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: royal-watching in London, art gallery-hopping in Brooklyn, and finding out what's around and along Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

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: Good afternoon, all. Time once again for our weekly Travel chat, whose participants this week will include me, Carol Sottili, Nancy McKeon and of course YOU. What's on your mind these days even as travel deals appear and disappear at lightning speed with the holidays just around the corner? We're here to help!

And we're also here to give away a nice book: "The Americas," part of DK's handsome "Where to Go When" series. It'd make a great gift or a handsome addition to your coffee table. All you need to win it is tell me about the WORST TOUR you ever took while on vacation. Everyone knows that there's nothing quite as awful as a bad sightseeing tour. But there's awful and then there's AWFUL. Tell me about one that'll thrill your fellow chatters with its egregiousness ... and you may win a nice prize.

Okay, let's go!

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Flight from Hades: So I think I win the prize for worst airline flight ever (non-crash category, of course!)

I flew Alitalia a few weeks ago - Italy's bumbling state airline that may or may not be out of business by the time I hit submit. I flew Alitalia from JFK to Rome. The heater on the plane was broken - it was set to "on". We were being roasted for the entire flight. It was so hot that people - literally - were stripping! Picture hairy old men walking around shirtless and you have my flight.

Scott Vogel: I suddenly have this image of "Caligula" in the skies!

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US to Asia: Do you have any suggestions to make a flight to Asia easier? I haven't booked my tickets yet because I'm not sure if I should go for a non-stop flight, or break it up into one short leg and one long leg with a layover in Newark, Detroit or the likes. I don't even have a clue as to the best carriers for Asian destinations. Any advice?

Thank you!

Carol Sottili: I prefer flying nonstop, but that's because connecting can be a hassle. Miss the connection, and it can be difficult to get back on track. That said, there are very few nonstop flights to Asia out of Washington; I think Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing may be it. And some of the best airlines are Asian carriers, including Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, and they don't fly directly from Washington (although they do offer code-share flights to one of their hubs, with continuing service on to Asia).

Nancy McKeon: It's a l-o-o-o-n-g way! I got lucky the one time I went because we lucked into a travel agent who really knew the Asian ropes. We stayed over in San Francisco for a day or two (had friends there), then were booked out of there on Eva Air, a Taiwan carrier I hadn't even heard of but which, for an extra couple of hundred dollars, offered an upgraded economy ticket with fabulous reclining seats and lotsa space and legroom. Be sure to ask different airlines if they offer anything like that--it will make all the difference in your trip (and your potentially swollen legs!).

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Washington, DC: Hi - I hope you can help me. My boyfriend just returned from the Persian Gulf and I'd love to go visit him Thanksgiving weekend in San Diego, but I would have to fly back to DC on Sunday. I've been finding fares about $600, but is there hope for getting a cheaper last minute sale?

Carol Sottili: I don't think there is going to be a huge last-minute sale - flights are selling pretty well for that weekend. $600 round trip with all taxes and a Sunday return sounds good.

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Alexandria, VA: Hi Flight Crew, thanks for taking my question! My sister's 30th birthday is coming up next year and my mom, my sister, and I would like to do a trip together in celebration. We are big foodies and love to cook, but all the culinary tours we've looked at are super pricey. A cruise seems like a good option and I see that Holland America has a culinary center onboard with cooking classes. Do you all (or chatters) know anything about this or just have general comments on that cruise line? This will be our first cruise and we'd also like to avoid a ship overrun with kids. Thanks!

Nancy McKeon: Friends who have taken several Holland America cruises have been very happy with them. They caution that the cooking classes have always seemed quite popular, so maybe you should see about signing up in advance, if that's possible. They also say that the ships they've been on have had very few kids in evidence, except at the outdoor swimming pool on hot days--but that could change depending on the cruise, of course. They like this line because, they say, there really does seem to be a lot of flexibility in onboard and shore activities. That's one family's opinion.

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Vienna, VA: I booked a ticket to Honolulu but that is not our final destination - it's Maui. We used miles to get to Honolulu and now we have to buy the Honolulu-Maui ticket. We currently get to Honolulu around 5 in the afternoon. We were hoping to avoid staying in Honolulu for one night and wanted to go straight to Maui. How long a layover should I plan for Honolulu? I was thinking 2-3 hours would be enough time in case the plane is late (it's a wintertime flight) - so we'd be on a 7 or 8 p.m. flight to Maui. Also, we are checking a bag - can we ask our original airline to check it through, even though we'll be on two separate tickets? I tried to change our tickets to go straight to Maui but the airline wants $200 each, which is more than the Honolulu-Maui round trip. Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Carol Sottili: Yes, two-three hours should be more than enough time. There are late flights on both go!, which is Mesa Air's discount arm (www.iflygo.com) and Hawaiian Airlines (www.hawaiianair.com). Cost is running about $136-$150 round trip. As for luggage, depends on whether your airline has a code-share agreement with either Mesa or Hawaiian - go the airlines' Web sites for that info.

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Parking & Departures from BWI: I need to submit early because of a meeting: For one reason or another our family of 4 has been taking trips where parking at the airport is not necessary.

We are leaving from BWI next Monday, and I wanted to make sure that the discounted Express Parking Service really and truly picks up passengers at their cars.

Has anyone experienced this phenomenon? About how long will it take to get into the terminal? Are we better off tossing one kid into the stroller and walking?

(We travel REALLY light - I know we'd give that carry-on queen of the travel section a run for her money, with our 3 roll-aboards, and 2 backpacks.)

Nancy McKeon: I've had good experiences with the bus pickup at Thurgood Marshall BWI and at Dulles. I've never had to wait more than a couple of minutes, and at BWI the buses (at least as of several months ago) drove up and down the aisles, so they can pick you up right at the trunk of your car practically. And they help with your luggage (that's what those tip jars are for!). It's been a pleasant surprise. Hope it works out for you.

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Hoboken, NJ: Hi, thanks for taking my question! My fiancee and I will be getting married in early May and now that we've taken care of most of the big stuff we can focus on the best part, the honeymoon. Originally we were thinking of Europe but now I'm considering South America. I've heard great things about Buenos Aires and I also know we would get more bang for our buck there. If we did go there could we find enough to do around that area for about 10 days? Thanks!

Nancy McKeon: Oh, I am so envious! B.A. is still on my list! Yes, I think there's plenty to do, even taking time away from eating all those steaks and going to tango palaces. We're posting links to stories on gaucho ranches on the pampas, some of them not too far from the capital; shopping; Tom Sietsema on dining out; and a trip to the storied Iguazu Falls. Remember, B.A. is a teeming city--you'll soon be wishing you could extend your visit.

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washingtonpost.com: Argentina Travel Stories

Scott Vogel: Here's some more info on Argentina travel.

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Airline Credit Card HELP!: I'm looking for a good Airline Credit Card with Frequent Flyer Miles programs, I'm interested in traveling outside of the US (Europe, Asia, South America) and I would like an APR no more than 13%. With so many offers out there... What will be my best option? THANKS!

Carol Sottili: I have a Capital One card that works well. But it's not one size fits all. Go to www.frequentflier.com - it has a good guide to credit cards.

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Chicago, Ill.: Just a moment to vent, if you'll let me. I'm trying to book a "go get warm!" trip for two couples in February. For the couple coming from DC, one leg is $189 flying from DCA through Chicago and on to Cancun. To catch that same flight in Chicago (where I am) is $319.

I understand the Byzantine world of flight pricing (as much as any lay person can, I suppose), but it never ceases to amaze me!

Carol Sottili: Vent away! It recently cost me less to fly to Costa Rica than Myrtle Beach, so yes, the world of flight pricing is not logical. I'd wait a bit to book those Chicago fares. JetBlue and USA 3000, two discount airlines, offer service to to Cancun from Chicago, so they could launch a sale between now and then; other airlines will often match once one starts a sale. Also, flying on weekends to Cancun often costs lots more than weekdays, so flexibility could help here.

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Bethesda, MD: Hey Flight Crew... trying to plan a trip to Italy (first-timer to that country, so excited!!), and have two questions:

1: Trying to choose between driving to Newark for a nonstop on Alitalia or taking a flight out of DCA on Delta with a three-hour layover each direction at JFK. Same price fare. Should the fear of the three-hour layover at JFK drive me to pay the extra tolls, parking, and aggravation of the drive back to DC from Newark after a long flight across the pond, and drive to Newark for the nonstop?

2: We are planning to do the typical Rome-Siena-Florence-Venice tour through Italy. Is it generally cheaper to buy an unlimited rail pass, or to buy a point-to-point ticket each leg of the journey?

Thanks for your advice!!!

Nancy McKeon: Well, I guess I've done it both ways. You're traveling virtually the same amount of time either way, but going the JFK route means you're not driving when you're tired (coming home you should have a good three or more hours of wakefulness in you to navigate home safely, but what if there's a really bad backup coming home as your eyelids start drooping. ugh).

As for the train fares, you have to do a little arithmetic. You can go to italianrail.com and figure out where you want to go and how much it will cost. Eurail Italy passes through the Trenitalia network are calculated in terms of how many days of traveling you want to do within a 2-month period. Assuming Rome-Siena-Florence-Venezia-Roma, a pass allowing 4 travel days would cost $237 for 2nd-class travel and $294 for 1st-class per person. I then looked up individual fares for that same itinerary and came up with (in 2nd class, $28 + $12 + $45 + $83 = $168 per person; and in 1st class, $34 + $12 [2nd class only] + $67 + $117 = $230 per person). So less when done individually, even if you choose the slightly cheaper Saver passes. But maybe you just want the ease and security of having that pass in your hands, not having to buy a ticket each time. That could be worth a few bucks to you. Also, you can change your mind: The Italy pass, says the Web site, can be purchased at Eurail Aid offices in Italy.

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Washington DC: We have signed up for a hiking tour of Turkey for May 2009 but have yet to buy our plane tickets. Any thoughts on when to buy the tickets - now, in the new year, just before we go? Right now prices seem to be around $2000/person round trip. Seems kinda high to me. Thanks so much!

Carol Sottili: You need to start tracking the fares now. You can sign up at many Web sites, including Travelocity.com, Orbitz.com, Priceline.com, Independenttraveler.com, Travelzoo.com, Farecast.com, Kayak.com and Expedia.com, for fare sale notifications. Even more effective is just plugging in your city every few days to one of the third-party booking sites to see what you come up with. Also, figure out which airlines are your most likely candidates, and sign up on their Web sites for sale notifications. I did a quick search on Kayak.com and found plenty of flights for about $1,000 round trip, so you probably need to do more research.

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When did 'tourist' become a 4 letter word?: Have seen several comments in the Travel chats (and in the Ask Tom chats when discussing restaurants outside of DC) about people being terrified to be marked as a tourist. Could someone please explain this to me? I don't go out of my way to look touristy -- no fannypack, no "USA!" ballcap, don't keep my map out constantly, etc. But if I am lost, I will need to consult my pocket map or ask someone for help. If I see something interesting, I will take a picture. Sometimes my clothes are quite different than the locals' clothes. So yes, I probably look like a tourist -- do you know why? Because I am one! And so what? I've had many wonderful and memorable experiences like being invited into people's homes for a meal or being asked to join their in-progress wedding because locals could tell I was a tourist -- would not have happened if I was doing the undercover tourist thing. I just don't get the obsession some people seem to have with blending in.

Nancy McKeon: AGREED! I used to be one of the guilty ones, perfecting my French accent because God forbid someone would make me out for an 18-year-old furriner. I'm (much) older now, and I got over it. In fact, I rather revel in my tourist status. It helps to have a couple of languages, but I march up to people and introduce myself as a tourist with a question (being an American tourist is the second stage of the conversation). It is SO LIBERATING!

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Malta?: Various reasons, no real vacation this year. Though the economy sucks and the $$ is low, I'm working on an impulsive fly/hotel package to Malta around New Years. How does $1500 per person sound? Company is Foreign Independent Tours out of New Jersey.

Carol Sottili: That sounds like a good price, especially if it includes all taxes/fuel surcharges. FIT Tours is a reputable company - been around a long time.

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Arlington, VA: If you could honeymoon anywhere in the world, where would you go? Fiance's friend has generously offered frequent flyer miles for anywhere we want to go, and the unlimited options are making it very hard for me to decide! We prefer natural beauty, history, and charming towns -- don't enjoy cities or lying on the beach. Our original plan was Germany and Switzerland, but I feel like I should branch out a little more with this kind of opportunity! Any ideas?

Nancy McKeon: This is a question we should toss out to Post chatters. They always have great suggestions. If you have time as well as those miles, Australia and/or New Zealand would be a great trip. With a week or two at my disposal, I would go back to Vietnam (gorgeous country, fascinating culture, cities not too overwhelming but fabulous). Anyone want to tell these folks where to go?

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Alexandria: That Alitalia flight does sound bad, but I think my experience about 10 years ago on ANA beats that.

We were going from Dulles to Narita, and about 4 hours away from Japan, a fairly old man about 2 rows ahead of me whips out some porn. He is holding it up to examine it, and because the laws in Japan are less strict about age limits, the girls look ridiculously young.

There were many kids wandering about on the flight, and beyond that I was horrified at his nonchalant porn viewing. I asked a flight attendant to ask him to stop it or be more discreet, but she refused (politeness culture and all). I tried to tell the guy to cut it out, but he did not speak English and was clearly not interesting in my pleading. I finally got so mad I told his daughter sitting next to him, who spoke Mandarin Chinese, that her father was a pig. Finally she was so embarrassed she made him put the magazine away.

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH.

Scott Vogel: Yikes. And ewww....

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Mom of Study Abroad Student: Help! I've got a daughter going to Great Britain in January for a semester of study abroad. Her program ends in May and she knows that she wants to spend some time traveling around Europe before she comes home. The problem is that she doesn't yet know how much time she can afford to do this and where she will finish up her travels. (Money and a beginning date for a possible summer job are big factors.) I feel that we need to book her flight to GB soon, but what to do about the return leg? Is there some AFFORDABLE way to book a trip where the return can be decided later? Would STA or a similar organization be of any help? Your help is greatly appreciated.

Carol Sottili: Try www.studentuniverse.com and www.sta.com. You may be better off doing what we did when my daughter studied abroad in London - we guessed on a return date with the idea that we'd pay the penalty if she changed it (she didn't). Change penalties, however, are often stiff for cheap economy fares ($200 each way on Virgin Atlantic, for example). But it's still better than doing one-way fares.

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London, UK: Hi, I enjoyed the article on a short London trip! I was wondering if the travel section has written about Liverpool, England before - I'd like to take a day trip there when I'm visiting London but don't know what to do there!

washingtonpost.com: Back to Where It Once Belonged (Post Travel Section, April 13)

Scott Vogel: Here's a place to start.

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TheHub, MA: Your article last week on Canadian Rail travel got me thinking about our plans for the coming summer, which involves a conference in Montreal. I'd like to take our grandchildren, both of whom have passports, but don't know how to research what additional documentation is needed if their mother won't be accompanying them. Can you point me in the right direction?

washingtonpost.com: The Rail Way (Post Travel Section, Nov. 2)

Scott Vogel: I think that's a terrific idea for a trip with the grandkids. Since you are not the children's parents, however, you need a notarized letter signed by both parents allowing you to take the children out of the country (further information is available online). Another good thing to get would be a medical power of attorney in the event that the children need medical care while you're in Canada.

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Trying Hotwire for the first time: Last week, my wife and I decided that we would go to Puerto Rico in early December. We like more upscale hotels, but wanted to save money so we decided to give Hotwire a try. We looked only at 3 star and higher hotels in the San Juan area. As you know, you don't learn the hotel's name until after you book.

Anyway, we wound up with reservations at the San Juan Water and Beach Club for $99 a night. Based on some internet research, it looks like it's a nice place and that we got a pretty good deal. Reviews, however, describe it as a hip, club-scene hotel for the younger crowd. Let's just say that my wife and I don't fit that demographic. Should I be concerned?

Carol Sottili: I just read a bunch of traveler reviews of the place on www.wheretostay.com, and I think you'll be fine there. It sounds kind of hip, but not in a Logan's Run kind of way (the movie where anyone over a certain age had to die). Give you something to tell your friends about.

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Tours: We were using the English audio guides to go around the Prague castle. At one point we stopped near a guide who was explaining the sights to a group in some language I didn't recognize. His pointer was an old car radio antenna with a flag attached to the top, which he was waving around VERY vigorously. After the third pass right in front of my daughter, I was pretty sure she was going to whip it out of his hand and beat him over the head. We moved away, leaving him to flourish at will.

Scott Vogel: Our first tour nightmare...

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Central Cal: Worst Tour: In the late sixties, we drove from Cal. to Ill. to see grandma. I was about 12 and the signs for Merrimac Caverns as we approached Missouri we just too much for me. Dad relented, and after a day and half of anticipation, we decended into the cavern. And remember Dad, it will be educational. Except we had a guide with a speech impediment that only his family could have fully understood. The caverns were impressive, but most of my tour mates had the same, quizzical, straining-to-understand expression I must have been wearing. I'm going back someday to learn what I heard.

Scott Vogel: Ha -- and those signs advertising the place seem to announce it from hundreds of miles away.

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Washington DC: Hiya, thanks for taking my question. I'm headed to Costa Rica in January, and I'm pretty flexible on dates -- would just like to be back in time for inauguration. I'm seeing $334 right now -- any chance that could get better, and any tips on how to get the best price? Willing to go out of any of our three airports, and flying in to San Jose, probably.

Carol Sottili: $334 round trip with all taxes? That's a great fare. Think about it - it's nearly 3,000 miles each way.

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Washington DC: Doing a Mediterranean Cruise NCL Jade Nov 30 as a gift to myself after being told I am being laid off. (Worked so hard this year I missed my 20 year HS reunion because of pending strike, only to be laid off!) This is my dream itinerary -- spending 2 days in Egypt 7 am Sun to 6 pm Mon. Want to pack in the most I can. Is it unreasonable to think I can do Giza, Luxor, and Aswan? I want to see a night light show, go on a Nile river cruise (w or w/o lunch/dinner) and possibly do a hot air balloon ride. How can I do it? Found Viator from the "what's the deal section," any other similar companies?

Nancy McKeon: What you're contemplating sounds a bit too ambitious, but I don't claim to be an expert. I looked at the Jade's itinerary, and, if I understand correctly, you're docking at Alexandria. So to start with, you're an hour or more from Cairo (as I dimly recall, my car trip involved running out of gas!). Giza is not a problem--that's a near-in suburb (think Arlington to downtown D.C.). Luxor and Aswan are a bit of a poke. I think it's a factor of how early you can hook up with an outside tour packager and where that packager is located. The excursions offered by the Jade trip already include Giza, sound-and-light and a Nile cruise; they may have added some unwanted fluff (the papyrus demo? belly-dancing?), but timing may be on their side. Why don't you have a good long talk with Norwegian and get some advice from them?

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Pittsburgh: Europe, Spring 2002. My tour guide in one city informed me that the US had brought on the 9/11 attacks itself, and basically got what it deserved. He also expressed what I perceived to be anti-Semitic comments, even after (or perhaps because) I mentioned that I was part Jewish (though I have a very Anglo name, so he might not have guessed). I was shocked, not so much by his attitudes as by the fact that he was such a poor host to a client, that it was all I could do to keep from crying. Since the same guy was scheduled to transport me to the airport when I was leaving his city the following day, I felt I had no option but to tip him anyhow, but I sure was unhappy about it. However, when my tour company sent me an evaluation form at the end of my trip, I described what transpired in detail, hoping that they might correct the situation.

The most upsetting part was learning that a couple years later a Jewish friend wound up with the same guide while visiting that city, and also perceived the guide as anti-Semitic. I wondered what more I could have done during my earlier visit. Any suggestions for dealing with such a situation?

Scott Vogel: First, you provoke a scene by giving the nut NO TIP. Baring that, you blast the name of the place all over the Internet, especially places like Trip Advisor. They'll get the message.

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Arlington, VA: How safe is it to buy plane tickets for late next summer (August) to Europe? Any chances of major carriers going bankrupt and unable to honor tickets (either US or European)?

Thanks.

Carol Sottili: I don't know of any airlines that are close to going out of business, but we all get blindsided from time to time. Alitalia had some problems, but is looking better now. I'd buy if the price is right.

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Washington, D.C.: Worst tour ever: We took a bike tour through Paris with a very (very!) angry tour guide. The city was perfect, the weather idyllic and the guide instigated THREE ugly confrontations during the four-hour tour -- two with drivers and one with a pedestrian. All ended with hand gestures and cursing in French and English. The worst part was that the guide lived in Paris, but was an American.

Scott Vogel: Wow, talk about being easily assimilated.

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Ellicott City, MD: For the honeymooners from Arlington, my wife and I spent a week in South Africa in May and LOVED it! We spent four days in Cape Town, and four days in a private safari lodge near Kruger. South Africans are unbelievably friendly, which was a surprise given the country's reputation for crime (and we had no trouble at all). If we could afford it, or had a generous friend who would send us for free, we'd be back every year.

Scott Vogel: Here are a few honeymoon suggestions.

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Free Frequent Flyer For Honeymooners: I'd recommend the South of France, especially the Provence region. It's stunningly beautiful and is populated by many small villages that each have their own unique charm. You can go hike through the fields, or up the hills, visit castles and Roman ruins. It's not far from Italy or Switzerland if you want to take a couple of days for a change of scenery. Oh and the weather is always nice.

Scott Vogel: And another.

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K Street: Honeymooning anywhere: I vote for South Africa!

Great timing on the London article! My husband and I will be there for the Christmas holidays. Are there any must-sees in London during that time of year?

Scott Vogel: And another.

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Re: Arlington Honeymoon: This might be too far off the beaten path, but I'll vote for Namibia. Quaint German/African seaside towns (as odd a mix as it sounds but very pleasant), some of the best natural beauty you'll ever see in the sand dunes, salt flats, and canyons, and one of the best safari sites on the continent. Look at some of the more reputable tour operators and you can definitely spoil yourself.

Scott Vogel: And yet another.

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Baltimore MD: Re parking at BWI: I can heartily recommend the Airport Fast Park lot, which is off Nursery Road. There are two lots, but the Red Lot is now only for frequent parkers. The Blue Lot is right next to it. We have parked there at least a dozen times, the buses arrive almost immediately and the drivers are helpful and courteous. There are disocunts for AAA members and (I think) for AARP.

And re airline flights: Sorry to hear that story about Alitalia, as I had the best flight of my life on that airline. It was from New York to Milan in 1971 on a DC-8. There were a grand total of three passengers on the flight, myself and two brothers (native Italians) who were going to a hardware trade show (they owned a store in New York.) After dinner (delicious) the flight attendant said she wanted to nap, so we should just help ourselves to any food and alcohol we wanted. Boy, did I drink too much cognac...

Scott Vogel: And here's a follow-up to another earlier question.

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Vienna, VA - Hawaii follow up: So my airline has a code-share with Hawaiian. This means when I check in the a.m., I can ask them to book my luggage straight through to Maui? What proof of flight do I need to provide? A boarding pass printed out at home? Do I need to provide them with a way to see it in their computer?

Also, we're flying NWA via Minneapolis. My brother and his family are meeting us in Minneapolis so we have 4 adults to handle the 6 kids on the plane. We bought our tickets using miles, but we also priced them out separately. Our tickets? $900 apiece. His tickets? $1200 apiece.

Carol Sottili: Airline pricing makes little sense - Minneapolis doesn't have as many choices as Washington. Less competition usually means higher prices.

As for your luggage, I'm not sure about Northwest's policies, given that it is now charging $15 for the first checked bag on its flights. I'd call and ask - 800-225-2525.

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Fairfax, VA: This holiday season, I will be traveling with a laptop. This is my first one. I've read about the checkpoint friendly laptop bags. Are these worth it, or should I just take the laptop out of the bag and put it in a bin? Thanks!

Carol Sottili: The bags are expensive. Unless you plan to travel frequently with it, I'd just put it in the bin.

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Worst Tour: On the last day of our honeymoon in French Polynesia, after several glorious days in Bora Bora and Morea, we came to Tahiti itself for our flight home the next day. The hotel was beautiful, and we were wishing we could stay, but the travel agent had booked us on a tour of the island and we decided we should go. It was AWFUL. We were on a tiny bus with tiny tinted windows and could barely see out. The other 5 couples were from the senior cruise from Japan that had just come into port and were were the youngest by 40 years and no one else spoke English, except the guide who would occasionally try, and fail, to use her poor English to tell what was going on. The point of the tour was to see the Gauguin museum and have lunch there. After an endless drive (at least 3 hours of barely being able to see out the windows and getting stuff pointed out in Japanese) we get to the museum. The food was God-awful. Spam, we think. And, adding insult to injury, there weren't any Gauguins there, just posters (the kind from Target) of his work. Apparently, the tropics are not hospitable to the canvas and there is no security, so the French government keeps them all in France.

A totally wasted day in Tahiti is just sad. Next time, we'll just have drinks in the pool.

Gosh, it's not even a funny story, 10 years later.

Scott Vogel: Well, I gotta admit, the Gauguin Target collection is kinda funny...

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Arlington, VA: Worst Tour-ist Story: on our family trip in Vietnam, we decided to take a local bus to a small city outside of Saigon. The NYC metro system during rush hour pales in comparison to this bus. The bus was packed, so we had to stand between the aisles. The A/C wasn't working, but exhaust pumped through the vents. And over every bump, us tall Westerners' heads made painful contact with the bus' ceiling.

But that wasn't the worst part. The bus drops us off, we finish our agendas, and then we realize...how do we get back to Saigon? There is no local bus to take us back. So, my mom flags down random cars passing us by. A minivan slows down to where we're standing. In the front passenger seat, there's a woman with a bandanna wrapped around the lower part of her face. My mom asks no questions, but shoos us into the van. Mind you, this is a minivan that should seat eight people. With my family, the van sat 10 people. To this day, I chuckle when I remember my sister sitting in the front seat on a stranger's lap.

Scott Vogel: Pain. Ful.

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Report from Buenos Aires: Hi Travelers -- my wife and I are coming to the end of a month long stay in Buenos Aires; thought we'd provide some comments. First, BA is no longer the great bargain; inflation has caught up here. There are deals to be had, but they are fewer and far between. Pollution is bad. Spend the day walking around the city and prepare for aching lungs. Taxis are the best way to get around. The weather here now is perfect mid 80's. "Argentinian steak is the best in the world!" Whoever said that has never been to Outback. Big disappointment. My wife is from Texas and nothing we've had here even comes close to the beef we've had there (Some insight: a exPat tells us all the best beef is now exported due to the better price.) San Telmo barrio is the place to be. Second is Palermo. We are in Recoleta -- while nice, it is boring and does not have the best restaurants. If you like antiques BA is the place. The river front, Porto Madera, has a Hooters and a TGIF -- 'nuff said. Homeless and street beggers are very prevalent (and heartbreaking). the cafe Nobles are stunning and worth an afternoon doing nothing in them. If you are coming here do research -- it is too large a city to just wing it.

Scott Vogel: A Dispatch from Bueno Aires -- thanks!

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Washington: BWI. If you have a family with young kids, you can drop off them and the luggage by the airline booth and then drive to the BWI parking lot and take the shuttle (among the other families who lugged their suitcases).

Scott Vogel: More BWI info.

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Oviedo, Fla. : More about St. Augustine, Fla. - travel chatters who plan to follow up on your St. Augustine story might shoot for Dec. 6, when the a.m. jazz concert, holiday parade and then two (beachside or historic) lighting events take place. The lights are up for weeks - the Dec. 6 special event is the parade. In the Old City you are not far from the NASA spaceport, where they keep adding stuff to see. And make time for a sweater-weather beach walk, a must with the winter surf kicked up. Most coastal areas have boat parades in the evening -- masts lit up along the canals. Google the town you visit to make sure to see this - Christmas Florida style. (p.s. stone crabs are in season, as are north Florida's best oysters.)

washingtonpost.com: Desperately Seeking St. Augustine (Post Travel Section, Nov. 9)

Scott Vogel: Thanks -- further info regarding last week's Travel cover story.

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How to get a human at VIA Rail?: The article on VIA's Ocean train has inspired me to try to plan a train trip for my in-laws. However, the VIA Rail web site has just enough information to inspire detailed questions that require a human to research and answer. I've already been in call-hold hell for an hour in an attempt to talk to a VIA Rail customer service rep to help me plan this trip.

Do you have any recommendations for helping me to contact a human at VIA?

Scott Vogel: They'll have a great time -- if you get through to the agents. I actually ended up booking mine myself online. The tricky part, however, was making sure that the proper sleeping accommodations were available on the dates I requested. If they weren't the computer would automatically scroll to the next available day for those sleeping accommodations, and I almost booked something for the wrong days.

Keep trying the phone lines, and definitely try doing it on the edges of their call center's open times.

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London - Christmas: Go to a panto - especially if it has Ian McKellen in it.

Make sure you get to a 'nine lessons and carols' service - preferably in an English village but ... all very British. You'll eat lots of mince pies and drink lots of mulled wine.

PS don't forget the country literally closes down on Christmas and Boxing Day - no stores open, no transportation.

Scott Vogel: London at Christmas...

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Fairfax: A friend has moved to Colombia, so I have free digs! How would I go about getting the lowest-priced airline tickets to Bogota or Cartagena? How do I get between the two cities?

Carol Sottili: Avianca flies nonstop from Dulles to Bogota, but it's usually $100 or so more expensive. You can get connecting flights of less than $500 round trip. As for getting between Bogota or Cartagena, Copa and Avianca fly nonstop, but it's expensive - about $400 round trip. Try booking the flights as a triangle fare - you may do better that way. There are public buses, but it's a long trip.

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Baltimore, Md.: We took an Argentine honeymoon. We split two weeks among B.A., Iguazu Falls, Villa la Angostura near Bariloche (mountains and lakes), and a trip to a remote penguin colony in northeastern Patagonia. Everything was fantastic and we'd do it again, with maybe a trip to a ranch or wine country.

Scott Vogel: Here's another great honeymoon idea.

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Worst experience in Mexico: I was in Mexico with friends and we were visiting a lagoon and fresh water caves. First of all, it was the summer so when we left in the morning, we expected it to quickly warm up. We drove over an hour in an open air truck-humvee thing with just towels to keep us warm as we inhaled horrible pollution. It then rained as we were on the lagoon and we were huddling just to keep warm. Then, to get to the caves, we drove over boulders and rock for 45 mins. I, of course, came thisclose to vomiting as the truck was jumping from rock to rock. It was a horrible tour experience and not the way I was hoping to spend my vacation!

Scott Vogel: Eww -- I get queasy just reading this.

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Washington, DC: Four of us will be for over a week in Italy (March 2009) but would love to visit Amsterdam for at least 1 full day (Not including travel time). Flight? Train? Coach? Which one will be the best and more affordable?

Nancy McKeon: I suspect "best" and "affordable" are parting company with this request. According to the Trenitalia schedule, the train (from Rome) to Amsterdam takes 24 hours, not the way I'd like to spend a day of my vacation (or two--you have to get back to Italy, right?). I think flying is the way to go. Check out those discount carriers that serve European cities. Easyjet is showing flights from Milan to Amsterdam starting at about $126, one way taxes included.

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Pasadena, CA: In the spirit of the new optimism, here's my BEST TOUR GUIDE story: The summer before last, my family hired a private guide for a day tour of the Sacred Valley in Peru, near Machu Picchu. The guide seemed to know everything and added on to the normal history & culture to respond to our questions and interests --agri-economics in the valley, land use, water engineering (I work with water engineers who had given me a book about the Incan water systems), and, finally, for the beer-brewer in our group, a stop at a roadside locale to sample the local Chicha beer made from corn and contemplate a guinea pig snack. He was great with the kids too and taught them to play a local game.

The WORST TOUR: at the United Nations where the guide harangued us "imperialist Americans" for our "occupation" of Puerto Rico. And what of Tibet, I asked? A part of China where all live in harmony.

Scott Vogel: I like this one -- bittersweet!

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laptops in bin - careful!: Flying home from Munich, I had to go through two checkpoints. The bins were DEEP. I forgot my laptop and was almost on the aircraft before I remembered. Running against the stream of people trying to board is not fun.

My saving grace is that I had my name in big big letters emblazoned on it... I was reunited.

Scott Vogel: Good point, thanks for sharing.

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Re: First time in Italy: To the folks in Bethesda, I took the direct flight on United, IAD to FCO, it was great and the extra few dollars for economy plus is worth it with no transfers!

Scott Vogel: Of note.

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Arlington, VA: For those trying to plan a VIA Rail trip, the Accent on Travel agency (www.accentontravelusa.com) has great expertise and decades of experience in planning rail travel. I haven't used them, but have heard about them for years from rail buffs who have.

Scott Vogel: Thanks for the suggestion!

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10 people in a van is nothing...: When I was traveling around Peru, I semi-regularly took colectivos, big vans, with as many people stuffed in as possible. Peruvians think you can put many more people in a van than americans do. We won't talk about safety, and it wasn't part of a tour. I just considered it part of the Peru experience and it was a cheap way to get where I was going.

Scott Vogel: there ya go.

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McLean, VIA Rail person again: Scott, let me pick your brain while you're online. the trip for the in-laws is 14-18 days from DC to Halifax and back. I can plan the DC-Montreal leg, no problem. It's the Montreal to Halifax and return legs that are problematic. I want to give the in-laws a several day stop at Quebec City, either on the outbound or return leg from Halifax. i also want to book them into the Easterly Class with sleeper and naturalist-cultural interpreters. the VIA Rail web site doesn't tell me whether The Ocean stops at Quebec City on either outbound or return. And there are two stations around Quebec City.

You understand why I need to talk to a human to plan this trip.

Scott Vogel: we're closing up shop here soon, but feel free to e-mail me at vogelsi@washpost.com and I'll look into this further for you.

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Norwegian tour operator forgot : We went on a tour from Newcastle to Bergen, with a UK Norwegian tour specialist. They forgot that the country closes down for Easter--no restaurants open, no banks, nothing to do, even the hotels didn't have open restaurants. Then we went by rail to the Flam cog railway, supposed to meet up with a fjord tour back to Bergen--which didn't start until the month later. We caught a smaller tour boat as part of another tour, took the bus back to the railway. THe fjord tour was lovely in the spring--so much snow melt and waterfalls everywhere. However, on the overnight ferry back to Newcastle, we had a non smoking cabin below the water line, above the crew cabins--and they smoked all night into our ventilation. It took me until September to get better (from Easter) and my lungs still complain.

Scott Vogel: Wow.

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Arlington, VA: Heading to Thailand - first time I've done any travel this far. Any tips for surviving the long flight or beating jet lag?

Nancy McKeon: I'll repeat what I said earlier--if you haven't nailed down your flights yet, shop for an airline that offers some kind of enhancement to regular economy (the Asian carriers seem to be savvy to this--for a couple of hundred dollars above rock-bottom economy ticket, you can sometimes score business-style seats with lotsa legroom (and in the case of Eva Air, even walking-around room). My formula for getting to Bangkok (14 hours just on the S.F.-Taipei leg) was a combination of needlepoint, lotsa water and an inflatable neck roll.

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Scott Vogel: Okay, folks, sorry but it looks like we're out of time. I can't resist giving today's prize to the traveler who traveled to hell and back for a chance to see Gauguin by Target. Please e-mail me at vogelsi@washpost.com to claim your prize. As for everyone else, happy touring!

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