Talk About Travel

Places you'd take a return trip to, Atlantic City diversions, Caribbean spots for first-time islanders, Tokyo must-sees, Paris day trips and more.

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

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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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Scott Vogel: Afternoon, everyone. It's World Series week, and even the Flight Crew's getting into the act. Whether you're a fan of roaming or rambling, the Red Sox or the Rockies, feel free to hurl your meanest curveball queries (indeed any travel-related questions on your mind) and we'll do our best to hit'em out of the park. On deck for your chatting pleasure is a full slate of Flight Crew members both veteran and rookie, as well as Kristin Harrison, the writer of yesterday's timely tip sheet on how to make holiday traveling less painful.

It may be the balmiest, most August-like of October afternoons; nevertheless, we're feeling a certain longing for days gone by. Hence today's question: Everyone has a place in their past. You know the place we mean, the one where you had the proverbial time of your life (even if you wouldn't have called it that then), the place your mind returns to whenever you find yourself thinking how much things have changed. So then, after an absence of years, you actually go back and what? Tell us, in brief, how successful (or not) your trips down memory lane have been. The best, most vivid, most nostalgia-dripping response wins a handsome "365 Days in China" calendar, featuring a full-color photograph for every day in 2008.

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Silver Spring, MD: Hi,

I have a flight out of National around Thanksgiving, and will be gone about a week.

Is there any off-site parking, (hotels, lots)anywhere that won't cost as much as the flight. Thank you.

EW

Kristin Harrison: Hi Silver Spring,

Unfortunately, there aren't many options at National. Your cheapest bet is to leave your car at home and take the Metro directly to the airport. If there's spot available (check at http://www.metwashairports.com/reagan/parking_transportation_4/parking_2), economy parking is a fairly reasonable $10/day. You can also book nearby hotel/parking deals at parksleepfly.com, but this option is more expensive than economy parking.

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Ziploc bags and 3 oz. bottles: Are the liquid rules for air travel still being enforced?

I was traveling this week, and very carefully transferred all my liquids into 3oz-or-less bottles and placed them into my one-quart ziploc bag. I then forgot to take the bag out of my carry-on before it went through the x-ray machine. Didn't hear a peep from the TSA agents.

On the way home, I remembered to pull the bag out of my carry-on, but forgot to transfer my lipstick and eye drops from my purse to the ziploc bag. Once again, not a peep from the TSA agents.

If they're not going to enforce the rule, what's the point in having it?

Carol Sottili: Regs haven't changed, but the same exact thing happened to me two weeks ago when I flew to St. Louis. I forgot to take my bag with liquids out of my carry-on, and nothing. My guess is that the agents can see that the toiletries are no larger than three ounces, so they let it go through to save time. That's the positive explanation.

Even stranger was that my husband had packed a router in his carry-on luggage, which has lots of suspicious looking wires, and nothing. Maybe they know what routers look like, too.

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Key West: Enjoyed your feature on Key West yesterday; however, you missed mentioning one of the BEST ways to get to the island (not to mention cheapest). Get a cheap flight to Fort Myers or Miami and take the Key West Shuttle, a high-speed boat (with bar and casino) that will drop you off at Flagler Station on the island just a few hours after departure. www.Keywestshuttle.com.

Scott Vogel: Thanks for the suggestion!

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Arlington, VA: Back in 1976, I was on a tour of Israel when our bus reached the Sea of Galilee where a bunch of Baptists from Tennessee were getting rebaptized in the waters. As they came up, they shouted their salvation and the rest of the flock yelled Hallelujah. After the second baptism, we tourists joined in during the Hallelujahs. It was a moment of sharing the happiness of other people and fellow tourists. It always reminds me of the joy of the unexplected event.

Scott Vogel:"the joy of the unexpected event" -- sounds like the very definition of a great travel experience.

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Russian visas?: How complicated/expensive is it, really, to get a Russian visa? We just booked a cruise with an overnight in St. Petersburg, and the cruise line makes the process sound like the Cold War never ended. You need a Russian tour company to sponsor you? AND a Visa processing company? AND it's expensive and takes forever?

Or is this just the cruise line pumping up the degree of difficulty so we'll buy the really expensive shore excursions?

Gary Lee: I just got one a couple of weeks back. It is not that hard if you stick to the script.

Go to the website of the Russian embassy in the US and take a look at the items required. Besides the usual -- passport photo, etc -- they ask that you submit a letter from a travel agency or hotel sponsoring your trip. You have to get that from the appropriate organization there and sometimes they charge a special fee for it. Otherwise, there are a number of questions on the application that seem unneccesary -- ie where you went to college, etc. Again, just stick to the script.

A tourist visa costs US $100.

They say it takes 7-10 to process the application but in case they reject the application the first time and you have to resubmit, I suggest submitting the application as soon as possible. You do not need to go to a visa processing company. You can do all this yourself. If you live near DC, do it in person. If not, send it in by mail.

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Central Cal: You can go back: As a kid, we had a trailer house parked at a place called Morro Bay in Cal; a picturesque coastal town complete with a giant rock that guarded the bay. The lack of water up until a few years ago kept out growth. But they're not making anymore coast, so the waterfront, buildings and town are at least recognizable. And if you close your eyes halfway, it's not much of a stretch to be back, 40 years ago. And the golf course is still there... along with the fishing boats and the cries of the seagulls.

Scott Vogel: Love the mental picture you create -- thanks!

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20910 - plane drop from Phoenix: Hi Travel Crew!

My sister was flying from Phoenix to Philadelphia on Saturday. An hour or so into the flight, the plane descended quickly. The oxygen masks dropped. The plane dropped altitude, but because the plane was so low the oxygen masks were not needed. Instead of continuing on with the flight, the plane turned around and went back to Phoenix. The entire (round) trip took 3 hours. Eventually, the plane was cleared to fly again, but my sister rescheduled on another flight because she was going to miss her connection in Philly. My sister received no compensation for all this hassle but a $5 coupon for lunch at the airport (which did not cover much, as she's pregnant and eating a lot). Does she have a right to some form of compensation (i.e., $100 off next trip) for her troubles because the problem seemed to be mechanical, not weather-related? She flew US Airways. If yes, who should she contact?

Thanks for your advice!

Carol Sottili: Wow. That sounds like a harrowing trip. I just read through US Airways contract of carriage (the legal agreement that you enter into when you buy a ticket on that airline), and a food coupon is about all you'd get in this situation. I'd still write a letter to US Airways customer service (go to www.usairways.com for contact info) explaining the situation - perhaps they'll feel badly for her and send a voucher. But I wouldn't count on it.

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Puerto Vallarta Thanksgiving: Hey Crew, while I appreciate you publishing my question about what to do in PV over Thanksgiving in yesterday's paper, your answer didn't help me much! I can't adjust my travel plans at all, even for a gourmet food festival. We've already booked the resort and my husband's birthday is on Thanksgiving. Does anyone have suggestions for tours, adventures, restaurants, things to avoid, etc? Thanks!

Cindy Loose: I did a canopy tour just outside Puerto Vallarta that was fun. (I took my daugther and I'm an overprotective mom, then again, I make no guarantees about safety.) I enjoyed driving north up the coast, through the mountains and past lots of fruit stands. (I spent the night at Playa de las Tortugas, where there is a turtle rescue mission and you can volunteer to help at night, and it seems you have overnight plans already made, but I've seen tour buses going that way from PV)

There are also bus tours that direction, and day long tours to Guadalajara. Otherwise there are all manor of water sports, ATV rides, horseback riding in PV.

I've been twice but spent most of my time outside PV itself, so don't know restaurants. Can anyone else help on that?

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Virginia: Seriously,

we were looking at Moscow for the week after Christmas.

Is that just silly?

thank you

Gary Lee: No, not at all.

It will probably be cold and there will be snow on the ground. But Moscow is one of the few cities I know that looks prettier and more romantic covered with snow.

Also, since the Russians who do celebrate Chrismas tend to do so in January (according, I think to the Orthodox calender) most everything is open as usual during the last week in December.

I say: po-shlee -- go for it!

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Silver Spring, Md.: Hello,

I'm flying out of Dulles on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Is there a way to check on the available of Daily parking before I leave for the airport? Are there private lots that are a reasonable option? I love the ESP lot at BWI, does Dulles have something similar?

Kristin Harrison: Hi Silver Spring,

Unlike National, Dulles doesn't have an online parking space monitor. However, you can get info through the radio (AM 530) when approaching the airport about parking availability. There's not an ESP equivalent at Dulles. But remember you can take the Metro to the West Falls Church stop and connect with the Washington Flyer bus (washfly.com; $9 one-way, $16 round-trip) to avoid parking all together.

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Central Cal: Crew Gurus: I am planning for a week in Amsterdam. Looking for reasonable day trips by train. Is Brussels too far? Any suggestions? I have never been to this part of Europe. Or would anyone vote for Prague instead?

Christina Talcott: That sounds like so much fun! Brussels is definitely doable for a day trip, though it'll be a busy one... Take an early morning Thalys train to Brussels - about 2.5 or 3 hours - and hop on a late evening one back to Amsterdam. Go to Thalys.com for schedules and prices.

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Alexandria, VA: Hi, any info/ideas for what to do in Atlantic City besides gambling? Friends and I are going for a wedding in the area, staying at the Tropicana. Getting there Friday afternoon/evening, will probably hit the casinos that night. Hoping for something different/interesting to do Saturday in the daytime. This is cheesy, but is there anything Monopoly related? Wasn't that Atlantic City? Thanks!

John Deiner: Hey, Al.

There's a lot of shopping in AC now, from the big outlet mall that greets you when you cross over the bridge to the new high-end mall across from Caesars on the boardwalk. The outlet area is actually really nice -- if you dig looking for bargains, you can kill a lot of time there.

There are some fun displays on the city's history at the free Atlantic City Historical Museum on the boardwalk. If you don't mind driving, I'd consider heading south and checking out Lucy the Margate Elephant -- even if you don't go inside, it's worth it just for the kitsch factor. There are also wineries in the region, and Historic Smithville, just outside town, is a neat place to eat, drink and shop. Check out www.smithvillenj.com. And I'm a big fan of the Forsythe Wildlife Refuge, across the bay from AC -- a perfect way to get some peace and quiet before you head into the casinos.

As far as Monopoly-related attractions go . . . good question. I'm not aware of any, but, gee, there should be. Anyone know for certain?

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Silver Spring, MD: Okay.... so my wife and I can't get off work early and have to drive up to north Jersey either Wed night or Thanksgiving morning. What do you suggest is the best way to go? We were thinking of hitting the sack early Wed. night and leaving at like 2 or 3 am Thursday morning for the drive. Are we being extreme or is that really the best way to do it?

Kristin Harrison: Hi Silver Spring,

I don't think the wee hours of the morning are necessary. On Wed. night, you'll miss most of the traffic if you wait to leave until after 9pm. Or, hit the road around 5 or 6 am on Turkey Day. Traffic.com is a great source to find out what the routes look like before you head out. (You can also call for free to get updates once you're on the road.)

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Falls Church,VA: help me, Crew! Could you please recommend a good Caribbean island for first-timers to the Caribbean? I realize I am already late, but we want to go from Christmas to New Years eve this year (our anniversary is on 30th). We want great beaches,good snorkeling, less kids around and have a moderate budget. Any advice will be highly appreciated! Am worried the water might not be warm enough on some islands.

KC Summers: There are a lot of options out there that would fit the bill, FC. My current favorite island is St. John -- the snorkeling and beaches are fabulous, there's a great range of restaurants and cuisine, lodging options range from luxury digs to tent camping, and the vibe is just really nice. You aren't going to find any bargains during Christmas week, though. You'd have a lot more lodging options on Puerto Rico (a really underrated island, in my opinion --it's not all glitzy high-rises with casinos). Both of these have the advantage of being U.S. territories, too. Another really easy island for first-timers is Grand Cayman, again with gorgeous beaches.

If cost is a consideration, you might want to approach this from a package angle. You can save quite a bit of money using package deals or all-inclusive resorts. Check out our special Caribbean issue this Sunday, when we take a look at three all-inclusives and tell how to find them.

Any other thoughts on Caribbean islands for first-timers?

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Washington, DC: Short version: I have two and a half days total to see Toyko. What are the can't miss attractions/activities?

Long version: I'm going to Japan for a close friend's wedding this weekend (I even have to give a speech). I'm a teacher, so I can't take very much time off, and I'm only going for six days total, including travel days (yes, I know I'm crazy, especially since my first day back at school is Halloween!). I want to see and do as much as possible while I'm there, and will have Friday afternoon/evening, all day Saturday and Monday, and maybe Sunday night after the wedding. Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: What I loved most about Tokyo was walking around the neighborhoods and just get swept up in the masses--and crazy culture. For example, wander around Ginza, Shinjuku and Shibuya and you will sights equal to anything you'll find in a museum (especially fashion-wise). However, don't overlook such landmarks as the Tsukiji Fish Market (go early or you will only see fish bones), Sensoji Temple, Tokyo National Museum, Edo-Toyko Museum, Lennon Musuem, the Imperial Palace, the Sony Building and Ueno Park. At night, go out for sushi and udon noodle soup, followed by a karaoke bar.

Plan B: Luxuriate at an onsen, or hot springs spa, such as Oedo-Onsen Monogatari, which is open nearly 24/7.

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Arlington, Va: Hi Flight Crew,

We have a wedding to attend in Dallas, Texas in March 08, what is a good time to buy airline tickets? If we wait closer to the date will it be cheaper or is it less expensive to buy in well advance? Also, what is driving like in downtown Dallas, will we need a car or is it easy to get from the airport to downtown where we are staying? We have some activities planned with the wedding party, but what is a Dallas "must see" for travelers? Any input would be appreciated, we're trying to figure out if it's worth it to stick around and sightsee after the event.

Gary Lee: American Airlines, which has a hub in Dallas, offers special fares between DC and the big D frequently. Just keep checking and when you find one, go for it.

You can get to the city from the airport easily enough by Blue Van or taxi. But if you want to do any getting around, you should rent a car. It's not a walking city.

The one attraction I would suggest is the Six Floor Museum, created in the book depository where Oswald hid out to shoot JFK in '63. It's very well done.

Anyone else have Dallas ideas?

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Falls Church, Va: Cabins in Blue Ridge/Shenandoah

I know there are cabins in Shenandoah park, but if we were interested in a private cabin somewhere more obscure are there web sites or something that might help find them? Especially something on the river?

And an even more minutia-oriented question; any sense of the hiking is better in the north or the south of the park?

thanks

Christina Talcott: I've had luck finding cabins on virginiaisforlovers.com, which has accommodations searchable by type and location. As for hiking, Weekend ran a story about hiking trails just this past Friday; the link's coming up.

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Baltimore, MD: My mother-in-law is coming to visit us. She's pretty

together, but is a bit elderly--and this will be her first time

flying alone. Given that she has no special medical needs, is

there any way I can get some sort of pass so that I can meet

her at her gate at BWI? She doesn't need a wheelchair or

anything, and doesn't suffer from any kind of demetia--she's

just unused to flying alone, and I'd feel better if I could help

her get her luggage, etc.

KC Summers: Check with your airline, Balto, but generally speaking the answer is yes. I've done this at both BWI and Dulles -- the airline (Southwest and JetBlue in my case) gives you a special pass that lets you go through security without a ticket and lets you deliver and/or meet your passenger at the gate. Just call them ahead of time to give them a heads up.

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washingtonpost.com: Shenandoah sleeps

Scott Vogel: here's a link regarding Shenandoah cabins.

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Woodbridge VA: Hi--I am looking for a mountain cabin vacation for our family which includes children ages eight, ten and thirteen. It should be no more than two days drive, but ideally one. The cabin should be nice with amenities, not rustic at all. The locale should be wooded mountains with beautiful scenery, maybe with water nearby. We would like to hike, bike, maybe horseback ride, and drive to nearby historic sites or shopping or attractions. Also thinking about "family camps" I have heard about with planned activities. Any recommendations? Thanks...Lisa

Christina Talcott: Hi Woodbridge, check out my answer to Falls Church about cabins, and Kim's posting a link to the VA site. You can also find cabin rentals at a lot of state parks, including Maryland and West Virginia.

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Columbia, MD: I asked this question late in the chat last week, and the peanut gallery didn't have a response, and you all were not sure either.

We are starting to do some preliminary honeymoon planning and would LOVE to go to Bora Bora. Our travel agent brought up Club Med on Bora Bora, however the reviews I have read have been mixed. The reviews say the place is old, and the ammenities are only fair, however it is still Bora Bora. Would you happen to have any more information?

We are also looking into St. Lucia or one of the Carribean Islands that is not a typical destination (i.e. Aruba, Jamaica, Bahamas, D.R.).

Andrea Sachs: We have no info on Club Med Bora Bora, except I have heard that Club Meds as a whole are getting a bit tired and haggard these days. Best to rely on visitor review sites, where people are pretty candid.

For the Caribbean, I am a big fan of Grenada (the island smells like a spice rack) and Mustique (very exclusive!).

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Arlington, VA: My friend and I (30 yr old women) are looking for an international trip that combines service with relaxing (ie help build houses for 3 days, then lie on a beach for 3 days)....Cindy's trip to Thailand is along the lines we're looking for if we could add in some volunteering.

Any companies/websites that combine this for us?

Cindy Loose: That's a tough one--most voluntourism trips overseas require more than three days. You could surf around sites like globalvolunteers.org or voluntourism.org, but I doubt you'll find organized trips that allow you to volunteer for such a short time. Later I'll be writing a story about volunteer opportunities in areas still recovering from the tsunami, but those require a committment of two or three weeks. Three days sounds almost like somehting you'd have to research and arrange yourselves---if you belong to any religious organizations maybe they could connect you to some project overseas, but I'm not terribly optimistic. Problem is that organizations need to get you set up and trained and that could take a day or two, and you're practically gone.

Does anyone out there have better ideas than do I?

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Washington, DC: Growing up ,we had this favorite place for onion rings on Cape Cod - on the beach. It has since changed names/ownership but they still make the best onion rings ever. Lightly battered, stringy, topped with a little salt. It's like eating the beach debris, in a good way.

Scott Vogel: yeah, what's the deal with Cape Cod and onion rings? I have a similar palatal memory!

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My Trip to Darwin, Australia in October 1978: My ship pulled into port and I was anxious to have a visit. When the sailors ahead of me walked up the pier, I held back. They disappeared over the ridge and I stood up and hitchhiked in the opposite direction.

A car picked me up and the next 2 days were a whirlwind. My benefactors, Mick and his girlfriend Robin, were interested in showing an American sailor a great time:

We drove to the the outback spotting kangaroos,

We flew a small plane to an island off the coast and had a beer with the owner of the island (the beer came out of a small refrigerator that was attached to a gas generator).

We drove a jeep up the beach to a shipwrecked freighter, and later, when we returned, I picked coconuts from trees.

The next day, we went to a shipyard to sit on a moored sailboat and watch the sunbathers on the other sailboats, and when we went to a beach for a swim, I protested, "but I don't have a bathing suit!"

That evening, we went to the Olympic Cafe in Darwin, where I had the best Cordon Bleu in my life!

Last year, I met an old navy Buddy. His wife wass from darwin. I talked about the spectacular meal I had at the Olympic Cafe, and she said: Cordon Bleu!

Definately spectacular!

Scott Vogel: Kangaroos and cordon bleu -- who could ask for anything more?

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Emergency Row : English-Speaking Only?: I noticed something interesting on my JetBlue flight last night from Boston to Dulles. As a convenience for passengers seated in the exit row JetBlue had placed helpful stickers on the tray table with pictures and explanations summarizing what actions to take in an emergency. The odd thing, however, is that the instructions were in both English and Spanish.

Just to be sure, I read the passenger briefing card which cited FAA regulations requiring exit row passengers to be able to "read, speak and understand English". Still curious, I asked the flight attendant who told me that that was odd, but he had no idea why the instructions were bilingual.

Does make any sense? I guess this makes sense if the exit row passenger was incapacitated and someone with no ability to English had to step in to assist, but why not put this in Korean, French and German too?

Carol Sottili: I believe that FAA rules require those who sit in exit row seats to undertand English or the predominant language of the flight crew. So if the flight crew all spoke Spanish, they might allow a Spanish-speaking person to sit in the exit row, but I don't think that's the situation with JetBlue. Perhaps the company that makes the stickers also makes them for a Latin American airline.

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Best time of Life: To anser your question, my place would be Barton Springs in Austin, TX... or perhaps all of Austin. I was in college, and well for those of you that don't know about Barton Springs, it's a beautiful natural aquifier(?, not sure if its a correct description)that the city uses as a pool. I remember swimming there and you get this appreciation of nature, and a sense of calm and freedom. Whenever I swam there I always felt I was somewhere exotic, but it was my own "backyard" so to speak.

Scott Vogel: Wow, haven't thought of Barton Springs in quite a while. It was a roadtrip staple when I was growing up in Texas.

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Washington, DC: I am probably one of the rarer readers to enjoy the 2nd trip to my "proverbial" location better than the first...

When I was 19 and a broke undergrad studying in Europe, my boyfriend's extremely wealthy family took us on a dream trip to Paris - we're talking Hotel de Crillon, chauffered service all over town, shopping trips to Hermes and Gucci. I thought I would never take such a wonderful trip for the rest of my life. Fast forward 6 years, now a (less) broke grad student, my new boyfriend (now fiancee) and I took a trip to Paris, and I was sure my previous time there would overshadow our experience. We stayed in a tiny room (with shared bath) rather than a 5 star hotel, ate crepes rather than fancy meals, but I can honestly say my second time back with the love of my life (who proposed on the trip) all but made me forget that first trip.

Scott Vogel: I think there's a lesson in this for all of us. :-)

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Paris-bound!!: Hey Crew! I'm really hoping you'll be able to post this today, as I didnt get an answer last week....I am going to Paris for a week with 3 girlfriends in April. We want to explore Paris but also get out of the city and take a few day trips via bus to surrounding areas (we will not have our own transporation, so a bus or train is imperative). Do you or any chatters have suggestions on day trips we could take outside of the city? We are up for anything....wineries, historical locations, scenic tours, etc. Thank you so much for your help!!!

Gary Lee: April in Paris! Life doesn't get much better. For first time visitors, I recommend the following day trips:

1) Versailles. It has a spectacular garden and wonderful art. And you can get there by RER (rapid rail) in about 20 minutes from the center of Paris.

2) Giverny. Home of a specular Monet musuem, it's about 45 minutes by bus from central Paris.

3) Chartres -- around an hour by train. This is small well preserved town with one of the oldest and most beautiful set of stained glass windows in Europe. Nice for walking and lunch.

4) A day trip to the World War II sites in Normandy. Paris Vision, a tour company has a day long bus trip that leaves the city at around 7 am, takes you to Omaha beach, etc and gets you back for dinner.

Anyone else with day trip ideas for Paris?

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Nostalgia on Memory Lane: For me it's Ocean Park, Maine. Tiny town sandwiched between Portland and Saco. Just south of the grease and carnival of Old Orchard, just north of the Saco Bay. My great-grandfather built a house there in the late 1880s as the town was founded as a Chatauqua-By-the-Sea community, and ran the town's restaurant during the summer. (In the winter, he ran a catering company in Massachusetts-- in the summer, he'd move the whole company and staff to the beach; they lived above the restaurant.) My grandmother spent every summer there growing up, as did my Mom, as I did. It's two blocks to the beach from that house (down in the pine groves), but everything's a short walk away: the ice cream shoppe, the tiny library. You can imagine the Victorian-era folks promenading on the broad sidewalks. We still go up every summer, subletting my great-grandfather's house back from the current owners. I love that house-- still has the original claw-foot bathtub upstairs.

Scott Vogel: I must say, I'm pleasantly surprised at how many return trips have been happy ones...

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Cabins:

I have rented a number of cabins in VA at this site, but it is also good for other states as well.

http://www.vrbo.com/

Christina Talcott: I'll take a look at that one next time. Thanks!

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McLean Va: What is the traveller do in the situation where one reserves an economy car over the internet and gets a mini-van at the airport rental counter? I am increasingly experiencing this problem--in fact I have stopped renting from Enterprise because of consistent bait and switch rentals.

John Deiner: Hey, McLean. Good one. Turns out that a number of us here in Travel Central can relate to this question.

Rare is the day that I actually get the economy-size car I request, but, that said, I've never once had to pay a dime more for the upgrade. Just a few months ago a group of four of us asked for a mid-size at booking, got a minivan when we arrived at the airport. We didn't want a minivan, but it's all they had so we took it and drove off -- and actually really liked the extra room.

So I'm not quite sure what the question is: Have you been asked to pay more for the larger vehicle? I don't think you should ever be asked to pay more for a car you didn't ask for. Or do you just not want the hassle of a larger car -- or paying extra for gas for a larger car? Those are both perfectly legitimate gripes, mind you.

I'm thinking the only things you can do is either wait for a smaller car to come in and be prepared for you, but that could take serious time. Or go around to other spots at the airport and try to find a smaller car, but that could be a lot more expensive since you're renting on the spot.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

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Fairfax, Va: Which Caribbean island has the best water temperature towards New Years eve? My husband and I are looking to book a vacation from 'mas to New Years this year, and knowing that we are already late, any suggestions to get a cheap deal are welcome! Thanks so much.

Cindy Loose: I think you'll find the Caribbean plenty warm anywhere you go. (The water around the Bahamas are too chilly to swim for my tastes that time of year, and I remember running into some disappointed peole for whom the pool overlooking the water wasn't fulfilling their expectations.)

Sorry, but I can't imagine a cheap deal for the Caribbean over the holiday week, which if very popular, and prices can be double non-peak times. So, I'd start by searching the islands that tend to be cheaper, either because of the competition among airlines or cheap labor. I'd start with Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cancun area, maybe Jamaica. Check out packages, perhaps with a travel agent. Good luck.

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Harrisburg, Pa: for the dallas wedding folks-- GO TO FORTWORTH--it's a much more interesting city than Dallas. that old west feel is what Texas is about--not the 'big city-ness' of Dallas.

Fortworth has the Stockyards area, just north of downtown....with a rodeo, Western shops, and Billy Bob's honky tonk. Lot's of great restaurants and plenty of fun stuff to do.

Gary Lee: Fort Worth is interesting scene and one that is reachable easily by rail from downtown Dallas. Besides the Old West aura, there are several major museums worth a trip all their own.

But Dallas sights including for example the Nasher Sculpture Gallery -- are well worth it.

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Pittsburgh, Pa: Spent first two nights of our honeymoon in Carmel (were impoverished college students in California at the time, so could only afford a few days' drive along the central California ), in the cheapest room at a plain motel in a quiet residential neighborhood only a block from the beach. Fast forward to our 20th anniversary. We went back to Carmel, and discovered that the motel had been turned into an upscale B&B -- and we stayed in the nicest room in the place, complete with fireplace, so romantic! Zoning laws have prevented any further commercial construction in the neighborhood, but this place's permit was grandfathered, so it's a real gem now, and of course the beach is still as nice as ever.

Scott Vogel: Thank goodness for zoning...

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Central Cal: for Puerto Vallarta eateries: Outside of Mexico City, you won't find a more varied array in Mexico than PV. Too many to mention, but I will recommend for fun lunch upstairs at the Mercado. Authentic, cheap and you get Pepsis in a tall 16oz bottle. Restorante Panorama for upscale bay view, go at sunset when the pirate boat attacks.

There is a tapas bar (appetizers) up the hill from the Rosita Hotel. Don't forget to get a 70 min massage for 30 bucks off the beach in Zona Romantic. Oops, The Palapa for on sand dining.

Scott Vogel: Another suggestion for those bound to Puerto Vallarta.

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don't torture us!: Am trying to book my all-inclusive honeymoon tonight - if you can't tell us the ones you liked so as not to outscoop yourselves can you at least tell us which islands you liked? or which resorts to avoid?

Carol Sottili: I'll throw this one out there to our readers. But I'll also get the link for a story I did about honeymoons, inlcuding all-inclusive choices.

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

Scott Vogel: re: the above Puerto Rico question.

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Washington, DC: If you were trying to create a getaway for the first or second week of December (2 people- no specific days) for a few hundred dollars per person, where would you go? Bonus if it involves some sort of wintertime activity, but absolutely not needed. Unfortunately I'm so stuck in Thanksgiving planning that I can't seem to get past the idea part to start planning the getaway to give us some time.

Kristin Harrison: Known as the "dead weeks" in the travel industry, these two weeks of Dec. can be great times to travel without crowds or holiday insanity. If you want a romantic winter getaway, The Balsams (www.thebalsams.com) in New Hampshire's White Mountains offers a B&B experience as well as on-site skiing, snowshoeing, etc.

Any other suggestions out there?

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Arlington, VA: when it comes to visas there can be no easier process Cambodia. I completed my e-visa application on Saturday and received my visa by .pdf a few hours later. All you need is a digital passport style photo and $25. Fill out their simple form online and voila. I get to skip the line of tourists getting their visas at the airport. A very simple and satisfying process. If a small poor country like Cambodia can implement this sort of system you have to wonder why big rich countries can't manage it.

Scott Vogel: Interesting insight. Thanks!

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washingtonpost.com: The Something New, Resources, (May 21, 2006)

Scott Vogel: Further to the honeymoon question.

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PV at thanksgiving: Head into Tequila for some distillery tours and delicious sampling.

Take a day trip over to Pizota or Yelapa and snorkel, eat ceviche, and relax on the beach. Two fishing villages that as of a few years ago were only accessible by boat or horseback.

Wow, maybe I would like thanksgiving more if it involved ceviche and tequila instead of turkey and football...

Scott Vogel: Still more Puerto Vallarta ideas...

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Arlington, VA: The Amsterdam day-tripper should consider some shorter trips to the smaller cities in the Netherlands. I took a day trip to Haarlem that I really enjoyed a few years ago. I went on a Saturday and they had a big market set up in the square next to the cathedral. I wandered around the cathedral and happened to be there during choir practice so it sounded lovely. It was fun to walk around town and see the little city museum and the river. Holland is full of those sorts of towns. The train ticket was cheap and I think the ride was about 20 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal Station.

Christina Talcott: That's a great idea. Thanks for the suggestion! Especially since Amsterdam can be so touristy, getting out into the countryside would be a great way to see another side of Holland.

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Foggy Bottom, Washington, DC: Re: Train trips from Amsterdam. Instead of taking a train to Brussels, which is quite far, consider a closer trip to Delft, or the Hague. Both are attractive small-ish towns and within an hour of Amsterdam. Delft, of course, is known for its pottery and has lovely churches, old architecture, etc, and there is a lovely museum in the Hague called the Mauritzhuis. (Sp?) Have lots of fun--the Netherlands are beautiful!

Scott Vogel: Another suggestion for the Amsterdam bound.

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Washington, DC: I have 6 nights in Puerto Rico and wondering whether I should stay in San Juan or if I really should make more of an effort to see more of the island. I'm not super outdoorsy and a really poor swimmer. I did really enjoy parasailing, but when on vacation I normally see some of the sights, do a bit of shopping and love trying out the food. Any suggestions?

KC Summers: With six days, Wash, you can do both. I'd give San Juan at least two or three days, especially to explore Old San Juan, which has lots of great restaurants, historical sites like El Morro, galleries, museums, world-class shopping, great litle streets to wander around in. True, no beaches, but your hotel can run you out to the suburbs easily enough. Or, you can stay in one of the close-in beachy neighborhoods like Isla Verde and taxi into the Old Town for nighttime fun.

Then use your other three or four days to explore. It's well worth it and you've got some great choices -- the island of Vieques with its bioluminescent bay (or leave from the town of Fajardo, south of S.J.), El Junque rainforest, the west coast with its more laid-back beaches. We'll post a link to our recent opus where four of us roamed the island and had so much fun we didn't want to come back.

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Deep Valley, USA: Florence, Italy is my special spot. Went there first as a 13-year-old accompanying my grandmother on her trip to Israel and Europe. This was before the big Arno flood of the mid-60s. Even my cranky grandmother and my adolescent self were floored by the art and the architecture. Picture one Jewish grandmother gaping at the statue of David and more than a few crucifixion paintings.

Came back 35 years later, at last. With the love of my life, who made even better company than my grandmother. Much more magical the second time around.

Scott Vogel: Another good story where the present wins over the past.

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Ballston, VA: We are thinking about going to Finland for Christmas, possibly as a honeymoon! Do you have any hotel/B&B, restaurant, fun things to do recommendations and tips that go beyond the travel guides? We will try almost anything! Thanks.

Cindy Loose: I went to Finland a few years ago for Christmas, and while I enjoyed it, I didn't feel like I loved it sooo much that I'd want to repeat it. One downside--there is so little light that time of year. If felt like dusk by noon, and dark by two. So go expecting that, and also knowing that the Nazi's destroyed a lot of the old stuff so while Helsinki is a beautiful old city, you shouldn't be expecting to see lots of charming old villages.

On the other hand maybe you'll see the aurora borealis. Also, the snow-covered trees are beautiful and I had a really wonderful day in the forest on a snowmobile. I will post the story, as I remember well the very cozy place I stayed and enjoyed a lot, but name isn't coming to me at the moment.

One more thing--while you can find excellent restaurants in Helsinki, Finnish food generally in my opinion is not to write home about, and like Scandanavia generally, is rather expensive for anyone spending dollars.

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Silver Spring, Md: Hi Travel Crew!

I am headed to Santiago Chile for work Thanksgiving week, and I'm thinking of staying a few extra days. I've heard that you can take a 3 or 4 day cruise, which sounds great. Has any of the crew done this? What would you do with 4-5 days in Chile?

Thanks!!

Gary Lee: I have not been on the cruise and so can't speak to it. However, I can strongly recommend a couple of day excursions you can do from Santiago.

1) Chilean wine country. There are tours, arrangeable from your hotel -- of the wine regions near Santiago. Tour the vineyards, have lunch, learn about Chilean wine -- it will be worth it.

2) Head North to San Pedro in the Atacama desert. The desert here is spectacular area and San Pedro, although heavily touristed, has lots of charm to it.

3) Go to Isla Negra, where the poet Pablo Neruda is buried. In all, the hourlong bus trip, tour of Neruda's home and trip back will take the better half of a day.

Anyone else have Chile ideas?

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Oslo, Norway: Hi! I booked a cheap flight to Oslo on a whim, and now I have no idea what to do when I get there! Any suggestions? Also, how cold will it be over there in mid November... and how expensive?

Thanks!!

Andrea Sachs: Love the spontaneous trip! Unfortunately, I have never been to Oslo--anyone have any recommendations for Norway's capital?--but I can tell you that Oslo recently ranked as the most expensive country in the world. However, you won't have to sell any plasma to afford your trip. Stay at such at such inexpensive lodges as Tulip Astora or in the suburbs, such as Frogner. Also pick up the tourism office's Streetwise Guide, which lists cheap eats, free tours, etc.

In November, temps average 24 to 33 degrees. Pretty chilly, so bring the arctic wear.

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DC, by way of Austin: Happy to report I have the same feelings about Barton Springs, so I hope that means it hasn't changed much over time!

Scott Vogel: Certainly looks the same from the Web site: www.bseacd.org.

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Re Tokyo visit: For the Tokyo-bound teacher: when I was in Tokyo several years ago, all the museums were closed on Mondays. You should check to see whether this is still true and plan accordingly if so.

Andrea Sachs: Good tip. Thanks!

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washingtonpost.com: In Lapland, Finding Santa at the Source, (Dec. 25, 2005)

Cindy Loose: Here's the story, and don't get me wrong, it was very exciting to see Santa on his reindeer, and I remember very vividly the night of carols on the ice, and the aborted attempt to sleep in an igloo. Just want to make sure you know the downsides.

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Reston, VA: Taking a week-long trip to Disney World the week before Christmas, then traveling to SF for the holidays. In the interest of maintaining my sanity and wallet (one parent, 6 year old at the magic kingdom), I thought I'd rent a condo/home in Orlando near the park, rather than shell out $350+ to stay in the park itself at a convenient hotel with suites. Hoping to spread the "disney magic" out over a week, with shorter days punctuated by a local/private pool!

Anyone done that before? What should I look out for? Web sites to check out, please??

John Deiner: Hey, Reston. You can actually spend a lot less than $350 a night at any number of suite hotels outside the Disney gates -- and they'll make your beds for you. We did a big feature on cheapo lodgings a few years ago, but if you want a bit of an upgrade, there's a bunch of hotels that offer rooms with full kitchens and pools (though remember it can get mighty chilly down there in December). I'd go to hotels.com or the Orlando tourism site (orlandoinfo.com) and check around.

And the week before Christmas is actually a great time to go: It's just before the Christmas week rush, so the place will be dead and the prices will be very low.

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If you think getting a Russian visa is bad. . . :. . . trying getting a visa to visit the US. We make it just as difficult for Russians to tour the US.

Gary Lee: Of course. In fact, they probably make it tough for us just for that reason.

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Bowie, MD: I am hoping to take a trip to Slovenia in the next 12-24 months. I had an idea to fly to one of the main London airports, stay a day in London, and then fly one of the cheap airlines (RyanAir, I think) out of London-Luton to Ljubljana the next day (and do the same one day London stop-over on the return flight).

I've never flown to Europe before, so I don't know if this is this even a reasonable approach. Should I just suck it up and book one of the 2- or 3-stop flights from here to Ljubljana on one of the major carriers instead?

Carol Sottili: I don't know that you'd save any money. Easyjet is the only discount airline that flies between London and Ljubljana, and it appears there is only one flight per day that costs about $106 round trip (I checked March travel) if booked far enough in advance. The return flight doesn't get in until 10:30 p.m., so you'd have to stay the night in London. Plus the flights operate out of London Stansted, so you'd have to get from Heathrow to Stansted. Do your search on Kayak.com. I came up with several $900 or so priced round-trip flights with only one connection.

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Forced minivan: Oh yeah - I've had it happen at least a couple of times. Latest was at Vegas, where Dollar had one of those 'pick a car in your designated spot' programs. Trouble is, no econo cars. As the guy says 'we're out right now but...' I interrupt with 'you're not going to tell me all you have is a minivan, right?' He shoots me an understanding look, points me to a SUV and says 'run to it and claim it as yours, quick, before anyone else finds out all we have are minivans'

Worked out that time, but I agree that it's a real problem, at least with two companies (Dollar for me, and Enterprise, according to the earlier poster)

Scott Vogel: Another tale of woe with regard to rental cars.

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Princeton NJ: A bittersweet but loveley return...I spent every summer of my youth going from New York State to stay with my grandparents in beautiful Ludington Michigan..on the lake 100 miles north of Grand Rapids..sand dunes.etc..just an idyllic setting for a young boy...had not been back since I was 18 but brought my mother home for her final resting whne I was 53...my wife came along and as we turned off the highway into town it looked like anywhere USA but as we got into the downtown it was remarkably the same...and my wife got to share some of the fondest memories of my long ago childhood..including taking out my mother's 84 year old cousin Betty for dinner (who the bartenders at the harborside restaurant called out to by name)..

Scott Vogel: I like cousin Betty already!

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Frederick, Md: Greetings all! Taking a Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska in June. I've cruised before, but the sticker shock for the shore excursions this time around is debilitating. We're a family of four (two adults and two teens) and nearly everything costs $100 pp and up.

My question is, can these be booked directly with the tour outfits, or is it safer to do it through the cruise line?

Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: You can definitely save money by booking directly through a local tour outfitter and bypassing the cruise shore excursion desk. Just do some research first to be sure the company is reputable (are they approved by the tourism office, for example?) and has competitive prices. Also, be sure the excursion times work with your port time. You'd hate for the ship to sail off without your family still onshore.

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Puertogiving: Papaya #3 is a great little "vegetarian" place in PV. My wife and I have eaten there numerous times. Oddly, they serve chicken and the refritos tasted suspiciously and delciously of pork fat.

They have the best liquados I have ever had and there tostadas are excellent. Delicious food and very cheap prices.

Scott Vogel: Here's another PV restaurant suggestion.

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Money money money: I just returned from Lisbon and was surprised to find that my Suntrust ATM card (which has worked in Kenya and South Africa) was rejected by machines in Portugal. Luckily, I'd brought some dollars, but in an additional wrinkle, banks there don't change money for non-customers; you have to go to "cambios" (which are frankly pretty sketchy and have an awful rate).

So I'm going to Florence next month. Do you think I'm going to have the same problems? I plan on bringing a lot of cash because we can't use credit for our hotel, but I wonder if I should bring a lot extra in case of ATM issues.

(To make things even harder, I live in a part of Africa where I cannot get travelers' checks or any of those cool temporary ATM cards my traveling companion from the States brought.)

I appreciate any insight you can give!

Cindy Loose: I just finished some research on the rare but real problems people have now and again using credit cards, but I've not run into the problem of ATMs not working--if there's an issue, it's usually fees involved. I take it you were unable to find anyone in Portugal to figure out what the problem was? I'm thinking that maybe Suntrust wasn't part of a larger network and maybe you need a different bank's ATM. Can Suntrust perhaps explain?

Does this ring any bells for anyone else?

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Little Rock, Ark: Favorite 'memory' place - my college town in north Georgia. Loved the winters, the snow, the people - and the Chinese food at this 'authentic' restaurant that had been there since the 1940s - and was being run by a gay couple, one of whom dressed in drag in a kimono and served in the dining room, usually just giving out free mocktails he'd made at the bar. Best General Tso's chicken ever.

Went back there with my sweetie last year - place was torn down. It had gorgeous carvings all over, inside and out - and a jade, koi pond, letters from visitors from the time it opened.... hope they saved some of it.

Scott Vogel: Interesting -- wonder what happened to the place?

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Silver Spring, MD: Do you have any suggestions on where to stay in Gettysburg, PA? I haven't been to the battlefield in years and would like to plan a weekend trip with my girlfriend and maybe some friends. We would be looking to stay near or in the town, but not anywhere extremely expensive. I know all of the activities that go on there in the summer, but I was hoping to go sometime soon, do they still have tours and everything else during the offseason in the winter? Anything else you can suggest would be great, good place to eat, good tours etc. Thanks!

KC Summers: Our ex-staffer Steve Hendrix did a nice Gettysburg story last spring -- we'll post a link. It's a story about the town as opposed to the battlefield. For where to stay, he recommended the Best Western Gettysburg Hotel (1 Lincoln Square, 800-528-1234, www.gettysburg-hotel.com) and the James Gettys Hotel(27 Chambersburg St., 888-900-5275, www.jamesgettyshotel.com). There are also a number of B&Bs downtown, including the Brafferton Inn(44 York St., 866-337-3423, www.brafferton.com), in a 1786 stone house (the town's oldest continuous residence).

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Reston, VA: Our family has a tradition: when the kids turn 10, they are allowed to pick a destination (usually of their first international trip, but not always) anywhere in the world for a birthday-year trip. I grew up in the Philippines, and my choice when I turned 10: Hong Kong. No big deal b/c of proximity, but to me it represented my mother's luxurious "shopping trips" when she would come home laden with goodies. I wasn't impressed by the silks, or jade or gold jewelry, mind you--but what I know knew were knockoff polo shirts and denim jeans...the kind made by machine, not by the local seamstress! That, and all the Sanrio artifacts huge for young girls then.

Well, my own daughter turned 10 this year and guess what--she chose Hong Kong (I think with some prodding from grandma). We went over the summer, and I started out the trip a little annoyed at the heat, noise and overcrowding. A couple of days in, to beat the heat, we headed Kowloon-side early, and my daughter squealed with delight when she saw an entire storefront with--Hello Kitty! And "designer" denim! I laughed so hard, that day made my trip. We spent the rest of the trip eating fish balls-on-a-stick from local street vendors, as I had when I was a kid, and otherwise seeing that amazing city through the eyes of a 10 year old, not a jaded, overtired, 30-something.

Scott Vogel: Where would we be without our kids? Or denim?

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Washington, DC: Any tips for planning a 10-14 day trip to Ethiopia? I'd like to spend a few days in Adis, see the Rock Churches and perhaps a Jewish community.

KC Summers: We've got just the article for you, Wash -- freelancer John Auchard visited Ethiopia last year and wrote a terrific piece. Link coming up.

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Herndon, Va: Cindy,

Great article about Thailand yesterday! My wife and I are heading there in December and are looking for something adventerous to do while in Phuket. You mentioned in your article about the family who took the speedboat with the accompanying lunch on their way to the Elephant Huts. Do you know the company that does that? Anything else you'd recommend in/around Phuket? Thanks!

Cindy Loose: If I understand correctly you want to take the speed boat without taking the trip to Elephant Hills, right? That shouldn't be a problem--there are lots of boats of all sorts leaving from Phuket docks. I took a slow ferry to the Phi Phi Islands but there is a speed boat there, and to other places. You and probably arrange that when you arrive, but if you're a good scout and want to plan ahead, start at www.phuket-boat.com and

phuketdir.com/pktislandhopper/index.htm

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washingtonpost.com: Into Ethiopian Air, (April 3, 2005)

KC Summers: For the Addis Ababa-bound.

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Annandale, VA: I just returned from a week in Savannah and Charleston and have to report that I had the best experience I have ever had traveling out of Dulles and checking luggage. Granted, I traveled mid-week (Wed-Wed)and I took advantage of United's Easy Checkin online so I only had to stand in a very short line to check my luggage. I allowed the requisite 2 hours to get through everything, and I had about an hour and 45 minutes left by the time I was at Terminal A. On my return trip, for the first time ever at Dulles, my luggage was waiting for me on the carousel when I got to baggage claim. I guess the solution is to travel at off times and days, and then checked luggage works.

Kristin Harrison: Annandale, you hit the mark. Travel off-peak (when no one else wants to) and the experience often improves significantly!

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Lorton, VA: If you had 4 free days in El Paso, TX, what would you do? This can involve cheap flights out of ELP or a 4-6 hour drive also, as I've already spent 4 weeks there this year. Just for this next trip, I can't justify the cost (to the boss) to fly home for what would end up being 2 days home.

Gary Lee: Hey, Lorton, sounds like you've been in El Paso enough to write a guidebook of your own.

In the evening, I would say, eat heartily!

It's been a while since I was there, but in my recollection the area has an unusually good restaurant scene, including a mix of Tex-Mex, Mexican and European places.

As for excursions in the area, I'd suggest a salley across the border into Jaurez. Although it's not the world's prettiest city, it offers some very nice shopping options.

If you'd like to stay on US soil, my colleague John Deiner suggests driving to Carlsbad Caverns, around six miles away. The caves there are worth the trip, he says.

Anyone else have tips for that area?

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New York, NY: Hi- Why in the world do some hotels charge outrageous deposits? The Four Seasons Maui requires a two night deposit and the Four Seasons Hualalai (Big Island) charges a three night deposit. Not to mention they have 21 and 28 day cancellation policies. What's up with that? Thanks!!

Carol Sottili: So they put a hold against your credit card equivalent to the value of a three-day stay? Is that for any length stay? Four Seasons, and more than a few other hotel chains, now have very strict cancellation policies. They're going to ding you big time if you change your mind. Four Seasons will take your entire deposit if you cancel within 21 days at the Maui property, for example.

Hotels are all embracing the airline pricing models. Like airlines, they have a product that has no value if it is not sold on that day. So they want to stop customers from making reservations and then not showing up.

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Rental Car Size Issues: Someone in McLean asked: "What is the traveller do in the situation where one reserves an economy car over the internet and gets a mini-van at the airport rental counter?"

You mentioned just going along with the vehicle they make available (and an "upgrade" like that should be at the original price) but when I've been told an SUV or similar is the only thing left on the lot I refuse to take it.

Since I'm usually traveling alone or with just one other person I tell the agent or the agent's supervisor that I have a reservation for a particular type of car, that the car they are offering me is unacceptable and if they can't give me something closer to the economy car I've reserved they can "walk" me to another company that does have smaller cars and then pay any difference in the rental rate since it was their inventory error that required me to go elsewhere.

Remember that the bigger cars get worse gas mileage -- no small issue if you're doing a lot of driving. As someone who usually drives a small car, there's also the safety issue of having a lot more metal sticking out in front and behind, so there's a real risk of being in a fender bender because you're at the wheel of something larger than you're used to driving.

I recall reading (Wall St. Journal, if you don't mind a mention of the competition) that this is a growing problem for car rental companies because they've built their fleets around more profitable larger cars but more and more people are reserving and demanding smaller cars -- the rental companies don't have enough and the car manufacturers aren't interested in selling those popular smaller models to rental agencies at a discount when the car makers can retail them at a higher markup.

John Deiner: Good stuff. I should note that was the only time I've ever gotten an involuntary upgrade to a minivan, but I like your method as well. Has your method worked every time?

I have to be honest though: After a long flight, I just want my car. Unless they wanted to put me in a Hummer, not sure I'd have the patience to be walked around to other agencies and start a whole new rental agreement, even if the company was paying the difference.

Interesting point about the smaller fleets, and the rental companies shouldn't be renting cars they don't have, but if driving a mid-size instead of an economy is going to get me to the Days Inn faster, I'm almost always going to opt for the mid-size.

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washingtonpost.com: Putting the Burg in Gettysburg (March 22, 2006)

KC Summers: And here's Steve's nice piece on the town of Gettysburg.

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Emergency Row Follow-up: For what it's worth, we were on an E190 and the stickers had JetBlue printed all over them. This just seems like one of those times when you print instructions only in English so that people don't get the idea that not speaking English is OK. This is an FAA rule and the safety briefing card clearly states English, not the language of the flight crew.

Carol Sottili: I couldn't find the exact wording of the rule on the FAA site, but several other sites said "or language of the flight crew." If you have the link to the exact FAA language, send it along.

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Chantilly, VA: For the person looking for hotel suites outside the park, check-out the Mariott Vacation club resorts. They are great resorts with pools all in a resort setting. They usually have studio through 3 bedroom villas. We stayed at a two bedroom villa a couple of years back for about $200 per night in the off-season - I believe it was called Marriott Grande Vista.

John Deiner: Thanks, Chantilly. Good stuff, and the money you save by not having to eat out all the time probably makes up for the extra money you'll pay for a nicer hotel suite.

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Emergency Row: English-Speaking Only?: On an NAA charter a few years ago between Boston and the Azores, a Portuguese-speaking elderly woman was mistakenly seated in the emergency row. (I assume the assignment was made at check-in). During boarding, a flight attendant discovered the mistake while checking to ascertain that all the passengers seated at the emergency exits were in fact fluent in English. The attendant spoke French and Italian but no Portuguese, so since I was seated nearby, I volunteered to (try to) interpret between the attendant and the Lusophone-only woman. Eventually, with the aid of another more bilingual (English/Portuguese) passenger seated nearby, we were able to make the woman understand why she had to switch seats with someone (me) fluent in English. She wasn't happy about relinquishing her seat, though everyone was basically polite, but it was a hassle, and proves that such slip-ups can occur.

Carol Sottili: Flight attendants are usually pretty strict about enforcing the exit row rules.

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Harrisburg, Pa.: My greatest trip down memory lane was returning over 30 years to the town where I had gone to elementary school. I had always remembered vividly the building and playgound and was glad to find the building still standing, even though converted into offices, and the playground while no longer there, it had not been developed and was still a park. I remember walking down the halls and recalling the classrooms. It was nice, because while the building had been converted, all the structures remained the same and each room brought back memories as I could recall what went where. I understand the building has since been torn down, so I glad I had one last chance to see it.

Scott Vogel: A trip down memory lane just in the nick of time...

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Washington D.C.: Hey there.. thanks for taking my question. My boyfriend and I would like to plan a trip to Italy in Spring 2008. He is a teacher so we'd most likely be going around mid march, when spring break hits. We're both in our mid-twenties and would therefore like to keep the trip on the less expensive side. I've never been to Europe.. he's only been once. Any suggestions as we begin to research the flights/hotels? Is it better to go through an agent? Are we nuts for going at a time when everything seems overly expensive? Any help would be appreciated as we are about to start planning very soon. Thanks!

Christina Talcott: Italy in the springtime should have fewer tourists, lower prices and at least the possibility of good weather. You can find tickets for as little as $422, according to farecompare.com, though with a teacher's limited flexibility, you may have to pay more to leave when it's convenient for him. As for where to go, leaf through a guidebook to see what you HAVE to see, and decide whether you want to hit several different cities (I wouldn't recommend more than three in a week) or stay in just one. Then look up train schedules online and discuss where you want to stay - cheap hotels, hostels, guest houses (Lonely Planet and Let's Go are great for cheap lodging info). If you make an effort to not eat every meal at restaurants (buy bread, cheese and fruit for picnics), that'll cut down on your expenses and leave you more euros for museums and such.

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Day Trips From Paris: My girlfriends and I did a similar trip to Paris last April and our favorite day was the one we spent in Giverny and Vernon (the nearby town that you take the train into). If you are in moderate shape I would suggest renting bikes from the cafe across from the train station and biking there it takes 30-45 minutes at a moderate pace and you get to stop and see things like churches and 17th century mills and cows in a field along the way. And in April the weather is FANTASTIC!

Gary Lee: Great first hand report, thanks.

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Springfield, VA: The person who asked about day trips from Amsterdam to Brussels spurred me to ask about Bruges - - I was actually thinking of flying into Amsterdam then spending a few days in Bruges and flying out of there, but it seems that the major carriers (well, United is the one where I've got miles) doesn't fly in or out of Bruges. Is this a tiny airport?

Andrea Sachs: Compared to worldwide airports, Bruges is pretty teeny, with only 146,355 passengers flying in or out of there in 2006. Also, looking at their flight schedule, it seems Jetair and Thomas Cook are the big carriers/charters.

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Anonymous: Hello.

I am looking for a mountain cabin vacation for our family which includes children ages eight, ten and thirteen. It should be no more than two days drive, but ideally one. The cabin should be nice with amenities, not rustic at all. The locale should be wooded mountains with beautiful scenery, maybe with water nearby. We would like to hike, bike, maybe horseback ride, and drive to nearby historic sites or shopping or attractions. Also thinking about "family camps" I have heard about with planned activities. Any recommendations? Thanks--Lisa

Carol Sottili: I can't think of a cabin vacation that fits this bill, but you may want to look into one of the great camp lodges in the Adirondacks. Sagamore.org is one choice.

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Scott Vogel: Thanks to all you chatters for a fast, informative hour. And the winner of today's contest is the Reston chatter with a penchant for Hong Kong. If you e-mail me (vogelsi@washpost.com) I'll get your calendar to you right away.

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