Your "Flight Crew," sitting from left: Christina Talcott, Andrea Sachs, Cindy Loose. Standing from left: Scott Vogel, K. C. Summers, John Deiner and Carol Sottili. (Julia Ewan -- TWP)

The Post's Travel Section Flight Crew takes 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 theentire Flight Crew, we want to thank you for flying with us.

A transcript follows.

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

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Scott Vogel: Hi, everybody. It's the season for gift-giving, and travelers, of course, aren't immune to December's pressures. Luckily, there are lots of new gifts out there for the globetrotter in your life, many of the best ones selected by our own Andrea Sachs and Christina Talcott for yesterday's Travel gift guide. They'll both be joining us for today's chat, along with regulars K.C. Summers, John Deiner, Cindy Loose and Carol Sottili, all of whom are ready to gift you with travel knowledge on a wealth of subjects.

Which reminds me. Maybe I'm crazy, but isn't this also the season for something else: bad travel advice? While preparing for various trips, I've heard everything from "don't worry, everyone in France will love the chance to speak English" to "the traffic should have totally cleared by 7" to "get a cabin in the middle of the ship and you'll never get cruise nausea again." Ad so, today's question: what is the worst travel advice you've ever received and what were the consequences? The recipient of the worst advice about anything -- where to go, when to go, how to get there, how to prepare -- and who's lived to tell about it will win a fantastic book, "Transit Maps of the World." It's a coffee table-friendly, full color guide to bus and subway stations from Budapest to Bangkok, and would make a great gift (assuming you'll be able to part with it).

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Washington, D.C.: Some years after it was done away with, why are some pilots still enforcing the "sit for the last thirty minutes of flight" rule into DCA? I know you're going to say it doesn't happen but it happened last year coming in from JFK when a flight attendant claimed the rule was optional and then, last night, from captain an hour late due to a front windshield that wouldn't heat up.

KC Summers: We're not going to say it doesn't happen -- we know it does because we hear about it on this chat! And I'll tell you what we tell other chatters, which is that you're basically out of luck. Even though you're right and they're wrong, the pilot still gets to say what goes on his aircraft.

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Washington, D.C.: Do you know how far in advance airlines sell tickets? And do you think it would be cheaper to fly to London in the beginning or end of December? We're planning on visiting relatives next year, and they'd like to see us close to the holidays - and possibly over New Years. We have to be here in the states for Christmas, but are open to travel before or after, and are wondering when we should start looking for seats. Finally, I've seen recent British Air sales for about $500 or $600 r/t to Heathrow - do they ever go that low in December? Thanks!

Carol Sottili: Most airlines sell tickets 332 days out. I'd start looking for tickets as soon as you know your dates. $500 air sales to London are not very common, unless you're talking about that as the base fare, before taxes (often $150 and up). And December is usually more expensive than latter half of January and February. If you see anything around $600 that includes taxes, buy.

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Silver Spring, Md.: My wife plans to attend a medical conference in Bangkok early next December (we are planning way ahead). We would like to go to Nepal before or afterwards, but air fares from Bangkok to Kathmandu and back are high, plus, we realize, we would need to travel beyond Kathmandu to see much (I was in the country for a short trek 25 years ago). Any suggestions on packages? Her air fare to Bangkok will be paid for (mine, no). Alternative would be Vietnam, probably around Hanoi (we have been to Ho Chi Minh City on our way to Cambodia).

Cindy Loose: Before making plans for Nepal be sure to read the State Department's warning at www.travel.state.gov. Then again, a friend's son just returned from there in one piece. Then again, it wouldn't be my first choice right now.

In case Silver Spring reads the warning and still decides to go, can anyone recommend a package?

As to alternatives. You meniton you've already been to Hanoi on the way to Cambodia, but did you tour around there? The countryside is great, including Ha Lon Bay, and Hoi An and Dalat and elsewhere. Have you already done the Thai countryside, including mountains?

Let us know if Nepal is still on the table, and if not, give us some details about what kind of travel you're anticipating--city, country, high end, budget, well developed tourist attractions or local color.

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Frederick, Md.: My husband, son and I will be traveling to San Diego in January for a business trip of mine. It is our first time to the city. We will have a Friday afternoon free as a family and are looking for something fun and cheap to do. My son will be 3 months old, so something baby friendly and not too long-winded would be best. Any suggestions?

Christina Talcott: If you're looking for something cheap, you can't get any cheaper than free, so why not visit the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park? It's a recreation of old San Diego from the 1820-70s, with a Mexican pueblo, the offices of the first San Diego newspaper, burros, music and restaurants. The visitors center and exhibits are open daily from 10 to 5, and if you can get to the park by 2, you can join a free tour of the grounds. Anyone have other SD suggestions?

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Washington, D.C.: I was just looking at the Mandarin Oriental's website and it says in the fine print of the special offers "all rates subject to 14.5 percent tax and gratuity." Does that mean the hotel puts a gratuity on your bill? I've never seen that before.

Cindy Loose: It's not unusual for a resort to impose a mandatory gratuity, but I've never noticed that for a hotel, either. Anyone else?

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washingtonpost.com: Puerto Rico Punch, The Washington Post, February 26, 2006

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washingtonpost.com: Old Town San Diego Park

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Worst travel tip: From several (go figure!) people who told me that despite my motion sickness, I'd be fine in a small helicopter because they're smooth. How it turned out: Took a (very nice and really would recommend) helicopter ride from Vegas to the Grand Canyon in October. Was somewhat queasy on the way there (40 min); was literally fantasizing about the barf bag and sweating profusely on the way bag. I psyched myself into having compassion for the other passengers should they have to endure me using it.

I actually did make it, but had to rest at the chopper departure lounge with water and a cold compress.

Hubby got great pictures of the scenery, though!

Scott Vogel: As a fellow motion sickness sufferer, you have my deepest sympathies.

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Rockville, Md.: I am planning to return home to Maryland from Atlantic City, N.J. on December 24th. What do you expect I will face on Route 95S on this day? Any specific areas that I should avoid - i.e., Delaware Memorial Bridge??? Thank you!

John Deiner: Hey, Rock. To the best of my knowledge, Christmas Eve is not the traffic nightmare that good ol' Thanksgiving Eve can be (correct if I'm wrong, guys).

Two spots to be aware of, though, include the major construction zones in Delaware and near the White Marsh Mall in Maryland. Even if there's not construction taking place, jersey walls freak drivers out (this one included). Plus, Delaware and that toll plaza is always a stinker. EZPass always helps.

The Post's Metro section did a great graphic recently telling motorists how to avoid Delaware and I-95 in general when you're driving up north. Take a peek at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2007/11/18/GR2007111800277.html.

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Arlington, Va.: I got some paperwork about a court settlement concerning international credit card and ATM fees in the mail over the weekend. I counted up my overseas travel days during that time period and came up with over 300 days; sorry, I don't have 10 years worth of CC statements to back up a more detialed claim. Any idea how they'll calculate this? Should I submit the 300+ days or just ask for the $25 and be happy with something?

Cindy Loose: I got that too and am checking into the nitty gritty for an item in the next coming and going column. Meanwhile, all I know is at www.http://www.ccfsettlement.com/

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New Haven, Conn.: Hey Crew!

I am looking to head to Ireland for a week or so in May. Doing it with as much economic restraint as possible - staying with friends, family of friends, etc. So far, browsing through airfares from NY to Dublin I am finding prices ranging from $475 (without taxes and fees) on up. Two questions: Any chance that prices might go down slightly? Or, would it be cheaper to piece together a flight on a mainstream airline to somewhere in Europe and then jump on one of the Euro econo-airlines to the Emerald Isle?

Carol Sottili: I'd wait for a bit and track the sales on Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com). It often offers good deals from JFK, although May is not the cheapest month to travel. You won't save money flying to another city and then going on to Ireland.

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Worst travel advice?: Probably not the worst ever, but bad enough -- listening to friends who told us not to book in advance when going to Edinburgh in August (which happens to be the big Festival, how stupid could we be) and just be spontaneous. We ended up staying two hours away by train and thought ourselves lucky to get in on a single day during festival.

Scott Vogel: Ouch -- and these are friends, right? Well, at least you caught part of the fest...

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College Park, Md.: Three girls have nine days for spring break in March, $1000 each to spend. Where should we go? (Not too into clubbing/bars, definitely somewhere warm, would like to leave the country and visit somewhere exotic.)

Andrea Sachs: To avoid the usual College Kids Gone Wild scene, you should stay away from all-inclusives in the Bahamas and Dominican Republic and Mexican resort towns like Cabo and Acapulco. Instead, look for package deals to smaller Caribbean islands like Turks and Caicos, the Caymans or St. John's. For a grand you might also get as far as Central America, perhaps Belize or Costa Rica, though I am not sure your budget would last for a full nine days.

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Alexandria, Va.: This isn't the worse travel advice, but the worse advice while traveling. We were in Orkney staying about a five minute stroll from the Highland Park Distillery. Much as New Yorkers never visit the Statue of Liberty or Philadelphians shun the Liberty Bell, the barman at the hotel told us not to bother with Highland Park because "it's cr*p." Only after we returned to the South (mainland Scotland) did we learn that it's about the highest rated malt whisky around and we could have bought highly sought after single barrel cask strength whisky at the distillery.

Scott Vogel: Yup, that's another thing: people are always trying to get us to avoid the obvious, forgetting why they became obvious in the first place.

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Detroit, Mich.: Bad advice: take the overnight trans-oceanic flight so you can sleep on the plane and arrive rested! May work for some people, but everyone I know agrees that it's impossible to sleep in such laughable conditions, and then you arrive tired instead of refreshed. Oh, and be sure to have the fish for dinner. Yikes!

Scott Vogel: Always amazes me how some people can sleep anywhere. I'm in your camp.

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San Juan, Puerto Rico: Posting early because of a meeting, but really wanted to get some advice about visiting Puerto Rico. A girlfriend and I just booked a last minute trip to San Juan and haven't had a chance to do any research. We're staying at the El Convento and I'd love to get suggestions on what to do on the island and where to eat, shop, drink. We're there for four days.

Thanks!!!

KC Summers: Ooh, you're staying at one of my favorite hotels in the world! I love the antique-filled rooms, the atmospheric bar, the gorgeous dining atrium, the wonderful long open-air hallways, the wine-and-cheese reception on the terrace each evening... You may not want to leave it, but there's tons to do nearby. Old San Juan is a great walking-around city, with fabulous shopping, galleries, museums, cafes and restaurants -- plus El Morro, the 16th-century Spanish fort, beautiful old cathedrals, etc. So you could easily amuse yourself in San Juan alone. But save time to explore the outer neighborhoods like Santurce (great modern art museum and down-home restaurants) and maybe an overnight on Vieques, with its famous bioluminescent bay (about $175 round trip flight from San Juan).

Other suggestions from the chatters?

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Rockville, Md.: I'm now searching for travel insurance for a cruise to Alaska. Do you recommend any insurer over the others? Particularly interested in coverage for cancellation of the trip due to illness since I will be 81 at that time. Travel agent does offer coverage for about $450. Thank you.

Carol Sottili: Go to any of sites and compare insurance policies:

www.insuremytrip.com or www.quotewright.com or www.squaremouth.com

Make sure that the policy you buy covers pre-existing conditions if you have any ongoing medical issues.

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Single traveler: As a fellow singleton, I found your response to the guy inquiring about places that don't have a surcharge for single travelers obnoxious. His question didn't really warrant a "the first thing to ask yourself is whether you are single by choice or default" response. What's wrong with just responding something like, "if you don't mind sharing accommodations with strangers, here's what you can do" and "if you want a room to yourself, here are tips on how to beat the surcharge"?

There are plenty of reasons one could be traveling alone, and even if you're not traveling alone, you could be traveling with a platonic friend. Your response just seemed to play up to the whole, "only couples allowed" mentality in which the tourism industry entrenched. Boo to you.

Scott Vogel: Well, sorry if I offended. The intent was to separate those who enjoy traveling in pairs from those who prefer to travel singly -- whatever the reason -- and go from there. It's a big topic and I think it deserves larger treatment in the future.

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Alexandria, Va.: Am going to be in London for a week next March. Since I've already been to London numerous times, I thought I might take advantage of the cheap airfares to Europe, and book a short stay of 2-3 days to another country. Caveat:I've already been to Paris. Any recommendations?

Cindy Loose: You've got lots of options; given the short time I'd stick with non-stop flights. The options are so large you need to tell us a little more---you prefer big cities or more towns and countryside? Do other parts of the UK interest you, like say Dublin, which would be a very quick flight. Given it's March would you rather head south to increase odds of an early spring-like day, or doesn't that matter?

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Washington, D.C.: Worst travel advice: I was in Budapest for a month and wanted to go to Prague for a weekend. Everyone told me, "Just go. You can worry about a hostel when you get there - just walk up to them and they always have room." Wrong! I took an overnight train (which I couldn't sleep on) and finally got to the recommended hostel. It was full. It was on a street of hostels - they were all full. Finally, I found an empty room in a ... I don't know what it was, but it was empty. So, I slept there, but had no money to pay for the room so had to leave my passport while I found an ATM. My rule now - always have somewhere to stay the first night!

Scott Vogel: Attention potential Prague travelers...

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Arlington, Va.: Hi, Flight Crew!

I'm back from my weeklong vacation to Rome and wanted to pass along some observations and advice to fellow travelers.

First, taking the train from the airport to Termini station was easy, including buying a ticket at an automated machine. Took a cab from Termini to my hotel near Piazza Barberini, as I didn't want to deal with lots of stairs to get to the Metro platform.

Second, the great hall at the Baths of Diocletian has been closed for renovations for the past two years. Didn't know that because neither of the guidebooks I have (Eyewitness Travel and TimeOut) mentioned it.

Third, for the morbidly curious, check out the bone designs in the crypt rooms at Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini.

Fourth, there's a reason why the NY Times, Time Out, and several other publications say that San Crispino has the best gelato in Rome and, arguably, in the world. Their location at Via della Panetteria 42 is a couple of streets over from the Trevi Fountain.

Fifth, definitely get a Roma Pass, which includes a Metro pass (for all subway and bus for 3 days), free museum entry for your first 2 participating museums and sites, and then discounted admission to all others over those 3 days.

Sixth, dining out is more expensive in Rome than it is in Paris, so be prepared.

Seventh, bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes. Metro line B got me to the Colosseum, and Metro line A to the Vatican and Castel Sant'Angelo, but otherwise I was walking everywhere.

Eighth, if you want to see the excavations under St. Peter's Basilica, email the Vatican's excavations office at couple of weeks or more before your trip for the 1 1/2 hour guided tour. I'd highly recommend it on the day you go to the Vatican.

Ninth, Romans don't speak English as well as Parisians do, so you will have more of a language barrier. This from someone who studied Italian for a year and Spanish for 12 years.

Tenth, the week after Thanksgiving was a great time to visit Rome, weather-wise and crowd-wise. Highs every day were close to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, with only one really rainy day (the day I went to the Vatican), and two drizzly/showery mornings. I was able to get right into an English-language guided tour of the Vatican museums and of the Colosseum. The only line I really had, and it was for less than 5 minutes, was to get into the Capitoline museums, and that was because they did security like they do when you go to the Capitol building in DC.

KC Summers: Hey Arl, thanks much for the tips. Great stuff. I wish I had pre-requested that St. Peter's excavation tour when I went. Also, good point about the timing -- the off season is the best.

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Arlington, Va.: Nepal in December? The chatter considering going to Bangkok and Nepal might want to consider the big weather difference between those two places. I would expect Nepal will be cold (and snowy?) in December while Bangkok, while being more temperate than say August, will still be hot. Do you really want to have to pack for two very different climates in one trip?

Cindy Loose: That's another thought to consider, although they could be wearing their coats and boots when they leave Va.

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Md.: Worst travel advice: Rent a house in the middle of Costa Rica as a base point for your week's adventures.

Result: the house had bedbugs and "everything" was 60-90 miles, but 4 hours away. We only stayed one night and spent the rest of the trip driving around and finding hotels. Plus, it was with my in-laws!

Second worst: Don't overplan

Result: Three couples sitting around the breakfast table saying "What do you want to do today?" and "I don't know, what do you want to do?" Repeat at lunch and dinner.

Lesson from it all: When getting the whole family together for a trip, a cruise is the way to go.

Scott Vogel: ahahaha -- except for the part about the bed bugs, of course.

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Air Travel, USA: Has the state of air travel in the US finally turned a corner? In the two week period around Thanksgiving, my husband and I traveled on six flights, one international. All were on time or early. One gave us free drinks for no reason (Delta) and another gave us a free upgrade to business class (Airtran). Service was uniformly professional, courteous and just downright pleasant. Kudos to the air industry!

KC Summers: Boy, you must be living right. Based on our email, letters, phone calls etc, I'd have to say you're in the distinct minority. Or am I wrong, chatters?

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Rockville, Md.: My bad travel advice experience came when I was told a mule ride down into the Grand Canyon was a 'can't miss' experience. Here's what happened: all the mules are supposed to follow in a line and remain calm as along as they can see the mule in front of them. My mule decided to go the wrong way on a switchback, panicked, and started galloping along the narrow trail to catch up. I'm not sure who flipped out more on the precipice -- me or the mule. Our astonished guide explained, 'I've never seen that happen before.' Be that as it may, whenever someone asks me about it, my advice is: don't do it!

Scott Vogel: Okay, now that's one I've never heard. Geez, and the whole mule things seemed so cool too...

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Cubicle in Vienna: Hi Flight Crew! I was looking over possible vacations the next year, and since we're on a budget, we'd like to visit relatives so we dont have to pay for hotel.. we were considering stockholm, sweden because havent been back since i was a child, but noticed there's no direct flight there... what's the best course to take to get there? and what do you think is the best time of the year to go? We're not a fan of the cold weather, but would like to avoid the high summer costs too.. sorry for being vague, just open to ideas... Thanks!

Carol Sottili: Take Scandinavian Air from Dulles. It stops in Copenhagen, but connections are convenient. And the fares are very good right now for flights departing by March 13. It'll be cold, but for $560 or so round trip, including taxes, may be worth bundling up.

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Chicago IL: Worst travel advice: Wife and I were traveling to Turkey about a month after 9/11 (trip had been planned months in advance), and the day we left was the day the anti-Taleban bombing campaign started in Afghanistan. Ruh roh. Our BA flight attendant on the connecting flight from Heathrow to Istanbul told us, flatly, to turn around as soon as we landed and take the next flight home, because Turkey would not be safe for Americans.

The result? We ignored her and had one of the best vacations of our lives!

Scott Vogel: Here's one to gladden the hearts of intrepid travelers everywhere.

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Boston, Mass.: I gave bad travel advice recently. Based on my past, non-Thanksgiving experience, I told friends that there would probably be long lines for the Boston to NY bus at Thanksgiving. Get there early, be prepared for the ride to be longer than usual due to traffic, etc. They encountered minimal lines and had shorter than usual bus trips!

Scott Vogel: Okay, but guess what happens the next time you get asked that question and say "you'll encounter minimal lines and shorter than usual bus trips!"

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Arlington, Va.: I know this sounds morbid, but my father on the West Coast will probably not last the year. As we are not especially wealthy, I must ask if those reduced price tickets to attend a funeral really exist, or are they just an urban myth?

Andrea Sachs: Those fares do exist (call the airline for more info and their rules), but since the influx of low-fare carriers, it often can be less expensive to fly on a regular fare--and less paperwork. Not to sound too morbid, but if your father lives close to any of Southwest's destinations, you could book a flight and change it as you see fit, without a penalty (you may just pay a difference in fare). And if your dad turns a corner, you can use the plane ticket to fly out and give him a hug.

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Washington, D.C.: Re: buying airline tickets: Hi, you mentioned that airlines generally sell tickets 332 days in advance. However, I believe that may not be the case for Southwest--they seem to sell only six months out. My question is when should we buy tickets to Portland Oregon for an August vacation? Right now, fares seem pretty steep ($600 on Frontier; other carriers are similar for our dates). We can fly out of any of the three area airports and I know SWA does fly to Portland. Would it make sense to wait until they start selling for August and see if they are cheaper (or the other carriers match) or does $600 seem about right? Flying out on a Sunday, returning 11 days later on a Thursday. Times on those days are flexible; dates are not.

Thanks and love the chats!!

Carol Sottili: That's why I qualified my response with "most." Some of the discount airlines don't sell that far out (one of the ways they control costs). $600 is too much to Portland. Wait for Southwest to post its schedule and to offer a sale. You shouldn't pay more than $350 or so with taxes.

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Md.: Worst advice: Don't go to Italy in August because everything is closed. Hogwash. Might have been true years ago, but there was nothing we wanted to see that we couldn't see. No issues finding accomodationgs, etc. Life HERE has changed in 20 years, why don't people want to believe life THERE has changed.

Scott Vogel: I agree that things have changed dramatically and people still want to believe the opposite. Of course, you also hear that the only people you'll see there in August are Americans. Wonder if that's still true.

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20th anniversary: Hi Crew,

Husband and I want to celebrate our 20th anniversary sometime this summer (he's a school teacher). We'd like to go somewhere that has good food, and comfortable (need not be luxurious) accomodations. We know the UK well, and Europe is fine. We're not very adventurous sorts (white water rafting and extreme sports are definitely out).

Very broad question, but where would you recommend?

Thanks very much!

John Deiner: Hey, happy anniversary in advance!

That's an extremely broad question, and I'm sure the clicksters have tons of suggestions. You didn't say what your budget is, so I'll just throw out the first thing that popped into my head: A long drive down the Oregon coast. It's gorgeous, reasonably priced and full of wonderful people, amazing seafood and nice soft adventure (whale watching, mailboat rides on the Rogue River, etc.). What's more romantic than watching the waves crash ashore from your inn? You can easily spend a week leisurely exploring the coast, and if you go inland just a bit, there's the wine country.

I could name a bazillion other suggestions (Hawaii anyone? Just about anywhere in Europe? A private villa in the Caribbean? St. Michaels, Md.?), but I'll stick to Oregon for now. Let us know what you end up doing, will ya?

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Bethesda, Md.: Hi, we are looking to take a one week trip to Central America in February or March. Important activities are snorkeling, bonefishing, jungle hiking/canoeing and maybe seeing some ruins. I don't know if these can all be done from one base hotel so a couple of days at the beach and then a couple of days somewhere else would be fine, but it would be nice to minimize traveling between locations. Also, we are looking more towards mid-range lodging and do it ourselves activities instead of one big package for the week. We were thinking Belize might work but weren't sure the best spots for the kinds of things we want to do. We're also open to other countries as well. Any itinerary suggestions?

KC Summers: I would focus on just one country -- I always feel like it's better to get to know a place in-depth than run around trying to see too much. And Belize would be a fine choice. It's got most of the things on your checklist: snorkeling galore, jungles, canoeing, wonderful Mayan ruins and caves. Not sure about the bonefishing though. But the diving and snorkeling off Ambergris Caye are just the best. You could either base yourself in San Pedro and take short flights to the jungles and ruins, or do what I did and stay half the week there, and half in the interior. Will try to post a link to my story.

Any other suggestions for Bethesda?

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washingtonpost.com: Please Belize Me, The Washington Post, March 28, 2004

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Try the Ferry?: Someone wants to "return home to Maryland from Atlantic City, N.J. on December 24th" and avoid I-95. The Cape May -- Lewes Ferry would be an option. Fares are reduced in the off season, and it's pretty easy to take the Garden State Parkway south, relax aboard the boat, then head west on Rt. 404 to Rt. 50 to across the Bay Bridge.

www.capemaylewesferry.com

John Deiner: There ya go . . . nice suggestion. Thanks!

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Charles Town, W.Va.: We are group of about 14 who have vacationed together for the last 10 years going to North Carolina beaches. We have children ranging from 2-11 and active grandparents. We are looking for a new vacation spot this year. We like the water but it could be a lake instead of the ocean and we are willing to fly somewhere too. A few thoughts have been Lake Tahoe or Grand Cayman -- I know opposite ends of the spectrum.I was hoping you or your readers would have some suggestions.

Cindy Loose: Okay, Lake Tahoe. Even in summer the water would be cold for my tastes. Have you thought about Lake Michigan? For example you could fly to Chicago very cheaply, see the city for a day, then drive about 1.5 or 2 hours. At Washingtonpost.com, click on arts and living then on travel and you'll be able to see, for free, an article I did about that area, around Halbert, Mich. It's got an old time. laid-back feel and great ocean-like sand and water isn't too cold.

Grand Cayman--it has a very long gorgeous beach, and if you don't mind that it's lined with nice hotels and resorts, you'll like. (some people think it's too miami, which it's not, but I can see what they mean.) Then there are a ton of other good beach spots in the Caribbean. It might be hard to find a house along a really stellar beach--the best beaches have been claimed by hotels.

I really think it might help you if you looked at the price of say taking everyone to Grand Cayman, and look at the price of staying stateside at a lake or beach. That might help you decide between U.S. and Carib, and then the choices will be half as hard.

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Ever Heard of the Easter Rebellion?:"Cindy Loose: Do other parts of the UK interest you, like say Dublin,"

Ummm, I would be very careful about calling Dublin part of the UK -- unless you LIKE wearing your Guinness. The Irish are kind of touchy about that sort of thing.

Cindy Loose: Oh, how right you are. So, how does the reader feel about visiting Ireland or Northern Ireland?

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Silver Spring, Md.: The comment about Rome in November being great has me thinking...what are some other favorite off-season destinations?

KC Summers: I love all of Europe in the off-season -- have had some great times wandering around Paris, London and Dublin in fall, winter and spring in a raincoat and layers, ducking into museums and shops to get warm. Also, love the beach in winter -- had a great cozy getaway on Chincoteague one January weekend.

The Caribbean is a good destination in July-August if you don't mind the heat. I loved the chance to stay in expensive hotels I couldn't have ordinarily afforded in high season, but boy was it hot! Easy enough to cool off there, though.

Anyone else with good off-season recommendations for SS?

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Vienna, Va.: Have you heard of Adventures for Singles? Good? Bad? Contemplating trip with them in 2008 but am looking for feedback.

Thanks

Cindy Loose: WE don't know them---anyone else?

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Chevy Chase, Md.: Crew

Love the chats.

I booked a roundtrip for Berlin for 9 nights in late April. I want to hit Prague. Others (including former Crew member Gary Lee) suggested Krakow and Budapest. But he warned about doing too much in one trip. For a single guy, would you do 5 nights in Berlin, 2 in Prague, 2 in Budapest or Krakow (which do you prefer) or 6 nights in Berlin, 3 in Prague?

If you do the 3 city option, which would you visit first of Budapest/Krakow or Prague?

Thanks

Christina Talcott: Sounds like a great getaway! I really liked Budapest when I visited, though Krakow sounds beautiful, and a visit to Auschwitz would be incredible if you're up for it. As for timing, I'd recommend going to Budapest (or Krakow) first, then work your way back to Berlin via Prague. I think two days each for Budapest and Prague will be just fine - plan those four days well, book hotels and you'll have a great time. If you're planning to take the train, I'd recommend buying a rail pass, though flying can be cheaper. Anyone have other suggestions?

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Md.: to the people who want to stay with relatives because they don't want to pay for a hotel. PuhLEASE. What a bunch of freeloaders. If you are visiting them because you love and miss them, that is one thing. If you see them as a cheap vacation, that's a horrible imposition.

Carol Sottili: That's harsh. I always tell friends/relatives to come stay with me if they're visiting Washington, even if they aren't coming just to see me. And I love having 'em (well, most of them anyway)! Not everyone thinks that having guests is an imposition.

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For Cubicle in Vienna wanting to go to Stockholm ...: We just returned from a week there. And let me tell you, Stockholm makes London look CHEAP. A $5 beer in Old Town Alexandria = a $6 beer in London = a $11-13 beer in Stockholm!! One day my husband had a bowl of fish chowder and two beers each -- in a nice little PUB -- for $60.

I realize you have relatives to stay with, but I would imagine you're going to eat out some of the time? Just be aware your wallet will take a beating. It's worth it, but just plan for it.

The city is amazing and we can't wait to go back, especially when it's light outside for more than 5 hours at a time. Enjoy!

Carol Sottili: Hope the fish chowder was delicious!

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Washington, D.C.: Bad travel advice: Don't bring much cash to Japan, credit cards will get you a better exchange rate and are accepted almost everywhere.

This was in September 2007. You'd be amazed at how many places in Jpan (food, shopping tourist sites) are cash only. It really does make sense to bring traveller's checks, because credit cards aren't nearly as well accepted as in Europe (we were in Kyoto).

Scott Vogel: Here's something potential Japan travelers might want to know.

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Md.: Assuming you have a credit card with one of the major banks, most can produce and mail statements for you going back many years, even beyond what you can access online

Cindy Loose: Thanks. I was speeding through the q&a provided at the web site I mentioned and it wasn't clear how much you had to submit. I'd read that, though, before pulling out records.

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San Diego Fun for Frederick, Md.:: Free and lots of fun: If it's nice out, go across the bridge to visit the Hotel Del Coronado. Walk up the beach with the little one, take pictures, and stroll through the shops in the hotel. Great memories and wish I was there now!!

Christina Talcott: Thanks for the advice!

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Juneau, Alaska: Nepal and packages: If it's at all possible to get a flight and travel independently, I heartily recommend doing so. Book a place somewhere safe like the Kathmandu Guest House (they'll give you a ride from the airport, thus bypassing the hucksters) and arrange a tour through them or someone else at the local level. There will be more and better options, they'll be much cheaper and more authentic. Some of the newer resorts are determined to surround you with Western comforts at Western prices, an absurd concept for anyone who doesn't need the familiarity of a Hilton (KGH has wi-fi and espresso if you need them).

By the way, saw some comments on all-inclusives last week, and just have to say I got back from one near Cancun and it was one of the worst experiences of my life - which is saying a lot since I've been to over 50 countries and this particular trip was comped for business reasons. Others in the group loved it, but my advice is to be cautious if you're the type who enjoys any amount of cultural authenticity or independence. They had eight restaurants that weren't anything I couldn't experience at home and I would have traded all of them for a chance to get near a taco street stall. It was a $40 cab ride to replace the toothpaste I "lost" at the airport, you had to take a once-every-20-minute shuttle to get around the vast resort (and be furthered slowed by more and bigger speed bumps I've ever seen) and the cultural tours felt about as Mexican as Taco Bell. A few telephone calls to the U.S. were $4 a minute. I spent a lot of time fondly remembering my frigid nights at $3 tea houses at 15,000 feet in Nepal, eating lentils and rice over small kitchen fires and sleeping under stacks of blankets in tiny drafty rooms.

Worst travel advice: "Don't go." Friends and family say it when I head for places they consider "risky" for reasons of health, politics or whatever, but I have nearly always found the most interesting experiences and welcoming people (non-official ones) at supposed backwaters where Westerns couldn't possibly be comfortable.

Cindy Loose: Hey, thanks for writing in. You make Nepal sound good.

The all-inclusives: You love em or hate em. I rarely encounter lukewarm responses.

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Worst travel advice (boy could I have used the transit maps book!): Words NEVER to live by: "Anything is manageable for 24 hours." And thus, a friend and I, encouraged by another traveler who assured us "it's not that bad," decided to ride in the 3rd class fan car of a train in Thailand.

We traveled from the Thailand/Malaysia border, a 24-hour jaunt, sharing a hard wooden seat with a back at a 90-degree angle. The heat was almost unbearable, and then it sprinkled a gentle rain outside and the others in our car decided to close all of the windows, leaving us with no view and NO fresh air... we estimated it was well over 115 degrees in the car.

About 4 hours into the trip, the bathrooms ran out of water and over the course of the ride, they developed an inch-thick pool of pee on the floor. Oh yeah, add in ample cockroaches scurrying around our feet, and some farmers drunk on whiskey singing all night and, well, it WAS that bad.

When we arrived in Bangkok we jettisoned our plan to take a bus to Chiang Mai and instead took a cab straight to the airport and bought plane tickets on the spot. I have never smelled so awful in my life. I pity the people who sat near us on the flight!

I am a hearty traveler, but never again would I endure something like that. ALTHOUGH, the ticket for the entire journey cost about $1.50!

Scott Vogel: OK, this one will be hard to top, folks.

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San Francisco, Calif.: The worst travel advice I ever received was to fly on Christmas Day. I imagined a plane only half-full, members of my tribe all nodding and winking at our forethought. Instead, the plane was packed with Christmas celebrators going from one family location to another.

Otherwise, travel advice has been remarkably good. As with all advice, I consider the source. The supposedly grubby place my prim mother hated was right up my alley, and I knew it would be as soon as she complained about it.

I'm a devoted public-transit rider and sure would like the book. To give away, yeah, sure...

Scott Vogel: I have to confess I wonder if anyone else had had this experience. You always hear supposed experts telling you that NO ONE will be flying on the actual day of the holiday and you'll have the airport all to yourself. Right.

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Re: Bad Advice: Hi, I am a travel agent (became one after giving advice to people for years) and one thing I always deal with is "advice from friends and family". I take a lot of pride in interviewing my clients and understanding what they like and what works for them, rather than simply telling them what to do. When I have new clients, I always have to deal with "my friends told me to go here, and stay there" but many people don't realize that it may not be the right place for them, or not the best use of their money. I've even had cases when I had to book hotels because my clients "had to" stay there after their friends' recommendations, and 8 out of 10, I receive a call while they are on the trip telling me they want to change. Please take all that advice with a grain of salt. We do this for a living and get frequent updates, do visits, and share information on the latest. It is important to understand there are many things that come into play in travel such as seasonality, weather, events, takeovers and management changes, and, most importantly, everybody's needs and preferences are different. People have very different styles of travel and that is one of the reasons even best friends/families don't have the best time together on a trip. There are many great hotels, places, tours etc. but it is not the "best" for everyone. When in doubt, or when the risk is high (such as family gathering, anniversary etc.) let a professional do it for you. My clients now come to me and say "here's when I can take off, and I want cold/warm place w/in x amount of drive/flight" then I take care of it all and they come back happy.

Scott Vogel: You make a good point. There's a reason why good travel agents are still needed.

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Washington, D.C.: Looking to go somewhere w/my husband for the long weekend in February (President's Day); it's also our wedding anniversary. It's too late to book New Orleans (my first thought); any other suggestions besides ski areas, the Caribbean or the West Coast? Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: I am not sure if you are asking whether it's too late to book air or hotel or both. But I found plenty of air (not bad fares, either, under $250 for a connecting flight), and with the most people focused on the upcoming holidays and Mardi Gras running Jan. 25-Feb. 4, you should be able to find a bed and many hot meals. (The New Orleans CVB listed hotels for that weekend starting at $74 a night; see www.neworleanscvb.com for info.) For other long weekend destinations, how about Charleston, S.C.; Key West, Fla.; Chicago; or even Bermuda (chilly but you have each other!).

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Rockville, MD: Worst travel advice: rent a Landrover to overnight in the Sahara (because the rebels are very active right now. Camels are their currency, so you don't want to sleep out with camels because they'll get stolen, you'll get raped or killed).

Consequences: the next morning the battery in the Landrover was dead. The driver I hired said he'd hike back to town and come back with another vehicle or camels, whatever he could get. He left his 13 year old son with me. Short story: the son got impatient/was scared and decided HE was walking back to town. I had enough food and water for all three of us for another night, if it came to it. Son told me he was going -- I could stay or go. I hiked out with him. He refused to follow our tire tracks from the day before or Dad's tracks from that morning. Son got us lost along the way, but we eventually made it back to town. Dad had come looking for us and was mighty angry.

Scott Vogel: And sometimes the bad advice can be of the life-or-death variety.

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Alexandria, Va.: My wife and I decided to take advantage of the airfare sales to Europe over Christmas and are flying to Madrid on the 24th. Based on your experience, any guesses how full long term parking will be at Dulles, or would we be better off looking at an alternative way of getting to the airport?

KC Summers: Oh, sounds like a great trip. I love Madrid in winter -- such a beautiful, elegant city. Based on my experiences at Dulles and on everything we've heard, you should be okay with airport parking. I've never not found a spot at Dulles. The airport of course doesn't promise anything, but they do say they have plenty of space and it shouldn't be a problem. Parking info on their web site: http://www.metwashairports.com/dulles/parking_transportation_3/parking

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Off-season at the beach: My first choice for off-season beachgoing is (and will always be) coastal Maine. (But I grew up spending both summer and winter holidays there, as Mom's parents retired to Southern Maine, so I'm biased.)

Also good: Rehoboth Beach. Was there for a weekend last month; plenty of places are still open, and many hotels (and B&Bs) have off-season special rates. Just 3 hours away from D.C.!

KC Summers: Hmm, sounds cold, but I believe you. Rehoboth, definitely!

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"good off-season recommendations?": It's too late to get cheap airfares now, but someplace to keep in mind for next December is Victoria, British Columbia.

The warmest, least-snowy major city in Canada, and just gorgeous decorated and lit for the holidays.

KC Summers: Excellent idea. Thanks.

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Boston, Mass.: Bad travel advice: A few days after 9/11 I was supposed to be flying from Helsinki back to the US via Zurich. I finally get on the phone with the airline, and they tell me not to leave Helsinki and that they're not responsible for me if I'm stranded in Zurich. Planes aren't flying back to the US yet. Fine, but they're also not responsible for me if I'm stranded in Helsinki, where I also don't know anyone, so I fly to Zurich. In Zurich the lines are literally out the door. I start asking around about hostels and find out that my since my original ticket is for that day, and I'm going home (as opposed to on vacation, I should get on line). Many many hours later, planes did start flying back to the US that day and I got home. It was mostly luck, but if I'd listened to the airline, I would likely have been stuck in Helsinki another week.

Scott Vogel: Right you were to be skeptical of the airline's advice, although, to be fair, for a few days around 9/11, the confusion was unavoidable.

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Vacation Ideas?: Hello -- thanks for taking this question. A very broad request, but do you have any ideas for a last-minute 2nd week of January vacation? We are not fussy about destination, and have about 5-6 days to spend. Weather could be anything from sweater-weather to lay-on-the-beach-weather. I wish we had more requirements -- it's a bit overwhelming to make a decision. We just want to relax and get away from everything for a while. Thanks in advance!

Christina Talcott: Depending on your budget, here are my top picks for mid-January: Relax on a Caribbean beach, go to Paris for the winter sales and warm museums or putter around Key West. Any of those appeal to you?

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Runaway mules: Rockville's story reminds me of something that happened to me in Lesotho: The Basotho ponies are supposed to be calm and follow each other, too. Unfortunately I got the crazy one that went the wrong way on a switchback and nearly hurled me off a 1000-foot cliff. That trek was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. But I'm awfully glad I did it!

Scott Vogel: OK, so if you're keeping track, any advice involving ponies or mules deserves skepticism.

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Car rental in Vegas: Won't need a car in Vegas, but we will for our trip for two days out of the city. Any tips for our best approach? We're staying near the Venetian, so will it be easier to find a car rental at the airport or near our hotel?

John Deiner: Hmmmm. In my experience, it's usually cheaper to rent from the airport, but when you figure in cab fare to and from the McCarran rental car center, it may be a wash.

For instance, I just checked the Avis Web site for a date in December: If you rented a car from the Avis counter at McCarran, it's about $38 a day for the cheapest car before taxes and surcharges. The same car would be about $50 a day at the Avis branch at the Venetian. Since it costs at least $15 to cab it out to McCarran from there, it would cost about the same.

For convenience sake, I'd go with the rental agency at the hotel then. Hunt around on various car rental sites and get an idea what it costs from the airport, then see what it costs offsite. And don't forget about Hotwire, which often has terrific deals.

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Elephant Hills Question: Hi Flight Crew,

I'm planning a trip to Thailand in February. Five nights in Bangkok, two nights in Krabbe, and three "free nights." Our options for the free nights are to do Elephant Hills OR to take a flight to visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia. I'm pulling for Elephant Hills, but my mom is voting for Cambodia -- she has bad knees and is worried about climbing on and off, or potentially falling off, an elephant. Can you weigh in on what you think the better choice would be? Cindy, is riding the elephant physically strenuous at all? Thanks!

Cindy Loose: Riding an elephant isn't taxing, but you do climb up a ladder-like thing to a platform that's the height of the elephants then you step on the elephant's back and ride in a bus-like seat. Other activities at Elephant Hills include hiking, which is physically taxing, and some boating.

I loved my visit to Elephant Hills but if I had to choose between that and Ankor Wat, I'm afraid it would be Ankor Wat. You don't have to tell your mom I said so. But Ankor Wat is a much bigger deal; elephant hills is more a wonderful lovely happy side visit and ankor wat is a primary destination.

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Washington, D.C.: The worst travel advice is always "Oh, you don't want to go there." As long as there's a there, I wanna go.

Scott Vogel: Pithy, almost suitable for framing, I think.

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Washington, D.C.: I pretty much only fly Midwest Airlines (direct to Omaha - woo!). And every time they enforce the 30-minute rule, saying it is FAA regs. Just once, I want to call them on it. But then, I also don't care that much, because the flight's either just started or I'm ready to be home.

KC Summers: Yeah, some fights are just not worth it. Better to hold it.

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Not everyone thinks that having guests is an imposition. : I agree, and would add that I'd love to occasionally see friends without having to be their sole source of entertainment. Come stay with me, see the town while I'm at work, and we'll catch up over dinner.

Carol Sottili: I drop them off at the Metro armed with a map. No one seems to mind.

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Washington, DC: Sorry to be so late in the chat, but please answer my question! I am going to London in April (18-25) and my dates aren't really flexible. I've found a fare for $621. Is that a good deal, or should I wait a little to see if I can get something under $600? The outgoing flight is getting pretty booked, so I'm nervous to wait too long! Just wondering whether this is a fare to snatch up while I can or to wait on. Thanks!!

Carol Sottili: Grab it, as long as that price includes taxes.

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The credit card suit: So am I correct in my interpretation that under scenario 2, I can list the dates I was overseas and estimate what I spent? It says you don't have to submit receipts, so what exactly is the procedure?

Thanks!

Cindy Loose: Sorry, but that's what I was in the middle of figuring out when I was interrupted by the chat. You have until May to apply, so might as well wait for CoGo to figure it out on company time.

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Arlington, Va.: Worst travel advice was during a trip to Iceland, when the guide said, sure, continue on the longer horseback riding trip, this storm should clear up. What followed was the coldest and wettest 2 hours of my life as we were pelted by increasingly heavy sleet. It soaked through the snowsuits we'd been given, saturated my "water-resistant" hiking boots, dripped from my scarf down into my shirt, and numbed my face. I had to wring the water out of my mittens at the end. I gave up on steering the horse since it was all I could do to hang on to the saddle. Then, we had an hour long bus ride back to Reykjavik in our wet clothes. (On a side note, I did love Iceland and would definitely recommend it in general).

Scott Vogel: Believe it or not, more foibles with horses involved.

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Cecil County, Md.: As someone who has worked or lived in Delaware for many years, I would definitely tell someone to avoid I-95, especially between Wilmington and Newark.

Best best is to get off at route 141, take that to Route 40 and then get back on 95 in Elkton. This not only avoids the construction mess around Christiana, but you avoid the toll at the Delaware state line.

John Deiner: And that toll is ridiculously steep now, isn't it? Four bucks? BOTH WAYS?? Great advice, CC...thanks for chiming in.

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Rockville, Md.: Worst travel advice: Completely cover up in Thailand (I think this was given both as advice with respect to mosquitos and to cultural sensibilities. And for both, not a bad idea, but I took it very literally and let's just say, sweated early and often....). Looking for good travel advice: do you fabulous folk or anyone else know of a nice place to stay in central-ish Budapest at the equivalent of about $100/night for two people? Thanks!

Scott Vogel: I like the image this brings to mind. With regard to the reader's question -- anyone have a good Budapest hotel they'd like to recommend?

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D.C., but Nashville bound: Any tips on how much I should expect to pay for a weekend flight to Nashville in March? The bare minimum online at any reasonable time seems to be north of $400, and that seems pretty ridiculous to me!

Carol Sottili: If you fly out of BWI on Southwest, it'll cost more like $230 round trip.

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95 S traveler: I would suggest going straight into Philadelphia rather than over the Memorial Bridge. You can at least avoid that mess. When you go south exit at the last exit in Deleware, Exit 1, going north and then take a left at the Embassy Suites hotel onto Christina Parkway. Left again at the next chance you get to turn left at a light and take that back to 95. Saves that Deleware toll. Works nothbouth to in reverse.

Also, if you're going north on 95 exit at Have DeGrace, go to the Route 40 bridge and ask for a sticker when you pay the toll. You get the next 12 months of travel over that bridge free.

John Deiner: Hey, cool stuff. Never really considered getting home via Philly in that direction. Doesn't that take a lot of extra time? And that Havre de Grace tip is a real keeper. So, everyone, keep it!

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Bethesda Mom: I too will be traveling to San Diego this week for a meeting -- but as a middle-aged woman blissfully free of family. I have next Saturday free, and will be staying at the Grand Hyatt near the Convention Center without a car. Anything recommended in terms of art, culture, and fun places to eat while solo?

Andrea Sachs: I could spend hours solo (and I have) in Balboa Park, the country's largest urban park, with museums, gardens, the zoo, theater and more. Info: www.balboapark.org. For dinner, wander around the Gaslamp Quarter, which has loads of restaurants. I, personally, would grab picnic fare at the Trader Joe's in Pacific Beach (makes ours look like a Sheetz) and have dinner on the beach.

The city has a good public transportation system, especially to major attractions, so you can reach these places without a car.

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Alexandria, Va.: My wife and I have booked a week in January at a resort in Turks and Caicos with our small girls (2, and 5 months). If we venture off the grounds, do you have any updates from Cindy's 2003 article on T&C?

Cindy Loose: Sorry, we've not been back since 2003.

I can say that when renting a car, check it out carefully or consider using a name brand cause there's some pretty cars being rented, and with the opposite side of the road driving, you want something with reliable brakes and steering.

I presume you're looking for new places to eat or be entertained? Can anyone there more recently help?

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Reston, Va.: For the 95S traveler--I can definitely vouch for the detour that lets you skip the Delaware toll plaza (linked earlier). Yes, you have to get off 95 and take some back roads (I recommend having a passenger in the car with you to read the road signs if you're driving at night), but it's very much worth it to skip the inevitable delays there.

John Deiner: I agree, Reston. I haven't gone through that toll in ages. I think it takes about 7 or 8 extra minutes to do the quick workaround, and, like you said, worth it.

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D.C.: I was thinking of spending a night at the Killahevlin B&B Inn in VA. Do you know anything about that specific B&B?

Andrea Sachs: Sorry never been. Can any chatsters chime in with a review?

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Philadelphia, Pa.: While this may not go down as the worst advice ever, it is still fresh in my mind. I was flying back to Philadelphia last Friday from Amsterdam, via Frankfurt. As my flight from Amsterdam-Frankfurt was increasingly delayed (due to weather - they were canceling every other flight between the two cities), I called Lufthansa to see what my alternatives were going to be once I missed my connection. After 10 minutes on hold, the representative reassured me that I currently would have 25 minutes to make the connection and that the flight would be held for me. I was skeptical - although I have gold status with Lufthansa, the thought of them holding a flight for me (and perhaps a few others) seemed unlikely. He promised me that the flight would be held, and that he couldn't do anything for me because, in his words, "You will not miss the flight".

Fast forward two hours: I get off of the plane in Frankfurt and find that my flight has indeed left. No surprise, but it did make the ticketing agent laugh at my foolishness as she tried to tell me that the only way home was going to be to Chicago and then a 5:45am flight to Philly the next morning. Thankfully, a little negotiation (and creativity) got me home at 11pm through JFK. Oh well. This is why I fly nonstop whenever feasible....and won't be taking any advice from Lufthansa representatives in the future.

Scott Vogel: Wow, talk about adding insult to injury...

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For the traveler with an afternoon free in San Diego: I just want to warn the traveler that San Diego is big, spread out and prone to afternoon traffic jams. If you just have an afternoon free, might want to look into whatever is closest to your hotel/business meeting. Beaches are always a good option (not to swim, though. Too cold.)

Andrea Sachs: Or you could always rent a bike, or surfboard, to get around.

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Fairfax, Va.: Worst travel advice: I was told to take Melatonin to help with jet lag. Tried it before the trip, developed an agonizing migraine. Decided it couldn't be the melatonin - tried it again. Could definitively say it WAS the melatonin!! I'd prefer jet lag to a migraine any day! So my advice would be, make sure to try it before the actual trip!

Scott Vogel: Absolutely. Testing medications and supplements while in transit is definitely inadvisable.

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Bad Advice: To come home for Xmas from the U.K., my sister flew ON the holiday, thus saving about $200 in plane fare...

And spending $300 for a taxi (double the normal rate) because the vans didn't run that day.

Scott Vogel: Yup, those holidays can be killer, for more than one reason, as we're finding out.

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Hyattsville, Md.: Can any of you or the chatters out there recommend a reliable airport limo service? We are looking to start out our upcoming vacation with as little stress as possible, and since our flight is so early, I don't want to be sitting around at 4 a.m. worrying about getting a cab to show up. (Just to clarify, we are actually looking for a sedan, not an actual limo!)

Andrea Sachs: We are more bus, subway and "Hey, friend, free on Saturday?" types. Anyone have a fave airport limo service they can recommend?

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Annapolis, MD: As far as the Japan statement: I'm not sure I'd recommend traveller's checks. I was there on business half of the summer of 2003, and for two weeks in early 2006. IMHO, credit cards are great, but you still need cash for a lot of things -- a quick bite to eat, vending machines, trains and subways. But the post offices in Japan have ATMs with no surcharge -- your bank may still charge you, but the PO ATMs will not. Their hours are limited, but it's a good way to get cash. And I believe you get it at a pretty good conversion rate.

I still used CCs whenever I could, but to some extent they're still a cash-based society. I wouldn't have known where to even try to cash a traveller's check over there.....probably at the Post Office with the ATM? Or at the hotel, which typically has a higher conversion rate.

Scott Vogel: Another take on the Japan with travelers checks scenario.

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Worst travel advice - France host stay: Well, it was actually the advice given to the family I stayed with for a month. "All Americans like Coke and Ketchup, and you must provide it at every meal." They had a closet FULL of Cokes and bottles of Ketchup, neither of which I liked at the time. The family put it out at every single meal, even breakfast, no matter what we were eating. After a week of me not touching the Coke or Ketchup, we finally got the whole story out. They showed me the booklet they were given full of American stereotypes, and I showed them the booklet I was given full of French stereotypes. We had many laughs over it.

I ended up feeling bad about the expense they went to, so I drank all the Cokes - and came home with a serious caffeine addiction!

Scott Vogel: hahaha -- stereotypes seemed to be at the root of lots bad advice.

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Washington, D.C.: Hope its not too late. With the open skies agreement, what do you think airfare to Europe will be next summer? Buy now or wait?

Carol Sottili: Jury is out on this. The open skies agreement will allow more airlines to fly additional routes between the United States and Europe, but airports are constrained by size limitations. And jet fuel isn't getting any cheaper. I'd track the sales, and strike when a good fare becomes available.

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North Bethesda, Md.: Best travel advice: check the board at the traveler's center in Perth for a place to work in exchange for room and board

I'd pretty much run out of money. Found Charlie, a sweet old man. Worked on his farm for a month. Near the end we had haul a load of barley to the nearest town (4 hours drive) and on the way home we stopped at the gold mine! It was explosion day and I got to witness the big boom! Never experienced anything like it in my life!

Scott Vogel: Winding up here, and on an up note.

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hope I'm not related to that person: I love staying with friends and family in exotic places, and I like entertaining myself, too. It's nice to get together with them when they're available and otherwise enjoy strolling around wherever they are. And like others have said, I like when people from out of town stay iwth me when they need to be in D.C. for something. I'm convenient to metro and I have a comfy couch and lots of DVDs. Why stay in a hotel?

Carol Sottili: Another friendly host.

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Washington, D.C.: Dear Flight Crew,

I am dreaming of Italy. I am just at the beginning stages of looking into moving there for a short six month stint and am hoping to find a small (and thus hopefully less expensive) town to live in to practice Italian. My questions to you are, do you have any particular recommendations (I was thinking Bologna) and do you have any suggestions as to how to find out the general cost of living there? I know that this is slightly off-topic but any help at all would be greatly appreciated!

Christina Talcott: That sounds like a fabulous idea. Bologna is a great town for students and is very beautiful. Believe it or not, there's a Craiglist for Bologna, where you can get an idea of apartment prices. I'm not sure living there will be any cheaper than living in Washington, but you might be able to save some euro by staying with a family or in a dorm. Check out TransitionsAbroad.com for advice about relocating overseas; they have a whole section on studying languages abroad, with numerous articles about studying in Italy. Happy planning!

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Falls Church, Va.: We are hoping to go to the Caribbean for Spring Break. We have a 7th grade girl and a 6th grade boy. I have been following your advice for a few years and based on what you said in the past, Puerto Rico looks like the best mix of beach, things to do, history, food and price. My question is: Do you have specific resorts or hotels to recommend? We looking for something on the beach but near things to do. We want something nice but probably could not afford a place like the Ritz.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

KC Summers: Hmm, if you want to stay on the beach, that means being out in the suburbs of San Juan (Condado, Isla Verde). Most of the history, museums, shopping, restaurants, etc., are in Old San Juan. So that's a pretty hefty cab ride into town if you want some culture. You may find that the tradeoff is worth it though, to be right on the beach. There are tons of choices. For my beach experience, I stayed in a Courtyard by Marriott in Isla Verde and got a good price, but it was pretty much interchangeable with any other chain hotel.

This, of course, is assuming you want to be in or near San Juan. There are great beaches in Rincon, and in the southwestern corner, Boquern Beach has been called the Cape Cod of Puerto Rico.

Anyone have a beach hotel they love in P.R.?

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SU: Okay, I am not having fun writing this but I'm all but about to get kicked out of my business school for poor grades so im gonna take a semester off and go travel. So what is the cheapest country to fly to in South America, do they have hostels like in Europe?

I don't speak anything but English. Where would you send me? (Not England)

Cindy Loose: There are hostel-type lodgings in South America--get a directory at www.hihostels.com. Make sure you join a hostel group before heading out so you can save some bucks by getting member prices.

As to getting there: I don't know that there's a cheapest destination; shop around putting in the names of biggest cities, which will have the most competition.

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Re; Worst advice:"Don't go" "may not be the safest place" - as if D.C. is??? Anyway, I'm glad I didn't take it. I got to see Asia, New Zealand, Australia, and most of the US alone (woman traveler) and decided not to take any more advice on anything that involves a "don't."

Scott Vogel: I agree that people tend to err on the side of more rather than less travel warnings.

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Union Station, DC: If you're coming from Atlantic City, I can't imagine it would be much different from going down the turnpike and through that mess. It's also cheaper, though I think you do have to pay a toll to go into Penn or Deleware no matetr which way you go.

I swear by the Christina Parkway workaroudn as rt. 40 is alot slower than 95 and gets really backed up once you get over the boarder due to the shopping centers there. And don't try to eat a tthe Christina Mall. The food selection sucks. Stick with the Deleware House or somehwere over US Route 230 north of Wilminton.

John Deiner: Hey, DC. Again, good stuff. (Pretty sure it's the Christiana Parkway, btw...just don't want anyone being confused on the road if they follow your good advice.) And, boy, we don't stop anywhere for food anymore. We pack it in and snack as we go!

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Maxjet?: I might be acquiring Maxjet tickets shortly. Problem is, they don't fly out of Dulles anymore. Would I be crazy to buy r/t Jetblue tix to JFK and then fly Maxjet from there? There seems to be a decent window (I'd arrive in JFK at 3 for an 8:15 Maxjet flight). Not terribly worried about delays coming home.

Carol Sottili: MaxJet says that it's not going to change flight schedules, but you should be aware that the airline suspended trading its stock a couple of days ago pending an announcement clarifying its financial situation. The company has lost nearly $50 million in the first six months of this year.

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Cars in Vegas: Priceline, Priceline, Priceline. With Priceline I got a rate of $10 a day for 4 days. But then the taxes nearly doubled that. And don't even talk to me about the cost of insuracnce (I don't have a car or insurance at home).

John Deiner: Wow, that's a good deal. I have to admit: I've had better luck with Hotwire, but Andrea Sachs swears by Priceline, too.

And now I really want to talk to you about the cost of insurance! (It's ridiculous...I agree.)

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Washington, D.C.: Hello! Planning a trip to France next summer for a friend's wedding (which will be in Alsace). We will stay a few days in Paris, a few days in Alsace, and then will have 5-7 days to go somewhere else. I would love a relaxed atmosphere, near a beach if at all possible. We are spoiled to have been to France several times, and the combination of that and the exchange rate is driving us to find somewhere new -- and cheap. A friend suggested Montenegro. What do you think about that? Or do any other places spring to mind?

Christina Talcott: The Dalmatian coast would be lovely, either Montenegro or Croatia. Last week's Q&A was about visiting the coast of Croatia - check it out on our archives.

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Worst Advice: My boyfriend recently decided to pop the question in Dublin, via Newark. When I got to D.C., I was told the Newark airport was closed due to a tornado and unlikely to reopen. Continental strongly urged me to rent a car to drive to Newark, b/c there would be "no way" I'd get there. Panicked, after consulting with my soon-to-be-fiance, I waited out the delay, and I got to Newark 45 minutes before my flight was supposed to leave. Sometimes it really is worth waiting out a long layover!!

Scott Vogel: More good advice not to take bad advice.

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Spring, Texas: Are ATM machines plentiful in Seoul,Korea?

Just wondering if would be wise to take traveler's checks. Or does anyone use them anymore?

Thanks.

Andrea Sachs: From what I have heard, ATMs are plentiful in Seoul and they take international cards. My mom still uses traveler's cheques, and in foreign countries, many shopkeepers look at her curiously. Your best bet is to fill your wallet with a mix of money types: ATM/credit cards, U.S. cash, won and cheques if you wish. (You can always go to a bank to convert them to the local currency if no one recognizes their worth.)

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Scott Vogel: Well, another hour has whisked by. Thanks so much for all the entertaining bad advice stories. I think there'll be a few less horseback tours after today. If the Md. person left with bed bugs in Costa Rica and nothing to do will e-mail me at vogelsi@washpost.com, I'll get the "Transit" book out to you right away. For everyone, thanks for playing and may the rest of your travels be happy ones.

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