations and May Day in Helsinki.

Happy travels....

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