Got a travel-related question, comment, suspicion, warning, gripe, sad tale or happy ending? The Post Travel Section Flight Crew is at your service.

On the itinerary this week: exploring everything the Big Apple has to offer; discovering Shakespearean romance and tragedy in Verona, Italy; and foraging for wild edibles in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

All other travel topics are open as well. If you have insights, ideas or information to add to the discussion, just press the call button above your seat and we'll get to you as soon as we can. Different members of the Crew will rotate through the captain's chair every week, but the one constant is you, our valued passengers.

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

A transcript follows.

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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Christina Talcott: Good afternoon, and thanks for joining us on this sunny Monday to chat about travel. Here today are Andrea, John, Cindy and Carol, and I will be your pilot for the hour.
If you have any questions or comments about New York City, getting refunds for getting bumped, visiting Verona or exploring Pennsylvania's mushroom country, speak up. Anything else you want to discuss is fair game, too.
John ranted this morning about a on everyone's mind -- the high cost of gas and how it's affecting travel. It made me wonder what people are planning to do to try to save money on summer vacations. Will you drive slower to save gas on a road trip? Are you booking campsites instead of hotel rooms? Taking the bus instead of the train to New York? Tell us about it, and the most helpful/funny/creative post wins a pretty page-a-day calendar (come on, the year's not even half-over!) with lovely pics from around the U.S., courtesy of our Promotional Box of Junque.
Everyone ready? Let's go!

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Universal Studios: Regarding a question in last week chat concerning staying on property at Universal Studios in Orlando. Stayed last July at Portofino Bay and would highly recommend it. Not only was the hotel beautiful, but taking the boat back and forth to the parks was easy and convenient. We could come back in the afternoons to rest and then go back for dinner at City Walk and back to the parks. Also one of the best perks were almost all of the rides have a special line for guests that lets skip most of the regular line. All you do is show them your room card, so just make sure that everyone gets a key. Of course it cost more to stay on property, but you have to consider what you get when you do.

John Deiner: Hey, thanks for the info. Someone pointed out last week that you can creep up to the front of the line with your room key, and that's a fantastic perk right there. I've stayed at Portofino myself and wasn't really bowled over, but it's been a while. Would love to check out the Hard Rock Hotel on the property, though.

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Washington, D.C.: What are your thoughts about the CLEAR Registered Traveler program? Do you think it's worth the money -- and do you really get through security faster?

Christina Talcott: None of us here have Clear cards, and I honestly haven't heard any first-hand reports since they opened Clear lanes at National and Dulles. There was a story in Budget Travel recently about how the system isn't all that great, but I'm curious to know if any chatters have experience with it. Anyone?

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washingtonpost.com: The Fast Lane Isn't All It's Cracked Up to Be (Budget Travel, May 2007)

Christina Talcott: Here's the BT story on Clear cards...

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Advice to Honeymooners and Others: I submitted this tip a few weeks ago, but late into a chat, and it didn't get posted. Someone was looking for information about honeymooning in Italy, which my husband and I did exactly two years ago. To find the best price and get exactly what we wanted, here's what we did:

1. We researched Italy, decided where we wanted to go, and what we wanted to do.

2. We determined what class of hotel we wanted to stay in, how close to the sites we wanted to be, and how we wanted to travel while in the country.

3. We found the best airfare available, locked that in ourselves, and then set a budget for the rest of the trip.

We then sent all of our information--our arrival and departure dates, our preferences, and our budget--via email to about 15 different travel companies, some of which specialized in packages to Italy. We asked for an itinerary that matched our desires and the best price they could offer that was under our budget.

We evaluated the offers as they came in, discarding those companies that clearly didn't pay attention to our needs or that didn't seem flexible. We negotiated with the companies that provided the best offer and got the package of our dreams at about $500 less than we were willing to pay, and that included a private driver in Tuscany.

I highly recommend this approach to anyone contemplating an active, extended vacation like a honeymoon to Italy. We were extremely pleased with the results, and could never have assembled such a great trip from existing offers or on our own.

By the way, we spent 4 days in Rome, 3 days in Chianti, and 3 days in Florence. We have incredible memories.

Christina Talcott: Sounds like a wonderful trip. Thanks for the advice!

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Boston, Mass.: Can you remind me of the name of the gastropub-type restaurant around Capitol Hill that serves tons of Belgian and microbrew beers? I recall hearing about it in a Boston Globe travel article that featured Rep. Barney Frank's favorite haunts, but their travel articles are not searchable online. I figured I'd go straight to the local experts! What say you?

washingtonpost.com: It was Belga Cafe: Capital with Character (Boston Globe, Jan. 28, 2007)

Christina Talcott: That's the one! Thanks Elizabeth!

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Silver Spring, Md: My husband and I (and dog) are going camping in West Virginia for a week in June. We'd like to rent a cabin for the last two nights, and are looking for something in or very near a cool little town. We've been thinking about Berkeley Springs, but I was wondering if there are other towns within a three-hour drive we should consider. Looking for some good dining, interesting culture, shops, etc., though we won't be too hard to please after six nights in a tent.

John Deiner: Hey, Silver. Big fan of Cacapon Resort State Park, which is less than a half-hour from Berkeley and is full of cute little cabins, as well as a lake, hiking, biking . . . you name it. It's far enough from Berkeley that you feel as if you've got a piece of nature to call your own, but close enough if you want to duck into town for a nice meal or a spa treatment. And spa services could feel really good after those six nights in a tent.
Other suggestions out there?

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Fairfax, Va.: We are planning a family trip to Cancun in mid-August... maybe not the best time of year, but we really need a vacation and it is the only time that works with HS, college and work schedules. The question right now is airfare and we are trying to figure out if the best option is to simply take what we find on a site like Kayak or try all of the different search engines until we find the "best" airfare. Right now it looks like anything under $550 is a bargain... do you agree? Given the cost of fuel, does it make any sense to wait, or should we simply jump on a good price right now?

Carol Sottili: That sounds steep. Have you tried USA 3000, which flies out of BWI? Go to www.usa3000.com. Also, try Spirit Air (www.spiritair.com). I'd keep tracking at this point. You still have time.

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Alexandria - Weekend getaway??: My husband and I live in Alexandria and we're looking for a short weekend getaway - someplace we can drive to with lots of things to do. I was thinking New York but that's a bit out of our price range. Bonus if I can find a hotel in the area that accepts a dog.

Suggestions?

washingtonpost.com: Mid-Atlantic Travel Stories (Post Travel Section archives)

Christina Talcott: Hi Alexandria, what kind of activities are you looking for? Do you want country or city? Scott Vogel's written about travel with pets and suggests these websites: www.petswelcome.com and www.petsonthego.com, or you can try www.petswelcome.com. Give us some specifics about what you can do and we can help with the actual location part, ok?

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Williamsburg, Va.: could you please give me the hours of the Hungary, Germany and Czech embassies during "open embassies" for Friday, Sat and Sun?

washingtonpost.com: Info about "Passport DC" in this recent article: Going Global (Post Weekend Section, May 2)

Cindy Loose: Hi--You can find times and addresses etc. for all the embassy open houses at ww.passportdc.org

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Annandale, Va.: I'll be traveling from Washington to London and on to Rotterdam after a couple days in London (and same on the return). Are there similar restrictions of liquids in carry-on luggage on European flights as there are here in the States? I'll be flying KLM from London to Rotterdam and back again.

Cindy Loose: Yes, the liquid rules in Europe are similar to those in the States. In fact, I seem to recall that the liquid rules originated in London after a plot was foiled.
Within the EU the shops can package liquid carryons and put a special seal on them, but follow the liquid rules generally. Amounts are expressed in metric, but they're close enough to our measurements to not worry about differences.

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D.C.: Please help! 5 adults heading to Charlottesville this weekend to celebrate a big birthday. We have hotel reservations and that is pretty much it. What wineries do you recommend? Any restaurants we can't miss? I'd love your help as to what we should do for the long weekend trip. Thanks!

John Deiner: Hey, DC. Sounds like a nice trip you have planned. My wife and I totally dig winery-hopping out there, and when we go, we try to hit areas where the wineries are fairly close together. You can easily spend the entire afternoon hopping around, and you'll see some lovely countryside.
Don't believe those maps you get for a second: Those little grape dots are much farther apart than you think, or at least take a lot longer to get to since the roads are so curvy (but oh so beautiful!).
For instance, Stone Mountain Vineyards is on top of a mountain and really neat, but it takes a long time to get there from Charlottesville. You'd be better off hitting the area that comprises Afton Mountain, Cardinal Point and Veritas wineries, since they're in relatively close proximity. Jefferson has a nice tasting room and is close to Charlottesville, then you can hit Mitchie Tavern afterward.
As far as restaurants go . . . hmmmmm. Anybody have a favorite spot in C'ville to dine after wining?

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New York, N.Y.: As a lover of the Lower East Side, I have to ask Christina why she never visited there, Chinatown or Little Italy in her "hundreds" of past visits??

Christina Talcott: Good question! I usually went to NYC to visit friends and family, and I usually spent time doing whatever I went there to do: weddings, funerals, christenings, etc., running around town visiting people in their neighborhoods/schools/work - which happened to never be on the Lower East Side - instead of getting out and exploring the city on my own. On my few real "sightseeing" trips, we did the usual Empire State Building/Times Square/Liberty Island/Central Park rounds. But after my food tour, I can't wait to get back to Essex Street Market, Chinatown and Little Italy, not least because of those rice balls...

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Rockville, Md.: Is Little Rock, Arkansas typically an expensive city to fly into from our area? I'm checking fares for a trip late in June and am finding fares from $350 and up! Should I wait to buy my tickets?!?

Andrea Sachs: Yes, it is more expensive, because Little Rock is not a hub city nor a popular tourist or business destination (sorry Bill). One way to save money is to fly into a bigger city (such as Memphis) and drive. Though with gas prices these days, I am not sure if that will save you too much cash.

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Re: Advice to honeymooners: Wow - what great advice!

My husband and I tried out a travel agency when we were planning our honeymoon to Hawaii, but we only told them what islands we wanted. Their response was a bunch of luxury hotels - not us at all! We ended up planning the whole thing ourselves (including two B and Bs for $70/night!) and it worked out great - but I'm sure we missed out on some good deals travel agencies could have supplied if we'd sent them a detailed itinerary to work with.

Christina Talcott: Sometimes doing it yourself means you can plan for a trip that's more "you." Thanks for the comment. Care to share the came of that cheap B&B?

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Dog camping person: Savage River Lodge in Western MD. http://www.savageriverlodge.com/

Christina Talcott: Great tip! Thanks!

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Boston, Mass.: What U.S. alternatives would you suggest for travelers who would prefer France or Italy but are staying home because their U.S. dollars aren't worth much in Europe now?

Cindy Loose: I'm guessing here that Europe appeals because of it's great cities, with historic sites and architecture and museums and great food. Thus, I'm going to suggest cities. If it was really the countryside of Europe that draws you, let me know.
First off, I'd consider Canada--not the bargain it used to be but their dollar is still roughly equal to ours. That said, Quebec City is as European as a city gets in North America, and they're having lots of great entertainment to mark the city's 400th anniversary. You could drive from Boston, enjoy the country scenery and stop in Montreal along the way. If you're already done that till you're sick of it, how about Vancouver?
In the U.S., San Francisco has great food, museums, architecture etc. Frankly, while the U.S. has fabulous outdoor activities, most of the cities just don't stand up in comparison to Europe. I've just listed my favorite U.S. city, and two favorites in Canada. Anyone else have ideas?

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Fairfax: For the chatter wishing to visit the European embassies, I'm afraid to say that their open house was this past Saturday. I was there myself and had a great time. I believe that Latin America and Asia is coming up though, that should be fun as well!

Cindy Loose: Hi--I know our Metro section had a story about the European embassies last weekend, but wasn't sure they weren't doing it a second time. The website I mentioned should tell all. Thanks.

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Silver Spring, Md.: When would you expect air fares to Asia to go on sale for the Fall, if at all? I need to go to Japan in September, and the lowest fares I've seen to Tokyo for the past 2 months have been about $1250.

Carol Sottili: There have been some decent sales to Japan. American had one a couple of weeks ago (expired now). You should sign up for email alerts with airlines that offer convenient service from here to Tokyo (United and All Nippon fly nonstop, American and others offer good connections). Also, $1,250 with all taxes and good connections isn't a bad fare.

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Arlington, Va.: Hi crew!

We applied for a passport for my infant daughter last Saturday at the Arlington post office. We got her birth certificate back on Friday, and her passport came this past Saturday. So, the process took exactly one week, start to finish. Glad we didn't pay the $60.00 for expedited processing!

Now, if only we could afford to buy our tickets to Greece this summer...

Andrea Sachs: Great to hear. The State Department is really back on track!

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Kingstowne, Va.: "Will you drive slower to save gas on a road trip?"

I know I for one won't do this (unless you count trying to keep it to 75 mph instead of 85). We're planning to drive up to the Maritime Provinces and my car has a six-speed manual. If I slow down below about 62 mph, I need to go down to fifth gear and I use more gas, so I try to keep my speed high enough to stay in sixth (I get substantially better mileage that way). Speed alone is not the most important consideration in figuring out ways to save gas!

Christina Talcott: Interesting. I hadn't thought of that. Great to know that about the difference between 5th and 6th gears.

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Summer vacation savings: Well, we're saving money on our summer vacation this year by not taking one. Perhaps an extreme approach, but it works.

But seriously, sometimes it's fun to play tourist in your own back yard. Make a list of things in your area that you've never seen, set a week aside, and go do them. Bonus points for using public transportation to get to them. Extra bonus points for stopping the mail that week as if you really were on vacation.

Cindy Loose: Funny you should say that---driving in this morning to work I noticed the doubledecker bus going up Mass and thought how fun that would be, and maybe I should pitch a story about vacationing from home this summer. I was thinking, though, that while I live a 20 minute drive or half hour by public transit from center city, it would be fun to do an overnight downtown and really experience it like a tourist. No question there are good things to do around here, but then again, we don't want everyone thinking like that or we'll be out of jobs.

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Timberville, Va.: 2008 March/April article on small hotels/B and B's in NYC? Good comments by fellow travelers. Need a copy or e-mail of same. Thanks, PB

washingtonpost.com: Was it this??? The Monday Rant: New York Hotel Rates (Travel Log Blog, March 24) Or this??? We'll Take Manhattan -- For Less than $200 a Night (Post Travel Section, May 7, 2006)

Christina Talcott: Were you referring to either of these stories?

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Half a day in Atlanta: What are the highlights of the city of Atlanta? We are going to be there for 8 hours and are planning to visit the CNN studios and the Coca-Cola Company headquarters. Anything else in the area that is worth seeing? Also, what is usually the weather like in Atlanta towards the end of May? Thanks.

John Deiner: The weather toward the end of May is not too different from our own -- it can be very hot and humid, or perfectly pleasant. No need to worry about snow, that's for sure.
As far as things to see, do you mean the World of Coca-Cola? It's supposed to be very cool, and definitely a highlight. Also may want to consider wandering around Olympic Park, which is near CNN, and visiting the Georgia Aquarium, which is wayyy expensive ($26) but may be worth it if you're really into fish. (I know it has lots of fans.) The High Museum of Art is a real treasure in town, and you can get your "Gone With the Wind" fix at the Margaret Mitchell House & Museum. And don't forget about the Carter Center, Jimmy's presidential library, and the King Center, the memorial to MLK Jr. that includes his birth home and final resting place.
So, plenty to see and do in eight hours!

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Southwest D.C.: Headed to Rome later this month and wondering whether to take the scary stories about theft seriously enough to buy a different handbag (the travel ones with metal to deter strap-cutters) or just try to get by without a handbag. But then where do you put the map, camera and sunscreen?

Andrea Sachs: It is never a bad idea to protect yourself and your belongings. If you don't want to purchase a new anti-theft bag, you can always put your valuables (money, passport, credit cards, etc.) in a pouch that fastens around your neck or can be hidden under a shirt or coat, then carry maps, glasses, etc. in another bag. But mainly, keep it simple and don't carry more than necessary.

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Arlington, Va.: My boyfriend lives in Charlottesville so I'm there frequently. The restaurants are great, and I'd recommend Hamilton's and C and O downtown for nicer dining, and the Continental Divide for more casual dining (although it gets pretty busy). A personal favorite is also Orzo, which has a great wine selection, if you still want more after a day at the wineries.

John Deiner: Man, Arl. That IS a lot of wine, but this sounds like a fun group . . . so I have a feeling they'll be up for more wine. Great suggestions, though. Thanks!

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Washington, D.C.: Am I the only one repeatedly burned by farecast.com? I've used it to check on East Coast flights and have found it says buy and the price later goes down. I'm looking for a ticket to Boston in a few weeks and last week it said wait then said buy after prices had already gone up more than $100. I know the responsibility for when to buy is mine, but I have found Farecast to be very unreliable (other similar prediction sites may be unreliable as well, but Farecast is the only one I know about). oh -- and any tips for getting a reasonable long-weekend flight to Boston in a few weeks??

Carol Sottili: I just had a very different experience. Asked it to let me know about fares to St. Louis. It told me to wait, and I did, and fares dropped by $150 round trip. It then told me to buy, and I did. I guess the software isn't perfect, but I find it valuable. If you're willing to fly out of BWI, fare is $74 each way on Airtran, which is pretty good. Or check Southwest into Providence, R.I. or Manchester, N.H. as an alternative.

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Washington, D.C.: My parents have found a way to cut their summer travel costs: me! They will be going to Atlantic City for a few days, where I will meet them and drive them to New York. We'll spend a few days in New York, then I'll drive them back to the Philadelphia airport on my way back to DC.

Meanwhile, I'm saving money by sharing their New York hotel room, so I suppose it all works out.

(Your New York spread was therefore very timely for us - thanks!)

Christina Talcott: Wow, sounds like a very symbiotic relationship. Great idea!

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Bowie, Md.: Hey crew...great set of articles on NYC yesterday - even this ex-NY'er wasn't up on all your hints! (And John, give it up, where IS the best seat on the DUCK???)

Talk about timely... daughter is moving to Northern N.J., just across from Manhattan, in August... so we're going to save a BOATLOAD of gas taking either of the One Dollar bus lines to NYC! After paying for her college education, we NEED to economize!

John Deiner: Oh, OK, Bowie. But just because I like you and I know you won't tell anyone . ..
The best seat is right in the middle of the Duck when you come up the steps. Make sure you sit on the end next to the water. And it really WAS a good seat, though, boy, if it's hot and steamy, not sure I'd want to be in the sun for more than an hour on that thing.
Thanks for the kind words, though -- we had a good time plodding around town that day.

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Dining in Cville: Go to the Downtown Mall, where there are many, many restaurant choices. Our favorite (besides the beer at South Street Brewery) is Himalayan Fusion - at the east end of the mall. Also try Rapture, Blue Light Grill, Zocalo, Hamilton's, or Mono Loco - and there are probably a dozen more that I can't think of right now. Many of the downtown restaurants also have outdoor seating on the Mall for people watching. Also check out the free evening concert at the east end of the mall - Fridays After Five.

John Deiner: Hey, I've been to Blue Light Grill, and yeah, it's great. Of course, you need to limit it just a little for our clicksters. If you had ONE choice, where you go?

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Speed: Come on! 99% of cars on the road don't have 6-speed manual transmissions! They're just driving too fast and complaining about the cost of gas at the same time. Slowing down WILL save gas for most cars.

Christina Talcott: I don't know if your figures are correct, but I believe that most cars are automatic, so that driving slower is a good tip for those automatic-transmission folks. But are there more manual drivers out there than we thing? Six-speed, care to respond?

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Cville: Restaurant suggestion: Petit Pois, 201 E. Main (pedestrian mall)

John Deiner: Another suggestion, and also on the mall. Thanks!

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Gaithersburg, Md.: We (two couples) are going to Puerta Vallerta, Mexico in November to a time share. My question is: with gas prices as they are, should we book our flight now or wait until closer to November to see if prices go down?

Carol Sottili: You need to track the fares over a few weeks to figure out how much they fluctuate. You have the time to educate yourself. While jet fuel is resulting in higher overall prices, there are still sales. Priceline.com has something called Inside Track, which is a good place to start tracking those fares. After you become familiar with the going rate, you'll know when to pull the trigger.

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Washington, D.C.: For the Charlottesville traveler: it's in the other direction from Afton, but we had a lovely time tasting wine at Keswick Winery. They charge a small fee, but they let you take your tasting out on the porch. The wine was good, too.

John Deiner: Good stuff, DC. Should remind our friends heading to the wineries that it's a great idea to pack a lunch -- just stop at a grocery store and stock up on cheese and bread and plastic utensils and anything else you want, as most wineries have lots of outdoor seating overlooking fields and ponds.

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Washington, D.C.: Please help - looking for a vacation within driving distance that will be enjoyable for entire family (2 adults and 2 young children, ages 5 and 1). Considered the Caribbean but refuse to fly with 1 year old again (done it once and wasn't pleasant). Thanks in advance.

Christina Talcott: So, you like the beach, I assume? Have you looked into the Atlantic beaches? New Jersey's Long Beach Island, Delaware's Rehoboth and Bethany beaches, Maryland's Ocean City are all places with lots of options for families. But are you looking for something different from the beach?

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Field Hockey Bound: Crazy parents that we are, we have a teen who has been selected to play in a tournament in Indio, Calif. (near Palm Springs) at Thanksgiving. Any idea on when is the best time to book our travel? Best price appears to be WAS to LAX, and car rental to Indio. Tuesday-Sunday.

Carol Sottili: Thanksgiving is an exception to the rule. Fares are generally high that weekend to every destination. You're better off buying early, especially when you need to be there for specific dates. And yes, it's almost always cheaper to fly into Los Angeles than Palm Springs. Drive isn't bad - takes a couple of hours.

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Ocean Pines, Md.: Last week Baltimore Md. commented on hefty price tags at Grand Canyon hotels and mentioned renting 2 RV's for a family group. Alternative suggestion: go to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and stay at the Grand Canyon Motel in Fredonia AZ. It's a quaint 1950's type motel and in 2006 when I was there, rooms were about $35 per night. I was there with a group and it was great -- some rooms have kitchens, some two sleeping areas, and there is a center courtyard with picnic tables and BBQ grills. From there you can also easily visit Zion and Brice.

Carol Sottili: Thanks!

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Columbia, Md.: Thinking about a fall "voyage à Montréal." Seems to me the best/fastest/cheapest way to get there is to take Airtran from BWI to Burlington Vt. and rent a car.

Comments? Suggestions? Merci.

Christina Talcott: That's a good way to do it, not least because renting a car in the US is usually cheaper than in Canada (last time I did it we got slammed with the taxes). Also, the drive there is gorgeous, and you can stop at sugar shacks, cideries and vineyards in the Eastern Townships. Go for it!

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Hawaii B and Bs: On Kauai:

Inn Paradise, on the east side of the island. $70/night for a suite with a queen-sized bed and a kitchenette stocked with breakfast foods for our stay. I'd stay there again in a heart beat.

On the Big Island:

A Beautiful Edge of the World, just south of Kona: $70/night for the no frills room, but we got a free upgrade to the honeymoon suite - on its own floor with best view of the sunset of our entire trip. Great breakfast (with their own fruits) and great coffee (from their own Kona coffee beans).

Christina Talcott: Wow, that's awesome. Thanks for sharing!

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Tampa, Fla.: I'm planning a small destination wedding in Las Vegas for November. We would like to honeymoon somewhere that's easy to get to from Las Vegas, and are thinking an all-inclusive resort in Mexico. While price is a big consideration, we would also like to go somewhere nice that isn't primarily kids (does not need to be adult only). Any suggestions for which part of Mexico, or any resorts in particular? Thanks very much!

Cindy Loose:
The biggest question for convenience sake is not what's closest, but what destinations have direct flights from Vegas. I don't know offhand since I don't fly out of Vegas, but I just went to the airport site and it doesn't seem they offer a lot of nonstop international flights out of Vegas. Non stop flights, compared to flights with one connection, cut in half the chances of your trip being ruined by airline snafus, so that would be my first consideration for a honeymoon trip.
When it comes to Mexico--from Vegas you're a tad closer to Mexico's west coast, meaning say Puerto Vallarta, than you are to the east coast, say Cancun. Personally, I like the beaches of Cancun and the Riviera Maya much better than those of Puerto Vallarta.
Since you say price is a consideration, have you considered
the Dominican Republic? The DR is the king of all-inclusives and prices tend to be good. You could also think about Puerto Rico--the Vegas airport is showing flights to San Juan that at first glance appear to be nonstop flights.
One thought: Are you certain you want to take the honeymoon trip immediately after the wedding, when you're all wiped out etc.? Fine if that's your preference, but you don't have to, you know.
Bottom line: I think you should talk to a travel agent. Outline what you want and what you can pay and get their advice. If Mexico is important, then stick to Mexico. But if you're simply looking for great beaches and a nice place to relax, I think you should be open to other beach destinations, and search by price rather than country.

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Re: Gas Prices: Due to both gas prices and the economic concerns, actually I am planning to stay in town, take time off, and do all those things I always wanted to do: bike to Alexandria, see Mt. Vernon, go on top of Washington Monument, visit Library of Congress, Dumbarton Oaks, etc. (couple weeks ago Weekend section had a great list). The best way to do is when you do not stay at home, so if you can afford a hotel B and B in town that is great, otherwise, I'd suggest doing a house swap with one of your friends so you get to be "on vacation". If you stay at home, you get pulled in the regular stuff and errands... I do this quite often when I do housesitting for my friends, it gives me an opportunity to "go on vacation" and see other parts of the city I've never seen. I recommend you swap houses with someone totally from another part of town, for example I live in MD and had a house in Reston last week. I biked to Town Center, went to Wegman's, went to the Dulles Space Museum, Leesburg... you get the idea.

Christina Talcott: Boy, that's a great way to take a vacation without going far. What a fun idea!

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Silver Spring, Md.: Good afternoon crew,

My husband and I are thinking of a Memorial Day weekend trip to Sanibel Island, Fla. Neither of us have ever been there. Any insights about Sanibel Island? Is this a reasonable quest for a long weekend? We don't have children. Will we find enough to do that is not family related?

Thanks much!

John Deiner: Hey, Silver. It's a great place to go for a long weekend. Fly into Fort Myers and -- boom! -- you're there. I love the place, but it's particularly good for lounging around on the beach doing nothing. The "Ding" Darling refuge is fantastic -- you can rent bikes and spend half a day riding around it. Check out the Bubble Room, a landmark restaurant over the bridge on Captiva Island. You can also fish and shop at myriad boutiques (it's a boutique-y place), and, really, just get away from it all.

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Vacationing at home (DFW, TX): Did this one year and had a great time. One plus: If you like chatting with new people, you have a chance to meet a lot of retirees during the days while everyone else is working. Had a great conversation at a tiny county museum with one man who'd been in the Merchant Marine immediately after WWII; another one at a pie shop counter about the air conditioning business (not so historical, but useful.) Pie is a good vacation experience too, by the way.

Christina Talcott: Haha, I like the idea of vacation pie. What a nice way to get to know the local tourists, too. Thanks!

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Alexandria, Va.: I'm a UVA alum and I go down to Charlottesville all the time for football. Some places to eat:

--For someplace fancy, try the C and O Restaurant downtown on Water Street. Don't be put off by the exterior (it's an old building and it used to have a Pepsi sign out front), as the food and service are terrific. My parents took me there for dinner the day I graduated from UVA and the restaurant was definitely worthy. Note that the PRICE was definitely worthy as well, so if you're watching your budget you might pick somewhere else.

--For someplace casual, I have recently fallen in love with the Shebeen, located in the Vinegar Hill Shopping Center across the street from the Omni between the McDonald's and the Staples. It's a South African-themed pub. The mussel appetizer is fantastic, as is the Durban spiced chicken. After all the wine at the wineries, switch to beer and have the St. George IPA on tap (it's brewed in Hampton, Virginia, and is very good stuff, although why a South African pub is serving Virginia beer is a good question).

--Bang is a popular place downtown that is unique because I guess you could call it a tapas place, except that the food is not Spanish or Mexican--it's Asian. Really good stuff, though, and I'm not normally a big fan of Asian cuisine. It is located near the Omni off Second Street SW between Water and South Streets.

--I've been disappointed in the Old Mill Room at the Boar's Head Inn recently. Darn shame, since it used to be nice, but the menus have gotten too avant-garde lately and I think it seems out of place at a place that's styled as a Virginia country inn.

--If you want to keep the wine theme going, drive up to Barboursville. I have heard rave reviews about Palladio, which is at the Barboursville Vineyards. You can stay there as well.

--The Bavarian Chef on US-29 about 20 miles north of town has pretty good German food, although it's always very crowded and they have a really weird seating system (basically, when you make a reservation they assign you to a table... and they will make you wait for THAT table... which really stinks when you get slow diners at that table and people who arrive 20 minutes after you get seated first...)

--Other places a lot of people swear by are Hamilton's and OXO.

John Deiner: Al, this is a fantastic, and a brutally honest primer. Bravo.

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Summer Trip: Hi Travel Crew, We are going to S.D. for vacation this summer... combining a family wedding with a week in the Black Hills. We have rented a house there for a mini family reunion. Invited a brother in law and sister in law who are financially strapped to come from the West Coast. So for us, it will be a chance to see them and for them... a very cheap vacation... all they have to do is get there!

Christina Talcott: Pooling resources is a great way to save $$, and I love the idea of a family reunion in the Black Hills. Sounds like fun!

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Silver Spring, Md.: I'm a manual transmission driver (although only five gears - now I have gear envy!). It's -both- speed and gear that determine efficiency. Basically, you want to drive in your top gear, but as slow as you can in your top gear. I mean, within reason. Don't go 35 mph in 5th on the highway. But the higher the gear, the more efficient (and then the slower you go, the more efficient). At least, that's what I've been told. And it was by the Car Guys on public radio, so they should know, right?

Christina Talcott: Oh yeah, I learn more about cars on "Car Talk" than I do anywhere else. I love it when callers make the noise that their cars are making - hilarious!

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BoltBus: Hey Travel Crew! I really enjoyed reading about your NYC travels! I was just in New York last week to visit some friends and catch a show. I would like to share my horror story about trying to get up there in time for our show.

My sister and I booked our tickets to New York on BoltBus, but unfortunately the bus never came. BoltBus called us ten minutes after the bus was supposed to depart to tell us that the bus was not coming due to mechanical problems and to e-mail them if we would like to be booked on the next bus. Unfortunately, the next bus was going to arrive in New York too late for us to make it to the show and BoltBus had not left any contact information other than an e-mail. Over 25 people were stranded because of this mechanical failure, and one of the Downtown DC employees said that the bus company had been having mechanical problems all day.

We ended up booking a train to try to get to New York in time. After several angry email exchanges, BoltBus refunded most of my money (still waiting on a ticket to be refunded). When we arrived in New York, I ran into one of my fellow stranded bus passengers who did end up taking the later bus, and she said it was a nightmare. Needless to say, I won't be booking with them ever again!

washingtonpost.com: Manhattan for a Buck? (Post Travel Section, May 4)

Andrea Sachs: We have heard similar complaints from people being stranded by the Bolt. I have taken it three times and had only good experiences (minus the obnoxious movie). A new $1 bus line is starting up at the end of the month; maybe MegaBus will be more punctual.

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NYC weekend: Loved the articles on the NYC day trips. I've now gotten a lot of ideas from them on things to do with my mom next weekend. We'll be going up there for my sister's graduation that will be taking place at NYC Center. However, there weren't any suggestions on decent places to stay. I'm hoping not to go overboard with a place to sleep at since I'll be spending money on gifts, but at the same time, I will be staying with my mom who is in her late 60s so a decent bed would also be nice. Any suggestions?

washingtonpost.com: A Day in New York (Post Travel Section, May 4)

We'll Take Manhattan -- For Less than $200 a Night (Post Travel Section, May 7, 2006)

John Deiner: Elizabeth has kindly attached our NYC hotel primer from last year here (thanks, E!), and I can tell you that to save money, two of us stayed at the Pod Hotel, one stayed with friends and two others stayed at the Hyatt in Jersey City -- and paid about $140 a night through Hotwire, which was a great deal.

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Alexandria/Edinburgh: Thank you for your helpful Heathrow/British Airways problem updates - my mother has forwarded me the terminal change/airport train info to me but I leave for home on Wednesday through Heathrow with a suitcase full from a semester abroad. Any new info? What is the likelihood my checked bag will arrive? Is the one carry on bag rule still in force? I'd like to take precautions and carry on more items, but most of us have to carryon laptop so have limited space. Any help would be appreciated by me and my classmates traveling with me. Thank you.

Cindy Loose: I'm guessing you're taking one flight from Edinburgh to Heathrow, then another flight on to the U.S. If so, I'm guessing your first flight will be into the troubled new terminal, then you'll have to go to the old terminal for your international flight since BA has delayed making the switch to the new terminal for international flights.
I can't predict your odds of your luggage being misplaced--more bags than not go their merry and correct way even in the worst of times, and BA says things have improved. I'd just say, don't put in the bag anything you can't replace or live without, like your thesis.
Also, weigh your stuff as soon as possible, and check the specifics of the size and weight of what you can check for free. All airlines have been increased excess baggage charges, and you might find it cheaper to mail part of your stuff rather than lugging it to the airport and getting hit with monster fees. If you're stuff weighs more than the free allowance, consider carefully whether you should jettison some stuff. It might be cheaper to replace some things that to transport them.

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"Six-speed, care to respond?": "Six-speed" would be me. It's really a question of your particular car's gear ratios. As a general rule, you want to drive such that you can use the highest gear possible, regardless of whether you drive an automatic or a manual. Every car is somewhat different, of course. My girlfriend's car also has a six-speed, but it has a smaller engine and it revs considerably higher at the same speeds (mine turns 2,300 at 80 mph, hers turns closer to 3,500), so in her case slowing down more DOES save fuel.

Manual-shift cars aren't as rare as the other poster tried to make them sound, though. I believe the statistic most often quoted is that 83% of cars sold in the USA are automatics. But I resent the attitude the other poster copped. The original question asked whether we as chatters are doing anything differently, and I said I'm not and I gave my reason. Wasn't that the point?

(BTW, I have never owned an automatic-shift car and I feel lost whenever I drive one.)

Christina Talcott: Hey, thanks for chiming back in. I wonder if people might start buying manual cars to save $$ in the future....

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Purse in Rome: I'm the person who wrote in with the honeymoon tip. Anyway, we walked all over Rome during our 4 days there (seriously, it was exhausting, but in a good way) and I never once worried about my belongings. I carried a small messenger style purse with sturdy straps, kept it in front of me, and shortened the straps. Nary a problem. Just be aware of your surroundings like you are in any crowded place.

Make sure you set aside a good half day for the Palatine Hill, which was my favorite part of Rome. It's right by the Coliseum. Oh, and I recommend getting to the Coliseum about 20 minutes before it opens. The light at that time is beautiful.

Finally, do take advantage of fine weather, if you have it, and walk places. Cabs are plentiful but we found the best restaurants and hidden ruins by just walking around. That's also a good way to save money in these days of high gas prices...

Christina Talcott: Great tips! I second the messenger bag-style purse for pickpocket-prone areas - very easy to keep a grip on your stuff with that kind of bag.

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Europe in the US: I beg to differ. We have lots of cities that rival Europe's. A few are Boston, Savannah, Charleston, San Antonio, San Francisco, Philadelphia (yes, really), Portland, the list goes on....

Cindy Loose: This family lives in Boston, and New York and Philly are so near that I figured they must have been there and done that before. I too thought of recommending Savannah and Charleston, and Seattle leaped to mind initially--but compared to European cities---sorry, I just can't agree. The U.S. beats Europe hands down overall for scenery and natural beauty, but I don't think our cities really compare.

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NYC: I want to spend one blowout night in a ritzy top shelf NYC hotel. What hotel do you suggest?

John Deiner: Oh, I think I'd try the Plaza, just because it's just been renovated and then I could run around telling everyone that "Hey, I stayed at the Plaza, and you didn't." I'm wondering what it's like myself (not that I ever stayed there before!).

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Re: Honeymoon in Hawaii: If a travel agent automatically sends you to hotels/places that is not you, you should switch agents. I am a travel agent and one of the first things I ask is what kind of hotels/accommodations a party/couple like. There are at least 20 options of itineraries/travel plans in a destination, and our job is to figure out which one would be the best match for you. I always ask them both where they normally stay, and where they would like to stay. I also ask which was the best hotel/travel experience they had and why. Also, I ask them what is the most important part of the trip for them, some people don't care much about the hotels as long as they get to see everything there is to see. Some want to spend their money on food and dining. Some prefer to stay at upscale hotels and picnic... Everybody is different, and a good travel agent should be able to figure out who you are and what the best options are for you.

Christina Talcott: Some tips from a travel agent. Thanks for the help!

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Note on Fredonia: While Fredonia might be a cheap stay compared to a Grand Canyon hotel, it's a long way from the goings-on at the North Rim. And you don't want to be driving that road at night. If you are staying at the North Rim, stay in the park.

Christina Talcott: Good idea to think about how the roads are at night. Thanks for pointing that out!

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Washington, D.C.: I'm leaving for Israel this weekend. I'm a single female traveler - is there anything that I should be particularly aware of, since it is a Middle Eastern country?

Also any tips or advice on things that I should definitely do that you can share would be awesome. Thanks.

Cindy Loose: In terms of being single and female in a Middle Eastern country, I'd say follow the same niceties you would in Europe or the U.S. when traveling alone and you'll be fine.
What do our knowledgeable helpers out there have to say about what one shouldn't miss in Israel?

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Washington, D.C.: I am heading to South Beach, Miami, Fla. towards the end of this month. Are there any new hot spots that I should make sure to catch?

Andrea Sachs: Hate to admit our uncoolness, but there it is. We don't know where to party in South Beach unless we read about it in US Weekly.
Anyone cool out there who can help?

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then where do you put the map, camera and sunscreen?: The map, the sunscreen, guidebooks, water bottles, snacks, and other useful but inexpensive items go in a useful but inexpensive backpack. Camera goes in camera bag strapped across the shoulders/over the neck. Money, credit cards, etc go in an over the neck or under-the-clothes wallet/money belt.

In DC as well as Rome.

Christina Talcott: More anti-theft tips...

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Washington, D.C.: Hello! In a time when travel is pretty expensive, I was wondering if you knew of a website that you can select departure city and travel dates, and it would provide you with a list of possible destinations and prices? I've seen something close on Kayak and Travelocity, but they both dictate the dates. Thanks!

Cindy Loose: I think that's a great idea, but I don't know of such a site. However, some of the airlines will list their best deals going--I start by looking at individual airline web sites and watching the Post deals page and looking at advertisements.

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Ellicott City, Md.: We're flying to South Africa in two weeks via Air France. I've heard nightmares about transiting CDG. We have a little over an hour to make our connection. Any tips or advice on the Paris airport? We are flying from Detroit, to Johannesburg.

Christina Talcott: No one here's flown through CDG lately, but just generally, study the terminal map before you go so you know where you're going once you land. Any chatters have specific advice?

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Atlanta, Ga.: for the people wanting European like atmosphere - what about Puerto Rico? I'm already planning a vacation there, but haven't been (like, planning in my head, no budget this year).

You can stay on the beach, but there is an old city and museums. And you could also go to a rainforest.

And they are all based on the dollar...

Am I off base here?

Christina Talcott: Sounds like an adventure to me. Thanks!

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Charlotte, N.C.: My husband only married me so we could go to Hawaii on our honeymoon! We booked a package via AAA with Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays that included airfare from Los Angeles, condo on the Big Island and a convertible, and condo in Waikiki for a decent price. The nice thing about condos is that we could eat in when it suited us. My husband used frequent flyer miles to get us to and from L.A. It really was great!

Christina Talcott: That does sound great. Thanks!

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No. Va.: Please help. I've been meaning to take my mom on a cruise. Any suggestions on a laid-back line with a more mature set of clients and mid to upper level accommodations/food? Prefer to embark from either Va. or Philadelphia, if possible.

Any last minute deals out there for a cruise date of early June? Thanks!

washingtonpost.com: Cruising Travel Stories (Post Travel Section archives)

Carol Sottili: If you're looking for a traditional cruise experience, Holland America would be a good choice. But it doesn't offer any cruises out of local ports. Also, in June most of the higher-end cruise lines are offering cruises either in Europe or Alaska. Bermuda and Caribbean are geared more to families with kids in June, so lines such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival dominate. Perhaps a Canada and New England cruise out of New York - Princess offers this itinerary in August. As for deals, I'd check directly with the cruise line first, and then check with a cruise discounter, such as www.icruise.com or www.ecruises.com.

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Washington, D.C.: How would you "characterize" the various Outer Banks communities? We have booked our first ever vacation in the area, and I am wondering about the different "flavors" of each town/area of the Outer Banks.

John Deiner: Hey, DC. That's a neat question. Let's see now...hmmm.
Hatteras is a little grittier, more authentic than the communities north. Nags Head is the Ocean City of the Outer Banks -- lots of restaurants, busy roads, T-shirt shops, ice cream stands. Southern Shores is a quiet wedge between Duck and Nags Head where you're shielded from the crowds of either community but close enough to easily join in on the fun. Duck is a chi-chi area where you want to be if you want to be close to restaurants and shops (though they're all in a row on the main strip). Anything north of that basically runs together -- just sprawling areas of beach houses you'll wish you owned. It's all family-friendly and, once everyone settles in on Sunday or Saturday, generally hassle-free. To get away from everybody, head to the northernmost communities north of the lighthouse.

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For the Atlanta Visitor: World of Coca Cola is a big advertisement that you have to pay to enter. The tasting room at the end is the best part. I had a much better time next door at the aquarium and across the park at CNN.

John Deiner: Good to know (and don't we get hit by enough Coca-Cola advertising already?).

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Manual driver here: But your run-of-the-mill 5-speed driver. I've only seen 6-speeds in high-end sports cars, Mini Coopers, and BMWs. The rest of us in the cheap seats have 5-speeds. Funny thing though, about a year ago I moved from DC to Havre de Grace, Md. I knew 2 stick drivers in D.C. Here, I can name 6 stick drivers on my office hallway. I think its all about the Beltway. Driving stick on the Beltway is painful!

Obligatory Travel - Sedona and the Grand Canyon in early June? No lines about dry heat. Will I melt? Will we be able to hike and not die?

Christina Talcott: You'll be fine, as long as you pack a lot of sunscreen and water, and wear a hat and long sleeve shirt and pants to protect you from the sun.

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Washington, D.C.: If a bottle label is is metric, if it reads 88 ml (millilitres) you'll be at 3 ounces (technically, 3 oz = 88.7 ml, so you could have fun and go up to an 89 ml bottle).

Christina Talcott: Good point!

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Visiting Quebec City: You recommended Quebec City, and I second that. It's a beautiful town. Anyone visiting Quebec City this summer should check the schedule of their annual fireworks shows, and definitely go to one. The fireworks are set off over a waterfall.

https://lesgrandsfeux.com/

Christina Talcott: Thanks for the tip!

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London, UK: Do you have any tips for finding good deals on one way tickets? I'm moving to the States in December, but one way ticket prices seem to cost about the same as a round trip ticket. Cheers!

Carol Sottili: Round-trip tickets are usually cheaper than one-way tickets, especially on international routes with no discount carrier service. Even though most airlines prohibit the purchase of a round-trip ticket when you don't intend to use the return, people do it.

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Philadelphia, Pa.: Kennett Square: Mexican ice cream

Must go to La Michoacana Ice Cream, 231 E. State St. Kennett Square, PA 19348

610-444-2996

Was there just yesterday; delicious. Great coffee ice cream; the avocado was delicious, too.

Christina Talcott: Thanks for the report!

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Ottawa: Just back from Malta and would like to put in a recommendation. It's a small island, easy to get around, everyone speaks English (more or less), they cater to tourists... and it's an incredibly rich place historically, starting with the ruins of the oldest known buildings (older than the pyramids), including a fantastic underground ancient temple (the Hypogeum - but reserve ahead of time for tours), and then going up through all the ages (lots of Crusades stuff) right up to the present. Nice beach (maybe more than one!). Accommodation from 5-star to cheap, friendly, perfectly adequate holiday flats.

John Deiner: Hey, Ottawa. I second that appraisal...it's a terrific place and it's easy to see in a week. I'd urge folks to get OFF the island and check out Gozo overnight, a little gem of a place just offshore.

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Charlotte, N.C.: On the European liquid rules - I just returned from Dublin (through JFK). I passed through Irish security with two bottles of apple juice (8 oz each) without being stopped (forgot they were in my carry-on). Then I collected two small waters from lunch on the plane (about 6 oz each). While coming back through security at JFK (after customs), I was stopped and both of my waters were taken and one of my apple juices. The other juice made it all the way home. You never can tell what they will stop you for!

Christina Talcott: So true. Some days it just seems so random.

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Germantown, Md.: I flew into CDG last July, but I didn't have to make a connection (I was flying to Paris). Something odd that I noticed, especially for a large international airport, is that sometimes planes don't taxi into an actual gate -- they make you climb down a set of stairs into a shuttle bus to get shuttled into the terminal. I don't know if Air France does that, but I would imagine that whole process is rather time-consuming and bad for making a tight connection.

Christina Talcott: Ooh, that does sound like a bad idea. We'll consider ourselves warned.

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former L.A.: For the chatter going to Indio -- look at Ontario airport (ONT). LAX is a huge hassle, and then tack on navigating the two hour drive from LAX out to Indio. ONT is a much friendlier airport, and about an hour drive from Indio.

(Indio is where Coachella, a big music festival is).

Carol Sottili: Thanks for the tip.

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New York, N.Y.: Have any of you all been to Playa del Carmen, Mexico? I'm going down for a week for July 4th with 7 friends from high school(I am now 30) to pretend we are still in high school. Any tips?

Carol Sottili: I'm afraid to tell you that I found Playa del Carmen more family oriented than party city. But I didn't stay up all night, so maybe things get hopping after my bedtime. Cancun is the wilder place.

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Washington D.C.: Gas prices shouldn't make that big a difference in most people's plans. Let's say you're planning to take two weeks and drive to Miami and back. If you're on a budget and are planning $150 a day for hotel, meals, and entertainment, that's $2100 over 14 days. Miami is 1100 miles from here, so round trip, getting 25 mpg, you'll need 88 gallons of gas. Last summer, at $3 a gallon, that would have been $264, bringing your total cost to $2364. Now, if you end up paying $4 of gallon. Your total trip cost has increased by about 4 percent, from $2364 to $2452. That's equivalent to an extra $6.28 a day. For a family of 4, you can make up the cost by spending 52 cents less per person on each meal.

Christina Talcott: Thanks for putting it in perspective! I think people are feeling the pinch when it comes to flying more than road-tripping, but eating out is one place where people can shave off some costs...

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Charlottesville, Va.: I'm spending three days sightseeing in New York City during the day while friends work, then dining and going to the theater at night. Other than MOMA and the Bodies exhibit and the roof of Rockefeller center, where should I take myself during the day to meander and generally relax and take in the scenery?

John Deiner: Hey, CVa. Since we're seconds from ending the chat here, I'd whole-heartedly recommend getting into Central Park and staying there -- there's really no other place like it in the city, and there are so many interesting nooks and crannies you can explore for hours and barely scratch the surface.

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Orlando, Fla.: Haven't gotten to use my Clear card in the DC area yet, but it's a big plus in Orlando for a business traveler. Bypassing the line filled w/ families with small children and other tourists who don't know about any of the travel restrictions really helps. But I also travel at least once a month, which makes the cost worth it.

Carol Sottili: A good friend of mine LOVES his clear card. Says it "works like a charm" here.

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Memorial Day, Weekend: Hi! Hope I'm not too late.

I'd love to go somewhere for 3 days for Memorial Day weekend from DCA. I've already been to NYC, Boston, and Philadelphia.

Most of the tickets I'm finding to N.C., S.C., Savannah Ga., and the like are $500 +.

Seriously? Do you have any other suggestions for a city girl who is into good food, culture, and cities that don't require a car?

Thank you!

Cindy Loose:
Hi--You're hitting the high holiday price conundrum. First off, DCA tends to be more expensive. I think you should at least consider BWI or Dulles, either of which is accessible by public transit. First check out fares from those airports to the cities you mentioned, since they do fit your criteria quite nicely. After that, you have a whole array of cities to choose from--since you only have three days look for nonstop flights. My number one pick for you given what you say you like: Chicago.
I'd also suggest eastern cities in Canada but flights there tend to be on the high side.

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Washington, D.C.: Good gravy... if you take the advice of one of the last posters (camera back -and- backpack) all positioned as they suggested you'll be weighted down like a donkey, and worse of all, you'll scream tourist!

Christina Talcott: Haha, that's true - you don't want to look like a target.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Great article about NY, NY -- thanks for the great ideas about what to do with kids, especially.

But the musical theatre geek in me has to quibble with your reference to Leonard "Bernstein's plotline." Betty Comden and Adolph Green, of course, wrote the book and lyrics to "On the Town." Bernstein wrote the music. Without Comden & Green, you'd just have been singing "Da da da da, da da da da da..."

washingtonpost.com: It's One Big Playground (Post Travel Section, May 4)

John Deiner: Quibble acknowledged, Silver Spring. Thanks for the note!

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For Atlanta: I thought the World of Coke was worth it, even if it is an ad. But make sure you have lunch at the Varsity on North Avenue (near the MARTA stop). The onion rings are fantastic if you don't mind telling your arteries who's boss!

John Deiner: Okay, a vote FOR the World of Coke . . . so, it depends upon your taste.

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Re; Hawaii: Spent 10 days on the Big Island. On the "wet" side of the Island we stayed at the Kilauea Lodge (www.kilauealodge.com), which is right near the entrance to Volcanoes Park. On the "dry" side of the island we stayed up the hill from Kona and Waimea in a place called the Jacaranda Inn (www.jacarandainn.com). Both were fabulous.

Christina Talcott: Thanks for the recs!

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To the Cancun Traveler: I've been going there for about 15 yrs for business and pleasure.

Under $550 right now... I would jump on it. I was there last Sept and it cost me $516 r/t.

Christina Talcott: Thanks for the advice!

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Washington, D.C.: If you were going away for a long weekend to the Caribbean with a baby and pre-schooler, flying directly only, and wanting a smallish (no mega resort) but kid-friendly place in the moderate to expensive range, where would you stay? For this trip we are putting ease and comfort over potential cost savings (although we wouldn't say no to a bargain!).

washingtonpost.com: Critters? Cuisine? Casinos? Pick Your Perfect Isle (Post Travel Section, March 4, 2007)

You Can Get There from Here, Nonstop (Post Travel Section, March 2)

Christina Talcott: Do these help?

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Bethesda Mom: Just want to chime in (late) to the discussion a week or so ago about packing light. Someone mentioned that underwear didn't take up a lot of space--but she probably hasn't traveled with teenage boys, who will only wear cotton boxer shorts (impossible to wash out in the sink and expect to dry the next day), and a spouse who goes through two or so cotton t-shirt undershirts on a warm day, and don't get me started on cotton tube socks.

I find that at least half of the suitcases are taken up with underwear when my family travels. Any advice, especially from the men on the chat?

Cindy Loose: I wonder how the TSA feels about those vacuum bags that I buy at Linen and Things or Container Store to store my out of season clothes? You vacuum out the air and the bag takes up a fraction of the space. However, if TSA insists on seeing the stuff you'd never get it back into the suitcase without a vacuum cleaner nearby.
If you boys insist on a certain kind of brief and your husband has to change t-shirts at least twice a day, I'm thinking you should consider sending them to a laundromat halfway through the trip.

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Christina Talcott: Uh oh, looks like we're out of time. Thanks for joining us for another exciting Monday chat -- so many questions! Whatever we didn't get to, we'll try to answer in another chat or in Chat Plus. Can the person who's driving his or her folks from Atlantic City to New York e-mail me (talcottc@washpost.com) to claim the calendar?
For the rest of you, keep an eye on our blog throughout the week and check out next Sunday's section for more money-saving summer vacation tips, and chat with you again next Monday!

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