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 train trip from Montreal to Halifax, a breathtaking view of Norwegian fjords, and a laid-back weekend in Staunton, Va.

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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Scott Vogel: Afternoon, everyone. Well, it's your last chance to take your mind off the election for an hour or so -- assuming of course that you can -- and what better way to spend it than here chatting with the Flight Crew? On board for today's session are Andrea, Christina and myself, not to mention a horde of fellow travel lovers ready to comment on your every tourism whim.

Today's contest: Tell us about a time when you witnessed the electoral process in another country -- what you learned, what fascinated you, etc. The best story wins a nice guide book to the European destination of the winner's choice. Ready? Let's chat...

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Arlington, Va.: I am leaving in a couple of days for 3 weeks in SE Asia. I have done similar trips the last couple of years. But for some reason this year my suitcase seems heavier than before. I think I am taking basically the exact same stuff. But the bag weighs 45.5 pounds. I took a few things out yesterday to get it down to that. The problem with going to the tropics is that the humidity and heat means I need to have a couple of shirts to wear each day. And I won't be in a place to easily get laundry done until a couple of weeks into the trip. I would like to lighten my load a bit but I am under or right at the allowable limit so maybe I shouldn't worry too much. I will have drivers picking me up everywhere so I won't be schlepping the bag around on my own too much...

Christina Talcott: Yeah, you're under the limit, but it won't be fun dragging that thing around if you don't need all that weight. I'd take a look at www.onebag.com to get an idea of how to lighten your load. Also, a T-shirt suggestion: If you're going to be staying more than one night in any hotel, you might think about taking some lightweight, quick-drying tees (like Coolmax) that you can wash in your hotel room and hang up to dry overnight or during the day. You could get away with a week's worth of tees that way. Plus, they're smaller and lighter to pack than cotton. Pop by LL Bean or order online for overnight delivery from Travelsmith, Magellans or Campmor. (You could just wash the tees you already have, though they may take longer to dry.) I usually take a pack of something called "Paper Laundry Soap" (available at flight001.com and other travel shops), but you could also pack some laundry powder in a ziploc baggie, or just use hotel soap or shampoo.

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Professional Beer Drinker: Well, actually I write a column for a beer magazine, but I have to taste it before I can write about it, right?

Now that I've established some bona fides, please let me respond to something from last week. A Richmond poster advised a traveler to Dublin about a restaurant named Gruel and a pub named the Porter House. "Great selection of beer (but no Guinness)" wrote the Richmonder before someone at washingtonpost.com electronically exclaimed, "No Guinness?!?!?"

No, no Guinness. The Porter House, which is in Parliament Street on the edge of Temple Bar, makes its own beers, including three different and excellent stout varieties (Oyster, Porter and Traditional) that many, your humble poster included, prefer over Guinness. There are five links in the Porter House brewpub chain, including one near London's Covent Garden if you're headed there.

Oh, and a second endorsement of Gruel as a place to get a not fancy but very tasty bite to eat in Dublin.

Scott Vogel: Better late than never, thanks!

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Greenbelt: Need a week-long winter getaway. What's the nearest and easiest foreign destination that doesn't feel like they've re-planted the U.S. on foreign soil for your benefit?

Christina Talcott: Boy, there are so many options. I'm assuming you want a warm place, though I like Montreal and Quebec City for a mix of Canadian and French cultures that feels foreign and unique. See Scott's story from yesterday on a train trip up there. As for warm and sunny climes, browse our Caribbean stories for ideas of places you might like, including St. Barts and St. Martin, which Andrea recently wrote about.

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Washington, DC: Can you give me an idea of short cruise possibilities from Tampa? We are going with our extended family to Anna Maria Island the week of Christmas, and were thinking of taking a cruise afterwards. Are there smaller lines other than the RC and Celebrity, etc?

washingtonpost.com: Big Ships, Quick Trips (Post Travel Section, Oct. 5)

Scott Vogel: Here's one recent article to get you going. Carnival (admittedly not a small line) has 4 and 5-day cruises out of Tampa, several in fact over the next few months.

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Dayton, Ohio: I watched the 1999 Ukrainian presidential election while serving there with the Peace Corps. The power of incumbency (and its power and money) -- every night, the news on UT-1 seemed to start with "Today, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma..." -- and the dirtiness involved in keeping candidates not named Kuchma out of people's minds was amazing.

Scott Vogel: One vote for Ukraine. Thanks.

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Indy, IN: I'll be taking a trip in two weeks with my husband, father-in-law and 4-month old baby. We did not book a ticket for the baby (sigh, thanks FIL) and now face two legs from Indy to Denver to Albuquerque with a baby-in-lap. Can I use the baby sling I carry him around the house in on the plane? Or is that too much like the banned "belly belts"? Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: You should check with your airline to be sure of itspolicy on baby slings, but from my experience, I have never seen a mom with a baby sling be asked to remove her carrier. However, for take offs and landings, they might ask you to remove the sling and seat the baby in your lap. But once the plane hits altitude, you can sling away.

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Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.: Not so much another country's electoral process, but... I was living in France during the 2000 election. Every time people found out I was American, I got asked a zillion questions. I was even asked to be on the French news to discuss the situation! (I turned them down - I said it was because I didn't want to speak French on TV, but really, I was in the middle of doing laundry and I didn't want to go on TV in the shirt I had on.)

Scott Vogel: I can totally relate. I recently got back from France myself, and the American election was topic #1 whenever they discovered we were American.

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London, 2000: I am perhaps taking advantage of your sentence construction, but I was able to observe the American election from across the pond in 2000. I was interning at a large publishing company at the time, and I had to put up with political debates and questions from everyone (including the CEO) everyday leading up to the election. I was much younger and naive at the time, and I assured everyone that America would come through and pick the enlightened and worldly candidate... I went to sleep the night of the election believing gleefully we had one man as president... and woke up the next day to find that we had a different man as president. I was heartbroken, and I remember considering calling in sick. I made it to work, and they took me to the local pub for beers at lunch. Mild consolation. Great memories.

Scott Vogel: Just for you, London, I hereby expand the contest to include recollections of U.S. elections by Americans abroad!

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Pittsburgh: Could the Flight Crew please keep us informed about Ryanair's reported plans for bargain-basement trans-Atlantic fares next year?

Link: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/02/business/EU-Britain-Ryanair.php

Excerpt: (AP) Budget airline Ryanair plans to offer trans-Atlantic flights as cheap as 10 euros ($12.70) before taxes to several U.S. cities from Britain and Ireland, a company official said, according to a newspaper report Sunday.

The Irish airline wants to offer services from London's Stansted and Dublin airports to New York, Florida, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston, Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary was quoted as saying in an interview with Britain's News of the World tabloid.

Scott Vogel: We absolutely will. I saw that article myself this morning and we'll bring you news regarding Ryanair's proposed transatlantic service as soon as it happens.

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Rockville: My sister wants to rent a cabin in Aspen or Vail for a bunch of people for her birthday. I know about vbro.com, any other ideas?

Andrea Sachs: You could also try calling some of real estate companies in the area, or the resort, as they might have partnerships with cabin rentals. I also found some quality cabins at www.allvail.com/lodging/cabins.php, www.homeaway.com/vail/s/905/fa/find.squery, www.aspenplacestostay.com and www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/Colorado.html. Also check Craig's List and if you can get your hands on a copy of a local paper, you might find some good offerings.

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Takoma, D.C.: When I lived in Japan, I was perplexed by the trucks with loudspeakers that kept driving up and down the roads in my neighborhood. They weren't the scary far-right trucks, painted black with Japanese flags. They were happy white trucks with nice ladies wearing white gloves and waving. Eventually I found out: There's no political advertising in Japan, so candidates get their name out there by really getting their name out there: Trucks covered in posters with nice ladies telling you, "Yamaguchi! Vote for Yamaguchi, please! Please, Yamaguchi! Thank you very much for your consideration!" and so on.

One of these trucks made a brief, unexplained appearance in Lost in Translation and made me really happy. Japan: It's a mysterious land.

Scott Vogel: White gloves, huh? Interesting.

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Central Cal: Foreign Elections: I wasn't there on election day, but regional races were under way in Nayarit State in Mexico a few years back. Posters with the various candidates' pictures or caricatures were posted everywhere. Political signage was painted on walls here and there. Puts the yard signs to shame. Banners strung from street lights or power poles, along busy street they were just about all adorned. It all seemed like a look back in time. The only thing missing was the flatbed truck with the megaphone speakers blaring political rhetoric.

Scott Vogel: Speaking of truck electioneering...

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Silver Spring, Md.: I'm looking for a good place to go in January for a few days during the inauguration week. I'd like to get away from DC, but don't want to drive more than three hours. I don't really care about activities, although those are great bonuses, what I'm interested in is a great town for foodies. I was in Philadelphia recently, so any place new?

washingtonpost.com: Charlottesville, Va. has great restaurants, as this recent article makes clear. I also enjoy Berkeley Springs, W.Va., which has some good restaurants, and cheap massages to boot! -- Elizabeth

Christina Talcott: I second those recommendations, and I'll New York City, about a three hour train trip or four hours by bus. I enjoyed a food-themed walking tour last time I was there (link coming up). Baltimore and Annapolis have serious treats for diners, too. A few off-the-beaten-path dining destinations: Rappahannock County, Va., Easton, Md. and Rehoboth Beach, Del. all have terrific restaurants and low-key charm. Any other great noshing-town suggestions?

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For the person who submitted the first comment: In addition to the ideas Christina Talcott had, I suggest visiting a golf store such as Golfdom in Tysons. The newer golf shirts are made of the "wicking" fabrics that don't absorb sweat, and they also dry quickly (whether the drying be from sweat or after you wash them). These shirts are great for travel because you can wash them in the hotel room sink and then hang them up if you are so inclined; while they may not always be bone-dry by morning, usually they'll have dried enough that if you want to wear the same shirt, your body heat will finish the drying process fairly quickly.

I golf and I sweat way too much, so I always had to wear white shirts during the summer (good thing I am not female...). The new golf shirts have been a life-saver for me for that reason, and I've found I can ever wear dark blue on the golf course now even if it's 90 degrees out.

Christina Talcott: Great suggestion. Thanks!

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washingtonpost.com: It's Not Uzbekistan, but It's Tasty. Now, Pass the Horseradish. (Post Travel Section, May 4)

Christina Talcott: Here's that story on the walking food tour of New York.

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January vacation planning: Say you had about $6000 to spend on a 2 week vacation in January to somewhere exotic but warm, with plenty of beaches and warm water to lounge at. Luxury accommodations are desired, but no all-inclusives. No Caribbean or Hawaii, since we've already been there. Where would you go? Thoughts so far were Thailand, but that seems so generic now! Any other suggestions?

Andrea Sachs: You got me dreaming now. I would pick Indonesia--Bali, Sumatra, Komodo, etc. Or perhaps southern India and the Andaman Islands. Or how about Tasmania. Or Tonga and the Polynesian islands? For all, you can luxe out, go simple or try a bit of both.

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Pittsburgh: To speed up drying hand-laundry in a hotel room in a humid climate, what I always do in the Azores Islands is to hang up the items I've washed out in the morning (on hangers, if appropriate) in the bathroom, then use a hand-held hairdryer (with which many hotel bathrooms are equipped) to jump-start the drying process for a few minutes. If my clothes still aren't fully dry by bedtime, I repeat the process with the hair-dryer, then usually the items are dry by morning when I need them. This assumes that the hotel room is not oppressively hot, of course.

Christina Talcott: Another tip on wash-and-go travel clothes.

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Elections: What makes sooo much sense to me is that in Australia, 1. election day is a holiday, 2. voting is mandatory -- you get a fine if you don't vote, 3. they vote for a party, not a person. To me, this takes the popularity contest down a few notches.

Scott Vogel: I hear you. And given the likely lines at some precincts tomorrow, Election Day may well become a de facto holiday for some of us.

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Bronx, NY: I once worked as an election facilitator in a small recently-reconstituted Eastern European country that shall remain nameless. I worked for an international organization, but the majority of our budget came from the United States. Our job as facilitators was to ensure that opposition-party candidates had the same access to media outlets as the ruling party candidates - basically, we were trying to ensure media objectivity vis-a-vis the electoral process. What fascinated me was that we were able to make grants to some (but not all) political candidates to pay for advertising, and the main criterion for who got money was, how willing is the candidate to toe the US party line. This benefitted the opposition candidates much more than the ruling-party candidates. And here we were, ostensibly enforcing rules about fair and equal access to media...

Scott Vogel: Aw, come on -- name the country!

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Washington DC: For the "nearest and easiest foreign destination," consider flying to Cancun and then driving the few hours directly to Merida.

Christina Talcott: Here's a warm-weather suggestion for the chatter hoping for a truly foreign-feeling destination...

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Washington, DC: Going for a three-week tour of China, and just got a Kindle for a trip present! I was going to download some books to read - any problems taking a Kindle along or getting it through customs?

Andrea Sachs: You should not have a problem: Even a China paper has an edition compatible with Kindle. Just keep the reading selection clean, if you know what I mean.

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Winter getaway?: I am considering a similar situation and coming up with Mexico (Yucatan away from Cancun) and/or Costa Rica. Flights can be pricey, but if you get away from the main tourist areas, you can have a reasonable price tag for the rest of your trip -- be sure to include a car rental (or 4WD rental for Costa Rica) in your planning.

Christina Talcott: More on winter getaways...

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Leesburg, Va.: The Montreal train trip article caught my attention. My wife and I have talked about doing something like that for while. Would even like to figure a way to work in a little skiing near Quebec.

1. Is sleeping on the train difficult? Noise problems? Train movement?

2. In Canada, do ATMs accept American bank debit cards?

Scott Vogel: The ATMs do indeed take American debit cards.

With regard to sleeping, I should admit that I am a notoriously light sleeper, and as you may have read, bad dreams -- more than the train's rocking motion -- kept me up that first night. Having said that, however, by the second night I was totally accustomed to the Ocean's rhythms and slept fine. Surprisingly comfortable beds, by the way.

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Alexandria, Va.: My husband and I have decided to take a trip early in spring 2008. We have a bunch of destinations we'd like to consider (from Mexico to Charleston to Amsterdam and beyond, about 10 different places total). We thought we might wait until about a month or so before the trip and just go with the best package deal we can find. Any flaws in this theory? Recommendations?

Andrea Sachs: Not at all. I love that spontaneous approach. That way you won't overplan or fret over the details, and if you are open-minded about your destination, you could very well end up getting a great deal on an unexpected place. Check Travelzoo for last-minute flights, packages, etc., as well as last-minute travel Web sites.

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Politics in Paris: I was in Paris in October 2004, and actually watched the first Kerry-Bush debate on CNN Int'l in the middle of the night (not because I'm obsessed with politics -- though I am -- but because I wasn't feeling well and so was awake anyway), and ended up describing it to some interested Australian tourists the next day. (I also met a Mexican tourist there who was very pro-Bush, so we had a friendly debate over dinner about that.)

Then I was in Paris again in the spring of 2007 and got to see the run-up to the Sarkozy-Royale election. I didn't get as much of a feel for that one because I didn't watch much TV, but the city was covered with campaign posters and everyone seemed engaged with it. I left with the impression that Royale had a slight edge, but apparently not.

Scott Vogel: Thanks!

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Arlington, Va.: I lived in Venezuela during the rise to power of Hugo Chavez. The lower and middle classes (although the middle class was basically nonexistent) wanted desperately to become a part of the process that had basically shut them out for years. The upper class recognized the issues that were going on for the lower classes - but took no action. The national leadership was so corrupt that it was an understood fact. The national security was a joke, between a corrupt military and porous borders for the guerrillas (FARC) from Colombia crossing the border at will, and local populations attempting to protect themselves from kidnapping and crimes committed by these men.

There were massive marches in the streets, especially by Chavez supporters who believed that he would help them... if only they could have known they were putting a man into power that would become a dictator by destroying their Constitution, disbanding their legislative bodies, etc.

The upper classes had every reason to fear Chavez - he had led a coup years before, served jail time, and his ideology was well-known. Now we all see where that nation has gone.

Scott Vogel: Fascinating stuff, thanks.

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early flight from National: I have a flight that leaves National at 6 am on Friday (flying to Miami and then on to Guatemala). What time does the airport open? I know technically I'm supposed to be there two hours early for an international flight, but I'm pretty sure the security lines aren't even open at 4 am. Do you think I'd be pressing my luck to show up at 5 am? I do have a bag that will need to be checked.

Andrea Sachs: The airport is always open, to my knowledge. With international air, I would not risk it (domestic is another case, since you can check in online and don't need to flash a passport). The airline should have check-in agents at that early hour, though you might not be able to go through security until a little later. In this scenario, I say, Be good, go early and sleep on the plane.

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Iceland and Argentina: Thanks for the information on Iceland travel last week, but, I still have another question.

Can anyone recommend a day tour operator for the Golden Circle and Northern Lights tour?

Second, I am going to Argentina and want to know what neighborhood to stay in while in Buenos Aires.

Appreciate the help!

Christina Talcott: I've seen recommendations for Iceland Excursions (www.icelandexcursions.com) and Reykjavik Excursions (www.re.is), which seem to have comparable schedules and rates for the popular Golden Circle, Northern Lights and Blue Lagoon tours. Destination Iceland is another one, and the Iceland Tourism site has tons of operators listed. Anyone out there prefer one company in particular?

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Arlington, VA: My husband and I are going to an all inclusive resort in Mexico on Monday. While tips are included I plan on tipping bar tenders, bell boys, etc. Can we tip in US dollars or should we exchange our dollars for pesos?

Andrea Sachs: Nope, dollars are fine, if not preferable.

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London, U.K.: I'm an American living over here, and people are watching the election -very- closely. I've lost track of the number of times I've been asked if I've voted (yes), what do I think about this aspect, have I seen this statement, can I send someone a link to an SNL skit about Palin, can I explain the electoral college (fortunately, yes, I can), and so forth. So there might not be international observers on the ground in the U.S. tomorrow (or are there?) but there are going to be billions outside the U.S. watching.

Scott Vogel: Thanks, London -- and if you think things are intense there, well, let me tell you....

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Washington, DC: I would like to go away for a long weekend around MLK day. I'd like to go to a Spanish-speaking place relatively easy to get to from DC and don't want to spend a lot (I sometimes will stay in hostels overseas, just to give you an idea of my style of travel). I'll be a woman traveling solo, so it has to be safe (though I am comfortable traveling alone). I like history, walking cities and neighborhoods, easy hiking, wildlife. I hate beach vacations. Any suggestions?

Andrea Sachs: I would pick San Juan, Puerto Rico, or Baja California. You could also consider Miami and just hang out in Little Cuba.

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Chantilly, Va.: I've seen Spanish and Italian political signage leading up to elections, but the most interesting foreign political situation I've seen was in Hungary. It wasn't during election time, but during one of their national holidays (the March one, not the October one, for those familiar with Hungarian holidays). There was lots of excitement in Budapest that day -- we missed out on the mayor of Budapest (a strong supporter of the national government) getting pelted with fruits and vegetables, and we also missed out on the riots later that night, but we did get to see what seemed to be a neo-fascist rally, including a speech being given in English (and simultaneously translated into Magyar) by a British fellow whom we decided must be a famous (I guess) Holocaust denier. So that was exciting.

Scott Vogel: Pelting politicians with fruits and vegetables -- I'm suddenly developing a fondness for Hungarian politics.

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Washington, DC: Re: drying clothes in a hotel - don't forget you can wrap the item in a towel and wring out a lot of the moisture. It really speeds up the drying process.

Christina Talcott: Good point. Thanks for the tip.

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Arlington, Va.: Not the electoral process exactly... pretty much the complete opposite, but I was in Bangkok in 2006 when the latest coup overthrew the Prime Minister while he was in NYC at the UN. Most people in Bangkok we actually pretty happy as the urban middle class despised him (and still do). So there were people giving flowers to the troops and posing for photos with them and their tanks. If I hadn't seen it on the news I wouldn't have had any idea it was even going on other than the total lack of traffic on the morning after. But by afternoon the vendors were all back out on the streets.

Scott Vogel: Wow, Travel chatters never disappoint in the experiences department.

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Washington, DC: Back in my wayward days as an expat teenager overseas, I was in Rome during local regional elections. There was a communist party having a rally in a public square. Some friends and I were hanging out about a block away, just people watching and looking at the dozens of large political posters plastered on the side of a brick building. Hearing the communists chant and cheer and seeing the throngs of people, I got swept into the fun of it all, and so I wanted a souvenir. I took out my handy Leatherman and started cutting one of communist posters off of the brick wall. Some commies saw me and started yelling (in Italian, which I don't speak). It didn't dawn on me that they would be mad at me for taking down their stuff, so I risked their (literally) incomprehensible vitriol and now I have a tattered, torn Italian communist party poster in my apartment.

Scott Vogel: Whew, close one.

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BWI: I currently am booked on the first Southwest flight to FLL on 1/18 for a cruise leaving the same day. There are another 4 SW flights that morning that could still get me there in time. Lots of people are trying to convince me to change my flight to the afternoon before. Am I crazy not to? Yes, its January. But, the first morning flight means I'm not as dependent on flights arriving from other airports and, in the case of a storm, the ground crews have been working all night. It just seems, in my experience, while there may be delays in the morning, they are less significant that afternoon delays. That Southwest plane would have come in the night before, not 20 minutes before we board. What do the travel gurus think?

Andrea Sachs: Ooh, that's a toughie. I personally would keep the morning flight, following the same logic you spelled out. However, if the situation is weather-dependent, then the airline is not responsible for your missed cruise. However, if you fly out the day before, then you have to pay for a hotel, food, etc. What a pickle.

If you are a laid-back traveler, I would stick with the morning flight. If you have an anxious streak, go a day early.

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Mt. Pleasant, MI: Re: January 2009 trip

Love the travel chats. This person might also consider Tahiti, which is an eight-hour flight from LA. We were there in 2001. Wonderful beautiful place--particularly Bora Bora.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the tip!

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"In Canada, do ATMs accept American bank debit cards?": Check with your bank to see whether they have a fee-free arrangement with any Canadian bank. Bank of America customers, for example, should look for a bank that falls within the "Global ATM Alliance" (Scotiabank being the biggest such bank in Canada) because you won't have to pay fees to use those banks' ATMs.

Scott Vogel: Good advice, thanks.

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St. Paul, MN: I observed the Australian election back in 1996, when the Labor govt left office and the Conservatives came to power. It was fascinating - my first time really seeing a parliamentary system in action, hearing about the different issues that were important there but not here (like France testing nuclear devices in the South Pacific). I had never before thought about issues like retirement savings or value added taxes, both of which came up in our little neck of the woods. My time abroad also gave me a great understanding of how important the US is for so many countries around the world - I'll never forget reading the paper, seeing a reference to the "White House" and asking an Aussie friend what that was. He looked at me as if I had two heads and was like, "uh, it's where your president lives" with an implicit "stupid American" at the end of the sentence. Incidentally, I was also there when the OJ Simpson verdict came down and that was similarly fascinating - it made the front page of the papers, and I am not sure that any Australians really had an idea who Simpson was before the whole scandal. Studying abroad was a tremendous cross-cultural experience, even for two places as similar as the US and Australia.

Scott Vogel: Did you see the Post magazine's Sunday article on studying abroad? Good stuff.

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Bethesda: Why are trips to the Caribbean so expensive in March? Is this because of Spring Break? Or do you think they'll go down? I thought booking a random week in March would be cheap!

Andrea Sachs: It is high season for Caribbean travel during that time period. However, it also depends on which island you are looking at. The Bahamas, Jamaica and other "nearby" islands should be less than, say, Aruba, Turks and Caicos, etc. Also, look at hotel and air packages; you can often find cheaper air booking it as a unit.

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Northern Virginia: I lived in Australia for a number of years at the beginning of the 2000's. My next-door neighbor was in her 80's and loved talking about both American and Australian politics. There was an election in November 2001 so I learned a lot about the Australian voting system from her. First, I learned that voting is compulsory and you risk having to pay a fine for not voting. Second, they use something called a "preferential" voting system that sounded so complicated to me that I would think you'd need a Ph.D. in political science to understand it (but I guess the Australians do). Finally, the best thing about elections in Australia are that they are 'short and sweet'. The political season seemed to be over almost as soon as it began and there was not the inundation of advertising that we get here. Alas, my friend is no longer with us because I would have loved talking to her about our present campaign.

Scott Vogel:"short and sweet" -- wow, what a concept.

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Washington, D.C.: In Pompeii you can still see electoral graffiti on the walls from ancient Rome.

Scott Vogel: Negative campaigning much?

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Arlington, VA: The person going to Miami at 6 AM from National is right to wonder. I flew to JFK on the 6 AM flight a couple of years ago. I got to the airport around 4:30 and checked in with no line, no waiting. But the security checkpoint didn't open until about 5. So there was a decent line up until things go moving.

Andrea Sachs: I agree. I have a 5:30 a.m. flight next Monday from Dulles and am mulling the same question. I might trim it to 100 minutes, but not an hour. Too risky.

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London, U.K. again: I was just back visiting family in the U.S. a few weeks ago, so I know things are intense there! But the intensity level here is somewhat unexpected (as this is the first time I've been out of the U.S. during a presidential election), although I've heard stories about all-nighters colleagues pulled back in 2004 to hear results. I'm not expecting much work to be done Wednesday, regardless. Either everyone will be partying, or mourning.

(I'm also often asked how anyone can still be undecided, to which I honestly say I have no idea, unless someone's just claiming that for the media attention.)

Scott Vogel: Yeah, that seems to be something of a mystery on both sides of the pond.

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washingtonpost.com: Here are the articles on studying abroad: Innocents Abroad (Washington Post Magazine, Nov. 2)

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Babymoon?: Just found out we are expecting in early summer. We would like to take a 4-5 day trip over inauguration weekend in January to celebrate our anniversary and get away before getting away becomes a lot more difficult. We're looking for a European city with a direct connection from Dulles that's reasonable to see in 4-5 days (with lots of breaks to rest) and is somewhat reasonable on the wallet. We've done London and Munich. We were thinking Paris but open to other thoughts. Paris is so expensive. We love museums, good food and browsing markets. Suggestions? Thanks!

Christina Talcott: If you've never been to Paris, go! I may be biased, but it's just stunning, and it'll be blissfully uncrowded in January. The dollar's up at the moment and could get stronger, making the city more affordable. If you can find a good package deal, I'd go for it. Anyone have other suggestions?

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Clarification re drying hand-laundry in hotel room: My comment re not using a hair-dryer to help dry clothes if the hotel room is oppressively hot referred to the questioner's destination of Southeast Asia -- not to the Azores (where it rarely gets above 80 in the summer, and most hotel rooms have A/C anyhow)!

Christina Talcott: Noted.

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Washington, DC: I want to go away for 5 days in January to somewhere warm. Should I book a package now or hold out for a last minute special through travelzoo or something? It seems risky, but people seem to find great things on there. Thanks for any advice!

Andrea Sachs: Planes are reducing seats, so if you find a deal/package you like, grab it. However, if your trip is scheduled for after the holidays, you might have a better shot at a good deal, since the travel industry hits a lull after the festivities of Christmas and New Year's.

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Election 2004: We left for UK the day after elections - and believe me I thought about the 'political asylum' sign while I waited for customs. As we interacted with the people in Newcastle, they would say, so... you just had an election. Once I assured them I did not vote for Bush, they felt free to vent. I got plenty of comments!

Scott Vogel: I think we should do an article on how to deftly handle political conversations about one's own country while on holiday. I know I could learn a few things on that score.

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Caribbean in March again: Thanks for answering. I know it's high season...but I'm finding it way more expensive to go in March than in January. Does that seem normal or can I expect prices to go down eventually?

Andrea Sachs: That is normal, due to spring break. Prices could go down, though, since fares are hardly static, but they often are higher in March than January.

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French Elections on Island Time: I've run into French presential election campaigns twice -- both times while on vacation in Guadaloupe, French West Indies. Streets in small villages on the island were blocked throughout the week for scheduled rallies by both the incumbent and the challenger, who were visiting the island within a few days of each other. I couldn't believe that the candidates would fly that far for what seemed to me to be a small population center, but then a resident pointed out that the French West Indies are a French state, not a territory, and that every vote was highly coveted. A US equivalent would be if the major candidates all felt that they needed to spend time in Hawaii and Alaska during the campaign (okay, I mean in years where none of the candidates were from either Hawaii or Alaska...). I must admit it was cool to be able to say that I ran into the French president while on a dive vacation.

Scott Vogel: Interesting stuff, and yeah, I'll bet a nice surprise.

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San Diego, CA: I'm just commenting on the suggestion for a female solo traveler to choose Baja California - living in San Diego we are constantly barraged with some not too pleasant travel stories. I could not in good conscience recommend Baja as a location for a female solo traveler. Travel in Baja - and Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada - is down to about 20% of what it normally is due to problems in the region.

Andrea Sachs: Oh, thanks for setting me straight.

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Deep Valley, USA: For a few years we selected our end of year trip based on the best deal we could find on about December 7th. We've been to Florence, Vancouver, and Savannah on the last minute plan and had nothing but good times.

Andrea Sachs: So glad it worked out.

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Washington, D.C.: Foreign elections. Was in Cambridge (UK), watching a movie at a local theatre -- forget the name, but it was about a book lover in NY who corresponds with a book dealer in London.

Somewhere in the movie, set in the 1950's, there's a scene on the London streets, where a truck comes through with its loudspeaker blaring "VOTE FOR ___" (some prime minister candidate from that decade).

As it happened, that very day was election day in U.K., which Thatcher won handily. The entire movie audience roared, as everyone was tired of the election!

Scott Vogel: Election fatigue -- a worldwide phenomenon.

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Richmond, VA: When I had my son in a sling, I never had anyone ask me to take him out once I was on the plane. Unfortunately, I always had to take him out and take the sling off to go through security. I had people shoving past me and my baby in the security line (at the point right before you go through the screener) because apparently I was taking too long. One time the TSA actually reprimanded a woman for pushing me. Ridiculous, really when you think that I only needed maybe 3-5 minutes to get the whole get-up off and back on again.

I went on quite a few trips to Europe and they sometimes have a security line for people who need a little extra time. It's worth looking around for one. And if you are behind someone who needs a minute, try to be patient.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the sling advice. It does seem like a great way to travel with baby.

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Washington, D.C.: I happened to be in Rome in 2005 during the last conclave to choose a new Pope. The rest of Rome seemed to be normal but as soon as you neared Vatican City, it was gridlocked by people. My friend and I happened to be near the Vatican when the white smoke went up the chimney but it was so faint that you really couldn't see it -- everyone ended up in front of a storefront that happened to have a TV in the window. As soon as the smoke went up, you could sense the excitement -- it was definitely an experience to see all of these serene faced nuns go completely gaga en masse in St. Peter's square. Also during that trip, my friend and I happened to run into a wall of people and photographers just kind of hovering right outside the Vatican. It turned out that everyone was waiting for Pope Benedict to leave his apartments just outside of the Vatican, get into his car and be driven the 1000 feet or so to his new offices -- this was a twice daily occurrence (morning -- well, actually mid-morning -- and night).

Scott Vogel: Wow.

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Arlington, Va.: I was on my honeymoon in Buenos Aires last October right before their presidential election. It was interesting, because people we talked with gave arguments against Cristina, the wife of the outgoing leader, like "We're not ready for a woman president" and "I just don't like the family--they have been in power too long."

Switch Cristina to Hillary, and you heard the same exact sentiments back in the U.S. The world felt much smaller to me on that trip.

Scott Vogel:"It's a Small World" sung in a minor key...

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D.C.: Hi Flight Crew! I'm hoping to visit a friend in Eastern Morocco this spring. The nearest airport is Fez, but the cheapest flights I've been seeing is over $1300 roundtrip. Does that seeem like too much? My other option would be to fly through London and spend a few days visiting a friend there, but I've having trouble finding a cheap-ish flight between London and Fez. Thanks for your help!

Andrea Sachs: It is more expensive to fly to Fez, since it is a smaller airport. You might want to fly to Casablanca and take the train or a hired car to Fez.

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London, U.K. (yet again): The biggest difference I've really noticed is the time issue - there are plenty of differences, obviously, but the length of time it's been going on really stands out. In early summer '07 some new colleagues (from several African countries that have extremely short campaign periods) were excitedly asking me about the candidates, and then one made a comment that he was really looking forward to seeing who got elected president and that was in the fall, right? I said yes, but fall '08. Their faces absolutely fell.

Scott Vogel: Two interesting comments regarding our protracted election process.

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Herndon, Va.: About the person who had to arrive at the airport at 4 am if following the "2 hours before flight takeoff" rule.

From my experience at Dulles for an early domestic flight, I'd suggest, if "outside" check in is allowed for an international flight, the flyer keep an eye on outside check in status. When I arrived at Dulles around 4:45 am for my flight, I was directed to wait inside. I was about 30th in line when I noticed outside check in opening up. I took my bag outside, was the 2nd in line there, and was checked in right away. While waiting to board the flight, the people who'd been ahead of me inside were rushing up at the last minute, barely clearing security and getting to the departure gate in time.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the tip. I don't think anyone can think clearly at that insane hour, so it's good to know beforehand.

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1990 in Oxford: It was fall of 1990 in Oxford during my semester abroad, and it was very interesting to be in England and to watch the British elections that resulted in the changing of the guard from Margaret Thatcher to John Major. (Of course, she wasn't a Baroness then.) I don't remember exactly the tone of the campaign but was very interested in how the campaigns differ from the US, i.e. it was not a long, protracted affair the US has put on lately. I'm sure our classes had discussions regarding this election, but it's long forgotten to me now.

Frankly, I think that the US could take a lesson from the UK and just allow the campaigns to run for a short period of time, and then have elections. Of course, the US could also take a lesson from the Aussies in that people are actually fined if they don't vote when they're eligible, resulting in an over 95% participation when elections are held.

Scott Vogel: Here's the second.

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Washington, D.C.: In Brazil, every (every!) political party gets these couple-minute blocks of advertisement time during the primetime telenovelas. So one minute you'll be watching a passionate embrace on the novela, and the next minute a bunch of kids will be singing about how great the communist party is.

And this was not during an election season at all.

Scott Vogel: As if those telenovelas aren't entertaining enough on their own!

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Bethesda: To the poster leaving at 6 to Guatemala -- I did this a few weeks ago, although I was traveling through Atlanta. I arrived at the airport about 5 and felt that I should have arrived earlier, and this was a Sunday AM, so didn't have to contend with the early buisnesss travelers . Luckily I had already checked in online and was able to carry luggage on.

Enjoy Guatemala, it's one of my favorite places.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the input!

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Zambian Election: I was in Zambia during the re-election of the (recently deceased) President Mwanawasa. I enjoyed following the headlines of the widely read Post that detailed with great enthusiasm the name-calling and back-biting between Mwanawasa and his challenger Michael Sata (who just lost again to Mwanawasa's successor). The thing I remember most however was Mwanawasa's response to Sata's charge that he was no better than a vegetable: In big bold letters on the front page read- President-"I am not a cabbage." Kind of makes the charges here seem a little less ridiculous.

Scott Vogel: ahahahaha...

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Norwich, UK: I'm studying abroad right now and everyone wants to talk about the election. It's number one on their minds as well. The bar is even staying open all night so Americans (and everyone else) can watch election returns come in. We've been talking all about it in my politics courses, and there's a round table next week. Even though I'd rather be in America for this great event, it's really exciting over here, too!

Scott Vogel: That bar might have to stay open into the next day. Nah, let's think positive.

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Re: Presidential elections: While this wasn't an election per se, I was in Germany for the 50th anniversary of VE day. Instead of saying, yep, 50th anniversary of us losing the war, they referred to it as the 50th anniversary of the victory over Nazism. I like that.

Scott Vogel: Me too.

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Bronx, NY: The country was Bosnia. I was a newly-minted MA in political science, and it certainly was an interesting on-the-ground lesson in democratic development, state-building and the electoral process. The experience definitely colored my thinking on campaign-finance reform here in America.

Scott Vogel: Bosnia in a late run...

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Washington, DC: Hi Flight Crew, I'm headed to Cape Town later this week for the first time and am disappointed to learn Robben Island is closed for maintenance the first half of the month. What should I do instead on the one morning I have free? The remainder of my time in Cape Town will be spent on a tour hiking Table Mountain, visiting Stellenbosch and Cape Point. Thanks.

Christina Talcott: Gosh, there's so much to do in Cape Town. Wander around the Company Gardens and visit the South African National Gallery with its visiting exhibitions, then amble Long Street and up to Bo-Kaap past the brightly-colored houses. Or spend the afternoon exploring the lovely Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

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Kingstowne, Va.: I was up at Mont-Tremblant in January 2006 when Canada held an election. I found it interesting to watch the process in a country with four major political parties compared to our silly two-party system, and since I was in Quebec the Bloc Quebecois was a major presence as opposed to something that just gets passing mention on the news in the rest of the country. Seeing the result (no party won a majority in the House of Commons) was even more interesting. I'm quite familiar with how the Canadian system works, but to be there in person made it seem a lot less like abstract political theory.

Scott Vogel: And the Canadian system: finally explained.

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Recent 1st time Parisian traveler to Babymooner: Oh, go to Paris... you won't be disappointed. Paris doesn't have to be expensive. We stayed in Le Grand Hotel Leveque on the Rue Cler, in the 7th, for 95 Euro (about $135) a night. This is a Rick Steves recommendation. Rue Cler is like a market - wine shop, fromagerie, fruit stand, grocery, cafes, boulangeries, even an olive oil store. All the locals were very friendly and accommodating to our patchwork French/English/Italian. You don't have to stay in the poshest place in the 6th to have a great time. We walked to the Eiffel Tower, and you can get the Museum pass that bundles the museums for a lower admittance fee. I can't wait to get back to Paris, and I'm sorry it took me so long to get there -- it really is magical. Go, go -- you won't regret it.

Christina Talcott: Wonderful suggestions! I also like Rue Mouffetard in the 5th, which has a fantastic market and lots of cute but inexpensive shops.

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RE:"Babymoon": A trip to Paris without red wine, unpasteurized cheese, steak tartare, coffee, or kir royales?

I can't imagine having very much fun on that trip.

Christina Talcott: Haha, I hadn't thought of that.

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Traveling to Argentina...: For the person wanting to know where to stay in Buenos Aires. Just returned from South America and a 5 day stay in BA. We stayed in Microcentro, specifically Retiro, which was good in terms of being central. But the areas of San Telmo and Palermo were quite nice as well and just a quick cab ride a way from the other neighborhoods.

Christina Talcott: Great! Thanks!

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town for foodies and elections: It's amazing how your own country can make you feel like a foreigner at election time. Who knows how middle America votes?!

Anyhow, to the poster who wants out for the inauguration, Charlottesville is fantastic (but extremely liberal if you are trying to escape the Democratic parties to ensue).

I was just there this weekend and made sure to stop off at Mas, a fantastic tapas restaurant. But Charlottesville has a little of everything--nature, city, and the students will be GONE.

Christina Talcott: A second vote for Charlottesville for foodies.

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Vienna, VA: I need overnight parking at the Vienna metro stop, but I am told that it is not available there. What options are available that are close for parking for 3 nights, or do I just need to get a taxi?

Thanks - I love your chats!

Andrea Sachs: No parking overnight, sadly. But you can park overnight at Greenbelt, Huntington, and Franconia-Springfield. So, I would say either take a cab or park at the other Metro stations and take the subway from there.

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Alexandria, VA: We were in Puerto Rico for their statehood vote. Sadly, we were unaware it was happening and got caught in a massive traffic jam on the way to the airport. People pile in their cars and circle the narrow streets of old San Juan celebrating/promoting/etc. We finally found a side street and asked for alternate directions to the airport. Once we were off the main circuit we made good time to the airport and caught our flight home. Of course, in Athens, Greece, they seem to close the roads every day for some sort of protest/strike.

Scott Vogel: Wow, that's some timing.

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Oviedo, Fla. : To baby in sling mom - buy the baby a seat, and buckle up in an approved car seat. You will regret even a small bump and a tragedy would be insane in that you can prevent it. Many things in life are beyond your control. This isn't. Part of becoming a parent is watching your overhead soar. I don't care what your FIL paid for. You're the parent - you buy it. please.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for caring!

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Woodbury, MN: I travel with my little one in a Baby Bjorn and am never asked to take it off in security - we've been through lines here in MSP, LGA, EWR, ORD and MDW, LAX, MKE and FLL. There is something you can get called a "Baby B'Air" which is a harness that is FAA approved for travel. You can't use it during take off or landing, but you can use it while the plane is in flight - I use it with my baby and it has worked in severe turbulence, when I am a little leery of my ability to keep ahold of a baby.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for writing in.

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Washington DC: I've carried my son through security on two round-trips (National to O'Hare) and was never asked to remove him from the carrier (though once when he was sleeping and completely covered, the guard asked me to take the hood down so he could confirm that there was actually a baby there). I also felt more comfortable having him strapped to me during take-off and landing. No matter how strong you are or how tightly you hold on, straps are always going to be more secure than arms.

Of course, it still would be dangerous if there were an accident. I've heard there are safety devices that attach to the adult seatbelt. Maybe you could do an article on those devices and other safety options for taking babies on planes?

Andrea Sachs: Good idea for an article. It seems like babies on planes is a very important and salient issue.

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Rockville, Md.: Based on a suggestion from an earlier chat, I have booked a week-long trip for my family (including 1 year-old) to the Bahamas Atlantis resort. We're staying in a condo to save money. Any tips on places to eat within the resort? Unfortunately, with a budding toddler and his car seat, it'll be more difficult to travel outside of the resort. Thanks for any advice from the crew and fellow chatters!!

Andrea Sachs: I have never stayed at the Atlantis, but during my walk-through I saw loads of hotels on-site and in their outdoor mall area. There is also a small shopping mall with restaurants a few streets away.

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Silver Spring, Md.: The third friend this year is now in the hospital with pulmonary embolisms after long flights. Faced with two 13 1/2 hr flights in a few weeks, I'm now concerned. I'm planning on getting an aisle seat so I can get up and walk around each hour, move around in my seat as much as possible, and start on a low dose regimen of aspirin a couple weeks before the trip. Anything else I can do?

Christina Talcott: Walking around will certainly help, but be sure to ask your doctor if you have concerns.

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London: OK, everyone has taken a London trip (but me). There are tons of guidebooks and I've got the big stuff down. I won't be there on a Saturday (so Portobello Road market is out) and I am staying in London proper. I'm wondering, for those who have been: what's the one thing you woud not have wanted to miss?

washingtonpost.com: See a play (get tickets from the discount booth in Leicester Square) and visit the Tate and/or V&A museums! - Elizabeth

Christina Talcott: There you go!

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Scott Vogel: all right, our little half-hearted respite from All Things Election is over. If you haven't done so already, make sure you get out there and vote tomorrow, whatever your predilection. My vote, incidentally, goes for the chatter who talked about witnessing the papal election of Pope Benedict. Please e-mail me at vogelsi@washpost.com to claim your prize. As for the rest of you, see you next week for more fun and (hopefully) a new president-elect!

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