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: riding with the gauchos in Uruguay and Argentina, going green by re-using hotel towels, and touring historic homes in Lincoln, Mass.

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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Andrea Sachs: Greetings travelers.

We are back after a nice weekend on Block Island, R.I. (for me) and Maryland (for Christina). Please, tell us where you have been and where you are going.

Also, I would love to know what everyone thinks about the airlines pecking, pecking, pecking at our wallets: What airline change would make you stand up and shout, "No more! Leave our wallets alone! I will not pay extra for toilet paper, use of trays, bleach bag, etc." Not that I am trying to start a revolution or anything.

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Washington, DC: Can you recommend a romantic get-away for my husband and me while the grandparents are here watching the kids? We had thought about going to the Caribbean for 4 nights, but ended up thinking flying would suck. So it's a drive- cation. Greenbrier and Keswick Hall are both booked for next weekend, but wine tasting in Charlottesville does appeal. Looking for sleeping, spa-ing, relaxing like grown- ups, not so much schlepping and culture. No Eastern Shore tho. Thanks!

Christina Talcott: I'm dying to go back to Warm Springs, VA, where you can relax in the low-key Jefferson Pools, eat delicious local food, hike in the mountains and stay in luxury at a local B&B - I loved the Inn at Grist Mill Square, with fireplaces in the rooms, breakfast delivered to your door and the terrific Waterwheel restaurant attached. If you want a more upscale experience, try the Homestead, down the road in Hot Springs, VA. Other options are the many B&Bs around Culpeper and Orange, Va., right in the heart of wine (and cheese and whiskey!) country. Try www.visitculpeperva.com or www.innsatmontpelier.com. Not in wine country but still in the spa/relaxing vein, a colleague of mine raves about a lovely, recent, childless getaway at the Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels. Anyone else have suggestions?

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Washington, DC: I'm planning a 30th birthday trip with 4-6 friends to Playa del Carmen in late October. Do you have any recommendations for great places to stay or sources to use to find rental condos/houses? Can anyone offer other tips (dining, shopping, beaches) about this destination? I've never been there, but it's easy to get to for all involved.

Many, many thanks for any help you can provide!

washingtonpost.com: After Wilma, Is Mexico Ready For Some Fun? (Post Travel Section, Dec. 11, 2005)

Christina Talcott: Anyone out there with Playa del Carmen tips for this birthday girl?

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Aer Lingus Sale: I know you all have mentioned before that it pays to sign up with the airlines to be notified of sales, etc. I just wanted to reiterate what you've said and confirm that it's absolutely true. I knew that I wanted to take my family to Ireland for Spring Break this year, so a few months ago, I signed up for sale notification with Aer Lingus. On Friday, I received an email from them about their fall/winter/spring sale and I booked some excellently-priced tickets for April. The ad for this sale was in the Post's Travel Section on Sunday, so to test the theory about early notification, I checked to see if seats for the flights we had booked were still available. Yes, they were but the price for the outbound flight had risen by $100! So I saved $300 by signing up for advance notification. Thanks for the great advice, Travel Gurus!

Carol Sottili: Yes, great idea. Cheap air tickets go fast.

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Silver Spring, MD: Our trip to Santiago, Chile involves a departure from IAD on United Express/Mesa Air to JFK where we transfer to Lanchile Air. Do we pay baggage fees on the United flight notwithstanding the final international destination?

Carol Sottili: Which airline ticketed you?

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Indianapolis, Ind: A few weeks ago, I was on an international flight with a foreign carrier out of Chicago. As we were taxiing for take off, the pilot gave his welcoming address and then said we were next in line for takeoff. Then all of a sudden the plane stopped and the pilot came on and said the tower had asked us to wait about twenty minutes for the skies to clear. Well, it was stifling hot and miserable inside that tube in the sun, so the attendants started passing out water. About ten minutes into this, without the pilot warning us or anything, he takes off, throwing water bottles, cups, and attendants all over the place. I suppose you might have thought I had a question about safety but I just wanted to tell you this because I thought it was very funny. I think no one was hurt.

Andrea Sachs: A nice indoor shower!

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Rockville, MD: If I make a flight reservation now for May 09 (in order to lock in a specific timing and price), and the airline eliminates my flight in one of their cost-cutting attempts between now and then:

Do they automatically rebook me on a similar flight for the same price?

Do they notify me ASAP if there's a cancelled flight, or am I responsible for keeping daily or weekly tabs on the flight's status?

If the flight is eliminated, and they can only offer alternative flights that make my trip plans untenable, do I get a full cancellation refund, or am I now stuck with a non-refundable ticket that I have no use for?

(flight availabilities are already rather limited for this trip -- Anchorage -- so eliminated flights are likely to have very few viable alternatives)

Carol Sottili: Yes, the airline will rebook you at the same price. They're supposed to notify you of flight changes, but they don't always do that. You need to check.

You get a full refund if you don't like the alternative flights. But, depending on how far in advance the change is made, this may not be enough to book similar flights on a different carrier.

P.S. Alaska Airlines announced Friday that it will reduce capacity by eight percent and is eliminating up to 1,000 jobs starting Nov. 9.

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Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.: re airline pecking: I hate the idea of United charging for meals on international flights! No more hot food? And what is someone who keeps kosher, for example, supposed to do? I don't think they'll have special meals anymore.

I hope (despite the smells) that everyone starts packing their own food and United doesn't earn any money on this. Personally, I'd rather pay an extra $15 in the ticket price for the bad food they were serving before than have to pay $9 for a cold snack box.

Christina Talcott: Actually, United scrapped the idea of charging for food on international flights, so you'll still be able to get yummy airline food on your next trip to Europe. As for packing your own food, I'm all for it. I always bring nice healthy food to eat on a flight - only to be seduced by Cinnabon. Curse you, Cinnabon and your delicious gooeyness!

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Washington, D.C.: Is the 30-minutes stay-in-seats rule outside of DCA back in effect? I flew a Delta flight from Atlanta on Sept 10 and we were informed of this rule. Perhaps it was just because we were close to 9/11. But at the very least, I think passengers deserve advance warning so they can go to the bathroom, get stuff out of their luggage, etc. before being forced to stay in their seats. We just got an announcement 30 minutes outside of DC that we could not get out of our seats.

Carol Sottili: We have no idea why some pilots still enforce this out-of-date former TSA rule, which was suspended in 2005. Complain to the TSA (TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov) and to the airline (www.delta.com/emailus/servlet/EmailUs?cmd=go).

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Delta flight recently: I wanted to rave a little bit about Delta Airlines (and send a BOO-HISS to Logan Airport). I was flying from Boston to San Diego in late August with a connecting flight in Cincinnati. I got to the airport early (the flight was just before 6 AM) but long lines to check bags AND at security meant that I had 10 minutes to sprint to my gate before the departure time. No matter who I told (security guards, etc) about needing to get through security ASAP seemed to think I'd need any more time than 10 minutes! Luckily I'm young and fast... I sprinted up and down and across the terminal to get to my plane... and they held the door for me (but closed it on the several people behind me). ANYWAY -- none of my bags were lost, every flight (to and from San Diego) was on time, and the flight attendants were great. I'm glad that I'm flying Delta in October and November!

Christina Talcott: Ooh, a rave and a rant - what a combo. I'm glad to hear you and your bags made it ok to San Diego, thanks to Delta. Sometimes a little kindness on one boarding agent's part makes all the difference on a trip, huh?

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like a boy scout, be prepared: I know that the advice these days with all of the flight delays/cancellations is to prepare yourself with information about other flights when you're dealing with the airline. My question is, how best to do this? Since you're not actually looking to buy a ticket, and since you may be hoping to get on a supposed-to-be full flight if someone is a no-show, I'm guessing you don't look at ticketing websites like travelocity. Do you look at every airline's website to see what flights they offer that day for same origin/destination? Or look at the airport's website to see who flies there? Just trying to figure out how to be prepared! Thanks.

Carol Sottili: The airports' Web sites are a good starting point. Locally, that's www.mwaa.com for Dulles and National and www.bwiairport.com for BWI. If you travel frequently, subscribing to a guide may be a good investment: www.oag.com.

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Mpls MN: Well, I had something weird happen to me last weekend - a great airline experience. Nothing major, but I flew Midwest Airlines for the first time. I was alone with a couple kids. The ticket counter lady helped me schlep my suitcase to the x-ray machine and checked my car seat to make sure it's FAA approved (we've flown with it for years and no one has ever checked). She re-arranged our seats so that we'd be near the front of the plane, so that I didn't have to carry all my baby crud to the back of the plane. The gate agents helped me stow my stroller and carry on bags. The flight attendant chatted with my toddler about her doll. I had a screaming baby when we got on board and sat down to nurse him, and the flight attendant brought me some water, unbidden, because she remembered she always got thirsty when she nursed (people were still boarding, I didn't delay the flight). And to top it all off, warm chocolate chip cookies! I had never really known anything about this airline before I booked tickets, but I am now a big fan. I generally fly NWA (am Gold Elite) and don't get treated nearly as nicely as I did as a harried mom with two kids. And I wasn't charged to check my suitcase!

Carol Sottili: Like many airlines, Midwest has financial problems, but it's always prided itself on the "best care in the air" (its motto).

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Washington, DC : I am looking at attending a conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL next June (last weekend in June) and had a few questions.

1. What is the possibility of hurricanes hitting? I am thinking in terms of travel to and from more than a direct hit.

2. Given the economic situation and travel, is it worth purchasing tickets now? I have found about $350 direct from DCA-FTL and Amtrak running about $210 (coach).

3. Anything fun to do (outside of avoiding the humidity) at that time of year? My only previous trip to Florida was to canoe parts of the Everglades in February back in high school.

Thanks.

washingtonpost.com: Where the Boys Are, Part 2: Watch out, South Beach. Fort Lauderdale is making its moves as a top gay spot. (Post Travel Section, May 15, 2005)

Andrea Sachs: Unfortunately, we have no idea how the hurricanes will be swirling next year (or even next Monday), but June is a bit early in the season. Just go with the flow when it comes to weather. For flights, that fare is high. I flew Spirit nonstop for less than $200 a few weeks ago and see airfare for $165 on AirTran. For attractions, here a few suggestions: Butterfly World, Flamingo Gardens, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park (beaches, surfing, lagoons, etc.), culture and history along Riverwalk, International Swimming Hall of Fame, the Historic Himmarshee Village and the Venice of America cruise.

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Camp Hill, Pa.: A few words of advice, please: This spring my husband and I booked a United flight through Travelocity from Dulles to St. Thomas, USVI. Got to the airport with almost two hours to spare, checked in and then, at the gate, were bumped from the flight (with 12 others). The gate personnel couldn't have been ruder or less helpful: One staffer told us it was our fault for arriving late (not true), another said it was our fault for not paying full fare (who does?), yet another said it was because we hadn't booked through the airline (though the next bumpee in line had, to no avail). Calling Travelocity was no help. Eventually, United grumpily cut us a check and booked us on a flight for the next day, but we lost a full day of vacation and our hotel room in the islands.

OK, so, we're moving on ... and planning a trip to Italy next month (US Air, PHL-Venice), booked using some Amex points -- so, by default, again through Travelocity. How can we diminish the odds of this happening again, when I thought we did everything right the last time and still got treated so shabbily? Thanks for taking questions, and any advice is much appreciated.

Christina Talcott: Hoo boy, I was going to say, "Book through the airline," but I guess it's too late this time. Booking through the airline might not prevent you from being bumped, but it'll prevent you from possibly getting the runaround by the airline AND the booking site. Of course, Travelocity and its kin can sometimes be the best way to buy, so here are a few suggestions for your next trip: Check in online before you leave for the airport to get your seat assignments and to make sure the flight's still on time; have handy the phone numbers for Travelocity and US Air, and have your cell phone AND CHARGER in your carry-on luggage; compile (or copy down once you're at the airport) a list of all scheduled flights to Italy from Philadelphia so the gate agent can quickly find you the next available flight if need be. Anyone else have anti-bumping tips?

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Southwest Airlines Question: I have booked a flight in mid October. Since I booked this in August, the flight has gone down by $30. Will they refund me money if I ask? Thanks for your help.

Carol Sottili: Not sure whether Southwest has an official policy. Call them at 214-792-4223. It behaves differently than most airlines. For example, it doesn't charge a penalty fee when you can't use your air ticket - you just have to apply the cost toward another ticket within one year. So my guess is that they'll either refund or give you a $30 voucher toward a future trip.

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D.C. - Local Resorts: Hi Crew - A few friends and I would like to purchase a gift certificate to a local resort as a wedding present. Amount of the certificate will, I suppose, depend on what resort we pick. None of us know very much about local resorts - and I'm sure you've written about them before. Any links you might be able to post to help direct us? Any suggestions right off the bat? We're looking for anything within, at the most, a 4-hour drive from D.C. in any direction Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: Some of the region's top resorts include the Homestead, Inn at Little Washington, Greenbrier, Lansdowne and Bedford Springs. If you want more flexibility, you can buy the newlyweds a gift certificate for an online B&B booking site, such as www.bedandbreakfast.com or www.bnbfinder.com. Then, they can choose their place and location.

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Bethesda Mom: I have an airfare question for Carol: my son's high school Model UN club has been invited to participate in a conference in Qatar. Airfare will be subsidized somewhat, and we are trying to keep the costs to not much more than the $1,200/person allowed. Lufthansa has a sale on now, but we can't be sure of who is going for several weeks. Do you think that there will be more system-wide sales later in the fall? The conference is scheduled for the last week of January. Or, can you recommend any consolidators who specialize in the Middle East or travel agents?

Thanks!

Carol Sottili: Figure out which airlines go to Qatar, and then call each of the airline's customer relations' departments to see if they will do a group rate. Compare that to the ticket price if purchased individually. Sales are so difficult to predict in this volatile market. I can't even begin to guess. This Lufthansa sale is very good, although don't know what the cost is to Qatar. Make sure you price the trip out of New York before buying.

As for consolidators, I can't recommend any. You could try www.vayama.com, which specializes in international airfares.

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Phoenix, AZ: I will be traveling to Ireland with a group of 10 in November. What is the best way to get a great deal on a rental car in Europe?

Andrea Sachs: You might be able to get a group rate. Also, renting off-site is cheaper. Ask for AAA, senior discounts and such. Look for coupons online. Or, try Priceline. I just found $9 a day, from Dublin. Crazy!

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Anonymous: What the heck is a bleach bag?

I will not pay extra for toilet paper, use of trays, bleach bag, etc.

Andrea Sachs: I was trying to be creative without causing anyone to toss their cookies.

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Fairfax, VA: I traveled from IAD to LAX on United recently. I reluctantly paid my $15 to check my bag so I wouldn't have the hassle of dealing with it going through security. The flight was sold out, and many people wheeled their giant suitcases aboard, only to be astonished that there was "no room in the bin". They were then given the opportunity to wheel their bag to the front and have it gate checked - I assume for free? That makes me more than a little resentful...

Andrea Sachs: To my knowledge, it is free when it is check at the gate. Agree: Annoying.

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Seattle: How much will be charged if we choose to use the deployed oxygen mask/?

Will there be enough oxygen given to share with your partner?

Will they start having the oxygen dispenser be coin operated?

How much will be charged if we used the barf bag?

Andrea Sachs: Love No. 4. Coin-operated oxygen. (Oh, let's not give them any ideas.)

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Arlington, VA: Where I've been: A June trip to Seattle and Boise Where I'm going: New Zealand for 3 weeks in Nov-Dec (can't wait!)

Part of the problem with these annoying extra charges on airlines is that they are now charging for things that we always got for free before, but we are not seeing the base fare go down as these charges appear. So it seems more like the airlines are taking advantage of us, particularly since the first-class passengers, who could most afford to pay extra for amenities, don't get charged. There are some airline charges I don't mind, like Jet Blue's charging for a pillow and blanket -- you get to keep it, and you know for sure that it's clean. But I think charging for beverages, particularly water, is just beyond the pale. You've got people literally trapped on the plane with no other options -- you need to provide some basic amenities.

There are things I WISH airlines would charge for, like carry-ons instead of checked bags. Or, you know, just enforcing their stated policies on the size and number of checked bags would be a great start. I'd pay extra to be guaranteed space in the overhead bin directly above my seat. I'd pay extra to sit in a child-free section of the plane. I'd pay extra to be guaranteed that the person next to me would not be spilling over into my seat. (Actually, I guess I could get all those things if I could afford first class.)

Andrea Sachs: I completely agree. I think you need to lead our revolution!

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WDC: I will be going to Tenerife, Canary Islands in February. The best price I've found is about $1000 to fly there via Madrid. Shall I buy now or do you think that there are better prices on the horizon? Thanks!

Carol Sottili: If you're flying from here via Madrid, you probably have to connect twice. And the cost is somewhere between $900 and $1,000 round trip, depending on dates. You could also look into flying Lufthansa into Germany or Iberia into Madrid and then taking a discount airline to Tenerife. I believe Condor and Air Europa fly there from various cities in Europe.

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Vero Beach, Fla.: For the Ft. Lauderdale query, the chance of a hurricane in June is minimal (even if a treasure fleet sank on the Florida coast in a July storm). You can find hurricane probability maps at:

http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/tcfaqHED.html

June is the rainiest month, but it would be fine to drive to the Everglades National Park's Homestead entrance, or just drive Alligator Alley (I-75) to Naples and back.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks, Vero, for the tips.

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Flying to Qatar: Look into Qatar Airways, which operates a nonstop from Dulles to Doha (the capital city). Fares in late January are currently around $1,500. While that's more than Lufthansa, I view $300 as a small price to pay for not having to connect in Europe.

Carol Sottili: Good tip. Plus I believe Qatar Airways has a very good rep.

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Washington, D.C.: If I toss my cookies, do I get a refund for them?

Andrea Sachs: You get a coupon for cookies on your next flight.

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Re. Southwest: You can rebook it on-line and then you have Southwest credit that's good for a year (unless that changed).

Carol Sottili: That's what I thought, but they do have to travel within the year.

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Boston, MA: I'm heading to Paris to stay with a friend for five days in November. She just moved there and we will likely tour the city for a day or two but are looking for a fun, relatively inexpensive, one night trip to take. Any suggestions?? It seems like the train should offer some easy options (Geneva?), but we could use some help. Thanks!

washingtonpost.com: France Travel Stories- if I were you, I'd consider Reims, Lyon or Dijon - all places I have never been but would love to visit on future trips to France. - Elizabeth

Nancy McKeon: We have a story coming up in a few weeks (mid-October) that will incorporate a circuit around Normandy, so you should take a serious look at that. And you should consider the Loire Valley, with its glorious chateaux, which would make a great weekend (and closer than Dijon or Lyon). I'm sure lots of folks have their favorites to add too. Feel free to pile on: Giverny? Versailles? Mont St-Michel?

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Solo getaway: Hello!

I would like to take a 3-4 day getaway, just me--I am a 40 year old woman, and don't mind flying or driving.

If you had this amount of vacation time, and wanted to get away, where would you go?

Thank you--

Andrea Sachs: Carol: Ocean City

Christina: Paris

Andrea: Toronto

Anyone else want to join us with ideas?

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Arlington, VA: I keep hearing people say they fly out of BWI for the cheaper rates but I don't know how to get there besides driving and parking my car. Is there a reliable way to get to Baltimore from DC for an evening flight on a weekday? Say leaving work around 4:30 to make an 8:30 pm flight out of BWI? Thanks!

Nancy McKeon: The MARC train (#428) leaves D.C.'s Union Station at 4:15 p.m. and arrives at BWI Marshall Airport at 4:40. There's a free shuttle bus to the BWI passenger terminal.

Nancy McKeon: The MARC trains run to BWI daily 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Look at the complete schedule at http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/

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Washington, DC: What's the crew's advice for traveling to a country that's involved in an ongoing conflict? I am heading to Russia (Moscow) in a few works, and am concerned about the recent fighting with Georgia. Should I bother getting travel insurance as most of the policies will not cover for acts of war or terrorism? (The State Department does not advise against travel to Russia right now...) Also, I'd love a link to anything recent the travel section's written on Moscow! Thanks!

washingtonpost.com: Nothing really recent on Moscow, but here's a nice long piece from our Post Co. cousins: Moscow Made Easier (Budget Travel, Sept. 2005)

Carol Sottili: I'd go to a site such as www.insuremytrip.com or www.squaremouth.com to investigate travel policies. Some do cover acts of war or terrorism, but there are stipulations. As for whether to go, I would, but that's a very individual decision.

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Philadelphia, PA: Never flown before. Never traveled beyond US or Canada. Where to start for a trip to Paris? How do I choose one airline over another? Is it even worth it to go for only a week? Can you recommend any first timer sites/books? I browsed through the archives, but the Europe info seemed to be super specific--where to go and eat, not this basic how do I even know how to pack sort of stuff. Thanks for any tips.

Christina Talcott: Wow, you're brave! First flight and first time out of the country, and you pick Paris - sounds like a great start to a travel-filled future to me. First of all, I'd pick flights based on price. You'll feel less pressure to have the "best time ever" if you haven't overspent on your flight. Second, get thee to a bookstore or library and flip through the Paris books there to get a feel for which one speaks to you. Most will have an intro with some history and basic orientation information (including weather, which should inform what you pack to wear), and all will cover the classic Paris sites, but the dining/shopping/lodging and other info sections can vary wildly. I loved my DK Eyewitness book when I lived in Paris because it has lovely illustrated cross-sections of churches and other sites, plus walking tours, nice photos, detailed maps and good food/shopping/lodging lists. Websites like ours will also have current lodging and dining suggestions, as you've noticed. As for must-packs: Comfortable walking shoes, a camera, a raincoat and/or umbrella, a guidebook with good maps and an ATM and/or credit card with enough funds to be able to enjoy yourself. And before you go, ask around! People love to talk about their travels, and folks who've been to Paris tend to have wildly different experiences and suggestions they'll be eager to share. Having only one week in Paris would be sad, but not as sad as never having gone. Bon voyage!

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A possibility for going to Qatar: British Airways have always maintained a fairly high level of service to Bahrain, and both Virgin Atlantic and Emirates serve Dubai (the latter with a non-stop out of Dulles). It might be worth exploring what it would cost to fly into either of these locations and then take a short flight into Qatar from there.

For that matter, I think Qatar Airways operate out of Dulles, too.

Carol Sottili: More ideas for getting to Qatar.

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Bowie, MD: I think that I would never fly an airline again if they started charging you for the "privilege" of being able to take your carry-on onboard. That would be IT. Plain and simple.

Andrea Sachs: If they just let us on with our ticket and ID? Torture would be four hours of flying with only my driver's license as reading material.

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Reusing towels: I've seen those signs in hotels for over a decade and I always wonder, do they really allow us to reuse the towel? Sometimes the towel that I hung on the back of the door isn't hanging there the next day. Could it be possible that they folded up the used towel into that perfect shape? I doubt it so I wonder if its just a marketing ploy to say, hey look how we care about the environment. I've noticed this with handtowels or washcloths too. Even when I fold them neatly they still have them replaced. What gives? Thoughts?

washingtonpost.com: Go Green, One Towel at a Time (Post Travel Section, Sept. 14)

Nancy McKeon: I know what you mean. But there's no need for conspiracy theorizing: I just think there's many a slip between the memo from management and the actual performance by housekeeping. In the end, I suspect it's a very individual thing.

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23112: Luggage question... what is a good piece of luggage to invest in for family travel? We've got two boys (4 and 1) and are flying cross-country for Thanksgiving, which will coincide with the younger's birthday, and want to upgrade our "primary" suitcase. Ideas?

washingtonpost.com: You can find several luggage review articles from recent years on this page: Travel Products Stories

Carol Sottili: Here are some articles to read.

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Suggestion for an upcoming trip: Love your chat.

We are planning on a 10-day trip to London and France. Flying into London, spending 2-3 days in London, rest of the days in France and flying out of Paris.

Could you suggest a good location to stay in London and a good itinerary for France? Thanks in advance for all the suggestions.

Nancy McKeon: I'm going to leave the London part to others. I have in the past loved staying in the Bloomsbury area, but I haven't had the nerve to check out hotel rates recently, fearing they would take the top of my head off!

As for France, so much of what Americans love about the country is in the south--the craggy hills of Provence, the semi-abandoned villages perched on the sides of mountains, the craft villages, the sensuous charms of the seaside. Personally, I would hop in a car and make my way south, stopping in small centers on the way. Or you could fly to Nice and slowly make your way back to Paris. I have a fondness for the southwest--Toulouse, Carcassonne, Albi, the Perigord; but also for the area above Dijon, Alesie les Reines, where the great Gallic general Vercingetorix finally lost out to Julius Caesar. Try creating a circuit of smaller towns, which will allow you to deal with people who speak French more slowly than the Parisians do and where the food is still counts for something. You could have lazy days just absorbing France and never miss not seeing one last museum!

Anyone have more concrete suggestions, especially about London?

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Arlington, VA : On where to enjoy tea time in London away from the tourist-bus refugees... If you don't need the quintessential British "high tea" experience, I recommend the Cafe in the Crypt in the basement of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square. You can get tea, scones, crumpets, etc., and do some tombstone rubbings. A unique experience in London, indeed!

washingtonpost.com: The London Cuppa, Steeped in Tradition (Post Travel Section, Sept. 14)

Nancy McKeon: That sounds fabulous and obviously local. One thing, though: the term "high tea" is misused by us Americans. A high tea in Britain is a working-class meal that includes tea plus cold meats and sandwiches, perhaps eggs or fish. It can substitute for dinner. The delight we all crave is an "afternoon tea," or sometimes a "cream tea," with all the scones and tea sandwiches and cakes we love. Check out next week's issue, when one of our regular correspondents searches all over Cornwall for the best clotted cream to go with her cream tea!

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RE: Charlottesville Weekend getaway: I'm the poster who wrote last week about the Charlottesville Weekend getaway and wanted to thank everyone for their suggestions. It really felt like an escape, and with just 2 hours of driving, was very easy. We stayed at the Holiday Inn (University area) and were happy. Highly recommend Shebeen, a South African restaurant, for a meal.

Where shall we go for our next weekend escape?

Also, I second your suggesting to head to Ombu in Argentina. Went last year and loved it!

Andrea Sachs: So glad you had a successful outing.

For this weekend, how about Deep Creek Lake, Md., for some nature and fresh air.

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Philadelphia, PA.: I am sure many readers will confirm this observation: Every Amtrak car (except the quiet car on those that have them, which is one of the best ideas of all time) has exactly one person who is on a cell phone the entire journey who believes everyone on the car wishes to hear what is being discussed so the conversation is held with a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. Personally, while I think sending these people to Guantanamo might be a good idea, I am willing to suggest compromises. All cell phone loud voice talkers should ride strapped to the roof of the cars, or maybe Amtrak can devise something that blocks cell phone conversations? Maybe someone else has a good idea?

Nancy McKeon: Well, so far the airlines have a good idea: ban cellphone use (using VoIP) even where Internet service is (or is soon to be) available. And they're holding off for just the reasons you suggest. Until we all learn to murmur into our cellphones (and the technology becomes good enough to allow this understated approach), I fall short of banning calls on trains but come down on the side of asking (begging?) people to keep a lid on it.

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Phoenix, AZ: I'm coming to DC for a weekend trip and am not planning on renting a car this time. I'm flying into BWI. What is the best (easiest and safest) way to get to downtown DC short of just renting a car?

Andrea Sachs: The MARC train/Amtrak is the best. It goes right to Union Station downtown.

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San Antonio, TX: Re the reader last week asking about which South American country to visit, I'd vote for Peru hands down. Machu Picchu is not to be missed. All the Incan ruins were fascinating.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the tip, San A.

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Arlington, VA: Don't MARC trains only operate M-F and not "daily"?

Andrea Sachs: Correct, only weekdays.

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Oakton, VA: I'd draw the line at paying $100 for using the Emergency slide in case of an evacuation. Of course if it is like snacks and drinks, they won't take charge cards or travelers cheques.

Andrea Sachs: Well, that could be your one carry-on, I guess.

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Boston to Cancun: Hi, flight crew. My boyfriend and I are looking for flights from Boston to Cancun for a January 3rd wedding. So far, the cheapest flights I've found were from the Thurs before to the Tues after for $531. People bought their tickets months ago in the $300s, so we're hoping the price will drop again. What do you think? Farecast.com is saying to wait.

Carol Sottili: Farecast has some fancy software devoted to tracking such things, so may be worth watching that site for a couple of weeks before buying. But Jan. 3 is the last day of a long holiday season, so I think seats are going to be limited. You do need to be there at a specific time on specific date, so having no flexibility is an issue. I'd probably pull the trigger fairly soon.

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Weekend?: Hi guys. Weird question... but what happened to the "Weekend Now" or whatever chat that usually takes place on Friday mornings. I don't think that chat has been on since like July.

Now a travel question... is there any way to get to Annapolis from DC without driving on the weekend? Any good Bus/Train options? If not, how hard is it to park in Annapolis? I've never been, but have always wanted to go since I've heard that it's a nice city. Thanks!

washingtonpost.com: The "Weekend Now" chat is no longer around, but the Going Out Gurus happily take questions on Thursday afternoons on all kinds of activities in and around Washington.

Christina Talcott: Sorry you miss Weekend Now! As a former Weekend staffer, I remember the fun of answering questions about what to do, but I'm sure the Going Out Gurus will do a great job, too. As for Annapolis, your best bet is to drive, unfortunately. That said, finding parking is usually pretty easy. Here's info from the city's Web site (www.ci.annapolis.md.us): "Average garage parking rates are $1.25 per hour. Only $1.00 per hour for Knighton Garage on the corner of Colonial Drive and West Street."

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Raves About Airlines: I just wanted to urge those posters who had good experiences with Delta and Midwest Airlines to send their kudos to the airlines too (with names, dates and flight numbers, if possible.) At the least, the airline will appreciate some good news for once and at the most, the airline employees that were so helpful will get recognized/rewarded by their airline.

Carol Sottili: Not a bad idea. Reminds me that I need to contact Cox about a good rep I talked to there last week. If you share the hate, may as well share the love.

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Follow-up to "Solo getaway": The person who asked the question about "Solo getaway" described herself as a 40-year-old woman. I'm curious, would your answers be the same if a man were to submit the same question? (I am NOT trying to suggest that there's any sexism amongst the Flight Crew. I'm just curious whether her sex played any part in the recommendations of destinations. I'm male and I've been kicking around the idea of a three- or four-day hop to somewhere in Europe next month since I will have some time off from work.)

Andrea Sachs: We did not at all take her gender into consideration, though oddly we are three females answering--for ourselves.

Wait, let me ask Joe: Montreal.

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3-4 day trip suggestion: If the traveler is like me and enjoys warm weather, I would go to Puerto Rico. They have direct flights and you don't need a passport.

For the person flying out of BWI, there is also a metro bus shuttle from the Glenmont metro that would do the trick vs the Marc train. I think its no more than $3 too. I just wish they started earlier b/c I had a 7am flight and had to drive in order to get there early enough.

Andrea Sachs: Excellent answers on both accords. Thanks!

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Morning flights: The story about the sprinter at Logan reminds me of taking 6 am flights out of BWI. They never open all the security lines up until 5:30, so it's always a long line and people get nervous they might miss their flight. The last time I was on this flight, this lady comes pushing through everyone saying her her flight was boarding and she had to get through security (it was 5:40 at this point). Everyone around me (including me) turned to glare at her, and kindly pointed out that we are all on flights that claimed to be "boarding," and in fact, everyone in line from our point forward were all on her flight.

Christina Talcott: Haha, that must have been awkward for her when you all boarded!

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Virgin Vacations: Am considering a London package (flight & hotel) with Virgin travel - does anyone on the Crew or the chatters have experience with them? They offer coach flight and hotel for $800 US per person (budget hotel) and up to about $1350pp for luxury (4 star or better) hotel. Those prices seem pretty good....

Carol Sottili: Haven't used them, but do think twice before booking a budget hotel in London. I was bitten by bed bugs last time I opted for this level of lodging.

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"If they just let us on with our ticket and ID? Torture would be four hours of flying with only my driver's license as reading material": The Brits did exactly that a few years back after the alleged terrorist plot to blow up aircraft. Prior to the current silly liquid rules, the Brits briefly banned EVERYTHING from the cabin except for your wallet and your house keys (but the remote for your car locks had to be checked into the hold). Forget a paltry four hours with nothing to read--try Heathrow to Singapore or Narita!!!!

Andrea Sachs: I try to suppress those days. Maybe I need to start inking books on my arm.

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to BWI from DC: For the post about getting to BWI from DC-- Don't forget Metro. The Metrobus BWI EXPRESS/B-30 line runs frequently from the Greenbelt Metro station. It's an easy, affordable (cheap!) way to take Metro to BWI.

Andrea Sachs: Another goodie. Thanks.

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Fairfax, VA: I hope I get this in: I saw prices just under $900 to go from Dulles to Bonaire in early February. Do I take it, or are better fares likely?

Andrea Sachs: Sounds good to us. That is a hard island to reach and it is high season.

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Penn Quarter: Last week's "Wedding Week" featured someone from theknot.com who answered a question from someone interested in going to Croatia for their honeymoon but was worried it would be too expensive and wondered if they should just settle for the Caribbean instead. He told them that with the Euro being so strong, they should look at other locations. I submitted a response, but wasn't posted, so if you are reading, engaged couple looking at going to Croatia- go! You can do it on a budget of $3500 and have a great time. Also, Croatia isn't on the Euro, nor are a lot of great Eastern European countries. Don't think you have to do the beach vacation that the WIC pushes on everyone.

washingtonpost.com: WIC = Wedding Industrial Complex, FYI

Nancy McKeon: I'd like to second the raves for Croatia. I spent a couple of weeks there this summer and, while it wasn't dirt cheap, it was close (not being on the euro makes a huge difference). The coast is magnificent, some of the interior countryside is quite lovely (great cascades from a series of lakes), and Zagreb bustled just enough to make it interesting. Go!

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DC on Airline Fees: I'm there already. I refuse to book on an airline that charges me to check a bag. So I have two flights left booked prior to Continental changing their policy. From now on, on my own dime, I'll be flying Southwest. If it's on the fed's dime, I'll try for SWA and if not, Amtrak, and last resort an airline that charges bag fees. I'm done. I've already cancelled my FF card on NWA because of the bag fees. No more.

Andrea Sachs: Wow! I applaud you for taking a stand.

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Baltimore: I just got back from a trip to Europe which included a layover at London Heathrow from 10 pm to 6 am. I wanted to let you know that it worked out quite well. As soon as the connecting flights people saw what our schedule was, we were directed to go to Terminal 1, Gate 36 for a place to sleep. There we found 3 adjacent gates that were set aside as a quiet place with flat padded leather benches and some deluxe leather lounge chairs. I would estimate that about 25 people slept there that night. With my carry-on as my pillow, an eye mask to block the light, and my pashmina as a light blanket, I was set for the night and actually got a decent amount of sleep.

Christina Talcott: No way! That's amazing! I wish I'd known that before I spent the night on a hallway floor at Heathrow last summer. Did you know about that before you got there?

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Arlington, VA: Bethesda mom should know that Qatar Airways flies from IAD to Doha. I would check with them to see what their fare is or if they are matching some one else's sale fares. It is supposed to be a fabulous airline.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the suggestion.

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Bumping Tips:"Anyone else have antibumping tips?"

Try:

http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/publications/flyrights.htm#overbooking

Christina Talcott: That's great, thanks!

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Arlington, VA: Regarding this week's Q&A question about luggage locks, since the questioner was traveling from Rome isn't it likely that his locks were cut off there in Italy? Having the TSA locks is only good when you are in TSA jurisdiction. Now in all my travels abroad I have used my TSA locks and not had any trouble. But since the security people in Rome aren't likely to have a TSA key set I would guess they have no choice if they want/need to get in your bag other than to cut it off.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for putting the lock on that topic.

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what I won't pay f, OR:--Carry-on luggage. They're already charging too much for checked bags. (However, I do agree that airline agents need to be more vigilant about carried-on bags that exceed the size limits.)

--In-flight entertainment on flights longer than about five hours. I can choose not to pay to watch a crappy movie on a shortish flight, but I go to London pretty regularly and start going nuts without being able to watch -something-. But the crappy movies often have a soporific effect, and I'd hate to pay for access only to sleep through it.

--Bathroom access. It's only a matter of time before some dimwitted airline tries this.

--Optional cups (instead of drinking from the can/bottle). But then, that would mean that the airlines would actually have to give me the whole can of Diet Coke in the first place. . . .

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the list. Hope the airlines are reading.

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Chinatown: Of course the new airline charges are annoying, but let's be honest: Fuel prices are higher than ever. It's more important than ever that airlines show up as one of the first page of low-cost fares that we generate online for a certain route - yet they still need to generate more revenue to cover fuel costs. Why does it bother people more to be charged $15 + $5 + $25 or whatever than it would to see their fare raised $45 for the same service? At least you have a choice now - you don't have to pay even if you don't plan to eat their meal, etc.

The last thing we need is indignant travelers making travel even more pissy than it already is.

Andrea Sachs: I agree, but a venting session is always nice. Then, we can put on our happy faces for the flight crew.

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baggage: I flew this past week for the first time in a year and was floored by paying to check my bag. So the ticket is just for me and $15 for my bag to come with me? did the mafia give these folks lessons? Is this their alternative to raising fares?

Christina Talcott: I'm afraid those baggage fees here to stay, and they're not always an alternative to higher fares - they're an add-on.

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The B30 Bus: Travels between BWI and Greenbelt metro, many times a day and 7 days a week. Cost $3.10.

Andrea Sachs: Great, thanks!

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Traveling to DC: I traveled to Baltimore and DC for some 12 days from a Sunday -Thursday with a weekend in DC. I did it without renting a car and flying into BWI.

I did it through Hotel shuttles, cabs, MARC, and subways (each city). I stayed in hotels that were subway friendly.

It would be nice if MARC ran on the weekends......

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the info.

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Correction on Metrobus to BWI: It's a bus from the Greenbelt station, not Glenmont! B30, I think, is the number... we've used it often and it's great. $3.00 or so.

Andrea Sachs: Got it, thanks!

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NYC: Two question:

(1) What is the cheapest and most efficient way to get between London and Dublin? I know there are low-cost European carriers, but don't most use "alternative" airports?

(2) I am going to a conference at Disney World and am forced to stay at the Contemporary without a car. Is it possible to get out of the Disney compound? I was thinking I'd like to head to reality for dinner and somewhere to buy non-Disney bottled water.

Thanks.

Carol Sottili: Try this link for transportation in Orlando area:

www.golynx.com.

Try www.ryanair.com for cheap flights between Dublin an London. But you'll have to get to either Stansted, Gatwick or Luton in the London area. It has sale prices right now out of Gatwick for 20 British Pounds round trip.

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Washington, DC: Because I'm a complete geek, I now have a passport, but I don't live anywhere near the border. Can you recommend a vacation where I can fly somewhere near, then use my new card to make a run for the border?

Christina Talcott: I'm flying to Buffalo this weekend and driving to Toronto since it's much cheaper than flying into Toronto directly. You can't run to the border, but you CAN take a bus from Buffalo to Canada. Try Greyhound or coachcanada.com.

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washingtonpost.com: Chat Plus: A Guide to Tipping Guides (Travel Section, Aug. 31)

Andrea Sachs: For the traveler headed to Egypt and Jordan, this should help.

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Pittsburgh: For the first-time foreign traveler heading to Paris: Be sure to take several photocopies of the ID pages of your passport, and pack each in a different location, in case you and your passport should get, um, separated. I speak from experience on my first foreign trip: my hotel check-in claimed they were too busy to photocopy my passport, and said they'd need to keep it, but since I was unaccustomed to traveling with a passport I soon forgot about it, till I reached my next destination in the same country, and discovered when asked at my next hotel check-in that I didn't have my passport with me. It had to be sent to me, but thank goodness at least I was able to give my second hotel my photocopy of the relevant pages, so I could check in and have a place to spend the night!

Christina Talcott: Yes, great advice. Thanks!

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Arlington, Va: Are ticket prices ever going to become reasonable? Ticket prices to Sacramento for Christmas time are currently over $700, where last year they were in the mid $400s. Can I expect prices to go down at all, or should I buy my tickets now?

Carol Sottili: Sacramento is not cheap because there's very little competition. Plus Christmas is expensive. Have you considered flying into Oakland?

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Bethesda, Md: Hi Crew, Driving to Maine to visit the in-laws at the end of the month, and we've decided to take 2-3 days both up and back, and make it the "roadside America, offbeat museum tour." We're hoping to avoid a lot of the I-95 corridor but otherwise are open to intriguing and/or funky destinations. And despite being perilously close to 95, Lincoln, Mass just might make the cut. I welcome other suggestions!

washingtonpost.com: A Bit of Bauhaus Outside Boston (Post Travel Section, Sept. 14)

Andrea Sachs: Here is another idea for the road.

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Rockville, Md.: I just wanted to say a very belated thanks for recommending Econopark at BWI. I was worried about using them for a scheduled arrival at 12:30 am. I ended up changing my flight to return earlier, but I didn't have any major problems with Econopark. The drivers were very friendly, and I would definitely use them again. Thanks again!

Andrea Sachs: Glad it worked out so well.

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Derwood, MD: Will be spending Thanksgiving weekend in Detroit (first time there) and want to check out the Ann Arbor area. How's the public transportation? Do we need to rent a car? Also, any must-sees for Detroit and/or Ann Arbor? Thanks!

washingtonpost.com: Here's a recent piece on the nice side of Detroit: In Motown, Stop in the Name of Hope (Post Travel Section, June 22)

Andrea Sachs: When I was in Ann Arbor, I love just walking around the college town, popping into cafes and shops and taking advantage of the university's arts and theater. Also, look for the fairy doors (think low and small) that have been built by a mystery fairy artist around town. And get your carb load at Zingerman's Bakehouse.

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Andrea Sachs: Oh no, time's up. There is just not enough time in the day for a Travel Web chat.

Come back next Monday and we can tackle more travel-related issues and plan more travel dreams.

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washingtonpost.com: Tune in tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at 10 a.m. ET for a chat with Arthur and Pauline Frommer of Frommer's Travel Guides!

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