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: following in the footsteps of ancient historian Heredotus, visiting Zion National Park in wintertime and enjoying romantic Florence.

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

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

A transcript follows.

You may also browse an archive of previous live travel discussions. For daily dispatches, check out Travel Log, the Travel section's new blog.

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Andrea Sachs: Greetings, travelers.

It's that time of the week, when you send us questions about future travels and we dig into our mental luggage for those answers and suggestions.

In addition, we'd also like to ask a question of our own:

For that little event happening next Tuesday, does anyone have get-out-of-Dodge plans? Where are you going and why? Best answer wins a Travel stimulus package.

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Charlotte, N.C.: Last week, someone asked about things to do around Banner Elk, N.C. My husband and I have a place near there, so here are some of the activities I can recommend: Take Hwy 194 north out of Banner Elk to Valle Crucis and check out the Mast General Store. Take 194 south to 19E and go to Roan Mountain to see the rhododendrons in late June. Go to Grandfather Mountain for the day with a picnic, there's lots to do and see there. Tweetsie Railroad is a fun day for the kids.

Drive south on the Blue Ridge Parkway to see Linville Falls. Also on the Parkway, explore the hiking trails at Julian Price Park and the carriage trails at Moses Cone Manor. Check out the merchandise at the Southern Highlands Craft Guild store at Moses Cone, they have great handmade stuff. Linville Cavern is on 221 south. Shop Main Street in Blowing Rock (and Shoppes on the Parkway for outlets), and check out the Blowing Rock. Just drive on the Parkway, it's wonderful in either direction. Stop at the Linn Cove viaduct and go through the building that tells how the viaduct around Grandfather Mountain was designed and built. Check out the websites of Appalachian State in Boone and Less McRae in Banner Elk for cultural activities during your visit.

Great food: Louisiana Purchase in Banner Elk, The Best Cellar in Linville and Blowing Rock, The Gamekeeper between Blowing Rock and Valle Crucis, Crippen's and Storie Street Grill in Blowing Rock.

Mid-range, family style: Daniel Boone Inn in Boone, Pepper's in Boone, Bistro Roca in Blowing Rock. Knight's on Main in Blowing Rock has The.Best.Breakfast.Ever.

I could go on and on, but I'll stop with this. It should be a start for that lucky family.

Scott Vogel: Great stuff, and better late than never!

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Airfares to Glacier NP: I've been looking at airfares for the past couple of weeks between BWI and the various airports near Glacier National Park. The fares for the last week of June are running between $620 - $640. (There's a $500 fare but it involves 2 plane changes which I don't want to do.) I checked Farecast.com to see if they thought the fares might drop, but they couldn't give a prediction since they don't track airfares to these Montana cities. Do you have any idea if airfares to Montana will significantly drop or should I go ahead and buy the tickets now? I did note that there were plenty of seats still available. (I paid a lot less for our tickets to Ireland in April, so these prices somewhat surprised me.)

Carol Sottili: As you already know, Glacier is not near any large international airport, so fares are going to be high. Plus no discount carrier serves any nearby airport. I'd just track fares for now and hope that Kalispell gets bundled in when a sale is announced. You have some time before June, and I doubt fares will go much higher than the ones you've quoted.

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In Need of A Warm Weekend: I'm desperately looking for a warm, easy weekend away, maybe for President's Day. My number one criteria is that the vacation provide warm weather for swimming and beaching, but the number two criteria is that it be as close as possible to D.C. -- I can't take days off work for this trek. Is Florida going to be warm enough this time of year? Sanibel? Or do I need to head to Puerto Rico?

Scott Vogel: The weather forecast for Miami on January 19th predicts a high of 73 and a low of 60, with partly cloudy skies. Roundtrip flights are not bad and neither is the flight time. Of course, Puerto Rico's water temps are certainly better. Kinda depends on whether you want to fit ocean swimming into the trip. I was just in Orlando and felt plenty warm, as long as the pool was heated.

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Washington, D.C.: I live a block away from the convention center, and decided somewhere warm sounded like more fun. So, I booked a flight today to Honolulu after begging the bosses to let me take off all of next week. Can't wait!

Scott Vogel: And you got an incredible deal, right? Don't pass this up, chatters. Sure, it's a long trip but we won't see these prices again. Or at least I don't think we will...

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Bethesda, Md.: Hello. In preparation for a trip to Italy in April, I booked my hotel stays in Venice and Florence through hotelclub.com (AKA hotelclub.net). Putting the cart before the horse, I've looked online since then and seen mixed to poor reviews for the dependability of this site, which is essentially a global hotels.com. Apparently people have arrived at the hotel and no record of their reservation is there. Do any of you have experience with this service, and if so, good/bad/indifferent?

Christina Talcott: I don't have any experience with hotelclub.net, but it sounds similar to some other third-party booking sites I've used and to complaints I've heard and negative experiences I've had using a few of them. Many times, you get a good deal but the details can get lost in the process, so it's always a good idea to call and confirm your reservation with the hotel (or airline or car rental company) before leaving home. Anyone have experience with this particular booking site?

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off to Hawaii...: yes, got a great deal. $466 including taxes, and staying with a friend for the week!!

Scott Vogel: Yes!

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Silver Spring: I'm going to Baltimore this weekend. What should I do activity-wise, besides the aquarium, and do you think it will be crowded with inauguration-goers? Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: In my opinion, I think the whole region is going to be tied up with Inauguarion Day fever. Folks who could not find hotels here are staying in Baltimore, Richmond, etc. So, expect crowds and traffic. However, I would never try to deter anyone from traveling, so my choices include:

the American Visionary Museum, Great Blacks in Wax Museum (a nod to the upcoming event), seafood and the Broadway Market in Fell's Point, shopping along the Avenue in Hampden, tour the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption, take the free Heritage Walk tour (starts at the visitors center at the Inner Harbor), climb the (other) Washington Monument, hit the Fudgery for singing candy-makers, and get in the Ravens spirit at any sports bar.

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Arlington, Va.: I am helping to plan an event here in D.C. in June. We have people coming from various places around the world. For informational purposes I did a quick airfare search last week. I was astounded that one can fly from London to Washington in June for less than $450 round trip including all taxes. However, the same route going in the other direction, Washington to London round trip costs more that $800. How is that possible?

Andrea Sachs: It's called supply and demand. D.C. is in demand these days; cold, rainy, same-old-Prime-Minister England is not.

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Montgomery County: heading to Ft Lauderdale with the kids for spring break. We have our plane tickets -- any suggestions for where to find a condo rental (and whether that would be preferable to a hotel)? should I start looking now or should I wait for better deals? Thanks!

Carol Sottili: There are so many sites - new and old - offering condo rentals. Try www.cyberrentals.com, www.vrbo.com, www.vacationrentals.com, www.zonder.com, www.flipkey.com, www.vamoose.com. Condos can be cheaper for families, but they often don't have that resort feeling, so if you want the restaurant, bar, steel band vibe, you may prefer a hotel resort.

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University Park, Md.: We are getting out of town for inauguration weekend and heading to Florida for a long weekend with our 19 month old son. We are staying in Madeira Beach -- in between Clearwater and St. Pete. We are mostly just looking forward to lounging/playing on the beach, even if we have to wear a sweater.

Do any fellow chatters have suggestions for good, non-chain, toddler-friendly restaurants in that area? Also, is John's Pass a total tourist trap, or is there anything worthwhile to see or eat there? Thanks!

Scott Vogel: [Aside: Is this Inauguration creating a boon for Florida tourism or what?]

Throwing this one out -- any helpful ideas, folks?

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Silver Spring, Md.: In two weeks my wife and I are going to Egypt for a cruise with Avalon travel. Two of the side trips offered are light shows at Giza and Karnak. Are they worth it? Or would it be better to spend our money for a trip to Abu Simbel? Considering the current political situation should we even be going there at this time at all?

Thanks.

Nancy McKeon: How many times are you planning to visit Egypt in your life? I would, if I could afford it, do everything. But I would definitely opt for the Abu Simbel trip. If I read the Avalon material correctly, the sound-and-light shows are $35 each, whereas the Abu Simbel flight is $275 per person. I find sound-and-light shows sometimes a bit, well, basic or sometimes hokey, but they do offer the opportunity to sit and spend time in a place like Karnak and just soak up the atmosphere in a relaxed fashion. To travel all that way and not experience everything offered would be a shame. As for the regional situation, the State Department cautions Americans to be vigilant in crowded tourist areas; there was a kidnapping incident last September, in a remote area near the Sudanese border, and State says tourists should avoid the border area. But you won't be near there. Americans do not seem to have been targeted in this or any other incident in the past few years, State says.

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Philadelphia: I'm coming down for the inauguration on Monday and leaving Tuesday from Philly. The train is 85 dollars and Greyhound is 30. I'm staying overnight near 4th and Pennsylvania SE. Money is an issue. Should I look into the Chinatown bus -- easier to get to Capitol Hill from Chinatown, Greyhound which seems a safe bet, or bite the bullet and take the train?

Nancy McKeon: Traffic is potentially a bigger issue than money, I'm afraid. I would plunk down the cash for the train; there could, of course, be delays because of added trains, but at least you won't be competing with street traffic just to get into town. And you'll wind up at Union Station, much closer to your destination (you could walk there, if need be and skip a potentially killer taxi queue). Good luck.

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Flights to Rome: Planning a March getaway to Italy -- fares are running around $670 round trip. Is that good?

Carol Sottili: If that is nonstop and includes all taxes and surcharges, it's good. It you have to connect, it's OK.

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Rockville, Md.: (submitting early due to meeting) I need to rent a car and thought about Priceline. Advice for where to start? When I looked at the Hertz site, the cheapest car for a week (PDX) was $13/day. Then I went to Priceline, entered $8 and was told that it was too low and that good would be $15. When I bargain in the African markets I always start at one-third ;-);

Scott Vogel: Well, you probably won't do much better than 13 bucks a day, which is a fair deal. Having said that, try a 2/3 price with Priceline. You may well succeed.

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Washington, D.C.: We're thinking of going to Italy the last week in March, flying into Rome and out of Venice. We'd be willing to transfer once during the trip, but not more. What is reasonable to expect as a fare range?

Carol Sottili: You can hope for $600, but it'll probably be closer to $700.

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Bethesda, Md.: I think you ran an article about the Caribbean Islands recently noting which is for tourism, which for nature, etc. Can you post the link? Thanks!

washingtonpost.com: Here's the most recent Islands guide: Islands 2008 (Post Travel Section, Oct. 28, 2008)

Scott Vogel: Here you go...

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Rockville, Md.: Heading off to Vegas for MLK weekend and the Inauguration. I have never been. What are the must-see things to do? I am not a big gambler.

Thanks,

washingtonpost.com: Nevada Travel Archives (Post Travel Section)

Andrea Sachs: There are so many things to see in Vegas (that don't require gambling) I don't even know where to begin. I was there over Christmas and would high recommend the Springs Preserve; seeing a Broadway-quality show (get discounted tickets at any of the outlets on the Strip); being part of a survey group at the CBS Television Studio at MGM Grand; shopping (or at least browsing) at the Venetian, Bellagio Caesar's; springing for a good meal at any of the top chef's restaurants, such as Spago; ride the attractions at Circus Circus's Adventuredome; hike in Red Rock Canyon, a few miles out of Vegas; party at the Palms (ghost bar is fab); and find a quarter and try your luck!

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Annandale, Va.: Have any of you been to Bandera Tx? We are thinking of bringing our 7 year old there for her Spring Break. We just don't want her to be bored to death. Any ideas of what to do in or around Bandera in mid April?

Scott Vogel: Is your 7-year-old a horse person? If so, check out some of the area's dude ranches. I went to one of those as a kid (can't recall which) and had a blast. The Dixie Dude Ranch, the Mayan Dude Ranch -- there are lots more names that come up on a Google search...

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Reston, Va.: I was planning on doing a group kayaking trip to Belize this Spring through GAP Adventures. Since no one is game to come along, I am planning on going solo. Some people are concerned that Belize is dangerous. I have traveled to Costa Rica numerous times without incident, so I think they may be overreacting. Who is right?

Carol Sottili: You should be fine. You're not going into the back of beyond alone. You're going with a reputable tour group to a country that hosts many tourists. It's probably more dangerous to drive on the Beltway.

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Arlington, Va.: If it's supply and demand then why isn't it cheaper to fly from D.C. to London if no one wants to go there?

Scott Vogel: That reminds me, I just saw a fare of $487 round-trip including all from Dulles (although it goes through Newark). It's on Continental. Can't imagine that one going much lower...

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Kingstowne, Va.: What is your opinion of AirTran? I need to fly out to Dayton in early March for a memorial service for a friend's father and their fares are by far the best available (plus, they go nonstop, although out of BWI), but I've heard that their maintenance practices may be suspect.

Andrea Sachs: I am a fan of AirTran, because of the airline's low fares and flights from Reagan National. However, you have to have some faith in the FAA and that if any airline has shady maintenance practices, the agency would ground them. In my experience, I have had only successful, scare-free flights on AirTran.

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Rockville, Md.: Because everyone here is always so helpful for me, wanted to see if I could contibute something helpful. Was on a flight last week from Zurich to IAD (over 9 hours). Entire entertainment system in economy was out for the entire flight (movies and audio). This is not the first time this has happened. Although in casual conversation most people claim never to look at airplane movies or listen to music ("I work" "I read classic literature") in fact many of us are happy to use the opportunity to watch a goofy movie or television episode. Lesson: unless you really can sleep for the entire flight, bring real entertainment with you, just in case. The guy sitting next to me was eyeing my iPod the entire flight. I felt especially bad for the kids who had clearly been looking forward to watching some movies; maybe they don't get to at home? I'm generally friendly and helpful and don't like to see those around me suffering, but I think it's at the same level as food now. Especially in economy, bring your own and don't assume people will be willing to share. (I would have shared with the kids, but my iPod movie content is not child-appropriate!)

Scott Vogel: Lots of words of wisdom there -- although I'd love to know which airline experienced the snafus.

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Bowie, Md.: Next weekend -- Still recovering from Christmas/New Year's so we're planning to get out of the area, over the Bay Bridge, and stay at my brother-in-law's condo in Ocean City. Nice, peaceful, romantic w/a gas fireplace. Bring a few board games, some steaks, some wine and some good coffee. Walk the boardwalk, eat some caramel popcorn, and just plain reeeeeelax.

Andrea Sachs: That sounds so lovely. You won't have to look at five miles of portable potties.

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Anonymous: Gurus,

I really want to get away of the D.C. area for next weekend. I'm looking for a last minute trip package (air + hotel) from Friday to Tuesday. Since I spent Christmas in Puerto Rico, now I'm considering Central America or Europe (I really prefer to be out of the U.S.), is this feasible under a $500-600 budget? I went to Paris for a long weekend (F-M) during this time of the year on 2008 and it was amazing ($640 air + hotel!)

Where should I start!?!?! Any particular websites besides the obvious (Travelocity, Kayak etc.)?

washingtonpost.com: I used lastminute.com a while back and it worked well and had some good options. -- Elizabeth

Carol Sottili: I second Elizabeth's recommendation on www.lastminute.com. And try www.priceline.com and www.hotwire.com.

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Silver Spring, Maryland: I'm studying abroad in Greece, and I know that I need a voltage transformer for electronics. Internet research just confuses me further. What are the best brands/types to buy, and where can I buy them?

What is the best way to take money abroad? A combination of traveler's checks and a debit/credit card?

Also, where is the best place to convert American money to Euros before I leave, so that I get the best deal?

Christina Talcott: Hey there, you'll be fine with a voltage converter and adapter plugs; you can get a nice set in a travel-friendly box from TravelSmith.com or Magellans.com. That said, if you're planning to bring heating appliances like a hairdryer or flatiron, you'll want to get a converter designed for such purposes to protect your gear; Magellans has one. As for money, an ATM card should be all you need( with a credit card for emergencies), but you could change a small amount of money ($20 or so) at the airport if you want to have some Euros onhand.

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Flying to Glacier NP: Has the person looking for flights to Glacier National Park this summer considered flying someplace a little further away and driving the distance? Spokane, Washington is bigger than some of the other Montana cities and might have cheaper flights.

Carol Sottili: True, but I think it's a four-hour drive between the two places. For me, that would not work.

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Capitol Hill: Hi Gurus!

We finally rented out our apartment for the inauguration! We're thinking of going to Charlottesville or somewhere like that to get away. Any suggestions of a) places to go; and b) places to stay while we're there? We'd like a place with enough nature to feel like getting out of the city was worth it, a little bit of culture, and some fun places to eat and explore -- nightlife is not important. We're thinking in the $100-$150/night range (less is better, if it'll still be a fun getaway, of course!) We tend to prefer B&Bs or boutique places to big hotels. Thanks so much!

Christina Talcott: Orange County, Va., is full of small inns, right near Charlottesville, Montpelier (James Madison's home), loads of wineries and lots of nice restaurants. Check out innsatmontpelier.com for a list of B&Bs and other inns nearby, plus restaurant suggestions. If you've never been to Monticello, it's definitely worth a visit, and Montpelier's lovely and a low-key complement.

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Monterey, Calif.: I am a regular at a luxury hotel in the SF Bay area that normally runs at 75-80% occupancy.

They are currently running at 20-30%.

They're offering decent deals, but not GREAT deals. The same seems to be true for other resorts at the luxury end (e.g. Ritz-Carlton) that I have checked into.

How typical is this? What's realistic to expect from a luxury resort in terms of discounts?

Do you know of any websites or other resources that are particularly good at turning up great deals at luxury resorts in the US?

Are there any websites that are like Priceline for luxury level accommodations?

Thanks.

Carol Sottili: I think the better hotels keep pretty good control over their inventory. They don't allow third-party booking sites to offer deep discounts. Hotels.com and Quikbook.com do sometimes have deals, but the hotel sites often offer even cheaper sales. No luxury property is going to give their rooms away, even if they are hurting. Some are giving away more points to their best customers, handing out free breakfasts, giving away upgrades, offering resort credits, etc., to attract guests. But you're never going to find a Ritz Carlton for $100 a night.

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Washington, D.C.: Liked yesterday's article about romantic Florence; however, I was concerned about the writer's purchase of food items such as truffles -- the fungus, not the confection -- because she may get in trouble if she attempts to bring in the food at Customs. A suggestion: If tourists buy food and drinks overseas, such as fruits, wine and cheeses, perhaps eat and drink the stuff before you enter the Customs/Immigration line at the International airport terminal. You will save yourself a lot of grief beforehand.

Nancy McKeon: The story didn't point this out, but our writer was continuing on to England at that point (I don't remember if she had an apartment with a kitchen in Florence and could maybe use the truffle there; that would have been ideal because truffles are so delicate they may well rot before you can take them anywhere!). I agree Americans can totally avoid any hassle by not bringing back any foodstuffs, but it's not as if there's a blanket prohibition against them; you simply have to present them for inspection (I haven't read it lately, but the back of your Customs declaration used to read something like "to speed your trip through Customs, do not bring in..." Well, right. But Customs is an enforcing agency, and many of the regs it enforces are there for reasons that have nothing to do with food safety. Hard cheeses are often deemed okay, although there's a quota on cow's-milk cheeses (that has to do with protecting the U.S. dairy industry) while there's no limit on sheep's-milk cheese (or wasn't the last time I looked into this). go to CBP.gov and you'll learn that baked goods are fine to bring in, as are vinegars, packaged spices, honey, coffee and tea. Wines are subject to limitations but are certainly allowed (though you'll have to pack them in your main suitcase). Infestations such as the costly Mediterranean fruit-fly problem were indeed caused by imported fresh produce, but Customs (and the Ag inspectors on site) know their stuff and will permit the permissible. Just be prepared to wait and deal with it. (And no, no meat or meat products, and that includes bouillon or soup mixes.)

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New Orleans Jazz Fest: Hello: I am hoping to get some inside info from your readers -- first time going this year and looking at the 2nd weekend, April 30-May 3rd. They haven't released the schedules for each day yet, but I was wondering what time the fest winds down on Sunday and if I should book a later flight home and also if the action starts later in the day/evening on Friday or earlier. Thanks for any tips!

Scott Vogel: Don't have any first-hand knowledge of the jazz fest myself, sadly (I've always wanted to go), but I'll bet some of our chatters do. Opinions welcome...

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Arlington, Va.: Two girlfriends and I are planning a cross-country drive for mid-June from D.C. to San Diego. We'd like to rent a car to do this, since we plan to fly back at the end of the trip. Are there any deals for such car rentals? Or, are there companies that are more open to that than others? Thanks.

Andrea Sachs: Driving cross country in a rental will be super expensive, mainly for the drop-off fee: If you rent in D.C. and drop off in San Diego, they have to get that car back across the country. The company might also bar drivers from driving that distance; you would have to check their restrictions.

A better idea is to hook up with a car delivery service, in which a company or individual needs a car transported across the country but can't drive it themselves. So, they hire you to be the driver. They are often called drive-away companies. Or, check Craigslist. You could also buy a cheap car and sell it on the other side.

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Getting out of Dodge: Boarding a plane at 7 am on Sunday for a week long cruise of of Miami. I can't wait! The more I read about everyone coming here, the more I look forward to leaving. I hope to catch the inauguration broadcast from a beach side bar in Grand Cayman. Ahh, bliss.

Additionally, the forecast of temps in the teens and twenties toward the end of the week make the islands even more appealing.

Scott Vogel: Make sure you visit the town called Hell and think of us.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

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Alexandria, Va.: We're headed to our place near Solomons Island area for the 4 day weekend. Very peaceful, especially since we're there almost every weekend. Although we're renovating the basement, so it isn't much of a vacation. I doubt we'll find Inauguration crowds at Lowe's.

Andrea Sachs: So true and so wise. I spent Fourth of July one year in Target and had the place to myself!

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Silver Spring, Md.: In Las Vegas I would recommend going to the Liberace Museum. My wife and I went there last year thinking we would spend maybe 1/2 hour and ended up spending 3 hours. Talk to the docents, they are great and some have had personal experiences with Liberace and his family. There is also a Liberace tribute artist who performs a couple of times a week there. Some of the hotels run a free shuttle to the museum.

Andrea Sachs: Great idea! Thanks!

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Ellicott City, Md.: Is there any benefit or detriment to booking a cruise directly with the cruise line vs. using an online travel agency like CruisesOnly.com?

Carol Sottili: Cruise lines don't mind if you avoid the middle man because they can then avoid paying the commission. But most lines don't offer deep discounts for booking directly through them because they don't want to offend travel agents who bring them business. I'd price it out both ways. And try posting your trip on www.cruisecompete.com to see what price you can get via a travel agent.

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In-flight entertainment: After reading the poster's experience where it was out, I had to write in about my in-flight entertainment experience. We were on our way back from Costa Rica on Delta and each person had their own TV screen and you could choose which movie or TV show you wanted to watch. And it was all FREE! I have never been so happy, especially b/c I normally sleep or read during flights. I watched Mamma Mia and part of Sex and the City. I wish all airlines had this option!

Scott Vogel: And it was the subtitled version and you regaled your fellow passengers with your version of "Fernando"? I think I was on that plane.

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Last minute bargains: I happen to like www.vacationstogo.com for last minute cruise information. Although the cruise prices + airfare may go a little out of the $500-600 range, remember that it includes everything except the airfare. I have no affiliation with vacationstogo other than as a satisfied customer. When you go, click on the 90-day ticker in the upper left hand corner. There are great discounts on last minute deals since cruise ships sailing with empty rooms is just lost revenue, so when they get close, they'll do as much as possible to fill those cabins.

Carol Sottili: Thanks!

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Inauguration getaway: If the Obamas are coming here, I decided to get away to their old haunts in Hyde Park (Chicago). I've got friends there and love the neighborhood. We'll eat at the Medici (an Obama favorite) and buy a lot of used books and soak up the student/faculty atmosphere.

Andrea Sachs: That is a great idea. Trade places for the weekend.

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Washington, D.C.: We have an International flight on COPA Airlines (IAD to Panama) that leaves Dulles Airport at 5:43 a.m. What time do you suggest that we get at the airport? Should we be there the normal 2 hours prior? We won't be checking bags, but we will need to check in, since it is an international flight. Thanks!

Nancy McKeon: Yes, get there two hours ahead. Remember, there will presumably be a couple of hundred others traveling on the same plane, and they all have to check in a get through security too. Worst case: You get through to the gate early and get to nod off in your lounge seat.

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Spirit Air: Do you know anything about the $9 fare club at Spirit Air? Before I pay $39.95 for one year, I'd like to make sure that those $9 fares are really available.

Andrea Sachs: We don't know anything about the club; never tried it. But we do see those cheap Spirit fares and have yet to snag one, like $9 to Ft. Lauderdale. But we will never give up!

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Glacier NP: You have a bunch of different options for airports to fly to. Fare sales have not started for the summer travel season.

The airports you can fly to with time drive: Spokane, Wash. (5 hrs time zone change) Missoula (2+ hrs), Bozeman (4 hrs), Helena (3 hours) Great Falls (3 hours). The closest airport is Kalispell, but it costs the most and is the smallest airport so who knows if you book now whether the airlines would pull out. In Spokane you have Southwest service. From Bozeman, the most southern of the airports, you could do both Yellowstone and Glacier.

Another option for Glacier is that they have Amtrak train service from Seattle (and for that matter Spokane too).

Carol Sottili: I think the fares will be high from all those airports except Spokane. And Amtrak isn't cheap either.

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Arlington, Va.: Taking off for the week to avoid the all the madness this weekend. Leaving Thursday evening from BWI -- am I in the clear with the typical 90 minutes before my flight (8 p.m.), or should I expect more time? Also, getting back into town on the 24th, will traffic have died down by then? Going to see my 18-month old niece in Cincinnati and we're driving to Chicago to watch the Inauguration there.

Andrea Sachs: You should be safe traveling those dates. Wise to give yourself some cushion. Have a blast in Chicago!

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Florence food: I've brought back farro (a wonderful Italian grain) from Italy with no trouble. And you're making me homesick for the ten days I spent at an apartment with a kitchen in Florence, about a dozen years ago.

Nancy McKeon: I brought back farro too, but now looking afresh at the CBP.gov site, I probably shouldn't have. They point out that pests like to snuggle inside rice and such, so they discourage its casual importation (that said, all you have to do is present it for inspection and let them decide).

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When flying from east to west or west to east: If you think of cities as being 3 classes

1. Hub (L.A., Dulles, San Fran, Salt Lake City) 2. Major city (Seattle, Portland, BWI) 3. Minor city (Richmond, Harrisburg, Sacramento, Spokane)

When flying

1 to 1 -- no stop 1-2 usually a stop but can find some nonstops either through an airline or an occasional route that doesn't happen every day.

So for 2-3 or 3-3 it's a very good shot that you will have to do 2 stops on your flight across country.

Carol Sottili: That makes some sense. The larger the airport, the more competition, the more flights, the easier.

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Washington: Re Egyptian light shows: I studied abroad in Egypt a few years back and went to the light show at Karnak. I would actually recommend that one because you walk through the entire temple at night. Yes, it's still on the hokey side, but reasonably fun. I didn't check out the Giza one, but I think one light show should be enough, and I think at Giza, you stay in the seating the whole time. I could be wrong, though.

Nancy McKeon: Thanks for this. I don't know about Giza either, but I would love to spend some time, out of the broiling sun, just staring dreamily at those stones!

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Atlanta: No, the hotels are not giving deals. Many are keeping their revenues up and are not necessarily lowering rates to do so. If they have fewer guests, they need fewer people working -- if they lower rates, they need to have more staff (think housekeepers/that sorta thing). So many, more often the upscale ones, are not lowering their rates at the moment. Soon enough, they may need to, but they're not doing it now (used to be in the industry, still on some discussion boards).

Carol Sottili: And even when they do discounts, the luxury hotels can't sully their names by offering Motel 6 rates.

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jazz fest: Get there Wed night and leave Monday! The best day to go is Thursday -- no crowds, and lots of local favorites. The fest goes strong right through Sunday -- so unless you need to bug out early, stay over that night.

Scott Vogel: Jazz Fest info!

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re: priceline: the reader posted that $13 was on the Hertz site. Isn't priceline supposed to be cheaper?

Scott Vogel: Yes, but probably not much cheaper than that. But hey, I'd bid 10 bucks and give it a whirl.

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Honeymoon Advice?: Do you have any advice for a late-20's couple going on a honeymoon in late November - early December?

We like tropical resort type places with nice weather, beaches, and drinks. It would be nice if there were things to do off-resort as well (like a nightlife or something). We went to an all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic a couple years ago and it got boring after a while of not really being able to leave the resort.

Any ideas?

Andrea Sachs: I would suggest a place that is tropical but is safe beyond the resort gates. For example, Costa Rica or Belize. Or if you want to stick to the Caribbean, how about chartering a sailboat out of Tortola? And then, of course, there's the honeymoon capital of the universe, Hawaii.

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Austin: Will flying out on Tuesday from BWI be a problem? I'll be leaving on an 8 a.m. flight, will I need to allow extra time? I'm hoping most people will be arriving, not going.

Andrea Sachs: Tuesday tomorrow, no. Tuesday next week, flying out won't be the problem, getting to the airport will.

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Vegas Museum: You have to go to the Atomic Testing Museum! Great stuff about a strange time in our history. Run by people who were part of the testing that was done near Vegas in the 50s. Wild, wild stuff, especially for those scientifically curious folk.

Andrea Sachs: Another great idea. Thanks!

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For Egypt-bound: Go to Abu Simbel! It's so amazing, the history, the way they moved it when they filled in Lake Nasser, etc. Totally worth it. I did the light show at Giza and it was pretty lame in my opinion.

Nancy McKeon: Okay! More Egypt info. Thanks!

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Frankfurt-Bound?: What's the best time to buy tickets for a group - though "gaggle" might be more precise travel talk since under 10 people apparently isn't an official "group" - of 6 high school students and teacher hoping to snag a really inexpensive flight to Germany in mid-June? Any suggestions on timing to buy tickets and getting a group rate with fewer than 10? Thanks!

Carol Sottili: You're not going to find really cheap airfares in June. Check frequently for sales on the airlines' Web sites (Lufthansa and United). And keep checking with sites such as www.farecast.com and www.kayak.com. But be prepared to pay upwards of $800 each unless you get lucky and hit a sale. If you're willing to connect or to go out of JFK, you might save some money. One option is to snag a sale fare to any city in Europe and then get a flight on a discount carrier, such as Air Berlin. This idea, however, has drawbacks - for example, you often need to switch airports. And I don't know of any airline that offers group rates for six.

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Washington, D.C.: Just starting to do a little research into safaris - we'd like to go on one for our 10th anniversary in April. We were thinking S. Africa, for safety reasons -- are the reserves worth it there? Is it feasible to throw in some vineyard touring? Do you recommend renting a car and navigating around, or going thru a tour operator?

washingtonpost.com: African Safari Special (Post Travel Section, April 27, 2008)

Christina Talcott: Oh, the reserves in South Africa are very much worth it, and you could certainly squeeze in some time in wine country. There is so much to do and see in South Africa, and the tourist infrastructure is very well developed. If you're interested in staying in the southern part of the country only, you could start in Cape Town and drive to the Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch, Paarl an Franschoek, where I'd recommend renting a villa or staying in an inn; trains run there, too, but you'd have to do a little walking to and from the stations). After the winelands, you could take the hop-on, hop-off Baz Bus or drive up the Garden Route, where there are numerous game parks. Apparently Garden Route Game Reserve has the Big Five, including a cheetah breeding center. Of course, if you have time to see more of the country, you could spend a few days in Cape Town, then go to the winelands, then fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg and drive to Kruger, or fly to Durban and drive to a park in KwaZulu Natal like Hluhluwe Game Park. I booked my stay at Hluhluwe last winter (just a few hours from the bustling city of Durban) through Go2Africa.com, which was incredibly helpful and offered me the going rates for my room in the park; they also can help you book guides and other services in South Africa. Anyone else have good experiences with tour companies in South Africa, or other suggestions for seeing game and vineyards?

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Baltimore: Since just about everything will be tied up, in some form or another, with Inauguration festivities, I am planning on stocking up on nice food/drink, then just hanging out at home with friends and family. I love to travel but of course it can be exhausting--I don't see the point of escaping one exhausting event for another when I can rest at home, since I have nowhere to be. I am so looking forward to it!

Andrea Sachs: The Armchair Traveler has just as many adventures as the Typical Traveler. Have a great trip!

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Bowie, Md.: Jazz Fest - Go, it's a great time - Went two years ago and was amazed at so much GREAT music for such a CHEAP price! (Bring money too, cause you'll want to try some of the Cajun food available there... mmmmm) and don't plan a flight out the same night you're going. While the shows might wrap up at 5 or 6 pm, getting from the Fairgrounds back downtown can take hours because of the lines to board the buses. (Yes, it is worth getting a roundtrip ticket and don't think about driving to the Fairgrounds - the bus stops at several locations in and around the French Quarter.) Plan a flight out the next day to be safe.

Scott Vogel: Excellent -- what great readers we have.

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For the Vegas traveler: The Hoover Dam is a must see. Do the whole tour. I am so glad I did - amazingly huge.

Andrea Sachs: Keep them coming. This person is going to need to extend her trip.

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For Airfares to Glacier NP: Have you considered taking Amtrak at least part of the way? The Empire Builder stops right at the park! (We rented a car once we arrived)

Carol Sottili: Yes, but again, Amtrak is not cheap.

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Alexandria: The person concerned about the hotel site for Florence and Venice should consider booking an apartment. My friend and I did that last April in Florence for a week and it was great. The building was perfectly located and had the charm of being an estimated 600-700 years old! I did it by Googling and then e-mailing back and forth with apartment brokers. Happy to say it all worked great!

Christina Talcott: Glad it worked out for you! This is certainly an option.

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re: rental cars: Hertz may have been showing $13, but I am 99% sure that doesn't include all the taxes and fees that get tacked on. Priceline's $15 might encompass all that.

Scott Vogel: Good point. Well, like I say, bid a few bucks lower and see what happens.

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Richmond: If I lived in metro D.C. and had the day off, I'd go to the mall (the shopping mall, not the national Mall, lol) and get great parking. I'm a lifelong yellow dog Democrat, so it's not out of disinterest, but just a logical desire to avoid crowds and take advantage of the quiet time elsewhere. Like I always go to the mall on Super Bowl Sunday, it's so quiet. It's like wedding day vs. marrige. I care more about the next four (eight!) years than that day in particular.

Andrea Sachs: So true. Sometimes you juat have to stay put until the storm passes.

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Deep Valley, USA: The best way to use those hotel discount sites (hotels.com, quikbook, etc) is to see which hotels have discounts. Then go to the hotel site and see if they have the same or better. They often do.

We snagged a room for Dec 28 - 31st in Dupont Circle that way, and were very very happy with it.

Christina Talcott: Yes, that's a great way to use those sites. It doesn't always work, but it's worth a try. You can never do too much research!

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Farr, O!: I love to cook, so understand the impulse, but please, do not bring back grains. Even if you do not see bugs in it, the vast majority of foreign grains (and a lot of domestic, for that matter) contain bugs and/or their eggs. We really don't need any more non-native invasives in this country.

Nancy McKeon: A dissenting opinion.

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Help: If you could travel anywhere in the US, Canada or Mexico for free this year, where/when would you go? Hoping to maximize this benefit - so what places are usually cost prohibitive? Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: I would choose Oaxaca, and Scott picks Virgin Islands.

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Farro-bringer: Nancy: I did show the farro to the inspectors, and they were okay with it. It was in a vacuum-sealed bag.

Nancy McKeon: And an answer from the person who brought in the farro. (Good for you for doing the right thing.)

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for Madeira Beach: It's a great beach, really clean and nice beach and not too crowded, def. the best beach in the Clearwater/Treasure Island area. There is this amazing homemade ice cream/fudge shop right across the street from the beach. I don't know what the name of it is or if it even has a name, but it's in a little house/shack kind of place. Also for restaurants, one of the best is Crappy Bill's, it's a little more north on Madeira Beach closer to Clearwater, and it kinda looks like a bar but is family dining. And in Clearwater there is Frenchy's on the Beach.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the advice. Wish we were there at the end of the week, when temps are . . . don't want to think about it.

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For the traveler to Egypt: Just got back from two weeks in Egypt. The Karnak sound-and-light show is incredibly tacky... lots of gimmicky sound and almost no light. The one in Giza, on the other hand, is great... just seeing the Pyramids/Sphinx lit up at night is worth the price. But also, don't skip Abu Simbel if you can possibly afford it... incredibly dramatic scenery... my favorite part of the trip. Security in Egypt is dramatically enhanced. We stayed at an Oberou hotel in Giza and had to go through a metal detector to get into the lobby (of course, their hotel in Mumbai was just bombed). We had armed guards traveling on our tour buses at all times; armed guards were around most major tombs, etc. We were there as Gaza bombing started, which was a little nervous-making, but I never felt in any danger...

Nancy McKeon: Some recent feedback on Egypt (that's a typo: it's the Oberoi hotel). But wait, there's another chatter about to weigh in on the light shows.

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Washington, D.C.: Following up on the chatter who booked through hotelclub.net, I was wondering if any of the Flight Crew had experience with VRBO.com?

Carol Sottili: It's one of the sites that act as a broker between those who own and those who want to rent. We've used it a couple of times to book places at ski resorts. Make sure you talk with the owners and ask lots of questions (what's the square footage, how far is the pool, how old is the unit, is it owned by you or an investment group, etc.)

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Help! Please!!!: I will be arriving at DCA next Tuesday about 2:00. I live in Chevy Chase, D.C. I had planned on driving myself to the airport (I leave this Friday) and parking there, since I thought trying to get a taxi might be dicey. But now I'm not even sure how I will get home, since GW Parkway, etc. is closed. (I thought I could take GWP to 495 to Conn. Ave.). Help! What can I do? (This trip was planned long ago - not by me - and I did not even realize I would be arriving home on Inauguration Day.) Thanks so much.

Andrea Sachs: Any friends in town with a spare bed? Can you change your flight?

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Another Vegas Suggestion: Another place in Vegas with lots of machines that will take your quarters and reward you with bright flashing lights, loud noises and no money back would be the Pinball Hall of Fame. (See www.pinballhall.org)

Andrea Sachs: Whoa, never heard of that one. Love it!

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MD: Arlington, Va.: I am helping to plan an event here in D.C. in June. We have people coming from various places around the world. For informational purposes I did a quick airfare search last week. I was astounded that one can fly from London to Washington in June for less than $450 round trip including all taxes. However, the same route going in the other direction, Washington to London round trip costs more that $800. How is that possible?

Andrea Sachs: It's called supply and demand. D.C. is in demand these days; cold, rainy, same-old-Prime-Minister England is not. ______

with the logic you quoted, if it were a supply and demand issue, then the cost of London to D.C. would be high and the cost of D.C. to London would be low.

Andrea Sachs: Oh shoot, you are so right. Sorry, I slept through economics class. I read it as the flight to London is less. Got me on that one. Apologies.

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Re: Philly: TAKE THE TRAIN. Sorry to shout, but if you want to leave D.C. on Tuesday the bus is not the way to go. Everyone will be leaving at the same time and there will be a limited number of roads. Also make sure you have a ticket and reservation in advance.

Nancy McKeon: Another vote for the train.

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Oaxaca: Interesting! I'm not the original poster, but why Oaxaca?

Andrea Sachs: I have always been fascinated by the culture there and the arts and crafts. I am a big fan of Day of the Dead figurines, so I would go for that event.

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Ellicott City, Md.: I will be taking a cruise to Alaska, departing from Vancouver, B.C., but the airfare from the DC area to Vancouver is much more expensive than flying into Seattle. It seems flying into Seattle and taking Amtrak to Vancouver makes more sense for a solo traveler like me, but do you have any better suggestions?

Carol Sottili: You could also take a bus. Try www.quickcoach.com.

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Arlington, VA: I saw a piece on TV recently talking about luxury hotels. And they basically said the high end hotels will not lower their rates because once they do that it is very difficult to raise them again. But they are throwing in some things for "free" to sweeten the pot and try to attract more customers.

I hear that in Bangkok, which has had its own unique issues, that some of the luxury hotels are virtually empty during what should be their high season. One hotel apparently closed 18 floors because they didn't have bookings.

The economy is going to put a pretty big strain on the travel industry. The hotel industry in particular built too many rooms in lots of places. And they are in many cases charging completely unrealistic room rates.

Carol Sottili: TV and I agree.

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Naptown, Md.: for the chatter going to Madeira Beach in Florida... head to Lenny's on Rt 19 for breakfast! Great food and atmosphere (kid friendly)... Gator Omelette and the Kitchen Sink!! I think I just might have to book a flight down there...

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the egg update, Naptown.

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Silver Spring, Md.: I actually had a Qantas flight from Sydney to L.A. (13 hrs) where the entertainment system was out, and then they fixed it for everyone but me. I got a small stipend for the duty free magazine, but I only brought one novel and I don't sleep on planes so it was torture. Then on my flight from L.A. to Miami on American, my entertainment system was on the fritz again! At least this time the whole plane suffered with me. That was actually the last flight I was on that had an entertainment system, ironically.

Scott Vogel: more tales of entertainment system woe...

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"The airports you can fly to with time drive": If you're going to fly to Spokane or somewhere requiring a five-hour drive to Glacier NP, why not fly into Calgary, which is also around five hours? Bigger city, probably more flight options.

Carol Sottili: But no Southwest Airlines.

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Rockville, Md.: Entertainment snafu: it was United. The flight was delayed 50 minutes on the ground while they decided whether it was fixable or not (most of that time made up in the air). They did give tokens (could be used for 5000 miles on a Mileage Plus account, or $100 off of future travel). I actually think they handled it well, all things considered.

Scott Vogel: Here's another.

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Petworth, D.C.: What's the deal with Cuba now? NYT says it's the place to go in 2009. Will I be prosecuted for going now, if I slip through a non-U.S. airport?

Andrea Sachs: Until further notice, the same restrictions apply. But we are waiting eagerly to see if the gate will soon be lowered.

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Philadelphia, Pa.: Hi,

Wondering if anyone has thoughts on a good summer destination for a family with two young kids. It would feature hikes, water, a nice lodge, good food scene, access to an interesting town to explore along with the nature, and be a refuge from summer heat. Ideally, it would be accessible pretty easily (car or plane) and somewhat affordably from Philly -- although I can obviously figure that out on my own.

Thanks for any and all ideas!

Christina Talcott: National or state parks sound like they'd fit the bill perfectly: Shenandoah has everything but easy access to water; the closest thing is splashing in pools on waterfall hikes. In Western Maryland, Herringston Manor State Park has nice cabins, a lake for swimming and easy hiking trails, and it's near Deep Creek Lake. West Virginia's state parks are also winners. Or what about renting a house in Chincoteague or Assateague?

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Ellicott City, MD: We were in South Africa in May and booked a 3 day safari at the Arathusa Lodge (near Kruger) through Go2Africa.com. Everything was just tremendous!

Christina Talcott: Great to hear!

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Washington, D.C.: We'd like to do the Costa Rican trip that was featured a week or so ago and wondered what kind of foot gear is most practical. Thanks for your help.

washingtonpost.com: Birds in Paradise (Post Travel Section, Dec. 14, 2008)

Carol Sottili: You need good waterproof hiking boots, but they don't have to be heavy. I opted for low cut Vasque boots that I bought at Hudson Trail - cost was about $125, but well worth it. And you will love that trip!!

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Glacier NP - Amtrak: No, Amtrak isn't cheap, but you're forgetting, Amtrak is part of the trip!

(Almost) no security hassles, often beautiful views. I've taken Amtrak up and down the east coast and oftentimes my trip on Amtrak has been better than the destination. I've met awesome other people on the trip.

The best part is, everyone gets to enjoy the scenery (something the drivers misses out on) and no one is tired when you arrive at your destination.

Andrea Sachs: Everyone loves train travel, so climb aboard.

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Flying into DCA at 2 p.m.: Um... Can't you just drive South to 495 and go around the Beltway?

Andrea Sachs: Yes, they are funneling people onto the Beltway. But we are talking about EVERYONE following that route if they need to get to Maryland.

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DCA to Chevy Chase on Tuesday: US-1 through Crystal City is supposed to be open. Leave the airport by going to Crystal City and go south. You can either turn right on Glebe Road and follow it to US-50, then west to the Beltway, or you could follow US-1 all the way down through Old Town to the Beltway and go around from there.

Either way, expect traffic around the Springfield Interchange and the I-66 interchange due to people flummoxed by I-395 and I-66 being closed.

Andrea Sachs: Another good route. Thanks.

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travel to jazz fest: Have they reopened the Canal Street streetcar route? If so - that may be a good way to get to the fest from the Quarter area. I remember we would take the St Charles streetcar to the end - then pick up a city bus to take us the rest of the way. The streetcar day passes work for the city busses as well.

Scott Vogel: As of December, that route is indeed open according to New Orleans Transit (www.norta.com). Thanks for the suggestion!

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re: DCA flight: one word: Metro

Andrea Sachs: Yes, but be prepared to wait.

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Summer travel: I was looking at Kayak over the last week of June to travel to Glacier from BWI. If you try for the closest airports over the last week of June it will be expensive.

You need flexibility, where say you travel Wed-Wed instead of a Friday-Sun.

Also at the end of June is an annual Lewis and Clark celebration in Great Falls where they have stuff going on.

Flying into Spokane is the cheapest. The fares are about $200 cheaper and Southwest hasn't started booking for then yet so fare sales would come out later which will lower competive carriers' airfares.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the tip!

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Ashton, Md.: The photo of the Parthenon at night is the view we had from the rooftop restaurant of our hotel on the first night we arrived in Athens. Fond memories of a wonderful trip to Greece years ago... Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: Glad we could take you back down memory lane.

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Splitsville: What with cold weather, a huge influx of people (many of whom don't know where they are going on streets and roads)...we decided to head to Puerto Rico instead of stay in town for the Inaugural Hullaballoo! Now that all the bridges from Virginia (where we are) will be closed, those airfare deals we snagged are looking like a better decision every day! Diving, sunsets, swimming, old castles... can't wait!

Andrea Sachs: We so envy you!

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22037: I hate spending a lot of money for bottled water in airports, but the water fountains taste terrible. Have you reviewed any of the bottles with built-in filters? They might be the solution.

Andrea Sachs: No we have not, but that's a great idea.

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Arlington, Va.: Getting out of Dodge:

We planned our out of town escape way back in June last year. (Yes, we were eagerly anticipating the 4-day long weekend even then.) So we delayed our 10-year anniversary celebration to January (was in July) and are taking a week to go to Kauai. Not only is it a good time to vacation, as one has to take 2 fewer days of annual leave, thanks to the 2 federal holidays, but January is always an excellent time to get out of D.C. (something about the post-holidays let-down, and the bitterly cold temps). Regardless of who won the election, locals know that trying to attend the Inauguration events is always an exercise in futility. All I could count on getting would be pneumonia.

So we will be watching Obama's swearing in ocean-side in Kauai, over a breakfast of fresh pineapple!

Andrea Sachs: A great escape, and still topical, too.

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Arlington, Va.: We will be astutely gauging the international reaction to the inauguration from Puerto Vallarta. It should be very taxing.

Andrea Sachs: You poor thing. Bring us back some sunshine and crowd management.

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Laissez les bon temps rouler: You asked for our "get-out-of-Dodge" plans. I and a friend are doing our own celebrating of the transition by flying out Saturday to spend some money in the still-recovering-from-Katrina city of New Orleans. After a long weekend of gumbo and relaxation we'll be watching Tuesday's Inaugural ceremony, speeches and parade on TV from a cozy barstool in the French Quarter, then it's off to Tipitina's, the legendary Uptown music club which is hosting a "we don't know who'll show up to play but we think it's gonna be good" Obama Inaugural Night party to listen to the music, to dance, and probably to drink one too many Abita beers.

Andrea Sachs: Your very own stimulus package. Love it.

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Pittsburgh: On January 20 I'll just thank my lucky stars that I live far from D.C. and the madding crowd. Instead, I plan to hunker down on the couch under a heavy blanket in front of my big new HDTV set to watch as much news coverage as I can of the historic inauguration, with a huge bowl of air-popped popcorn with REAL melted butter and a dash of salt on it, and hot chocolate to wash it down! Mmmmm...

Andrea Sachs: Enjoy that blankie and TV set.

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Andrea Sachs: Okay, folks, we are all out of time. Sorry we did not get to all of your questions, but please come back again -- just not next Monday, we are off for MLK Day. (We return Jan. 26.)

Good luck with your Inauguration Day plans, whether they are close to home or far away. And for the chatster who is going to New Orleans, please e-mail me your address at sachsa@washpost.com and I will send you a gift. Perhaps some beads??

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