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: a pilgrimage to the "saints" of the Caribbean (Bart, John, Maarten...) and visiting the place where time begins -- Greenwich, England.

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: Hello, dear chatters, and welcome to another edition of Travel Talk. Joining me today are Carol, Scott and Andrea, ready to answer any and all your questions... and ask for help from all you globe-trotters when a question leaves us stumped.

In yesterday's section we wrote about the Caribbean, specifically the Saint islands. I had fun figuring out which island was named after which saint, but there was one naming story I left off the list. The first person to tell me how the Virgin Islands got named wins a Travel tote bag. And for your very own Cup Pilot Portable Beverage Holder (which Andrea reviewed in yesterday's section), tell us your own favorite story about how a place got its name. I'll pick a winner at the end.

Ok, let's go!

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DF, Mexico: Love your chats. I'm traveling to Mexico (DF and Oaxaca) at the end of November and would love to catch as many sporting events as possible (wrestling, soccer, boxing, etc). Do you or the chatters have any suggestions for how to find out/book tickets to these in advance?

Thanks!

washingtonpost.com: My only experience is having attended a baseball game in Oaxaca when I was there about 2 1/2 years ago. The stadium was big, the beer was cheap (and the vendors also brought around empanadas -- and doughnuts?!) and it was no problem buying day-of tickets. Hope you have a great time! - Elizabeth

Christina Talcott: There you go! Thanks, Elizabeth!

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Arlington, VA: I leave for SE Asia next Wednesday! I am so excited. A tip, if you decide to buy some Thai baht from your bank before you go make sure you ask for large bills or a mix. I stupidly checked the small bills box and now I have a brick of cash to carry with me.

Christina Talcott: Great tip, thanks. Well, maybe those small bills will really come in handy for making purchases along the way. Have a great trip!

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Arlington, VA: We have a group looking for a ski house to rent for a week out west this winter. We haven't decided which mountain to go to, because we wanted to compare prices for housing. What is the best way to find rental houses in ski towns?

Carol Sottili: I've had luck through www.vrbo.com. Found great houses in Squaw Valley, Calif., and in Park City, Utah. But we ask lots of questions and request pictures and any missing info. Similar sites include www.cyberrentals.com and www.vacationrentals.com. A new one is www.zonder.com.

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Washington, DC: Hi Team: I'm traveling to Viet Nam this week for 10 days. What are some "must-see" and "must-know" things that may not be covered in guidebooks? Thanks!

Christina Talcott: We don't have any particular tips, but I bet some chatters out there know some secret spots... Anyone?

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Virgin Islands: Didn't Columbus originally name them for his ship the Santa Maria?

Christina Talcott: Nope, but that's a good guess.

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First time Parisian traveler, now back: I got back from our trip last Tuesday night. All I have to say about Paris is - WOW - I'm sorry that it's taken so many years for me to get there. We stayed in the 7th, on the Rue Cler, and it felt so homey and welcoming - the market shops had everything we needed, bottled water, fruit, wine, cheese, a post office and the Cafe du Marche was our hangout for the 3 days we were there. Great dinner, too. A bakery accross from the cafe had great sandwiches and sweets, and we filled the backpack and headed out, definitely the way to go. And the Parisians couldn't have been nicer - we did greet everyone with a Bonjour, madame/monsieur and attempt some French. I think going after the summer crowds made a difference. Didn't get to the 6th or 5th or any really upscale restaurants, but just walking around was fabulous! I can't wait for my next trip there. Any agency recommendations for renting an apartment? Thanks for your previous tips on Paris.

Scott Vogel: Having just returned myself from Paris, I can only second your enthusiasm. Maybe it's the present state of the world, but I found the French unfailingly friendly as well, not to mention INTENSELY curious for the latest news on the presidential election. I didn't rent an apartment this time but have in the past. There's nothing like buying foodstuffs for the day's dinner (at the Mouffetard market, especially) and having a full kitchen in which to prepare them. I recommend www.parisstay.com

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Alexandria, VA: Hey Travel Crew, I flew British Airways to Egypt this summer, but I never applied for any frequent flier program for those miles. Although I'm not sure I will have any use for the BA program, it seems a waste to have that long of a flight get no credit. Do you know if it is still possible to sign up and get credit for those miles?

Huge thanks!

Carol Sottili: As long as travel took place during past six months, you can claim miles. The airline's Web site is having problems right now, but you can go to the www.ba.com site for details. Click on Executive Club. You may have to have proof of travel, such as boarding passes.

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Philadelphia, PA: Hi guys, thanks so much for these chats! My friend and I, already sick of the cooler temperatures, have decided that we're taking a 5-day vacation in mid-December to "someplace warm." I know this is an incredibly general category, so I was hoping you could help me narrow it down. Budget is the main factor (we're poor college kids), and we'd also like to avoid crazy tourist places (Cancun, etc). All we really demand is some sun, some water, and the cheapest airfare we can find -- any tips for this time of year? (Or alternatively, any places to avoid?) We'll happily stay in a hut on the beach... just gotta get out of Philly! Again, thank you so much.

Andrea Sachs: How about fly to Puerto Rico, then head to the beaches in the northwest, such as Isabel or Rincon, both big surfer scenes. Stay in a parador (small hotels or country inn) for a different lodging experience. You could also drive up and down the Florida Keys, but warning: Key West is touristy, but good touristy, not evil touristy. Sanibel Island, Fla., is also a great destination, and Southern California (San Diego or L.A.) are always sunny staples.

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Washington, DC: The Virgin Islands were named after St Ursula and her band of 11,000 happy virgins who weren't so happy when they all got massacred by the Huns.

Which leads me to my favorite naming story... Virgin Gorda. Columbus obviously had ladies on the mind, because he named this Virgin Island after thinking the island resembled a fat lady lounging about. But better to be a fat lady relaxing in paradise then to be one of Urusula's virgins...

Christina Talcott: Ding ding ding! We have a winner! And yes, I love Virgin Gorda's name, too. Apparently the island is a little rotund...

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Maryland Suburbs...: I'm submitting early because I have meeting.

You didn't need to spend a lot of money to stay at a hotel while in St. Bart. We used frequent flyer miles into St. Martin, and took the fast ferry (I think it was about $180 for 2 adults/2 kids)

We rented a 2 bedroom villa in August (low season) from VRBO.COM for $2500 for 8 days. It had a beautiful view, and a pool right off the deck.

Since we have two children whose tastes don't range beyond anything they recognize in English, we fed them meals at home, packed picnics for the beaches.

We grown-ups would have a salad or snack, then eat dinner out.

If the timing was right, and we ran the littlest one ragged, she'd sleep through dinner.

If you eat at a resort, you can generally use their umbrellas and beach chairs for free (except Eden Roc) - but we hung out there anyway.

You need a rental car to get around. We got a little subcompact. This was fine because we had to travel light since we took the ferry from St. Martin.

Andrea Sachs: I agree. I did not spend oodles on St. Barts. Beaches and baguettes--my St. Barts vacation.

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Washington, D.C.: Are the Virgin Islands named after the British virgin queen, Elizabeth?

Christina Talcott: Nope, but good guess.

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Capitol Hill: I'm going to Paris on Wednesday and wondered if you have a list of "must sees" there. I also wondered if you know how easy or difficult it is to take the train to/from the airport?

Scott Vogel: If you're flying into Charles de Gaulle, the RER train is still the best way to go, as far as I'm concerned. Just 8 euros each way, if I'm not mistaken. A taxi could easily cost you 60 each direction, and it's a very long trip. A compromise option is the Air France bus that drops you at the Rond Point on the Champs-Elysees.

Aside from the obvious, have dinner at Kong, which is just off the Pont Neuf. The top floor has a glass room/ceiling, with magnificent views of the city. (Cheaper option: have drinks at the bar one floor below).

Notre Dame's always worth seeing, but I particularly enjoyed the multimedia intros they do on certain nights from now through November. They project an interesting film in the sanctuary that shows how the church was built and highlights some of the more important moments in its history.

Do not miss the Batobus -- it's not cheap at 12 euros but is a great way to see the city. The boats sail every 30 minutes or so in a loop that starts near the Eiffel Tower.

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Thai baht: Several years ago, I too pre-purchased Thai baht, and got many small bills, resulting in an inches high stack of bills held together with rubber bands. As I went through security at Dulles I was randomly chosen for a detailed search. A novice TSA guy found the money in my carry-on bag and immediately called over a supervisor, assuming I was trafficking illegal amounts of money. Of course he also thought my tube of Airborne effervescent tablets were potentially confiscate-worthy, so there ya go.

Christina Talcott: Oh, I hadn't thought of going through Security... Guess that's a good reason to get big bills.

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San Francisco: Hey, I once competed in an around the world travel competition in 1989 called the HumanRace. I know about Amazing Race -- not my style -- do you know of any travel adventures that real people can enter? Thank you.

Andrea Sachs: Yes: the The Global Scavenger Hunt.

According to its founder: "Essentially A Blind Date With The World, the event is limited to 25 teams of two who will travel around the world overcoming challenging and unique culturally-oriented scavenges along with a series of thrilling interactive personal experiences in at least 10 secret nations across 4 continents."

Info: 310.281.7809, www.GlobalScavengerHunt.com.

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New York, NY: I'm looking to take a 5 day trip in January to the Caribbean. I found fares for $350 to Puerto Rico... is this a good fare or should I hold out for better? Do you have any thoughts on where to look for packages and all-inclusive deals to the Caribbean? Or any suggestions for all-inclusives on easy-to-get-to islands? Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: That sounds good to me, especially for January. You might find one a teensy bit lower, but otherwise, this is in the ballpark.

For packages, check Apple Vacations, Fare Deals, CheapCaribbean.com and Travelzoo.com.

The best deals are usually to the easy-access islands, such as the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Jamaica. For all-inclusives, make sure you research the resort's size and scene--kids, singles, honeymooners, Europeans -- and match it with your preferences. A bad fit can ruin a vacation as much as incessant rain.

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Nashville, TN: Hey Flight Crew ! Eric Brace here, ex-Postie... still making music in Nashville, and headed to London over Thanksgiving for some gigs. Since you're talking about Greenwich, perhaps you have some thoughts on: hotels (it's expensive there right? Should I just do the Comfort Inn to get the points? they've got rooms for $100)... and rental cars (I don't want to rent at the airport, but rather three days in for a trip out of town)... and misc. cool things: restaurants, pubs, dives, museums, shops, bus rides, neighborhoods. Can you tell I've never been??? I miss y'all... Eric

washingtonpost.com: Hi Eric!

London Hotel Options, From Budget to Deluxe (Post Travel Section, April 1, 2007)

Carol Sottili: Hey Eric. Glad to hear you're still making music. Let the people know where you'll be playing in London, and we'll give you a plug.

If you can get a Comfort Inn for $100, take it. I usually stay at a chain called Premier Inn (www.premierinn.com), which is pretty similar - rooms are clean, but nothing fancy. As for rental cars, I think $50 a day or so is the going rate. Try www.1car1.com to see what it's offering.

My daughter lived in crazy, funky neighborhood called Camberwell that had a strong reggae vibe - University of the Arts London is there. Welcome all other ideas from chatters.

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Vienna, VA: We are taking the kids up to Lancaster, PA for a day at Hershey and a Day Out with Thomas in Strasbourg. We thought about staying in Hershey but the Hershey Hotels are unrealisitic with two small children. Nonetheless, Mom and Dad would like something better than Motel 6. Any suggestions of a kid friendly, nice place to stay?

Scott Vogel: The Hershey hotels are great but the prices can be steep. Has anyone out there heard of (or better yet, stayed at) the White Rose Motel? I'll admit that the name gave me pause but travelers seem to highly recommend it on various sites that quantify such things, and I've personally gotten a recommendation from at least one visitor. Appears to be just 5 minutes from the park, and may be worth checking out.

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Anonymous: Can you all remind me of the webpage where you can sign up to get fare alerts for a particular trip? We're headed to Tahoe for a week in February, and would love to automate my search for the best fare!

Andrea Sachs: Are you thinking of Fare Compare? Or Airfare Watchdog? Or Travelocity? Or FareAlert.net? So many alerts!

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Driving on the Opposite Side: I'll be spending a couple of weeks in South Africa, where it's necessary to have a car -- but I'm a little queasy about the whole "drive on the left" thing. Is it pretty easy to pick up, in your experience? Anything I can do to make the transition easier?

(I've considered taping a giant KEEP LEFT sign on my dashboard as a constant reminder, but that seems a little drastic.)

Christina Talcott: Haha, I like the idea of posting a sign. You can never be too prepared! I was very nervous about driving on the left when I went to SA last winter, and luckily my friends who lived there chauffeured me around most of the time. Once I finally took the wheel, though, my pal would generously cling to her door handle and say, "TOO CLOSE! TOO CLOSE! TOO CLOSE!" every time I passed another car. That's one way to learn. If you don't have a buddy willing to do that, you could do a couple of laps around the rental car parking lot, testing to see how it feels to pass cars without getting too close. Honestly, that was the hardest part, and once I learned what a safe pass looked like from the driver's side, I was fine. That said, I would caution against driving on the highway at night because of the high number of car accidents after dark.

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Fairfax, VA: I have a generic question that may not be a simple answer. When making flight arrangements with layovers, I (and probably everyone else) try to ensure that the layover is long enough to make the connecting flight and short enough to not end up in the airport for hours.

In the event that I end up with a longer than desired layover, how can I best determine if I have enough time to leave the airport and do something?

For example is there a threshhold whereby you wouldn't even consider trying to leave the airport (say 5 hours)? Or is it truly a case-by-case basis?

Thanks.

Andrea Sachs: I think case-by-case, because sometimes the airport is close to the city, so you can dash in. Or if the airport is small and security lines are short, then you don't need tons of time to catch you connection. However, I feel like anything less than two hours means you are eating lots of Annie's Pretzels and reading all of the magazine covers in Hudson News.

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Flying to Spain: We're planning a trip to Spain at this time next year. My normal MO when planning big, expensive trips is to get the plane tickets as soon as I have the money (struggling newlyweds) -- this guarantees that I will get to take the trip and will find a way to make it work, instead of having other priorities pop up that prevent me from spending the money.

So, my question is: Would it be a bad idea to buy plane tickets to Spain as early as January/February for an October trip??

Carol Sottili: I'd start researching prices now. Even though you won't be able to search for those dates yet, you'll get a general idea of winter/spring/summer fares, which will give you some frame of reference. As soon as you can buy, start tracking fares and push the button when a sale hits. You can sign up for notifications on most of the major fare sites, including www.orbitz.com, www.priceline.com, www.farecast.com.

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Place names: You wanted stories about how places got their names.....

There's a mountain near Burnet, Texas, named "Colored Mountain." Conjures up the idea of a scenic photo spot, doesn't it? Well, the name was adopted in part because Lady Bird Johnson fought to get the original name changed in keeping with changing cultural mores. The original name, which came about because the trees at the top of the mountain when viewed from a distance resembled a certain hairstyle, was "_____ Head Mountain" where "_____" refers to a word that none other than the Washington Post has called "the less-refined word for black people."

Christina Talcott: Hoo boy, that's amazing. Um, I guess the new name's an improvement...

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herndon, va: Travel gurus: Since airlines are offering deals stretching into next year - my wife and I are planning a fly/drive trip to the Grand Canyon - flying to Las Vegas and driving to both the North and South Rim. Is booking for April too early? I know winter comes early/stays late in at least parts of the area.

Andrea Sachs: Not at all, especially if you find a good rate. And then you can relax the whole winter, knowing that come thaw, you are headed to the Grand Canyon.

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Arlington, VA: Yeah, that is partly my concern with the big stack of foreign money...having the know-nothings at security give me a hard time. The teller at the bank was astonished when she was counting it all out for me. She asked me if I was buying a house. TBt 15,400 in 100s, 50s, and 20s makes quite a stack, but it's only worth $500. I'll shove as much as I can in my money belt. Maybe I should print out the exchange rate as a little insurance.

Christina Talcott: That's a good idea to print out the exchange rate info.

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Washington, DC: I'll be in Ireland for Thanksgiving -- any good restaurant or pub recommendations? I'll be spending four days in counties Kerry and Cork, then on to Dublin for three more days. Thanks!

Scott Vogel: According to Weekend staffer and expert on all things Ireland Ellen McCarthy, there are lots of great restaurants in Dublin, so you shouldn't have any problem there. "But if you end up in Killarney, Co. Kerry, on Thanksgiving Day, you might consider dining in one of the nicer hotels, like the Killarney Park Hotel or Hotel Europe. Same goes for Cork -- try the Hayfield Manor Hotel or the Kingsley Hotel." Thanks, Ellen!

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Lancaster, PA: I would probably not stay at the White Rose motel near Hershey Park. Instead, try some of the more reliable chains in Lancaster or Harrisburg. It's only about 30 minutes away, and I think you'd feel better about it.

Scott Vogel: Here's some Hershey info from near the source. Thanks.

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Downtown: Hi, Crew! I've got to book a trip for my boss from DC to Santiago, Chile, then to Buenos Aires and back to DC. Is it better to buy a multi-city ticket in and out of South America, and THEN buy the Santiago -- BA flight? Or should I book (say, via Orbitz) the whole shebang at once? Any other tips to booking this nutty schedule? It's been challenging to far, to say the least...

Also, am I crazy, or does it really take a whole 12 hours of flight time to get to Santiago?!

Carol Sottili: Price it out both ways, but my guess is that it's going to be cheaper if you do it on one ticket. Kayak.com is a good place to start to see which works better.

It takes about 9.5 hours to fly nonstop to Santiago from Atlanta, for example, and then two hours from there to here, so yes, 12 hours of flying is about right.

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Washington, D.C.: For Hershey Parents -- Springhill Suites by Marriott. Very reasonable, includes breakfast and only a few minutes from the park.

Scott Vogel: Thank you!

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Pentagon city: I don't so much have a question, but an observation. I had to buy two plane tickets recently, and it seemed to me that they were VERY cheap. One is even over Christmas, and was much cheaper than the same trip last year. My guess was that airlines are seeing people watching their money closely, and are offering steals to keep people flying during tough economic times. Have you guys noticed this? Any theories?? I just hope it continues!

Carol Sottili: Well, not sure I agree with you. There are some great sales out there, but they are typically short-lived and are on routes that offer lots of competition. Where are you going that's so cheap, and what are you paying?

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San Francisco to LA: Hi Travel Gurus! I'm going to San Francisco on my own for a few days before visiting friends in LA for Thanksgiving. Any must see sights? I probably can't afford a rental car, but is there anything outside of the city that I should see? I love nature, photography and hippyish stuff. Also, I have the choice to fly or take a bus to LA. I found flights for $69 on Southwest but am wondering if you think the bus might be a nicer ride? Any advice? Any good budget activity suggestions?

Christina Talcott: Sounds like a great trip! You can really see a lot of the Bay area on public transportation. I'd recommend visiting Berkeley and Oakland, though San Francisco's got so much to see. You can spend a week in Golden Gate Park alone, especially now that the California Academy of Sciences has opened there. As for getting to LA, MegaBus now runs that route, and you might be able to snag a cheap seat (though I doubt they have any more dollar seats left). Anyone have advice about bus vs. fly?

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Driving on the left: I've driven on the left a couple of times in the UK and had no major problems. The hardest thing to get used to is having the rear-view mirror located to your left, but that's something you just have to get used to. I was traveling alone and I found that on the narrower roads it helped to tilt the sideview mirror on the passenger side (the left side) down a bit in case I needed a visual confirmation as to how close I was to the side of the pavement.

The only thing I found really awkward was maneuvering in indoor car parks with tight pillars because the bulk of the car is on the opposite side from what I was used to. Just had to allow extra time to make sure I didn't run into anything.

(BTW, I drove a manual-shift car and had no problems; both of my cars here in the States are manuals as well. If you are not comfortable driving a manual shift at home, then specifically request an automatic from the car hire place IN ADVANCE. It will cost you more, and the number of automatic cars is typically very limited, but if you're driving a right-hand drive car for the first time it is NOT the correct time also to be learning to drive a manual shift.)

Christina Talcott: Thanks for the mirror tips. Yikes, I'm glad I didn't try any indoor lots - they sound tough.

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Arlington: Uh, have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? The North Rim is usually closed until early to mid May because of snow, so duh, no you can't go in April.

Andrea Sachs: Duh here (me) has never been. Thanks for the tip.

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Native New Jerseyan: Hershey? The Bird in Hand Motel in Bird in Hand, of course. Big rooms, clean, indoor pool, big yard for kids to run around, close to Miller's for dinner and not too far from Strasberg train. I've been with the Jersey Touring Bike Club - they go every year, and you know how discriminating a New Jerseyan can be!

Scott Vogel: Terrific. I hope you're writing these down, guys...

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Re: Grand Canyon: My husband I went a few years ago in mid-March and it was amazing. We also flew into and drove from Vegas, and also went to Bryce and Zion. There was a spring snow storm that dumped 6+ inches of snow on the canyon the morning we arrived. There was also a thick fog that prevented us from seeing the canyon, but as is dissipated, it was breathtaking -- so unusual to see the canyon with fresh snow.

Also, we roughed it a bit at cheaper hotels, so we splurged on a suite at The Palm the night before flying out, it was great to have a warm shower, a yummy meal, and a comfy bed after lots of driving and hiking!

Andrea Sachs: Good times! Thanks!

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Washington, DC: The "drive on the left" question takes me back to my first experiences with British roads. I was in the Army on training exercises with UK forces in the Cotswolds region and was more nervous about driving than anything else.

It turned out that I didn't need to worry after all. All my driving was behind the wheel of a US Army Humvee, which easily filled up both lanes of those winding English country roads and thus made the question moot (although I did have to remember to go LEFT into the roundabouts).

Christina Talcott: Haha, that mental image is priceless. Did you put a "keep left" sign in the window?

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NOVA: Hey -

I always want to look for cheap packages for vacation (flight-hotel kinds of things), but like to travel alone. Its hard to tell how much something is going to be for a single in a package. Any websites out there catering to the single traveler? Thanks!

washingtonpost.com: Here are some good tips from our Post Company cousins on avoiding single supplements on package deals: Going It Alone (Budget Travel, Nov 2008 issue)

Scott Vogel: The above is definitely a good first stop.

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Herndon, Va: Another true tale on "official names." The part of the US Gov't which does place names decided to change one western location from "Whorehouse Meadows" (ladies of no virtue would ride out to the meadow in wagons to service local cowboys or sheepherders as the case may be) to "Naughty Girl Meadows." The locals put up such a fuss, the name was changed back to the original.

Christina Talcott: Aww, I like Naughty Girl Meadows!

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20002: My boyfriend and I want to head out west for some skiing in early January. Do you have any thoughts on where we can find good ski and stay packages? We were thinking of Utah since I've heard it's cheaper than other places, but I'm sort of lost as to how to find any special deals. Thanks!

Carol Sottili: I wrote about this last week, but for those who didn't catch it...We used to take the kids skiing out West every winter. We never did a package deal because I could always do it cheaper. I'd start tracking airfares in late summer, and would buy when a sale hit. We rented houses through www.vrbo.com (see earlier post this session for other sites), took advantage of ski car rental deals (Hertz usually offers one) and went to local grocery stores for lift ticket coupons (also, do a search for ski lift ticket coupons and you'll come up with several Internet sites that offer deals). We cooked at home and brought our lunches to the slopes. And a good time was had by all.

Utah is a good choice because it's often cheap to fly to SLC via BWI on Southwest. And Park City is a fun place.

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Manassas VA: Hello,

I was looking into some Honeymoon spots in Southern Fla. and came across Little Palm Island. Have you ever heard of any positive or negative things about this resort?

thanks

Andrea Sachs: Never been, but heard amazing and so luxurious.

Has anyone who has actually thrown down a platinum card been there?

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Pittsburgh: Portugal's Azores Islands were named after the "acor" (with a cedilla under the "c"), the Portuguese word for goshawk, although what the namers saw was in fact a different species of bird that merely resembled the goshawk. And, contrary to popular belief, the Azorean island of Terceira was NOT named because it was the third to have been discovered, but rather after the Holy Ghost (the third part of the Holy Trinity).

Christina Talcott: Ooh, interesting. I wonder how many places are named because the namers are mistaken about something, like the West Indies.

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Atlanta: No question, really - but... I could NOT find any deals to the Caribbean during Christmas, even in this economy. I was actually slightly surprised.

Just booked a cruise out of Port Canaveral, though, the only 'deal' being that because we're driving down from the ATL, we're saving on airfare, which was easily half the price of the cruises I found. We are SO EXCITED. Leaving the 20th of Dec, 7 day cruise, to Bahamas, St Maarten, St Thomas. Never been to any of those islands, can't wait...

BUT there are NO DEALS anywhere, seriously.

Andrea Sachs: That is not a very merry Christmas at all.

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Washington, D.C.: For SF-LA, if you can afford to fly, I'd fly. A bus won't go down the coast, which would really be the only reason to drive. I-5 is nothing special.

You could also look at Amtrak.

Christina Talcott: I was wondering if there'd be much to see, cause I couldn't imagine a bus handling those Big Sur curves. Thanks for the advice!

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Kingstowne, VA: The piece on St. Maarten mentioned watching the planes land at Maho Bay. I highly recommend all chatters go to YouTube and search for "Maho Bay" to see the videos of this... UNREAL!

What's goofier is the idiots who try to hold onto the fence along the back of the runway to experience the jet blast of the departing aircraft. This actually almost caused a very serious problem in the early 1980s when an Air France Concorde flew into St. Maarten... apparently, none of the local authorities were warned that Concorde uses afterburners to take off.

Andrea Sachs: So funny, and so true. Amazing they haven't lost more heads there, despite the Warning: May Cause Death signs.

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Richmond, VA: A couple recommendations for Dublin... for a pub, the Porter House. Great selection of beer (but no Guinness), and pretty good food, actually. For a restaurant - Gruel. Tiny, moderately priced, good basic food. Not fancy, but quite tasty.

washingtonpost.com: No Guinness?!?!?

Scott Vogel: Thanks...

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Washington, DC: Hi, I booked a flight from London to Dulles for Christmas through STA travel on British Airways back in July. Now that the oil surcharges have dropped, I see that the exact same flight is now about $100 cheaper - do I have any recourse to get some of the difference refunded?

Carol Sottili: Probably not, but call and ask. Sometimes the airline will issue vouchers for a future flight, but don't know how STA will handle.

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Mentally St. John: I am making my 2nd trip to St. John next month. I think it is a perfect mix of secluded beaches and resort-style fun, if you want it. I was surprised that you dedicated your entire column to a hike. And I was also surprised no mention of the fun party spots in the VIs, like Soggy Dollar on Yost Van Dyke or Willie Ts at Normal Island. I regard myself as an accomplished visitor of bars across the globe, and those are two of my favorites!

Andrea Sachs: Well, we were sticking to the saints, so unless Norman was a saint . . . Also, I was attempting to tease out the most dominant traits of each island, and found hiking and John a perfect match. (Plus, space is sometimes an issue.)

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Herndon, Va: Place names: My hometown of Lincoln, NE is named after President Lincoln. After the Civil War, as Nebraska Territory was preparing for statehood, what was to become Lincoln and Omaha were fighting over which would become the state capital. GOP supporters who wanted Omaha managed to pass a resolution saying a new capital along Salt Creek would be named "Lincoln," figuring enough Democrats would vote "no," and Omaha would get the capital. They figured wrong, and "Lincoln" won.

Christina Talcott: Wow, sounds like the politicos back then were just as sneaky as they are today.

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For Vietnam: my local paper, Freep.com had a very nice spread the last two weeks in the travel section on Vietnam -- our one (only one!) travel writer did a great job -- check it out!

washingtonpost.com: Low prices, hard-working people, history mark vivid journey in Vietnam (Detroit Free Press, Oct. 26)

Christina Talcott: Thanks for passing that along!

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Thoughts for London: Do you really need a car? I hate driving in the UK. Trains/planes/coaches/buses often work very well.

Have you consdered a B&B? My friend finds them through the web and almost always enjoys the experience.

There are so many musically exciting and generally funky areas of London! You're going to have a wonderful time.

Carol Sottili: I figured Eric was going to a place that didn't offer train/bus service, but if not, yes, mass transit is a good way to go.

B&Bs can be great or awful. Homework is required.

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Washington, D.C.: For the skiers - go mid-week and look for deals. I know that Mt. Rose (at Tahoe) has a ladies' day one day, student discounts another. Other resorts may offer similar.

Carol Sottili: Many of the smaller resorts offer better deals than the larger ones.

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Seattle, WA: Hi there, hope you can help! We just booked our tickets to head back to Virginia for Thanksgiving - me, my husband, and our two-year old. We purchased three tickets but when it came time to select seats, the only seats that were available were middle seats. Obviously, my husband and I can sit apart, but the baby can't! We booked through Expedia - will it help to contact the airline directly to try to get better seats? Also, when should we contact them - now or closer to the flight? Thanks so much for your help!

Scott Vogel: I'd definitely contact the airline, and sooner rather than later, especially as airlines do hold seats just for that sort of eventuality. Even if you're told that there's no other option, you will probably have luck with the agent at the airport. And if all else fails, I'd be very surprised if you couldn't find a passengers willing to switch seats to accommodate a parent with a baby.

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Pentagon City: Flight prices again - I got a ticket over Christmas to Boston for about $320 (last year it was over $500 - both on Delta) and to Houston for $230 for a long weekend in November. That ticket was Continental. I didn't use orbitz or anything either - just the airline websites. Maybe I just got lucky!

Carol Sottili: A combo of luck and timing. And airlines do compete for business to both of those cities.

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Rockville, MD: Help me please! I have been charged with planning a 5 day vacation: 6 adults and my 1 year-old. We're hoping for the Caribbean in February. Ideal would be a resort so we don't have to travel much for fun with beach, pool (for the little one), and golf (for my dad). Mid-price range, and not too far of a flight. Any recommendations for islands and places to stay would be appreciated. Am I asking for too much?? Thanks to the crew and chatters!!

Andrea Sachs: I might pick a family all-inclusive like Beaches, which has properties in Jamaica (three) and Turks and Caicos, a longer plane ride than Jamaica. Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, though the water attractions might be a bit too advanced for your baby-pool child. But the adults will love it. (If the price is too high, you can stay elsewhere and buy a day's pass and have access to the grounds.)

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The Hill: I'm looking for a great, inexpensive weekend escape that is either a bus or train ride (Amtrak) away from the Washington DC metro area. Unfortunately, I don't have a car but I am looking for some low-key locations to visit for a weekend. Extra points for recommendations for solo travelers.

Christina Talcott: On Sunday we'll have a story about the tiny town of Staunton, Va., which is accessible by Amtrak (though trains aren't that frequent) and has good restaurants, theater, B&Bs and galleries. Ditto Culpeper, a cute town just north of Charlottesville with wineries and Montpelier within biking distance. Richmond is another good option - the newly revamped wharf area is right near the lovely old train station. Philly's a great option, too. Anyone else have train- or bus-trip faves?

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North Rim, Grand Canyon: The North Rim usually doesn't open until mid-to late-May. It's about 1000 ft higher in elevation than the South Rim and the snow lingers longer.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks, Rimologist. Much appreciated.

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Chantilly, VA: The various islands were named for the saints whose feast days corresponded with their discovery. You can also see this in Christmas Island and Easter Island. They were discovered on (surprise!) Christmas and Easter.

Christina Talcott: Sure seem like lucky coincidences, huh?

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Driving on the left: To combine two topics, I learned to drive on the left in the US Virgin islands. The most difficult thing for me was making turns at intersections. Another problem is that all the cars have steering wheels on the left. So weird! A guide book said that they do it that way so that drivers know how close they are going to die while driving on narrow roads on top of rocky cliffs.

Andrea Sachs: Yes, it was quite a ride. But very fun too. I felt like I was driving around an amusement park ride.

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Native Berkeleyan: I grew up in a house on Prince Street in Berkeley, one block from Woolsey Street (the city limit with Oakland), which was named after a certain Mr. James Woolsey. You'd think my street was named after royalty, right? Wrong. It was named after Mr. Woolsey's horse.

Christina Talcott: Haha, I like that.

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SF-LA: GO Amtrak - what a great train trip that is down the coast!

Christina Talcott: One vote for Amtrak.

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Longyearbyen, Norway: Responding to last week's inquiries about Iceland in winter: I've been numerous times, including New Year's last year, and I'd take it over anything, including Times Square. Fireworks going off at all hours when it's dark (which is 20 hours a day then), bonfires throughout Reykjavik and, of course, the actual New Year at a hilltop square where I may have seen more fireworks at once than during the past decade. And that was with a decent amount of wind and rain (which I'm told kept them from firing off about a third of what they had). The prices are murder, but staying in apartments usually offers better and cheaper rooms than hotels, and if you don't mind doing your main meal at midday a lot of restaurants offer cheap and plentiful eats. The grocery stores downtown have delis and there's some novel takeaway stands for other cheap eats. Also, the bus is definitely the way to get from the airport to town - it stops at the various hotels, etc. - unless you're renting a car.

Favorite naming story: Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, which is the Krygyz word for a churn used to make fermented mare's milk, the national drink.

Andrea Sachs: Thank you so much for your suggestions.

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Keep Left: I drove around Ireland last summer and came prepared with my Keep Left signs. Fortunately, the car already had about half a dozen signs posted in it for me...

Anyway, with the steering wheel on the other side of the car, you're probably not going to forget that you need to stay on the left side of the road.

Christina Talcott: Hmm, good point!

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Alexandria, VA: In discussing place names, my favorite was always the town of Intercourse, Pennsylvania, which is up in Amish country (go figure) and was supposedly named because the town was built at the junction (or "intercourse") of two roads.

Locals swear it has nothing to do with the more, um, "indoor sporting eventing" meaning of that word. Yet they can't seem to explain how it is that THIS name is so wholesome when just down the road there is another town named Virginville and another nearby named Blue Ball.

Christina Talcott: Has anyone ever gone to Intercourse, PA, and not bought some knick-knack with the name on it?

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Philadelphia: Has anyone flown British Airway's World Traveller Plus, and is the extra price worth it? I'm debating between that for an overnight flight to London and United Economy Plus (I'm one of their levels so it's not an extra charge for me). I'm small enough that I actually have enough room width-wise in regular economy seats, and their extra leg space is about the same (and I'm short anyway), so are the other "benefits" worth it? Price-wise on my route/dates the flights are essentially the same.

Carol Sottili: I've not flown BA's premium economy, but have flown Virgin's, and I think they are fairly similar. To me, it's well worth it just for the extra personal space. I don't like having strangers jammed up next to me, especially on overnight flights. But if you're OK with that, I don't think it's worth an extra couple of hundred for a better meal and a nice toiletry kit.

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Weekend escape: Go to Charlottesville on AMTRAK - two trains go through there - the Crescent and the Cardinal. Downtown mall and the University are within easy walking distance from the AMTRAK station. Lots to see and do - and you won't need a car.

Christina Talcott: Great, thanks!

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Peculiar, MO: Yes, there's really a Peculiar, Missouri. Back in the day, they were known as something else, but during the process of being incorporated as a town, it was determined there was already a town of the same name in Missouri. They tried a few names before the state representative in charge of approving towns told them they should try for something peculiar.

So they did.

From Wikipedia:

Peculiar received its name in 1868 when the first postmaster, Edgar Thomson, had his first choice, Excelsior, rejected because it already existed in Atchison County, Missouri. Several other choices were also rejected. The story goes that the annoyed Thomson wrote to the Postmaster General himself to complain saying, among other things, "We don't care what name you give us so long as it is sort of 'peculiar'," (with "peculiar" in quotation marks). Washington approved that name. The post office was established on June 22, 1868.

Christina Talcott: Terrific!

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London, U.K.: For people coming over here (Eric this time, but it's not an Eric-specific site!), be sure to check out trainline - that will give you instructions how to get anywhere in the country using a wide variety of transportation. Trains can be checked at "national rail" or "trainline" (I prefer the trainline site myself), we do have megabus (coach and train), and also National Express (coach), which has a somewhat annoying site, I think, compared to its old site.

Be sure to check out what travel cards are offered, too. Depending on your plans, you could save a fair bit. The pound's coming down (drastically) against the dollar, but it's still not quite in your benefit.

Christina Talcott: Here's some advice for you, Eric!

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Maiden Lane in San Francisco...:...was supposedly so named with a sense of irony because it was the prostitution district back in the 19th century.

Christina Talcott: Boy, lots of prostitute-related names.

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Salisbury, MD: Are airline prices gonna drop or should I just buy now? My family and I go out west to ski every year and Denver, SLC, and Albuquerque are all around the same price now (about $500 after taxes).

Which location could you see dropping in price?

Carol Sottili: All of them. Keep checking and stay flexible.

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Driving Tip: I've driven on the left several times and what really helps me is to always remember that both here and in England you, the driver, should be between the passenger seat and the middle of the road.

Christina Talcott: Good tip, thanks!

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Virginia: Possibly my favorite place name in the world:

The southern part of the island of South Georgia (try to find it!) is called Cape Disappointment. I always thought that was a great name.

I believe the story is that the discoverer hoped that South Georgia was actually a peninsula, and so was disappointed when they rounded the cape and found out it was an island after all.

Christina Talcott: Aww, how sad!

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Ski lodging: There are also a lot of homes to rent in the Vail-Beaver Creek-Breckenridge area. 1 year ago I went to my Mother's family reunion where we rented a house in Breckenridge that could hold 25 people.

It was on the other side of Breckenridge looking across at the mountain. The base is around 8000' and this was near 10500'. So some of the people got altitude sickness the first day there.

Carol Sottili: Yes, altitude sickness can get in the way at first. Drink plenty of liquids, but no booze.

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Ohio: My friend and I are planning a trip to St. John in May/June. I'm a vegetarian and she's a vegan... will it be easy to find food or should we pack some snacks?

Andrea Sachs: I am a vegetarian too and could gain weight on St. John. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies, and an assortment of veg-friendly cuisine, like Indian and Med. For a list that shows veg options: www.stjohnusvi.com/restaur.html. Also try the Marketplace for such options as Satyamuna and, if desperate, Starfish Market. (Packing snacks, though, will keep your wallet fat. Prices are high!)

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Vietnam: Are you going to be in Saigon... Hanoi...?? A river tour in Saigon is beautiful - we loved it.

Oh I envy you - the country is breathtakingly beautiful and the poople are extraordinarily friendly. I was amazed by the 'cup is half full' mentality.

Christina Talcott: Here's some Vietnam advice...

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Falls Church, VA: Here's hoping other people take advantage of AerLingus's extremely cheap RT nonstop fares to Dublin--we purchased ours for the first week in March, $390 pp, all taxes etc included.

The sale ends tomorrow--people, please book, to ensure they don't cancel the flight (happened to us last year, we had to go on BA instead--nicer plane but connecting in Heathrow was a nightmare)

Scott Vogel: Wow, run don't walk!

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Driving on other side of the road: Anguilla is a great place to learn to drive on the other side of the road. There is no one ever on the road and you really only have to pay attention to the goats.

Andrea Sachs: St. John, though, is tricky with those grazing donkeys. They need to learn to share the road!

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20005, but hopes for St. John: There is a FABULOUS Mexican restaurant on St. John on the main drag to the left of the ferry. YUMMMM, not Tex-Mex, real Mexican! stop by next time you're there.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the tip.

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Airports and the Grand Canyon: Airports...

The time that is ideal for one airport doesn't work for another... I will pick on an airline... say Delta. If you have to fly through Cincinnatti where you are flying the crop dusters with ComAir then a short time like 35 minutes is fine. If you need to get to the main terminal because you are flying through there where you are connecting on a flight to the west coast then 35 minutes is too short because you need to switch terminals. Salt Lake is smaller but everything is condensed so 45 minutes isn't too bad. If you are flying into Atlanta because of the flight volume and the size of the airport 75 minutes would be ideal.

Grand Canyon:

April is cutting it close. The North Rim closes for winter. April is that transition time depending on the season. Early April would be worse vs late April. If you can't go to the north rim there are a bunch of other places to go. I would advise them to go to Page and Zion on their loop trip. Also look at the fares between Phoenix and Vegas. The drive time isn't much different. The stretch of road between the dam and Grand Canyon in Arizona is not too thrilling of a long drive. From Vegas I would drive one route to north rim then go down to the south rim and through Lee's Ferry and then return driving north through Page to Kanab and then to Zion back to Vegas.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for your tips.

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world traveller plus: My mum -always- does this. Admittedly she's in her 80s but she loves the extra room, more attentive service and generally more peaceful atmosphere.

Christina Talcott: Great, thanks!

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someplace warm: Why not Savannah?

Andrea Sachs: Good idea!

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World Traveller Plus on BA: I've flown WT+ a few times. I think it's worth it. The food is the same as in steerage, but you get served first, so you know they won't run out of whatever you want. Also, if you're flying solo, you may luck into the 747 with 70 business class seats. On those planes, WT+'s first row is a 1-4-1 arrangement. Seat 28B is the exit row (more leg room than any other seat on the plane) and has nobody next to it. Same goes for 28J. 29A and 29K have seats next to them, but no seats in front of them.

You also get OFF the plane prior to the economy folks, so you can beat some of the rush to passport control.

Christina Talcott: More on WT+....

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Washington, DC: For the poster with 3 middle seats and a baby, I hope for your sake you aren't flying Northwest. We had a similar situation a couple of years ago, and every Northwest employee we dealt with -- from telephone agent to check-in to gate to flight attendants -- was unhelpful and either indifferent or downright rude. The telephone agent told us that check-in would take care of it, the check-in agent said that the gate agent would handle it, the gate agents told us to talk to the flight attendants when we boarded (and also made us board last because we wanted to change seats!), and the flight attendants chewed us out loudly for not taking care of this before we got on their plane.

Fortunately, our fellow passengers were infinitely kinder and SEVERAL immediately offered to switch seats so that we could be together.

Christina Talcott: Some advice for the parents...

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Christina Talcott: Thanks for all the good questions, suggestions and naming stories! The chatter from Washington, DC, with the St. Ursula/Virgin Islands answer and the Virgin Gorda comments, send your name and address to talcottc@washpost.com. And for the cupholder, the Herndon chatter with the Naughty Girl Meadows story, send me your info, too.

Until we meet again, keep left (or right), buy your tickets now (or wait), and join us next week, same place, same time.

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